Prologue Continued

“Mr. Marcus is not available, as I told you on the phone, he’s very busy.” The woman, pale, blonde, and thin as a rake, stood and looked a little panicked. Amber stepped forward.

“I’m not asking anymore,” Amber said. She placed her hands on the desk. “He will see me, and he will see me now.” Amber turned. “That’s his door, Mya, you and Jane lead the way.”

“You stay behind me,” Sam said, she reached out a hand and grabbed Amber’s.

“I don’t expect trouble, just an angry male.” She shook her head. She hated dealing with the type of man who still thought women were just arm candy. She never liked Marcus. “Let’s go.”

Mya reached the door to open it, but it was pulled open and a tall, dark-haired man stood in the doorway. His eyes went wide and then he backpedaled and tried to close the door. Mya grinned at him and slapped a hand on the door. “Just the man we wanted to see.” She stepped forward, Jane on her heels as they pushed him back into his office.

Marcus held up his hands. “I don’t have time right now, I’m sure Sherry told you.”

“I don’t have time to play games.” Amber walked into the office. Her voice was cold and dark. “When I ask you for a meeting, I don’t ask, I insist.” She walked up to him, nose to nose with his big frame. The fact that she had to look up a tiny bit, didn’t take away from the power she exuded over him.

Sam tried to hide her excitement. “You know, I hate when my mate gets upset. And she’s upset.” She shook her head.

Simile stepped forward too. “We don’t like our guests upset either.” She added. “Marcus, you should take a seat.”

“Don’t think that you bringing them here will get you out of the bargain you made with Diego. It has nothing to do with the Guardian.” He sat but kept his head high.

“We’re not here about that,” Amber said. “I heard some disturbing things, about how this city’s wolves are being treated and how you, the leader of the Amber wolves, handles things.” Amber sat, calm and relaxed now, she pinned him with a stare. “Do you want to explain why kidnapped women were not rescued? Why do you stand by and let this Diego person, get away with that?”

“There was no proof that the women were kidnapped. If there was we’d have…”

“Did you investigate?” Amber asked. “If you did, you’d have seen them locked up in a warehouse, and you’d have seen they were there against their will.” She shook her head, fought against the temper. “So, before you answer, think carefully.”

“We contacted him, asked him, he said that he’d never do that. He said the women came to him, asked for refuge from their pack.” He sat up straighter, feeling that his word would be taken. He was the bloody leader. “I concluded that the women were not there against their will. And that they just wanted an escape. Diego was helping them.”

“By holding them, against their will in a warehouse.” Amber nodded. “Yes. I see he was helping.”

“He…”

Amber held up a hand. “And when Emily’s pack was attacked, nearly wiped out, did you investigate that?”

“Yes, we’re still investigating who was responsible.”

“That’s good news. Will you let your investigators give Mya and Jane what you have so far, they’ll help?”

“That’s not necessary, we have it under control.”

“I’m not asking, Marcus,” Amber growled.

“Yes.” He sagged in his chair. “Is that all?”

“No.” Amber smiled, but it never reached her eyes. “Now, tell me where can I find this Diego?”

“I’m dealing with the problem, Custos, you don’t need to involve…” He tried.

“Where?”

“You can’t get out of this bargain!” He snarled at Emily. He was on his feet and lunged toward her, before Mya could move Simile was in his face.

“Touch her, I dare you.” She said dangerously quiet.

“If this Diego person attacked her pack, he broke his word. And the bargain is void. So, tell me where he is, and we’ll have it sorted out.” Amber stood, she placed a hand on his arm, he spun toward her. No one moved as he lunged toward Amber. Her hand up to her elbow shifted, she felt the power run through her. She grabbed his throat and lifted him off his feet.

Simile stepped between Amber and Emily. “What the fuck?”

“Amazing, isn’t she?” Sam asked a proud grin on her face.

“Pretty scary, actually.” Simile whispered. Mya smiled as Jane shook her head.

“This city has been neglected for long enough. And apparently, the wolves have been forced to deal with their problems on their own. I thought leaving things to you and the council, the promises made to me could be trusted. But since that now seems to be untrue, I’ll be sending someone to get things in order in Amber city.” Amber slowly settled him back on his feet. She turned to Sam who placed a palm on her back. Then she turned back to Marcus. “Now, are you going to tell me where he is?”

