“Where am I?” I shouted.

  Nothing.

  “I know you can hear me!” I circled around the small cell and stopped in front of a tiny security camera mounted in the corner of the ceiling. I narrowed my eyes, imagining myself staring right at the bastard. “You’re going to regret this! You can’t keep my hands tied forever.”

  Even as I shouted threats, part of me wondered if the others would even be searching for me without Asher leading the charge. I wasn’t so sure. I had complete faith in Asher, but he was… I couldn’t even think it.

  Silence was the only response.

  I sat on the bench, burying the swell of emotions brewing inside me. I wouldn’t give them the satisfaction. But god, my heart had never hurt like this. They’d separated me from my little boys, and if I didn’t get out of here soon, I might never see them again. And then there was Asher. They shot him. I smelled his blood. I wanted to curl into a ball and cry, but that wouldn’t get me out of this cell. I needed to keep my head and find a way out.

  It didn’t help that my wolf was agitated too, growling close to the surface of my soul, aching for her mate.

  How was I supposed to explain to her that he was gone?

  I leaned forward, head down, staring at my dirty tennis shoes. I never got to tell Asher how I felt. I’d only just discovered it myself. I thought we’d have more time. It would be so easy to dive into the bottomless well of grief and rage, but madness wasn’t going to get me out of this cage. My boys needed me to make it home.

  Once again, I needed to be strong for them.

  The lock turned behind me, and I shot to my feet. A tall woman dressed in all black entered the room. She lowered her key card on the lanyard around her neck, inspecting me with her aloof gaze. Her scent was all jaguar as she circled me. She wore her blond hair pulled back in a tight French twist, and even without make-up, she seemed…put together. Dangerous.

  And if she didn’t get out of here soon, she’d be a big jungle cat in my cell.

  The door closed behind her, and she came a step closer, shears in hand. “Sit down and I’ll cut your hands free.”

  I did as she’d instructed, biting back a groan as my hands came loose from the bindings. My shoulders ached like crazy as I rubbed my raw wrists.

  The blonde tapped the flat side of the blades against her palm. “I sent them for a child, and here you are in my holding cell.” She pulled in a slow breath, and a smug smile curved her lips. “At least you’re a wolf.”

  “I have a name. It’s Naomi.” I tensed, lifting my head as I rose to my full height. My feet instinctively found my fighting stance. “And you have no right to keep me here.”

  “I’m Natasha,” she countered, “And you don’t have any rights. Not anymore. Since you wolves destroyed the Nero facility, we lost Antonio Severino’s government contracts. We need money, so because of you and your wolf friends, we’ve been forced to accept work we never would have considered before.”

  I rolled my sore shoulders. “Abduction of children. You must be so proud.”

  She strode forward, tucking the scissors into her back pocket. “Judge me all you like, but I’ll have enough money for free passage out of this country, and you and the rest of the wolves will be studied like monsters and then hunted into extinction.”

  I shook my head. “You’re naive if you think they’ll let you live. After they wipe out werewolves, jaguars will be next.”

  “Not if they don’t know we exist. Severino only experimented on wolves for the government.”

  “As far as you know,” I snarled.

  She blinked and turned on her heel toward the door. “I’m not here to debate the future with you.”

  “Why are you here exactly?” I crossed my arms, bottling up my despair and worry over my boys and Asher and exchanging it for some white-hot rage. “My pack will find me. They won’t give up until they do. And then you won’t be leaving the country unless it’s in a body bag.”

  She chuckled. “Don’t get your hopes up. You’re three stories underground, and we’ve been watching your group. They’re far from a true pack. And now that their Alpha is dead, they’re probably arguing right now about who will search for you. Wasting precious time.”

  I didn’t take the bait. There would be time to mourn Asher later. Right now, I needed to figure out how to get out and back home to Bart and Ben. “You still haven’t told me what you want.”

  She stood up. “This transaction requires a living werewolf, so I needed to confirm you were still breathing.” She went to the door. “Mission accomplished.”

  I was not going to be her “transaction”. While her back was turned, I rushed forward and kicked the back of her knees. She crumpled, crashing to the floor. I leapt over her, racing for the exit and praying I got out before she shifted.

