Xan's Feisty Mate (15 page)

“Did you find out anything about this dude Sanderson and why he has a hard on for Breezy?” He knew it was due to him being a thwarted lover. Maybe he’d wanted Breezy, but couldn’t have her. Xan dismissed that, too.

“Nothing. The man didn’t exist until about ten years ago when he bought the property,” Tay informed them.

Kellen studied the screens, but didn’t say a word for a long moment.

“Do you trust the men you have meeting us? Do they know what they are possibly coming up against? The
bitch
is a shifter, which would mean there might possibly be a whole pack of the fucks there.” He growled, his voice so rough, the wolf in him closer to the surface than Xan had heard in a long time.

A knock on the door had the men standing, covering the screens with their backs. The petite form of Laikyn entered. “I got the results back from the blood work on Breezy. I figured you’d want to know first.” She stared at a point above Kellen’s head.

Xan walked over to her, impatient to know whatever had been in his mate’s body. “What is it?” He placed his hands on her shoulders, a deep growl behind him had him pausing, his gaze going back to see Kellen had taken a few steps toward them.

“They used a paralytic agent. When the vet sent me the codes, he had no clue what they meant, so I sent them to a colleague of mine, who works for Johns Hopkins. He said that it was a trial drug that was still in the development stages. I had to do some fast talking and a lot of promising to get him to believe I came across some research with the material on it. From the studies so far, there are no adverse effects to the subjects, but they haven’t used it on humans.” Laikyn stopped, staring at Kellen who’d come up beside them, chest heaving.

“You are not bartering sex for information from Dr Dickweed.” The hand he grabbed the little doctor with had morphed, black claws tipped his fingers, yet he was careful when he pulled her to him.

“Alpha, I can and will do what is necessary for the pack, or what I want with my body.” Her breathy voice might have been convincing if she wouldn’t have shivered for all to see.

Xan cleared his throat. “Listen, you two can discuss your issues after we deal with this shit. I need to know that Breezy is fine. That she’s going to be fine. My cubs are going to be fine.”

Laikyn jerked out of Kellen’s grip. “Yeah, that is basically what the studies show. I’ll do lab work again before I leave...” she stopped as Kellen growled, placing her hands on her hips. “Stop fucking growling at me.”

“Little wolf, I will beat that round ass of yours until you can’t sit if you keep it up.” His harsh voice brooked no argument.

“The fuck you say.” She stepped back

Kellen grabbed her. “Oh, I’ll do that, too, don’t you worry.”

“All right, kids, we got to get this show on the road.” Kayan tapped a few keys on the keyboard.

“This discussion is not over. I’ve tried to stay away from you, but that time is over,” Kellen breathed out roughly.

“I’ll make it real easy, just keep your paws to yourself, and we’ll be fine. As for your questions, Xan, I don’t believe you or your future cubs will be harmed. We shifters metabolize medicines faster than humans, and that drug wasn’t manufactured with our systems in mind.” Laikyn gasped as Kellen’s callused hands landed on her bare midriff.

“You stay put until I say.”

Xan heard Kellen’s control slipping, but they needed their alpha in complete command of all his facilities. “She’ll stay here, until we get back. Won’t you, Laikyn? Breezy might have a few questions for you as well.”

“We are rolling out in thirty minutes.” Rowan gathered up his things. “I’m going to see my mate before we leave, I suggest you stay here, or we will leave without you.”

“Did you become Alpha, and I not know it? Last time I checked there was a certain way to become it. The old one died, and his second either couldn’t become it, or he was defeated in battle.” Xan let his arms fall loosely to his sides.

Rowan shook his head. “I’m far from stupid. Plus, my mate would kick my ass and she wouldn’t patch me up from the ass whooping you’d inflict. Besides, Kellen is far from retiring.”

Xan grunted at that, watching as Rowan left without another word.

“Where the fuck did Laikyn go?” Kellen growled looking around.

Kayan smirked. “While those two were arguing and you were watching, she sorta backed out, quiet like a mouse. Funniest shit I ever did see.”

Kellen took a step toward him. “Why didn’t you stop her?”

“Listen. You can come back and fuck the little wolf on any available surface, or hell, air-fuck her for all I care, but I got other shit to do. Like kill some motherfuckers, then go get laid. Do you know how long it’s been since I’ve been properly,” he stopped, a groan interrupting him.

