Alpha Pack 7 - Chase the Darkness (15 page)

Well, her appearance was softer—her attitude, not so much.

Nick grinned, unruffled. “My balls are spoken for, Doc. So are theirs.”

“Then you’d best not endanger them, or your mates will be awfully lonely in the days to come.” With that, she gathered a chart and marched off.

Jax stare after her. “That is the most miserable woman I’ve ever known.”

“She’s a tough cookie,” Micah agreed.

“Girlfriend just needs to get
laid
,” Noah piped up from the nurses’ station. At Nick’s arched brow, he flushed. “
Anyhoo
, gotta run.”

Micah chuckled as the guy hurried off. “Nix is gonna have his hands full with that one.”

“And then some.” Jax snorted. “Once he finally pulls his head out of his ass.”

“All right, let’s get this done,” Nick said, shaking his head.

The first patient, a cougar shifter named Boris, was hostile. He was not one of the captives Micah had been forced to torture, but he had suffered terribly, and he wanted no part of them or their questioning. Only when Nick told him about the two murders of innocent people did he relent. Softening the slightest bit, Boris told them everything he recalled about the shifters with whom he had been locked up.

There really wasn’t anything they didn’t already know. The names Boris gave them were on their lists, no surprises. They left the interview disappointed.

The next two shifters were wolves, and they were shy. Afraid. The trauma they’d been through had rendered them nearly incapable of speaking, and any apology for Micah’s part in their misery were neither wanted nor appreciated. At least for the time being. One actually started screaming when he saw Micah and had to be sedated by Noah. They left quickly, before Melina could get word and kick them out, and went on to the fourth survivor.

“This one’s name is Tyler Anderson,” Jax read from the paper. “Eagle shifter.”

“One of mine, too.” Micah felt sick. “He was one of the most vulnerable, and Bowman knew it. The bastard brought him to me many times. Him and his brother.”

“His brother?” Nick’s gaze bored into him.

“Yeah, Parker. He’s on the names of the deceased. I don’t know how he died, though. Bowman stopped bringing him around, and I never knew what happened to him.”

Nick seemed to consider that for a moment, then nodded. “All right. Let’s see if we can get a read on this one.”

Just then, Micah’s cell phone buzzed in his pocket. He couldn’t answer it right then and made a mental note to check it after they were done visiting Tyler.

When they walked in, the young, slight, brown-haired man on the bed was drowsing. The second he noticed them, however, he jolted awake, eyes widening in fear. Especially when he spotted Micah.

“You,” he whispered. His face turned paper white, and his green eyes were luminous. “Why are you here?”

Micah took a deep breath. “First, I want to say how sorry I am for what happened in that hellhole we were held captive in. For the terrible things I was forced to do. And I was forced, Tyler.”

The other man’s voice was almost inaudible. “I know.”

“I hated every second of that place, and I loathed Gene Bowman. As a member of the Alpha Pack, my job is to protect people, not hurt them.”

“I believe you.”

Tyler was taking this better than Micah had hoped. “Perhaps someday you can forgive me. I know it’s a lot to ask, but—”

“Of course. We were both victims, Micah.” Tyler’s eyes were sad as he studied him. “I don’t blame you.”

“Thanks. That’s more than I deserve.”

The eagle glanced at Jax and Nick. “Somehow I don’t think it takes three of you to come tell me you’re sorry. What’s the rest of this visit about?”

Nick spoke up. “We’re here because someone is killing innocent people in the area. Campers. The killer has ties to Chase here and to his time in captivity with Bowman.”

If possible, Tyler paled even more. He swallowed hard as he addressed Micah. “That’s t-terrible. But how would I know anything about that?”

Micah sighed. “The killer left me a note with his last victim. He addressed me by the number I was assigned in the lab, and only someone who was actually inside with us would know that information. Can you think of anything at all that might help us identify who this killer is before more innocent people die?”

Jax spoke softly. “The killer has a grudge against Micah. And while a lot of shifters from that time period might feel he’s getting what’s coming to him—which is
wrong
and not fair—he’s newly mated. She
is
innocent, and should something happen to her, and someone had information that could’ve saved her, that’s on their head, too.”

“I—I wish I could help you. I haven’t done anything but stare at these four walls and try to get better, you know? I really hope you catch him. I mean that.”

There was an interesting note to Tyler’s voice at the end. A certain fierceness to his tone, a sincerity. Micah glanced at his two companions, and judging from their expressions, they’d noticed, too.

