Chapter Seven

Clint’s head was pounding and there was a horrible taste in his mouth. So not only had he been knocked out, but also drugged. Which meant that he had no idea how long he’d been out. It could be hours or a day, depending on how much of the drugs they used and what kind. He listened carefully without moving a muscle in order to use his senses to search for any danger around him. He was alone at the moment. The scent of humans was strong, though. Maybe they thought he’d be unconscious for a while. If Clint had enough time, he was certain he’d find a way out.

He remembered everything that had taken place. The deputy in the alley, the sound behind him and, finally, seeing two men’s feet when he’d been falling. He knew he had to hold back his anger. He didn’t want to alert anyone that he was awake yet. But, man, was he pissed! He should have suspected something like this. But, in all honesty, he hadn’t given the humans much credit. They hadn’t been acting very smart. Plus the wolves had an inside man. His guard had been down, expecting them to go after Kurt. And he’d been distracted by Sara. It was his own fault he was in this situation. He hoped the others realized he was missing. Kurt would get worried if the other men made it back to the compound and Clint didn’t check in. Sara would be concerned if he didn’t make it to dinner.

But the unknown was what he had a problem with. He had no way of knowing if Kurt had also been taken and he hoped like hell that Sara was safe.

Not sensing anyone around him, he blinked his eyes open. The room he was inside was practically empty. He lay on an old beaten wood floor with his hands and ankles tied together. With silver chains? Were they fucking kidding him? Silver didn’t do anything to shifters. Why would it? He snorted. These idiots believed all the Hollywood movies and paranormal books. Well, good news for him. That would make escaping easier.

He rolled to his knees, fighting nausea. Probably had a concussion from the hit to the back of his head, but he could work through that. He managed to make it to his knees to sit up and bit back a groan. The windows were boarded up, but he could still see light shining through, so at least he hadn’t been down for long.

Footsteps caught his attention and he braced himself for what was coming. With practiced ease, he calmed himself.

The plan is still in effect, he told himself. Kurt would know something was wrong and they already knew the most likely place he had been taken, thanks to Colt. He had to get through until he was rescued or got himself out. He also needed to find out where Dan Carter was hiding. That would be easier if it was Carter headed his way.

He waited for the door to open. Perry Costa and two other men entered.

“You’re awake,” Perry Costa said in greeting as the door closed behind him.

Clint remained silent. It usually drove people crazy. The more Perry talked, the better the chance of him revealing something.

“I apologize for the means we had to use to get you here, but you and your friend would not cooperate,” Perry said coolly and leaned against the wall with his arms crossed.

The two other men moved around the room to stand behind him.

Clint raised a brow.

Perry frowned. “What, nothing to say? You had a pretty smart mouth last time we met. And here I’ve gone through all this trouble.”

“Well, if I’d known the accommodations were so nice, then I would have reserved a room,” Clint sniped. Fuck remaining silent. This asshole pissed him off.

Perry Costa shook his head. “Pity.”

A foot to his back had Clint grunting as he tried to catch himself. His hands broke his fall and saved him from face-planting. Barely.

Clint growled as he pushed himself back up. “Not to mention the staff here is soooo polite,” he drawled, still trying to catch his breath.

This time, the kick was to his side. He managed to avoid the worst of the blow, expecting it, but it still fucking hurt.

“We can do this all day,” Perry told him.

So could Clint. He opened his mouth to taunt him further, but gasped instead when his hair was grabbed and his head was jerked back.

Perry crouched down in front of him. “Listen carefully.”

Clint just glared.

“I can turn you over to the Church. They’ll probably burn you at the stake or something. They really believe that you are evil and wish to get rid of each and every one of your kind,” Perry informed him.

“And you don’t?” Clint asked through clenched teeth.

Perry shrugged. “There is a little evil in us all, don’t you think? I, however, have another reason for wanting you.”

Clint couldn’t wait to hear this. Perry was going off script. That was not good news. If he was going up against Carter, then Clint knew what to do, but with Perry stepping out of line, there were too many possibilities of something going wrong. But Clint’s training included being able to think on his feet. Instead of going against all Carter’s organization, it would be much easier taking care of Perry and his few followers.

Perry was quiet for several moments before he grinned. It was a nasty grin and Clint wanted to deck him. If only he could get his hands free.

“It’s simple. You do something for me and I will avoid giving you, your partner, girlfriend and every other shifter over to the church.”

“Kill you?” Clint replied with a smile of his own.

Perry laughed. “Nothing that dramatic.”

