Page 24

Chapter Twenty-Three

N ine days later.

Mo paced the length of the kitchen, his phone clutched tightly in his hand. Nine days. Nine days since they'd taken Zack, and still no concrete leads on his location. He felt like he was losing his mind.

"Mo," Victor's voice was gentle but firm. "You need to rest."

"I can't," Mo said, not breaking his stride. "Every time I close my eyes, I see him in pain. I feel it, Victor."

Victor moved to intercept Mo's pacing, placing his hands on Mo's shoulders. "I feel it too."

The bond between them had intensified in Zack's absence, as if their bodies were trying to compensate for the missing piece. But instead of comfort, it only brought them shared anguish—flashes of Zack's pain, his fear, that hit them at random intervals throughout the day and night.

They'd all argued the merits of going to the humans on this, and brought in Christopher for advice. He was also losing his mind because his son was missing, but agreed if Daniel went higher up it could well be taken out of their hands, and they weren't a hundred percent certain it would even be authorized.

They heard Riley coming downstairs with Dr. Adams, a shifter pediatrician, so Mo immediately got coffee for them both.

"Good news," Riley reported as he entered the kitchen.

Mo’s head shot up. It was about time they had some.

“Possible good news,” Korbin Adams corrected, and accepted his coffee gratefully. “You all are aware that the biggest problem is that Jacob should be in a spinal unit, or a neurological one. I’m a pediatrician, but we currently have no shifters qualified as neurologists or neurosurgeons. Riley has done his best healing-wise, but the problem is Jacob has never shifted, nor can our mobile scans detect an injury.”

“So basically, we have no idea why Jacob is paralyzed below the waist,” Riley finished. “We know he’s a shifter, but Jacob himself has no memories of anything other than growing up with Pearson. He was told his mom left him.

“How old is he?”

“Seventeen,” Riley replied.

"And Noah?" Mo asked, knowing the boy had barely left with Alex standing guard.

"Processing," Riley sighed. "The guilt is eating him alive, even though none of this is his fault."

Victor's jaw tightened. "Pearson will pay for what he's done to those boys. And to Zack."

Mo leaned into Victor's solid warmth, drawing strength from his mate's certainty. "The bond feels...different today," he whispered. "Weaker somehow."

Victor stiffened almost imperceptibly. "He's fighting. Our mate is strong."

But they didn’t know what Pearson was doing to him.

"The lab results came back on the blood samples we found at the house," Daniel announced as he entered, tablet in hand. "They managed to isolate a compound that's unique to Pearson Pharmaceuticals' research division."

Victor's eyes sharpened. "So, we have proof it was Pearson."

"Yes, but that doesn't tell us where he's keeping Zack," Daniel replied grimly. "Pearson has facilities in six states and two countries."

"We've already searched his Seattle location," Raschid added, reaching for the coffee. "Nothing."

Mo felt the familiar wave of helplessness threatening to overwhelm him. "Then where? Where would he take him?"

"Somewhere secure, isolated," Victor bit out. "Somewhere he could conduct experiments without arousing suspicion."

Mo thought hard about everything they knew, his thoughts returning to Khloe. Was he destined to always lose his family? “What about Rigor? Has anyone heard from him?”

Daniel frowned. "Elkin's gone underground since the raid. We've had alerts out for him, but nothing so far."

Mo's mind raced, an idea forming that he knew Victor wouldn't like. "What if we draw him out? Use me as bait?"

"Absolutely not," Victor growled immediately, his eyes flashing alpha red.

"Hear me out," Mo insisted, turning to face his mate. "Pearson wanted Noah to get close to us, to find out how we operate. What if I let it be known I'm looking for Khloe and Zack? Make it clear I'd do anything to find him?"

"It's too dangerous," Victor said, his voice brooking no argument.

"I agree with Victor," Daniel added. "Pearson's already shown he's willing to use lethal force. We can't risk putting you in that position."

Mo stood his ground. "I'm already in this position. Every second Zack is gone, I feel him slipping away." His voice broke slightly. "We're running out of time, Victor. I know it. You know it."

“Slipping away?” Korbin almost pounced on that phrase. “What exactly do you mean?”

“Getting weaker,” Mo croaked out. He looked at Victor. “Could they be moving him?”