“Yeah,” Nick said. “Well, we’ll leave you to rest. If you think of anything important, day or night, call any of us. That’s my card with my cell phone on the front. Jax’s and Micah’s cell phone numbers are on the back.” Taking a card from his pocket, he handed it to the eagle shifter.

“Thanks. I will.”

They filed out, Micah taking one last look at the shifter on the bed. Tyler was staring at the card Nick had handed him with a torn expression on his face. Then he took the card and stuffed it inside his pillowcase—hidden.

Once they were safely down the hallway, Micah said, “He knows something. He hid the card you gave him inside his pillowcase.”

“Hid it from who? That’s the question.” Nick gazed thoughtfully in the direction of the room. “We’ll need a list of visitors to Sanctuary.”

“I’ll get Noah on it,” Jax said, and jogged off in the direction of the nurses’ station.

Curiosity finally got the better of Micah. As he and Nick followed Jax, he pulled out his cell phone and saw he had a missed call from Jacee. Smiling, he played her message.

His smile quickly died.

“I’m driving to the compound. Someone broke into the house while I was at work. Whoever it was tore up our bed, Micah! I’m getting the hell out of here. See you soon. Call me.”

“Oh, fuck!” he yelled, and ran for the elevator.

“What’s wrong?” Nick shouted after him.

Jax took off, and Micah wasn’t sure if he’d even gotten the chance to talk to Noah. At the moment he didn’t care. He punched the elevator button several times, but that was too slow. Whirling, he bolted for the stairs.

“What the fuck’s going on?” Jax grabbed his arm before he hit the door to the stairwell.

“I got a call from Jacee right before we went into Tyler’s room.” Micah was panting. Panicking. “She— Someone broke into her house while she was at work today. She got home and it was a mess. Whoever it was tore up the bed.”

“Shit.” Jax’s worried eyes bored into his. “Is she okay?”

“I—I think so. She said she was driving here.”

“Call her.
Now
.”

“Okay. God, why didn’t I think of that?”

“Because you’re in panic mode. Call.”

Leaning against the wall, Micah made the call. He was in agony waiting for her to answer as his phone rang. And rang. “She’s not picking up. What if . . .”

He was going to pass out. Right the fuck out, in front of them.

“Micah!” Nick shouted in his face, grabbing his shoulders. Micah blinked at him. “She’s driving. She’s not going to answer while she’s scared and driving, all right? Calm down. Let’s go downstairs to the driveway and meet her. She should be here any minute.”

“You’re right.” He took several deep breaths, and the spots in front of his face began to clear up. “Let’s go.”

The thundering of his heart wouldn’t stop as he jogged down the stairs, his friends right behind him. At the bottom, he exited the stairwell and jogged through the lobby and out the doors. Outside, he crossed the lawn and ran partway down the drive, then stopped, waiting, listening.

“Where is she?”

“She’ll be here,” Jax soothed.

At last, he heard a car’s engine. Coming up the long road to the compound at a good clip. When her car rounded the last turn and he spotted her behind the wheel, he could’ve keeled over in relief, after all. She screeched to a halt, threw the car in park, shut off the ignition, and was out, running to meet him.

The look on his mate’s beautiful face, he’d never forget. Pure fear.

Micah met Jacee halfway, held out his arms. She barreled into him, nearly taking him off his feet, and he wrapped her up tight. Held her and kissed her hair, whispered comforting words as best he knew how. She was shaking from head to toe as she hugged him close, like she’d never let go.

“I was so scared,” she said, her voice breaking. “He was there. At first I thought I was imagining it, but then I saw the bedroom. He tore it to pieces!”

Oh, God.
That could have been his mate. If she’d been home when the monster came, or if he’d waited for her.

“Shh, I’m here, baby. I’ve got you.”

“I feel so violated.”

“That’s exactly what he intended. We’re going to catch that son of a bitch,” Micah promised. “He’s had a fucking busy day, since he’s already tipped his hand once today.”

Leaning back some, she looked up into his face. “Really? What happened?”

He told her about the attack on the Cades, father and son. And the note blaming Micah left with Mr. Cade. About referencing Micah’s lab number.

“So it’s someone who knows you.” Her eyes were wide, more afraid than before, if possible. “This monster is killing and threatening you directly.”

“Yeah.” There was more. But now wasn’t the time to tell her about Nick’s horrible vision. Not with an audience. “Like I said, we’re going to get him.”

“Damn right.” She gestured toward the car. “I brought something that might help.”

“What’s that?”

“I think he tampered with some food in the fridge. Maybe your lab folks could run some tests on it?”

Nick walked up then and nodded. “They can, and if it’s been contaminated on purpose, they’ll be able to pinpoint the source, most likely.”

