“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
“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
If there was something Isabelle knew more than anything it was the damning fact that humans hate her kind. It was not because they had done anything to deserve it - at least not that she knew of, it was just the simple fact that they were different. Humans are pretty uncomfortable with people they deemed different especially if the people in question have the ability to shapeshift. Some humans are barely tolerable of the knowledge of her kind while others actively come after them. Isabelle thought they were lucky folks in Appleberry belonged in the latter category. Isabelle saw the way the shopkeeper watched them as if they were a band of thieves or something equally worse. Her brother, Xavier waited for the human to check out their purchases and he quickly counted the dollar bills, placed them on the counter, and gestured for the rest of them to leave. Isabelle followed her brother, Hallec; his beta, and three others outside the massive grocery store, and couldn’t help glancing back
Son of a—” Cole cursed as he stared into about six gun barrels, and another pressed against his temple. He had been woken by the sound of booted feet rushing around his cabin. He had slowly gotten up, threw on some clothes and reached for his gun placed in plain sight on his headboard, thinking it would do well to find a way to sneak out through the back door without being noticed than engage in an outright showdown. But then as quiet and slithering as he had been, a flashlight caught his exit then a helicopter appeared overhead pinpointing him with its floodlight. The thoughts of so many ways of how this could play out raced in his mind. And as skilled as he was he knew when to dialogue perhaps a distraction could help? But he doubted he could get far even if he tried to run - not in his state. He started to slowly raise his hand just to let the bastards know he wasn’t going to do anything until a familiar face stepped under the helicopter floodlight. Cole glared at the old man. “Co
When the cry vibrated through the walls again, he stood up with effort and felt a certain wetness under his jacket. He slowly raised up the left flab, and saw a red stain a few inches down his armpit, he cursed. Reaching into his closet again, he searched, from memory, for one of his father’s regular gifts for him since when he clocked sixteen and retrieved his hand holding an embellished Colt 1849 revolver. He recalled there were about ten different makes of the very expensive revolvers stacked in the same corner with custom-made and equally emblemized pocket knives. He quickly checked if the gun was still loaded and nodded to himself when he saw it was. Tucking it in the band of his denim trousers, he left his room, feeling the pain in his ribcage increase. The entire house seemed eerily quiet. He thought perhaps the area had wolves now. But then that cry sounded as if it came from inside the building not outside. He recalled his father started acquiring animals of strange species
“He is one of them! He is an agent!” a voice cried from his back. Cole reached down his ankle to retrieve the small revolver tucked in his ankle holster and strapped firmly under his trousers. And at the same time leaped in a bid to shield himself with one of the ammunition crates as hell broke loose and shots flew around.Breathing heavily he landed on the concrete floor, in between tall crates, and quickly pressed his back to one, holding up his gun. He felt a certain pain on his side and slipped his hand under his bulletproof vest worn under his undershirt. His hand came out bloodied. He had been hit on the spot not covered by the vest. He cursed, panting heavily.He saw something small rolled into his corner and his eyes caught the grenade before it could blow him to smithereens. In reflex, he reached forward to pick it up and threw it towards t
He went inside his closet to get his fanny pack and quickly checked inside to make sure his custom-made micro spy-camera jammer was inside. He took it from the bag, picked grey-colored joggers to pull on, and slipped the device inside his pocket.He came out and his eyes settled on the glass cup on his nightstand and he went to pick it up. He figured wandering around with a glass cup in hand might serve as a good cover. He loved his ability to come up with viable, solid plans, whenever under pressure.He pulled the exit door to his room open and found the hallway empty. He had been expecting to find the place well guarded to prevent him from wandering off again. He supposed Jerome didn't think of him as a danger now because of his wound.He walked leisurely down the hallway, ignoring the cameras embedded at th
He reached up her stretched arm and gently unclipped the iron bracelet holding her up. She went lax in his arms. Cole groaned hard at the painful pull her weight caused on his side."Can you stand on your own?" he asked."I need a minute…" she said in a breathless tone. Wrapping her arm around his neck they both held still for a short while.She buried her face in the nook of his neck, rubbing her face against his skin. Cole swallowed gently, positioning her to press against the entire length of him. She pressed hard to his front and he wrapped his arms tightly around her. She parted her legs making him lift her from the floor as she wrapped her legs around his strong legs, opening up her legs for him.Cole cupped her ass again, giving her the re
“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. ‘