Victor enveloped Mo in his arms, but Mo heard him speak to the others. “We know distance doesn’t affect the bond.”

“How long ago did you three mate?” Korbin asked immediately.

Riley hissed in a breath. “Two, three weeks ago.” Mo turned around and caught the look Riley sent to the doc.

“What? What is it?”

Riley looked at Victor. “Do you feel the same?”

Victor nodded once.

“Then I think we have an even more serious problem,” Korbin said. “This is rare, but as you’ve just mated and your bond is so fresh, there is a chance, as you have explained, that Zack is a latent omega, and that means he could be showing signs of mating sickness.”

Mo heard the collective gasp. Victor frowned.

“Is that even real?”

“Very,” Riley confirmed.

“What’s mating sickness?” Mo asked.

“Riley,” Victor clipped out warningly, but Mo squeezed his arm.

“No, I have a right to know. Tell me,” he ordered.

“It usually affects only newly bonded mates and is rare. If a shifter is separated from their mate immediately after bonding, the mate can get sick.”

“But Victor isn’t sick.”

“No,” Riley agreed and speared Victor with a stare. “Scared out of his mind and not wanting anyone to know, but not physically sick. Because he still has you and he’s not an omega. And you,” Riley continued, “are a human omega, not a shifter one. You exhibit traits, like your heat, but you will never shift and also, you still have Victor.”

“But Zack doesn’t have anyone,” Mo whispered.

“If this is true,” Victor ground out. “How long do we have?”

Riley shook his head. “We need to find him.”

“Wait,” Mo said. “How sick can Zack actually get?” But from the looks he got, he knew the answer. “Okay then,” Mo said. “Tonight, I’m going back to the bar they caught me in when all this started. I’m going to start showing people pics of Khloe and won’t be shy about it.”

Victor growled, but Mo turned back to him. “If it was me, wouldn’t you do anything you could?”

“Zack will never forgive me for putting you in danger,” Victor said. Mo smiled, knowing his big growly wolf was going to capitulate. “I’ll be there,” Victor decreed.

“Actually, you can’t if we’re doing this,” Daniel said. “Rigor might not be a shifter, but he may be accompanied by them. We can’t risk any shifters being close enough for them to scent us. It will have to be humans.” Daniel turned to Martin. “You’ve got some good people?”

Martin nodded. “Excellent and retired, so they aren’t going to worry about their jobs.”

“This is insane,” Victor spat out.

“No one's suggesting for one moment that we won’t be close,” Asher said. “There’s no way we’d let Mo be taken, but Daniel’s spot on. If Rigor has shifters with him like the ones that attacked us at home, the plan won’t work.”

Victor couldn’t help the growl from his throat as he sat in the van watching the security feed showing Mo sitting alone at a table. Even through the black and white footage, he could see the tension in his mate's shoulders, the careful way he was showing Khloe's photo to anyone who would look. They'd agreed not to mention Zack unless someone took the bait with Khloe as too many locals might know Zack.

"He's doing fine," Martin assured him, adjusting his earpiece. "My people have eyes on every entrance and exit."

Victor swallowed the next growl. Humans. "This is taking too long. He's been out there for over an hour."

"Patience," Riley counseled from the seat next to Daniel. "He’s doing well, and they aren’t going to rush. They might have people keeping an eye out and it would take time for them to report Mo is there."

Victor knew they were right, but the bond between him and Mo was humming with anxiety. Or perhaps that was just his own fear bleeding through. And underneath it all was the increasingly faint pulse of connection to Zack—weakening by the hour in a way that terrified him.

"Movement at the south entrance," Martin reported suddenly, his voice sharpening. "Two men matching the description of Rigor's known associates."

Victor tensed, every instinct screaming at him to go to Mo, to protect his mate. Riley placed a restraining hand on his arm.

"Trust the plan," Riley murmured. "Trust Mo."

On the screen, Victor watched as the two men entered the bar, scanning the crowd before their eyes landed on Mo. One nudged the other, and they began making their way toward him.

"We've got company," Martin spoke quietly into his comm. "Two approaching the target. Stand by." Victor knew the three men playing darts were all Martin’s. One laughed, then sat down and picked up his beer. Close enough to hear if he was a shifter.

