Zane cuddled up against him and Aidan thought it was a better feeling even than what he’d felt this morning when he’d woken Zane up.

  “Yeah, I guess I can.” Zane rubbed his cheek against Aidan’s shoulder. “And I love you, too.”

  “That’s all very sweet and touching,” Gabe’s voice came from the bathroom doorway, startling Aidan and Zane both badly enough that they jumped. “And I hate to break it up, but we need to go. Todd and Adam are here and you two are… hmm.” Gabe’s gaze skimmed down them slowly. “Definitely not ready yet.”

  Gabe turned and walked into the bedroom, sitting down gingerly at the foot of the bed. He stared at Aidan and Zane, tapping his foot impatiently.

  Aidan looked at Zane, who looked amused and irritated at the same time. He glanced back at Gabe.

  “You can leave and we’ll get dressed.”

  Gabe shook his head. “I don’t think so. Two gorgeous, naked men who just confessed their love, alone in a bedroom that smells…” he sniffed a few times, “like it’s been doused in spunk? I don’t think so. Now, get dressed and be glad I came in here instead of Marcus. He likes to look at Zane way more than I do.”

  That got Aidan into gear. He tapped Zane on the hip and they left the bathroom. With Gabe watching, they managed to get dressed and gather their few personal items without getting distracted again.

  ****

  They pulled into GilaNational Park nine hours later, Aidan and Zane riding with Marcus behind Gabe and Mika in their truck. The tension rolling off of Zane was palpable; he knew it by the way Aidan’s body went ramrod straight. Marcus seemed to be watching Zane in the rearview mirror more than he was watching the road in front of him.

  “Marcus, for shit’s sake, keep your eyes on the road. I’m not going to fall apart.” But if he did, he knew Aidan would help put him back together.

  “You won’t,” Aidan’s reassured him, the thought strong and full of pride. “You’re so much stronger than you know.”

  Zane doubted that but figured it wiser not to comment. The quiet rumble from Aidan let Zane know his mate had picked up on the thought regardless.

  Marcus turned onto the dry creek bed, the SUV jostling its occupants over the multitude of rocks lining the bed.

  “Mariska had said she and Azrael would meet up with us where you met up with Gabe and Mika.” Aidan looked at Zane and grimaced as they hit a particularly bumpy patch of the creek bed. “How much further is that, just out of curiosity?”

  “It’s about twenty minutes or so, depending on whether or not your brother tries to hit every boulder he can find.” “I’d swear he’s doing it on purpose.” Zane gripped Aidan’s thigh as the SUV bounced violently along.

  “Sorry,” Marcus muttered. Zane noticed the death grip Marcus had on the steering wheel, his knuckles white with the force of his grip.

  “If you loosen up a bit you might have better control. Or I can drive, if you want,” Zane offered, leaning forward a bit.

  The glare Marcus shot him was answer enough. Zane leant back and resigned himself to being jostled within an inch of his life.

  “At least the ride makes it impossible to think about anything long enough to worry.” It was the only positive thing Zane could think of to say.

  “Hard to talk, too.” Aidan snapped his mouth shut with a loud click. “Gives a whole new meaning to ‘bite your tongue’!”

  Mika stopped the truck and Marcus skidded to a stop behind him, nearly clipping the bumper.

  “Christ!” Aidan was opening the door before Marcus had put the vehicle in park. “Your driving sucks!”

  “Got us here, didn’t I?” Marcus grinned and shut the SUV off.

  “We’ll be lucky if we don’t have any internal injuries.” Aidan waited for Zane to climb out before speaking again. “You sure you’re okay?”

  Zane stopped himself from rolling his eyes—barely. “Yes, for the hundredth time. Can we just get on with this?” He knew Aidan had to be aware of the fact that Zane was running on sheer nerves now. His stomach pitched, and Zane straightened his shoulders. This was something that he had to do, much like stepping down from his alpha position. He wasn’t in charge of the pack any more, but he still cared a great deal for the welfare of the pack—and John Trainer was a definite threat that needed to be removed.

  Mariska and Azrael were introducing themselves to Gabe and Mika, Zane noticed. “Let’s go.” He would make it through this, Zane thought as he looked at Aidan. There was too much to lose if he didn’t.