The low growl that emanated steadily from Sam as they watched the two men approach them, had Mya settle a hand on her shoulder. Sam shook her hand off and took a step forward. Amber stepped in front of her and stared at the two men. Sam noticed that Simile stepped in front of Emily.

“Sam, Amber, what brings you to our little city?” Jake’s handsome face was set in a sneer. His eyes bored into Sam, then flicked to Amber. “You do realize that you have no power here, right?”

“We’re here to speak to your friend here,” Mya said, her voice calm and steady. Her hand clasped tightly in Jane’s.

Diego smiled. He had no intention of letting so many strangers into his compound. They had no business coming to his territory. And with Marcus in his pocket, he had the upper hand. “I’m afraid I can’t allow you entry. Emily and I have a date, but not today.” His eyes flicked to Emily. He almost laughed when Simile bared her teeth at him. “You can’t get out of this by showing up with the Silver Moon alpha at your side. You won’t intimidate me, Emily.”

“We’re not here about that,” Emily said calmly. “We’re just escorting today. Our date stands, as long as you keep your end.”

“I’ve done that. The attack on your pack, I was saddened to hear about that.” The false note in his voice was clear to Amber. “Jake here told me about it. I had no idea.”

“Then you have nothing to worry about,” Amber said as she stepped forward. Jane and Mya close on her heels. “I’d like a word with you.” She told Diego. “And you, we’ve been looking for you.” Amber glared at Jake.

“I hear your daddy is doing quite well,” Jake told Sam. “That’s such good news.” He laughed as Sam lunged at him.

Amber felt her Lycan stir. “Enough!”

“I’m sorry, but you have no power here. Please go through the council head, Marcus, and we can set up a meeting.”

“I’ve been to him. He’s been dealt with.” Amber said coolly. “I’d like to talk to you now.” She stepped closer to him, her Lycan scratched at her insides. “I’d suggest you do it.”

“Why?” He closed the distance and snarled into her face. “I don’t have to do a damned thing!”

“You’ll do good to keep your distance,” Mya said as she stepped up next to them.

“Why? Because she’s the mate of some faraway alpha who decided to bring their fight to our door? Our town does not run on the same set of rules. Here, we have sections, statuses still mean something!” He snapped. “Uncivilized wolves would not understand that.” Disgust dripped from every word. “Fraternizing with vampires and fae. What has our world come to?” He gestured toward Jake. “He’s with us now, he’s under my protection.”

“That is your mistake,” Mya mumbled. She knew what hard work Jake was.

“This is low even for you Emily.” Diego went on, ignoring Mya. “This last-ditch effort to get out of a fight you know you can’t win is childish.”

“I’m not here to get out of anything,” Emily said. “As I said, we’re here as escorts. They have other business with you.”

“I have no business with them.” He made a move to turn, obviously deciding to dismiss them.

“Stop.” The low, deep command had Diego frozen in his tracks. Jake stared at Amber as she shifted partly again. Her form shifted between half-human and Lycan. Diego swore and sank to his knees. Everybody now knew who the Lycan was, the only one for centuries. And even he knew better than to try and defy the Custos.

“Jake, down.” He snapped and swore again when Jake turned to run.

Mya grinned and grabbed him by the scruff of his collar and held him in place. “Not so fast, goodness, we’re just here to talk.”

“Get up,” Amber said, her voice gruff. She’d seen the way Diego had calculated, and even though he did seem to show some sort of respect, she knew they were in for a fight. “We need to talk, civilized.”

“Fine, come.” He stood and turned. “He is one of my pack now, please release him.”

“Let him go, Mya, it’s fine,” Sam said, she had no urge to have Jake back on her pack ground, if this Diego idiot wanted him, he could have him. “He’s not our problem anymore.”

“He is if he’s the one that sent that letter,” Jane said quietly.

“What letter?” Jake snapped. “I did not send any letter. This is not the ice age. I’d have sent a text.” He laughed. “You keep making enemies and keep looking for them in the same places. Maybe you should start thinking the problem is with you.”

“Stop it.” Diego snapped. “Come this way.” Sam looked around and stopped when Simile stopped just inside the gate. She didn’t like the feel of the place either. Maybe they should have brought more backup. She watched Simile look over her shoulder and followed her gaze, she caught the slight nod from Booth. Maybe backup was on the way after all. “You can go to the eating hall while we discuss business with the Custos.” He added to Simile and Emily.

Before they could answer, Sam spoke up. “They stay with us.”

