Beautiful Moves(Shifting Steel Book 3)(31)

Why are people praying?

Wolf cracked open his eyes to see the blurry form of a man leaning over him.

"He's coming around again. Hold him still," the figure spoke.

"His name is Wolf. He's the Midwest alpha."

Wolf heard his name and tried to focus on the other man. He thought he recognized the wolf Shifter, but couldn't place him.

"I'm not sure how to explain this," the first male spoke. "The bullets  clearly struck several vital organs. But it looks like the tissue was  knit back together, and the slugs were beginning to push back out."

"He's lucky we're blessed with the ability to heal fast."

"Not this fast, Coso. This level of damage should have killed him instantly. It's almost as if the hand of Isa intervened."

"The jackals have gone too far." Coso shook his head grimly. "I'll  contact Bastian. He found a number he recognized in Wolf's phone."

Wolf felt himself teetering on the cusp of death. Ella was the only  thing that kept him tethered to his battered body, as the male continued  to dig the bullets out of his gut. But despite his attempt to fight it  off, Wolf succumbed to the overwhelming pain, and again drifted into  oblivion.



Bastian

Bastian recognized his cousin, Cain, as he pulled up to the airport.  There was no missing the pack of bikers gathered on the curb. Bastian  smiled as he watched the other travelers avoid them like the plague.  Bastian wore suits, where his cousin was more comfortable in jeans and a  t-shirt. But they both had a love for bikes.

It must be a Shifter thing.

"That's an awfully fancy cage, Cuz." Cain gestured to the limo, as he gripped Bastian in a bear hug.

"It's still going to be a tight fit with you overgrown bastards."

"It's been too long." Trip clapped Bastian on the back.

"It has. It really has," Bastian agreed with a nod. The three of them  used to spend summers together when they were teens. "Life has gotten  hectic."

"You're telling me," Cain replied. "Meet Iris." Cain wrapped his arm  around a cute brunette Outsider with a belly as big as a watermelon.                       
       
           



       

"Hello. It's nice to finally meet you." Iris reached out her hand.

"It's a pleasure. Cain, you have been busy." Bastian gestured at Iris' belly.

Cain wagged his brows as he gave Bastian a giant grin.

"And this is Marisol, and her grandmother, Abuela," Trip introduced a  little Latino Outsider and a sweet but gnarled looking elderly woman.

"Hola. It is nice to meet you." Marisol hugged him, followed by the old woman.

Bastian was a bit shocked to see the two Shifters had settled down, and  with Outsiders no less. The last time he visited the Reapers, Cain and  Trip were drowning in more tail than a man could want. Bastian didn't  figure either of them planned on doing the family thing anytime soon.  And when they did, Bastian was certain they would've landed on females  who were a little rougher around the edges. Except Iris and Marisol  hardly looked like club bunnies.

"They're a little out of your league, aren't they?" Bastian teased Cain and Trip.

"You have no fucking idea how right you are," Cain chuckled.

As everyone loaded up their bags and got into the limo, Cain introduced Wolf's sister and his pack.

"Thank you for rescuing my brother." Char's lip quivered.

"We are in your debt." The wolf Shifter named Tony gave Bastian a firm hand shake.

"I'm just glad I was able to help. We're heading straight to tribal lands. Coso said Wolf made it through surgery."

Char nodded in relief. Iris and Marisol flanked Wolf's sister, hugging her tight as they settled into the limo.

"You said over the phone you pulled Wolf out of the desert, after witnessing him get shot up. Do you know any more?" Cain asked.

"I do, but it might be best if I wait till we reach Coso's place. This is going to take some explaining."

Bastian glanced at the Outsiders in the limo. He wasn't prepared to talk  about Shifter business in open company, not to mention the other  bizarre shit he witnessed last night. Everyone was quiet as they headed  out of town. No doubt they were tired after the redeye flight.

Coso met the limo as they pulled up to his adobe ranch house.

"Coso, this is Char, Wolf's sister."