  Natasha hopped to her feet with catlike reflexes. I had to hurry. Shit.

  I scrambled to find anything that I could grab and use as a weapon. With any luck, between my enhanced werewolf strength and the adrenaline coursing through my veins, maybe I could Hulk my way out.

  Natasha pulled a Taser from her belt, a grim sneer on her face. “There’s nowhere for you run.”

  Come on, come on, come on. I made it to the door at the end of the hallway, but there wasn’t anything to grip to pull it open. Without a key card, I wasn’t going anywhere.

  She shot the Taser, and I rolled to the side, the prongs slamming into the metal security door.

  She cursed under her breath, her eyes narrowing. “I’ll kill you if I have to.”

  “Bullshit. I’m worth nothing to you dead.” I kept eyeing the lanyard around her neck. I needed her key card.

  “Every floor is guarded 24-7 by jaguar assassins.”

  I bolted forward, colliding with her so hard we both went down. I grabbed her lanyard to jerk it off over her head. “I’m willing to take my chances.”

  The door behind me burst open. Electricity vibrated through my body, and blood filled my mouth as I bit my tongue. When the current finally stopped, I collapsed onto the floor and the world around me went dark.

  CHAPTER 15

  Asher

  Against his better judgment, Cole drove me to Flagstaff. He was right. I was in no condition to go on a rescue mission with a hole in my thigh, but there was no way I could sleep not knowing if Naomi was all right.

  I wished Vance were with us. He knew the location of the Nero satellite facility, but he was also a hulking jaguar right now. Tough to drive with paws.

  The new moon was another reason I wanted to go now. All the Nero jaguars would be outdoors in their animal form by now. They’d need human mercenaries to guard their prisoner. Even wounded, I was stronger than any human. This might be our best chance to bring Naomi home.

  Shane and Piper stayed behind to guard the two sets of twins. Not that I didn’t trust Cole’s folks, but I felt better knowing Shane was nearby. He was handy with firearms, and Piper was a veterinarian like Cole, so if any injuries came up, she could help.

  Gage and Ryker filled the back seat. Gage had been fresh out of the military when he was bitten, and of the four of us, he was the best marksman. Ryker gave us brute strength, and with Cole at my side, hopefully he could keep me patched up enough to stay vertical.

  “Vance didn’t give you an address?” Gage leaned forward from the back seat. “How are we going to find this place?”

  I glanced over my shoulder. “I know it’s in the woods off the highway. We’ll ditch the car and follow their scents.”

  Ryker grunted from the back seat. “You’re not exactly ready to hike, Asher.”

  “I’ll be fine.” I clenched my jaw, staring out into the darkness. “We’re scouting. I want to know where they’re keeping Naomi. If we see an opportunity to grab her, we’ll take it. Otherwise, we get a lay of the land and come back with the rest of the pack tomorrow.”

  Cole tightened his grip on the steering wheel. “Sorry about tonight. I knew my folks would be a problem, but I really thought the others would support you.”

  “None of them volunteered, either. Maybe they’ll come around.” I shrugged and looked at Cole. “If they don’t, I’m fine with splitting off and starting our own pack.”

  Cole exited the highway onto a two-lane road that snaked through the forest. He kept his focus forward as he spoke. “I think that would be a big mistake. Werewolves are territorial even when we try not to be. You’ll constantly be defending an invisible border. No one wants that.”

  I scanned the shadows for any sign of a building in the woods. “I meant what I said about not trusting them to lead us.”

  Cole sighed. “You have every right to be wary, but speaking as one of the wolves who looked the other way while Caldwell had his goons biting humans, I didn’t understand the scope of his rapid growth plan, and he never told us about the storage units. We thought a few women had been bitten. Raven had dated Bo, so we were led to believe they were mates.”

  I wasn’t going to debate this with him. There was no way to justify what had happened in Sedona. The sins committed under Caldwell’s leadership could never be repeated, and I was bound to that cause more with every passing hour.

