CALIFF
My claws retracted. I still felt the last contraction of Aciano’s heart in my grasp before I threw it out.
“Get up, Waylon,” Shadow said as she helped him up.
“Appreciate for holding up at the end of the bargain,” I told Kain, still in his cat form.
He grumbled before he dashed outside the house.
“Are you okay?” I squeezed Shadow’s shoulder. “And you, Dad?”
“Yeah.” She looked at my naked body. “Sorry, my things were left where that asshole found me. Your clothes are there.”
“It’s fine. I thought I almost lost you again.” I hugged her when my emotions became too much.
She sighed in my arms. “I thought I was going to die.”
“I’m so sorry, baby.”
“Sorry for what? For keeping me in the dark about your plan.” She pulled and looked me in the eye, but I saw humor despite the fact we were still on the battleground.
“Everything. Sorry for what I put you through.”
She rubbed my arm, smiling sadly. “Go and check out the guys.”
I went outside and saw the man who held Shadow hostage earlier.
“You, useless piece of shit! Coward, I will fucking kill you!” He aimed the gun at August.
It happened so fast. One moment, Shadow was inside the house. The next second, she was saving someone’s life.
My throat tightened until it felt like I was choking.
“No!” Shadow was already running in their direction, and I somehow rooted in my place with my eyes wide and my heart pumped so hard. As always, she forgot she was human and vulnerable.
My heart stopped the moment she pushed the man, and a single gunfire echoed. I was already shifting and sprinting fast in her direction.
Baring my teeth, I launched at Nathan, digging my claws into his chest, sinking my teeth into his neck, and tearing his jugular out. I still heard his last cry before death took over him.
I was back on my two feet. With my bloody mouth, I looked at Shadow gripping her bloody arm, and then I turned to August. His body tremored as tears streamed down his face, and his eyes bulged with terror.
“Baby.” I wiped my mouth and held her in my arms. “Why are you so stupid and ran towards the bullet?”
“I could ask the same thing. How could you- never mind.” She grimaced and winced. “Shit. It hurts.”
“I will take you to Zarah.” I carried her up. “August, stay with us.”
“She’s here with us. And I can walk, Alpha. This is just a graze.”
“You’re bleeding. Your wound is poisoned, and you need to get it cleaned.” I kissed the top of my head. “Don’t do that again, baby. Please?”
“His name is August?”
“Yeah. He saved my life and helped me out of the fire.”
“So it’s worth all the pain and scar.”
“I owe him.”
“I saw him earlier, terrified. And when that dipshit was pointing a gun at him, the first thing that came to my mind was he didn’t deserve to die in the hands of that asshole.”
Another wolf ran in my direction- Zack’s eyes targeted August. Then, another one prowled over. It was Tor.
“Help!” August fell on his ass, covering his body with his arms.
“No!” I shielded August, protecting him from getting mauled. “Stop!”
Zack shifted back, confused. “Why?”
“He saved my life.”
Zack looked surprised, looking over my shoulder. “Well, the whole pack is in your debt, sir. You don’t have to be afraid anymore.”
“I almost made you my dinner.” Tor scoffed.
“Stay behind me.” I spat out the taste of blood in my mouth and helped August on his feet.
“Put me down, Califf,” said Shadow.
“You’re shot, Luna.” I felt the pain in Zack’s voice.
“I’m fine. At least, not you again.”
“That’s not funny.” Zack stopped before us.
“Just take it easy.” I put her on her feet.
“Y-You guys always this naked,” August said in his trembling voice.
“Pretty much,” Zack answered, laughing. “Let’s go find Zarah and get that cleaned up.”
“I’m fine. She needs to save her strength,” Shadow refused, clutching her arm. It wouldn’t be her if she agreed and got herself treated.
“We go by vehicles. She can create a portal to the infirmary if we have severely wounded men.”
“Zack, do the headcount, scour the area, and make sure no one escapes.” I looked at August. “I know this is terrifying, and you will probably have nightmares, but it’s over now.”
“What can you say about the house? Do you know secret doors or something?” Tor asked.
He nodded pretty fast. “Yeah, sure. There’s a ground floor where they keep the weapons.”
“Alpha.” Lyon threw me sweatpants. “Who’s that?”
“It’s August.”
“Luna, let me see it.” Tor checked her arm.
“Anyone hurt?” she asked and removed her hand.
“It’s not bad, but it will leave a scar.” Lyon saw it, removed his shirt, ripped it to wrap it around Shadow’s wound, and tied it tightly. “It will hold for a while.”
“Thanks.”
“Not bad.” Kain came. “I threw all the silver bullets while they barbecued you alive.”
“Thanks. That was a big help.”
“This is one hell of a bloody mess. How are we gonna keep this under wraps?” What the fuck was the Sheriff Carter doing here?
