Moonlight (20 page)

Chapter Thirty-Four

Adam

“Fuck!” I grumbled when Lana hung up. She was putting herself in harm’s way, and there wasn’t a damned thing I could do about it. I jammed my phone in my pocket and went back inside to wake Aren.

He stirred before I could make a sound. “What’s wrong?”

“Sasha’s in town.”

“Already?” He glanced down at his splinted ankle. “I have a few things I’d like to say to her.” He met my eyes with a cold smile. “But this time I’ll be sure I separate her from her Taser.”

“This isn’t about getting even. Lana overheard her saying she was going to kill me tonight after we change.”

Aren grunted. “I’d like to see her try.”

“That’s what I said.” I shook my head. “She’d never be able to sneak up on us during a full moon. But we need to warn Malcolm either way.”

Aren’s eyes cut back up to meet mine. “So you’re going to tell him?”

I shrugged. “I think so. He needs to know about Sasha and Sebastian. I’ll have him come by early tonight, before sunset.”

“But you’re still not going to come clean about your girlfriend.” He shook his head. “I’m supposed to keep quiet about it too?”

I nodded. “No sense worrying Malcolm when he’s already got two jaguars on the move.”

“I won’t lie for you, Adam.”

“I’m not asking you to lie. I’m just asking you not to bring it up.”

His eyes narrowed, and he shook his head. “Very fine line there.”

“I know. I’m sorry it has to be like this.” I walked over and pulled a chair over by the couch where Aren was lying with his leg propped up. “I wish you could be happy for me.” I could see his hackles rise, but I went on before he could interrupt. “I realize that’s impossible for you right now. What I mean is you’re my brother, my best friend. It sucks that I’m finally in love, and you’re not happy for me. For the first time in my life, I can see my future. Do you understand how amazing she makes me feel? But I can’t share any of it with you. I can’t share it with anyone.”

Aren pulled himself up so he was almost sitting up straight. “You’ve always been a player, Adam. The entire Pack knows that. And I know Dad’s been putting the screws to you to find your mate. He wants grandchildren and a new generation to keep our Pack strong.”

I chuckled and looked over at my brother. “So you got his settle-down-and-have-babies lecture too?”

Aren smiled a little and nodded. “Yeah, but you’re the oldest so I’m pretty sure I’m safe until you get tied down and give the Pack a new pair of pups.”

I sighed and got up. My life was never going to turn out the way I thought it would, or the way my family, or my Pack wanted it. I was leaving with Lana in the morning. Who knew when we would be back? We’d have to keep moving. Lana was the missing key to Nero’s need for jaguar females who wouldn’t need to be bitten. They could raise them like their own breeding stock. The thought sickened me.

With my back to my brother, I stared out the window at the barn I’d built, filled with horses I’d trained and many that I loved. I was about to lose it all.

“You really think Lana is your mate.”

The sound of Aren’s voice jarred me from my thoughts. I nodded but I didn’t turn around. It would piss me off to see his face cringe like she was some kind of disease.

“I’m sorry I’ve been such an ass to her.”

Now that got my attention. My brow furrowed as I turned to face him. “You’re apologizing?”

The corner of his mouth quirked up a notch. “It’s not like I never apologize.”

“I never expected it over a jaguar.”

He shook his head. “She’s not just a jaguar. She’s your mate.” He lowered his voice and added, “She risked her ass to save my life.” A smile toyed at the corner of his mouth. “I still think you’re insane.”

I grinned. “They say love makes you nuts, right?”

He tilted his head a little. “You may have been a little crazy before Lana anyway.”

“Careful. I’ll still dump you off that sofa, hurt ankle and all,” I teased. Then I walked over and embraced my brother. “Thanks, Aren,” I whispered as I clapped his back. When I pulled back, his gaze met mine and my heart felt heavy in my chest. It would’ve been so much easier to leave him behind if I was pissed at him.

“I’ve always got your back,” he said. “Sorry I forgot that for a while. I just didn’t want to see you get yourself killed.”

“We’re not out of the woods yet. I better call Malcolm.”

Aren nodded. “Tell Dad I’m feeling better.”

“Will do.” I walked out toward the kitchen, clenching my jaw to hold back the twisted emotions churning inside of me.

Chapter Thirty-Five

Lana

The black Mercedes pulled off at a rest stop, and my pulse jumped. I was going to lose her unless I followed, but I couldn’t. There was no way I could hide from her there.