  A dirt turnout on the right caught my eye. I pointed it out to Cole. “Let’s park there.”

  My leg protested as I got out, but I did my best to hide the pain. I closed my eyes, allowing my other senses to reach out. Ryker and Gage popped the trunk, taking out their weapons. I registered the sound and filed it away, focusing instead on the scents—rabbit, deer, and…jaguar. More than one.

  The others stopped beside me. I opened my eyes and turned to Cole. “I want you with me in case my leg gives out.” My gaze slid over to Gage and Ryker. “You two tail us. Let me know if the jaguars come back. Remember they probably outnumber us, so we’re not here to start a war. If we see an opening, getting Naomi home safe is our only priority tonight.”

  Gage met my eyes. “Be careful.”

  “You too.” I glanced at Cole as I pulled my gun free of the holster at my belt. “Ready?”

  He nodded, drawing his weapon. “Let’s do this.”

  I tracked the jungle-cat scents deeper into the woods, keeping my attention on the soil for any sign of footprints. The moonless sky made it tough for me to see, but the jaguars would have no issue. They could be watching us right now for all I knew. I shook off the unsettling thought and focused on hunting for Naomi.

  The Oak Creek Vista overlook was one of the most popular tourist spots for pictures. It sat on the edge of a sheer cliff face. Why were the jaguar scents here? Nero wouldn’t want their satellite facility in the open. They’d want privacy while they worked on Antonio Severino’s sick vision of a new world order built on hired hits and modified shifter DNA.

  I frowned and inhaled the night air. Why would the Nero team be shifting near a park? It didn’t make sense. But the scent was definitely stronger in this direction.

  Under my breath, I whispered to Cole, “I don’t like this… Stay alert.”

  He nodded, scanning the darkness. “Too many different people have been around here. I’m not catching any jaguar scents.”

  But I was. I filtered out all the other distractions, keeping my attention on one faint but fresh scent: blood.

  The pain in my leg was instantly forgotten. I moved as quietly as I could, making my way east, the scent getting stronger with each step. I tightened my grip on my gun. Cole followed me, his weapon at the ready. I signaled him to wait, and brought my weapon in close to my chest, pulling in a deep breath before I circled a large pine tree, aiming my Glock at a man tugging on his jeans. A man who just shifted back from his jaguar form.

  “Put the fucking gun away,” he hissed as he picked up his shirt.

  “Not until you tell me where to find Naomi.” There was a crescent-shaped wound on his shoulder. It oozed, probably broken open when he shifted. It looked suspiciously like teeth marks. The drops of jaguar blood in the dirt popped in my head. “She bit you when you were trying to abduct her, didn’t she?”

  If she had been in wolf form, the bite would’ve made this guy a wolf-jaguar hybrid, but our bites didn’t pack that kind of punch without a full moon. As a human, they’d hurt, but there was no modifying DNA, no converting into a werewolf. Only the wolf could accomplish that.

  The jaguar straightened with his shirt in his hand as his green eyes narrowed into slits. “We weren’t trying. We did take her.”

  “Go ahead.” I caressed the trigger. “Bait me one more time.”

  “And alert all the other jaguars that we’ve got an intruder?” He raised a brow. “Vance told me you were smart.”

  “Wait.” I lowered my weapon. “Are you Trager?”

  “Yeah.” He pulled his shirt on. “And if you want to live long enough to save her, you’ll get your ass out of here before the others come back.”

  This was the bastard who shot me. I ground my teeth, reminding myself that Trager’s partner had thought he’d put a bullet in my head, not my leg. “I’m not going anywhere until I know she’s all right.”

  He ran a hand back through his hair. “She attacked Natasha earlier and got herself Tased, but otherwise, she’s fine.” He checked the area and whispered. “Tell Vance I’ll meet him at the Wolf Pack Bar tomorrow night.”

  “Can you get a message to Naomi?”

  “I can try.” He shook his head. “No promises.”

  “Tell her I’m alive, and I’m coming for her.” I paused and added, “Why are you helping us?”