"Thank you for everything." Char reached out and shook Coso's hand.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, although I wish it was under better  circumstances. I expect your brother to rouse soon. He's a stubborn one.  He kept waking as my healer was removing the bullets." Coso placed a  comforting hand on Char's shoulder, as he led everyone out of the Nevada  heat.

"He is stubborn," Char gave a wavering laugh.

"Something to drink?" Coso offered, once inside.

"Yes, please." Bastian could use a drink, or several. "Can I talk around everyone?" he whispered to Cain.

"Yeah. Iris, Marisol and Abuela aren't run of the mill Outsiders. Thanks." Cain took the beer Coso extended.

Bastian looked to Coso, to confirm that he was comfortable talking  around Outsiders. Coso nodded and took a seat at the end of the island.  Bastian was glad everyone was here, because he didn't think he could  explain this craziness twice.

"As I told you over the phone, I saw Wolf get shot in the desert. What I  didn't say was that I think it happened because of a woman."

"Wolf was looking for Ella. He tracked her to the Palazzo," Char said as she popped the cap off her beer.

I knew it.

"That's the girl Drake had with him last night at our card game," Coso interjected.

"Oh god. You've seen Ella? Where is she?" Char looked from Bastian to Coso.

"She's probably at the Palazzo."

"Then we need to go get her," Char insisted.

"It's not that easy," Coso interjected.

"The Palazzo is Drake's stronghold. Under normal circumstances the  jackal would fiercely protect his castle. But I have a feeling Drake  would happily call in the whole of his clan to keep your friend,"  Bastian related.

"Do you think he's holding Ella for ransom? Wolf and I believe she came  to Vegas to get money, fast, for her sister's hospital bills," Char  frowned.

"If she got caught cheating Drake's casino, it would explain why he's holding her," Coso added.

"You know that's not why the jackals are keeping Ella," Iris said to Bastian as she took the barstool next to him.

The pregnant brunette's assertion surprised Bastian. His eyes widened as Iris continued to stare at him.

"What's up, babe?" Cain pulled Iris' feet into his lap.

"Nothing specific, just that Wolf's girlfriend is gifted," she replied  thoughtfully. "But Bastian knows more about it than I do."                       
       
           



       

Bastian's jaw nearly hit the floor.

"Gifted how?" Coso asked, looking eager and intrigued.

"Aw fuck," Trip laughed. "Poor bastard."

Cain's grin broadened as he gave Trip a conspiratorial look. Bastian really wanted to be let in on the joke.

"Mi Rey, what are you saying?" Marisol sauntered up to Trip. She ran her  hand over his chest and Trip jumped, from the static she stirred up.

Iris and Cain snorted simultaneously.

"Hey! Easy there, Sparky." Trip grinned as he tugged Marisol into his arms.

"I don't think I understand. What do you mean by gifted?" Char asked.

"Yes please, enlighten us." Coso sat on the edge of his seat.

"I can't believe Wolf didn't tell his family about us. I don't know if I  should be touched or offended," Iris said to Marisol. "You're better at  demonstrations, if you don't mind."

"Si." Marisol nodded and extended her hand.

"Do the snow globe," Trip insisted, sounding as giddy as a kid on Christmas.

"Okay." Marisol gave Trip a broad smile.

"Good thing you're sitting," Cain commented to Bastian.

Marisol opened her palm and they all watched as a blue ball of lightning  emerged from her fingertips. Bastian's mouth dropped open as he stared  in awe at the orb.

"What the fuck?" Char stammered, expressing the same sentiment Bastian was feeling.

The shifting ball of lightning grew until it resembled a large bubble.  If that wasn't freaky enough, inside the bubble a storm began churning.  Tiny lightening flashed and rain pelted against the walls of the strange  sphere. Everything shifted, turning into snow and ice. Marisol wiggled  her hand, shaking the orb, sending the snow careening inside. Bastian  now understood why Trip called it a snow globe.

Bastian was nearly startled out of his seat, when a blast of electricity  shot out from nowhere. The white-hot bolt pierced the sphere, sending  the handful of snow cascading onto the counter.

"Hey," Marisol declared as she glanced past the group.