Destiny's Choice (31 page)

He chuckled, wrapping a hand around her waist. “You’re rather stubborn.”

“Yeah. But you love me anyway.”

“That I do.” He kissed her nose the turned back to Phillip.

“See, all better. Now we can work out an arrangement.”

No way in hell would Roan ever agree to anything this two faced bastard had in mind. But he’d play along. For the moment.

“And just what would that be?”

“In exchange for returning my accounts, I will share my research along with the whereabouts of the fifteen male hybrids.”

“They’re all male?” Rivera asked.

Phillip gave her a cold smile. “Like your female Alpha, you’re the only female hybrid to ever survive to adulthood.”

“Ha!” Sasha chortled. “I knew we had a lot in common. And you can kick but too. Sisters!”

Rivera
grinned as Roan shook his head. Leave it to his little sister to turn a negative into a positive. Still, it didn’t quite explain how Phillip had achieved a successful hybrid. Or why getting his money back was so important. Something definitely wasn’t right. More so than before.

“You know, Phillip. I’m a little fuzzy on just how you were able to accomplish a surviving hybrid,” Roan mused. “From what my team has uncovered, these fifteen males were born twenty five years ago. Correct?”

“Very good,” Phillip applauded. “Fifteen families had filed to adopt a male baby. I chose each one based on income, social standing, and location. Basically nobodies
,
living nowhere. The fifteen grand was explained as a trust set up for the child’s upkeep and education. The families didn’t question it. They were too happy to get a child.”

“But you kept tabs?”

“Of course. It was nothing to bribe the family doctor to keep me informed. Though by the time these fifteen were born, I had found a way to breed out the weaknesses that Rivera and the earlier subjects suffered. These fifteen were like normal babies.”

“Which begs the question of how they were conceived in the first place.”
Roan wondered aloud. “The Pack was childless for nearly a century before Sasha was returned to us. So
,
unless this is all some elaborate ruse, I’d like to know how you accomplished this feat when no on else in the Pack could.”

“Quite simple actually. Only the females were unable to conceive.” His reply was as smug as it was shocking.

“The females?”

Phillip chuckled. “The balance of having both Alphas is correct. Having the female Alpha
,
especially. But that’s only for as long as she’s able to conceive herself. That can be from the first menstrual cycle to about
two-hundred and twenty
years, give or take a decade. Depends on how strong the female Alpha is. In Sasha’s case, that could be a lot longer than
two-hundred and twenty
years.
F
or the males, as long as any male Alpha is alive, his sperm is viable. As for the fifteen males, you and your father were alive at that time. All I needed was the sperm from healthy Lupus
males and willing human female surrogates.”

“And just who did this sperm come from?” Rivera asked.

Roan was almost afraid to know. It was bad enough Phillip had been experimenting on his own species and using human women to do it with. Now there were fifteen young men out there who had no idea of who and what they were. And they were in grave danger.

“Myself, naturally.” He grinned. “Your father, Ian. The terrible trio as you called them even though Boone is no longer with us. And, well, when the opportunity presented itself, I just couldn’t pass it up.” He paused, that oily grin getting wider. “Zander LeGuer.”

“My father!” Roan wanted to tear the bastard limb from limb. He was just thankful his mother wasn’t there to hear it. No telling what she would have done. The woman was still powerful in her own right
and she’d
loved her
Mate
deeply. If it weren’t for the fifteen hybrids needing saved, Roan would have cheerfully killed the man.

“Oh, yes. His sperm was quite potent. The surrogate gave birth to triplets. She didn’t survive, of course. None of them did due to the Lupus virus.” His features were ani
m
ate
d with a fanatical glee. “But it was very promising. Unfortunately, I had to separate the babes. It would have been fascinating to see how they grew up together. Still, I just couldn’t take the risk.”

“How many sons do these donor’s have?” Roan was almost numb. He couldn’t believe how their species could have spawned such a sick and vile Lupus as Phillip St. Paul. It was unconscionable what he had done to those humans and the children that resulted.

“Hmm…Lets see.” His blond brows scrunched in thought. “Zander only has the triplets. I wasn’t able to get enough sperm for more than two tries. The second worked, thank God.” He grinned. “Ian has the most with five. Boone has three. Morgan has two. And Kyle and myself have one a piece. I had wanted more diversity, but getting the sperm proved harder than I anticipated.”

“I bet,” Tristan sneered.

Roan’s mind was reeling. He had three brothers. Three half brothers that were hybrids. Three hybrid brothers that would die along with the others if he didn’t get their locations.

“I have five brothers, Roan,” Rivera said with shock. She then blinked. “We have to save them. Save all of them.”

“We will, sweetheart,” he promised.

“Nobody is going to do any saving until I get my agreement,” Phillip announced. “I answered your questions, Roan. Time to deliver your part of the bargain.”

Before Roan could say a word, Kane and Abel came to his side.

At only 5’8” a piece, their golden brown hair gleamed in the lights from the house. It made their striking amethyst eyes really stand out. Add in the creamy pale skin and features any model would kill for and you had what seemed an innocent set of young twins. Far from it. Alone, they were dangerous enough. Together, they were deadly. Able to combine their powers, they could take out almost any threat.

“We may have a solution to your problem, Roan,” Abel said. He always spoke for the two. Kane was more of an action kind of guy.

“What did you have in mind?” If it could in anyway save his
new found brothers and the others without making a deal with Phillip, Roan was behind it one hundred percent.

“Don’t think you’re getting out of our deal, Roan,” Phillip sneered. “I still have my own
men waiting in the wings. One call and all fifteen hybrids will die with a bullet instead of poison.”