Clint lifted an eyebrow.

“It’s simple,” Perry said. “Turn me into one of your kind, and I will let you go.”

Clint gaped at the other man. “That…that’s what you want?” Clint asked, shocked. It wasn’t even possible! Clint started to laugh, at first low and quiet, then louder and a little more hysterical. This man was nuts.

“I’m pleased this amuses you,” Perry snapped.

“You want me to turn you into a shifter,” Clint repeated.

“Yes, one bite. That is all that I ask for your freedom. I even have the ability to talk to Carter and have him leave you and this town alone. He trusts me.” The smugness in is tone grated on Clint’s nerves. Perry honestly believed what he was saying. Perry was willing to exchange the town’s freedom to become a shifter.

“You want me to bite you, and you’ll leave and take all your people with you?” Clint asked, just to buy himself time to decide what to do. He wished Kurt was there. While Clint knew how to fight, hunt and protect, Kurt was much better at negotiations. Clint didn’t want to say the wrong thing. But all he could think was Perry was so unhinged he was unpredictable.

“Exactly,” Perry replied.

Clint shook his head. He knew that when the shifters went public, one very important point had been made over and over. Shifters could not turn a human into one of them.

You had to be born a shifter.

“Don’t you know that’s impossible?” Clint questioned. Even if he wanted to change Perry, he couldn’t.

Perry snorted. “I know that’s the position the government is taking, but we both know the truth.”

Clint had to play this smart. Perry Cole wanted to be a shifter? Well, since Clint knew that wasn’t even a possibility, he could have a little fun with this while he waited for his rescue. Or he could try to get free. Maybe all he needed to do was ask?

“Untie me,” he demanded.

Perry gave a triumphant cry while Clint was roughly lifted to his feet. The two goons in the room with him and Perry would be something he worried about later. First, he’d need to eliminate Perry. He was released from his binding with quick jerks. Clint rolled her neck and shoulders. Wow, he’d been bound a while. He hoped Kurt and Sara weren’t too worried. There was probably a pretty intense hunt for him.

“Don’t try anything funny,” Perry ordered, pointing his finger at Clint. Now that Clint stood in front of him, the scent of Perry’s fear radiated off him.

Clint gave him his best innocent face, then smiled.

“I’m not a moron,” Perry told him. “You know Deputy Gibson is involved. Right now, he has your girlfriend with him. If anything happens to me, she will disappear.”

Clint jerked against the hands that still held them. Son of a bitch! He was going to kill every single one of them. Sara was never supposed to be involved in this. Clint growled.

“But that is nothing compared to what will happen to your partner. As we speak, Carter’s boys are driving Kurt to Dan Carter. If everything goes as planned, I’ll call them back. If not…” Perry shrugged. “He’ll be delivered to Carter and his men.”

“And where exactly is that?” Clint questioned. He hoped Perry kept talking. He’d stall as long as he could.

“Not something you need to worry about.”

“What happens after I bite you?” Clint asked.

“I’ll have all your friends released. I’m a man of my word. Plus we’ll be on the same side.”

“Same side?” Clint snorted.

“Yes.” Perry laughed. “We’re all aware that the ultimate goal for the shifters is to be in charge. You want to rule. So do I. I’m not going to be one of the human cattle after the takeover.”

Wow, Perry’s imagination was going wild. If the shifters had wanted to take control of the world, they’d have already done it. For sure, they wouldn’t have announced their presence to ensure humans felt safe around them. All the shifters wanted was to be able to live their lives. Stricter hunting laws so, when in their animal forms, they didn’t have to worry about getting shot.

The hands holding him tightened. “What about your men here?” Where the two goons going to allow Clint to bite Perry and not do anything about it? Wasn’t there loyalty in the church?

“You don’t get to bite them,” Perry said. “I don’t want them part of your Pack. They will belong to me. After you show me what I need to know, I’ll make them like us. They’ll be the first.”

“You plan on making your own Pack?” Clint asked.

“Of my chosen.”

“What about Dan Carter?” Surely, Carter didn’t have anything to do with this.

Perry shrugged. “Carter doesn’t understand the way the world is changing. He wants to get rid of each and every one of you. I see a better future for us. I’ll take care of Carter if he becomes a problem to me and my Pack.”

Perry was already talking like this was a done deal. Clint wasn’t sure where he should go from here. If he bit Perry and the man wasn’t turned into a shifter, they would all be killed. If he killed Perry, then that put Sara and Kurt in danger.

