Page 21

Chapter Twenty

Z ack tightened his hold on Mo for a moment before reluctantly pulling away. "Let's get cleaned up and head down." He pressed a gentle kiss to Mo's temple before sliding out of bed.

As they dressed, Zack caught Victor watching him with an intensity that made his skin prickle with awareness. "What?"

There was something unspoken between them, questions about what had happened during their mating, which they hadn't had time to talk about. He didn't remember much, but—something that shouldn't have been physically possible—hung between them like an unacknowledged presence in the room.

He knew they had to talk, and doubts pushed in. He was a bear. He wasn’t some delicate omega Victor could protect.

"We'll talk about it later," Victor said quietly, seeming to read Zack's thoughts. "After we deal with this."

Zack nodded, grateful for the temporary reprieve. Whatever was happening to his body could wait. Right now, Jacob and Khloe needed them more.

When they entered the living room, Daniel was pacing by the fireplace while Riley and Martin sat reviewing something on a laptop. Alex and Noah were nowhere to be seen.

"Where are the boys?" Mo asked, settling into an armchair.

"Alex's room," Riley answered without looking up. "Alex is keeping Noah occupied with video games, but Alex can hear what we say. He says Noah’s hearing isn’t that acute yet, probably because he hasn’t shifted enough."

Daniel stopped pacing when he saw them. "Good, you're here. We have confirmation." He gestured to Martin, who turned the laptop around to show them footage of Sean Pearson's estate.

"This is from an hour ago.” Zack leaned closer, studying the grainy footage. A silhouette could be seen briefly passing by one of the upper windows, the distinctive shape of a wheelchair unmistakable.

"I think we can assume that’s Jacob," Asher said grimly.

Daniel nodded. "We've watched the house. O'Dowd arrived at seven and left at five, exactly like Noah said. There's a security system, but it's nothing we can't handle."

"What about Pearson?" Victor asked, his voice tightly controlled.

"Left for Seattle this morning. There’s a big art gala he’s sponsoring, and he’s front and center. He's scheduled to return tomorrow evening."

Mo straightened. "So, we have a window."

"A small one," Daniel confirmed. "We go in tonight after O'Dowd leaves. Get Jacob out before Pearson returns. Martin, I want you in the van monitoring communications, bearing in mind those of us shifted won't be able to wear any devices."

Zack saw Martin nod once and a slight hardening of his jaw. Martin had been permanently disabled in human form by a bullet that took out his knee while saving one of theirs. As a wolf he was unstoppable, but as a human he had a permanent limp. As an ex-FBI agent, Zack knew he hated to see his friends rushing into danger knowing he would have to stay behind.

At that moment Zack knew exactly how he felt.

"And the other rooms Noah mentioned?" Zack asked, thinking of Khloe and the other missing children.

Martin pulled up schematics of the house. "The original architecture shows one basement level, but we know its been extended."

"Hidden floors?" Victor asked.

"No way to confirm without access to thermal imaging.

“What if Khloe isn’t there?” Mo asked.

Daniel's expression softened with understanding. "Then we keep looking. But right now, this is our best lead." He stared hard at everyone. “Shifters only. I can’t involve anyone else in this, which means it’s unsanctioned and off the books.”

Mo gaped. Did that mean Daniel was risking his job?

"The intel we've gathered suggests Pearson's operation is extensive," Victor added, his hand finding Mo's shoulder and squeezing gently. "If he's behind the disappearances, finding Jacob could lead us to the others."

"What's the plan?" Zack asked, leaning forward.

Daniel pointed to different areas of the schematics. "We'll enter here, through the service entrance. Security is lightest on this side of the property. Kent and some of Raschid's wolves, in their animal forms, will neutralize any guards while Victor, Riley and I locate and extract Jacob. My other agents will provide back up and security, but this is kept in-house for right now, as in no humans. Asher is leading the group to the basement."

"What about us?" Mo asked, gesturing between himself and Zack.

Daniel shook his head. "You two stay here."

"No way," Mo protested immediately. "If Khloe might be there—"

"Mo," Victor's voice was gentle but firm. "You’re a professional. I wouldn’t know where to start to help a child with reading difficulties."

Mo wrinkled his nose. “It’s hardly the same.”

Victor shrugged. “Then I’ll put it another way. Are you strong enough to pick either Khloe or Jacob up, or even both of them, and run out of the house carrying them?”

