Sword of Inquest (La Patron's Sword Book 1) (25 page)

Asia filtered out all the sounds in the room, isolating them one by one. The familiar tick of the computer chip reached her first. Connall was under Liege control. She searched closer for a detonation device. Would he hold the switch? Or had they placed the explosive inside him. She had seen and heard of the damage from suicide bombers. This time she hoped he had a switch to flip.

“
I hear the computer chip but nothing else. If he has a trigger, it is not ticking or humming.”

“Good to know. But he is the trigger, we need to find out how
,” Hawke said sounding confident. Asia did not know what happened in the lab to generate this level of assurance but she appreciated it.

“I am curious why you lied?” Asia said.

“All of it was not a lie. Some parts are true.” Connall grinned and wiped the blood from his chin.

“Are you mated?” Hawke asked.

Connall nodded. “That part was true. We lost most of our litters.”

Angus returned to human and sat in the chair.

Connall morphed to human and Asia followed. The older man slid down the wall and sat on the ground. “Did you have to hit me so hard?” he asked holding the side of his face.

“Yeah, I did. Lying stinks like hell, makes me antsy,” she said drawing attention from Angus to herself.

“I did not lie. I exaggerated.”

Her brow rose and she crossed her arms staring at him. “Why are you here? What’s your assignment this time? Who’s watching? Who’s listening?” she asked.

He stared at her and then laughed. “I am here to make sure Hawke and Angus die. I hope your lie detectors are on so you know I am telling the truth. We needed a little time to get things lined up and that should be done by now.”

“
First part is true, but they don’t have the second part in place. I ripped the cables out and they would need to be reconnected from the inside. Even if they slipped in a team, they would need to connect to communications.”

“Not if they are installing a perimeter bomb, on the outside
,” she said.

“
I’ve been monitoring the cameras and there has been no movement out there.”

“Which is strange, don’t you think?”

“Think outside the box…”

Hawke met her gaze and shook his head slowly. Before she could blink, he ran forward and smashed Connall into the wall, robbing him of his next breath. Then he grabbed the older man’s head and twisted causing it to rest a weird angle. Hawke tossed Connall aside to the ground. Bulking to hybrid, he picked up Angus and strode to the front door.

Asia grabbed the tranq gun and ran behind him.

It took two kicks against the steel panels before it popped open. She did not sense anyone nearby, but did not relax her guard.

“
Let’s go.”
Hawke took off in a blur. She raced behind them without looking back.

The first vehicle, the Black Hummer, sat empty but she did not trust it and ran past the car. Next they saw the black land rover. All four tires were flat, they continued running to put as much distance between them and the castle as possible.

They had run several miles from the castle when it blew. Asia stumbled forward and stopped to watch the collapse of centuries of abuse. Like a drunk refusing to fall, it took time for the towers and peaks of the castle to join the base of the building on the ground. She imagined the graceful demolition of the landmark could be seen for miles around.

“
We need to go, I want to find a place so Angus can rest and regain his strength,
” Hawke said.

She nodded and glanced at him. He stared into the distance at the building and then met her gaze. “
That’s the past; let’s walk through our present into our future. First thing, we need food and rest.”

“Yes.”
She took off behind him at a slower pace but every now and then she turned to look at the fallen castle.

Chapter
38

Hawke ran until they reached the main road and set Angus down. The man had morphed to his base form at some point during their escape and now stood on all fours as a wolf to complete his healing.

“Head back to town, stay at the hotel for the night?”
Hawke asked Asia.

“Sounds like a plan. There is a short cut through the forest.”

“Good, we are too far from Chacal and I don’t know how far Angus can run in his condition.” He glanced at the wolf and then back at her.

“Okay.”
Asia took off running. Hawke adjusted his speed to match Angus and jogged behind her. Thirty minutes later they stopped. Angus shifted and sat on an overturned log breathing heavily.

“Are you okay?” Asia asked concerned.

Angus nodded. “Yeah. What the hell is in that fucking serum? It knocked me on my ass.” His words were spaced apart like he had a difficult time breathing.

Hawke’s face warmed. “A complex chemical compound created specifically for that purpose, to knock a wolf on his ass.”

Angus growled but the sound lacked menace. “Silas will love you. Patten and Matt will probably sit at your feet for hours. No doubt you will be a hit in the lab back home.”

Hawke looked at his mate
and then back at Angus. “I thought you were staying here for a while.”