“So what’s it gonna be?” Perry asked. “Are you going to change me and save the people you care about? It’s not like I plan to tell anyone other than my trusted few. The secret will be safe with me.”

He had to take the chance. Had to trust Kurt and the Alphas to stick with the plan and have everything handled. He hated to have to depend on them, but with Sara in danger, he had no choice.

Because no matter what Perry Costa wanted, Clint was not able to turn him into a shifter.

Clint nodded.

Perry motioned to the other two men and he was released. Then he was jabbed by the cold metal barrel of a gun.

“Just in case you’re thinking about doing anything stupid,” Perry told him.

Clint stretched to his full height and was pleased when Perry took a step back. He knew his bulk was intimating and he planned on using everything in his arsenal.

“I’ll need to shift,” Clint told him. “I don’t want to get shot in the middle of it.”

Perry backed up against the wall once again. Clint angled his body so he could keep all three men in his eye line. Shifting would put him in a dangerous position while transforming, but he had to trust his instincts. And he believed they wouldn’t attack him as he shifted.

Perry Costa wanted something from him.

Clint started to remove his clothes, not tearing his gaze from the others. The men with him didn’t even have the decency to look away. They just stared back. How rude.

Clint shook his head, crouched and started the transformation.

Within moments, he was shaking off the change and faced the three men as a large wolf. In his wolf form, all of his senses were sharper and the smell of fear filled the room.

The two men with Perry were terrified. Perry himself was visibly shaking.

That was good. He could play with that.

Clint took his time to stretch, knowing he was adding to the men’s terror. He opened his mouth wide, making sure they got a good look at his sharp teeth.

“He’s big,” the redhead said. Out of the three humans, he was the one fighting his fight-or-flight instinct. Deep down, the huge man was a coward.

“I knew I chose right,” Perry stated. “He is going to make us so powerful. Keep the faith, my friends.”

But Perry was in this alone. He was the one who Clint needed to take out.

When he was ready, he stalked toward Perry.

The man didn’t look so sure now that he was faced with the animal. Perry held up a hand and spoke slowly. “Just one bite. If you attack me, my men will shoot you and Kurt and Sara will also suffer.”

If Clint could smile in this form, he would have. He kept heading toward his prey. His wolf nature was strong and all he wanted to do was rip out the throats of the three humans before finding Kurt and Sara. Perry was correct in his statement that Clint was powerful.

He stopped right in front of Perry. He heard the cock of the gun behind him and turned his head. The other two men had stepped close to each other and one of them still held a gun on him.

Clint wasn’t worried. Not only was he faster in this form, but the man’s hand was shaking so badly Clint didn’t think he could hit anything he was aiming for.

He turned his attention back to Perry and eyed him.

He didn’t plan on killing the man. Not really. Even if he wanted to tear the flesh from Perry’s body. That wasn’t his job. Oh, he would if it came down to it, but really, Perry and his men needed to be taken and arrested.

Clint lunged for Perry’s arm and bit down hard.

Perry screamed. The sound echoed in the small room.

* * * *

The bedroom still smelled of Clint. Sara sat on her mattress and ran her hand over the comforter. It hadn’t been that long since she’d woken up with Clint’s arms around her.

Would she ever in his embrace again? How long could he be held without receiving serious injuries? She’d been tempted to pull out her laptop and do more research on shifters, but she was afraid of what she’d find. Maybe not knowing was better.

With a sigh, she stood. Cecil and Ryan had gone into the kitchen and she needed to take care of her guests. She strolled out of the room, resisting the urge to look back. The later it got, the more she doubted that Clint would be back in her bed. It hurt. More than Sara had though possible. How had Clint worked his way so deep in her heart already?

She was a sensible woman who had been on her own long enough to know how the world worked. Clint hadn’t even committed himself to her. Sure, he’d said he’d gotten a job offer to stay, but he’d never told her that he’d accepted. If he was found, that didn’t mean there was a future between them. But, God, she ached for one.

If she could have handpicked the perfect man for her, it would be Clint.

She had too much to think about. First thing she needed to worry about was if Clint even made it back. Until she knew he was safe, everything else could wait.

Sara walked into the kitchen and stopped short when she spotted Cecil in Ryan’s arms. The two men were locked together in a passionate kiss, so she tried to back out in silence. Cecil moaned and wrapped his arms around the older man’s shoulders while grinding against him.

Holy shit!

She must have made a sound, because Ryan pulled his mouth away from Cecil’s while keeping hold of him.

Ryan glanced over at her and grinned.