“We will burn down the house with the body. Some of them are humans. You can rule out a drug deal went wrong.”
“My men will handle this mess,” said Sebastien, joining us with Zarah. “Good to see you alive, Califf.”
“Oh my, Goddess. Thanks, you’re okay.” Shadow threw herself to Zarah to hug her.
“You’re hurt. I felt it.” Zarah looked at her arm.
“Not that bad.”
“Thank you, Alpha King.” I bowed slightly in my respect.
“I will send some men here to plant evidence, call for a tip, and then you can call the authorities,” Sebastien added.
“That could work,” Sheriff said.
Then I saw Alpha Frye join us with his pack.
“Alpha Frye.” I went to shake his hand. “Let me guess, my wife reached out to you. Thank you. I owe you one.”
“That won’t be necessary, and you’re always welcome to visit us.”
“Your men need medical attention.” I noticed two of his men were wounded, but not fatal.
“We have a pack doctor, but if your witch could portal us back, that would be great.”
“Wait.” Shadow turned to Alpha Frye. “You’re leaving already?”
“Yeah. The storm is getting strong. The pack needs us to be there.”
“Maybe we can help.”
“You have enough for today. Hell, you have enough for life, but thank you for trusting me.” He looked at us. “Come and visit us anytime.”
“Thank you so much.” Shadow shook Alpha Frye’s hand. “You guys, thank you for everything.”
Zarah managed to create a portal. A loud gasp came from my side- it was August.
As the Alaskan Pack went to the portal, I told August, “You can’t tell anyone about this.”
“And then they will tell me that I’m crazy? No thanks.”
“Where’s Calder and Everlee?” Shadow asked as she couldn’t find one of them.
“They’re with Kairo and Waylon, checking the ground floor.”
“Oh.” She sighed, touching her chest. “My heart was in my throat for a moment. How about the bullies?”
“A grandma moment?” I asked her with a smile.
“Yeah, and you are giving me a heart attack, Alpha.”
“Everyone accounted for?”
“Yes, Alpha.”
We stayed there for a while until Sebastien’s contact came with the evidence.
“I should stop asking how by now. The less I know, the better. But those are legit drugs.”
“Yes. Those are real,” Sebastien replied, sitting next to the Sheriff. “Good idea, Sheriff. So, how was your experience fighting side by side with us?”
“Enthralling and terrifying. At the same time, I know I have your back.”
On my side were Kain and my father. Watching him in that position, I thought I would lose him and tell my mother that her mate did not make it- that would be the hardest thing to watch as I broke my mother’s heart.
“So what’s your deal, August?” Zack asked. “How did you get messed up with these bad guys?”
“I worked at the convenience store when a guy asked me if I wanted a quick cash. The guy, Nathan.” He glanced at me.
“And you fell for that so quickly?” Calder asked him.
He shrugged his bony shoulders. “I wanted to go to college, but my mom got sick. So I had to put it on hold and take care of her.”
“And your dad?” I asked.
“Out of the picture since I was born.”
“How much Aciano paid you?” Zack followed up.
“Two thousand dollars, then monthly. And I had no idea what I signed up for until I saw wolves turned into humans, and they called Aciano Alpha, and I’d never seen a lot of guns in my whole life.” I wasn’t aware everyone was listening until the word Alpha got snorts from everybody.
“At first, I thought of my mother, and I was able to buy medicine for her and pay the rent. When I tried to quit, Nathan threatened me and my mother, and if I try calling the cops, he will kill me, too.”
“Have you killed anyone?” Sheriff asked.
“No, sir. I only bring supplies twice a week. When everyone was on alert, and then I saw him.” He pointed at Kain and me. “I walked in and realized it was too late to escape. Nathan gave me a gun, but I swear, I didn’t shoot anyone. I don’t even have any idea how to use it.”
“Well, lucky you,” said Lyon. “My Alpha is indebted to you, August.”
“So you guys are-” He stared at us one by one.
“Werewolves, Lycans, a witch, a shapeshifter, and she recently became human.” Kairo pointed at Shadow. “Any questions?”
He shook his head. “I think my brain will explode, and it stopped processing hours ago.”
“Well, you’re doing great since you haven’t passed out.” I patted him on the shoulder. When I looked at my left, Preston and Sam were eating chips. Homer and Rocket came with sodas and beer.
When Rocket noticed my sour expression, he said respectfully, “These will just get burned, Alpha. I say there are millions of hungry children. I can’t let these go to waste.”
“If you say so. Give me one soda.”
“Alpha,” Preston called me, throwing a bag of chips in my direction.
Shadow stood up with a huff.
“I don’t like that sound,” Everlee reacted.
Zarah got her attention and asked, “You have something in your mind, Shadow?”
“I need to find that woman, Claire, and kill her myself.”