Cole opened his eyes and felt Isabelle nestled against his side. Her head was on his chest, causing her hair to fall all over one shoulder, and one of her arms laid over his pectorals. He lifted his head from the rock to press a kiss to her hair and carefully disentangled himself from her arms. The sound of the waterfall covering the opening of the cave seemed deafening now. He grinned and wondered at the advantage his newly acquired abilities would accord him now, especially in his line of work. Speaking of work, he took a side glance at Isabelle, letting his eyes skim her beautiful face and down to her incredibly desirable body, and he swallowed softly. He stood up, walked to the waterfall, and swam to the other side of the river. It was dark now, and surprisingly he could still see as clearly as if he was wearing a night vision goggles. He chuckled. His gaze settled on some clothes hanging by a side tree and his evidently cleaned boots were at the foot of the tree. He figured so
“Come here,” Xavier urged, patting the chair next to him. Isabelle walked woodenly to his side and sat down heavily on the chair. “Is he coming back?” Isabelle asked in almost a whisper. “I sure hope so. He has my beta,” Xavier replied, causing Isabelle to straighten her shoulders and gape at him. “What is going on?” Cole hated leaving the way he did without alerting Isabelle first. But he didn’t want her trying to talk him out of it, besides, he would hate telling her goodbye. Being separated from her albeit for just a few hours now already made him feel cranky. It didn’t help that he needed someone to get him out of the island. The fact that Xavier had chosen Hallec to do it still pisses him off. “There is no point, in giving me the death stare. I hate the situation more than you could ever imagine. But I have my orders. So, quit growling and distracting me. One would think you are already turned,” Hallec said, breaking the palpable silence in the boat. “I am not growling.”
Cole's hair stood on end and his gut tightened with the uncomfortable feeling of being watched. “I suppose as a Were, you can run as fast as when you are in your primal state, right?” Cole asked under his breath.“Of, course, why—?” Hallec answered a tad befuddled, evidently confused at the sudden shift of their conversation.“Someone is following us. I just saw a shadow at my 9 o’clock.”“Your what?”“Shit,” Cole cursed quietly, upset at his momentary lapse. He had automatically reverted to his work mode. He replied, “Follow my lead… What that means is…”“I know what it means!” Hallec snapped back, sounding offended at his tone.“Good. Let’s catch a rat,” Cole muttered and started to walk forward, not turning to look to his side, but he could feel the eyes still on them, and was glad Hallec wasn’t trying to ask more questions; the other man just matched his strides and he seemed to understand the mission. Cole deliberately took a shadowed alleyway, not knowing where it led, but tr
“Bullshit!” Jason said as his fist clenched by his sides. “He is telling the truth,” Hallec said sounding like the devil's advocate. “That’s not the kind of information you keep from your team, Cole,” Jason said in almost a growl. “You don’t say?” He retorted with a defiant raise of his thick eyebrows. “My secret was different! I could be killed instantly upon discovery. I have no idea of knowing which one of you would take offense to work with the likes of me! You knew where a criminal of that caliber lives and operate and you kept quiet. You were protecting him!” “That’s where you are wrong. Catching Alexander Miller was not my duty—” “You are a serviceman. We are servicemen. Catching all kinds of criminals is our responsibility!” “You were scared that you could be killed if we find out you are a shifter? What do you think would have happened if I rat on Alexander, huh? The FBI has been after him and Rufus for years and they still gat nothing!” “You coming forward would h
“I know he wouldn’t. I will be greatly disappointed if he had. Did you give him his money as I directed?” “Yes, I did. And then he came back with more briefcases to double the money. As if the men he killed didn’t worth shit. And that bastard pointed a gun at me. When I told him we were attacked and you’ve gone missing. He offered to find you and the…um…the girl. He took Aaron with him. And let me tell you, that wasn't achieved willingly. We told him we would do our own search, but he didn't take that well. He was still pissed about how you treated him. The arsehole!” “So, only Aaron is with him?” “Yes. I called a group of mercenaries your dad used to use for missions like this, and they are tailing them secretly. Their mission was to get you and Aaron out safe. Or they don’t get paid. Their leader just called me that they were up north and about a six-hour drive to Appleberry. It’s going to be a literal bloodbath and I doubt Rufus cares much about getting you out alive.” “Aha, I
Isabelle looked shell-shocked sitting beside Xavier after he told her what Cole had planned. She swallowed softly and gave her brother a side glance. “He wants to buy the Island?” She asked as soon as she got her voice back. Xavier nodded. “A gift to you,” Xavier replied. “You know there is no way we could ever get that kind of money on our own, everything I make goes to feeding the pack members, and when the human government eventually gets wind of the happenings here, we will then have the judicial right over the land.” “I quite understand the implication. I am just ...” “Stunned? I get it. Imagine how I felt when he told me. I had mixed feelings about using Alexander’s blood money. But he explained his grandfather willed some land with oil to him. So, I suppose it is not all blood money. Or maybe it is, considering his entire family had to die for it.” “What do you mean?” Isabelle asked, focusing her attention solely on her brother now. Trying to not dissect how strongly Col
A few minutes later, when Isabelle saw the ship appear on the horizon, her heart lunged at the sight of Cole on the deck. She could see he had changed now and was wearing a camouflage uniform with another man beside him and they were both carrying massive guns. She swallowed softly, thinking the situation they were in just got real. She couldn’t see Hallec and guessed he must be the one steering the boat. “Alright everyone, listen up!” Xavier began, his deep voice carried through the grounds. And the two other alphas, Darrow and Wulfrun, came to stand with him. “There are supplies coming in that ship, I want it removed and taken to the pack store. The kitchen workers' volunteers are to take over from there. They are to prepare the food, and make sure everyone eats to their fill—” That bit of news delivered with a promise of nourishment got a loud round of applause which caused Xavier to run his hand over his face, shaking his head, and everyone laughed. Isabelle chuckled, glad th
Cole saw her leaving and probed her mind. “---And where do you think you are going, ma'am?” “Cole?!” “Yes,” Cole answered. She chuckled. “I haven’t gotten used to you doing that.” “It's pretty cool, isn’t it?” “The very best. Now, I can say dirty nothings to you without having to utter a word.” “Typical. I have suddenly gotten the psychic ability to speak with you privately without everyone hearing us, and all you can think of is to cock tease me with it?” He smiled when she giggled. “Oh, I intend to do more than cock tease you, Cole Miller.” “Wonderful. You do this when I’m supposed to be discussing important stuff with these scary-looking guys. I swear they would smell my arousal soon enough.” Isabelle busted out laughing as she started to jog. “They can’t do nothing, Xavier is beside you.” “I hate to break it to you, honey, but your brother reveled in making me sweat.” “Nah, I’m sensing the beginning of a brotherly bonding between you two.” “Hard pass. I’m not int
“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. ‘