Jacee walked to the car, leaned in, and retrieved a plastic container. Then she brought it to Nick. “What should I do with it?”

“I’ll take it up to them. No worries. After I drop this off, Micah, Jax, and I are going to drive back to your place and pack what you need for the foreseeable future.”

Jacee’s shoulders drooped. She looked so forlorn, Micah pulled her against him again.

“You’re pulling rank, huh?” she asked.

“You bet. Until this twisted monster is caught, we’re closing ranks around you two.”

Micah hated it, for both of them, but he couldn’t blame the commander. He had to protect his people, and he couldn’t do that if they were miles away.

Micah turned to his mate. “Sweetheart, why don’t you go to my quarters and rest while we take care of the packing? You worked all day and then had a scare. Some sleep will do you good.”

“No. I don’t want to be alone, even though I’m not really alone in the compound,” she insisted. “I want to be with you. We can rest together, when we get back.”

“If you’re sure . . .”

“I am. Besides, there’s stuff a girl needs and she doesn’t want guys pawing through it.” She gave them a wan smile.

Jax rolled his eyes. “God forbid we should have to touch the girly stuff.”

Micah laughed in spite of the situation. It was good to see her bonding with his team. Even Jax. Who woulda thought it?

Nick took the food to the lab, and then they were on their way in two of the Pack SUVs. The better to get more of their things. Dammit, he couldn’t wait until the killer was caught and they could concentrate on their relationship. To talk to Nick about building on that patch of land and look at house plans.

He wanted so much to believe he had a future with his mate.

First, he had to lay the past to rest.

J
acee had never been so tired. Strung out. Stressed to the max.

A long day at work, followed by being terrorized in her own home. Then a heart-pounding drive, glancing in her rearview mirror with paranoia dogging every mile, topped off by packing her things and moving the most important of them to Micah’s apartment at the compound.

Not on her list of Top Ten Most Fun Days Ever.

She was a wreck. Which was why, in hindsight, she lost her head when she found the bottle of myst hidden in Micah’s things.

Exhausted, she, Micah, and their friends trooped into the dining room for a much-needed hot meal and to rest their tired bodies.

She liked these people. They were warm and welcoming, and they knew when to give a person space.

The meal went down fast, without her pausing to really savor it. But it filled the hungry spot, and she was satisfied. Her nerves were no less frazzled, though, and her mate took notice.

“Why don’t we turn in, sweetheart? You look ready to fall over.”

She shot Micah a grateful smile. “That would be nice. Thanks. This is one day that definitely needs to end ASAP.”

He took her hand, and she let him pull her up. They said their good-byes and headed to his quarters—now theirs for a few weeks or months, at least. Once they were back inside, he pulled her to him, held her close. They stayed that way for several long moments while she just breathed his wonderful scent. Listened to his heartbeat.

Never had she felt so safe. Not for years, anyway.

“Get ready for bed, baby. Before you fall over.” Kissing the top of her head, he moved away.

She felt the loss of his warmth immediately, but planned to get in some serious snuggling as soon as possible. “Okay.”

Micah disappeared down the hallway into the master bedroom, and she heard the bathroom door shut. Following him, she went into the bedroom and, her hands on her hips, stood surveying the boxes full of their belongings everyone had hastily thrown together. Which one contained her toothbrush and face wash was anybody’s guess, so she dug in.

A quick look in the first box revealed jeans and T-shirts, plus a few other tops. The second, pajamas, panties, and bras. The third—success. Her makeup case was there, and inside would be the items she needed to get ready for bed. As she lifted her makeup case out, however, something caught her eye.

In the bottom of the box was a small black case. It appeared to be a man’s bag, something Micah might carry his toiletries in, but she’d never seen this one before. Placing her bag on the floor, she reached down, then paused, glancing guiltily toward the bathroom door. Inside, the toilet flushed, and water in the sink started running. She wasn’t a snoopy person and didn’t want to be that kind of mate.

Of course, she was being stupid. Everything in these boxes was their stuff, so why shouldn’t she look? There was no harm in satisfying her curiosity.

Snatching the bag, she unzipped the top and pried it open, peering inside. Normal items, as she’d thought. A couple of disposable razors and a mini tube of shaving cream. A toothbrush, travel toothpaste. Dental floss. A tiny bottle of cologne. Not much different from the contents of her own bag.

Except for the small brown prescription bottle almost buried at the bottom.

Hand trembling slightly, she held it up. Read the label. Even then, she couldn’t wrap her brain around what she was seeing. “Myst?”