I drove past, my hands slick on the Jeep’s steering wheel. What now? I glanced at my cell phone on the seat. If I went back to the ranch I’d lead her right to Adam. I’d brought enough tragedy to the Pack. I wasn’t going to lead Sasha to them. It was me she really wanted.

I got off the freeway and headed in the other direction. Toward the airport. If I could get her to follow me there, Adam would be safe for now. With TSA officers and air marshals around, I doubted she’d draw a weapon on me. I gripped the wheel tighter. I hadn’t realized she led me so far from the city when I was following her. Over the roar of the wind, something made a
pow
sound. Did the Jeep backfire? Another
pow
and the back started fishtailing.

Not a backfire. A bullet.

I struggled to keep control of the Jeep. In the rearview mirror I caught a glimpse of the Mercedes tailing me. One more gunshot and the Jeep squealed in protest. As I slowed to the shoulder, the flattened tires wobbling and screeching, I pocketed my cell phone, preparing to bail. I could make a run for it and call 911.

I popped my seatbelt and while the Jeep rolled to a stop I jumped out. It was jarring, but my feline reflexes kept me on my feet. I ran down the embankment while something whistled past my calf, followed by a sharp pain. My jeans had a tear now, but the bullet just grazed me.

“The next one will take you down,” Sasha called from behind me. “I need you alive, not unharmed.”

I kept running. If she caught me, I’d be going to Nero. I’d rather get shot.

Something hit my shoulder. Hard. I fell to the ground, knocking all the wind from my lungs. Stars danced around the edges of my vision. The brush crunched around me, but I couldn’t get any air to force myself up.

“Did you really think I wouldn’t know you were following me?” Sasha holstered the gun and drew a smaller one from her calf holster.

I laid face down on the ground, trying to figure out what happened. I wasn’t bleeding, and I could move my fingers and toes but nothing else. It wasn’t the Taser she’d used on Aren, though. She must’ve shot me with a plastic bullet like the ones cops used for riots. It hurt like hell, but other than a bruise and maybe a cracked rib, I was unharmed. She grabbed my upper arm and yanked me to my feet, pointing her gun at my chest.

“No more running. I don’t have plastic rounds in this gun.”

The valley below the freeway was deserted, screaming wasn’t going to do me any good, and I couldn’t outrun a bullet. My hip ached where the canister of pepper spray banged into me during the fall. If I could get the spray, I might have a chance.

My heart raced as she pushed me along, up the embankment and toward her car. If I got in, I was as good as on a plane to Nero, but with Sasha behind me and armed. I was screwed.

So I stalled. “Did you have that phone call at the gas station just because you knew I was listening?”

Her gun barrel never faltered. “I’m not here to have a chat with you. Get in the car.”

“If I get in the car, will you leave Adam and the Pack alone?”

“I’m not here to bargain with you either.”

“It’s not a bargain. If Adam will be safe, I’ll go. If not I’d rather take my chances and see if you’ll shoot me.”

Sasha laughed, which threw me off guard. Her gun never moved from me as she shook her head. “You’re a piece of work. I’ve already shot one wolf, why wouldn’t I shoot a wolf-lover?”

Okay, I had had just about enough of the digs at wolves. “My God. You people. Has Adam ever done anything to you?” I slipped my fingers into my pocket, around the canister.

Sasha stopped laughing and started walking toward me. I waited as long as I could, and yanked the pepper spray free, dousing Sasha’s face. She screamed, wiping her eyes, and I bolted, racing up the embankment toward the cars. The Jeep had two flats. Useless. I peered in the Mercedes, praying to see keys hanging from the ignition.

No such luck.

Sasha, close behind even after being pepper sprayed, grabbed a fistful of my hair, pulling me out of the front of the car. She punched my kidney, paralyzing me long enough to get the back door open. She shoved me facedown into the back seat and cuffed my wrists behind my back. She pulled me up and kicked my feet inside. Tears streamed down her face, her eyes bright red.

Blood trickled down from my nose, but I couldn’t reach up to wipe it. Right then the only damage I could do would be to her upholstery. I sat quietly trying to collect my thoughts. There had to be a way out of this, but I didn’t know what it was just yet.

While I sat in the back seat weighing my very limited options, Sasha was on her phone. “Yes I have the girl. And I have terms.” She nodded and went on. “When you come through on your part of our agreement I’ll turn her over to you. Not before.” She shook her head. “Absolutely not. It’s simple really, fly out to Reno and bring the package, or I’ll kill the girl. Call me when you land, and I’ll tell you the drop off location.” She pointed the gun at me and held out her cell phone. Then she shot a round into the leather seat beside me.

