Chapter Fourteen

Sean tried not to resent the two shifters joining them in Marcus’ office. It was hard to do, though, considering how they’d been so quick to think Alex a traitor. Alison was easier to forgive, because she was Alex’s sister.

“We’re all family, in a sense, members of Marcus’ pack. It was a very stressful time. Everyone was on edge.”

“Stop making excuses for them. They were still wrong.” Sean sneaked a glance at Aidan, who looked so much like his brother— well, they are twins, nitwit. Aidan was watching him with an amused expression. Sean narrowed his eyes at the man.

Aidan arched one brow and nudged his mate. Then Sean found himself glaring at two shifters bigger and no doubt meaner than he was.

“Sean, leave it. Remember, I wouldn’t have run if things had happened differently.”

“Fine,” Sean grumbled, turning away from the two others and leaning his head against Alex’s shoulder. He thought he heard Marcus snicker but decided against checking. He knew that was Nathan’s snort, Sean had only heard it about a hundred times. A day.

“Alex, I don’t think your mate cares for me or Zane.”

Sean tensed. Aidan sounded just like Marcus, except annoying. He was tempted to do something totally immature like tell Aidan he sucked and stick out his tongue. Maybe his lost childhood was catching up with him.

“Sean is rather shy,” Alex rumbled, his fingers teasing at Sean’s curls.

“Well, shy and pretty as he may be, I still would like him to look at me without giving me the evil eye for a few minutes so I could thank him properly.”

Yes, the man was definitely annoying. Sean craned his neck enough to glare with one eye. He hoped it was the evil one.

“I’m just going to sit back and observe,” Marcus said with too much enjoyment in his voice. “Sean…” Alex gave Marcus a pleading look. The damn shifter just shook his head.

Something vibrated against Alex’s chest, then his side, then spread to a rumbling noise in his ears. He realised with a start that Sean was growling.

Alex started to rise and get Sean out of

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the room until he calmed down, but Aidan’s words stopped him. “He’s a feisty little thing.”

Alex dropped a kiss on top of Sean’s head. “No physical violence, okay?”

Nathan stood up and pointed at Aidan. “He’s taller than I am, and you really need to watch that condescending tone. Even your mate pinched you for that one.” Nathan pointed at Zane. “I saw you sneak your fingers over and pinch Aidan on the thigh. Next time pinch harder.”

“Maybe you should sit down and observe, too,” Marcus said as he patted his lap.

Nathan gave him a cutting look and plopped his rump back on the edge of the desk. Aidan sighed and rubbed his forehead. “I was teasing, guys. I don’t know what Sean’s problem with me is. All I wanted to do was to thank him for helping my brother stay alive. I didn’t realise I was going to piss off a third of the shifters in the room. Two thirds, judging by the way Zane tried to pinch off a hunk of my flesh.” He closed his eyes and sighed.

“And Sean’s so mad he’s growling.” Aidan opened his eyes and stood up.

Sean’s head moved on Alex’s shoulder as Aidan approached. When Aidan squatted in front of him, Sean sat up straight and lifted his head but kept his

shoulder pressed to Alex’s. “Sean, want to tell me why you look like you’d rip my throat out in a heartbeat?” lex wanted to start this whole meeting over, but it was too late for that. And Sean had the right to his feelings, and really, Alex was glad to see that Sean had moved past his fear. He wouldn’t have stood up to Aidan not too long ago. And it sort of made Alex feel all warm inside to see and hear his mate’s protective side in action. Now, if he’d just speak. Sean stopped growling. He looked at Alex. “I should let it go?”

Alex shook his head. “A little late now.”

“Fine.” Sean faced Aidan and, though his shoulders tensed and his hand shook in Alex’s, his voice was steady when he spoke. “You owe Alex an apology. If you can’t bother to do that, why would I think you’d be sincere in offering me your gratitude?”

Aidan frowned and looked back and forth between them. “What does one have to do with the other?” He held up a hand. “Wait. Okay, it doesn’t matter. You’re right. Alex, I shouldn’t have doubted you. I apologise.”

Alex hadn’t thought he needed an apology, but it eased his mind in a way he hadn’t known he needed. “Thank you.” He didn’t know what else to say.

He’d apologised for fucking up months ago.

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Aidan turned to Sean. “And, you. I’m sorry for being a dick to your mate.

And for calling you a feisty little thing. And for being dense, Zane told me to add.” Aidan shrugged.

“I can be, sometimes. That’s why Marcus is a much better Alpha Anax than I could ever be.

Now, I want to thank you for taking care of my brother as much as you could while he was Joshua’s captive. I know the price you paid for it was high, the risk you ran even higher, and I owe you more than I can ever repay. If you want to hate me, that’s fine, but I think you’re a pretty amazing guy and Alex is lucky to have you.” Aidan held out his hand.