That couldn’t be right. Her mate had suffered through a hellish detox, and he was clean. He knew to stay far away from this shit, had let her believe he was doing fine. And yet here was proof right in her hand that he wasn’t fine. At all.

“Hey, if you find the body wash, I want to . . .” Shirtless, jeans unsnapped, Micah stopped just outside the bathroom door. The cheerful expression on his face crumbled to dust, and he froze, eyes wide.

“What the fuck is this?” Even as Jacee spoke those five words, she knew she’d started the conversation on the wrong track. But this was the final straw in an already craptastic day, and she was
done
.

“Jacee, it’s not what it looks like,” he said hoarsely, taking a couple of steps forward.

“It’s not? You mean you didn’t hide these pills? You didn’t swear you were going to stay away from them and then do the exact opposite? You didn’t lie to me? To Mac and your team?”

“Baby, please—”

“Tell me the truth!”

“Okay! Yes, I lied!” He buried his fingers in his dark hair, his chest heaving. “But it was a lie of
omission
.”

“And that makes it right?”

“Of course not. But, baby, I didn’t take any, I swear.” His voice was pleading for understanding. “I wanted to, so badly. Just to help me cope, just one or two.”

She flinched. “I thought these past two weeks have been as wonderful for you as they’ve been for me. Why would you need the pills?”

“They have been! But that’s not what addiction is about. It’s the craving that’s driving me crazy. That’s what I’m having trouble coping with, don’t you see?”

“No. How could I? Because you didn’t confide in me. You
lied
to me.”

With hurried motions, he yanked his shirt back on. “I’m sorry. I wish I hadn’t kept them.”

She pushed to her feet. “But you did, and you didn’t tell me. Didn’t trust me to help you.”

“I do! I just wanted to handle it on my own,” he tried to explain. “Is that so wrong?”

“Are you kidding?” She stared at him, incredulous, and her voice rose as she went on. “Now I know I have a mate who’ll keep things from me as it suits him. If I can’t trust you, what do we have?”

The heartbreak on his face had her regretting her harsh words the instant they left her mouth. But she couldn’t take them back. Not fast enough to stop him from grabbing his jacket and motorcycle keys.

“Micah, wait.”

He shook off her hand and bolted, ignoring her pleas. She jogged after him, but he was fast, slamming the apartment door behind him. For a few seconds she considered going after him, but there was no catching him. Not when he was so upset. Besides, there was also no need to air their argument in front of other Pack members, which would surely happen if she caught up to him.

No, best to wait until he returned.

Please, come back,
she said through their mental link.
Let’s talk it out. I’m so sorry.

Nothing. He’d already shut her out, then.

Disheartened, she walked into the bedroom and sat on the edge of the bed. Over and over, she replayed the incident, and the knot in her stomach grew. She’d mishandled things from the start. If she hadn’t been so tired and strung out from today—

No. That was no excuse for how she’d treated her mate. Instead of acting like an accusing bitch, she should’ve shown him understanding and support. He’d been through hell these past few weeks. Months, to tell the truth. How he was doing so well was a miracle.

Yes, he had lied by omission. But it was totally understandable that he might hang on to a few pills and have trouble resisting the terrible craving. Mac had warned it wouldn’t be easy for him to stay off of them.

Micah told her he had resisted taking them, and she believed him. He’d been strong enough not to give in.

And she’d upset him so badly, making him believe she had no faith in him.

“What have I done?”

Saddened, disappointed in herself, she hung her head, barely noticing the tears streaming down her cheeks.

*   *   *

Christ, what a day.

Nick was wrapping things up in his office, getting ready to join Calla in their quarters, when the vision hit.

The argument between Jacee and Micah had changed somewhat. It wasn’t quite as vicious as his previous visions, because Micah
hadn’t
used drugs again. He’d taken that much of Nick’s and Mac’s warnings to heart, and it was a damn good thing.

But the result was nearly the same. Nick knew instantly part of the vision had already taken place. The argument. Micah leaving, but not from Jacee’s house like before.

Cranking the bike, Micah sped away from the compound. From the loss tearing out his insides. He ran from his ruined life, the destruction of his hopes and dreams. With the Pack, with his mate.

He’d tried, so hard. But his mate didn’t trust him. God, he was in agony.

And so he didn’t see the shifter with the huge wings swoop down from the sky, talons extended, intent clear.

As always, Nick couldn’t scream. Couldn’t warn Micah of the danger.

The creature hit Micah from the side, hard, knocking him from the speeding motorcycle. Micah went airborne, flying through the air for awful seconds—until he slammed headfirst into a tree. Falling to the ground in a crumpled heap, head at an unnatural angle, he stared into the sky. Struggled to breathe.

