Chapter Five

MICHAEL

Ok.  Can I start by saying, I know I'm being used.  At first, I didn't care.  I mean, who wouldn't want a hot, bad ass chick coming to you for the occasional hook up.  If you're any kind of red blooded male wolf, you'd be crazy to say no.

When I met Anna 5 years ago, I had no idea what I was getting myself into.  She was sexy as hell, driven and has no problem saying what's on her mind.  That in itself, drove me crazy.

We agreed to keep it casual.  No commitments.  Just hook up when the need arises, but walk away when the deed was done.  

And for years, it worked.  

But, somewhere along the line, every time I woke up and she was gone.  Every time she'd walk away with her 'See ya later, tiger.' My heart dropped.  I didn't want her to leave.  I want to hold her.  Wake her up with kisses.  Cook breakfast while I gaze at her in one of my shirts.

Yeah it's fucking stupid, but it's how I feel, damn it.

Thursday night was the clincher.  Having me behind the bar was new and although it was exciting, I felt dirty.  After she left, I sat and thought for a long while.  I thought how this situation was getting more fucked up as the days went on.  It's getting to the point where it hurts to see her every night on patrol.  I'm just glad she was posted somewhere else after Thursday.  I don't think I could face her so soon.

When I heard of the rogue attack, I lost it.  I left my post, crossed through Falcon Ridge and to the southern border.  I found them all dirty, tired bleeding.  Surrounded by patrollers and medics.  I stayed out of sight so I wouldn't get caught.  I had to just see if she was ok. From the bushes, I saw Anna.  I breathed a sigh of relief that she was fine.   I watched as she spoke with some guy I've never seen before.  My wolf ran circles in my head.  Itching to get out.  I'm not sure if it was to comfort Anna or kill the guy she was talking to, but I knew I needed to leave before I got in shit.

I was hoping to run into her at the station the next night, but she was gone so I headed to the bar.  

As I approached, she was walking with the same dude.  I couldn't see his face.  I don't recognize him, but he's starting to piss me off.  

I hang back a minute until they're inside and I follow trying to keep myself invisible.

I sit in the back.  I feel like a fucking creep, but I have to know what's going on.  

I watch as they talk.  She laughs and he obviously nervous to be around her.  The longer I watch, the more I want to throat punch him.  

I glare at the two, tipping my beer back.  If I don't leave, I'll start something.  So I slip out without Anna noticing.

As I walk, with no real direction, I find myself outside her house.  I look around and decide to park my ass on her step and wait.  I don't know why.  All of sudden, this girl has changed me into some sort of creepy stalker.  I should just go.  I stand up and slowly walk down her steps when she pulls up on her bike.  She sits up and kills the engine.

"Michael?"  She gets off her bike.

I put my hands in my jacket.  "Uh, hey. Hi....Anna."  I walk up to her.

She straightens her hair.  "Hey.  What are you doing here?"

I glanced at the ground then up into her heart stopping eyes.  "I...um...heard about the Rogue attack and had to see if you were OK."

She pulls out her keys and starts for her door.  "Yeah.  Sure.  Thanks.  I'm...uh..I'm ok.  It takes more then a little rogue to bring me down."  She smiles as I follow her to her door.

I hold her outside door while she unlocks the inside one.  "You sure?  It sounded bad."

She opens the door.  "I'm fine, Michael.  Really."

I straighten my hair. "Okay.  Just checking.  I'd hate if anything happened to you."

She put her hand on my arm.  "You're sweet, Michael.  But, I'm a big girl.  I can handle myself."

"I know...I mean, you kick my ass.."  I chuckle.  "It's just........"  I trail off not knowing how to say what I want.

"Just what?"  She raises her brow.  "You're not getting soft on me, are ya tiger?"

"No.no.  Just forget it.  It's not important.  Have a good night.  Glad you're ok."  I turn and the smile I faked quickly faded.  

"Michael.  You sure you're ok?"  She calls after me.

I don't turn around.  "Yep.  I'm cool.  Night...Anna."  and I leave down the sidewalk.

