Chapter Six

No sooner had he uttered the words than all hell broke loose. The steel door was blasted open, knocked clear of its hinges. Much to Noah’s surprise, when the guards poured back into the room, they weren’t alone. Dylan and the rest of their team were right behind them, attacking anything and anyone in their path. Noah didn’t give them another second of his attention, trusting their Pack mates to take out the trash while he and Dax cared for their wayward mate.

Noah and Dax moved to Landon’s side and began working on his bonds. The task wasn’t an easy one, as blood from his still seeping wounds made the restraints slick. Noah was preparing to remove the last remaining chain when he got a look at his mate’s face.

Noah couldn’t help the anger that flared up inside him. Landon’s face, while still gorgeous, had already begun to swell and was rapidly darkening from the guard’s earlier strike. Dark purple and blue bruises mottled his arms, blooming out from a multitude of needle marks marring his normal peaches and cream. More bruising worked its way across his cheek, around his jaw and down his neck, and out over his shoulder and upper chest. The discoloration continued on over his torso and thighs, only broken up by a series of healing gouges and cuts that decorated his chest and stomach.

“Jesus fucking Christ,” he grunted, anger rising up within him and making it hard to breathe. “What the fuck happened to you?”

“The guards aren’t particularly fond of my escape attempts.” Landon coughed out a laugh, the action causing a wet rattle in his chest that put Noah on immediate alert. “The last time I tried, they’d made the mistake of having a new guard watch me who didn’t fully understand how punishment was supposed to be carried out. He got a bit carried away in demonstrating his displeasure. Ironically enough, he walked away looking a lot worse than me by the time Alec was done educating him on approved disciplinary measures.”

Without a thought, Noah traced a finger over the swollen line of bruising around Landon’s jaw. “Never again,” he ground out.

Gripping the final restraint tightly, he squeezed it with every ounce of strength he had, effectively shattering it into nothing more than useless scraps of metal. When Landon’s eyes didn’t even flutter at the noise, Noah began to worry. Unfortunately, there was nothing they could do for him until they were able to get a closer look at the damage, and they wouldn’t be able to do that until they were far from this place, and safely back behind the Grand Rapids Pack’s borders. For now, they would do what they could to keep him safe and comfortable, while hoping for the best.

With the last of the restraints removed, Dax swiftly scooped Landon up and they turned, ready to locate an exit that would get them out of there with the least amount of resistance. That idea proved to be unnecessary. A quick scan of the room showed that all the guards were down and unmoving. Their team shifted back to human and spread out, quickly and efficiently searching through file cabinets and drawers, searching for any useful information about the facility and what had been going on here.

Dylan approached, arms crossed over his chest and a questioning expression on his face as he looked over the unconscious, battered man in Dax’s arms. Possessiveness reared up in Noah and without a thought, a low, warning growl worked its way out of his throat to echo around the room. An answering call sounded to his right, proof that Dax’s feelings mirrored his own.

Dylan’s eyes widened and his eyebrows rose. He took a swift step back, raising his hands, palms out, in front of him. “Hey, guys. You want to tell me what’s going on?”

Noah took a breath, willing his wolf to calm down. Rationally, he knew Dylan had no designs on either of his mates, but his wolf wasn’t getting the picture. All the beast saw was that Noah had come too close to losing them both. Until he had both of his mates thoroughly marked and claimed, everyone who tried to get near them would be suspect. He wasn’t willing to take any chances.

“Noah?” The narrowed eyes and hard line of his jaw made it clear that Dylan’s patience was at an end.

“I’m sorry,” Noah murmured. “Recent developments have left both Dax and I a bit—on edge. It’s complicated.”

“Okay,” Dylan drew out. “Then let’s start with something small and easy. Who’s the kid?” Dylan directed his gaze at Landon’s limp form, still curled up in Dax’s arms.

“This is Landon,” he replied irritably. When Dylan just gave him a droll look, Noah sighed. “Landon was a prisoner here. Dax and I were in the process of trying to free him when you and the A-Team showed up to save the day. He is also my mate.”

