Untamable (29 page)

She glanced back at Stephan, who rubbed a hand across his jaw, looking out a window. His eyes met hers, and something swirled within his that made her stop to go back to him.

“What’s wrong? I thought you wanted me to be your mate.” Her voice came out harsher than she’d intended.

“I did, do, but…” He looked away.

“What?”

“I’m not sure. Every time Dane calls you Diana a part of me surges forward in anger. I remember his mother. Her name was not Diana. And when Brockton heard him call you Diana, he paled. A few years ago Brockton said something to another guard about having to go to Diana and take care of the bitches. At the time I didn’t think anything about it. Brockton talks about women all the time so I figured it was yet another pathetic creature who’d fucked him but now…” Stephan spun around.

Before Sidda could ask more questions, Stephan had disappeared. Her brothers raised their eyebrows at her. She strode to them, biting her bottom lip. Whatever was going on wasn’t just about her or the foreign leaders. Dane and Brockton were at odds. The thought intrigued Sidda. Sidda smiled, grabbing her brothers arms to tug them forward. “Tomorrow is going to be a hell of a day, and I’ve got a new plan. Come on, let’s get it rolling.” Yes, tomorrow Brockton would die, Dane would be either dead or in jail, and she’d be back with her mate.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Jasper turned the television off to face his pack. Most of them were frowning and some of them were smiling. Jasper wasn’t entirely sure how he felt about the interview. Sidda had handled the press just as he’d expected. She’d charmed them. Every male in the room except Velham and one guard had smiled and nodded with a dazed look at her.

“Sir?” one of the younger wolves spoke tentatively.

“Yeah.” Jasper faced him.

“She mentioned the others. I have family that has been missing since the Pack Wars. Do you think she means what she said?”

God, yes. Sidda had a soft spot for kids. Sometimes he wondered if her compassion would one day get her into trouble. He prayed not, but if it did, he’d be there. “Yes, you’ll find that what Sidda says, she means.”

The same young man spoke again.“Good, once we get her back, do you believe I could be part of that search?” “I believe that we will need several teams. Not only were children taken during the Pack Wars, but adults were also. It’s not unheard of for there to be wolf trafficking. Some people pay lots of money to have wolf slaves.”

The thought disgusted Jasper, but it happened to be true.

Ivan stepped to his side. “Brockton’s reaction to our she-wolf and her brothers was interesting. I’m a little concerned about his position there. I’ve heard rumors that the reason he is allowed so much power is because he has a gift. But Stephan is Dane’s right-hand man. Why would our she-wolf ask him to head the search?”

Jasper too had heard things about Brockton, and none had been good. “He is a Red Moon so we need to consider that he has the power to enrage wolves. Keep that in mind when we get there. Make sure you remember the only wolves we are after are the Red Moons or any others who try to stop us.”

A grey-haired wolf from New Mexico stood. “Our she-wolf seems to trust Stephan Donaldson. Why?” The wolf’s voice held a hint of disbelief.

“Sidda’s strong and a good judge of character. There’s a reason behind everything she does, so if she trusts Stephan Donaldson, no matter how much I hate it, then she’s got a reason.”

Goddamn it, he hated the bastard. Stephan Donaldson was a monster, trained and groomed by Dane Velham. What the fuck was Sidda thinking? Regardless of whether she believed he’d been brainwashed or not the bastard had done despicable things for Velham.

“She smoothed her dress down while Velham was talking. Did anyone else notice?” A red-haired wolf with bright green eyes smiled.

Jasper returned the smile. Of course he’d noticed. Vivian had made sure that he did. “Yeah, Saturday night at seven, we take the Luna Nation back.” Jasper’s voice rang loud with pride.

Ms. Joy and Ms. Angela rushed into the room smiling. Ms. Angela stopped dead in her tracks as she took in the wolves sitting and standing around the room. Fear poured from her mind. Jasper strode to her side, placing an arm around her shoulder. He glanced at Ms. Joy, who showed no signs of fear, only interest. God help any wolf who dared look twice at the woman who’d raised him. He’d be forced to make some noise about that.

“Wolves, this is the woman who raised our Alpha female, Ms. Angela Brighton. Show her respect in the highest form. Doc is currently her guard, but I would like four wolves to stay behind with her and Ms. Joy Montgomery, the lady who raised me after Velham destroyed my family.”

Ms. Joy smiled her brightest smile and all wolves returned it. A few inched closer until Jasper growled. “While I would love for Ms. Joy to find a wolf to protect and care for her, I will warn you all now: touch her inappropriately, and I’ll have your throat.”

“Oh, for God’s sake, Jasper. Maybe someone should have made that threat to you before you had Sidda on that sofa.” Her voice was cold and daring.

Jasper looked away from her, hiding his smile and tamping down the urge to fight them all over their thoughts. She’d meant to embarrass him, but little did she know every male there except himself was currently thinking about
her
on that sofa.

“Ms. Joy, if you only realized what these wolves were thinking.” He growled. “Now respect both these women. They are essential to our pack.”

Ms. Angela glanced around the room. Jasper motioned for them both to take a seat on the opposite couch where he’d made love with Sidda. The memory tipped his lips into a quick smile. He ached to be inside her again. He looked up to the faces of the two women across from him. Both frowned with worry.

“Sidda is going to be fine. We all are. But I do have a huge favor to ask of the two of you.”

Ms. Angela sat up straighter. “Anything, Jasper.” Her voice held more strength than most of the wolves in the room.