Roan didn’t hesitate. “Do it.” If whatever they had planned didn’t work, he’d go with Sasha’s idea. Anything to save those young men.

Abel motioned Dane over. “Stand in between us and take both our hands,” he instructed. Dane did as bid. “Now, hoist our guest five feet in the air.”

Giving Phillip a smirk, Dane had the man in the air before he could move or run. Phillip was not happy about it. Not that any of them cared.

“Good. I need you to concentrate on Phillip’s surface thoughts,” Abel told him.

“Spare me the mind probe, gentlemen,” Phillip scoffed. “Not even the mighty Omega Squad can accomplish that.”

“Could we get some quiet, Roan?” Abel grinned.

“With pleasure.”

Roan had Phillip’s vocal chords
frozen before he could utter another sound. It felt good to finally do something to the man. Not exactly what he wanted. But then, he could be patient.

“Excellent. Now Dane, out of all the Omega’s with your ability, you are the strongest, correct?”

Dane nodded.

“Well, Kane and I discovered that we can amplify and even guide another Omega’s power,” Abel explained. “We’ve gotten better and stronger with practice over the years, but there is still a margin for error. And it’s very draining,” he warned.

“If it in anyway can get us the info we need to save those fifteen young men, then lets do this. I can eat a couple of steaks later.”

“If it gets to be too much, pull out. I won’t have you three added to the injury list,” Roan ordered them. “We can get the information another way.”

All three nodded then closed their eyes. Moments later, a warm wind began to swirl around them. It was gentle and steady.

“Roan, look.” Rivera touched his arm, pointing to
Phillip.

His eyes were wide, mouth open in a silent scream. Whatever the three were trying, it definitely looked as if Phillip was experiencing something.

“Dane,” Abel panted. He and the other two were pale and starting to sweat profusely.

“Al…most…al…most.” Dane’s features were lined with strain.

“Dane…hurry…can’t…” Kane was taking gulps of air.

“Done.”

All three collapsed, breathing as if they had run a marathon. They looked it as well. Sasha ran to them, checking them over.

“Jesus,” Tristan gasped.

Thanks to Roan’s power, Phillip was still suspended in the air. He didn’
t appear to be doing all that good. Blood was trickling from his nose and ears. A few of the blood vessels in his eyes had even burst. No, he didn’t look well.

Lowering him to the ground, Roan and Rivera went to his side. From the sound of his heart, he didn’t have much time.

“Can you hear me, Phillip?” Roan knelt down next to him just in case. Rivera followed.

Phillip grimaced in pain. “Knew I’d probably die, but had to try anyway. You know?”

“I know.”

“I did something, Roan. Something stupid.” He grabbed Roan’s arm with a surprising grip. “Money…government contract. Promised…super soldier. Only way…fund research.”

Roan felt his insides clench with fear. “Do they know about us?”

“N…no. Gave only…minimal…updates. Kept…real research…secret
.” He clumsily reached into his pant pocket and pulled out a flash drive. “Save…save my son, Roan. Please.”

“I’ll save them all, Phillip. I swear.”

He let out a shuddering breath. “Thank…you.” His eyes began to fall shut.

“Phillip. Your other research.” He shook Phillip’s shoulder gently. He needed to know if the government agency Phillip had dealt with could link them all together. If they could, Roan needed to do damage control and fast.

“No…worries, Roan.” He barely opened his eyes. “Burned…lab to ground. Made sure…cover…tracks. Flash drive…only…thing left.” He then smiled “He’s beautiful…my son. Beautiful.” With that word, Phillip St. Paul breathed his last.

The little black wolf who
’d
been hiding near the front of the car slowly came over to Rivera. He had his head down and was whining softly.

“It’s okay, Milo. You’re safe here, boy,” she crooned to him.

“Safe? Really?”

Roan and Rivera looked to each other then back at Milo with surprise.

“Milo?”

“Sorry for the ruse,” he said sheepishly then began to shift in a kaleidoscope of colours.

“You’re an Omega,” Roan stated with even more surprise when a naked young man with black hair, light green eyes, and golden tan skin sat before them.

“Omega? Never heard of that.” He shook his shaggy head. “All I remember is being in my dorm then waking up in some lab with Frankenstein here and his minions. Next thing I know, he’s got me hooked up to an IV and shooting something in it. Don’t know what it was but it made me feel like I wanted to die. When I next wake up, I’m a wolf. Frankenstein tells me how to shift back
,
but I figure
it’s
better to keep my mouth shut and bide my time until I can escape. He thought I’d lost my humanity. I wasn’t going to
relieve
him of that notion.” He shrugged.

“He took you from your dorm?” Rivera asked.

“Yeah.” He nodded. “From what I understand though, Bailey had always been with him. Poor bastard.”

There was something very familiar about the young Omega. And if Roan was right…”How old are you…Milo, is it?”

The young man blushed. “Milo is just a childhood nickname. My real name is Isaiah Montgomery. I turned twenty four last month.”

Rivera sucked in a breath. “Montgomery.”

“Yeah.” He grinned. “A stipulation for adopting me was that I keep my birth name.”

That was no sooner out his mouth and Rivera had him in a back breaking hug.

“Oof!”

Roan didn’t know whether to laugh at the young man’s expression or feel sorry for him. In a way, he did though. Phillip had taken this poor kid and somehow made him shift. Taken him away from his home and thrust him into a world he had no idea existed. Must have been quite a shock. But no more than learning he was one of Ian’s son’s. It was the eyes that clued Roan in. They were the same as Ian’s. A clear Peridot.

“Uh, lady. Hello, lady? Can’t breathe.”

“Let him up for air, sweetheart.” Roan chuckled as he help Isaiah.

“Br
other? You mean all that crap Frankenstein
was spouting was true?”