Jett's Wild Wolf (Mystic Wolves 3) (17 page)

A growl shook the earth beneath his paws. Jett turned his wolven head to see Keith rushing toward Taryn as she too had taken down the other wolf. He knew he’d never get to her before the beast that Keith had become reached her. Yet, he had to try.

“Stop,” Emerson yelled. “You want a fight and it’s not with these children. Stop being a coward and face me.”

Keith came to a stop a few feet from Taryn. “You think you can defeat me? All these years you’ve become complacent. I don’t think you understand what I am. What I can do. What I have done.” Keith’s body contorted, becoming man, a harsh laugh boomed out of him. “You think it was a random hunter that killed your precious daughter? How the hell would a hunter just happen to be there, and shoot a wolf? That stupid little bitch was running free without a care in the world, and I had her lined up in my sights. It only took a single bullet to end her life. I watched you suffer. You know how many nights it filled me with glee?”

Jett heard a growl, and knew Niall had made it onto the scene. The only thing holding him back was his new mate.

“Oh, sorry, collateral damage, chap.” Keith’s head swung toward the woods, clearly seeing Niall and the other wolves.

“Why would you want to hurt me, Keith?” Emerson asked. “You left. I would have let you come back to the pack.” He raised his hands.

“You would have let me come back,” Keith’s words came out garbled. “Because you are not a true alpha like I am. I would have killed you. I’m going to kill you just like I almost killed your worthless grandson.”

Niall raced out of the woods, but Keith knocked him away with the swipe of one arm. “Your pack is filled with worthless beings, unlike mine.” He raised his arm, and several more wolves moved into their line of sight.

Jett had scented their presence, and knew Emerson and Niall had as well. It amazed him to see their leader struck down by one hit, but he watched his alpha get up and shake his fur, then he shifted into man. “You had my mate killed. For what, a vendetta because Payton chose a real man instead of a little man playing at being an alpha.” Niall swept his gaze up and down Keith’s naked body.

Anger burned in the other man’s eyes. “You should be thanking me. I freed you up for another woman. A human to begin with, but that doesn’t matter. You will all either fall to your knees and beg me for your lives, or die by my hand, or those of my wolves. The choice is yours.”

Emerson growled. “You were a worthless punk as a kid, and now you’re a worthless bully. I’m glad our parents aren’t around to see what you’ve become. I’ll be more than glad to send you off to hell where you belong, brother.”

A mirthless laugh met his words. Keith raised one clawed hand, motioning Emerson forward. “You couldn’t take me then, and you sure as shit can’t now, old man.”

Payton walked out from the trees. Jett thought the very air shimmered around her. Keith took a step toward her and all hell broke loose. The other pack of wolves attacked, and Jett dove into the fray, staying next to Taryn. He felt the burn of the claws from the tainted wolves, but the added magic from the fey gave him the ability to heal faster than ever. He’d worried for Taryn, until he realized she was stronger and faster than he’d given her credit for. What she lacked in size she more than made up for in speed and cunning.

As he ripped the throat out of another wolf, he turned to check on his brothers, and noticed Keith and Emerson were battling. His pack had decimated the wolves Keith had brought, but he kept his senses open, looking around as the wolves turned to ash. The sickly green stench was god damn offensive to his nose.

Taryn butted her head against his side, her wounds already healing. They all knew Keith wasn’t leaving the clearing alive. If Emerson couldn’t take Keith down, they’d all take him on as one. When Emerson shifted to a beast similar to Keith’s, Jett sucked in a breath. Niall informed the pack it was fey magic giving him the strength and power needed.

“Keith dabbled in dark magic, syphoning off of those he’d come across. I wasn’t aware that was how he’d become what he had.” Taryn stood next to him, holding his hand.

He’d seen in her mind the last time she’d seen her mother. More than likely the woman had been killed by the very being she knew as her father, but unless he spilled his guts, or someone else told her, it would remain a mystery. However, Jett would make it a priority to get her closure.

The sound of battle got louder as the two dire wolves circled and slashed. Niall stood next to Payton, holding the woman’s hand in his own while his other arm was holding his mate. A roar rent the air as Keith lunged for Emerson’s throat, huge jaws snapping, but at the last minute the old alpha went low, his claws aiming for the belly of the beast. They all watched as Emerson ripped his brother’s stomach open and continued up, pulling out Keith’s still beating heart.

