Much later when Isabelle Cole and Jason came out of the room, they saw Xavier sitting by the kitchen island table cradling his head in his hands. Isabelle went to wrap her arms around his shoulders and gave him a gentle squeeze. “How is she?” He asked. His voice was even deeper than usual. “Sleepy and need to see you,” Isabelle replied as he turned in his chair. Xavier sighed. Isabelle gave him room to stand up and he offered a handshake to Cole and then Jason. “Thank you,” he said. “You are a great and noble man, Alpha Xavier. It is an honor to be of service to you,” Jason said.“Suck up,” Cole coughed into his folded elbow and Isabelle laughed. Jason chuckled and Xavier raised an arched eyebrow at Cole and he returned his scrutiny with an air of innocence. Isabelle went to wrap her arms around his middle. “What? There was something in my throat,” Cole said. “Thank you, Jason. I am only doing what anyone in my position would have done,’ Xavier replied. “I hope you never compa
Xavier began to jog and they all matched his energy, running to the dock. By the time they got there, it was drizzling. The Pack members ready to fight were all dressed in black now and they lined up side by side from the river bank to the top of the watercraft, carrying and passing on the little ones. The last persons at the openings atop the crafts dropped them inside into the arms of other men and women, waiting to shepherd them to their seats. The children were clad in thick winter coats and head warmers. They found the exercise quite fun. The action continued for about twenty minutes and then the Weres assigned to guard each craft hopped inside and sealed the entrances. The craft which was meant for the sick werewolves was the last to be filled. Xavier, accompanied by Opaline, and Isabelle carried Amèlie inside himself. Cole followed him with Jason and the two used the opportunity to look around for Jason’s brother. Cole spoke with the craft captain while Xavier went to find a
The sky opened up minutes later and the entire island was as quiet as a tomb except for the pattering of the raindrops and the sparse snowfall that clouded the air – one would think there was no single soul for miles. Cole made sure everyone he needed to connect and communicate with had ComTac and Swat-Tac headsets for hearing protection and hands-free communication. He however found he had no use for tactical earsets; he could now hear sounds that he wouldn’t have been able to without the device. The remaining Pack members that stayed behind to defend their home were divided into three with Hallec, Darrow, and Wulfrun leading them and each group consist of at least 1300 werewolves. One group was to hide atop trees to survey incoming threats and neutralised and alert the others, another group lined the shore to the east and the other to the west. Only Xavier was alone and prowling the grounds. Cole with Jason and Isabelle climbed up the mountain that housed the pack members’ home an
“Cole Miller, did you see that?” Xavier’s voice sounded in his ear.“Yes, I suppose I was wrong in one assumption that he planned to make this quiet. I think he planned to take down the whole gaddamn town. I suppose this is what Jerome meant when he said literal blood bath.”“I think he is coming at us with everything he’s got…” Jason said, joining the conversation.“I was already expecting that. I was also expecting something else…”“Care to share?” Xavier replied.“Rufus must surely be aware by now of how difficult it was for Alexander to kidnap even one of your kind, and now he is gearing up and quite determined to faceoff with an entire Pack. And since we know he couldn't afford to back off, albeit, for some insane, delusional fantasy, he must have something in his arsenal he is planning to use. Aside from sophisticated weapons and such, I don’t see him playing the hostage card. The man is a heartless bastard. I believe he must have some of your people working for him. I mean Jaso
“I suppose we will find out soon enough—Yes, I have what I need,” Xavier said. Another explosion lit up the dark sky and this time it was aimed at the fisher’s boat. Cole cursed. “Well, let’s rock and roll,” Cole muttered under his breath and wore a ski mask and smart earplugs before pulling out from his backpack some high-tech mask that was somewhat like a luchador bane mask. He wore it for Isabelle, making her wear earplugs to block explosive noises as well. The mask covered her mouth and nose with a glass shield protecting her eyes. The sides of her face and forehead were left bare, and the strap wrapped around her head in a snug fit. Cole leaned into her and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Love you, babe,” he muttered before he wore his own shield over the ski mask, covering his entire face. Isabelle clung to him. “Jason…” “Don’t worry, Cole. I’m wearing mine, I know we can’t let them see our faces,” Jason replied. A minute later, two things happened at almost the same
“Don’t listen to her, Cole Miller. They are not our parents. Our parents are very dead. Trust me,” Xavier interjected. “Then who are those?” Isabelle asked in obvious suffering. “Random werewolves, he is desperate to pass off as our parents. I’m almost impressed he did his homework,” Xavier replied. “But… are you certain? I wouldn’t want to watch them die, Xavier,” Isabelle whispered. “Trust me, please,” Xavier replied. “What do you think is going on?” Hallec asked. “I don’t think they are your parents. They smell funny.” “They reeked of experimental drugs,” Jason interjected and we can’t tell who the rest of the men are with their masks on!” His frustration was evident. “I have a plan…” Xavier said. “What plan?! Isabelle exclaimed. “Relax, Belle. We have to start this confrontation somehow,” Xavier replied and chuckled. Cole felt impressed at his level-headedness and calm disposition. They watch as he strode out of the woods, appearing about 15 meters from where Rufus and
