Bitten By Mistake (28 page)

A low menacing growl worked its way up Nathan’s chest and out. His focus trained on Darren’s hand still wrapped around Jared’s arm.

Gareth glanced back, following Nathan’s gaze. “Jesus Christ, get your fucking hands off him.” He turned to address Cam and Newell, who were watching the scene unfold, although neither seemed in a hurry to put a stop to it. “They’ve bonded.”

A series of surprised gasps echoed around the hall from those who couldn’t see the bite mark.

Gareth pointed at Darren and sneered. “He knew what would happen by touching him. He’s baiting Nathan.”

Cam nodded. “Enough!” His voice cut through the air like a whip. Darren immediately dropped his hand and took a step back, and Nathan shuddered as he struggled to maintain his shift.

“Nathan.” Cam’s voice turned soft, coaxing. “No one else will touch him. Change back and you can have him by your side.”

The command in his alpha’s words seeped through Nathan’s rage, calming the wolf inside. Slowly, Nathan shifted back into his human form and met Jared’s gaze. He’d expected shock, fear, and maybe disgust, but Jared wore none of those expressions. Jared looked at him with what seemed to be a mixture of pride and lust. Nathan smirked at him, feeling their connection flare and fill him with confidence.

Turning to face Cam, he bowed his head in submission, but not apology. He refused to apologise for protecting Jared, and Cam wouldn’t expect him to.

Nathan beckoned Jared over and slipped an arm around his waist when he got within reach. His whole body relaxed at the contact.

“That’s it?” Newell scowled and gestured wildly at Nathan and Jared. “You’re not going to punish him for threatening one of my betas?”

Cam narrowed his eyes, and Nathan drew Jared closer to his side. “Your beta should know not to touch a newly bonded mate.” He shrugged, looking bored with the whole conversation. “Nathan reacted as is his right.”

“And do you have paperwork for that bite?”

Jared flinched beside him, and Newell noticed. His lips curled up into a smug smile as he sensed a weakness.

“You don’t do you? It was an illegal bite, and now they’ve bonded, so you plan to forge the paperwork. Is it even permanent yet?” He hummed as he stared at Nathan, then at Jared. “By the looks of it—”

“That is none of your business,” Cam snapped, his expression hard.

Unease rippled through the room as the tension increased between the two alphas.

Newell eyed Nathan with what appeared to be disgust. “If they were in my pack they’d both be ki—”

“Well, thank fuck they aren’t. And I repeat—
this
is none of your business.”

“In the interest of trust, I think it is. You expect me to let my pack fight alongside yours, yet you have secrets that could damage us all by association. You should report
him
at the very least.” He nodded at Nathan, and Nathan struggled not to bare his teeth. “Deny all knowledge and let the authorities handle it. Judging by the looks of them, the human won’t have him killed or imprisoned.”

“You know as well as I do it would be taken out of Jared’s hands. The authorities would decide their fate, and I will not abandon one of my pack and his mate,” Cam growled out.

“Yet you expect me to put my pack in jeopardy to protect them when we are getting nothing in return? By allying my pack with yours, we risk prosecution if this is discovered before you can make it official.” He looked pointedly at Nathan, his expression predatory. “While
he
risks nothing at all.”

Cam tilted his head, wary. “He will be executed or imprisoned if this gets out. How is that risking nothing?”

“The damage is already done. He broke the law and created this mess, and he appears to be getting away with no punishment at all. The danger has been eliminated now that you plan to help him.”

Nathan’s hackles rose. It was glaringly obvious Newell had something in mind for Nathan’s punishment, and Nathan was pretty sure he had done since the moment Jared was brought in, maybe even before that. This whole conversation was leading up to it, and Nathan wished he’d get the fuck on with it and spit it out. From the look on Cam’s face, he was thinking the same.

Cam sighed, resigned, yet with a tense set to his jaw. “Let’s cut the shit, shall we?” He regarded Newell with open distaste. “I’m assuming your cooperation and silence on this matter will come at a price?”

“You would assume correctly.”

“And that is?”

Newell smiled. “We plan to use a delivery van as bait for the rogue pack. That van needs a driver….”

Shit.

Nathan ignored the mocking glances aimed his way from the other pack.

“What about Jared?” Cam asked, glancing at Nathan as he spoke.