Emerson tossed the organ aside, and let the lifeless body of his brother fall to the ground. In moments Keith’s body shifted back to human, but his unblinking eyes stared up at the dark sky. Jett kept waiting for him to jump back up, or the heart to keep beating. They all held their breath as Payton walked over to her mate, and buried her face in his chest.

He turned to Taryn, wondering if she was upset at seeing the death of her father. A single tear rolled down her cheek. “I’m sorry, love.” He swiped away the evidence of her distress.

More tears sprang to her eyes. “I’m not. That’s why I’m crying. The only thing I wish I knew was what he did with my mother.”

With more tenderness than he knew he had, he kissed away her tears. “We will find out what happened to your mama. Since Keith is gone, the pack will need to get a new leader.”

They were connected and he felt her distress. “I don’t want to think about that tonight, or today.”

The sun was beginning to rise, making him realize the battle had lasted a lot longer than he’d thought.

Niall came to him, holding out his hand. “Congrats on your mating.”

Zayn followed with Bronx and Torq next to him. Each man clapping him on the back, and hugging his mate. Jett held his instinctive growl inside.

“The fey will cleanse the land of the death that occurred here. I am sorry this has happened where your mating occurred, Jett. You and your new mate are welcome to choose another cabin, or you can stay at the main house with Payton and me.” Emerson had walked up to them, the blood and gore completely gone from him, wounds healing, yet he looked older.

The group turned to him and Taryn, and he slid his arm around his mate.

Alaina said, “Congratulations on your mating, you two.” She kissed first Taryn’s cheek and then Jett’s, before Niall pulled her to his side.

Cora was next, followed by several others. When he turned back to the grizzly scene, he expected to see the destroyed grounds, and uprooted trees, instead fresh grass and sweet smelling fresh chipped wood scented the air.

“Where do you want to stay, Taryn?” Jett turned her in the circle of his arms, uncaring of the people around him.

“If we allow him to run us away from here, the place we claimed each other, then he wins again.” She laid her head on his chest, smiling up at him with a look that melted his heart.

He shook his head. “You’re right.”

A laugh burst from Niall. “You are so fucked, man. Never tell a woman she’s right or you’ll never hear the end of it.”

Jett watched as Niall’s mate Alaina punched the alpha in the stomach, then they both shifted seamlessly and raced toward their home.

Emerson and Payton were the last to leave, waiting for Taryn to come to them. Jett wasn’t sure if she was ready to face her father’s brother or not, he looked down at her. “You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to.”

He led her over to the older couple, hating the stiffness that entered her frame.

Anxiety was written on Emerson’s face, a sight he’d never seen before. “Taryn, I am pleased to have you in my life, no matter how you’ve come to be here. I am not going to apologize for what had to be done, only that you had to be here to witness it.” Emerson stood tall and proud. There was no doubt he could still be alpha if he’d wanted to be.

She looked between him and Emerson. “I’m glad he’s gone. Not that you had to do it, because that couldn’t have been easy, but...it had to be done. I want you to know I’m nothing like him,” she said with such vehemence.

”Of course you’re not.” Payton held out her hands.

His stomach flipped as his sweet mate embraced the older woman.

“You’re more fey than wolf, that’s why you can choose which form you want to take,” Payton informed her.

Jett stopped admiring his mate’s fine ass, and stared at Payton. “What?”

Payton nodded. “I could smell it on you. You were probably supplying him with power unbeknownst to you all these years. If I were to guess, he’s probably got a few more fey or part fey locked away somewhere on his compound.”

“Do you think my mom is still alive?” Taryn glanced at him, hope filled her gaze.

He raised his eyebrows, looking at Emerson. Tears slipped down her cheeks as a minute passed and then Emerson nodded. “Through your bond and our bond,” he nodded at Payton. “I feel your mother. She is alive. If she wasn’t, I wouldn’t be able to feel her.”

Emerson’s powers awed Jett. “Thank you for that, alpha.” No matter that the man was no longer the acting head of the pack, he would always be given the respect due his station.

