Page 9 of Big Top Bear Raid (Wolves of Stone Ridge #64)

“IF YOU’RE GOING, THEN so am I.”

Wraith crossed his arms over his chest, ready to stand his ground.

“End of story.”

“I don’t want to see you get hurt.”

Zion sounded frustrated, and maybe even a little pained, but Wraith refused to back down. His big bear mate rubbed a hand over his bald pate.

“You don’t have any immunity to magick if we get caught.”

“Then we’d better not get caught,”

Wraith countered. Wanting to ease some of Zion’s unease, he slid his hands beneath the open flaps of his mate’s leather jacket and rested his palms on his chest. Looking Zion in the eye, Wraith declared.

“Zion, you’re my mate. I will always have your back. No matter what.”

Zion placed his hands on Wraith’s hips and squeezed lightly, the move expressing his fondness. “Okay.”

Blowing out a rough breath between full, pursed lips, he nodded. Then Zion offered Wraith one of his warm smiles.

“I understand. I’d act the same way.”

Wraith smiled back upon hearing Zion’s admission. “Good.”

Leaning up, he pecked a kiss to his mate’s lips.

“Then let’s go. Eurik’s probably wondering what’s keeping you.”

Scoffing, Zion muttered.

“If he’s smart, he’ll know it’s you.”

Wraith grinned broadly, pleased that his mate’s scent was betraying how he was relaxing.

Good.

Truthfully, Wraith couldn’t imagine how Zion thought he would manage to leave without him...knowing or otherwise.

He also wasn’t certain how his mate had managed to sit tight for so long.

While sex between mates was wonderful, Wraith knew it could only distract someone so much.

Hell, Zion just discovered that his cousin is still alive after over a year and a half of thinking he was dead. I don’t think I’d have the kind of discipline needed to wait three days...

“Wraith?”

Zion’s call drew his attention, and he saw that his mate was already straddling his motorcycle. Grabbing his helmet, Wraith pulled it over his head. He hesitated beside his own bike, then crossed to Zion’s side.

At Zion’s questioning look, Wraith explained.

“I’ll ride behind you, if that’s okay.”

The Harley was plenty big enough, even though normally he preferred to drive himself. When Zion didn’t respond, Wraith shrugged and offered a wry smile.

“I’m feeling the need to hold you.”

Having his mate try to ditch him while going and doing something possibly dangerous had his instincts screaming at him to stick close.

After giving him a nod and an understanding smile, Zion used the heels of his boots to flip the passenger foot pegs down on each side.

Resting his hand on Zion’s shoulder, Wraith placed his left foot on a peg and swung aboard.

Once he’d settled, his big bear mate brought the motorcycle to life.

Wraith gripped Zion’s belt loops in a loose hold as his mate started them moving.

Wraith enjoyed the wind on his face as he thought about what could happen.

While Eurik was meeting up with Stan, they were hoping to sneak back to the animal trailers.

There had been zebras in the show, too.

Wraith agreed with Zion. If there was one shifter being held captive, perhaps there were others, too.

Time to find out.

Plus, if there was a possibility for Zion to speak to Acadia, his mate wanted to see just how responsive his cousin was after so much time alone.

While some shifters were solitary, normally those of the reptile variety, bear shifters were not.

Wraith couldn’t imagine how his wolf would manage if he was forced to live without his pack.

That’s a whole other brand of hell.

When they reached the driveway to where Wraith knew the bears were staying at the secluded farmhouse, Zion only had to slow.

Eurik already sat on his motorcycle at the end of the driveway.

The other bear shifter smirked and tipped his chin up in a sort of hello to him.

“Didn’t think Zion would get away with leaving you behind, Wraith,”

Eurik commented, his voice sounding in Wraith’s ear through his helmet’s tiny speaker.

“You be careful. All right?”

“I will be,”

Wraith assured, warmth filling him that the other bear was concerned for his well-being. Still, he didn’t want Zion to dwell on the fact that he was somewhat vulnerable, so he asked.

“So, do we have a plan?”

“Sure.”

Eurik glanced his way, a grin curving his lips, before refocusing on the road.

“Stan’ll sneak me into their camp. You watch and see if you can follow without being seen.”

After a few seconds of hesitation, Eurik told them.

“I think Stan is actually a pretty good guy, so let’s do our best not to get the human in trouble.”

Wraith and Zion both made noises of acknowledgement before they fell silent. Peering at the trees, he let his mind drift as he enjoyed the ride. He hoped they would be able to get in and out without issue.

While Wraith wanted to appease Zion’s need to see and rescue his cousin, Wraith needed his mate to be safe, too.

