Saving Margaret (15 page)

“You need to put some clothes on before your entire family starts piling in here.”

“Fine, then you will have to leave unless you want a face full while I get dressed.”

Maggie threw up her hands, jumped from the bed, and backed toward the door.” She wagged a finger in the air. “No funny business. Everyone is waiting. I’m telling them you are awake.”

Margaret glared. “Fine,” she finally answered.

Maggie left the room with a smirk on her face. The door clicked softly behind her.

One of her favorite pairs of jeans had found its way to the bed. She rolled to her nightstand and pulled a clean pair of underwear and a bra from the top drawer.

“Can you stand?” he asked, walking quickly to her side. His hands skimmed across her bare skin of her shoulders, sending currents of magick rippling through her body. She could feel his care and concern channeling through the mate bond.

“Yes, but can you hook my bra for me? I’m still —”

“Of course.” He stretched the lace edges behind her gently and hooked them together. Then held her elbow as she slipped into the underwear and then the jeans. He pulled a t-shirt from the pile on the bed and gently tugged it over her head.

She pushed her arms through, biting her lip, as pain lanced through her shoulders. Everything was healing, but her body was still so sore.

He grasped her wrists and held them out. “It’s mending well and the scars are almost gone, too.”

“I know the magick will heal the outside.” She met his gaze. Love and compassion radiated from his soft brown eyes. “I’m afraid it’s the inside of me that needs more time.”

He nodded and pulled her into an embrace. She snuggled her face against his chest and breathed in his scent. It was the best feeling in the world to be held by him, surrounded by his powerful magick and by his love for her. She was safe and he was her home. It didn’t matter where they needed to be. If they were together, it would be right.

“The mountains are a good place to heal, love. Quiet. Slower. I think it will be good for you.”

“Do we have to leave right now?”

“Yes, we haven’t located the agent that attacked you at the casino. I want you out of the city and your father agreed.”

“He left with Stefan didn’t he?”

“Yes, along with two of his brothers and Chris’s father.”

Her eyes widened.
They all went?
“Who stayed?”

“Siobhan’s husband and Nathan. Demakis put them in charge of The Glass House. Something about making sure the Pack had plenty of disposable income.”

“Wow,” she paused, taking a deep breath. “This is really happening.”

“We need to go. Demakis wants to be sure that agent can’t find you or his daughters. So, the faster we pack up, the better.”

A tear rolled down her cheek as she looked around the room.

“Margaret,” he whispered.

He moved her away from his chest and bent down to meet her gaze at her level.
Giant bear.
She forced a weak smile.

“I know. I’m ready.”

His hands fell from her shoulders. She walked slowly to the door, but stopped when he didn’t follow her.

“Go ahead. I’m going to load up your clothes in a bag for you. Maggie said she already bagged up things for the bathroom.”

She nodded and padded out of the room. Voices carried up the stairs. Her house was full of family —noisy, nosy, and full of life. The quiet of the mountains would be strange. She’d never lived anywhere without the bustle of the city and the constant interruptions of family members.

Laughter broke out from her living room. Kyle or Allen were for sure the instigators. Nothing could keep those boys in a foul mood for long. She stepped off the bottom stair and slowly entered the living room.

“Margaret!” Her mother squealed from across the room.

“Don’t squeeze too hard, mom.” She winced through the embrace, but wanted it nonetheless.

“I’m sorry. I just have been so worried. Your bear of a mate hardly let anyone near you.”

Margaret giggled. “He’s very protective.”

Her mom shrugged and then winked. “All good mates are.” She waved to the front door. Several bags were stacked neatly at the bottom of the stairs. “Everything is packed for your trip. Heath and Kate are going to follow you out of town.”

“A lion and a witch?”

“No wardrobe though, cuz,” Allan shouted from the couch.

The whole room burst into giggles and several of her other cousins high-fived Allan. She shook her head, but couldn’t keep from grinning. “How long have you been holding that one in?”