But I'm not ok.  I'm confused as hell.  I want to run back.  Tell her how I feel  but I don't.  I know how she feels about me.  

I pull out my phone.

Open up Anna's contact and just stare at it.  I want to text her, but instead I close it and open Rezs.

You:  Hey, man.

After a moment I get buzzed.

Rez:  Hey.  What's up.

You:  Nothing........no that's a lie.  I'm fucked up.

Rez:  What's wrong?

You:  Anna.

Rez:  Geez, man.  You need to let it go.  She's not into you.

You:  I can't.  I can't do it, Rez.  Anna is special.  I don't know how to tell her.

Rez:  If you tell her, she'll just stop seeing you.  Is that what you want?

You:  No.

Rez:  Well, then, stop thinking dude.  Enjoy what you have now.

You:  Sure.

I close my phone and stick it in my pocket.  I'll just head home.  This whole thing is pointless.

If I can't tell Anna how I really feel, then I should end this whole thing.  For my own well being.  Move on.  

I was almost home when my phone buzzed.  I pull it out and open it.

Anna:  Hey, tiger.  Thanks for stopping by tonight.

You:  No problem.  Like I said, just checking up.

Anna:  I shouldn't have let you leave.  I could use a night cap.  Wanna come over?

I stare at her message.  This is when I make the big decision.  This is when I either tell her how I feel or tell her no.

I sigh.  Scratch my brow.  Staring at my phone.

I respond with the only thing I know how to.

You:  Sure.  Be there in 20.

I shove my phone in my pocket and turn around toward Anna's house.  Because that's how weak I am.  I can deny myself, but I can't deny her.

****

I got to Anna's house in record time.  I stopped beating myself up about halfway there.  Push it out of my mind.  I know what she wants and I'll give it to her like I mean it.

And I did.  I held nothing back.  I blew her mind.  And blew mine as well.  It was so perfect.  So amazing.  I hope she felt it too.

I lay in the sheets with Anna on my chest.  I play with her hair.

"That was so good, tiger." She said sleepily.

I kissed her head.  "I aim to please." I tossed out a quick smile.

She moves so she can see my face. "You alright?  You seem off."

I shake my head.  "I'm fine."

She gets up on her elbow.  "No.  Somethings bothering you.  I can tell."  Her face grows concerned.

I sigh.  Look into her amber eyes.  "You ever have something so amazing, but want it to be even more amazing.  But, you know, if you do try to make it more amazing, it could destroy everything?"

She looked confused.  "No.  I don't think I have."

"Yeah, I didn't think so." I turned and looked at the ceiling.  

She grabbed my chin and turned me toward her.  "Michael, what's wrong?"

I blow out a breath and sit up.  "I want to tell you.  I really do.  But, I know how it'll sound and you'll just end things.  I don't want that.  I don't want things with us to end.  So...just forget it."  I pulled the sheet off and got up.  Looking for my clothes.

"Michael.  What are you saying?  Do...do you have..feelings for me?"  

She was sitting on her knees at the edge of the bed.  Holding the sheet to her body.  She looked like a fucking goddess.

I pulled my jeans on and gave a quick smile.  "No....like I said.  Don't worry about it.  It's stupid.  I'm just gonna go."  I grab my shirt and boots and head out of the room.

"Michael...."  She called to me. 

I was at her door, when she stopped me.  "Michael.  What we have...it's fun.  Exciting and yes, amazing.  Making it more would take that away."  I watched her beautiful fingers run down my chest.

I grabbed her hands off me.  "Or it could be the best damn thing that ever happened to us."  I opened the door and stepped out.

"Michael."  She whispered.

"Good night, Anna."  I didn't look back and left.

****

ANNA

When Michael left last night, I was confused.  He's never been this way before.

We've always just had our fun and left it at that.  But, his round about confession has me thinking things I said I never would think about.  A relationship with him.

I mean his good looking, sweet.  Obviously, cares.  The sex is amazing.  I turn to him more often then not.  Could I even entertain the idea of starting something with him?