Newell shrugged. “Deal with him as you see fit.”

Cam looked torn. He’d been good friends with Nathan’s father, and now he was being asked to send him on a mission that was almost certain to end in his death. But Cam had already stuck his neck out for Nathan. Newell would have probably let the matter go if Cam had done as he suggested and turned them both in to the authorities, denying all knowledge. He might have got in trouble if it was just his word, but with another alpha to back up his story, the chances were good the police would drop it and deal with Nathan and Jared on their own. But Cam had stood by Nathan, and this was the price they had to pay. He wouldn’t let his alpha or his pack down by being a coward.

“I’ll do it,” Nathan stated, loud and clear.

Jared startled next to him. He’d stayed silent this whole time, but now he hissed Nathan’s name, urging him to look at him. But Nathan looked to his alpha, and when their eyes met and Cam nodded, his expression filled with fierce pride. Nathan knew he’d made the right decision; he just needed to find a way to stay alive.

“It’s settled, then. The information has already been leaked. Nathan will drive the van tomorrow on the routes specified until the rogue pack take the bait.”

“And if they don’t?” Gareth asked. “What then?”

Newell’s smile was cold. “Oh, they will, especially when word gets out that Nathan will be driving it. I suspect they have a little payback in mind for the shifters he killed.”

Fuck.
Nathan swallowed past the lump in his throat; he willed Jared to keep quiet until they could leave. The panic and fear oozed out of Jared, and Nathan refused to let anyone see how much it affected him or how badly he needed to wrap Jared in his arms and breathe him in.

Cam addressed the room. “When the van is taken and driven to the warehouse, we follow and attack as they open the loading bay doors. Your betas have the details. Everyone meet back here at 6.00 a.m. tomorrow.”

With Cam’s dismissal, the room erupted into loud chatter, each unit crowding around their beta to discuss what had just happened and the upcoming fight.

“Nathan?” Jared turned to him and put a hand on his cheek. “What did you just agree to?”

Nathan shook his head; he couldn’t discuss it surrounded by so many shifters. He needed to get Jared out of there. “Later.”

The rest of his unit were behind him; Nathan turned to see them watching him. Their eyes had the same fierce pride as Cam, but sadness alongside it. They were his family, and this could well be the last time they saw him.

Luke blinked back tears as he clutched Nathan’s arm. “Fucking hell, Nate.”

Nathan sighed. “Yeah, I know.”

Thankfully, Gareth stepped in before either of them lost it. “Everyone back to my place, now.” He turned to Nathan and Jared. “You have thirty minutes, then come up and join us.” With that, they left the room as a group, none of them looking back at the curious glances that no doubt followed them.

The door to the bedroom slammed after Jared followed Nathan through and kicked it closed.

Nathan sat down on the edge of the bed, suddenly exhausted. “Are you okay?” He glanced up to see Jared glaring at him.

“No, I am not okay. Jesus Christ, Nathan.” Jared paced the length of the room. “They escorted me from your flat like a criminal, and that room was full of shifters—I’ve never seen so many—with half of them looking at you like they wanted to kill you.” He paused in front of Nathan, one hand fisted in his blond hair. “I’m not sure what that was in there, but I’m guessing it didn’t end well for you?”

“Yes and no.”

Jared stared at him. “Explain.”

“Everyone knows about us. We don’t have to hide from my pack, and whatever the outcome after the full moon, you’ll be safe. Cam will make sure of that.”

“And you? Will you be safe? From the smug fucking looks on that arsehole alpha’s face, being the van driver isn’t something to be envied.” Dropping to his knees in front of him, Jared put his hands on Nathan’s thighs and held tight. “Please tell me what you volunteered for and how much danger you just put yourself in.”

Shit. Nathan sighed and glanced up at the ceiling. “The van is bait to lure the rogue pack out. They want to take what’s ours, so once they steal it, odds are they’ll drive it back to their warehouse. To get it inside, they’ll have to open the wide doors to the loading area—that’s when our two packs will strike. They’ll rush inside and hopefully overwhelm them with sheer force of numbers. Job done.”

Jared nodded. “Sounds like a good plan.”

“It is.” Nathan winced as Jared’s fingers dug into him with nails sharper than they should be.

“What will they do to you when they take the van?”