“Just came to me.” He covered his mouth and burst into another fit of laughter.

“Why Heath and Kate?” She turned back to her mother. Something must be wrong if they wanted an escort following them out of town.

“Your father and Stefan thought sending someone other than wolves would draw less attention to you and Scott leaving. We are concerned that the agent who attacked you at the casino could still be watching you. Heath and Kate will watch your back.”

“That way if he is following us, he won’t recognize the back-up as part of the pack,” Scott added, setting her very stuffed overnight bag next to the other two by the door. “I should have killed the bastard when I had the chance.”

“You didn’t know how far they would escalate it. It’s not your fault,” her mother assured him. “You are going to take really good care of my girl, right?”

Scott wrapped a big arm around her mom. “I will. Believe me, bear country is the last place any of the Council agents will dare venture. She will be safe. If you need to send any of the younger kids up to us, please do.”

Her mom patted his stomach and smiled. “You are a good man, but I’m not sure what you would do with a passel of teenagers romping around your home.”

“The door is always open.”

She nodded. “Let’s get you packed and ready. They’ve already had a day to regroup, but we refused to let Scott pack you up and take you before you had a chance to somewhat recover consciousness.”

“Thanks, mom.” She glanced around the room at her family and friends. Gods, she was going to miss them so much. “I love you all. I wish…”

“We'll come visit, cuz. Promise,” said Allen. “A bunch of bears won’t keep us away.”

Scott huffed and one of Siobhan’s smallest squealed and jumped away from the noise. Everyone smiled as the little preteen scurried across the room to sit with her mother.

“I can’t thank you all enough for the support and the acceptance you’ve shown me. I wasn’t expecting it.” Scott paused. He gave her mom another quick squeeze and then left, picking up the bags on the way out of the house.

She turned to her mother and gave her as much of a hug as she could manage. Her body screamed at every movement. “I love you, mom.”

“I love you, too, sweetheart. Take care of yourself and that man.”

Margaret yawned and adjusted in the seat. She squinted her eyes against the brightness of the desert landscape. Lots of sand. Some grass. Nothing special.

“Hey, feeling better?” Scott’s voice rumbled, vibrating through her body. It was a familiar and comfortable sensation.

“Yeah.” She stretched her arms, thankful the pain was beginning to fade. “How far did we get during that nap? Are Heath and Kate still following us?”

“No, they turned around about fifty miles back. No one out here but us and the occasional tractor trailer.”

“That’s good to hear.”

“The next stop off for gas is Fillmore. You getting hungry? I know it’s only four, but I plan on driving straight through to Salt Lake City. We’ll spend the night there and then head the rest of the way up into the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National forest.”

“That’s a mouthful and yes to the food, please…you live in a national forest?”

His mouth curved upward. “It’s beautiful.”

She smiled. The light in his eyes said it all. He loved his home and if he loved it that much, she would too. “I can’t wait to see it.”

“You can shift and walk for miles without ever seeing any people.”

“Sounds like a good place to hide.”

“It’s rapidly becoming a base of operations for this war. I talked to my dad some while you were unconscious. Apparently the families have really come together for this and are helping the other supernaturals in the area.”

“You sound so surprised. It will take all of us working together to completely break the hold the Council has on us?”

“I don’t think you grasp just how solitary most bears are. They like their space and their privacy. I’ve never in all my time, heard of them working together or with any other supernaturals. It just doesn’t happen.”

He pulled the car over and parked in front of a small mom and pop diner. It reminded her of Joe’s.
I hope Sarah is okay.

“Stefan will take care of his family. That’s why he’s here.”

I know. I just hope they don’t get caught in the middle of this mess.

“They have the pack, whether they are aware of it or not. Don’t worry about your friend.”

She slipped out of his truck and pushed the door closed. The intoxicating smell of beef, brown sugar, tomato, and vinegar filtered into her nose. Her taste buds did a little dance and she flashed a smile at Scott.