Sara knew her mouth was hanging open, but that scene had been unexpected. She knew Cecil had casually dated a few guys he’d met at school, but with Cecil being so shy, it made it hard for him to get close to anyone.

Ryan started to chuckle while Cecil buried his head against his chest.

Sara rocked back on her heels and grinned. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt anything.”

Cecil pulled away from Ryan, blushing, and offered a small smile of his own.

Sara was very happy for her friend. She’d suspected for a while that Ryan had a crush on Cecil and was thrilled he was finally making his move. It had certainly taken him long enough.

Ryan was one of the first shifters who had come into her coffee shop on a regular basis. Every time he was there, he tried to engage Cecil in conversation.

She’d wanted to encourage Cecil but had decided to let them work out their feelings by themselves. Now she was glad she had.

“Coffee?” Cecil asked, hurrying around the counter.

He was obviously embarrassed and she winked at Ryan before strolling to the counter. She wouldn’t tease Cecil. This time, anyway.

“That would be great,” she answered instead as she sat on one of the stools.

“Ryan?”

“Yeah, thanks.”

Cecil flushed and turned away to mess with the espresso machine. “How about lattes?”

“Perfect,” Sara praised.

He began grinding the beans as Ryan’s cell phone rang. Ryan stepped away and Sara was able to watch Cecil. She didn’t want to think about who could be on the other end of the phone. She figured if it had been Clint, then Ryan would have stayed. So he would keep her attention on Cecil until she knew for sure. Her friend might be shy, but he was obviously very pleased with Ryan’s attention. He had a spring in his step as he worked.

He peeked up at her. She grinned in return. “What?” he asked.

“Nothing,” she replied. “Nothing at all.”

He huffed before putting his hands on his hips. “Just get it out of your system.”

“Really.” She held her hands up. “I’m not saying anything. Not about your well-kissed lips or the beard burn on your neck.” Okay, it was not her fault that Cecil was so easy to tease.

Cecil groaned.

“It was a compliment,” she said.

Ryan came back to the counter and Sara glanced over at him. The tension on his face was obvious. So it hadn’t been a good call, as she’d suspected. Sara gripped her knees to keep her hands steady.

“What’s wrong?” she whispered. “Is it Clint? Was he hurt?” Please, please, don’t let him have been killed.

Ryan paled. “No.”

He breathed out a long sigh. “Okay.”

“They are having trouble finding him at all. He’s not at the location we thought he’d be taken to,” Ryan told them.

Sara gripped the counter hard. “What’s that mean?” she asked although she knew. They had no idea where Clint was. Or what he was going through. All kinds of horrible images flashed in her mind. Torture. Death. Holy shit, Clint…

“It’s okay.” Ryan placed his hand on her shoulder. “We have help in locating Clint. And he’s one of the strongest wolves I have ever known.”

“Yeah, but…” Oh, God! She couldn’t even say the words.

“I haven’t been in on all the planning,” Ryan said. “But there have been a lot of visitors in the past few days. All of them are well-known strong shifters.”

“That doesn’t help Clint,” she exclaimed. “He was the one taken, not them.”

“True, but these are the men we want out there,” Ryan said. “They’ll find him.”

“It’s been hours,” she said. Sara rubbed her chest where an ache had bloomed.

“That was Kurt,” Ryan said. “Some friends arrived and with them a tracker. The best tracker out there. They’re about to shift and search. They’ve narrowed it down to three locations.”

Sara bobbed her head. She could hear the words that Ryan was saying, but she couldn’t get the pictures out of her mind that Clint was lying somewhere hurt or worse.

“Sara? Did you hear me?” Ryan asked. Cecil came around the counter to put his arm over her shoulder.

“What?”

Ryan smiled. “I’m going to tell you a secret, but you can’t let anyone else know. Either of you.”

“Okay.” She agreed. Sara would agree to anything.

“We have an inside man with the group that took Clint.”

She gasped.

“One call from this guy and we’ll know where Clint is. He’ll also step in if Clint’s life is in danger.”

“But so much can go wrong. Has gone wrong,” Sara said.

“They know what they’re doing,” Ryan tried to assure her. “This is what they do.”

Sara nodded. Ryan had faith in his friends. Clint believed in the men to have his back. Was it too much to ask that Sara did, too? Although she’d throw some prayers in there, as well.

“Let me finish the drinks,” Cecil said. “Something hot will help.”

“Yeah, okay.”

“Trust me—Kurt will find Clint.” Ryan reached over and grasped her hand. “I haven’t known them long, but I knew of them.”

