Chapter Five

Everything was white—from the floor, to the ceiling, to the large stacks of storage crates that ringed the outside edge of the room. Even the men were dressed completely in white. A large exam table set up, center stage. It was covered with a sheet that Noah assumed had also started out a pristine white. The pale linen was now spotted red with blood from deep gashes in the man’s wrists and ankles. The wounds had to have been caused by the thick restraints biting into his vulnerable flesh. The crimson spray against the sterile white created a macabre effect that turned Noah’s stomach and left him fighting for control. The man was still struggling against his bonds in a futile attempt at escape. He released a whimper filled with such pain and suffering, Noah barely managed to bite back the growl that threatened to escape him.

Landon.

Noah took a step toward the table, thankful that the other men hadn’t noticed their presence. They had their backs to them, huddled together while looking over some charts on the opposite side of the room. Noah and Dax had worked their way around the outside edge of the room when one of the men walked over to their captive and raised a fisted hand. In a move quicker than Noah’s eyes could register, the man swung, striking down hard and eliciting a low moan from the prisoner strapped to the table.

“You worthless piece of shit!” he roared, slamming his hands down on the table, right next to the prisoner’s face. His knuckles were bloody and his face was flushed an angry red. “You’re lucky that we’re even willing to keep your defective hide alive at this point. If the boss finds out that we went to all the trouble to get our hands on you and you’re completely useless for his purposes, he’ll make an example out of both you and us.”

The murderous look in his eyes enraged Noah. He was ready to hurtle over the stack of crates that was currently providing them with cover and killing the asshole on the spot when another man stepped forward, placing a restraining hand on the guard’s shoulder. He was older with graying hair at his temples and pronounced wrinkles around his mouth and eyes. Noah assumed he was some kind of doctor based on the lab coat he wore and the air of superiority that seemed to ooze from his pores.

“Now, now, Alec. Let’s not lose sight of what we’re trying to do here. He’s of no use to us dead. That’s not even mentioning what Alpha Steele will do to you if you cause him any permanent damage.”

“This is bullshit, Gregory. What makes him so damn important?” the guard, Alec, snapped. “We’ve been wasting our time with this one for months with nothing to show for it. My men could have brought in a dozen new bodies in that amount of time. We should cut our losses and be done with it.”

The doctor leveled Alec with an icy glare. “That is not for you to decide. You would do well to remember that you are not in charge here. Your job is to keep an eye on the prisoners and protect this facility. Life and death decisions are way above your pay grade.”

The guard’s face purpled and his body practically vibrated with fury as he glared at the doctor. His lack of contradiction just proved who was truly in charge of the facility. When Alec took a step toward the older man, Noah thought he might do them a flavor and take the good doctor out. Sadly, it was not meant to be. Faltering after just a few steps, he seemed to have second thoughts about the wisdom of his actions.

Alec gave the doctor a stilted nod of acknowledgment. “My apologies, Gregory,” he muttered, a trace of venom leaking into his words. “It won’t happen again.”

Gregory snorted in derision. “See that it doesn’t.” Turning his attention back to his charts, he dismissed the guard without a care. Shooting one last glare at the doctor’s back, Alec walked over to where the other guards were congregating, whispering in low tones.

Taking advantage of their distraction, Noah and Dax stealthily worked their way around the room. They needed to get a better position and remain undetected for as long as possible. They were positioned behind the men, when they were finally able to see the condition of the prisoner strapped to the table. At first, Noah was only able to make out bits and pieces from between the bodies of the guards surrounding the table—the curve of a hip, a hint of pectoral, the pad of a bare toe. All parts of an unknown whole. Noah was ready to throw them out of the way by the time they finally sidled off to the side, still arguing about what they were to do with their prisoner. Their opportune movement left their captive fully visible for the first time.

Noah felt like he had been punched in the stomach when his gaze locked with eyes of the palest blue he had ever seen. He was about six feet tall with pale hair the color of summer wheat. Built like a swimmer, he had a flat stomach and wide, thick shoulders. Judging by the way his ribs and hip bones protruded, Noah could tell his captors hadn’t been feeding him properly.

Once we get him out of here, Dax and I will have to take proper care of him. Noah jerked in surprise at his own thoughts. What the hell? Where had that come from? Narrowing his eyes, he took in the young man’s bound form as he tried to make sense of his own reaction. He had no idea what’d prompted it, but it seemed as natural as breathing. Noah glanced at Dax and saw that his wolf’s head was cocked to the side while he stared at the wounded man intently.

