Morgan (23 page)

He tossed the tiger’s carcass from his lap and rose in a lithe move that spoke of his strength and grace. “I need more, my friend. Much more.”

Ben growled and took an instinctive step back when the vampire’s eyes blazed red as they settled on him.

He heard Axel growl and bump against him.
“We should leave them.”

“Have no fear, strange cats. I hear that you are good friends to Aiden. I can also hear where there are still some tigers alive.”

Ben gasped as he found himself flying through the forest at a staggering speed. By the time he had looked up to see that it was Aiden’s friend carrying him, he was placed back on the ground. He wanted to snarl and swipe at the vampire for subjecting him to the indignity of being carried like a cub, but the sounds of fighting stopped him.

“They need our help,” Aiden said. He and his friend disappeared into the trees.

Axel growled as he followed them.
“Fucking vampires.”

Evan and Cameron were both standing over Cooper’s unmoving body. Their Beta had been attacked by two of Petrov’s hyenas. Evan had helped Asher kill one, while Rowan, Troy and Cameron had dispatched the other.

Evan watched as the three massive tigers circling them drew ever closer.
“Are you going to be able to fight?”
he asked Cameron. His brother was panting, his breathing labored as it rattled out of his open mouth.
“Stupid question. I don’t know how you’re even still standing.”

Cameron growled at him. Evan couldn’t turn around and assess his brother’s condition, but the fact he hadn’t sworn at him was a sign of how bad it was.

“Fuck,”
Evan said to no one in particular.

“We still have two hyenas back here,”
Calder said,
“and Hunter is down.”

“We’ll come as soon as we can,”
Cameron said.
Cooper was still not moving, but Evan could hear his heartbeat for reassurance that he still lived. They wouldn’t leave him to these tigers.

Two of the tigers suddenly disappeared. The third one snarled once before Axel ran from the trees and leaped on its back. Ben followed on Axel’s heels and went directly for its throat. Evan joined in their attack and the tiger was soon neutralized.

Evan was about to ask what was happening when the scent of vampire tickled his senses. It was faint over the coppery smell of so much spilled blood—some his own—but it was there. Aiden.

Evan left Cameron with Cooper and followed Ben and Axel to where Calder was still fighting. He hoped that Cameron was still capable of protecting Cooper, because he’d looked ready to drop.

* * * *

Dane came to stand beside Cameron and nudged his brother’s unconscious body with his head.
“I’m in contact with Melanie through our mating link and she’s beside herself. Both Cooper and Hunter are unconscious.”

“Is Hunter alive?”
Cameron asked. He prayed he was. Dane nodded and turned toward the sound of an approaching truck. Cameron tensed in preparation for it being more of Petrov’s men.

“It’s Finn,”
Dane said, his relief evident.

They heard the truck pull to a stop and Finn was standing before them a second later. “Hunter too?” Finn asked as he squatted down beside Cooper and assessed his brother’s injuries. “Our mate is very worried. Stay with him. I’ll go and get Hunter.”

Cameron was struggling to remain standing by the time Finn returned five minutes later with Hunter in his arms. He placed him gently on the ground beside Cooper. Hunter was not a small cougar, but Finn had carried his weight easily. Their Alpha had several healing wounds on his torso and his sweatpants were streaked red with his and Hunter’s blood.

Ben and Axel had followed Finn as he returned from the rear of the house. Cameron saw Ben had a deep wound on his side, but it had already stopped bleeding. Cameron hoped his own wounds would soon be healed because he felt like shit.

They all turned as the scent of tiger reached them. One tiger was limping across the yard toward them. The tiger was massive, with old scars and new wounds marring the orange and black of its coat.

Aiden and a tall, blond-haired man appeared behind the tiger as it continued its slow progress toward Finn. The Alpha roared when the tiger was within a few yards of them. The tiger froze.

“Is this Petrov?” Finn asked Aiden.

“Yes.”

Members of their pride silently emerged from the trees around them. Calder had shifted back and was carrying an unconscious Troy Pollock in his arms. Axel had also shifted and stood beside his brother with Asher leaning heavily on him. Blood stained the pristine white of Asher’s shirt.

“Fucking hell. Asher got dirty,”
Cameron said.