“Really?” She clung to the change of subject.

Ryan laughed. “They’ve been working for the Council of Alphas for years.”

“Council?” she asked.

“Do you know any other shifters?” Ryan asked.

Cecil set a vanilla latte in front of her and Sara wrapped her hands around her mug. Cecil leaned against her side. They both shook their heads.

“This place is special,” Ryan said. “And I’m only telling you two this because I know how Clint feels about you, Sara.” He gazed at Cecil. “It’s the same way I do about that man by your side.”

Cecil beamed back at him. Sara had to laugh. Even in the middle of her worry. Ryan was smooth.

“Anyway.” Ryan cleared his throat. “This isn’t a typical Pack of shifters.”

Sara had often thought that the secrecy, even after the shifters had announced their presence was weird.

“The shifters who live at the compound are all Alphas,” Ryan said.

“I thought Alphas led Packs,” she said.

“Normally, they do. Except these Alphas have given up their Packs and hold seats on the Council. As the Council, they advise and watch over all of the Packs.”

She sipped the rich, strong espresso brew. Sara thought she understood.

“Other Alphas can contact the Council to request help. A few weeks ago, the Alpha from Riverwood contacted the Council after a series of fires.”

“Clint told me about that. And I saw some of it on the news,” Sara said. Cecil nodded.

“Kurt is from that Pack, so of course, it was the two of them who volunteered to go. I think the Council had six or seven teams that work like Kurt and Clint. Traveling from Pack to Pack and helping where they can.”

“It’s so organized,” Cecil commented.

“We wouldn’t have been able to stay hidden for so long without being well-prepared,” Ryan said.

“True,” Sara agreed. “So Kurt and Clint go around the country helping people?”

“Yes,” Ryan said. “A few years ago, there was someone attacking female wolf shifters. The Pack of these women banded together to try to figure out who was responsible. Kurt and Clint were sent by the Council to assist.”

“Wow,” Cecil murmured. “They’re real heroes.”

Sara thought the same.

“Another time, the feline shifter Prince was kidnapped. The Prince’s family didn’t want him to side with the wolf shifters and come out in the open. The Council sent out numerous teams to try to find him.”

“Was he found?” Sara asked. “I think I’ve seen him on the television.”

“Yes,” Ryan said. “The Prince was rescued by his own mate and another team. But Kurt and Clint spent months searching.”

So Clint would be giving up his whole life to stay in Lovington. Sara hadn’t thought about what he did before coming to town.

“But they’re based out of here,” Ryan said. “So they visit often.” Ryan sent her a look that said he knew what she was thinking. “Plus I’ve been told that they’ve been offered job that would keep them in the compound.”

“Clint told me that,” she confessed.

“This is the longest they’ve ever stayed at one time. I think they like it. A wolf shifter isn’t meant to travel so much. We need Pack and home. This offer will allow both of them to settle down.”

If that was what they wanted. Clint might not be ready to stay in one place. But that didn’t mean that he didn’t care about Sara. Even if he had to go and help other Packs, he’d always come back.

Something inside Sara settled.

A lot of people made long-distance relationships work and they weren’t doing something as important as Clint.

If he needed to take trips in order to keep the shifters safe, she could deal with that. Sara’s home was there in Lovington with her family, friends and little coffee shop. After Clint finished saving others, he’d have a place to return. A warm and welcoming home in the arms of the woman who might love him.

She might not be able to save the world, but she could offer him security, of Pack, or home. That was what she could do.

Ryan was smiling at her when she looked up.

“What?” She frowned.

“I can practically see the wheels turning in your head. All these plans you’re making. Clint is a lucky guy.”

“Yeah,” she agreed. “He is. And I’m going to make sure he knows it.” Sara stood and walked around the island. “We need food for everyone. They’re out there doing what they can, so we’ll do the same,” she stated.

Cecil rushed over to the pantry. “What’re you thinking?” he asked. “You have the ingredients for your chili. As cold as it is, I bet that would go over well.”

“Great idea,” she praised. She pulled the hamburger meat out of the freezer to start it defrosting.

Ryan rose. “I’m going to patrol around the house, then I’ll be in to help.”

“Be careful,” Cecil told him.

“I will.” Ryan winked at him. “I can’t wait to taste this chili you’re so excited about.”

“It’s awesome!” Cecil said.

Sara laughed. It was her grandma’s recipe and perfect for a cold night. The entire kitchen would be filled with delicious scents of spices. Just what they needed as they waited on word about Clint.