I'm walking into the station, rolling Michael's confession over in my head.  I'm distracted and bump into a hard body.  I look up and it's River.

I tuck my hair behind my ear.  "Oh, hey.  Sorry."

He smiles.  "Hey.  Everything ok?"

I smile back.  "Yeah, everything's fine.  You...uh...here for the brief?"

"Yeah.  I was just heading in."  He pointed to Drake's office.

"Cool."  

We walk to the office.  "Hey, boss, we have a plan?"

Drake's desk is covered in papers.  "Agent.  River.  Come in.  Have a seat."

We sunk ourselves into chairs at Drake's desk.  

He shuffles things around.  "So our Night Flyers just got back.  Intel says Karver will be at the Moonlight bar in Delwork at 10pm tonight."  He pulls out a map and turns it so we can see.  "Riker, your teams will post here and here."  He points to locations.  "River, the commanders have giving us three units.  You'll lead.  I want snipers here, here and here and you'll post with Riker here."  He stood up.  "This has to be clean.  By the book.  The area is filled with civilians.  I expect zero casualties.  Wolves used as last resorts only.  Silver bullet ammo will be given..."  He leaned on his desk and looked at me.  "...I want Karver alive, Riker.  You understand?"

I slump back and grumble.  "No promises."

River looks at me with a raised brow.

Drake stands.  "If we're successful, Karver will give us just what we need to get to Torrent.  We can't fuck this up."

River looked at me.  "Torrent?"

"The Alpha."  

He nods.

"Ok.  Assemble your teams.  Keep all mind links open.  I want status reports every 25 mins.  Go." Drake sat at his desk as River and I got up and left.

River rubbed his neck.  "This is it."

"Yeah." I breath.

He grabbed my arms and turned me to face him.  "Hey, you got this.  We'll nail this fucker to the ground."  The corner of his mouth ticked up.

I give a half smile.  "Let's get going."

We assembled our teams and loaded the trucks.  Two hours from now, we will be posted in front of the Moonlight bar waiting to move in on Karver.

****

The street is silent save for the music from the bar.

River and I are posted in a dark alley beside the entrance.

River mind links his team's.  "Unit 1 any movement?"

"No sir."  

"Unit 2.  Zeke see anything?"

"Nothing yet, Big dog."

"Unit 3.  Blade How's it going?"

"All quiet.....wait........Big dog, we got a line of black baddies headed your way."

River peaks around the corner.  Cars pull up to the bar.

He quickly turns to me and pushes me down the alley with a finger to his lips.  

"Can't let them scent us."  He links.

I nod.

"Blade, I need numbers."

"Looks like 15 body guards.  A woman.  Damn, a hot one too.  Boys got taste...."

"Blade!"

"Sorry....Yep.  There he is.  The star has arrived.  They're entering the building.  You and Fox are not made.  I repeat you're in the clear."

"Ok.  Snipers.  Hope you got those marks.  Those are your only targets.  You get me?

"Yes, sir."

He nods to me signaling to take over the link.

I blow out a nervous breath.

"Alpha team.  Complete stealth.  Get in position."

"Beta,  move in on the rear."

"No one enters until I give the word."

I draw my weapon and crouch with River following up behind.  We come to the entrance as Alpha team moves in from the street.  I turn and place my finger to my lips waving a stand down as they settle behind the cars.  

I peak in one of the windows.  I see Karver sitting at a table with his woman beside him, surrounded by men.  I take a quick head count and duck back down.

"There are three civilians at the bar and five at the back.  Engage only when clear."

I look at River nervously.

He gives a nod.  This is it.

I move to the door.  Put my hand on the handle.  I look at River.

'1....2........3"  I swing the door open.

"EVERYONE FREEZE!!"  River and I storm in with Alpha unit following.

Beta team busted through the back door.  Ushering the patrons outside.

Karvers men pulled their weapons and started shooting.  I dove behind the bar and River tossed up a table.  We exchanged gun fire.

Karver and his men backed into kitchen.  Shooting at the door as we pushed on them.

River was jumped and he flipped Karver's man on his back and shot him in the head.

