Page 10 of Hidden Nature

“We’ll see you soon, sweetheart,” Lane called out before she hung up, leaving us to stare at each other.

Lane and I have gone through hell and back the last ten years looking for Cory, starting this pack, and now being mated to the same woman. It seems the universe decided that we needed to journey through life together, and I couldn’t think of a better man to have my back. Zander’s name flashed on my phone, and I realized I’d seen a whole new side of him over the past week, and even Lane was warming to the guy. Answering his call, I once again put it on speaker.

“The plane takes off in twenty minutes. I’m coming to get you guys,” he informed us, not bothering with a greeting. “What the hell is going on that we need to go in stealth mode? Did you talk to her? Is she okay?”

“Yes, we talked to her, and she’s fine for now, but we got a lot to discuss. Are the others with you?” I asked, knowing they wouldn’t want to be left behind.

“Did you really think you could make us stay home?” Mason yelled from somewhere in the car. “If you try, I’ll fight you right here, right now, because that’s not happening.”

I could hear Noah groan in the background. “Twin, you need to calm down. He hasn’t said one way or the other on the matter.”

“Yeah, well, he doesn’t need to because I’m going,” Mason bit out.

“Enough!” Zander snapped. “Shut the fuck up and let the adults talk.” The line went silent and I almost questioned if he’d hung up or not until he spoke, “Why do we need to sneak into Miami to get our mate?”

“She didn’t tell us much, only that the Dark Ring set her up, and they have people in the Senate. Seems they tried to trap her, and when that didn’t work, they resorted to killing her. Thank God she’s good at her job and made it out of there along with a new friend,” I muttered at the end, still not at all sure how I felt about an elf we didn’t know already bonded to our mate.

Zander and the others let out a snarl, picking up on my energy about the matter. “What friend?” Elias demanded, an icy edge to his voice.

“Like I said, we didn’t get a whole lot of information. She said she would explain it all to us in person once she got on the plane. Right now, she is laying low and has contacts in the city. We just need to be there to pick her up,” Lane cut in before I said something that would make the situation worse.

Being stuck with six pissed-off werewolves in a plane for two hours wasn’t an experience anyone should have. The sound of an engine roaring up to the building we had our offices in told me they were here.

“We’ll be out in a moment. Just have to grab a few items first,” I said before hanging up and walking over to the wall safe in Lane’s office. Opening the door, I pulled out two guns, checked to make sure they were loaded and handed the second to Lane. “There is no fucking way I’m taking any chances or letting anyone take her from us. I will use whatever means necessary to ensure her safety.”

Most supers felt it was beneath them to need to use a gun since we were enhanced predators as it is. But I wasn’t fooling around when you were dealing with the Senate and possibly a company that trained the best assassins in the U.S.

Lane took the gun and nodded in agreement, tucking the holster into his pants as we headed out to meet up with the others. Time to get our omega back in our arms safe and sound, even if it meant we needed to burn the city down. Nothing would stop us, that’s for damn sure.

six

After talking with Colt and Lane, I felt like I could breathe a little easier, even if the conversation didn’t start out the best. I knew telling them about Rath was going to cause some upset, but I hadn’t pictured it going down the way it did. My guilt and Colt’s concern created the perfect storm that made my wolf become a puddle of anxiety and I couldn’t manage to say anything I wanted to. When Rath took over the call, I stepped out of the vault separating myself from the conversation until I could come to terms with my choices.

Now I had come into my elf nature, it was much easier to balance my emotions. I could reason with my wolf instead of only having my omega nature ruling my life. Yes, I still wanted to please my alphas and look after my newfound pack, but I was able to look at situations more objectively and still feel like my true self—the Finley before getting bitten. Obviously, there would be a learning curve. My elf nature seemed to be fueled by my emotions, good or bad, and my omega side felt every emotion around me. This was the area that was going to take the most work and no one knew exactly how to help me since it’s never happened before.

Tucking the phone into my back pocket, Rath and I headed out of the bookstore after letting Oscar know we were leaving. Apparently still uncomfortable with Rath being around, he just gave me a wave and disappeared into this maze of bookshelves.

“This question might sound beyond ignorant, but is there any special concern with what you can eat being an elf?” I asked Rath as we headed down the sidewalk.

His seafoam green eyes danced with laughter at my question, but he didn’t tease me about it. “While we prefer to eat a more clean diet of items we’ve grown ourselves, I can eat anything without complication.”

“Just wanted to check before we ended up someplace you couldn’t eat. My bank is right up here. After I get my money moved around, we can have breakfast unless there is something you need to do?” I questioned, stopping before walking into the building.

“No, there is nothing pressing that I must do. I really don’t even know if there is anyone left. I’ve been with the Dark Ring for so long I’m sure they’ve moved the commune,” Rath answered, his shoulders sagging slightly as he talked.

My brow scrunched up at the way he made it sound like he’s been held captive for years. I suppose it never crossed my mind that he might have people to get back to since I’d been so focused on staying alive.

“How long were you down there?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Twenty-five years,” he answered as he reached out a hand, cupping my cheek, allowing me to feel the sadness and loneliness he must have felt. “I wasn’t in that location long, they were planning on moving us to the auction, and I would be sent to my new master. Being bound with iron cuffs kept me from my magic and weak as a human so I could be controlled. The Dark Ring knows that there are some of us left, not many, mind you, but that just makes those they catch all the more valuable.”

Covering his hand with my own, I couldn’t help but imagine what it must have been like to be held captive for so long. From his appearance and attitude, you’d never guess he had been a prisoner for a quarter of a century. This proud, strong man had to bend to the will of others, never knowing how long he would remain somewhere or who he would be transferred to next. I felt my wolf brush up against his magic, adding her support, trying to banish the emotions I was feeling at this moment coming off him. Never again would this man be alone. He would always have me at his side, and I will keep that from ever happening to him again.

Rath chuckled as he looked down at me. “What a fierce mate I’ve found myself. You look as if you will destroy anything that gets in your way right now.” Bending down, he kissed me softly on the lips. “It is an honor to see you so protective of me, nin mel. I feel very much the same about you. Now enough of this depressing talk. Let us get what you need sorted out so we can eat. Our cans of soup last night left much to be desired and I am rather famished.”

Shaking myself out of my emotions, I squared my shoulders and headed into the bank, walking right up to the counter.

“Good morning, how may I help you?” the woman behind the thick bulletproof glass asked through the speaker.