When they drew close to where the circus was set up, Eurik slowed their pace. He took a side road and came to a stop.

“Find a place to stow your motorcycle.”

Pointing to the left, Eurik told them.

“The driveway to the back lot is five hundred yards ahead. I’ll sit here for a few, letting you get in position to watch. Hopefully, you’ll be able to follow me in on foot.”

“Sounds good.”

Zion looked over his shoulder at Wraith and held up a hand. Knowing what his mate wanted, he took hold of his hand and swung off the motorcycle. Then Wraith watched as Zion trundled slowly off the side of the road. His mate disappeared amidst a copse of trees, and the engine shut off. A second later, Zion reappeared and held out his hand.

Wraith took it, squeezed his fingers once, then released him. Together, they started jogging down the road. Seeing the turn ahead, they ducked into the trees and began making their way along it, keeping to the shadows.

After a few minutes, Eurik passed them on the road. The rumble of his engine quieted, telling him that he’d slowed. A second later, the rumble quit altogether.

“Hey, Eurik,”

a soft tenor voice greeted him.

“Hi, Stan,”

Eurik replied, his tone warm.

“It’s good to see you again. Thanks for inviting me.”

“Absolutely,”

Stan replied.

“It’s perfect timing, too.”

“Oh?”

Eurik, sitting on his motorcycle, appeared between the trees, and Wraith and Zion crouched behind a bush to watch.

Reaching out, Eurik gripped Stan’s wrist and tugged him to his side.

“Why’s that?”

Instead of letting him answer right away, he pressed a kiss to the blushing blond’s cheek.

Wraith exchanged a look with Zion.

Evidently, Eurik really did like the twinky human.

Who knew that the other guy liked them petite and pretty.

Stan couldn’t have stood more than five-foot-eight, and with his lithe build, Wraith would bet he didn’t weigh much more than a buck-twenty.

“Huh,”

Zion mumbled, his scent giving away his surprise.

“Um, because Ringmaster Goldsteen and Mister Walker left fifteen minutes ago,”

Stan finally answered. He bit his bottom lip and peered at Eurik through his lashes.

“As long as we steer clear of Mister Steele and Kyle, no one will pay us any mind.”

“Well, point them out to me, and I’ll make sure they don’t spot us,”

Eurik assured.

Stan nodded, then eased away from him. “Come on.”

He eyed the big Harley Eurik rode as he pushed the rolling gate open about five feet.

“Maybe, um, maybe...”

As Eurik used his feet to push the motorcycle forward, Stan’s voice trailed off.

“What, baby?”

Eurik asked, pausing as he watched Stan close the gate.

“You can ask me anything.”

His smile appeared wry as he added.

“I’m not really a shy guy.”

Wraith noticed as Eurik spoke, he reached back and grabbed Stan’s hand again before the human could latch the gate, which appeared to have an auto-locking mechanism.

Sneaky. I like it.

“Well,”

Stan began, glancing over the motorcycle again.

Eurik seemed to get it, for a big smile curved his full lips.

“You wanna go for a motorcycle ride, baby?”

Stan nibbled his bottom lip again as he nodded.

“Ever been on a bike before?”

Eurik asked as he slipped his arm around Stan and tucked him against his hip while still straddling the bike.

Shaking his head, Stan admitted, “No.”

His cheeks took on a pinkish hue.

“Always thought it looked fun, though.”

“It is,”

Eurik confirmed. After pecking another kiss to Stan’s cheek, he released him.

“How about after you show me around and point out the assholes, we’ll go out for a bit?”

Stan nodded as he took a step away from Eurik and started toward the tents and trailers, having clearly forgotten about the gate.

“That’d be awesome.”

Walking backward, Stan beckoned.

“Come on. Let me show you the bear first. He’s super friendly.”

Wraith winced even as Eurik nodded before pulling off his helmet. After he hung the strap on a handlebar, he used his legs to push his motorcycle forward. Eurik followed Stan and parked his bike where the human indicated.

As soon as Eurik swung off his ride, he gripped Stan’s hand and allowed the small man to lead him out of sight.

“I had no idea Eurik actually liked Stan so much,”

Zion mumbled even as he took advantage of the coast being clear and led the way to the gate.

“I hope Stan doesn’t end up hurt.”

Silently agreeing, Wraith jogged after his mate. He slipped through the gate behind Zion, then closed it securely. That way, no one could get Stan in trouble for accidentally leaving it open.

When Zion arched a brow, glancing at it pointedly, Wraith whispered.

“Don’t want Stan in trouble.”