Mo looked like he wanted to argue further but finally nodded. "Fine. But you call the second you find anything."

“I gotta ask,” Zack said uncomfortably, wondering why he was being left behind. “But is bringing them all here the best idea? Paints a pretty huge target on this house and all the kids.”

“Just Khloe and Jacob,” Daniel said. “We have a safe house set up for any others, plus we need you here as Mo, Alex, and Noah trust you, and you could get all three to safety if needed.” Even so, Zack thought uncomfortably, no one would be safe until Pearson was behind bars. And that still really didn’t address why he was staying here. He had to be the strongest of them all, even Riley.

"It's the safest option we have right now," Riley said, though Zack could see the concern in his eyes. "We'll have extra security in place. Raschid's wolves will form a perimeter around the property."

Victor reached over and cupped his chin. “I’m sorry, that was me. I can’t concentrate unless I know both of you are safe. It’s my fault you aren’t going.”

Zack stared into his eyes, and before he realized what he was doing, he’d agreed.

"And what about Noah's dad?" Mo asked. "He's expecting Noah to call him tonight."

"That's our advantage," Daniel replied. "Noah will make the call as planned. He'll tell Pearson he's making progress, that he's gained your trust. That should keep Pearson believing his plan is working while we extract Jacob."

Zack nodded, but something still felt off. This was too easy. If Pearson was as calculating as they believed, would he really leave Jacob so lightly guarded during his absence?

Victor seemed to share his concern. "It could be a trap."

"Possibly," Daniel acknowledged. "Which is why we're going in with full tactical support and Raschid’s wolves. If it is a trap, we'll be ready."

The rest of the day passed in tense preparation. Noah made his call to Pearson under Mo's careful guidance, managing to sound convincingly enthusiastic about his "progress" at Hunter's Creek. Pearson had seemed pleased, asking few questions and ending the call quickly because he said he was just getting on a plane.

Victor caught Zack just coming out of the bathroom and practically pinned him against the wall. “You are the only one I trust to keep our mate safe,” he all but growled.

So that answered that. Zack couldn’t resist snagging Victor’s lips, and it was a very long minute until they joined the others.

“I—”

“I know,” Victor answered. “I know this is more than just submission, but it doesn’t make you less. It doesn’t make us less.”

Zack smiled, his big heart a little lighter.

By nightfall, the plan was set. Zack watched from the porch as Victor, Martin, Daniel, Asher and Riley prepared to leave, each checking their equipment one final time.

"Be careful," Zack said as Victor approached him for a final goodbye.

Victor's eyes softened slightly. "Always am." He leaned in, pressing a firm kiss to Zack's lips. "Keep Mo safe. Don't let him out of your sight."

"I won't," Zack promised. "Just make sure you all come back in one piece."

With a final nod, Victor joined the others in Daniel's unmarked SUV, and they disappeared down the long driveway into the darkness. Zack knew Raschid’s wolves were still protecting the property, even if many of them were backing up Daniel and the others tonight, there were still plenty to guard the house.

Zack returned inside to find Mo pacing the living room, his anxiety palpable. Noah and Alex sat quietly on the couch, Noah's expression tense, while Alex maintained a protective presence beside him.

"They'll be okay," Zack assured them, though he couldn't quite shake his own unease. "Daniel knows what he's doing."

Mo nodded absently, continuing to pace. "I know. I just... I can't help feeling like we're missing something."

"Like what?" Zack asked, guiding Mo to sit down.

"I don't know. It just seems too... convenient. Pearson leaving town right when we discover Jacob's location."

Zack had been thinking the same thing. "Daniel and Victor are aware it might be a trap. They're prepared."

An hour crawled by with excruciating slowness. Alex eventually took Noah upstairs to try to get some sleep, though Zack doubted either of them would manage it. Mo refused to rest, instead sitting by the window. “Zack?” Mo said slowly, standing up. “What’s that?” Zack peered out of the window toward the town. He could see the red glow in the distance.

“Shit,” he spat. His phone rang. It was Raschid.

“Zack, I’m having to pull some of my wolves. The school has a concert this evening for their senior class and according to what I’m being told, some idiotic disgruntled kids set three classrooms on fire, and there’s some people trapped. The local fire department is already responding to a multi-vehicle pile-up on the interstate.”