He grinned. “I thought you might like some barbeque.”

“I didn’t realize how hungry I was until I smelled it.” She hurried toward the door, pausing briefly to make sure he was right behind her.

They sat down, ordered a couple baskets of ribs, and relaxed. It was quiet. Only a handful of people were in the diner with them. Not much of a four o’clock dinner rush. Dishes clinked in the background and some old Willie Nelson music played on the overhead.

She finished off her last rib and sat back in the booth. Her eyes followed the one waitress on duty as she wove through the seated tables, filling water and removing dirty dishes. Movement at the door caught her focus and then the scent of another wolf flooded into the diner.

Scott sat up straight, but motioned for her not to move.

The shifter walked into the diner and strolled toward their table. He grinned and slid onto the bench beside her, trapping her between him and the wall. Magick flared between herself and Scott. A low growl rumbled in his chest, but nobody made a move. There were humans seated throughout and a state trooper only three tables over.

“Your friends didn’t think twice about a tractor trailer following you out of the city.” He scoffed. “As if I hadn’t been watching you the entire time. I know your pack has Peter and had his daughters. Peter may be a lost cause to us now, but Renata's parents want their granddaughters. You are going to take me to them. Now.”

Margaret fought to slow her breathing. She couldn’t clear her mind. His leather and oil scent was bringing back everything. Panic. Terror. Pain. Her chest rose and fell and she pressed herself as close to the wall as she could manage, putting a little more space between herself and the agent.

“Get up and walk away right now,” Scott growled under his breath. Specks of gold flickered in his eyes and waves of magick flowed from his body. He was ready to shift at the slightest provocation.

He can’t. Not in front of all these humans. We can’t do anything.

“Then use the humans.”

Margaret searched the diner. The trooper was her only viable option.

“I don’t know what you’re looking for, bitch. But no one here can help you.”

“Officer! Help!” She shouted and slithered underneath the table. The agent reached for her and caught the edge of her t-shirt. Scott’s hand clamped on her arm and tossed her clear of the booth. He stood, carefully placing himself between the agent and her.

The state trooper advanced with his gun drawn.

“Fucking bitch,” growled the agent.

“Officer, he’s threatened my life. Please help us,” she begged and crawled closer to the door. Scott inclined his head toward the exit.
Good.
He’d figured out her plan.

“Ma’am just stay back,” the officer directed.

“He’s going to kill my m-man,” she corrected quickly. “My boyfriend.”

“Sir, I’m going to have to ask you to put your hands in the air. We will need to go down to the station to sort out this situation.”

The agent smiled at the trooper and raised his hands. “Of course officer. This has all been a big misunderstanding.”

The trooper relaxed his stance, but Scott dove for the door, scooping her up on his way out. Glass broke and metal screeched. The door flew off its hinges and landed in the middle of the parking lot. Lots of yelling and screaming followed their exit, but he pushed her into the truck just as the agent crashed through the opening.

She ducked in the seat and peered over the edge of the door. Scott charged the wolf shifter. The sun glinted off a blade just before they collided and Scott roared, sounding more bear than man at that point. They separated and the blood dripped from the knife blade. His pain rippled through the bond to her and tears poured down her cheeks.

This was not happening. She wasn’t going to watch this asshole take away the most precious person in her life. The shirt came off first. Then the jeans and underwear. She opened the door, let the magick wash over her and leapt from the cab of the pickup.

She planted herself on all four paws next to Scott and snarled. People were fleeing to their cars, doing their damndest just to get the hell out of there. The state trooper was nowhere to be seen. She could only imagine what the agent had done to him.

It was just them now and it ended here.

“Getting your woman to fight for you, O’Hearn?”

Margaret snarled again.
He better not think he can goad Scott into being stupid. Cause I’m going to rip his fucking head off before that happens.

“Scott is fine. Just watch him."