“Dax?”

“I feel it, too.”

“What do you feel?”

“I feel like…he’s ours.”

Noah couldn’t have put it any better if he’d tried. An ache formed in his chest, right over his heart. He lifted a hand and rubbed the spot, hoping to ease the dull throbbing. Trying to wrap his mind around it seemed impossible. It was more likely that his brain would explode as he strained to make sense of their new development.

Movement from the other side of the room pulled him out of his musing and dragged his attention back to their young man. Noah’s blood turned to ice. His shock was quickly replaced by a near blinding rage when he saw the guards return. The same guard, Alec, glowered as he approached. The others hung back, their expressions filled with interest while they waited for orders from their superior. Determination was stamped on the man’s face, but what concerned Noah most was the unmistakable glimmer of derision shining in his eyes.

“Landon, it’s become painfully clear that we may never be able to use you for the purposes Alpha Steele originally intended. Whether it’s a decision on your part to be a pain in my ass or a by-product of your defect, we may never know. I, for one, don’t give a fuck. This is your last chance to cooperate before we cull you from the group. If you cooperate and allow the good doctor to run his tests and get the samples he needs, I promise you’ll live to see another day. Fight the process or flat out refuse, then you’re done.” Alec gritted his teeth, grabbing Landon’s bicep and squeezing it in a punishing hold. “I refuse to keep feeding and sheltering you here, knowing we’re not getting any return on our investment. Do you understand?”

A pained grimace crossed Landon’s face and his whole body trembled as he tried to pull away from the man’s touch. “I’m not doing anything to disrupt the doctor’s tests. It’s just the way I am,” he pleaded. “I can’t help you get what you’re asking for. I don’t have any control over it.”

Alec scowled and anger colored his cheeks a deep crimson. “What the hell are you talking about, boy? Are you simple in the big head, as well as defective in the little one? I’m not asking you for the secrets of the universe. All I’m asking is, the next time I send you some hot piece of ass, you stop fighting your arousal and go with the flow. It’s as simple as that.”

Landon shook his head forlornly. “That’s where you’re wrong. It’s not simple, at all. Not for me.”

“What the fuck are you blathering on about?”

“Nothing,” Landon muttered, quietly averting his eyes. “It’s not something you would understand.”

“Excuse me?” Alec barked. “Is your little faggot ass calling me stupid?”

The guard’s hand shot out as quickly as a viper’s strike, cracking across Landon’s face in a blur of motion. In seconds, Landon’s face was already displaying an angry red handprint across his cheek.

The gleam of moisture in the smaller man’s eyes had Noah seething. Dax was in no better shape as his wolf paced back and forth, lips pulled back in a snarl, fully displaying his razor sharp fangs. Noah’s hand on his head, tightly gripping his fur was the only thing holding him back from attacking, full out. While Noah would like nothing better than to tear the bastard limb from limb, the last thing he wanted was for Landon to be harmed further. He sent out a mental call for help to the rest of the team, hoping they were near enough to assist.

“Fine! If that’s the way you want it, you leave me no choice. Boys,” he shouted over his shoulder to the gathered guards, “it’s time to take out the trash.”

“Wait!”

Noah’s heart shuttered as he had a moment to wonder if it were possible for a Shifter to have a heart attack. The doctor’s halting words couldn’t have come at a better time. Every minute the guards delayed improved their chances of backup arriving in time.

“What’s your damn problem, Doctor?” Alec snarled.

Belligerent as the guard was, Noah wouldn’t have been surprised if he took a swing at the doctor next.

“Alpha Steele has plans for this one. Under no circumstances is he to be permanently harmed or allowed to go free. Those are our orders.”

“I think I’ve made my feelings about those orders abundantly clear,” Alec barked. “You let me handle this my way and I promise, you will get your test results and Alpha Steele will be none the wiser. Admit it—with all the restrictions Alpha Steele has in place, you haven’t been able to make any real progress, have you?”

“No,” Gregory answered coolly.

“See. This will be a no-lose situation for both of us. You’ll finally be able to run all the tests you’ve been wanting to and when you’re done I will finally be able to get this piece of shit out of here for good.”

Gregory cocked his head to the side, an air of thoughtfulness surrounding him. It was like he was observing a bug under a microscope, trying to puzzle out what made it work. “I’ve never understood your animosity for the young man. What is it about him that you find so offensive?”