Cooper’s and Hunter’s fathers padded from the trees and surrounded their unconscious sons.
“I think you should sit down before you fall, Cameron,”
Theo said.

Cameron merely growled and returned his gaze to Petrov. He would not relax until the last threat to Morgan had been neutralized.

“He wishes to bargain for his daughters,” Aiden said.

Finn’s lip curled into a snarl. “And what, pray tell, does he have to bargain with?”

“He says he will let you live if you surrender Morganya and Bethany to him.”

Finn’s glare was fixed on Petrov as he stood before them and allowed the vampire to translate his thoughts.

“Will more men be coming for them?” Finn asked.

“He has a great many men back in Russia,” the blond vampire answered.

“Alpha, I’d like to introduce my friend, Eamon Doyle,” Aiden said.

“I know everything about his empire,” Eamon said. “I will make sure his daughters receive their inheritance once I have destroyed his operations completely.”

Petrov turned and leaped for Eamon, but the vampire moved too fast and the tiger was in a stranglehold in an instant. Aiden put a hand on his friend’s arm and stopped him from sinking his fangs into Petrov’s neck.

“Alpha, does my friend have your permission to end the life of his captor?”

“Where is the doctor who was travelling with Petrov?”

“He is incapacitated. I was waiting for Eamon to regain his strength before he sought suitable retribution for his years of torment.”

“I’m only sorry we didn’t find you sooner, Eamon Doyle,” Finn said. “Their lives are yours to do with as you see fit.”

Eamon nodded once to Finn before he turned and ran, his form a blur as he took the tiger with him through the trees.

“Thank you, my friend,” Aiden said. “I think punishing Petrov and his doctor will be of great benefit in Eamon’s recovery from his abuse. There are no more of Petrov’s men in the area. He was the last one left alive.”

“I ask only that you ensure Petrov and that abominable doctor cease to live before you leave Eminence.”

Aiden nodded before he moved back into the trees after his friend. Cameron gave in to the pain and fatigue and sat down beside Cooper. It was over. Morgan and Bethany were safe.

Cameron opened his eyes and saw Evan bend and lift him into his arms.
When had Evan shifted? When did I close my eyes?
Cameron thought only of Morgan as the swaying of Evan’s strides rocked him to sleep.

Morgan thought she was going to die from worry. Her heart was pounding in her chest and her breathing was painful. Her skin had become slick with sweat as she’d listened to the fight through the link Melanie and Peata had with their mates.

“Calder says that only Petrov remains alive,” Peata said.

Melanie had become silent as soon as she’d told them that she no longer heard Hunter or Cooper. She didn’t cry. She simply held a sleeping Matthew in her arms and rocked the child. Morgan knew how terrified she was, and was in awe of the strength the small woman possessed.

She couldn’t hear any of her men through their mating link, and Peata had told her that neither could Bethany. Morgan saw that it was both a blessing and a curse to be linked in such a way to your mates.

Neva, Peata’s mother-in-law, had her arm around Connie, Hunter’s and Cooper’s mother, and was helping to keep her calm.

“Dane’s coming,” Melanie said as she ran to Connie and gently placed Matthew in her arms.

“Go. I’ll take care of him,” Connie said softly. She stroked the baby’s curly blond hair as Neva stood to take Lily from Peata. “Go and hug my sons for me, Peata.”

As soon as they heard the door start to open all three women moved to stand directly in front of it. Morgan took a step back.
What if none of her mates was on the other side of that door? What if they were all dead? Melanie and Peata may not have been told that all of Morgan’s mates had died.

Dane’s bloody body was the first thing they all saw. He reached for Melanie and then all Morgan saw was a blur as he took her away. Morgan hoped everyone was alive, if her father had been the cause of any deaths she would have to leave. She just couldn’t remain here and bear witness to Melanie’s or Peata’s pain for the next two centuries.

“Fuck, what about Jordanna and Bethany’s mates?”

“Everyone is alive,” Calder said. Morgan hadn’t realized she’d put her hands over her face, but as she lowered them she saw Calder holding Peata. She had her arms tight around his neck as her shoulders shook with silent tears.

“Thank you,” Morgan said. Calder nodded and walked away with Peata.

“Axel and Max are outside, sugar. I promised I’d bring you right out.”