She shrugged and stiffened.

“Shit,” Angus said as Hawke pushed him to the side and stepped in front.

Ulric, Angus’ former Alpha
stepped into the clearing along with two other full bloods. Asia moved to Hawke’s side prepared to fight and Angus stepped to his other side.

Ulric held up his hands. “No fighting. There has been enough of that. I came to talk. To discuss important issues.”

“What issues?” Hawke asked crossing his arms. He remembered Ulric from somewhere, but could not place him. Maybe he should ask Asia to check his memories again.

“Pups from my pack are missing.” He looked at Angus. “When you first mentioned the inconsistency to me
years ago, I dismissed your concerns. I thought the questions regarding missing pups was your way of undermining my leadership.”

“
No, I was not,” Angus protested. “The pack accepted you as Alpha and that settled the matter. I never tried to harm you or the pack.”

Ulric nodded and stepped closer to Angus. Hawke moved to intercept. Angus took a step forward, as well.

“I know that now,” Ulric said after glancing at Hawke. “But things were different then and the pack had a lot of challenges to overcome.”

“Something
has happened? What?” Angus asked sounding more alert than Hawke had heard him before.

Ulric released a long stream. “My pups were taken.”

Shock raced through Hawke. “From where?”

“How did someone have access to an Alpha’s den?” Asia asked and Hawke sensed her concern.

Ulric glanced at Asia and then turned to Angus. “I don’t know.” The tortured look on his face told its own story and touched Hawke. “One moment we were running through the forest during a training and the next they were gone. We searched every inch of the area and there was no trace of them or anyone else.”

“Are you saying there was no scent of an intruder?” Hawke asked, wondering if someone else utilized a device similar to his mate.

“Yes. I mean no. Yes that is what I am saying,” Ulric said watching Hawke.

“And you came to the southern Ukraine? Why?” Angus asked.

“I heard Lord Boris collected black pups.”

“What?” Asia said before Hawke could speak or show his surprise.

Ulric nodded. “That is an old rumor, but once my pups were missing I came north to check into it. So far I have not found anything to connect Boris to the pups or this Lobo place.”

Hawke’s mind latched onto the lack of scent problem. That thread needed unraveling.

“Lobo?” Angus asked, his brows furrowing.

Ulric nodded. “Yes. That is the name I was told.”

“What have you done so far?” Angus asked.

“Chased down every lead, searched too many places to count and saw more than we needed to see. We spoke with the European council before they arrived here. They told me that your presence threatened the lives of the pups because of what happened with the test wolves. That was a red flag. No wolf would be angry over the release of enslaved full bloods. But if there was a chance they spoke the truth I wanted you to stop and go home. Later I discovered they work for the Liege.”

“Are you still linked to Angus? Is that how you found us?” Asia asked.

“Yes. It is also why I’m asking for your help. The three of you have been inside the castle; did you ever see any black pups?” He looked at Hawke.

“No. I have never seen any pups at the castle. But the castle is one of many places the Liege uses. Each place is outfitted for a specific purpose,” Hawke said thinking it through.

Ulric’s gaze dropped.

“Connall said that the Black Wolf Clan was immune to the negative aspects of the drug he and Andrei used to magnify their abilities. It is possible they take the pups to use in experiments,” Asia said watching Hawke and then facing Ulric.

Ulric nodded. “That is my fear.” He looked at Angus. “We need help to find out if Lobo is real, and free the pups. I do not say this for just my pups, but for all black pups, including La Patron’s. None of our pups are safe as long as the Liege uses them for experiments.”

Hawke heard the frustration in the Alpha’s voice and agreed. He glanced at his mate and wondered if they would have pups. The Liege would love a pup from Asia. He shuddered to think of his pup in the hands of his enemies. Asia brushed against his link with a cool calming breeze. She understood his fear and concern, any pups they bore would be targeted by the Liege. Before they started a den the enemy needed to be destroyed.

“I will talk with my Alpha and we will discuss a plan,” Angus said. “You are correct, this problem must be corrected and the Liege must be stopped. No pups, or black clan wolves will be test wolves for the Liege.”

Ulric nodded. “Agreed. Come I have secured a house, we can rest and talk.”

Hawke wondered if Angus would return to Chacal’s.

“Thank you but we have a place to rest and will return there shortly. I wanted to speak with you first. Tomorrow we will talk,” Angus said walking toward his former Alpha.