Alec’s eyes darkened. “He’s defiant. He has an effect on the prisoners—stirs them up and encourages their resistance. I don’t like it. The sooner we get him out of here, the sooner things will go back to normal. How long do you think it will take to run your tests?”

Gregory’s brow furrowed. “It is imperative that we find a way to force his body to experience arousal, either naturally or chemically. Alpha Steele’s orders demand it. Unfortunately, all my efforts so far have been unsuccessful. Assuming we can find a way to overcome that hurdle? I think I can have them done in a day, maybe two, tops. I will need to borrow some of your men, though. The main focus of my research requires samples of both blood and semen while he is aroused. I’ve already exposed him to all of the prisoners in an effort to get the needed response, but I have been unable to achieve the necessary response. His defect seems to have trapped his body in a state similar to prepubescence. No signs of arousal, no ejaculation, completely asexual. I’m hopeful one of your men may be able to stimulate him in some way.”

“Why? What is so special about this kid that Alpha Steele is willing to commit this amount of time and resources into studying him? My men and I could be out there rounding up more subjects for your program but instead, we’re trapped here, babysitting. It’s a waste.”

“You know nothing,” the doctor spat. “He is an Omega and the key to everything we are trying to achieve. We need to see him awakened to his full potential and, at the moment, the only way we know how to do that it to find his mate. If we can pinpoint the differences in his genetics compared to other shifters, we may be able to duplicate them in other wolves. The possibilities in the breeding program alone would be priceless. Alpha Steele would be unstoppable.”

Alec was silent, seeming to soak in the Gregory’s words. After a moment he nodded. “Whatever you need, you’ll have. Since you’ve already got my team and me down here, you might as well start your testing with us. The sooner you get started, the sooner we get this whole mess wrapped up and out of our hair. What do you need us to do?”

The guards moved in and assembled around the doctor who began doling out orders. Men hurried around the room, gathering equipment, vials and syringes filled with mysterious liquids in varying colors. The young man who only moments before had been their ultimate focus, was now nearly forgotten in the hustle and bustle of their preparations.

Noah looked on as Landon seemed to shrink in on himself. The complete desolation on his face made his features drawn in and tight. His body shook with tremors and he turned away, tears now freely falling down his cheeks. He appeared so broken and alone, Noah could swear his heart shattered. At least Landon would be free soon and no one would ever get a chance to harm him again.

Waiting for their opening was hard, especially when Alec took a step toward the exam table with a calculating look in his eyes. “All right, Doc. What do you need us to do?”

“I see a few of your men are new and have yet to be exposed to the subject. They need only approach him, one at a time. There are natural responses the body has to attraction and arousal. I’ll be observing him to see if any of your men are able to encourage a reaction from him. It will make my job that much easier if we are able to identify someone who has a stimulating effect on him. If not, we’ll have to move on to more…invasive testing.”

“Whatever you say, Doc. All right, boys, line it up. We’re gonna do this one at a time so no screwing around. Let’s go.”

Noah was on his feet, ready to make his move if one of those assholes even breathed funny in Noah’s vicinity. He no longer cared if it would put them at a disadvantage. There was no way in hell he was going to let that fucked-up piece of shit touch Landon again.

Dax was of a similar mind. His hackles rose and his shoulders dropped as he readied himself to spring forward and strike. The sight of Dax in full-on attack mode nearly stopped Noah’s heart. The beauty and savagery of it was breathtaking. Knowing that his own wolf would have a distinct advantage in this situation, Noah shifted into his furrier side and waited. The moment Alec tried to touch their Landon, his life was over. They leaned into each other for comfort and support, waiting for their opportunity to act.

One by one, the men approached. Some ran their hands over his limbs using teasing touches while others took it further, exposing themselves to him while fondling themselves. Man after man made an attempt. Despite their efforts, Landon remained unmoved, his long shaft flaccid as it lay draped across his thigh. The resignation on his face was heartbreaking.

Gregory sighed and ran a hand over his face. “No reaction whatsoever. Not even a twitch. I was afraid of this.”

“What now, Gregory? Do you want me to send for another group of guards?”

“Honestly, I don’t think it’s going to do any good. There has never been any evidence of arousal in the subject. While it pains me to admit it, I doubt that will ever change. Without knowing what is causing his abnormality, I have no to way to counteract it.”