Silence stretched between them. Dylan just stared. Emotions flashed on his face, too many to identify. Confusion was definitely the front runner. Dylan’s eyes shifted back and forth between the three men, then he cleared his throat.

“Forgive me if I’m wrong, but I thought that Dax was your mate?”

“He is,” Noah answered simply.

Dylan’s brow furrowed. If he focused any harder, Noah was worried Dylan’s head might explode. A muffled laugh from Dax followed by a sharply delivered pinch to his side encouraged Noah to take pity on Dylan. “Dax, Landon and I are all mates.”

“A Triad?” Dylan’s eyebrows shot up to his hairline and his eyes widened.

“So it would seem.”

“Amazing,” Dylan murmured. “It would have to be you.”

Noah shrugged. “Gotta be different.”

“Preaching to the choir. You guys can tell me all about it once we get out of here. I’ll feel a lot better once we’ve got some distance between us and this corner of hell.”

“Agreed. If we could get out of this pit without me losing one of my mates in the process, I would consider it a miracle. With Landon’s injures, he needs to be seen by a doctor as quickly as possible.”

“We’re just about done. We had already cleared most of the other rooms when we got your call for help. Luckily, we were already on our way to meet up with you, so we were able to get here pretty quickly. I’ll have the team pack up anything that looks like it might be useful and we can take it with us and dig through it back at the Pack House.”

Turning, Dylan called out the order to the assembled team. Without any hesitation, they quickly got to work filling boxes with miscellaneous books, documents and folders. As things began disappearing into boxes, Noah hoped there would be something within them that would help them throw a wrench into his father’s plans. The pain and suffering he was causing their people needed to come to an end. Anger and sadness swelled inside as he was reminded of Landon’s current condition. Their mate was a perfect example of the treatment their people would have in store for them under Charles Steele’s leadership.

Landon let out a distressed whine, as if sensing the direction of his thoughts, and pressed his face more deeply into Dax’s neck. The thick muscles of Dax’s arms tensed as he tightened his hold and drew Landon in closer, allowing him to take comfort in the heat and proximity to his body. The huff of hot air and the satisfied hum against Dax’s throat had Noah smiling. Looking to Dax, he smiled gently.

“He’s gonna be okay, right?”

“Yes. I think he’ll be fine. I’ll just feel better after the doctor has a chance to check him over.”

Dax dipped his head in acknowledgment, but his focus stayed on the man in his arms. Noah shook his head, not bothering to hide his bemused smile as he watched Dax brush a finger across Landon’s cheek, tracing the high arch of his cheekbone. The gentleness of the act, so at odds with his massive size, sent a wave of warmth billowing out through his chest and caused a lump to form in his throat.

Noah turned away, his attention on Dylan. “You seem to have things well in hand here. Since we are no longer needed, Dax and I are going to take Landon out to the trucks and see about finding him some clothes and blankets.”

“Of course.” Dylan nodded. “Since you guys are heading that way anyway, why don’t you take the rest of the survivors with you. They had already gotten themselves free by the time we made it down here. Most of them were so weak they could barely stand, so we had them wait out in the hallway where they would be safe. I’m sure they would all appreciate a fresh set of clothes or a blanket. There are also coolers filled with food and water in the back of one of the trucks. Who knows how long it’s been since they were given something to eat. They’re probably starving.”

Not wanting to get drawn into further conversation, Noah grunted his agreement and headed toward the door, nodding for Dax, who followed right on his heels. When they stepped into the hall, Noah could finally breathe again, no longer bogged down by the oppressive weight of all the suffering that had taken place there. The shuffle of bare feet on the cold stone floor reminded Noah that they weren’t alone. Men and women lined the hallway. Pale and exhausted, they looked like refugees from a Third-World country.

He approached slowly, not wanting to startle the gathered masses. Stopping a few feet away, he waited silently, allowing them to become accustomed to his size and presence. They eyed him warily, the fear in their eyes a living thing. They lifted their heads and scented the air. For what? Noah didn’t have a clue but assumed they must have found something reassuring about his scent as a few brave souls scooted just a bit closer, no longer fighting the instinctive urge to be near the power of an Alpha.