And then stopped, brown eyes fixing on a point he could no longer see.

Micah had left, but the attack hadn’t taken place yet. Nick knew it. He had only minutes to warn the man.

“It’s not going to happen like that. Not if I can help it.”

Snatching his cell phone, he called Micah. On the fourth ring, voice mail picked up, and he left a message. “Micah, the vision I told you about! This is it! Turn back! And for God’s sake, keep your eyes on the skies!”

Hanging up, he sent a text.

Turn back, and keep your eyes on the skies! My vision of you, it’s now, tonight. Call me.

After he hit send, he got moving, sounding the alarm. The Pack was ready in less than five minutes, and they assembled at the SUVs. They didn’t question him when he explained his vision, their faith in his ability as a Seer and a leader was that unshakable.

“What the fuck are we waiting for?” Aric growled. “Let’s go get my stupid brother-in-law before he gets his ass killed.”

They climbed in the vehicles and took off.

Nick just prayed they weren’t too late.

*   *   *

Speeding along the dark road, Micah’s brain was in turmoil.

“If I can’t trust you, what do we have?”

I’ve tried so hard. But my mate doesn’t trust me and I’ve ruined everything. God, this is agony.

He had no idea where he was going. Or when he’d go back. Maybe he wouldn’t return at all, would just keep riding on to California or the East Coast. Anywhere but here, where he was nothing but a failure.

As soon as he had the thought, he knew he wouldn’t actually follow through. His wolf snarled inside at the idea of leaving his mate for good, of giving up. The man wasn’t ready to give up either, hurt or not. He just needed to get out, clear his head.

In his pocket, his phone buzzed. Ignoring it, he kept riding, uncaring of the darkness, wanting only to be part of it for a while. To disappear. But the device buzzed again, this time shorter, signaling a ping of voice mail. Not even a minute later, the buzz of a text. Someone was determined to reach him.

Careful to keep one hand steady on the bike, he slowed his speed a bit, dug the phone from his pocket and punched the button at the bottom to light up the screen. He couldn’t maneuver the device enough while driving to actually unlock it and listen to his voice mail, but he could see the text was from Nick. He could only read the first part, but what he saw sent a chill of foreboding down his spine.

Turn back, and keep your eyes on the skies!

That was all the warning he got.

Twisting in his seat, he tilted his head up to scan the night sky—and saw the shadow of a great, winged creature framed against the stars.

“Fuck!”

The beast dove for him, and he turned to face the road, bending low over his bike and hitting the gas. The action was too little, too late, and he braced himself. The impact hit his back and shoulder with the force of a speeding train, taking his breath away and unseating him.

But somehow, instead of flipping over the handlebars, he managed to shift his weight to fall to the side, laying his bike down. He hit the ground hard, lost his grip on the bike and his phone, and skidded across the pavement, off the opposite side of the road, and headed for a stand of trees. There was nothing he could do but thank God he’d worn a helmet.

And then his flight came to a gradual halt as he rolled to a stop on his back—right next to a tree. It was a miracle he’d missed it. But he needed at least one more to survive this.

Because the monster, shrieking in triumph, was closing in fast, talons extended. Ready to deal out an early death. The figure loomed larger the closer it got to the ground. And God, the thing was fucking huge! Just before it struck, Micah rolled to the side, grunting in pain.

The creature struck the ground instead of his body, and trumpeted in outrage. Sweat popped out on Micah’s brow as he tried to drag himself to put the tree between him and his attacker, but several broken bones and torn ligaments slowed his progress. White-hot knives tore through his thigh, and he was dragged backward.

His fingers scrabbled in the grass and dirt as he desperately tried to find something to hold on to. Or a limb to jab at the monster. No, he needed to shift. To fight in his wolf form. But the precious seconds he needed to complete the shift were lost to him as the creature sank its talons into the vulnerable flesh of his torso, tearing at him.

Screaming, Micah grabbed frantically at the tough hide of the monster’s talons. Tried to pry them lose. He might as well have tried to break free of bands of solid iron, big and strong as they were. Writhing, Micah gazed up at his captor in horror.

The monster was everything Tristan Cade had described. Even worse. Whoever this thing was in human form was nowhere in evidence now. What once had been a majestic bird of some sort was mutated and twisted almost beyond recognition. The feathers, though brown and muddy, might once have belonged to a golden eagle. The resemblance to that beautiful bird ended there.

The creature screeched, hatred in its red eyes, and struck. Agony ripped through Micah’s shoulder, and he screamed again. And again as it struck his chest, then his stomach, its jagged beak tearing. Rending flesh.