A malicious glow lit Alec’s eyes as he glanced over at Landon’s prone form. “You hear that? You’re even more defective than I thought, you pussy boy freak.” He turned inquiring eyes to Gregory. “This changes things. Will you be able to get any new information from him if we can’t get him ‘stimulated’?”

Gregory grimaced in distaste. “No. Beyond dissecting him, I’ve done all the testing I can do without the change brought on by his arousal.” He tapped his chin thoughtfully. “We could attempt a vivisection. An inside view of his system may reveal answers we haven’t yet been able to ascertain.”

“You’re joking.”

Gregory blinked. “Have you ever known me to joke?”

“Well, no…”

“That’s because I don’t. I would never joke when it comes to matters of science and discovery.”

Alec swallowed and his skin paled. “You’re the one who said that Alpha Steele wanted him alive.”

“He would be alive. That’s the beauty of it.”

“Yeah, I’m understanding that part. What I’m confused about is how you’re going to keep him alive.”

“I am a doctor,” Gregory scoffed, his shoulders thrown back in righteous indignation. “I’ll admit, it would be a sensitive procedure but with my full medical team on hand, I don’t see any reason for concern.”

From the stiff way he held himself, Alec was obviously uncomfortable with the turn of events. “How long would it take you to get your team assembled and ready to work?”

“Not long,” Gregory answered. “About an hour.”

Alec nodded. “All right. Call your team and start your preparations. What do you want us to do with him?”

Gregory looked at Landon with cool detachment. He didn’t seem to see the living, breathing, terrified man. It was clear that all he saw was a test subject with secrets still to be revealed. “You can move him back to his cell. We’ll need to sterilize the room and set up our equipment. I’ll let you know when we’re ready for you to bring him back.”

“All right, guys. You heard the doc. Let’s get him out of here.”

The men moved as one, converging in on Landon’s trapped form. Noah took that as his signal, leaping over a stack of crates and plowing, full speed, into the gathered men. He could feel Dax behind him, mirroring his actions. The element of surprise was their greatest ally, allowing them to cut their way through two of the five-man group without them even realizing they were under attack.

Biting, clawing and slashing their way across the room, Noah and Dax managed to herd the stunned guards back and away from Landon’s prone form. As they neared the entrance, a glint of metal caught Noah’s eye and he knew he’d found his chance to buy them some time. Shifting with a speed few could manage, he threw his body to the side, rolling across the floor to the semi-automatic handgun that had to have been abandoned by one of the guards in their haste to retreat. He chambered a round, released the safety and began firing toward the guards, forcing them to take cover in the hallway outside the exam room.

Noah slammed the door shut behind them, then quickly moved to engage the lock. He grabbed a few spare IV poles from the corner and used them to further bar the door. It wasn’t much, but he was willing to use anything available to help bolster their defenses. It was just a matter of time before the guards were able to force their way back into the room. They needed to have Landon free and a plan in action before that happened.

Reasonably happy with what they’d managed to accomplish so far, Noah led the way back over to the table where Landon was still restrained. Pale blue eyes, wide with shock, met Noah’s and in the space of a moment, he knew he was lost. This man—this beautiful blue-eyed Adonis—belonged to them. Mate. His wolf rumbled in satisfaction, their final piece, no longer missing.

If he wasn’t experiencing it, Noah wouldn’t have believed it was possible. There had always been rumors—legends, really—that spoke of Triads and the power that came from them. Never in his life had Noah ever heard of a real Triad taking place. It was baffling and awe-inspiring and later, when they had the time, he’d allow himself to get carried away in the amazingness but, for now, he had to focus on keeping both of his mates alive long enough to enjoy them.

The sound of something slamming against the door had Noah sprinting across the room. Looking through the viewing portal, he saw that there were still six men alive, and wouldn’t you know it, Alec just happened to be one of them. The man’s sneering face homed in on his own, looking him over venomously.

“Well, well, well,” the guard taunted. “What do we have here? Is this a rescue party or just a few more recruits for the program?” He stared at them with an air of haughty indifference. “The only thing you’ve achieved with this little stunt is to delay the inevitable and royally piss me off. Enjoy your freedom while you can because you’ve just volunteered to be Doctor Gregory’s newest test subjects.”

As the guards resumed their barrage on the door, Noah pushed as many of the storage crates as he could in front of the entrance before returning to Landon’s side. The wary look the young man directed at him, while expected, still hurt like a bitch. Turning away, he went to Dax’s side, crouching down to look him in the eye.