I screamed, and she faced forward again. “Proof enough? You have six hours. I need to make the transaction tonight while the wolves are running.”

She hooked her phone on her belt, closed her door, and pulled back onto the highway without a word.

“So you don’t trust Nero either?”

She didn’t answer me.

“Sebastian told me he wasn’t sure who he was working for anymore.”

She glanced at me in the mirror. “Sebastian’s a little slow.”

At least I knew she could hear me.

“So you think he should’ve known sooner?”

Her attention went back to the highway. “I’m not here to make friends. Sebastian taught me that lesson the hard way. I’ve gotta look out for myself. No one else will.”

“Do you even care why Sebastian doesn’t want you to take me back to them?”

“If there was any other way to get what I need from Nero, I’d do it. Believe it or not, holding you for ransom and shooting your friend weren’t highlights for me.”

“Maybe there is another way. Maybe we can find one…”

“There isn’t any other way.” She tightened her grip on the steering wheel. “I have my Taser handy if you can’t be quiet.”

Apparently I hit a nerve, but I definitely didn’t want to be Tasered so I closed my mouth and tried to come up with a plan.

Chapter Thirty-Six

Adam

Between Lana not answering her cell phone, and waiting on Malcolm to arrive, I thought my head might explode. I needed to go find her. I was about to borrow Luke’s truck when Malcolm pulled in the driveway. I met him at the car and reached out to clasp his forearm, but he pulled me into a hug instead.

“I’m still your dad, Adam.”

I returned the embrace and nodded with a smile. “I know.”

“So you have some important information for me?”

“I do, but let’s go inside first.”

I opened the door for Malcolm. Being the Alpha of our Pack commanded respect, and the line between father and Pack leader was always hard for me to differentiate.

“How is Aren?”

“He’s resting now, but he’s feeling a little better. Jason said he needs to keep the leg elevated and he casted his ankle.”

Our father raised a graying brow. “What about changing? It’s a full moon tonight. Do we need to keep him inside?”

I shrugged. “He’ll change anyway, and I’m sure it’ll be painful. If we pen him up we won’t be able to help him.”

Malcolm shook his head. “If we’re all wolves we won’t be much help to him anyway.”

“But we could at least be with him. I’m pretty sure when that leg starts shifting it’s going to hurt like a son of a bitch, and what if he starts bleeding again?” I didn’t want to think about how much anguish my brother would be facing tonight. Part of me couldn’t believe our father was willing to leave him behind.

Malcolm pondered, staring out the back window toward the barn. He finally nodded and turned back toward me. “You’re right. We’ll bring him along and hope for the best. Either way he shouldn’t be alone.”

I nodded, grateful Aren would be somewhat protected. Malcolm didn’t even know about the jaguars yet.

“You mentioned a threat to the Pack.” His eyes met mine, the physical weight of his stare pressing against me.

“The jaguar that killed Gabe is still at large. We found out he works for something called the Nero Organization. Apparently they train the jaguar shifters to become assassins.”

I stopped when I noticed my father’s expression. His eyes were distant as he looked out the window, his jaw clenched. I waited for him to speak, or at least notice that I had stopped, but he seemed lost in his thoughts.

“Malcolm?” The sound of my voice seemed to snap him out of his trance. He turned from the glass and stared at me with haunted eyes.

“Sorry. I hadn’t heard that name in years. I should’ve been watching for them, but I was too eager to believe they no longer existed.” He shook his head and sat at the dining room table suddenly looking years older. “I’m afraid I may have waited too long to tell you about my Pack.”

“You knew where these jaguars were coming from?” I sat down, and for the first time in my entire life, I saw fear in my father’s eyes. I felt like I just got sucker punched in the gut. My shocked quickly mutated into anger. “How could you keep Nero secret from us? You knew and you said nothing.”

“I thought we could keep them out of Reno.” He sat across from me in the chair. “Until Gabe.”

“Even after Gabe.” I couldn’t sit any longer. Rage pulsed though my muscles. I wanted to punch something. I needed to release the frustration. “You never said a word. You had information and let us chase these guys down blind.”

“When I was a pup my father was not the Alpha of our pack.”

I raised a brow. I’d never heard Malcolm talk about his childhood, but I’d always assumed my grandfather had been the Alpha male. In most Packs the Alpha was passed from father to the eldest son unless there weren’t any sons alive in his line. Usually that led to squabbles and Packs splintering off.

What any of this had to do with Nero I had no clue.