  “I owe Vance a favor.” He met my eyes. “And I think shifters have no business in politics. If the humans discover Nero’s genetic testing, they may go after werewolves at first, but it’s only a matter of time before we’re all in danger.” A branch snapped in the distance. Trager flinched. “Shit. You better go. Now.”

  “Tell Naomi.”

  He nodded. “If I can, I will.”

  That would have to be good enough.

  Kaya was the only one at the ranch when we got back. She got up from the couch when I came through the door, concern lining her eyes. “Did you find her?”

  “Not exactly.” The house was too quiet. “Where are the boys?”

  She smiled. “All four are asleep in Bart and Ben’s room.”

  I scanned the living area. “I thought Shane and Piper were sticking around as backup.”

  “You just missed them. They went out back to sweep the yard for any sign of Nero jaguars. They should be back soon.”

  I nodded, finally releasing a pent-up breath. “Thanks, Kaya.” I sat on the couch and put my leg up on the table. “I met Vance’s inside man tonight. Naomi’s been giving them hell in there, but she’s all right for now.” I shook my head, lifting my gaze to Kaya’s face. “We’re lucky it was Trager we found. I shouldn’t have run off half-cocked like that. I’m in no condition for a fight.” I rubbed my hands on my jeans. “Fear is new for me, and apparently, it makes me stupid. I could’ve gotten all of us killed.”

  Gage came in the front door and took a seat on the other couch. “Don’t be so quick to take all the credit. Nobody forced us to go with you.”

  I chuckled and glanced at the door. “Where are Cole and Ryker?”

  “They both have to be at work in the morning, so they took off. I had to come and collect my little squirts.” Gage looked around the room and back at Kaya. “Speaking of, where are they hiding?”

  “Sleeping with Bart and Ben. Are you working tomorrow?”

  Gage nodded. “Yeah.”

  “Why don’t you just let them sleep?” Kaya settled back into the couch. “I’ll watch them.”

  “You sure?” Gage asked. “Don’t you have to work, too?”

  She swiped her hand. “I told my restaurant manager I was sick. They can handle things for a couple days.” She sobered, her gaze alternating between me and Gage. “Naomi will be back soon anyway, right.”

  God, I wanted that to be true.

  I looked over at Gage. “Thanks for backing me up tonight. Hopefully my leg will be a lot better tomorrow, and with Vance’s help, maybe we can bring Naomi home.”

  Gage got to his feet. “Let me know if you need me.”

  He disappeared down the hallway to peek in at the boys, and I glanced over at Kaya. “Did the born wolves say anything when they left?”

  “No one else volunteered to be our Alpha if that’s what you’re wondering.” Although Kaya was recognized as a part of the Navajo tribe by the government, being a skin walker was a secret that kept an outsider on the reservation. We shared the yearning to belong. Somewhere.

  She met my eyes. “Give them some time. I think they’ll come around.”

  I shook my head, dropping my gaze to my hands. “Naomi is my mate.”

  The words surprised me. I hadn’t planned to blurt them out or tell anyone in the pack. It seemed wrong to announce it without Naomi at my side.

  Kaya scooted forward on the couch, turning to face me. “Like a real mate? Like Luke and Raven?”

  “Yeah.” I nodded. “We touched the other day, skin to skin, and my wolf came unglued inside me. She felt it, too.”

  “Wow.” Kaya shook her head. “I thought since we weren’t born wolves, we didn’t have true mates.” A line creased her brow. “Why didn’t you tell the others?”

  “Feels weird to say anything to anyone without Naomi here. We’re still trying to navigate what it all means.” I crossed my arms over my chest. “I’ve never had a connection like this with anyone before.” I sighed, meeting her gaze. “The wolf is agitated with her gone, too, and it’s making it tough for me to think straight. What kind of Alpha am I to lead my pack into Nero territory during the new moon? We were outnumbered, and I’m not at full fighting strength. It was reckless and stupid.”

  “Enough.” Kaya punched my shoulder with a smile. “Ease up on yourself. You’ve never been an Alpha before. I’m pretty sure there’s a learning curve, right? Plus, Naomi is strong. She can handle herself until you can get in there and break her out.”

  She was right. Naomi was a fighter.