‘You are very smart. And I am not surprised you saw through that. They are Weres, wearing a facial uttering device.’‘That’s what I thought,’ Xavier replied. ‘I buried my parents. I know they are dead,’ Xavier said. Isabelle shut her eyes noting the deep sadness in her brother’s tone. She hadn’t known he had gone back after he saved the rest of them. To think he never mentioned it or spoke to her about it. ‘They are not the enemy,’ the man said, forcing her thoughts back to the present.‘I know,’ Xavier said and then he added, ‘Darrow?’‘Yes?’ the other man responded. ‘Pick them out one by one and end them!’ he ordered.‘With pleasure…’ Darrow replied. ‘Will you tell me your name?’ Xavier asked the stranger via mind link.‘Call me Angel,’ he replied. ‘Thank you, Angel. I hope we get to talk and meet when this is over…’Evidently unaware of what was happening, Rufus pointed the gun at Xavier again. interrupting his communication with the other Were. “You are a fool if you think y
Cole aimed and fired at Rufus, with the intent to shoot him in the head, but one of his men got hit instead. He cursed as the shield around the other man thickened. And then they started to fire a gas-like canister into the air, causing the grounds to shroud with smoke. Rufus quickly wore a mask, and then they began to edge back to shore. Cole crawled out of their hiding spot and closer to the edge of the cliff, causing Isabelle to follow him out from their hiding spot as he focused on taking out as many of Rufus' men as possible. Jason seemed to recover from his shock and he also crawled to lie beside Cole, aiming his gun at Rufus' men as well. A whoosh sound suddenly rented the air above the mountain and two men in black swooped down on a rope from a futuristic-looking aircraft, one shooting repeatedly at Isabelle while the other fired a smoking canister atop the mountain. Isabelle hardly had the time to draw breath, not to mention roll back to safety before something pricked her
“No!” Rufus yelled, Cole turned to him and smash the butt of his gun against his head, causing his forehead to bleed. “You fucking injected my woman with wolfbane, and dared to try and kill Aaron!” “You bastard! You killed my son!” Rufus cried loudly in evident anguish. It was clear he had lost his mind. “Oh, I intend to off all your fucking sons! You idiot!” “That’s a shame—” a voice sounded from the doorway. Cole looked in the direction and saw a man that looked like Rufus holding Opaline by the throat, and when Isabelle startled forward, he brandished a gun at her. Isabelle stopped. “If any of you animals move, I will drop this and we will all die...” the newcomer said, using the barrel of his gun to tap on a grenade he held against Opaline’s throat — the very type Ash used a few minutes before, everyone stepped back except Isabelle. “Hello, Cole Miller, your father was an arrogant asshole, but I still liked him, I was looking forward to meeting you. The way he talked about yo
“Oh, hell, no! Not on my watch!” Cole muttered and ran to the open space, ignoring the fact that he was left defenceless, trusting Jason and Ash to cover him. Isabelle gaped at him, watching as he opened fire on the guards by the doorway. Isabelle watched in frozen horror as two bullets hit him on the chest, and another on the shoulder, Cole only grunted hard but pressed forward. He didn’t stop until there were no more guards still left standing by the doorway. “Is this guy on drugs?!” one of the Weres asked with disquiet. “He is fucking insane!” another interjected. “Yes, he is,” Jason said with an admiration that made Isabelle smack him on the shoulder. “Sorry,” he said in a whispered plea, and then added, “but only the insanity part. I wouldn’t have him any other way!” He smirked and pushed away from safety to join in. Ash and his men joined him. A new wave of guards came out from the house and the other side of the woods, brandishing automatic guns at Cole and the rest o
Angel let go of the man and offered him the water. He snatched the bottle and gulped down the water, then he eyed Angel before he took the steak and gorged it down his throat. Isabelle passed another bottle of water to Angel and the other Were directed his gaze passed Angel to settle on her. The pain that cloud his eyes at the sight of her made her swallow. “They killed her... raped her to death...” he growled and then whimpered in obvious pain, curling up on the floor. Angel grabbed him by the shoulders and snarled “And if you don’t get your shit together, you will never be able to avenge her! Get a hold of yourself, Wolfe, or this will be it for you! I don’t fucking have all night!” Angel said, barring his teeth. The other wolf nodded and fought to contain his emotions. Angel then offered him a change of clothes, and he accepted it. Isabelle and the other ladies moved back to allow the rescued Weres to change, and then one of the Were asked, “Why does this human smell like
