Chapter Four
I spent a few minutes kissing on my mate before I called my alpha back, needing Edmond to understand his importance to me more than I needed to talk to my alpha and listen to him go on and on about chosen.
When I did finally call him back, he didn't sound too happy about my restrictions, but in the end, he did agree. I didn't tell him about Edmond, not really wanting to spoil the contentment I'd found with my mate by happiness bred from the fact that he was a chosen instead of just being happy that I'd found my mate.
Edmond gave me a funny look after I hung up and I knew it was about the fact that I had kept that information from my alpha, knowing him probably worried it meant I wasn't sure or something equally ridiculous, but when I pulled him into my arms to explain and kiss away any sadness, his stomach growled…and mine answered.
We both laughed and started gathering our clothes ,so we could go down for dinner. I was reminded when I picked my jeans up off the floor that I really needed a shower and a change of clothes, so we snuck down to my room, my wad of clothes covering my front while Edmond covered my back, giggling the whole time.
Our shower was sweet, filled with long, slow kisses and unhurried frottage until we were both satisfied and panting, him leaning against me and me leaning against the shower wall.
When his stomach let out another growl, we hurried out, got dressed and headed down for dinner.
The kitchen was still bursting with energy when we wandered in, and in no time we were both sitting at the table eating dinner. I thought it might have been Rory that plopped the plates in front of us, but with everyone talking at once, I couldn't be sure.
"As fun as that would be, busting into the house of a man who is highly involved in the FBI and burning his shit isn't going to get us anything but hunted," Harley said on a sigh, clearly every bit as put out as Sloan, Payne, and Carpenter. "Plus, he might have more chosen down in that dungeon of desolation. We can't risk something like that. We're going to have to do this shit the other way."
"The boring way," Payne grumbled, petulantly.
"Surveillance isn't––" Harley grimaced, rolling his eyes. "Okay, it's totally the boring way. But it is the right way, so that's what we're going to do. Flynn and I both think Ronny and Boston would probably be the most stable, so if they agree, that's who will be going."
Nobody seemed in the least fazed that he'd basically just insinuated that they were all unstable. In fact, most of them were nodding their heads in agreement.
"If it's just surveillance and Harper and I get to go and hang out in the hotel while their out doing their thing, then Boston's in," Pierce said resting a hand on his mate's shoulder.
Boston shrugged, chewing his food.
"That'll be fine," Harley said, turning to grab Carter's wrist and pull in forward. "I don't see any reason you guys can't go. I hate separating mates for days at a time. It's not natural. I know I get down-right pouty when Carter isn't with me." He jerked his mate into his lap, making the blonde almost smile.
I wouldn't lie. Harley's mate was a little terrifying.
"I have something to ask everyone," Pierce said, drawing everyone's attention back down to that end of the table. "Does anyone know when Marshall is supposed to be back? I thought he said he was only going to be gone a couple of days because he wanted to make it back in time to go shopping for Christmas presents, but I can't get ahold of him, and it's been almost two weeks since he left."
Harley frowned, leaning around his mate to peer down the table at Pierce. "Where did he go?"
"Back home." Pierce bit his lip, frowning before he continued. "He read on social media that his grandmother was sick, and he wanted to go visit her, but I'm starting to get worried. I was just hoping someone else had heard some information or something."
"I haven't heard anything either," Carter said, his worried face not looking much different than his killer face or his happy face or his need to shit face. The guy was stone cold.
Harley cocked his head, looking at his mate. "Did he ever find out how he was pegged as a chosen and who was responsible for selling him out to the runners?"
Carter shook his head, his ice blue eyes finally starting to show signs of emotion as he met his mate's eyes. "No. I don't think so."
"Shit," Harley growled, dropping his forehead to Carter's shoulder before lifting it again to address the room. "We probably need to send someone to Marshall's hometown and make sure he is where he was supposed to be. I would have sent someone with him if I'd known he wasn't secure."
"Don't say shit, Uncle Harley," Harper said from his chair next to Boston's, not even looking up from the little action figure he was trying to balance on the side of his plate, his tiny little legs swinging out of sync.
Complete innocence radiated off of him. Everyone but Boston knew that was a complete lie. While we all looked around the table snickering because we knew the little turd was trying to get one over on his parents, Pierce gave his brother-turned-son the side-eye.
"Harper," Pierce said in his parental warning voice, and Boston's head snapped up like he was the one getting reprimanded.
"Hmm?" Harper asked, still not looking up from his plate, but I could see the tiny little smile on his lips.
