He just wanted to work the safari tours, help in security when needed, and find his soulmate and settle down.
And find Otto, of course.
They took three SUVs and parked a half mile from the quarry.After Jupiter confirmed the trail cam was disabled, they hustled over the bridge and followed the trail to the quarry.He could pick up the scent of the jaguars and saw fresh tire tracks leading out of the quarry.
“The tracks are new, and I smell the jaguars.Their scent is pretty fresh,” he told Caesar with a low voice.“There are a few vehicles in the quarry, but I don’t see any movement.”
The quarry sat low in the earth, hidden by jagged rocks and overgrown foliage.The vehicles were partially hidden by the overgrowth, and while it was quiet in the quarry, it didn’t mean they weren’t there.He wouldn’t know until he checked it out.
“Look for traps,” Caesar whispered.“Watch where you’re walking and keep an eye out for anything and everything.”
They spread out and moved slowly down into the quarry.Alfie kept his wolf close, his senses on high alert.
His skin prickled and he realized how freaking quiet it was.No birds, no insects.Just the faint sound of wind blowing.
And then there was a click.
“It’s a trap!”Alfie yelled, grabbing the males closest to him and shoving them away from the quarry as an explosion rocked the earth.
* * *
The force slammed Caesar to the ground.Dust and heat washed over him, along with a sharp ringing in his ears.His vision blurred for a moment, and something warm trickled down his neck.
He blinked and turned his head.
Amadeus was on the ground, groaning, blood pooling on the dirt from a gash in his leg.
“Amadeus!”Caesar called out as he crawled to him.
Lucius and Jupiter joined him, both dusty and bruised from the blast.
“I’ll check for injured,” Jupiter said, hustling away.
Lucius pulled his belt off and tightened it above the injury on Amadeus’s leg.“We need to get you home so you can shift.”
Caesar growled, scanning the area.The jaguars’ vehicles were smoking and on fire; they’d clearly been decoys to draw them in.
Alfie, who’d realized it was a trap first and pushed Caesar out of harm’s way, walked over.“Otto knew we would come.I think the explosions were set off by remote.He couldn’t have known when we’d get here.”
“Agreed.Help me get Amadeus into the vehicle.Is anyone else hurt?”Caesar asked.
“Beat up but alive, thank fucking goodness,” Alfie said.
Caesar and Alfie lifted Amadeus as Lucius hurried ahead to one of the SUVs to open the back gate.
Fury rose hot and fast within Caesar.He wanted to shift and hunt down Otto, but he forced himself past the need, and focused on his son.
They carried Amadeus to the SUV and laid him in the back.
“I’m okay,” Amadeus said, gritting his teeth.“Just my bad luck to get hit by flying debris.”
“We’ll get you home so you can shift,” Alfie said.
Caesar returned to the quarry to check on the others.Everyone was okay, though several were injured like he was with cuts and bruises.Amadeus had gotten the worst of it, unfortunately.
After all were accounted for and in the park’s vehicles, Caesar climbed into the second row of an SUV to keep an eye on Amadeus.Joss drove and Alfie was in the passenger seat.
No one was talking.The only sound was an occasional grunt of pain from Amadeus and the rhythmic sound of the tires on asphalt.