  Zane nodded to Mariska and greeted Azrael with a hug. “How does it feel to be top dog?”

  “I’d hardly say I’m that when I’m standing here with the Dux Ducis and Alpha Anax.” Azrael bowed slightly and kept his eyes averted from the higher ranking alphas.

  “Aidan, Marcus, meet Azrael Bannon, alpha of the Gila pack.” Zane kept a hand clasped to Azrael’s shoulder in a show of support. After the introductions were made and both Marcus and Aidan had insisted that their titles be dropped for the time being, Mariska filled them in on what they had found out.

  “It seems John Trainer has gone into hiding. I think he is somewhere on the pack territory. If his intention has always been to control the pack—” Mariska looked at Zane for confirmation. He nodded in assent and she continued, “I can’t see someone who went through such extreme measures simply giving up.”

  “I don’t believe he would.” Zane reached up and rubbed the back of his neck, which was tingling. “It would be more likely that John would wait until he caught Azrael in a vulnerable position and then strike. Where are the three men who he sent after me?”

  “Yes.” Aidan’s voice carried more than a hint of anger. “I would particularly like to talk to Jared.”

  Zane narrowed his eyes at his mate. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea. You’re forgetting that I wasn’t a very good alpha.”

  “That’s not true,” Azrael argued. “You loved this pack, even if you didn’t care for the title. You made some mistakes but—”

  “But nothing, Az.” Zane waved his hand at Mika and Gabe. “I didn’t fight hard enough for what was right, and that made me a weak and pathetic alpha.”

  “Enough!” Aidan’s terse outburst was followed by him grabbing the back of Zane’s waistband to pull Zane to his side. “It wasn’t like you were in a position to do anything else.”

  “I still could have refused.” And that was something Zane wasn’t sure he could ever reconcile with.

  “I’m glad you didn’t,” Mika stepped forward. “Otherwise, I might never have found Gabe—or he might never have found me, as he likes to point out. So thank you.” He hugged Zane and slapped him on the back a few times before moving back to Gabe’s side. Zane was too stunned to say anything. The tingling on the back of his neck became more pronounced at about the same time Mariska’s head flew up. Zane didn’t even have time to ask her what she sensed before he was being tackled to the ground, his head making solid contact with the rocky creek bed. He’d have bruises from the impact of Aidan’s big body ploughing him into the rocks, but Zane didn’t care. He was too busy focusing on the sound of a rifle firing and the grunting noise as the bullet impacted someone. The scent of gunpowder and blood filled the air.

  Chapter Nineteen

  “Aidan!” Panic welled up in Zane’s chest.

  “I’m fine.” Aidan grabbed Zane and dragged him to the side of the SUV. Zane looked around frantically as everyone sought cover.

  “It’s Az, Aidan! Let me go!” Zane struggled to free himself from Aidan’s grasp. “God damn it!” Zane’s teeth clacked together as Aidan shook him.

  “Stop it, or I swear I’ll knock you unconscious if that’s what I have to do!” Sincerity shone in Aidan’s dark brown eyes. “You are not going to run out in front of some lunatic with a rifle!”

  Zane stilled, too shocked and hurt by the realisation that Aidan would do just as he threatened.

  “Zane, I can’t…I can’t lose you,” Aidan whispered as Zane looked away.

  “Azrael needs help.” Zane couldn’t look at Aidan, knowing his mate thought him so weak—or so easily cowed. He threw up the strongest blocks he could, pushing Aidan relentlessly from his mind. There was no way he wanted Aidan knowing what he was feeling right now.

  “Zane—” Aidan reached for Zane’s chin.

  “Just fucking help him!” Zane swatted Aidan’s hand away then finally met his eyes. “Do it or I will—and no matter how big and bad you are, you will not stop me.”

  Aidan’s lips thinned in anger but he nodded and dropped to his stomach to work his way over to where Azrael was lying at the edge of the creek bed. Mariska darted out from the safety of cover as well, her sharp voice snapping at Marcus to stay back. Zane turned his head and found Gabe and Mika watching him. He kicked off his shoes as his gaze locked with Mika’s. Mika nodded and silenced Gabe with a look.