He jogged on silent feet toward the nearest tent beside Zion.

“We’ll find another way out of here. Climb the damn fence if we have to.”

Zion nodded, then paused beside the edge of the tent and peered around the corner. He must not have spotted anyone, for he beckoned and continued on. Wraith followed quickly, noting that Zion was following his fellow bear shifter’s scent.

They ducked around a trailer and had to wait a few minutes as voices reached their ears.

“Did you see that big black dude Stan’s leading around?”

a worried feminine voice asked.

“Yeah,”

a man answered.

“He better not let Steele see.”

“Or Kyle,”

the woman replied, her tone snide.

“God,”

the man muttered.

“That ass is such a brown-noser.”

“Totally.”

The voices grew quieter as they continued on their way.

“Well, he won’t hear it from me, and—”

Wraith exchanged a look with Zion.

It seemed Stan wasn’t the only one aware of the problems those two could cause.

He pulled out his phone and shot a text off to Enforcer Kajika.

The head enforcer’s mate, Jared—or Prier, but few had managed to start using his new name, yet—was their pack’s tech guru.

He and his buddy, Raul, were already looking into the ringmaster and Lawrance.

Seeing Zion moving forward, Wraith finished his text as he hurried after him.

He spotted the backs of a red-haired woman with one of the strong men beside her disappearing around the corner of the tent.

They took the opportunity to run to the next trailer and slink along the side.

When Wraith paused at Zion’s shoulder, his bear mate peeked around the corner.

“We found the cage trailers,”

he murmured. “Come on.”

Wraith wanted to caution Zion to be careful, but he kept his mouth shut.

Instead, he did his own quick check around, and good thing he did.

Spotting the shadow of someone coming around the far corner, Wraith grabbed Zion’s upper arm and pulled him back.

Zion snapped his attention to Wraith and opened his mouth.

Instantly, Wraith brought a finger to his lips in the universal hush sign.

His mate snapped his mouth shut and cocked his head a little. His eyes turned vacant. He must have been listening as the sound of footsteps on gravel filled the air.

“I know I saw Stan with a stranger,”

the guy was saying. Then he paused, but Wraith didn’t hear a reply. Then the man started talking again.

“A big black guy. I thought he was showing him the animals.”

Wraith guessed he was on the phone as the man paused again.

“Yes, Mister Walker. I’ll keep looking.”

The sound of a motorcycle engine filled the air, followed by the guy’s shouted.

“I hear a motorcycle. I’ll call you right back.”

The sound of rapid footsteps headed toward them, and Zion and Wraith ducked behind a large rack of clown clothes. They watched a young, brown-haired man run past their hiding place. He dashed around a different trailer and out of sight.

“Kyle, maybe?”

Wraith guessed.

Zion shrugged.

“Probably. If he’s on alert, we won’t have much time.”

Rising, he hurried away, softly urging, “Come on.”

Wraith obeyed. He rushed after Zion. They moved to the trailers and paused at the corner to peer around the edge, just in case Kyle hadn’t been alone.

Seeing the alley between trailers empty, Wraith followed Zion as he moved forward.

His steps slowed, as if he suddenly wasn’t certain he was ready to see inside.

Then Zion stopped before the bars of the bear cage, and a soft cry escaped his lips.

Wraith scented the mixture of hope intermingled with grief rolling off of Zion, and he reached out and took his mate’s hand.

Twining their fingers, he squeezed his bear’s palm, doing his best to offer comfort and support.

The look on Zion’s face, his features pulled into a twisted mask that he couldn’t quite decipher, sent a shaft of need to soothe and care for Zion through Wraith’s body.

Lifting his free hand, Zion reached toward the bars of the cage. “Acadia,”

he whispered, the shock in his voice on clear display.

“Oh, gods, Acadia.”

When Zion’s knees began to buckle, Wraith quickly released his hand in favor of wrapping his arms around his mate, supporting his big bear’s weight.

“We thought you were dead, Acadia. I swear it.”

Then Zion’s voice hardened as he vowed.

“And we’ll get you out of here...somehow.”

The bear’s deep black eyes stared at them, appearing a little vacant, and Wraith feared the state of mind of his mate’s cousin.

Then Acadia’s bear blinked once, twice, before truly focusing on them. He tipped his head to the side just a little, and his big nose sniffed deeply.

Acadia let out a soft rumble, as if greeting Zion.

Zion let out a quiet, choked laugh, a tremulous smile curving his lips.

Relief flooded Wraith.

Good. Acadia’s still in there.

Now we just have to figure out how to get him free...of the cage, of the circus, and of the curse.