Jarrett, AJ - Miles's Awakening [Warriors of the Light 1] (Siren Publishing Allure ManLove) (15 page)

Quinn’s jaw clenched, and his face flushed a bright crimson. He laughed bitterly. “You have to do everything I say. You got that, Trevor?” His mate nodded. “Just remember that because I will not hesitate to tie you down and paddle your ass in the process.”

“I got it.” Trevor got silent as he dropped his eyes to stare at the floor. After a moment, he looked up at Quinn through his thick eyelashes. “I trust you, Quinn. I’ll do whatever you say. Just please understand why I need to come.”

As the silence carried on, Ben spoke up. “He knows why you want to come. Just remember to listen and pay attention.”

Trevor gave a quick nod, and all three men started walking down the hallway where the other warriors gathered in the garage, filling the SUV’s with weapons for the fight ahead.

Ben smiled as he watched his men prepare. They would follow him through the gates of hell, no questions asked. Speaking his gratitude would fall on deaf ears. They would shuck off any words of thanks. They were warriors, and they stuck together when push came to shove.

Once on the highway, Ben was able to relax. He rode with Quinn and Trevor. Quinn drove while Trev rode shotgun while he rested in the back. For the first time in several days, he felt the rays of hope blossom in his soul.

Chapter Eleven

The sun had set by the time they reach the outskirts of Branson, Missouri. Heavy wooded area surrounded them. This was the type of environment wolves inhabited. It gave them plenty of room to run and hunt.

Lachlan had called ahead to his friend Aaron to get directions to the alpha’s home. This pack’s current alpha was still new to his rank. Lachlan hadn’t met the man, but according to Aaron, he could be trusted and would help in any way necessary. And that was good enough for Ben.

“Holy cow, look at that house.” Trevor leaned forward and pressed his face to the window. “It’s the biggest log cabin I have ever seen,” Trevor exclaimed as his eyes widened at the sight of the large home.

Ben shifted to look at his window. Yep, typical alpha wolf housing. He had no ill feelings toward wolves, but they liked to rough it in style. The majority of wolves Ben had met liked to live in supreme comfort in the middle of nowhere. The secluded location helped hide who and what they were from human society.

“It is a beauty, isn’t it?” Quinn said as he pulled into the gravel drive and parked their vehicle.

Ben climbed out of the car and stretched his legs as his fellow warriors parked alongside them. He nodded to each man as they filed in beside him waiting for the order to proceed to the house.

Once everyone was accounted for, Ben started for the front door. He was surprised the alpha or hell, even another wolf, didn’t come out to greet them. At the door, he knocked twice and waited. Wolves had excellent hearing, and knocking any more than that would have been an insult. Only seconds passed before the door swung open.

“Good evening, gentlemen. You must be Ben? I’m Garrett Carrington, alpha of this pack.”

Ben shook the offered hand and stepped inside when Garrett gestured for his entrance. A fire burned in the fireplace. It helped take the bite of chill out of the air.

“Yes, I’m Ben, and these are my fellow Warriors of the Light.”

“Sorry, boss, had to grab my laptop. I got the coordinates for Malcolm’s location in it.” Lachlan looked up and stumbled to a stop. He nearly dropped his bag as he stared in shock at Garrett.

Ben looked to Garrett then back to Lachlan. “Lachlan, are you okay?” Ben could feel a steady rise in tension coming from both men. The warriors closed rank on Lachlan, keeping him safe from whatever potential threat that had him stunned.

“I’ve found you,” Garrett whispered as he stepped forward.

Ben reacted on pure instincts and blocked the alpha’s path to Lachlan. “Garrett, what’s going on?”

Garrett bumped chests with Ben. The man’s teeth started to lengthen, and he howled so loud the walls shook. Ben grabbed his ears at the deafening sound.

“Get out of my way, vampire,” Garrett growled.

“Make me,” Ben seethed at the wolf.

Ben raised his fist just as Garrett drew back his arm to land his own punch. It wasn’t the time, but Ben had already lost his mate, Sayer had been abducted, and he’d lost Cabot to death. He wasn’t taking any chances with this alpha approaching him or any of his fellow warriors.

“Stop it, please.”

With his arm stopped in midswing, he and Garrett both turned to a scared Lachlan.

“Ben, he’s my mate.”

Well that explained Garrett’s quick shift in temperament toward him. When one found their mate, the possessiveness was felt instantaneously. The need to protect and claim could cloud one’s better judgment, especially for young paranormals. As paranormals got older, the easier it became to control their possessive nature.

“Please forgive me, alpha Garrett. I didn’t mean to insult you in your own home. It’s just I have suffered quite a few losses. I wasn’t willing to chance anymore,” Ben said as he stepped aside to let Garrett move toward Lachlan.

“No, please accept my apologies, Ben.” Garrett looked at him then back to Lachlan. “Seeing my mate just took me by surprise. I meant no disrespect.”

Ben smiled. “None taken. I know the joy in finding your mate. Never apologize for that.” His heart felt heavy remembering when he first laid eyes on Miles. He wanted to run to him and claim him instantly, but it wasn’t feasible. But when he did, it felt like the heavens opened up and sang their praise for his and Miles’s union, truly a happy day. A tear leaked out of his eye, and he quickly wiped it away.

“Guys, I know this whole mating thing is a big deal to you vamps”—Trevor cocked his head to the side to look at the alpha—“and werewolves?” He looked to Quinn, who nodded his head. “But my cousin is still missing, and I would like to find him before Malcolm runs off with him again.”