“Our Alpha was a powerful businessman. He was probably older than I am now, but you know it’s tough to guess actual ages in our kind. He had gray hair and wrinkles around his eyes, which I’d thought made him old.” He waved his hand. “None of that matters. What matters is that he was friends with a high-ranking military official. My father was one on the enforcers for our Pack, and his father was a Pack elder.”

My head was spinning as I built a mental family tree, trying to piece together the puzzle as my father spoke.

“My grandfather was an elder. He was at the meeting when Allen Caldwell first mentioned a chance for the younger members of our Pack to be part of an undercover military operation called Moonlight.”

Fuck. Sebastian had mentioned Moonlight to Lana. I tried to sort out all the new info swimming around in my head. “So Allen Caldwell was your Alpha?”

Malcolm nodded and clasped his hands together, wringing them slightly. “Yes. And I volunteered for the project.”

I ran my hand down my face trying to keep from saying something I couldn’t take back. “You worked for the Nero Organization?”

“It was called the Nero Project then. The man in charge was named Severino. I’m not sure if that was his first name or last name.” He paused rubbing his chin for a moment, then shook his head. “Anyway, Severino procured a government grant to investigate paranormal solutions to foreign hostilities. Allen told us that Severino knew we had extra-sensory abilities and that during the full moon we actually changed from men into wolves. He presented it to us that we could be an asset to our country.” He sighed and met my eyes. “I was young and resented being different. So I convinced my Pack brothers—Dominic, Nicholas, and Wyatt—to come with me to volunteer as part of the Moonlight Operation for the Nero Project.”

My father and our Pack elders had known about Nero all along. They’d kept this secret from us while we hunted jaguars. No one had ever mentioned Nero to me until Lana ran into Sebastian.

Malcolm went silent again, but with the afternoon sun getting lower in the sky I nudged him out of his thoughts. “What happened once you got there?”

“They separated us.” His gaze met mine, and I saw shadows of pain lurking in the gray-green depths of his eyes. He took a deep breath, opening his hands. “They wanted us to be assassins for our government, trained mercenaries who could infiltrate foreign governments and take out leaders who were deemed madmen. But they wanted us to work alone.”

“So you quit?”

“We escaped. “ Malcolm shook his sliver mane and got up from the chair. “Our strength is working as a unit. Family and the Pack are always the top priority. It went against every instinct inside of us to work alone. We tried to explain it to Severino, but he still refused, and instead of allowing us to train together, he dumped us into cells. For three months we were nothing but lab rats. He tried to suppress our changes during the full moon and used shock therapy in an attempt to force us to turn on one another.”

His eyes shone with emotion as he steepled his fingers. “When the sky was dark on the night of the new moon, he tossed us out on the grounds while he shifted into a jaguar and hunted us. His motto was ‘trust no one, least of all your best friend.’”

Malcolm got up and walked over to the window again. “So we waited for the next full moon, hiding their drugs under our tongues, and doing whatever was necessary to keep our minds sharp. Once the moon was full, we shifted and broke free from our cells. When we got back to the Pack, Severino was already meeting with Allen, explaining to him that our kind didn’t suit his purpose, that we were weak. I was furious and tried to explain what that madman put us through, but Allen had more loyalty to Severino than to us. The following evening he banished us from the Pack.” He paused. “That’s when I became Alpha of our new Pack and we settled in Reno.”

My mouth was dry. I raked my fingers back through my hair and went to stand beside my father, this man I apparently knew so little about. “So all this time, when the Pack has been hunting jaguars, you and the elders knew they were being sent by Nero?”

He shrugged. “We suspected, but none of us had heard any mention of Nero since we’d escaped. It was a simple leap for me and the Pack elders to believe the project was abandoned once we were gone. Besides, those jaguars behaved like drifters, trouble-makers, not trained assassins.”

“Could the jaguars that come through Reno every few months be looking for you?” I turned to face him, waiting for an answer.

Malcolm lifted his gaze to meet mine. “I don’t think so. We would have told you if we believed any of us were specifically being targeted.”

I took a deep breath. “I guess I’d better tell you the rest of my news then.”

“There’s more?” He turned to face me.

“There’s also a female jaguar who has threatened to come after me once the moon is full tonight.”

He frowned and shook his head. “Why would they send a female? They’re not born into their power. They’d never be strong enough.”

“This one is.” Just looking at Aren would prove that, but I kept that information away from my father. “I think she used to be in law enforcement before she was turned.”

He nodded. “Does she have a mate then? Is he the one who killed Gabe?”

“He’s the one who bit her, but I don’t think they’re mates. She beat the crap out of him in San Antonio.”