Mo looked up as the men approached his table, his expression carefully neutral, though Victor could feel his spike of fear through their bond.

"Heard you've been asking questions," the taller of the two said, sliding into the seat across from Mo without invitation.

"I'm looking for my sister," Mo replied, sliding Khloe's photo across the table. "And now my partner, too."

The second man leaned forward. "Word is you're connected to those freaks at Hunter's Creek."

Victor's hands clenched into fists at the slur, but he remained silent, watching.

"You know about them?" Mo asked. "My—” Mo lowered his voice “—mate is missing. And I'll do anything to find Zack and my sister. Anything."

“So how come you’re out here on your own?”

Tears sprang to Mo’s eyes, and they were genuine. Victor lurched to his feet, but Daniel caught his arm. Mo swallowed. “I’ve left. They can’t help me. It puts the kids in too much danger for me to stay there.”

The men exchanged looks. "Might be we know someone who can help," the first one said. "For the right price."

"Name it," Mo replied without hesitation.

The taller man chuckled. "Not that kind of price. Boss wants to meet you. Alone."

"When and where?" Mo asked.

Victor tensed. This was moving too quickly.

"Now," the man said, standing. "We'll take you."

They saw Mo hesitate. Daniel had warned him not to appear too eager. “How do I know I can trust you?”

“My boss has a grievance with those that are bringing too much attention to certain types of people,” he said carefully. “He wants it stopped.”

“Very clever,” Daniel said. “Makes it look like there’s someone else involved that might be persuaded to join forces.” Mo nodded and stood up, following the men to the bar. This was it. They would take these two goons and find out what they knew. Find out where Zack was.

Victor watched intently as the men guided Mo toward the exit. The taller one had his hand on Mo's back—a seemingly friendly gesture that Victor knew was meant to control his movements.

"Now?" Victor growled, his patience at its breaking point.

Daniel held up a hand. "Wait for them to clear the main area. We don't want civilians caught in the crossfire."

The seconds stretched like hours as they followed Mo's progress on the security feed. When the three men finally reached the alley behind the bar, Daniel nodded.

"Go."

Martin's team moved first, emerging from their positions with practiced efficiency. The two playing darts abandoned their game, while another rose from his table near the exit, all converging on the alley.

Victor was out of the van before Daniel could stop him, moving with his alpha’s preternatural speed despite his human form. The night air carried Mo's scent to him—fear mingled with determination—and Victor followed it like a beacon.

As he rounded the corner, he saw Mo being shoved toward a waiting SUV with tinted windows. The taller man had Mo's arm twisted behind his back while the second opened the vehicle's door.

"Get in," the man was saying. "Boss doesn't like to be kept waiting."

Mo struggled, playing his part perfectly. "Let go of me! You're hurting me!"

The distraction was all Daniel's team needed. The shorter man went for his gun, proving he was a human, but never completed the motion. Daniel and Asher pounced, but the third grabbed Mo. "Back off or he gets it!" he shouted, pressing the barrel against Mo's temple.

Victor's world narrowed to a pinpoint focus. His mate was in danger. The wolf inside him howled for blood, but Victor maintained control. He couldn't shift here, not with Martin's human team present.

Instead, he moved silently along the shadows of the building, using the distraction of the standoff to circle behind the gunman. Mo's eyes widened fractionally as he spotted Victor, but he gave no other indication.

"Easy," Daniel called, emerging from the opposite side with his FBI badge visible. "You're surrounded. Let him go, and we can talk."

The gunman's grip tightened on Mo. "I said back off! I'll—"

Victor struck with blinding speed, one hand clamping around the man's gun wrist while the other locked around his throat. With a precise application of pressure—just enough strength to incapacitate without revealing his shifter abilities—Victor forced the man to drop his weapon.

The gunman struggled, but Victor's grip was unbreakable. "Don't move," Victor hissed in his ear, "or I'll snap your neck."

Mo stumbled free immediately, but he was jubilant. It had worked. They got them. Now they had to find out what they knew. Mo closed his eyes and searched for the special place in his heart and mind where he could feel Zack and couldn’t stop the tears from falling this time. Barely a flicker. He could barely feel Zack. Mo let out a sob and rushed to where Victor was shoving one of the men in the van. Zack was dying. Mo knew he was. They had to get to him, and they had to get to him now.