At Trevor’s words, Ben shook off his grief. He had to focus. Finding Miles was the most important thing at the moment.

“He’s right.” Garrett looked at Lachlan when he spoke. “Finding Miles outweighs us right now.” Lachlan waved his hand between him and Garrett.

Ben was beyond grateful when Garrett nodded his agreement. Tonight was the night they rescued his mate and put an end to Malcolm’s reign of terror.

“I have maps and blueprints of the home he’s being held at,” Garrett said as he led the way to the dining room. “As soon as I heard what was going on, I had my own men do a reconnaissance mission of the property.”

The alpha looked at Lachlan when he spoke. Ben wasn’t offended. He could relate to the all-consuming need to be near one’s mate.

“I appreciate all this. You have no idea, Garrett.” Ben’s words came out hoarse. He was touched by the kind nature of this wolf. His thinking ahead saved them time from having to do all the legwork before they attacked.

Garrett smiled at Ben. “No thanks needed.” He looked back to Lachlan. “There is nothing I wouldn’t do to find my mate had he been taken.”

Three hours later, they stood outside a large stone house. By all appearances, the house looked like any other home one would come upon in the country. However, the one thing other houses in the area didn’t have were guards patrolling the property.

“What do you think?”

Ben blew out a hard breath as he turned to look at Quinn. “I think we need to be prepared for anything and everything. Miles is Malcolm’s mate as well. He won’t give up without one hell of a fight.” Ben could attest to this because it was the way he felt.

“Neither will we, my friend. Neither will we.”

“Thank you, Quinn.” Ben’s voice was thick with emotion. “I couldn’t have done this without you. You helped me regain my faith.”

Quinn pulled him into an embrace. Ben held tight. In battle, anything could happen, and he wanted his best friend to know how appreciative he was for all his years of loyalty and hard work.

“Are you ladies done getting all Hallmark on us?”

Ben and Quinn turned to look at Trevor. The man’s sarcastic tongue didn’t falter even when faced with possible death. Ben admired the young man’s strength.

Trevor looked at them both with steady eyes. “Okay then, let’s storm this castle and get medieval on their asses.”

Quinn chuckled. “I couldn’t have said it better myself.”

“I agree.” Ben mouthed a silent thank-you to Trevor who winked in return. “Men, get into position. Leave no survivors. On three, we move forward. One, two, three.”

Chapter Twelve

Miles paced his room. Astrid had not been to visit in the past two days. At first, Miles assumed with the recent move Astrid wasn’t sure how to find him. They had figured out if the witch could visualize where he wanted to go, within a short distance, he could teleport into that room.

Astrid had become quite good at using and developing his magical skills. Miles was impressed with Astrid’s thirst for knowledge and eagerness to discover new things. His not being trained properly did frighten Miles just a little. But they had become such good friends, and even though Astrid was a witch, he wouldn’t dare leave this house of horrors without him.

“Astrid, where are you?” Miles whispered under his breath as he paced his room. “I need to know you’re okay.”

Late at night when he should have been sleeping, he would lie awake and listen to the guards talk, in hopes of hearing where they had moved to. And what he’d heard that first night set his blood boiling with rage.

The word around the corridor was that Lucian had worked Astrid over good. The guards said something about some wolf shifter giving Lucian a hard time and that he needed to work out his aggression and had used Astrid as his punching bag.

Miles picked the pillow up off his bed and threw it across the room. Silly really, but it made him feel better. Since the move, all he had in his room was a bed frame, mattress, and bed linens. So unless he wanted to punch a wall, throwing his pillows around was his only option to let off some steam.

The fear he felt for Astrid ate at him. The man was tiny and malnourished, by no means able to protect himself. Miles wasn’t much bigger or a fighter by any means, but he wanted to protect Astrid. The man was so innocent and fragile, and he couldn’t understand how someone could hurt him.

Miles flopped down on his bed and stared at the ceiling. His breaths came out in a rush. It had been close to two weeks since he had seen Ben last. Each passing day, piece by piece, his hope started to dwindle. If Ben hadn’t found him yet, what were the odds he would find him at all?

Every night, Malcolm would come into his room. He never forced him, and for that Miles was grateful, but he did make his intentions clear. Miles had one year to grow to love him, or he would have a witch stronger than Astrid cast a love spell taking the choice out of Miles’s hands.

Tears gathered at the corners of his eyes. Where did he go wrong in his life to deserve all this?

The sound of gunshots had him sitting up on his bed. The vibrations of the guard’s footsteps as they ran down the hall let him know something was definitely not right.

“Miles.”

Miles jumped when a hand landed on his shoulder. He spun around with his fist raised in the air ready to defend himself.

“Please don’t hurt me.” Astrid dropped to the floor with his hands covering his head.

“No, I would never hurt you, buddy.” Miles fell to his knees and gathered a scared Astrid in his arms. The man was trembling so violently Miles feared the man would go into shock. “Astrid, you just scared me, that’s all. I could never hurt you.”

Astrid pulled his hands back and looked up into Miles’s eyes. Miles gasped at the condition his friend was in. Both eyes were blackened, lips scabbed over from being busted open, and bruises marred his pale skin. He had never seen someone who had suffered a beating like this before. How Astrid survived, he hadn’t a clue. By the appearance of his face, Miles could just image how the rest of Astrid’s body looked.