"Riker!" He called as he saw me enter the kitchen.  

I stood with daggers in my eyes.  Shooting round after round.  I watched as Karver tossed his men at me like a fucking coward.

I didn't care that bullets were flying by head.  I didn't care where any of my men were.  I didn't care where River was.  I saw blood.  I was tranced.  I just kept firing  at Karver until he slipped out the kitchen entrance door.

"FUCK!"  I yelled.  I turned and shoved myself past River and my men, running out of the bar.

"RIKER!!'  River called chasing me.

I dropped my spent clip and put in a fresh one and ran as fast as I could.  I could barely make Karver out as he ducked into an abandoned building.

I kicked open a door and walked in weapon drawn.  "ITS OVER KARVER!"  I walk around, scanning the room with my gun sight.

There are only the sounds of breeze blowing through broken windows, a bird flies off somewhere.  Water dripping on the floor.  My breath seems to echo as my footfalls echo with each one.  

My eyes are trained on every dark shadow.  Any movement, makes me spin and aim.

I walk into a dimly lit area that was open, unfinished.  Empty.

"I don't think so, Doll."  Karver comes out dragging someone with him.

I adjust my view.  My eyes widen.  It's River.

Karver has his claws in digging into Rivers neck and his silver bullet gun to his brain.  "One move, Anna and your little puppy here get silver poisoning."

I swallow hard.  My gun pointed at Karver.  I grit my teeth.  "Let him go, Karver."

I step closer.

"Ah..ah.." He says pushing the gun into Rivers head who fliches, but stands strong.  His face is bloody.  Karver must have jumped him.  Rivers mouth is small and his eyes are wild.  He's gritting his teeth as Karver digs his claws deeper into his neck.  Blood trickling down to his chest.

"Do it, Riker."  He grits.  Shaking.  "Do it.'

Karver laughs. "She won't do it.  We've been here before.  Haven't we, Anna.  You couldn't do it then, and you won't do it now."

Memories flash in my mind as a tear wells in my eye.

David, my partner, my lover.

"Do it, Anna.  Fucking shoot him!"  David screams as Karver holds him in much the same way as he's holding River.

"I can't." I whisper through tears.

"Yes, shoot me, Anna.  I'll just throw your boy here in the way before the bullet will hit me.'

My hands shook.

"ANNA!  SHOOT HIM!"

"David, I can't."  I raised my weapon in surrender and tossed it.  "Let him go."

"So glad you came to your senses, Doll."  Before I could react, he grabbed David and shot him in the back of the head.  He took off running as David's body fell to the floor.

"NO!!!"

"RIKER!"  River's yell snapped me out of my memory as a tear rolled down my cheek.

"Come on, Anna.  You know how this plays out.  I get away and you get another dead lover. Drop your weapon."  Karver grinned an evil murderous grin.

River shook his head no.  "Shoot.....him"  he whispered.

I let out a little cry.  Trying so hard to keep it together.  "I'm sorry.."  I whisper.

I hesitate and then fire my weapon.  River takes the bullet to the right of his heart but it was a perfect shot.  Through and through into Karver.  His face turns to shock as the bullet enters his body.  Karvers face does the same.  He let's go of River and they both fall.  

I run to River whose struggling to breath.  The bullet pierced his lung.

"River!...River!...oh God....."  I was crying.  I sent a link.

"We need medics now.  Rivers down!"

Drake comes on "Karver?"

"He's down too."

I hear whoops and hollers from outside the building as our teams flood the area.

I hold River's face.  "River?  God, I'm sorry."

He coughs.  "Good job, Anna."  He said hoursely and his eyes closed.

I tap his cheek.  "River?  River....come on....it'll be OK....helps here."

I run my fingers through his hair and down his face.  My heart pained to see him like this, but at least he was alive.  A small tear ran down my cheek as I stroked his bottom lip with my thumb.

I don't know what I was feeling, but I knew River was something.  Something my mind was having trouble grappling with.  I'll just push it down for now.  We did what we set out to do.  We got Karver.  And that's all I can focus on right now.