“Dax, I need you to shift back and help me get Landon out of his restraints. Once he’s loose, I’ll shift back and hold them off to buy you some time.”

“And what about you? There’s no way you’ll be able to hold them off by yourself.”

“Don’t worry about me, D. The most important thing is that you and Landon get out of here safely. Everything else will work itself out.”

“Don’t give me that bullshit, Noah! You’re setting yourself up for a suicide mission. We’re mates. Mates stick together. You don’t get to leave us.”

Rising to his feet, Noah turned away and began inspecting the restraints. The rough leather straps circling his wrists and ankles wouldn’t be a problem. The thick steel chains coiled around his hips and torso were held together with flimsy combination locks, similar to what someone would use to secure a bike chain. It was the wide metal band circling Landon’s neck that was going to be the problem. The thick steel encased the base of his throat and was secured in place by an electronic locking mechanism, built right into the device. With no key or combination, and no clue how the contraption worked, removal would be tricky to accomplish without causing Landon pain.

Noah cast a glance over his shoulder. “I can distract them long enough to give you a chance to get Landon away from here. Don’t you think he’s suffered enough? Even if I’m captured, I can handle whatever they dish out. I just need to know the two of you are safe.”

“I won’t leave you here. I won’t abandon you.”

“You will follow my orders. I am an Alpha! It is my job to protect you.”

“No! We are mates. We protect each other.”

“Who—are you?” a strained voice whispered.

Both men jerked, their attention immediately directed to their injured mate. Noah hurried to his side, praying that he didn’t frighten him further.

“You can hear me, little one?” Noah couldn’t hide his surprise. Unless he was focusing on someone, they usually couldn’t hear him speak telepathically.

“Y-yes.”

“My name is Noah and that other mangy beast is Dax. He is going to shift and help me get you out of these restraints. Once you’re free, he’s going to help you get out of here. I want you to trust him. He’ll take good care of you.”

Landon raised his hand to his neck, weakly, and grabbed a hold of the thick metal band that circled it. “The collar—” he gasped. “You have to remove it. Please.”

Noah inspected the roughly hewn coil. “What does it do?”

“Shocks me. Keeps me from being able to shift. It has to come off. There’s a perimeter setup throughout the facility. If I cross it, it will pump me full of enough energy to incapacitate me.”

“Okay, so let’s get it off you,” Noah replied and reached for the edge of the band.

“Wait!” Landon cried.

“What’s the problem?”

“There is a current that runs through its core at all times. If you tamper with it, without shutting down the current first, it could kill us both.”

“Damn,” Noah muttered. “What a bunch of sick fucks.” Looking down, he gave Landon what he hoped was a reassuring smile. “Close your eyes. I need you to hold very still. I don’t want to hurt you, but I have to try to figure out how to get this thing off of you.”

“All right,” Landon whispered. He tilted his head back and did as Noah asked.

Noah began his inspection with slow, cautious movements. He felt along the device’s surface until he located a small indentation in its façade. He held his breath and pressed down gently. There was a small click and a panel slid open, revealing a small section of exposed wires and circuits. If he could find the right wire, the rest would be easy.

“Can you shut it down?” Dax asked over his shoulder.

“I need something sharp,” Noah answered, his attention never straying from his task as he systematically tracked each wire back to its source. Red, yellow, black, green, blue. Bingo!

A moment later, Dax pressed a cool shard of metal into his hand. “Will this work?”

Noah fingered the sharp, ragged edge. “It’s perfect. Now, I want you to go to the other side of the room.”

“What? Why?”

“When I cut the wire, there’s a very real possibility that I could set off the collar and kill Landon and myself. I’d like to make sure that I don’t take you out as well.”

“If you think I’m going anywhere without you, you’re an idiot. Quit stalling and get cutting,” Dax growled. “Those assholes are going to be in here any minute.”

Noah wanted to argue but knew they didn’t have the time. He shook his head and plastered a grim smile on his face. “If you insist.” He separated the blue wire from the bunch, tightened his grip on his makeshift knife and slid it under the plastic casing. “Here goes nothing.”

He closed his eyes and flicked his wrist, the blade sliced through the wire with ease. He held his breath and waited. Long seconds ticked by and nothing happened. Noah cracked open his eyes. The breath he’d been holding rushed out when he saw the cold, powerless piece of scrap metal around Landon’s neck.

“Holy shit,” he breathed.

“So, we’re not going to explode?” Dax asked.