A nudge to his arm had Noah looking over his shoulder at his mate. One side of Dax’s mouth was lifted, just a hint of a smile playing at the corner of his lips. Surprisingly, his eyes weren’t on Noah but on a spot just over his shoulder. Following his mate’s gaze, he spotted a disruption in the gathered crowd. The wall of men and women around them thinned as they were forcibly moved out of the way, revealing a little blonde spitfire with anger burning in her eyes. It was the same prisoner who had sent them after Landon and, inadvertently, made it possible for Noah and Dax to find and rescue their third.

The scowl marring the tiny blonde’s face made it clear that she was not nearly as happy to see them as they were to see her. With her brow furrowed and hands planted firmly on her hips, she was like a little storm cloud rolling in.

“What the fuck were you thinking?”

Noah jerked in surprise. “Excuse me?”

“No, I will not excuse you!” she snapped. “After everything they did—everything they were going to do— I deserved the chance to face them, to make them pay for what they did to us. You took that from me.”

As her chest heaved and she gasped for breath, Noah could see how close to breaking she truly was. Her tiny frame trembled so violently he was afraid she was going to hurt herself. He went to her without a thought. Wrapping her up in his strong arms, he held her to his chest, allowing her to soak in all the comfort and safety he had to offer.

She fought at first, struggled against his touch and the restraining hold he had on her body, and he allowed it. Noah let her fight him with every ounce of strength she had left. The fight was over nearly before it began, further proof that she had to have been running on fumes. When the last of her strength left her, she sagged into him, lowered her head to Noah’s muscled chest and, finally, allowed the tears to fall. Running gentle fingers through her hair, he tried his best to offer her comfort. When she looked up at him, her eyes were wet and red-rimmed yet burned with an inner fire. It was clear that while she may be down, she was definitely not out for the count. The sight was heartbreaking and uplifting in equal parts. This woman was no one’s victim. She was a tiger, had fought to protect those she could and finally, now that everyone was safe, she had earned the right to seek her own comfort.

Her cry was short, barely more than a few minutes, before she was wiping her eyes with the back of her hand, squirming to break Noah’s hold on her. Shaking his head in bemusement, he did as she wanted, gently lowering her to her feet then taking a slow step back and allowing her space. She cleared her throat, lips twisted in a sardonic smile.

“Sorry about that,” she murmured, embarrassment clear in her tone. “Just feeling a little hormonal or something. It won’t happen again.”

Focusing on Noah, she openly studied him, taking in every inch of flesh from the top of his head to the tip of his bare toes. Between her unblinking eyes and pursed lips, the directness of her gaze was disconcerting. The examination left him feeling exposed, vulnerable in a way that didn’t sit right with the Alpha wolf that lived within him. That cool, piercing stare felt like it cut right into him, flayed him open, baring the secrets of his soul for the whole world to see. The experience was blessedly brief. Her features softened and she exposed her neck in a sign of submission and an acknowledgment of his dominance over her.

Noah stifled a laugh. He had no doubt in his mind that this woman had never been submissive a day in her life. Despite her small stature and downturned face, she was almost as much as an Alpha as he was. Seeming to sense his mirth, she straightened up, dropping the charade and scowling darkly.

Dax’s deep laugh echoed down the hall. “Oh, come now, princess. No need to pout. A little snuggle never killed nobody.”

“The name’s Ruby, asshole,” she grumbled. “Unless you want to find out what your own balls taste like when I cram them down your throat, you’d better learn to use it.”

Surprise colored Dax’s face. “Well, well, well,” he simpered. “Pretty girl’s got teeth. I like it.”

Ruby rolled her eyes in disgust. “Don’t make me kill you.”

Dax merely laughed harder in the face of her ire. Noah could only shake his head at their antics but didn’t miss the glimpse of amusement in her eyes, despite her words to the contrary. He had a feeling that with Dax by his side, life would never be boring. His thoughts turned to their unconscious mate in Dax’s arms and he hoped Landon would enjoy their mate’s playfulness as well.

Dax moved to adjust his grip on their mate, when Landon jerked, crying out in distress. All signs of joking gone, Noah was immediately at Dax’s side. Ruby was right there next to him, her concern nearly more intense than Noah’s. She placed a hand on Landon’s face and gently smoothed back the dark blond hair from his forehead. Landon stilled instantly.