“I can’t cook worth a damn, and while some of us here may be able to, I need everyone training for Saturday. Can you two help feed us?”

Ms. Joy narrowed her eyes at him. “I refuse to be a maid. I never did so with you and Cole, and I damn sure won’t now. I have no problem helping cook, but I will not wash and fold clothes.”

Ms. Angela turned to glare at her best friend. “Joy! Yes, you will. Our family needs us, and you know we can’t fight worth a crap. But we can help them this way. Now nod and say ok.”

The men gaped at the two women as they glared at each other. The thick scent of arousal filled the air, and Jasper growled to get the wolves’ attention. All eyes snapped to Jasper, who shook his head. “Outside to train. You can all work off some of that hunger, then we’ll eat
food
. Go.”

Beside him, Ivan smiled and winked. “I’d love to help cook. I’m pretty good at it too.”

Jasper rolled his eyes. For fuck’s sake, the guy had Vivian. Why would he…He didn’t have Vivian, neither had ever wanted a relationship, but Jasper refused to mount her during her heat and Ivan had done so to keep her from pain. Granted, he got release from it, but he hadn’t sought it out. Ivan was a good wolf, but he’d be damned if he handed Ms. Joy over to him.

“Out.” Jasper nearly growled. He shook his head, trying not to smile at Ms. Joy’s flushed face. Damn it, the women around here were going to drive him mad.

Jasper strode out to the back. His wolves had broken off into teams and currently were sparring with each other. Jasper nodded in approval. Tonight he wanted to see their fighting skills. Tomorrow they’d break into more teams, which would alternate from shifting and fighting to weapons training. Jasper wanted to learn each wolf’s best skills to place them in the most beneficial places. He had no doubt Velham would arm his guards with guns and instruct them to shoot to kill.

With any luck, his own wolves could use stealth and snap most of their necks before the gunfire rang out.

* * * *

Sidda waved her brothers into her room. The guard outside her door shook his head, but with one glare from Sidda, he stepped aside, letting her brothers inside.

Russ blinked in surprise. “How come all you have to do is glare or run off at the mouth and the guards move aside?”

That wasn’t entirely true. Brockton and Stephan certainly didn’t move aside. But it was a good question, one she didn’t really know how to answer. “Are the guards all Red Moons?”

Zeke shook his head. “No. Most of the full Red Moons were killed during the Pack Wars. The guards are mostly wolves who have be banished from their packs.”

Sidda nodded. It made sense. Dane could offer them all protection from prosecution in return for handling his dirty deeds. But it still didn’t explain why they bowed to Sidda.

“Russ, Zeke, can either of you read the guards? None truly seem to care what goes on with us just as long as we don’t interfere with them.”

Russ tugged his top lip between his teeth. “They read like humans. When I try to read dad, his mind is split. Like there’s two people in there, same with you. The guards don’t have that feel. Is that weird? I mean I know they’re wolves, because I can smell it on them, but there is only one presence in their mind.”

That wasn’t what she’d wanted to hear. She’d hoped that the guards were showing her some symbol of respect by bowing to her. Instead, she had a sneaking suspicion that Dane’s scientist had developed a way to suppress the guards’ wolves. It’d be genius if they were able to keep their wolf strength but not have the instincts to challenge Dane. With his powers, he’d be able to control them and sic ’em on whoever, whenever.

Sidda sighed. “I think Dane is using something medical on them. When my mom found me, she knew what I was and knew I had to be hidden. She took me to a Luna doctor she’d dated, and he gave me some shots that kept my wolf from coming out until Jasper and I mated. I’m wondering if Dane has developed a similar drug to use along with his own powers to completely control the wolves here. Mine has been very subdued since coming here. She doesn’t whisper to me. What about y’all?”

“We’ve never shifted.” Russ glanced at Zeke, who nodded.

“That’s not good. And, if my hunch is right, Dane will use that drug against the Lunas coming Saturday. I’ve gotta see if I can contact Jasper. Read the guards and see what you come up with. First thing in the morning we begin training. Now go rest. We’re gonna need the energy.” Sidda smiled at the two young boys who were going to be forced to grow up almost overnight. Both had already suffered enough over the years, but they held a hint of innocence still. The death and carnage to come would take that innocence from them, but there was nothing Sidda could do.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Jasper’s dreams were filled with images of him and Sidda at the cabin. He’d followed her there in wolf form, hoping to get her to change, but for some reason, she hadn’t. Then when he neared her, he realized why. She was in full heat and shifting was impossible. All that mattered to him was them being together.

Jasper sighed, bringing himself away from the memory of the dream. He glanced down the table at Cole, who was smirking at Vivian, who in turn glared back at him cussing a blue streak in Romanian. Jasper shook his head. Cole had bitten off more than he could chew this time, but the poor bastard didn’t realize it yet. Ivan sat down beside him, smiling at the two fighting at the end of the table too.

“I like your brother. He would have made a great wolf, maybe a little of a free roamer.” Ivan wagged his eyebrows. “Nonetheless, he would have made an entertaining wolf.”

Jasper nodded in agreement. “He’s that all right. But for now let’s begin going over what we’re to do today.”

“We now have forty wolves prepared to fight. Most are from other packs, but ten more of our own pack members have shown up. Some of the wolves have said Blue Moons are living with them and that they’ve heard of more. Once Dane is taken care of, I believe our pack mates will come back.”