“Don’t let him start. He was just with a little thing in Dallas.” Coyle slapped Kayan on the back, making him grunt.

“How many are going with us, and how many are you leaving here?” Kayan asked Kellen.

“I’ll leave forty or so here, and take twenty with us. How many are with the other team?” Kellen turned away but not before he stared at the closed door.

He warred with staying to help protect his mate, and going to finish off the threat himself. Going won out.

Reaching out to Breezy through their link, he found comfort in the fact she was sleeping soundly. He backed out and left her alone.

“I’m going to step into the club and see if Breezy’s dad or brothers are around. I want one of them to be near our rooms at all times.” Xan walked out catching Coti’s attention immediately.

“I’m staying here with Turo. We’ll hold down the fort, while you and the others take care of the trash.” His muscles flexed, a vein popped on his bald head. The large Hawaiian was the jokester of the group on most occasions. For him to have muscles popping that wasn’t to impress the ladies, let Xan know he was pissed.

“Be safe, my friend.” Xan continued past, inhaling through the myriad scents until he locked onto the ones he was looking for. Shaw and Parker were ensconced in a corner booth, deep in a private conversation if their body language was anything to go by.

Both Mattice men’s heads jerked up at his approach, their faces creased with worry. “Excuse me, boys, I don’t want to take up too much time. You know we are heading out, but I need to know you’ll watch over Breezy.” Their smell was off, but Xan assumed it was from their concern over the attacks, making them nervous.

Shaw cleared his throat. “Do you have a lead?”

Xan chose his words wisely, not wanting to give too much away. “We are just doing some scouting. I’ll just feel better knowing my mate’s family is watching over her.”

“No worries there, man.” Parker looked him in the eye.

Xan felt unease skitter down his spine. “Where’s your dad?” He hadn’t seen the elder Mattice all day, but he’d been busy with other things, namely his mate.

“He’s resting.” Shaw shuffled out of the booth, making Xan take a step back to give the smaller man room to stand. Both brothers were shorter than him by a few inches, yet neither seemed all that scared of him. He let his alpha presence filter to the surface. Although he wasn’t the alpha of the pack, he was second, and by all, they would know who the top wolf next to Kellen was. Each man fought the need to submit a little longer than he’d expected, then a grimace pulled at both their lips, before they dropped their eyes and then to their knees.

“I don’t know what’s crawled up your ass, boys, but get it out by the time I get back, or we can take it up in the cage.” Xan left without another word. The last thing he wanted was to beat the fuck out of his in-laws. His mate would probably be pissed at him, however he couldn’t allow them to talk back or down to him as was the case. Especially when it came to her safety.

“What was that about?” Kellen asked as he entered the new war room. They needed to get this shit taken care of and reclaim their office. He’d yet to fuck Breezy on every available surface. He could picture laying her out on one of the leather sofas, then thought better of it. Too many other women had been there, and he wasn’t sure she’d appreciate it.

He should’ve known his show of power wouldn’t go unnoticed. “The Mattice boys needed a lesson, so I taught them. School is out for the moment, now we can focus on the important shit. Like tracking the fucks who attempted to take my mate, and then if it’s still a problem when I get back...” Xan didn’t need to finish.

Kellen nodded. “I’ll be sure and let Wyck know. I think you should let them both take you on. More money to be had.”

“You’re a greedy bastard. Who you betting on?”

“Depends.” Kellen led the way out the door.

“On what.” Xan asked, watching Rowan and his team file out behind him.

The alpha glanced over his shoulder. “How bad you get hurt after the mission.”

Xan raised his fist, giving Kellen the middle finger.

“Why you always flipping me off. I don’t swing that way.”

Sully shook his head. “I thought we were a weird bunch.”

Kayan gripped Xan’s shoulder. “We are a weird lot, don’t let him fool you.”

“Never doubted it for a minute,” Xan assured him. “I’m driving my rig. Who’s riding with me?”

“I’ll ride with you along with Coyle and Oz. Let’s take as few vehicles as possible. If something happens and you can’t drive back, you let me know how to operate your precious.” Kayan’s eyes sparkled with excitement.

His first instinct was a hell no, but he recognized the need for a backup plan. “Fine, but understand you put one mark on her that wasn’t there before, and I will gut you.”