“You found him,” she breathed reverently. “Thank God.”

Suspicion grew inside Noah at her tone. He pinned Ruby with a stony glare. “Why are you so worried about Landon? What aren’t you telling us?”

A chagrined smile flickered across her face as Ruby continued to watch Landon’s peaceful face. When she looked up at Noah, her eyes had gone cold and her lips were set in a grim line, clearing away any previous emotion. “While I appreciate everything you have done for us, Landon is none of your concern. If you will allow me to use a phone, I will call my father to arrange transport for my people. When he arrives, we can talk about repayment of the debt we owe you and yours.”

Noah’s vision went red. Landon was theirs. He belonged to Noah and Dax, and no one would be taking him from them—ever. “That’s where you’re wrong, sweetheart. You may take your people and go, if you wish, but Landon will be staying with us.”

“The fuck he is,” Ruby screeched. She took a step toward him, her small hands balled into tight fists. “Landon is a member of my Pack and will be returning home with us as soon as I am able to contact my Alpha.”

“While he may have been a member of your Pack,” Noah sneered, “the moment we scented him as our mate, he became a member of the Grand Rapids Pack. His place is with us.”

“Your mate?” Ruby scoffed. “You’ve got to be joking.”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“It means that Landon is special. No way in hell am I going to let some mangy Alpha wolf, who already has a mate, try to claim him to be their plaything. He deserves better.”

With her hands fisted on her hips and a scathing expression, Ruby was every inch the protective momma bear, out to protect her cub. It would have been funny if the cub in question weren’t his mate and the danger she was protecting him from wasn’t himself. As it was, Ruby’s involvement was a hindrance he just didn’t need.

Noah was just about to rip into her when Dax placed himself between the two of them. “We don’t have time for this. Landon needs to be treated by a doctor as soon as possible. You guys can whip them out and see whose is bigger once we’re safely back at the Pack House.”

“But she—” Noah began.

“He—” Ruby whined.

“Will the two of you cut the shit and try to act like grown-ups for a few minutes?” A scowl darkened Dax’s handsome face. “For two people who claim to care for him, you’re sure the hell not acting like it.”

If looks could kill, both Noah and Ruby would have keeled over on the spot. Dax was right, they were acting like assholes. Noah’s chest tightened as he was struck with an overwhelming sense of guilt.

“I’m sorry.” His voice cracked under the weight of emotion. “I wasn’t thinking. Forgive me?”

Dax sighed, relief giving way to exhaustion as he scrubbed his hands down his face. “I just want to get out of here. I’ll feel better once we know that Landon is back on Pack lands and out of harm’s way. Out here, in this hellhole, we’re too exposed. It’s making me jumpy.”

“Agreed.” Noah turned to Ruby. “Can we call a truce?”

Ruby stared at him, considering. “For now. I agree with your mate. We need to get Landon out of the open and into somewhere with Pack protection. Everything else can wait. His safety is too important. Let’s get out of here.”

Turning on her heel, Ruby nodded to her Pack mates and headed back toward the entrance. Noah, Dax and the rest of the team where right behind them. No one wanted to stay in this place any longer than necessary. They walked in silence, the only sound the echoing thumps of feet hitting the concrete floors.

The whole walk, curiosity ate away at Noah until he couldn’t take it anymore. Lengthening his strides, he didn’t slow until he was side by side with Ruby. “I don’t suppose you’re planning to tell us what the hell you’re talking about?”

Ruby glanced over at him and frowned. “Huh?”

Noah grunted in irritation. “All that talk about Landon being special. What did you mean?”

Ruby’s head jerked back, her shock as easy to see as her nose. “I thought you guys were screwing with me. You mean you really don’t know?”

“Would I be wasting my time asking if I did?”

She took a minute, seeming to weigh the truth of his words. When she finally met his gaze, apprehension had crept into her baby blues. “Landon is an Omega.”

Silence reigned as Noah waited for further explanation. It never came. Ruby and the other survivors stared at him expectantly, making it clear he was missing something. A glance at Dax confirmed that at least he wasn’t alone in his confusion.