Oh shit
…

His brow furrowed, and I knew he’d noticed. “San Antonio? What were you doing there?”

“I’m not sure you want to know.” Could I lie to my father, my Alpha, right to his face? This was different than promising a lady in a bar that I’d call her. I wasn’t sure I was a good enough liar to sell it to Malcolm.

I wasn’t sure anyone was that good a liar.

“I know you’ve been keeping secrets, Adam, and I’d like to know why.”

“You’re one to talk.” The shadows were lengthening outside. “It’s not important right now. The Pack will be here soon, and we need to warn everyone about the jaguars.”

“I shared my secrets.” Malcolm leaned against the table. “Trust me with yours.”

His words sat squarely on my shoulders like a fifty-pound weight. “I can’t.” I met his eyes. “I’m sorry but… I can’t.”

He straightened to his full height, commanding my obedience on an instinctual level. I could feel his gaze boring into me. I clenched my fists and met his eyes. “You don’t want to know this. Let it go.”

A crease marred his brow. “What could be worse than Nero still being in existence and sending operatives into our city?”

My hands were sweating and the wolf inside me ached to please our Alpha. I wouldn’t last much longer. I started for the door, but he caught my arm. “Please Adam.”

I sighed. Maybe I could just tell him the good news. “I found my mate.”

Malcolm’s eyes widened and then he smiled. I’d never seen a grin like that on my father’s face before. He looked happy, proud, and relieved all in one expression. “This was your big secret? Adam, this is wonderful news. Who is she? Why haven’t I met her yet?”

And here came the bad news. “She’s a jaguar.”

His smile vanished as soon as the words left my lips. His eyes narrowed, and he shook his head, walking away from me. “That’s impossible. You’re making a mistake, Adam.”

I shook my head, staring at his back. “She’s lots of things, but not a mistake.”

He turned toward me again, scrutinizing my face. I was pretty sure he was hoping he’d see any sign of uncertainty, but loving Lana and knowing she was my mate for life was one of the few things I was sure of.

“It can’t be,” he whispered.

“I struggled with accepting it, too, but I’ve never felt like this before. It happened exactly like you said. I looked into her eyes, and the moment I touched her skin, I felt something inside of me click. I knew. She’s my other half.”

“She’s also the enemy.”

I groaned. “I knew you would never give her a chance. I knew it.” I went to the door and stopped. “I’m leaving in the morning.”

“What?”

I repeated myself a little louder. “I’m leaving in the morning with Lana. Nero has been hunting for her, and I knew the Pack wouldn’t accept her, so we’re leaving town. This is my last full moon with the Pack.”

“You can’t mean this, Adam.” He took a step in my direction. “You’re my successor. You will be the Alpha.”

I opened the door and shot a glare over my shoulder. “Aren will be a much better Alpha than I ever would anyway.”

“You’re wrong.” Another step closer. “Your brother is a great fighter and a thinker, but you’re my first born son. The mantle has always been yours. You can’t expect your brother to shoulder it because you’re running away.”

“If you can’t accept my mate, then how can you possibly expect me to stay?” I fought to keep from shouting as I circled my father. “Has Mom been gone so long that you forgot what it feels like to love someone so much you would give up everything just to see them smile? You’d lay down your life and die for them?”

His green eyes shone, and somewhere deep beneath my rage, the boy inside of me wanted to hug my father. I knew he’d never gotten over the pain of losing his mate.

He took a deep breath. “I would die for any member of this Pack.”

“Because it’s your duty.” I let my voice drop a little. “I’d give up my life for Lana because I couldn’t live without her.”

That verbal blow actually knocked Malcolm back a step and he growled, “Enough of this. We will
not
have a jaguar in our Pack.”

“Then you won’t have me either.” I turned to go out the door, but Malcolm’s voice froze me where I stood.

“Answer me this: how do you know she didn’t have anything to do with Gabe’s murder? If Nero is looking for her then she means something to them. How can you be sure where her loyalties lie?”

“Because she could have killed me a hundred different times.” I met my Alpha’s stare and added, “She also saved Aren’s life. That bullet that went through his ankle was meant for his head.”

I didn’t wait for him to respond. I stormed out into the late afternoon sun and slammed the door behind me. Jason and his twin, Jared, were getting out of his truck as I made my way to the barn. Jared pulled himself up straighter and squared his shoulders when he saw me coming. The wind made a mess of Jason’s hair, but Jared had his tied back and his fiery hazel eyes flashed with bitterness. If I didn’t know better, I’d think he was daring me to attack. It was obvious Jason must’ve told him about our confrontation earlier.