That kid was going to be a handful. An adorable , funny handful that got away with everything because everyone who met him fell in love with him.
"Don't give me that. You know what." Pierce tapped the table, and Boston's eyes followed the motion.
"It was an accident," Boston said, probably about to dig himself an early grave. "How's the kid not supposed to pick up on a few cusswords when big dumb idiots won't quit saying them around him.
There was a commotion at Harley's end of the table, and I glanced over to see a fuming Carter sending die-motherfucker-die eyes at Boston while Harley held onto his hips while grinning from ear to ear.
"You think I won't eviscerate you because you have a kid now?" the little blonde asked. I don't know where it came from, and he was holding it so that Harper couldn't see it, but from my vantage point, I could clearly see the butt of a knife sticking out the back of his palm.
Slowly, I eased out of my chair, ready to throw myself in front of Edmond at a moment's notice.
"It's okay, little shit," Harley crooned, pulling Carter back into his lap and sending Boston a triumphant look. "He just gets a little stupid where the kid is concerned. He forgets himself sometimes."
Harper finally looked up from his project, legs still swinging energetically. "What's eviscerate?"
***
I was excited and nervous and wiggling as bad as Harper did when someone said something about ice cream when we finally pulled into the parking lot where I'd booked a horse-drawn-carriage ride down the Christmas light trail about forty-five minutes outside of Purdy.
He seemed to like Christmas type things and most people who liked Christmas, liked Christmas lights, but this was an important night. I wanted everything to be perfect.
It wasn't until we were walking up to the carriage that I realized I should have asked if he was scared of horses. Some people were and for understandable reasons. Horses were big, powerful animals that could be a bit unpredictable. Especially if you weren't around them much.
"Is that what we're taking?" he asked when it was clear which direction we were walking. His voice was quiet and breathy, and when I looked at him, his eyes were wide.
Shit! I've ruined everything.
"Is that okay?" I asked hesitantly, already glancing back toward my truck.
The heater would still be warm. I could drive him down the car path. It wouldn't be as pretty, but I could still salvage this night.
"Better than okay," he whispered, turning to look at me. "This is amazing." He threw his arms around my neck, giggling as he hugged me tight. "I've always wanted to do this, but I've never had someone to do it with. It's like you read my mind.
I sagged in relief, my heart soaring at the idea that I had given him something he actually wanted. Now, hopefully, the rest of the night goes as planned.
The ride was beautiful with my attention being divided between the light display and my gorgeous mate, loving the wonder in his eyes and the giant smile on his face. I'd never in my life been so happy to give anyone anything.
I reached in my pocket, running my thumb over the velvet box before pulling it out and spinning slightly in my seat. I popped the top, patiently.
"Axel," he said excitedly, looking above us as we passed over a huge tree with thousands of white Christmas lights strung throughout the branches, making it look almost magical. The carriage stopped, and Edmond gasped excitedly, turning to include me in his merriment.
And then he froze, his eyes widening impossibly as he looked at the box and then up at me. His mouth had dropped open and as always, I was tempted to lean in a nibble that plump bottom lip before running my tongue along the velvety seam, but I too was frozen, unable to move in my nervousness.
Clearing my throat, I looked into his pretty, glistening green eyes. "Edmond, I have every intention of claiming you tonight, of making you mine for the rest of forever." I licked my lips wishing my mouth wasn't so dry. I felt like everything was sticking together and I needed to be articulate at the moment. "But I know that ceremonies are important for symbolism and special for families. So, do you think you’d maybe want to marry me? In front of God and your whole family. With the leap we've both kind of adopted and the streak we both need to help? Will you show the whole world that you belong to me and I belong to you?"
His small but strong arms wrapped around me, and he buried his face in my neck, sobbing against my skin. Within seconds, my collar was soaked with his tears as he mumbled something against my neck.
"What, sweetheart?" I asked, using my free hand to rub soothing circles into his back as I tried not to panic at the fact that I had no idea if these were sad tears or happy tears. "I can't understand you."
Pulling back, he sniffled a couple of times, using the inside collar of his own shirt to wipe the wetness off of his face.
"You're pretty fucking romantic for a redneck," he said, looking up at me with his slightly splotchy, but still incredibly beautiful face a mask of absolute happiness. "Yes, Axel. Absolutely yes."
Chuckling, half from relief, half from the fact that my sweet mate had given me the oddest compliment I'd ever received, I scooped him up, using the arm with the ring to slide behind his knees and pulled him into my lap.