“Do you know where she is?” Taryn asked hesitantly.

Jett wrapped his arms around her from behind. “We will find her, but first we need to rest. Niall has sent some of the pack to watch over Keith’s pack. If it looks like there’s trouble, we will know.”

“Go get some rest, the both of you. We will head there after a few hours of sleep.” Emerson squeezed Jett’s shoulder, the strength in the grip surprising, yet not.

He nodded, then swept his mate up into his arms, striding into the cabin they’d claimed for themselves.

She hummed in her throat. “I love that you like carrying me. However, in a couple years when I’m big and fat you might find it a bit tougher.”

Jett didn’t stop until they were back inside the bedroom. Their mingled scents were still fresh in the room. Before he was playful, this time he took care removing her clothes and then his. The need to wash them both, even though they were cleansed after their shift pressed him toward the bathroom. Although it wasn’t as opulent as his, it had all the necessities they needed.

With her still wrapped around him, her strong arms locked around his neck and her legs around his waist, he pulled the fabric curtain back and turned the faucets on. Once he was sure the water was perfect, he stepped beneath.

The shower turned into another form of foreplay, he had to let her go, her slippery body a delight to the senses.

By the time they got out he was sure they were well on their way to creating a new life. He snagged a towel and dried himself and then her, then carried her back to the bedroom. They would not always have an easy life, but a wild one with the woman who had his heart.

“I love you so hard, Jett.”

He lowered them to the bed and kissed her, a deep growl of contentment rumbling in his chest. “I love you harder.”

She lifted her hips, wiggling beneath him. “Yes, you can.” She spread her legs wider.

Jett didn’t waste any time, sliding into her wet heat. He rocked into her, slow and steady no matter how much she tried to get him to go faster, until they both climaxed together.

The next time he woke, he looked down at Taryn, loving how peaceful she appeared. He hated to wake her, but he’d felt Niall mentally calling him.

They rose and dressed in record time, heading to Deadwood was the last thing he wanted to do. The closer they got, the quieter Taryn became. He rubbed her leg. After the night they had, followed by their lovemaking, he was sure he was prepared for anything, but not the sight that met his eyes. The compound was more like a prison from the outside. He wasn’t sure how they’d get past the guards, however all the locks seemed to pop open as they pulled up.

Taryn bounced out of the vehicle as soon as they came to a stop outside what appeared to be the alpha’s home. The large estate wasn’t heavily guarded anymore, and the wolves that were there all stood outside with their heads bowed. Emerson walked up to them and in his booming voice asked who was in charge. Nobody wanted to step forward as the Mystic Pack continued to roll through the compound in their vehicles. His sweet mate walked up to an elderly woman and raised her chin with her hand. “Where is my mother, you fucking bitch?”

Hate flashed in the amber eyes that stared back at Taryn, but she refused to answer. Jett prepared to step forward, only to stop as his woman lifted the bitch, who was at least thirty pounds heavier than her, off the ground with ease.

Gasps and a few grunts rent the air. “Want me to repeat my question, old lady. I’m sure you’re hard of hearing. What with all that kneeling you’ve done for the last twenty years or so.”

He saw the claws slash out barely missing Taryn’s jugular. His mate tossed the old woman to the ground, and then pounced on her, baring her fangs. “I will rip your throat out now if you don’t answer me.” She allowed her wolf to surface, showing the crowd she was able to do a partial shift just like their old alpha.

The woman beneath her whimpered. “She’s in the dungeon.”

Taryn turned to him, her blue eyes begging him for help. “We will find her.”

In a garbled voice, Taryn asked. “Where is the dungeon?” While the crowd parted, Emerson and several other pack members went with Taryn and Jett down several flights of stairs they found hidden behind a concrete wall in Keith’s bedroom. Jett was amazed at the intricacy that the man had gone to in order to hide his underground facility. As they stepped down, lights lit up their path, and in small cells they found several underweight fey, but the woman Taryn rushed to was the one that held his attention. Her mother stood with her hands gripping the bars, silver bars that would burn the wolves if they touched them.

He cautioned Taryn, but her fey side clearly protected her. “Where are the keys, momma?” She shook the bars.