Ash
Ash growled low, it took every ounce of energy not to shift and run after the hunters who managed to get Patrick. He carried Clover into the house right after she shifted back into her human form. He had almost given up on tracking the hunters back to the home-base after he’d lost the car on different streets five times. When he heard Maple yell out for help, it sent him into a panic. Tracking the hunters had been sucked out the window like a vacuum.
“Ash, we have two plates,” Raymand growled and slammed them into his open palm. “If they had taken you two…” The alpha’s voice pulsed with frustration as he looked down at Cora.
“I can track both with the wolfbase but if they switch cars, we’re fucked.” Ash walked into the house and ran up the stairs. Clover whimpered in his arms but didn’t wake up. He hoped she would wake up soon, he needed her to be okay so he could focus on getting Patrick back and putting an end to this.
He set her on the bed and covered her naked body.
“I’m going to fucking kill all of them,” Zac growled behind Ash while he held Rayne’s limp form.
“We’ll get them back,” Maple’s voice came from behind Zac. “Me and Cora are going to stay in here with them till they wake up.”
Zac carefully placed Rayne down next to Clover. “Thanks.”
Ash didn’t want to leave her, but he had shit to do downstairs. He met Zac’s furious gaze and they nodded to each other. They both seemed to be struggling equally with leaving their mates to find their pups. Without a word, they shuffled out and down the stairs. Ash snatched the license plates from Raymand and typed the front plate number into the search engine on different screens. With the plates, he might be able to find the hunters without actually needing to do the painstaking tracking like before.
Finding Clover on the ground had almost broken his soul in half. No, she’s just sleeping in my bed. She’s okay. He repeated the words as he entered his office
“Zac, sit here and click here to follow this trail. If they vanish from the screen, this is how you zoom out.” He clicked on the search button letting it work. “You might need to adjust the time frame but I put it in for the last two hours.” He pointed toward the pull-down menu for the search parameters and Zac nodded.
“Shit, it’s already giving us your house.” Zac pointed to the screen and Ash felt better about this lead. He pushed the chair to the other computer. After rolling his shoulders, he tapped the back-plate number into the keys on a different screen and then expanded the search parameters to four hours. The first ping loaded and he zoomed in, showing a residential zone with a curved shopping place next door.
Zac bumped his arm. “Is this right?” Zac pointed at the screen. “It looks like a fucking shopping area.”
“Wait, I think I have the same spot.” Ash glanced between the screens. They found the base! Finally, he managed to get it, all because of his brave mate.
“Fuck, it’s the same place.” Zac shoved his hand through his hair.
“The place is owned by Don Douglas. He’s the same guy who owns the strip where Maple’s store is.” Raymand growled low. “After he threatened to terminate Maple’s contract for being a wolf, I did some research on his ass.”
“Do you think he’s the one behind all this shit?” Ash turned back and his wolf jumped up for joy as he zoned in on his mate.
“We’re going to find out.” Clover leaned against the door, a small yawn slipped from his lips. Jeans hugged her hips while she had one of Ash’s shirts covering her chest.
“Is Rayne awake?” Zac lurched forward but Clover shook her head.
“Not yet. I’d give her another half hour to hour. I didn’t get the full dose they wanted to give me.” Clover rolled her shoulders and winced. “So, when are we leaving?” She met Ash’s gaze.
“I want you to stay here. This shit could be very dangerous.” He stood and dropped the plates on the desk.
“You mean more than being attacked at Tara’s or on your front lawn?” She arched her brow and Zac covered a chuckle with a cough. If Rayne tried to come, he’d be in the same shit and Ash barely resisted the urge to remind him.
“If you come, it’s at your own risk. The kids are my priority.” Raymand faced Ash’s mate, who nodded once.
“I don’t want you to worry about me. Patrick is my top priority too.” She folded her arms under her chest while Raymand walked past her, his footsteps echoed up the stairs.
“I’m going to check on Rayne. Drake, you might want to call Anne and have her come here,” Zac suggested, and Drake nodded.
“Also, get a few more wolves here to watch out for Cora. He said he wanted all three,” Clover pitched in.
“Did he say anything else?” Drake pulled out his phone quickly.
“He bitched about all how three kids weren’t here but when I started shifting they stopped talking and said two would just have to do.” She rubbed her hands together. “It’s lucky my claws got stuck behind the plate or we might not have a lead.”
Ash glanced down at the plates and was glad she didn’t get cut up again.
“Yes, that’s good luck right there.” Drake tapped on his phone and walked out with Zac trailing behind him.
“Ash, if you try to leave me here I’ll just come chase after your ass.” Clover pushed back some of her black hair and met his gaze. The fire in her eyes spoke louder than her words. He crossed the room needing to be closer to her. Before she opened her mouth, he pulled her into a kiss. He didn’t want to argue with her, he was just happy they didn’t try to use those fucking silver blades. She could be dead instead of arguing about going to find Patrick.
“I want you to stay here and be safe.” Ash rubbed his thumb against her cheek.
“And I want to be there when we get Patrick back. I…” She rubbed her lips together and her brown eyes held pain.
“I don’t blame you one bit for not keeping him here. You rocked with killing one of them.” She had already helped kill two other hunters, there was no denying his mate was a total bad-ass.
“What about the one I knocked out?” Her brows bunched together.
“They must have taken him with.” More pride filled his soul at her fighting like hell for Patrick.
“Oh, well I’m still going. You can either take me with you or I’ll chase after you like I mentioned a moment ago.” Her brow lifted as her eyes challenged him.
“You’re stubborn.” He kissed her again and deep down he knew he wouldn’t be able to tie her down to keep her home.
“It’s what makes her a kick-ass wolf,” Tara called out from the door and Clover turned but stayed close to him.
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
“I’m on protection detail till you guys come back. Rayne’s too weak and Jennine threatened to kick her ass if she moved from the bed.” Tara chuckled.
“You’re damn right!” Jennine yelled through the house and Clover giggled. The front door opened, and the alpha spoke to a few males about helping with protection of Cora. If they had only known they’d attack again, Ash would’ve called the other wolves over sooner.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” Ash didn’t want to get Clover hurt but he also couldn’t risk her getting into trouble because she got lost trying to follow. Or worse, get hurt because a hunter cornered her.
“Let’s go get our son.”