“Okay,” he replied slowly. “So, Landon’s an Omega. What’s an Omega and why the hell does it matter that he is one?”

Ruby squinted at Noah’s inquiring gaze. “Are you kidding me? How can you call yourself an Alpha and not know what an Omega is? It’s not possible. What kind of backwoods, redneck, know-nothing Alpha trained you, huh?”

“His name is Alpha Charles Steele. Perhaps you’ve heard of him?”

A collective gasp echoed behind them and he felt the weight of many eyes locked on his back. Noah wasn’t concerned. Over the last few months, he had grown used to the curious looks and whispers that followed him everywhere he went. Until his father was brought to justice, he knew it would be a constant in his life.

“Son of the devil,” Ruby murmured, her voice barely more than a whisper. “How can you be that monster’s son and not know what an Omega is?”

“Let’s just say that dear old Dad likes to keep his Pack undereducated and under his thumb. He never shared any more than he had to with the rest of the Pack, including his sons.”

“Sons—as in plural? I can’t believe that cold bastard managed to get worked up enough to breed once, let alone multiple times.”

Noah laughed humorlessly. “Believe it or not, there are four of us. I’m the oldest. Then there’s my brother, Eli. He’s mated to the Alpha of the Grand Rapids Pack. Then there are our two younger brothers, Micah and Reid.”

“So, four brothers—did all of you abscond and join a rival Pack? That must have been quite a blow to your father’s ego.”

“No. Micah and Reid haven’t joined the Grand Rapids Pack. Last I heard, they were still in Mason, keeping an eye on my father and making sure the Pack is being taken care of.”

“Last you heard? What the hell? How do you not know what’s going on with your own brothers?”

Noah grimaced. Ruby’s statement matched his sentiments to a tee. He hated the fact that his brothers had put themselves in danger so they could keep an eye on their father. As the oldest, it should be Noah’s responsibility to be their protector, not the other way around. Unfortunately, at the moment, there was nothing any of them could do to change the situation.

“They had been checking in with us twice a week, updating us on the situation and letting us know that they were safe,” he replied. “For the first month or so, everything was fine. They never missed a check-in. Over the last month, however, things began to change. They were worried that our father might suspect that they were reporting on Pack activities. Micah said that he thought he was being followed. Then three weeks ago, all communication stopped. We haven’t heard from anyone inside Mason—it’s like a complete dead zone.”

“Damn.” Sympathy softened the harsh lines of her face and warmed her gaze, for the first time since she had been freed from her cell. A sad smile curved the edge of her lips. “I hope they’re okay.”

“So do I.”

The rest of the journey was made in silence as Noah and Ruby led the way through the facility. None of the rescued Shifters seem to have a problem following the resident Alpha. Noah never looked back, knowing instinctively that they would follow him, trusting him to take them to safety. It was what an Alpha was intended for, to guide and protect, lead and defend.

The familiar weight of responsibility had him pushing back against a rising tide of panic. All his insecurities, all the fears that plagued him while awake and tormented him in his sleep, swelled up and settled over him, threatening to drag him back down into a black well of despair. He felt heavy, bogged down and boxed in by it. His breath became short and raspy, coming in hard gasps as he tried to get oxygen into his lungs. Black spots appeared at the periphery of his vision and he knew he was on the verge of losing it.

Just as he felt the sharp talons of panic dig in and start to take hold, a solid reassuring weight fell on his shoulder. Not restraining but supporting, it gave him the stability he needed to get his shit back under control. Noah pulled in a deep breath, allowing Dax’s scent to tickle his nose and send a soothing wash of comfort sweeping through him.

“Thank you,” Noah rasped, his voice raw and thready.

Dax gave his shoulder a gentle squeeze then pulled away with a smile. “Don’t worry about it. I’m sure you can find a way to thank me properly once we get home.”

Noah coughed in surprise. He couldn’t help his answering grin when he caught sight of the hungry leer twisting Dax’s lips. Shaking his head, he let out a rough chuckle. “I’m sure we can work something out. Now, come on,” he murmured, his voice once again steady and strong. “Let’s take our mate home.”