She glanced up and caught his gaze. He was in complete control. He wasn't letting this guy get to him and his confidence spread to her through their bond.

“It's okay, love. We’ll fight this asshole together.” He smirked at the agent and let a growl rumble from deep in his chest. Then he moved to the left.

She circled to the right. For a split second, she saw fear in the agent’s eyes. He twisted back and forth, trying to watch them both.

Scott huffed and Margaret charged, leaping onto the agent’s back and biting down hard on the arm with the knife. Scott came from the front. He ripped the knife from the agent’s hand and sliced cleanly through his throat. She jumped clear of the crumpling body. Scott tossed the blade toward the diner and sank to his knees, groaning.

She trotted up and licked his face, whimpering at the bloodstain around the gaping slice in his blue and white plaid shirt.

“It’s nothing, darl’n. Just a scratch that’s already starting to mend itself.”

She woofed and ran over to the truck. If he was fine, they needed to get moving. Cops would be crawling all over this place soon.

He nodded, climbed to his feet, and walked to her side. After opening the passenger door for her, he went around and climbed into the driver’s seat.

“You did good, Margaret.” She woofed. He scratched her behind the ears and she licked his hands. “Are you going to stay like this for a while?”

She barked and spread out across the bench seat of the pickup, laying her head across his right thigh. Damn right, she was staying like this. There had been no time for a good shift in days and her wolf was enjoying the freedom. She took a deep breath of his piney scent and closed her eyes.

***

She crouched low to the ground, hiding in the overgrown excuse for a garden. The noise of an approaching truck, alerted her long before they pulled into the driveway. Either Peter had returned or he'd sent more of his men to the slaughter. Whichever it was, they were dead. She cocked the tranq gun and waited.

She had no use for Peter. She’d found out from the agent in Vegas, before he stopped answering his phone that her girls were in the Tetons.

Fucking bears! They had to send them to the one shifter nation that the Council would rather pretend didn't even exist. Those ferocious overgrown monsters got away with whatever they wanted.

"But my girls are safe from you."

I'll get them back, Renata. Everyone eventually makes a mistake.

She crept forward, scenting her mate, his Beta, and several others.
Oh, goody. I get all the family heads at once.
But another scent made her freeze in her tracks. She hadn't seen her brother in over a century, but family was not a scent you ever forgot. What was Stefan doing here? He was an assassin. Was he here to kill her? Peter would never have gone along with that. He still thought he could save his darling Renata.

"I am still here."

Only so I can torment you and make you watch as I tear your life apart.

A grin curved the corners of her lips. She could feel Renata's pain and it fed her anger. Her desire for revenge against the system that had robbed her of everything she should have had. Against the pack that represented everything she'd lost.

It was their turn to feel loss.

She crept silently around the corner of the house. The men were climbing out of the big SUV and walking slowly to the porch. She aimed and fired. The silent darts took down all six males in a matter a seconds.

"Please, you don't have to do this!"
Renata screamed in the back of her mind.

Of course I do. They will either lock me up or kill me.

"You could at least try to talk to them. Your brother is there, too. Would you kill your brother?"

I won't get another chance. The element of surprise is the only reason they are on the ground right now and I'm not.

"You don't know that! Please! Think of the families."

"I am."

She walked up to each man, pulled out the dart, and stuffed it into her pocket. There would never be a chance to thank Peter for stocking the house like an armory. She paused over the body of her mate. A twinge of feeling washed over her, but the hatred won out. Her brother lay next to him.

Dear, broken-hearted, Stefan. He'd run away and pledged his life to the Council after his human mate had been killed. She scoffed. He'd become the very thing that'd taken his love from him. An assassin. But, it had saved his child.

It wouldn't save them now. Latent wolves were an abomination. The Council would welcome her back with open arms if she brought them her brother's half-breed children. She needed into the Council's inner circle. She needed find the one that sentenced Henry to death and then her revenge would be complete.