I bite back a laugh when my Omega turns up his nose and looks away from the other Alpha. He’s pissed at Lex for how he’s been acting toward Bea. Rightfully so. Pushing away your Fate-matched mate is a stupid thing to do, regardless of your reasons.
“How is he?” Ridley asks, walking over to claim the bench seat by the window. Apparently, he plans on hanging out for a while.
“Hurt.” Foster grunts, narrowing his eyes at Ridley. “Why aren’t you at home with your mate?” Yeah, he’s mad at Ridley, too. Just not as much as Lex. Both of them made poor decisions about their girl, but they’re making up for it. I think. If theyweren’t, I’m sure Bea would’ve kicked their asses to the curb by now.
“She sent us here,” Creed explains. “Well, technically, Donovan did. But Bea’s fine at home with Orion for a bit.”
Hearing Donovan’s name sends my thoughts back to Hannah. Glancing at my phone, I scowl when I see she hasn’t tried to call or message me. “What’s going on?” I ask, turning my glare Creed’s way.
“We have a location for Bethany Montgomery. And Colin Boyd, if they’re still together.”
They have—shit,that’s why Hannah rushed off the phone. Her parents must have a connection to Harold Henderson that she could explain. None of this explains her distress, but I’m not missing a chance to find her asshole ex-husband and get a little revenge for what he did to Manny.
Foster grips the front of my shirt when I lean down to kiss him. Fire burns in his aquamarine eyes, and I know what he’s asking. I nod, promising that Colin won’t walk away from this unharmed. “Text me if Hannah calls you, or if Manny wakes up. I’ll be back as soon as I can. The agents outside will protect you both.”
“So will I!” Ridley chimes in, grinning when we both frown. “Bea would take my balls if I let you get hurt.”
Rolling my eyes, I press a kiss to both of my mate’s heads, and then we head out. It’s time to put an end to the stalking.
Morning light stretches onto the horizon as our SUV crawls along the dirt path toward the cabin. Drone footage confirmedthat our targets are hiding inside. The brush-covered car tucked between trees off the path ahead matches the vehicle they were driving when they attacked Manny. Rage fills my body, ratcheting from a simmer to a rolling boil the closer we get.
“Don’t kill them,” Lex grunts as he swings out of the car, drawing his weapon and immediately scanning our surroundings. I scowl at his back, momentarily wondering if I could get away with knocking him on his ass. The FCDA team leader, Catalco, stops me with a shake of his head. Later. I’ll ground him later.
Catalco motions for us to spread out, a plan we went over during the drive here. Catalco, Lex, and I are going to breach the front door, while Creed and two other agents take the back. Everyone else will form a perimeter in case either target tries to flee through a window or another hidden exit.
As we approach the front door, I clench my hands into fists. They wouldn’t let me have a weapon since it’s likely I’ll fly into an Alpha Rage the moment I see Colin, but they’re letting me break the door down. With how old and poorly maintained this cabin looks, I doubt it will take much effort.
When I get the signal, I close my eyes and unleash all my anger, letting it flow from my body in dizzying waves. Lex curses, pulling his balaclava up to cover his nose and cancel out my scent. My foot connects with the center of the wooden door, and it fractures, blasting inward. A woman shrieks, feet pounding along the floors as she races toward the back. I don’t give Hannah’s mother a second glance. Creed’s team will capture her. My focus is on Colin.
The bastard cowers in the corner, eyes wide as he stares at the remnants of the door. A growl rips from my throat, pulling his attention to me. “You,” he sneers, gaining a little of his backbone back. It doesn’t last long. His face falls when I take one large, menacing step in his direction.
Catalco raises a hand and stops me. “I know you’re pissed as hell, for good reason, but is beating up this pathetic excuse for a man worth it? We can arrest him. He has nowhere to run.”
Grinding my teeth, I stare at Colin. He’s shaking like a terrified chihuahua, practically pissing himself from the aggression pouring off me. I want to make him hurt, but I think Catalco’s right. He isn’t worth the effort. “Fine.”
Colin relaxes when I cross my arms and take a step back. Then this dumb shit grins and opens his stupid fucking mouth. “Don’t worry,Alpha, when these charges magically go away, I’ll reclaimmy wifeand fuck your bond right out of her.”
Catalco throws his hands in the air and swears, moving out of the way as I leap across the room and slam into Colin. All I see is red. My fist slams into his body. Again and again and again and again, until an arm loops around my throat and drags me away. I struggle, limbs flailing as the rage consumes me. I’m going to kill him. Rip his heart from his chest and deliver it to my Wildfire. He’ll never breathe her name again, let alone dare to come after her.
“Enough,” Lex barks, tossing me to the ground. I expect to hit the floor, so I splutter when I splash into frigid water instead. How the fuck did we get outside so fast? The lake helps to cool my anger, clearing some of the haze from my mind and giving me back control of my body.
“Sorry.” He shrugs one shoulder and walks away without responding.
Leaning my head back, I stare up at the gray sky and breathe in the fresh air. Tires moving gets my attention, and I look toward the cabin in time to watch paramedics wheel Colin out to load him into an ambulance. Donovan is going to suspend me for this, but I don’t care. That asshole deserves much worse than the beating I gave him.
“Wilson!” Catalco calls me across the yard, where a team is digging up part of the property. I jog over to join him, silently cursing Lex when a chill seeps into my skin thanks to my soaking wet clothes. Reaching the others, I glance down at the dirt and swear. A skull pokes out, the first piece of the skeleton I was hoping wouldn’t be here. Fuck, this is going to wreck Hannah. And Omen, if what Donovan told me about her parentage is true.
“As your supervising officer, I am suspending you from your duties. Go home to your mates.”
He shoves me toward the agent who will drive me back to Starburgh, and I follow without complaint. I’m ready to go home.
The house is quiet when I return. Too quiet for the midmorning hour. I kick my shoes by the door and head upstairs, letting my bond to Hannah guide me. Quiet voices filter from the pack bedroom, and when I step inside, I find my mate and our children piled in our bed, watching a movie on my laptop. The floor creaks when I reach the door, and both their heads snap toward me.
“Papa Shepherd!” Kaitlin scrambles from the bed and throws herself into my arms, tiny sobs falling from her lips. I wrap her up tight, carrying her back to where her mother watches us with watery eyes. Sinking onto the bed, I shift Kait to one arm and pull Hannah to me with the other.
“It’s over,” I promise them. “We got them.”
Hannah sags against me, hands wrapping in my shirt as she cries. She doesn’t make a sound, but I feel her body shake.Pressing a kiss to my princess’s head, I tuck her back into their blanket pile. She gives me a pout, but I nod toward Hannah. Kait huffs, turning back to her movie and patting the spot beside her.