Morgan hesitated as the door way to the safe room remained empty. “I can scent Evan coming,” Neva said softly. Morgan gave her a smile and walked into the closet that housed the entryway.

“I wished for you,” Evan said. “And here you are.” He wore a pair of sweatpants, his torso naked and blood-smeared. His smile was crooked as the scar that ran down his left cheek pulled it sideways. His black hair was a mess. He looked like a damn god. He was gorgeous.

“Thank you, love. I missed you, too.” She launched herself at him and buried her face in the side of his neck as he pulled her against his hard, warm body.

“Cameron and Ben?” Morgan mumbled. She kissed his neck softly and marvelled at having him back in her arms.

“Waiting outside for us,” Evan said. “Ben wouldn’t leave Cameron.”

Morgan’s blood froze at that statement and she knew without a doubt that Cameron was hurt badly. She didn’t realize she’d bitten into Evan’s neck until the salty sweet taste of his blood tinged her taste buds.

Evan shuddered and held her tighter. “He’s going to be fine as soon as he heals, Morgan. Then I will make you pay for torturing me like this.”

She remembered to lick over the small punctures her teeth had made before pulling away to look at his face.

“Torture?”

His smile eased her panic over Cameron. It was wicked, and his gaze was heated with his desire. “I want nothing more than to take you away and bury myself deep inside you right now.” She couldn’t believe it when her clit began to pulse with her excitement. “But the Alpha has need of me for a while longer.”

Evan kissed her and she gasped at the need that ignited inside her. She ground her pussy against his naked torso and moaned softly into his mouth.

Evan broke their kiss and sighed deeply. “Oh, Morgan. What will I do to punish you for this?”

Morgan shook her head as she attempted to clear the fog of desire from her mind. Her entire body ached for her mates.

“I think I’m suffering enough, thank you.” She tried to smile, but just couldn’t. “Are they really going to be okay?”

His green eyes sparkled with joy and she knew his brothers would be fine. They were all going to be fine.

Evan carried her from the house, and she got her first look at the carnage on the lawn of the Alpha’s home. She barely had the strength to speak.

“Is my father dead?”

“Not yet.” She tensed again, her joy beginning to evaporate. “But he is now in the hands of the vampire he held captive for the last hundred years. He won’t be alive for much longer and he’s no longer a threat to either you or Bethany.”

"I'm not sorry, Evan. He's hurt so many people. My real father is Frank Trent, and he's a great man. He'd never harm anyone."

"I can't wait to meet him, love."

“But none of the pride died?”

“We are all alive, Morgan.”

They may have suffered no fatalities, but it was a hard fight and there would undoubtedly be casualties other than Cameron. She owed this pride her life and she would spend the rest of it trying to repay the debt.

* * * *

Ben sat beside his brother’s unconscious cougar on a cot in the clinic in town. Cameron had just returned from being x-rayed and Ben was waiting for Charlie to come and tell him the results. Ben scented the sweet and delicate scent of his approaching mate and his cougar growled softly with impatience.

“Ben,” Morgan cried. She dropped Evan’s hand and ran over to the cot. Ben lowered his body as his mate stood on her toes and wrapped her arms gingerly around his neck. “I don’t know where is safe to touch you.”

“I’m sure anywhere you put your hands on him will feel good, Morgan,” Evan said. He pulled a chair to the side of the cot and sat down, his eyebrows furrowed as he ran his gaze over Cameron.

“Has Cameron woken yet?” Morgan asked. Ben chuffed softly and rubbed his head against the long soft waves of Morgan’s hair. He needed to reclaim her. He noticed that his scent had faded from her body and his cat was not pleased.

“Did I hurt you, Ben? You're snarling at me.” Morgan lowered her arms from his neck and ran her hands gently over Cameron’s coat. “I like it better when he’s awake and teasing me.”

“He’ll sleep until tomorrow,” Charlie said. She walked over to Cameron and removed a syringe from the tray she was holding. She injected something into Cameron’s rump and turned to look directly at him.

“You need to stay shifted until morning as well or that wound will need suturing.” She gestured to his side and Ben settled farther down on the cot, making it clear he was going nowhere. “Good, otherwise I would have sedated you as well.”