“Go,” snapped Zack, “we’ll be fine.”

“I’ve still got a dozen wolves there. No one will get through,” Raschid assured him, then rang off.

“What is it?” Alex and Noah appeared, and Zack told them.

"They should have called by now," Mo said, his voice tight with worry as he glanced at the clock. It had been well over an hour since the team left.

Zack moved to stand behind him, placing his hands on Mo's shoulders and massaging gently. "These things take time. They need to be careful."

Mo leaned back into Zack's touch, some of the tension leaving his body. "I know. I just—"

Zack went still, his bear's senses immediately on alert which silenced Mo immediately. There was a faint sound coming from outside—not from the direction of the driveway, but from the back of the property. "Stay here," he said quietly, moving toward the back door.

“Zack—"

"Just stay put. I'll check it out." But before Zack could move, every light went out.

Alex's low growl filled the darkened room. "Someone cut the power."

"Get upstairs," Zack ordered, immediately moving toward Mo. The security system would have a backup generator, but it would take precious seconds to kick in. Seconds they might not have.

"No," Alex said firmly. "I'm staying. Noah, go to my room and lock the door."

Noah hesitated, his eyes wide with fear in the dim emergency lighting that had automatically activated. "But—"

"Go," Alex insisted, his voice carrying the unmistakable command of an alpha. "I'll come for you when it's safe."

As Noah reluctantly headed upstairs, Zack pulled Mo close, positioning himself between his mate and the potential threat. His bear was restless beneath his skin, sensing danger.

"It's a diversion," Mo whispered. "The fire in town, the power—they wanted to draw everyone away."

“And where’s Raschid’s wolves?” Alex snapped, but Zack didn’t have time to answer. The sound of glass shattering came from multiple directions at once. Zack shoved Mo behind him and lunged toward Alex.

"Down!" he shouted as the first canister burst through the window, spewing a thick cloud of gas that immediately burned Zack's eyes and throat.

Zack's bear roared inside him, desperate to protect, but he fought the shift. If they were being attacked by humans who knew about shifters, shifting would only make him a bigger target.

Mo started coughing violently behind him. Zack turned, wrapping an arm around Mo's waist as his mate's knees buckled.

"Alex," Zack rasped through the thickening smoke. "Get to Noah!"

Alex was already halfway to the stairs, his shirt pulled over his nose and mouth. The young alpha paused, torn between protecting his mate and helping Zack.

"Go!" Zack ordered, pushing Mo toward the kitchen, where the air seemed clearer. "We'll be right behind you!"

The front door splintered open with a deafening crack. Zack glimpsed dark figures wearing gas masks pouring through the doorway. Mo staggered, his eyes streaming as the gas took effect.

"Run!" Zack shouted, shoving Mo toward the back door. He turned back to face the intruders, determined to buy Noah and Alex enough time to escape.

The first attacker came at him with a stun baton. Zack dodged, his bear's reflexes giving him an edge despite the disorienting gas. He grabbed the man's arm and twisted, hearing a satisfying snap as bones broke. The man screamed behind his mask.

"Tranq him!" someone shouted.

Zack felt a sharp sting in his shoulder. He reached back and yanked out two darts, but already his limbs were growing heavy. Whatever they'd hit him with was designed for shifters—working fast despite his bear's metabolism.

He fought through the encroaching darkness, desperate to reach Mo, who was now crawling toward the kitchen, barely conscious, a dart sticking out of his shoulder. Two more attackers closed in on him. Zack roared, partially shifting his arms to swipe at them with clawed hands.

One went down, blood spraying from deep gashes across his chest. The other backed away, raising what looked like a modified rifle. Zack lunged, knowing he needed to take this one down before—

Another dart hit him in the chest. Then another. The world tilted sideways as Zack's legs gave out beneath him.

"Got the big one," a voice said, sounding distant and muffled through the ringing in Zack's ears.

"What about the other three?" Someone kicked Zack in the ribs, but he barely felt it now.

"Leave them. This is the one we want."

Rough hands grabbed Zack's arms, dragging him across the floor.

"No," Zack slurred, trying to shift.

"This one's fighting the sedative. Give him another dose."

Another dart. The darkness swallowed Zack before he could make another sound.

His last thought was of Victor. Victor would find them. Victor would come.

Then nothing.