“Fine.” Diego turned and his face changed. A smug look settled over his features. “Your first mistake was to think you could walk in here and take charge of my pack. Your second mistake was not bringing more backup.” He smiled. “My only regret is, that when I rip you to pieces, I won’t have the council here to see that I won the pack fair and square.” He snarled at Emily. Simile stepped between them. “You, I will make you watch as I kill Emily slowly.”

Amber hated the fact that she’d brought Emily and Simile into the mess they were in. She’d never thought that Diego would be this big of an idiot. “Call off your men, Diego.” She could feel them closing in, knew Sam felt them too, she was shaking with rage behind Amber. “No one has to die here today.”

“Die?” Jake backpedaled. “You can’t seriously think to take them on, here and now?” He threw his hands up. “That’s suicide!”

“A few hours ago, all you could talk about was taking revenge. Here’s your chance.” Diego laughed. “Or are you the coward the stories that follow you, speak of?” He dismissed Jake and snarled back at the group of women. “Never mind that. I will not call them off. You came here, threatened me and mine. I just defended myself.”

“The way you defended yourself when you attacked my pack?” Emily asked him. “It was you, wasn’t it?” Amber looked over her shoulder at Sam, she knew a fight was coming, and she needed to make sure Sam would be safe.

“Not directly no. You see, I only had to whisper in a few ears here and there, and promise them freedom. And they were willing to do what I needed to be done. Before you think that gets you out of our agreement, don’t. There is nothing that leads back to me.”

“Your confession right here and now, that does make it moot.” Simile snarled at him. Sam knew they were all on a knife's edge.

“Well since none of you will make it out of here alive, I’m not worried. Now die.”

Same was shoved to the middle of the huddle with Emily. Sam snarled and Emily swore. But the circle of women around them wouldn’t budge. “Simile don’t be stupid. You need us to help fight.” There were so many wolves, some shifted some in human form. “Don’t be stupid about this!”

“I’m not being stupid. We should have known better than to trust this bastard.”

“Amber, honey, could you please remember that I’m the alpha here?” Sam touched Amber’s back, felt the tension Amber’s body was as tight as a bow.

“Of course, you are, you remember that I’m still sworn to protect you!”

“Sim, I want to fight.” Emily tried again. Sam heard the same desperate note in Emily’s voice she knew was in her own.

“No,” Simile swore. “Backup is on the way.”

“Good, but we need to fight now,” Jane said. “Protect our alphas.” She ordered. “And Custos.” Her words trailed off as Amber shifted fully. “I’ll never get used to that.” Amber stood on her hind legs, twice their size, her wolf-like face, and claws snapped and swung at the wolves surrounding them.

“Damn it!” Sam grabbed a fist full of Amber’s fur. “Stop!” Amber snapped at her, inches from Sam’s face. “Oh please, as if that scares me.” Sam rolled her eyes. “Don’t do anything you’ll regret.” Some part of Sam still wondered if Amber even heard her. Amber’s eyes met hers, and after a slight nod, she spun back around and howled into the bright blue sky. “She’s our safety wall, stay close but not too close and protect your back.” Sam hoped that Amber stayed with them. They needed her close. “How long before backup gets here?” Sam asked Simile.  

“Five, ten minutes.” Simile shrugged. “Depends on where they were when they got the alert.”

“Fine, that’s not that long, we can hold them off until then,” Sam said with more confidence than she felt. There were so many wolves, and even with Amber, who still had no idea how much she could take or the extent of her power, they had a fight ahead of them. “Emily if you get a chance to take out Diego, do it. Leave Jake alive. All of you, he goes back to Silver Moon, alive.” She’d had enough of his shit and the problems he causes. She’d lock him up and throw away the key. “We’ve been through worse.” Amber cocked her head, shook it. Sam grinned. “We have baby.” She sent into her mind and hoped that Amber heard her. Sam heard Simile tell Emily to stay close to her. A moment later a howl of pain filled the air as Emily broke from the group.

Jane broke from them too. Mya grabbed for her but missed. “Fuck! Do none of them know what it meant when you said to stick together?” Mya shouted as all hell broke loose. Sam shook her head and hoped backup arrived quickly, they were in shit, deep fucking shit!

Jane kept an eye on the huge black wolf, as she fought to keep wolves off her back. It was as if all of them were focused on Emily. She hated to leave Mya but knew she could hold her own. And they had brought these two here, it was their responsibility to help keep them safe. Her oath to protect her alpha ran deep, but she also knew her alpha, Sam, would want her to do what she did best, and that meant to fight and protect. A brown wolf dug claws into Emily’s left side, and Jane ripped the wolf off and snapped its neck in one move, and kept fighting forward, trying to keep up and keep Emily alive. Emily ran through a door and Jane lunged forward, she slipped through just as the door slammed shut behind them.