Cole signalled to Ash to wait with his team, beckoned Jason, mind linked with Isabelle to follow him then asked Xavier to mind link with Hallec, Darrow, Wulfrun, Opaline, and Tiana to come with them. The chosen Weres followed Angel closely, heading into the side woods to a secluded area about 5 minutes walk from the house, but it only took the Weres three. Angel brought them to a clearing in the woods and Cole could see a large iron grate-like shield, spanning about five meters of the grounds. Angel climbed atop it, looking down into the hole. Xavier went to join him, and Cole and Jason followed. Looking down through the iron bars, Cole could see an iron ladder leading down into a pit and the stench was killing. “Heavens! This is where they are?!” Xavier asked with gritted teeth, his anger was evident
The following morning Cole and Xavier asked to speak with Ash privately, and shortly after the other man peered into the study before entering. Xavier was standing by the window and Cole was by the liquor cabinet. “Thanks for honouring our call Ash—” Cole said and almost bit his tongue for the nonsense. It was quite obvious he wasn’t comfortable speaking with another man about his choice of a partner. Heck! If it weren’t for the impending mission he would have let whatever the two were playing at work itself out. What’s the point of living if you have to keep it safe all the time? A deep frown formed a groove in between his eyebrows. It was plain he would not be a perfect person to discuss the topic of ‘the birds and bees’ when the time comes. He evidently sucks at it. He doubted Isabelle would approve of him telling their kids to explore as much as they want. He wasn’t a parent yet and that scenario had him imaging an angel giving him a disapproving glare. He shook his head as if th
A gentle tap on the door woke Cole up and his eyes automatically went to the wall clock. He sighed. He had fallen asleep curled up with Isabelle in front of the fireplace on the duvet he had dragged from the bed. Lying there and chatting with her about their future felt right. It felt beautiful and now he just needed to go and secure that future for all of them. He disengaged from her and she turned her face to hold his gaze “Xavier needs me...” Cole said, lowering his head to plant a kiss on her lips. “Okay,” she said. Cole got up and quickly threw some clothes on before leaving the room when he got downstairs all the Weres were there including Ash. Cole sighed. He figured if Tiana hadn’t told Ash yet who she was he would have to be the one to do it or speak to Xavier about it. The last thing he needed was a surprised lover, freaking out at the wrong time and messing up their mission. He nodded a greeting to everyone and walked in the direction of Alexander’s office he had
She walked to the bathroom door that was at a corner of the opposite wall to the door she came in through, and slowly pushed it open, leaving it just slightly open. Cole was under the shower and his entire body was lathered and on display. Isabelle’s heart shook. He stood under the shower with his hands pressed to the wall as the water washed off the soap slowly on his body. Isabelle allowed her eyes to follow the flow down his deliciously sexy body. It reminded her of the time back at his cabin when he had washed her body and made her wash his too. “Touch me...” his raspy voice echoed in her head, and she leaned against the door frame watching him as her body flamed up for him. Cole heard the adjoining door open and knew she was coming before she got to the bathroom door. He could feel her gaze on him and could smell her excitement. The thought and the scent of her, mingled with her arousal affected his body in an unbelievable way. It was as if he could feel exactly what she was f
“Belle?” Xavier called, causing her to snap out of her musings. She realised everyone had sat down and she was the only one standing by the open French door like some social recluse. She flashed a smile that she hoped didn’t appear as a grimace and went to take the seat next to Xavier and Amèlie. The others started to eat, and low murmuring filled the room. They were all so aware of the male servants, standing by, and close to the side walls, evidently there to wait on them, but that didn’t make it less awkward. When she continued to sit still without reaching out to eat, Xavier gave her a gentle nudge with his leg, and she winced delicately, before reaching for her food. They were first served with an appetizer and Isabelle slowly tasted the chicken soup before she started to eat. They were on the main course dish when Cole entered the room. Two male servants quickly went to serve his appetizer, placing it by the head of the table. “I am sorry. I have been quite a terrible host.
With chest heaving, she breathed through parted lips returning his scrutiny. Cole took the seat beside her. Reaching for her hand, he held it firmly in his and then leaned into her and took her lips in a searing kiss. Isabelle gasped, confused by his actions, but he didn’t stop. The taste of whiskey on his tongue mixed with coffee coupled with the effect of his drugging kiss made her gradually lose herself in the kiss and it wasn’t long before she completely forgot why she was scared and where she was.When he finally let go for her to breathe, her eyes searched his smouldering ones before darting to the open window shield behind him. She found then that they were airborne, and the plane had stabilised. She swallowed. “I’m sorry, I haven’t—” she said. Cole raised his hand to brush a knuckle against her cheek. “Don’t do that… Don’t apologise to me. I'm sorry, I should have realised, and come sooner,” he replied and the tears she had been fighting to hold back spilt down her face. ‘