“Jared—”

“Answer the fucking question, Nathan. What will they do?”

“We’ll fight. I have to make it look convincing.”

“But you’re not allowed to win, right?”

Nathan’s laugh sounded hollow in the quiet of the room. “I don’t think that’ll be a problem. There’ll be plenty of them, and one of me.”

Jared hung his head and spoke quietly. “They’re going to kill you, aren’t they? Fight to the death?”

“Yes.”

“Then what’s the fucking point of all this?” Jared stood, his arms out wide. “Why bother if you’re just going to end up dead?”

Nathan stood and cupped Jared’s face. “Because you’ll be safe no matter what. No one will come after you, and you’ll have a place in my pack if the change takes.”

A lone tear spilled over and ran down Jared’s cheek. “I don’t want to be a part of your pack if you’re not in it with me.” He grabbed Nathan’s waist, pulled him close and kissed him, hard and desperate. Every ounce of what he felt poured into it, and Nathan held on tight, not wanting to let him go. He couldn’t lose this after only having it for such a short time.

Breaking the kiss, he rested their foreheads together. “I’m not going to die tomorrow.”

“But—”

“I’ll find a fucking way. I’m not leaving you.” He pulled back to meet Jared’s gaze. Beautiful blue eyes stared back at him, and Nathan smiled. “You’re mine, and I love you.”

“I love you too.” Jared smiled through his tears.

“It’s the bond making us feel like this, you know.” Nathan wanted to bite his tongue off for ruining the moment, but it was only the truth.

Jared shrugged. “I don’t give a fuck. You’re mine, too, and you'd better not fucking die. There’s eleven days till the full moon and I need you with me.” He shook Nathan a little. “Promise you’ll find some way to stay alive.”

It would be another empty promise. They both knew it, but Nathan said it anyway. “I promise.”

Jared walked him back to the bed. “By my count, we have fifteen minutes before we’re due at Gareth’s. Let’s make the most of it.”

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Monday morning came far too soon, not that Nathan had slept much during the night. After leaving Gareth’s flat, he’d been so emotionally drained—his unit sided with Jared in refusing to accept his imminent death—that he and Jared had gone straight to bed. They’d made the most of their time together, and Nathan was sore all over, but that would fade before he needed to fight. It was worth it, anyway.

Jared slept peacefully next to him, worn out and sated, his features free from worry. That was how Nathan wanted to remember him, if today should turn out to be their last day together.

“Jared.” Nathan shook his shoulder gently. “Hey, I have to go.”

“Mm-hmm.” Jared opened his eyes and smiled sleepily up at him until he remembered. “Fuck. Already?” He sat up, rubbing at his face. “Why didn’t you wake me sooner?”

“I’ve only just woken up myself.”

They stared at each other for a couple of seconds. Then Jared reached for him and Nathan enveloped him in his arms. If he held on too tightly, Jared didn’t complain.

“Please come back to me.” Jared mumbled the words against Nathan’s shoulder.

“I’ll try my fucking hardest.”

Jared clutched him tighter, neither said anything else.

Gareth, Luke, and the others were waiting for Nathan when he reached the bottom of the stairs. Luke pulled him in for a hug, squeezing him a little before stepping back to let the others take their turn.

“Not that I think you’re gonna die,” Kara muttered, surreptitiously wiping away a tear as she stepped back from him. “Just in case you’re too injured for me to do it later.”

Nathan managed a smile. “Of course.”

Gareth looked him in the eye and gripped his shoulder. “I know this isn’t a fight you can afford to win, but you can run.”

“But—”

Gareth shook his head and spoke quietly. “You need to be convincing enough that they think they’ve taken something of ours instead of being handed it on a platter. But you don’t have to die, Nathan. Let them do some damage, and then get the hell out of there.”

“They’ll chase me down.”

“Then run really fucking fast.” Gareth squeezed his shoulder before letting go and leading the way out of the building.

The room they’d met in yesterday was already a hive of activity. Betas were barking orders and organising their units. Nathan followed Gareth to the back of the room and sat on the edge of the table. He tuned out, not needing to listen to Gareth’s instructions to the rest of the team. Nathan already had his briefing: drive the van, stay on the radio, signal when they attack. The van was equipped with a tracker, and there was another in Nathan’s coat that he would leave on the seat as backup.