"Before the feds showed up, the files were completely wiped, including the mole program. They won't find anything to suggest shifters exist."
We all relax. The last thing we need is a branch of the government investigating us.
"Kylie and I spent all night going over the files," Jackson says. "From what we can tell, this was a several year operation, backed by some big money. A shadow corporation. We're going to keep following the trail. But we think it may be tied to the black market shifter operations in Mexico. There was funding from international accounts."
A growl rumbles in Garrett's chest, echoed by Trey and Jared. "Keep us in the know," my alpha says. "The sooner we find these guys, the sooner we can take them out."
"Was there any evidence about the shifters who were kept prisoner?"
A pause. "Unfortunately, yes," Jackson says. "These bastards kept copious notes of their so-called experiments. They were compiling a DNA database, with every type of shifter represented."
"What about fox shifters?" I ask before anyone else can say anything.
"Just one. A Johnny Red. His chart was linked to Foxfire Hines, with a note to apprehend her." Jackson clears his throat, and I realize my wolf is growling.
"I'm sorry." Kylie comes on the line, her voice full of sympathy. "His file was labeled deceased."
Damn. I need to break the news to Foxfire.
"From what I've read, they wanted Foxfire because she was the daughter of a shifter and a human. The whole operation is centered around breeding new shifters that aren't defective, whatever that means."
"It means they can still shift," Garrett explains. "Shifter rates have been decreasing, because birth rates are down. Some packs ban human-shifter relationships because they believe bloodlines get watered down. More children are born without an animal."
"So when they found out Johnny had a daughter, they wanted to bring her in," I say. "But the only link they had was Sunny. So they went to her first."
"Kylie already deleted the bounty on Foxfire, but she might still be in danger. Along with her mother," Jackson adds.
"We'll send someone from Dad's pack to get Sunny's trailer. We're moving it to pack land, until we're sure she's safe," Garrett assures me.
Noise from outside interrupts. The wolf guard outside the door is barring someone entry to our room.
"Well, I'm his mate." Amber's voice rises.
Garrett's on his feet in a flash, heading to the door. "Let her in," he orders.
A moment later, the human female storms in. "Where is he?" She pushes past my alpha and comes to stand in front of me. "What the hell is wrong with you?"
"Excuse me?"
"You hurt Foxfire!" she cries, getting right in my face. "She was on the rebound. She didn't need you to play games with her heart while she's dealing with her family crises."
I surge to my feet. "What the fuck?" What's wrong with Foxfire?
I knew I needed to see her last night.
"What's going on, Amber?" Garrett growls, coming up to stand protectively beside her.
"He marked her without asking and then totally left!"
"She's my mate," I snap. "And I wasn't leaving-" Fuck this. I needed to explain to Foxfire, not these boneheads. "Where is she?"
"She's leaving," Amber snaps.
"What?"
"Something you said to her. You marked her and then refused to claim her because shifters don't mix. She thinks you don't want her."
I reel back as if struck.
Amber doesn't seem to notice. "She says she's moving." Amber grips Garrett, appealing to him with wide blue eyes. "She's all worked up about not inconveniencing the pack, whatever that means."
"Where is she?" I'm halfway to the door.
"Gone. Headed back to Tucson. I tried to stop her, but-"
I rush out. Sure enough, the back parking lot is empty of the VW bus.
"Tank?" Trey's at my side. I push him away.
"I've got to go."
"Tank-" Garrett's in the doorway, Amber by his side.
"I claim Foxfire Hines as my mate," I thunder so everyone can hear. I'll get a bullhorn if I have to. Or pay Sam to fly a banner around the world.
"What are you going to do?" Amber asks. She doesn't look mad anymore. She looks relieved. Women. Crazy.
"Make sure she knows she's mine." I turn to Garrett. "Do I have your blessing?"
Garrett's lips twitch. "Do you need it?"
"No," I tell him. "Foxfire's mine, whether I'm welcome in the pack after this or not."
My alpha pulls his mate closer. "Foxfire is welcome in our pack. Go get your mate."
"Here," Trey tosses me his keys.
The rest of the pack breaks into whoops as I run to the bike.
Foxfire
"Are you sure, honey?" Sunny stands in my doorway, brow furrowed, a cup of green tea in her hand. The whole way home she bit her lip and gave me worried looks.
As soon as I got to my little house in Tucson, I started packing. My stomach is in knots, and I'm having a hard time not crying, but I have to get the hell out of here.
"Totally sure. I can work from anywhere." I pull my underwear drawer out and dump it into my suitcase.
"I just think you should talk to him."
Been there, done that, got the rejection. I don't fit in Tank's world. And I care enough about him to not ruin his place in the pack. So, yeah, this may feel like I've gouged my own heart out and tossed it in the garbage can, but it's what I have to do.
A roar of motorcycle pipes makes my head snap up. Oh god, no. If I see him, I won't be able to be strong.
"I'll just go see who it is." Sunny hurries out.
I know who it is, even before I catch his scent.