Sean shook it. “I’m lucky to have Alex. I don’t know about whether or not I’ll like you, but I won’t hate you. The rest is really up to you. I’m…I’m very touchy about some things, like being made fun of. Or someone hurting my mate.”

“Got it.” Aidan offered his hand to Alex as well, and once fences had been mended, they got down to business.

“Sean doesn’t know how to shoot,” Alex said, wanting that out there before someone just handed Sean a weapon.

“All right. We can make sure he’s not put in a situation where he needs one.” Marcus turned towards Sean. “Do you want to learn to shoot? I’m not sure we’d have time, but Alex could probably teach you. We have a small shooting range out back, a few of the guards could escort y’all.”

“I don’t know, I’m not sure—”

“Alpha Anax Criswell!”

The shout silenced everyone in the room for all of a second, then there was a race to the office door. “Keep Marcus and Nathan back,” Alex yelled.

Aidan and Marcus began arguing, and Zane and Nathan stepped to their mates’ sides.

“Behind me, Sean. Please.”

Sean stepped behind Alex. “Only this time, because I’m afraid I’d do more harm than good otherwise.”

Alex opened the door and slipped out. Sean followed him. “I meant stay in the office.”

“That’s not going to happen and you know it.”

Val came around the corner barrelling into the hallway full tilt. “Alex!

Someone shot Alison when she was walking the grounds and inspecting the locks on the doors and windows!”

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Alex’s veins iced as he saw the blood on Val’s hands. “Where is she?”

“In the med room, Shania is treating her. The med room is in the same wing as our bedrooms. I think she took a through and through, right arm, no arterial spray, but there’s a dozen SUV’s about a mile away, coming towards us.”

“Marcus!”

The office door opened and Marcus stormed out. His jaw was red with a budding bruise. Aidan came out and didn’t look any better, a lump already forming on his cheek.

“Don’t ever try to protect me like that again, any of you!” Marcus roared. “I have to know what’s going on so I can protect my pack!”

Alex kept his head down, eyes glued to the floor. “Joshua Dobson and his pack are on their way. Val spotted a dozen SUV’s that will be here any minute. Someone shot Alison but Val said she will be fine. We need to move.”

Marcus began snapping out orders. “Fuck! Val! Get all the remaining guards inside!

Find out if anyone saw where the sniper might be hiding! We don’t know if she or he meant to wound Alison. It could just be an idiot with a gun, but that’s still a dangerous idiot.

Everyone—stay away from all windows and doors. Stay low and let’s get to the hall in the west wing.”

Sean had thought there’d be more time before Joshua showed up, but he’d known, deep down, that his brother would come for him. For whatever reason, Joshua was fixated on him.

It was sick and twisted, but still the truth nonetheless.

As they ran for the hall in the opposite wing, the roar of engines was so loud the floor shook under his feet. Marcus stopped, his eyes widening as he looked towards to direction the noise was coming from. “Val, what kind of SUV’s are they in?”

“There were six Hummers, three Excursions and three Suburbans.”

“Shit! Run!” Marcus yelled just as the sound of metal crashing through what had to be the fence rent the air.

Sean was lifted off his feet, his breath whooshing out as Alex tossed him onto his shoulder. Alex ran, and the sound of the engines grew louder. And louder. They reached the hall, Alex putting him down and giving Sean a shove that sent him careening forward. Sean looked back and saw Alex grabbing other shifters by the hands, arms, whatever body part he could reach and pulling them into the hall.

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“Move!” Alex shouted, shoving a shifter who wasn’t moving fast enough to suit him.

He was leaning out of the hallway screaming at someone when the house shook, adobe and metal, beam and boards shattering.

“Alex!” Sean screamed, panicked so that he couldn’t move. Alex turned, a stricken expression on his face as he ran to Sean.

“Keep moving!”

Sean found his legs lifting, his feet pounding the floor as he ran. The sounds behind them were horrible, groaning and rending sounds, smashing glass shattering, engines revving and brakes squealing.

Who didn’t make it out of there? Sean wondered, Alex’s expression when he turned around seared into his brain.

“Val. I saw the interior wall explode as something came through it. One of the Hummers. Val was hit with so much flying debris…”

“Sean, Alex, in here!”

Sean grabbed Alex’s hand and turned through the doorway Aidan had called to them from. He looked around and saw Shania bandaging Alison’s arm. Marcus was talking to Alison, whispering so low Sean couldn’t hear him. He didn’t try. He let Alex pull him into his arms, and gave Alex all the comfort he could.

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