  They were stripped and shifting before anyone other than Gabe knew what they were doing. Zane and Mika bounded from the side of the SUV as Marcus yelled out in protest. Zane glanced back over his shoulder as his paws struck the rocky creek bed, and wished he hadn’t. Aidan’s furious expression had Zane snapping his head back around and running full tilt, Mika keeping pace beside him.

  Another shot rang out. Zane flinched and nearly turned back when he realised the target wasn’t him or Mika, but their loved ones and friends left behind. Mika’s low growl changed Zane’s mind. If they didn’t put a stop to this, there was a good chance they would be picked off one by one. Or the shooter could hit the gas tanks—

  That thought spurred Zane to run harder. He dropped his mental barriers long enough to make sure that Aidan was unharmed, but he quickly slapped the barrier back in place. He couldn’t function with the weight of Aidan’s scorching fury battering at his mind. At least he knew Aidan wasn’t hit, and from Mika’s behaviour, neither was Gabe. Zane could only hope that everyone else had been as lucky.

  The acrid stench of gunpowder grew stronger, and as the breeze shifted, Zane picked up a familiar scent that made his blood run cold. Mika’s snarling growl told Zane he wasn’t alone in recognising his uncle’s foul scent. The rifle sounded again as Zane and Mika cleared a particularly large boulder.

  John Trainer was crouched above them behind a large outcropping of rock. Zane could see his uncle’s cruel smile as the man fired again then quickly dropped the rifle.

  “Bet you wonder which one I got that time,” John taunted as he shed his clothes. Zane howled in fury and pushed himself to run faster as his uncle shifted and took off, running nimbly up the steep cliff side. He could see a faint, well-worn path that his uncle was using.

  Zane cut in front of Mika, nearly tripping them both and receiving a hard nip to his backside from Mika for the manoeuvre. His feet hit the path and Mika was right on his heels. John disappeared around a sharp turn ahead, and Zane felt Mika’s muzzle bump his flank. Mika was probably worried about John setting up an ambush, but Zane wasn’t. He was suddenly certain where his uncle was leading them to.

  Ignoring Mika’s attempts to slow him down, Zane whipped around the curve. A quick glance told him Mika had followed, so Zane turned his head back around and focused on putting the pressure on his uncle. He suppressed the shudder that threatened to roll through him when he entered the tree line of the forest; Aidan might not have faith in him, but Zane would do what was right this time.

  He just hoped it didn’t get him and Mika killed. Leaving Mika behind had never been an option. Zane owed the man, and he knew in his heart John was responsible not only for the disappearance of Mika’s parents, but for their deaths. They wouldn’t have stayed away had they been alive, not when they loved their son, and their pack, as much as they did.

  Zane slowed down as they approached a clearing. He could see his uncle, shifted back into his human form, nude and leaning up against the tree that haunted Zane in his nightmares. Mika stepped up beside him and bared his teeth.

  “Come on, you worthless shits,” John called out as he reached behind the tree. “I’ve got something for you.” He waved a vial in the air with one hand while his other held a pistol.

  Of course, Zane thought. It couldn’t be easy, he shouldn’t have expected it to be—but he had hoped it wouldn’t be deadly. With the gun and the vial, which he was certain contained datura, Zane knew the likelihood of either Mika or himself coming out unscathed was rapidly shrinking.

  “Zane tell you about this tree, Mika?” John’s voice rang clear, the hatred in it almost palpable. “Well, I guess you could say it was your folks’ tree, too, except they didn’t make it. Too much of this stuff.” John waved the vial again.

  Mika went perfectly still, his whisky-coloured eyes burning with hatred as they locked with Zane’s. Fear for Mika’s safety speared Zane, giving him a sudden understanding of Aidan’s earlier threat. Mika wasn’t his mate, but Zane loved him as a friend, and the thought of John killing him was unacceptable.

  Zane would just have to make sure that didn’t happen then, because it was equally as unacceptable to forbid Mika to act against John. Zane hadn’t liked it when Aidan had done so to him. He leant forward and licked Mika’s muzzle, hoping his friend would recognise it for what it was. Friendship, a request for forgiveness and a promise to keep him safe. Mika’s tongue rasped over Zane’s muzzle in return, then they both shifted into their human forms and stepped out of the relative safety of the trees.