Darkness was thick and the sudden silence was deafening. Even with her heightened sight, she could only just see the white tip of Emily’s ear. Jane shifted a little closer and placed a hand on Emily’s back. “Can you see him?” She didn’t expect an answer but felt the wolf shit a little to the left and Jane looked over in that direction. Jane could just make out a man, naked, he stood still and tall, watching them. There was no one with them inside the room, Diego thought he could take Emily, and never expected Jane to be with her. Jane crouched in her human form and prepared to fight alongside Emily.

Mya swore as the door closed and Jane and Emily disappeared. She felt like her whole world was in that room. She knew she had to trust Jane to take care of herself. Just as Jane trusted her. Simile bumped into her as two wolves slammed into Simile’s side. Mya grabbed one and ripped him away from Simile, throwing him down she snapped his neck in one quick move. Amber and Sam were fighting off their load of wolves and Mya put her energy into what was happening around her. Jane just had to be okay, she had to be.

Sam swore as a wolf bit her leg, then decided she had a better chance in her wolf form. Amber let out another howl as she held up two wolves by their necks and shook them fiercely. They dropped limply to the floor, and she grabbed the next ones. Sam shuddered as the realization hit her that Amber was enjoying herself. It was the first time she had the chance to go full out Lycan and let go. Scary, that’s what Simile had said. And looking at Amber now, she had to admit, that yes, she was. Sam swung around as Simile let out a screech of pain. She leaped over Mya and dragged the wolf from Simile’s back. She rolled with the wolf and felt something dig into her side. Simile nodded thanks as Sam got to her feet. They were making ground, slowly. Too slowly. Sam thought. If backup didn’t arrive soon, they’d be tired out before the attacking wolves ran out. One of her own, Jane, was closed in a building with a madman, and only Emily, someone they’d only just met, was her backup. Emily better keep her safe! Sam shook her head and ignored the pain in her side. She lunged toward the next wolf.

A crash had Sam’s head snap up as she turned to look toward the gate. Relief filled her as she realized their backup finally arrived. She heard Simile tell Andy it was about time before a wolf clamped onto Mya. She lunged but Andy beat her to it and ripped the wolf off Mya. She turned to see four wolves surround and then lunge for Amber. She watched them drag Amber down, but couldn’t go to her, as two wolves dragged her down too. Fear, anger, and her alpha powers rose, and she threw them off her, as two other wolves from Emily’s pack jumped in and helped. She rose to her feet, shifted as she realized they now had the upper hand, and the fight was almost over. Sam spotted Amber who lay, in her human form, covered in blood. She didn’t move.

“Amber!” She wasn’t sure if she screamed it out loud or the scream just reverberated in her mind. She ran to her and skidded to a halt on her knees next to Amber. She lifted Amber carefully into her arms and wiped the hair from her face. “Baby, come on, open your eyes.”

“Mm.” Amber groaned, and Sam let out a groan of relief. She didn’t even know she was crying until she saw the tear run down Amber’s face. “I’m okay, just exhausted.” Sam looked up as Mya came to a halt over them and then Simile was there too.

“Is she?” Simile asked, unsure how to ask the question.

“She’s fine, just exhausted, for a second I thought, but no, she’s fine,” Sam said. “Your guys?”

“Andy is checking, I’m going in after Emily.” She turned and Mya shot out a hand.

“I’m with you,” Mya said. “Sam?” She asked.

“Go,” Sam said, her focus on Amber, but she knew Mya would need to make sure Jane was okay. When Mya and Simile stopped abruptly, she looked up from Amber and felt her heart stutter and another wave of anguish filled her. Amber looked up at her, then shifted her body to look at the door that stood open now, and the naked woman who held Jane in her arms. The agonizing scream that came from Mya tore them both to pieces.