Noah let out a shaky laugh. “No, D. We’re not going to explode. The current is off, but I still need to get this thing off of him.”

Grabbing the metal band in both hands, Noah took a calming breath and pulled with all his strength. The metal groaned as it was stretched beyond its capacity. A shrill screech filled the air, mere seconds before the circlet snapped in two.

“Thank God,” Landon groaned, his hands rubbing at the red, chaffed skin of his throat. “Thank you.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Noah answered, turning toward the door. “Now, let’s get out of here.”

“No—” he gasped. “The door—you have to stay.” Landon strained against his bonds, struggling to haul himself into a seated position. The pulling and tugging at his restraints only succeeded in driving them farther into his skin, renewing the flow of blood leaving his body.

“Landon, enough!” Noah barked. “You’re hurting yourself.”

“You don’t understand,” the smaller man cried. “You have to stay here—right here. Others are coming. They will help keep us safe.”

“How do you know about the others? I don’t understand.”

“Don’t need to,” he wheezed, struggling for breath. “Just need to trust.” Lying back, Landon closed his eyes, the air rattling around in his chest as he seemed to sink into unconsciousness.

Noah looked to Dax and found him staring at Landon with narrow-eyed worry. Sensing his attention, Dax glanced up, his face a mask of concern.

“What are you thinking, Noah?”

“I don’t know, damn it. I’d still feel better knowing that you and Landon were as far from this place as possible.”

“What about what Landon said?”

“He could be delusional—”

“Or, he could be right. That girl said that he was special—one of a kind. Until we get a chance to speak with her, we have no idea what that means.”

“Sure. It’s also possible that between the starvation and abuse he’s suffered, he’s lost his connection with reality and has no idea what he’s talking about,” Noah argued.

Dax shook his furry head. “I don’t think so. Overlooking his exhaustion, he seemed extremely lucid. I don’t know, Noah. I think I believe him.”

From the sounds of things outside, the guards were almost through the door and would be on them in seconds. All hell was about to break loose. Focusing his senses, Noah reached out for Dylan and nearly shouted his relief as he felt the familiar brush of the other man’s mind.

“We were starting to get worried. Are you close?”

“Right outside. Waiting on you,” Dylan answered.

“Took you long enough. You guys run into trouble?”

“Give me a break. We were one floor down, on the other side of the compound,” Dylan groused. “This place is a lot fucking bigger than it looks.”

“All that matters is that you guys are here, now. Are you thinking about coming in and giving us a hand or are you just going to hang out in the hall? We’ve got a civilian in here and could use a bit of cover.”

“Give us two minutes and we’ll bring the party,” Dylan answered.

“We’ll be ready.”

Noah gave Dax a reassuring smile. “Landon was right. Dylan and the team are right outside. Get working on those restraints. We have to be ready to move because they’re gonna be coming in hot. I don’t want to die the day I find out we have another mate.”

Dax watched him with unmistakable affection shining in his wolf eyes. “Rather we die together, than live even one more day apart.”

Noah cocked his head, fighting back the wave of emotion that threatened to unman him. “I never would have guessed you were such a sap under all those muscles and tattoos.”

“You better believe it,” Dax retorted, determination clear in his tone. “My momma raised me to be a lover and a fighter.”

“I have no doubt. Now,” he ordered, allowing more of his Alpha to trickle into his voice, “I need you to shift. We’re running out of time.”

“Are you kidding me?” The pitch of Dax’s mental voice would have been funny if their situation weren’t so dire.

“Do I look like I’m joking?” Noah barked. “The guards are going to be breaking down that door any minute and Dylan and the team are going to be right behind them. It’s going to be World War III in here in about one minute. Do you really want Landon to be caught up in the middle of that?”

Dax eyed him warily, the expression completely at odds with his wolfen face. After a moment of silence, he nodded and hunched into himself as he initiated the change. Keeping an eye on the door, Noah dared a glance over his shoulder, unable to fight the need to witness his mate’s transformation.

Dax’s shift was amazing. Like the tide washing up on the shore, clearing away what was and leaving in its wake something unexpected and new. The image of Dax’s wolf blurred, becoming distorted and hazy, until it vanished completely, only to be replaced, in the blink of an eye, with Dax’s prone, nude form. Rising to his feet, Dax stretched out to his full height, damn near matching Noah’s own six-and-a-half-foot frame.

“Noah?”

“Free Landon. Be ready to move. They’re coming in, now.”