"I can't believe this is happening," he whispered when I pulled the ring back up and sat my arm across his lap. "Will you put it on me? I know we should wait until we actually get married, but I want to wear it now."
"Of course. I have a matching one back at the leap house." I took the ring out of the box and slid it on his left ring finger, my heart fluttering when I saw how perfect it looked against his skin. "I plan on wearing mine every moment of every day, so nobody ever doubts that I belong to you, Edmond."
Our eyes met, and even though I knew it was too soon and it would probably freak him out a little, I couldn't hold the words back. They spilled out of my mouth completely unchecked, shoved out by the feeling taking over my entire being.
"I love you, Edmond," I whispered, and even I could hear the awe in my voice. "I love you so much it aches to think of spending even a moment without you."
He opened his mouth to respond, but I didn't want him saying it if he didn't mean it and I definitely didn't want to hear him say he wasn't ready to say it himself, so instead, I captured his mouth with mine.
My intention had been to shut him up before he said something we would both regret, but as usual, when I tasted him, my body went up in flames. I groaned against his lips as his fingers dug into my hair, one sporting a shiny new symbol of our commitment to each other. The carriage started moving again, but it took as an unnumbered amount of moments to even notice as we tried desperately to devour each other's mouths.
When we finally came up for air, I panted heavily, looking around.
We were almost back to where we'd started, and I was more than a little disappointed, wishing I could ride around with my mate in my arms all night, but it was probably for the best. I was desperate to get him home and claim him. To bond us forever.
As the carriage came to a stop in almost exactly the same spot we'd boarded in, I stood slowly, letting Edmond’s feet hit the floor and steadying him before letting go.
"I love you too," he said his face a ray of sunshine when I jerked my eyes to his. "You didn't let me say it back, and I think I know why, but I do. I love you beyond what is logical in the short amount of time that I've known you and spent time in your presence, but it doesn't change the fact that it's true."
When I went to interject, he held up a hand, raising an eyebrow at me. "And you better not say something dumb here that makes me want to punch you in the penis. I'm an adult who knows his own heart, and I know without a doubt that I love you, Axel Oakes."
I blinked repeatedly for a few moments, trying to process what he was saying and deciding whether or not I should believe him. Looking at his earnest face and sweet, sweet smile, my heart squeezed.
Edmond Aldridge was in love with me.
"I have to pee," he said suddenly, breaking the spell and making me give a surprised snort. "But damn that hot cocoa was good."
Shaking my head, I bypassed the steps on the side of the carriage, knowing my boots were too big to fit and turned to ease my precious mate down to the ground, being sure to let his body slide slowly down mine. "I hope so, since you drank four cups of it."
He moaned, burying his face in the hollow of my throat and rubbing my beard against his skin. I got the feeling he loved the way it felt because he did it every chance he got. He would get absolutely zero objections from me.
Whimpering, he jerked away before dancing in place while he looked around frantically.
I laughed, grabbing his hand and pulling him in the direction of the small, cinderblock building in the center of where vendors had set up booths for selling Christmas stuff and treats.
While he went into the bathroom, I walked over to where a lady was selling the hot cocoa that had been in the thermos on the carriage and chuckled, knowing Edmond would want another cup as soon as he got done in the bathroom.
It took less than a minute to get the drinks and pay the woman, and I figured Edmond would be coming out soon, so I sat on the bench just outside the bathroom door and waited. After a few moments, I began to wonder if he was having trouble getting all his layers back in order, walked over, using my shoulder to ease the door open.
"Edmond?" I called cheerfully, expecting him to answer with an annoyed grumble or an exasperated sigh, but the bathroom was deathly quiet except for the sound of the water running in the sink.
Frowning, I sat one of the cups on the edge of the sink, reaching to turn the water off when I spotted a small drop of blood that had run down the side of the sink along with the two paper towels that had been haphazardly dropped next to the sink and a few more drops that had formed a webbed splatter against the surface and a few more on the floor next to them.
My heart jerked in my chest, and I spun toward the two stalls. "Edmond?!" I asked frantically pushing first one and then the other open.
But I already knew he wouldn't be there, and my breathing faltered, wheezing in and out of my body as I reached out a shaking hand and swiped my finger through the blood, bringing it to my nose.
I might not have had the best nose. And clearly, I couldn't track jack shit with it, but I knew the smell of Edmond anywhere and my tiger recognized the smell of our mate immediately.
"Fuck!" The other cup of cocoa was tossed into the sink as I frantically checked my pockets for my phone.