Jane kept her hand on Emily’s back, she moved with her. Diego stalked them slowly, he’d shifted and was now in his wolf form. She was surprised at how in sync she felt with Emily. Jane knew Emily was worried about her, and the fact that she’d not shifted yet. But she wouldn’t do that. This was Emily’s fight. Jane laughed softly as Emily tried to shift between her and Diego again. “I’ll just be backup. He’s all yours, Alpha.” Jane said. “There is no more agreement, he broke it when he admitted attacking your pack. He’ll play dirty.” Emily growled, they had no mental connection, but Jane knew exactly what Emily thought. “Yes, I know he’s a bastard. Now make him a dead one.” She stepped back and watched as Emily waited. She didn’t move with him or play games. She stood still. Her eyes fixed on his movements. It happened quickly, he lunged, but Emily dodged, raked her claws down his right side. Then waited again. Diego let out a howl of pain and anger. Jane held back a chuckle, she didn’t want to distract Emily. He lunged again. Emily dodged and raked a hand down his left side. He landed, panting, his teeth bare, and spit dripped from his mouth. Anger was a clear fire in his eyes. Emily stood, calmly, waiting. Something about the way Emily just watched, waited, reminded Jane of the way Sam trained the new guard. She always showed them ways to throw off the enemy. And she could see that the tactic worked, at least for now. Diego was off-center, limping, and losing blood. He lunged again, but at the last moment changed direction, Emily dodged but he caught her chest with his claw. The smell of blood-filled Jane’s nostrils, too much blood. She shifted her gaze between the two, not sure if it was a combination of both their blood and if he’d landed a killing blow. She tensed to move, to help Emily, and felt a blade slide into her side. She stifled the scream that rose in her chest, and spun, she punched the woman next to her, the woman staggered back, but Jane followed. She punched again and again. When the woman slumped to the floor, she spun around to see what she’d missed. Emily was facing Diego, her back to Jane. Diego met Jane’s eyes and she could swear she saw a grin. She watched him as he spared Emily a glance and lunged. Emily rolled to the side, sprang to her feet, and spun around to launch at him, but Jane watched as horror filled her gaze. Then she felt the teeth at her throat, his jaws clenched, and she gurgled as blood filled her throat. She heard a howl of anger and watched as Emily clamped her jaws on Diego’s throat, with a last shake of Emily’s head she dropped the dead man to the floor. She choked, tried to pull in a breath but knew it was futile. The last thing she thought about was Mya and Taylor.

Mya felt the scream, the panic, the anger, and so much grief it threatened to choke her. She took Jane from Emily and held her tightly, she knew she was begging, shaking Jane. But Jane didn’t move, didn’t open her eyes. She heard someone ask to take Jane but she didn’t know who or if she answered. Her arms and chest were covered in blood. She didn’t feel it.

“Mya.” Sam stepped forward. She made sure Amber could stand. “Mya let them load her, we’ll take her home.”

“We need to heal her.” Mya looked over her shoulder at Amber. Her eyes pleaded, Amber shook her head. “You can heal her!”

“Mya, if we could, if there was a way, you know we would,” Amber said quietly. Her chest was burning and each breath hurt. “Sam.”

Sam nodded and stepped forward. She gently placed her hands on Mya’s shoulders. Mya glared up at her. Shook her shoulders, and hunched over Jane. “Don’t touch me!”

“Okay, then you take her, we need to get her out of here,” Sam said quietly. She watched as Mya rose slowly to her feet with Jane in her arms, and moved slowly to the waiting van.

“We’ll talk to the new head of the council when he arrives. And then we’ll be on our way. We need to get her home.” There was so much pain in her chest, she found it hard to speak.

“Of course. And thank you.” Simile said.

“No need, we should have been made aware of the problems here a long time ago,” Amber said. She placed a hand on Sam’s shoulder. “You take her back to Emily’s compound. She’ll need to call Taylor.” Amber shoved down her pain. “I’ll come back with Emily, after speaking to Dom.”

“I’m not leaving you here,” Sam said, she’d lost enough that day.

“I’ll be fine, Sam.” Amber kissed her cheek. “Take care of Mya.” She took a deep breath. “And Jane.”

“Amber…” Sam tried again.

“Go, Sam.” She turned to Simile. “Do you perhaps know if anyone has Jake?”

“The man that was with Diego?” Simile frowned. “Andy, anyone have Jake, he’s dressed in a crisp suit, captured?”

“No, most of the men seem to be soldiers,” Andy called back.

“Sorry.”

“He’s a slippery bastard,” Sam said, then leaned over and kissed Amber. “Get back as soon as you can.”

“I will,” Amber promised, she watched Sam walk away.

Later, after speaking with Dom, and sorting things out for Emily and Simile, Amber said her goodbyes and took off. She had a weasel to catch.