  John’s taunting smile stayed in place as he aimed the gun at them. “Bet you’d like to know where your parents’ remains are, wouldn’t you, Mika? Well, all I can tell ya is they’re scattered everywhere. This stuff does a number on us shifters.”

  Zane saw Mika’s step falter briefly as he struggled for control.

  “Don’t let him tear you apart,” Zane whispered. “He’s hurt enough people.”

  “Stop right there.” John’s smile vanished as hatred washed over his features. “You two fucked up everything! Everything!”

  “Sorry to ruin your plans,” Zane kept his tone bland, knowing it would serve to infuriate his uncle, “which must have been plotted out decades ago since you killed your own sister and my father—all so you could be alpha.”

  “Took you long enough to catch on; you never were very bright.” John’s gaze swept up and down Mika then Zane before locking onto the mark Aidan had left at the base of Zane’s neck. John’s nostrils flared as he drew in Zane’s scent. “So it’s true, you found your mate, huh?”

  Zane didn’t feel the need to answer; everyone in the pack must know by now.

  “Who would have thought…” John flicked the gun back and forth, aiming it at Zane and then Mika, then back at Zane, “that the Dux Ducis would have been interested in someone who kicked out the only gay member of their pack?”

  “But he wasn’t the only gay member of the pack,” Zane pointed out. “Obviously.”

  John shrugged. “I didn’t care one way or the other. I just wanted Mika gone, and him being gay was a convenient excuse.” He pointed the gun back at Mika, his finger already pressing down on the trigger. Zane hit Mika hard and dove at his uncle as the gun was fired. John cursed loudly and swung the gun around aiming at Zane just as Zane’s hand closed over the vial in his uncle’s other hand. Mika flung himself at John, gripping the forearm of the hand John had the gun in. A shot rang out, the bullet tearing through a tree across the clearing.

  John dropped the gun and tried to jerk the vial away, pulling out the cork stopper in the process. His eyes grew wide and he screamed as the vial’s contents spilled out onto him, the sudden lack of his grip causing Zane to stumble and the vial to tip forward.

  Datura, ground into a fine powder, covered a swath of John’s chest and neck. Zane stood transfixed, horror swamping him as his uncle’s skin and flesh deteriorated before Zane’s eyes. The screams from the man had stopped as the datura ate away at his throat. A hand grabbed Zane’s wrist and squeezed hard, making him drop the vial.

  “Don’t, Zane.” Mika’s voice was hoarse and thick with tears as he turned Zane away from the horrific image. “God, don’t look any more.”

  A gargling noise came from behind him, and Zane dropped to his knees, retching until there was nothing left in his stomach. Dry heaves shook him for several minutes as Mika patted his back.

  Zane sat and wiped his mouth before he looked at Mika. “I’m sorry.”

  Mika shook his head. “It wasn’t your fault. John was a sick fucker and everyone was intimidated, or terrified, of him.”

  “Not your parents. They weren’t going to let him continue—”

  “No,” Mika agreed softly. “They weren’t. They were great people, Zane. He killed them, and I’m glad he’s dead. If that makes me a bad person, then…” He shrugged.

  “I don’t think it does. He wouldn’t have stopped, you know.” Zane knew that was the truth. “He killed our parents, and who knows if there were any more victims—”

  They had a few seconds warning, the sound of rustling in the forest before Aidan and Gabe burst into the clearing.

  “Oh fuck!” Gabe stumbled when he saw John’s body. Aidan blanched and ran to where Zane sat, passing Mika as the other man hurried to reach Gabe. The sound of Mika soothing his mate as Gabe was violently ill was quickly muffled by Aidan’s voice as he dropped to Zane’s side and wrapped Zane in his arms.

  “I should be furious.” Aidan squeezed Zane hard enough Zane’s back popped. “I should blister your ass. But I’m just glad you’re okay.”

  Zane thought about the datura tipping out onto his uncle and wasn’t sure if he would ever be okay. “It was an accident.” Wasn’t it? He didn’t think he’d deliberately doused John with the deadly plant.

  “I know, baby. I felt it when it happened.” Aidan peppered Zane’s face with kisses. “The shock that went through you nearly stopped me in my tracks. It was an accident.” Aidan pulled back and let Zane see the truth in his warm brown eyes. “Don’t think any different, but I would have, Zane. I would have done it without thinking twice for what he did to you.”