Thankful I had gotten Carpenter's number earlier that day, I pressed call and waited for his call, not sure what to do with myself. I wanted to search for my mate, but I knew I was completely useless since my nose didn't work for shit. Plus, I really needed to make sure nobody washed away the blood before someone who could use it to track him got there.
I locked the door just as Moore's mate answered the phone, a smile in his voice when he said, "hey, big guy. Did you do it?"
"Carpenter," I choked out, my throat tight. "I need your nose. Edmond's missing."
"I'm coming." I heard frantic movement in the background, telling me he was up and going. "Can you track him?"
"No," I growled, running my hand through my hair while pacing the floor like a caged tiger. Which, at that moment, with my mate missing and no way of tracking him, I kinda was trapped. "I knew something like this would happen. That's why I shouldn't be allowed a mate. It's dangerous."
"Stop," Carpenter snapped, reminding me that I wasn't talking to myself. There was actually someone on the line, and he was going to help me. I wasn't alone. "We'll be there soon. I'll get Thompsyn."
The next hour was the longest hour of my life. I lost count of how many people tried to open the door, but I didn't even acknowledge them with a yell, far too keyed up to talk at that moment.
When Carpenter, Moore, Thompsyn, and Bennett arrived, I was squatted down in the corner of the bathroom, holding my head in my hands and trying not to have a full on panic attack.
My mate was missing, and I was completely useless. How was I supposed to take care of him like this? How was I supposed to take care of any future kids we might have?
"Axel?" Carpenter yelled through the bathroom door and I raced over and unlocked it, slinging it open.
When a very pregnant Thompsyn waddled in, I cringed, feeling horrible for having to drag him out in the cold, but more than elated to know he was there. The man had the best nose in the world, and I couldn't help but wish he could share even a smidge of it with me.
He also looked cozy in all the layers he was wearing. Most likely so his pregnant belly looked more like an unfortunate beer belly than the incubator for two babies, but I bet the guy was burning up. It might be cold, but he was also a grizzly bear shifter.
Without a word, I picked up the napkin still lying on the floor and handed it to the big bear, meeting his white-blue gaze. He looked so sympathetic, slapping a massive paw on my shoulder and I nodded my thanks.
"Get to sniffin', Papa Bear," Bennett said, his usual jovial nature tamed down as he too sent me a sad smile.
Thompsyn nodded, lifting the towels until they were a few inches from his nose. He hesitated for a moment when he was done, glancing first at the trash and then at me and I knew he was trying to decide what to do with them. Instead of tossing them, he gently handed them back to me.
It was oddly respectful, probably knowing I wanted to hold onto anything I could at that moment that connected me to my mate.
Nodding a thank you, I folded the napkins and put them in my pocket before following everyone outside.
As Thompsyn sniffed the air, walking toward the parking lot, Moore turned to me, narrowing his eyes on me. "Is my brother your mate?"
"Yes," I whispered, my throat tight.
"Then why didn't you tell him?" Moore's face was mutinous, and I knew some of that anger was because his brother was missing, and he was feeling just as helpless as I was. But I knew the rest was at me and it all stemmed from my deficiency.
"I didn't know," I answered honestly, knowing what was coming and knowing I was going to have to admit to people who weren't my precious, perfect, accepting mate that I was broken.
"How do you not know?" He demanded as we followed Thompsyn. "I thought all shifters knew at first sniff."
I sighed and cleared my throat, turning to meet his angry gaze. "The same reason I can't track him now like any other shifter in the world would be able to. "My nose is fucked."
Moore stopped in his tracks, blinking up at me. "Oh."
"Yeah."
"Damn," Carpenter said, coming up behind his mate and putting his hands on his shoulders, meeting my eyes over his mate's head. "That sucks man. Were you born like that?"
I smiled slightly, thinking about Edmond bravely asking the same thing the night before. "No. I was shot in the head a long time ago. I can still smell things and differentiate smells slightly better than humans, but tracking is out of the question because I'd have to basically be a few inches from the scent to be able to process it." I looked at Moore. "I could smell Edmond once he got that muscle cream off, but it wasn't enough of his scent for my tiger to recognize it. It was more intriguing to him than anything else, but he didn't recognize Edmond until…later."
Moore rolled his eyes and sighed. "Yuck."
"He got in a car right back there," Thompsyn said, walking up to stand beside me. "He's with someone else."
"Fuck," I said, growling. "It has to be Kelso."
"Human or shifter?" Carpenter asked, face hard and serious. He hadn't been the least bit happy when he'd seen that bruise on Edmond the day before either.