“Agreed,” Ulric said and left the clearing.

Hawke watched Angus turn and walk in the opposite direction. “What do you think?” He asked Asia who stood next to him staring at the path Ulric had taken.

“No pups should be taken from their den and made slaves to the Liege. Lobo needs to be shut down.” She paused and met his gaze with a concerned look. “Two of the pups they have are yours.”

“What?” Hawke had no idea what she was talking about, he had no pups.

She exhaled and he knew whatever she said next would hit hard. “When I worked in the lab, Chuck or Henry said only two of your pups lived. They said you had pups. The Liege were using you as breeding stock. That was the purpose of the bitches we brought to your lab that night. Didn’t you know that?”

Stunned, Hawke traced his memories and hit a wall. Pain speared his skull and for a few seconds he couldn’t move. “I was never told about any pups. They always provided bitches for sex, and within the past ten years the bitches were always in heat. Hearing you say it now, I can see it, but no… I never knew.” He gazed at his mate and spoke from his heart through their link. “My main concern was the Liege attacking any den you and I would have.” Her eyes widened and she took a step back. He took a step forward. “One day, I want a den… with you. It will happen but first we must make certain our pups will be safe.”

Her mouth opened and closed. Hawke bit back a grin. It was not often she looked uncertain.

“A den? I do not think I can do that,” she whispered.

He pulled her into his arms and held her tight. “Don’t worry, I will help. You won’t be alone.”

Her arms tightened around his waist.

Content with her agreement, his beast howled. He placed his finger beneath her chin, stared into her eyes and saw his future. “Thank you.”

She frowned and he wished she could morph into her base form, but it was too risky.

“Why?”

“Because I have a future. I never had one before. A mate, pups, a den… none of those things ever seemed possible before. You have brought the sun into my world. For the first time in my life I am seeing things clear.” Unable to fully explain the jumble of emotions rolling through him, he released the love he felt for her through their link. Her grip tightened around his waist. He held her close as tremors shot through her frame. She grabbed his face, pulled him down and kissed him with so much heat it scorched.

“Hawke…”

The hoarseness of her voice, coupled with her need for him made his blood sizzle. He deepened the kiss, needing more and more. He would never have enough. Her arms wrapped around his neck and he lifted her easily loving the feel of her legs around his waist.

The kiss deepened. And then she released a barrage of emotions through their link. He staggered and then firmed his hold on her ass. Fear of being hurt or deceived, her desire to know who she was, her family, how she wanted to love but was afraid, and those conflicting thoughts ran through the link on a loop. Until finally her need for him, her pride in his work, her excitement at building a future with him and not being alone rolled through their link, bathing him with hope and affection. She called him her do-over. He wondered at the meaning but did not ask, not now, perhaps later.

Hawke gasped and sucked in air. She rested her forehead on his shoulder. They remained in that position while their emotions touched and merged through their link.

“Our ride is here,” Angus yelled.

Hawke placed a kiss on the tip of her nose and let her down. No words were necessary. He took her hand and they followed Angus’ trail to the road where Chacal sat behind the driver’s seat with Angus in the passenger’s side.

Before they reached the car, Alpha Radoff waved from the opposite side of the street and approached them. He looked well considering the last time Hawke had seen the man they had all been under attack.

“It is good to see you are safe and well. I have spoken briefly with Angus, he will bring you current. We will talk more after you are rested. I do not need to tell you the hornet’s nest is truly stirred now, so be careful.” He nodded and returned to the other side of the road where members of his pack waited.

Hawke opened the door for Asia and slid in after her. He met Chacal’s glance in the rear view mirror and pulled Asia close. Chacal nodded and looked ahead.

“We can talk about all of this later. I must rest and so do you two. A lot of things will be decided in the next few days. But tonight, we savor our victory, Lancaster castle has fallen,” Angus said sounding more like himself.

Asia squeezed his hand and leaned into him. Hawke placed a kiss on her head and looked ahead. She knew better than most how vast the Liege holding were. There were many heads, like a hydra, and she hoped three new ones would not sprout to replace the castle. At any rate, her mate was free; Greggor was dead and somewhere in Hawke’s mind information regarding all the Liege experiments was locked away. Eventually they would defeat the Liege. Pacing. Layers.

Tomorrow Alpha Radoff said.

Asia glanced at the darkening skies as she snuggled closer to Hawke. Tomorrow was a future concern. Tonight she would spend in the arms of her mate.