“You wolves are a brutal lot,” Tay remarked, tossing a bowie knife in the air, catching it blade side without a care of cutting himself.

He wondered who was the craziest of them. Looking over at Kellen, the gleam in his electric blue eyes, and Xan was pretty sure it was their leader, hands down.

“Let’s roll. I’m not getting any younger, and I can guarantee, y’all will be wanting to check in with your mates. Speaking of, how did you get away from yours without a fight, Rowan?” Kayan asked.

Rowan growled, a dark look crossed over his face. “None of your business. Let’s go.”

Kellen laughed. “That means he’s in trouble. Pussy whipped is what we call that.”

Xan shook his head. Kellen had no clue how it felt to have a woman mean so much to you you’d gladly lay your life on the line for them. When the big alpha fell, he’d fall so damn hard, Xan was sure the building was gonna rock.

Chapter Eleven

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B
reezy woke. Her heart hammering in her chest. The unease of knowing something wasn’t right had her scrambling out of bed. Her link to Xan was open, but fear for where he was, and if he was in a precarious position that her interruption could cost him his life, or someone else’s, had her pulling back. She stretched out a tendril in their connection, enough to let her know he was safe, and alive.

Dressing quickly in a pair of shorts and a tank after a quick shower, she headed toward the door. She inhaled the different scents through the walls, waiting to open until she made sure there was no danger. “See, I listened.” She smiled as Xan’s face popped into her mind. He was so damn bossy, but she wouldn’t have him any other way.

The hallway was empty, well-lit and clean, but relatively empty. She wondered where all the guards had gone. Her eyes drifted around, through the window that served as the office and found the new manager seated behind a computer. Breezy waved an acknowledgement, continuing on to the bar, her stomach growling.

Noise filtering in from the closed steel door made her feel a little better. She hadn’t let the panic from the empty apartments get the best of her. Only a dozen feet from reaching the safety of others, Breezy’s wolf reared its head. She stopped, put her back against the concrete wall to scan the area behind her. She allowed her claws to lengthen, her eyes to shift, and more of the wolf to come out, knowing the heightened senses would help.

The first thing she heard was a skittering above her in the duct work. At that moment, she realized it wasn’t a mouse. Something much larger, or several things were above her, and there was no way she’d make it to the bar before whatever was above her, dropped down on her. “
Xan, they are here at the club.”
She tried not to sound too frightened in case he was in a position that would get him killed. She wanted to kick herself for not realizing there should have been people outside her room, or in the hallway. But, she wouldn’t cry over spilled milk.

If she yelled for help, the others in the club would come running, but would they all get killed? Breezy didn’t know how many were above, or what they’d brought in the way of weapons. In the end, she decided to call out to Kellen, let him make the choice. If they wanted her, she wasn’t going to be an easy target. After yelling through her link to the alpha, she began using the speed of her wolf, and ran back the way she came, heading toward the tunnels they’d recently began digging. Whoever had betrayed them couldn’t be a true insider. Breezy thought of the bitch, and her connection, hoping she was correct. If they were locked onto her, she prayed they followed and left the pack alone.

Movement above sounded desperate, loud to her as they began scrambling to keep up. Her breath whooshed out of her lungs as she passed the office, the new manager sat sleeping in the chair. Or at least she hoped he was sleeping.

She hit the new reinforced steel door, entering the code she’d been given, and ran through. An unholy series of growls behind her had her wolf growling in response. They recognized the sound. Breezy’s eyes narrowed. Retribution for past pain had her wolf snarling, but the human in her pushed the animal back.

Breezy fought her animal side, making her listen to the human instead of the beast-crazed anger inside. The twists and turns of the newly made tunnels were dark, sparsely lit, but she was sure footed as she ran. Coming to the end she felt around for the keypad, trying to remember the exit code. She wondered if it was smart to leave the safety of the compound, and the numbers of her pack, but again, thought of all the people who she could be saving kept her going forward. She knew that growl, and the damage the crazed bitch could inflict. For twenty years Breezy had lived with the fear of her mother returning. Why now? She didn’t understand why her own mother hated her. A mother should never do what her own had. After a few years, she’d come to terms with the fact her egg donor was batshit crazy, and tried to forget. A hard thing when you had the constant reminder of scars lacing your back.