"Human," Thompsyn answered, looking around the parking lot. "Carpenter, you brought the SUV. We should probably take that. Just because he's human doesn't mean he's not dangerous."
"I can't believe Edmond never told me what that bastard was doing to him," Moore grumbled as we started following Carpenter to where he'd parked. "I thought we were all so close."
"You know that's not how it works, little s'more." Carpenter grabbed his man's hand, pulling him into his side and throwing an arm around his shoulders. "It has nothing to do with how close you guys are. Though, if you want to stay close to your brother, you better start treating his mate a little better."
"I know," Moore whispered, looking at me over his shoulder. "I'm sorry, Axel. Edmond was right. I was totally judging you on superficial, stupid things. I'm just really protective of my brother."
I nodded but didn't say anything else because we were all climbing into the vehicle, Carpenter driving while Thompsyn hung his head out the passenger side window sniffing the air and directing Carpenter where to drive.
I'd never met another shifter who could actually take in and process scents the way the bear could. He could actually track a car by the residual scents left behind on it, making it completely unique.
We pulled up to a building that looked like it might have once been a church. It was clearly abandoned now, though.
"He's in there," Thompsyn said, nodding at the dilapidated white structure, already opening his door.
"What do you think you're doing, Papa Bear?" Bennett asked from beside me in the middle of the back seat.
He'd reached up and snagged the guy’s jacket, making the bear look a bit like a turtle as he tried to kick his legs and get away from his mate's grasp.
"Damn it, Ben, I'm not going to do anything stupid. I just want to know what the hell is going on," he grumbled, finally reaching up to smack Bennett's hand away.
"Look at you. What are you going to do? Distract him with how fast you waddle?"
"Why did you even come?" The bear glared over his shoulder. Well, he tried to glare over his shoulder, but he couldn’t' turn all that well at the waist in his condition and he kinda just ended up with his back pressed to the console, sending evil eyes to his own seat. "They needed me, not you. You know I'd never put the babies at risk."
"Don't get cranky, booger bear. I don't want you at risk either."
In the end, it was decided that everyone should go in so that nobody was left vulnerable just in case there was an element we were missing somehow. Though, I honestly had no idea how Thompsyn could miss anything with an awesome nose like that.
I refused to be bitter about it. And as we peered over the half wall in the old choir loft, I was extremely grateful for his special gift.
There was my mate. Unfortunately, he was tied facedown to a cot with his shirt off while the guy I was pretty sure he used to call boyfriend put his phone closer to the mark.
"Kelso," Moore growled confirming my suspicions.
"See. I told you I could get him again. But this time I had to do it alone." He said, turning the camera on the phone back around so the person on the other end could see his face instead of my mate's gorgeous back.
I felt my skin prickle with hair as my tiger gave an angry growl inside my head. Carpenter put his hand on my shoulder.
"He's talking to Heath. That means he was probably the one who was behind Moore, Edmond and Bethany's kidnapping the first time." Carpenter's wolf was in his eyes when he looked back down at the man, clearly on the edge of his control, even while he was trying to keep me in mine.
"It's not my fault you lost him," Kelso said, sounding smug. "I went through all the trouble of getting him a second time. You're going to pay up if you want him back. Maybe take better care of your shit."
"How much do you think he knows?" Bennett asked, shaking his head. "I don't think he'd be talking to the man like that if he knew how easy it would be for him to rip his throat out.
"Doesn't matter," I growled, past the point of waiting.
We had the information we needed. Kelso had kidnapped Edmond and he'd been the one who'd kidnapped him before. Or at least behind it. Heath had paid him. What else was there?
Vaulting over the short wall, I landed down in the sanctuary, already growling when my feet hit the ground less than three feet in front of Kelso and my mate.
"What the fuck? How did you do that?" Kelso gasped, jumping to his feet and running backward.
When I looked down at Edmond's face, finally visible to me, I roared, beyond angry to see the deep cut on his temple. He was out cold, not even budging at the sound of my angry tiger.
"You want to see something even cooler than that?" I asked, advancing on the man as he scrambled backward away from my mate, tripping over the old piano bench and falling to his back on the ground.
I let my teeth and claws grow, having learned to half shift years ago when I was little. It had been a game my friends and I would play to see who had the most control and could hold it longest. I always won.
I knew what Kelso saw in that moment, and I knew it was terrifying. He tripped backward, slamming against the wall and sliding into a heap on the floor.
"What the hell?" The man whispered, looking on the verge of hysterical tears. "What are you?"
"It doesn't matter."