Kai nodded, and Jake sensed her swirling fear.
"I swear to you, Kai. We'll make it out of this." The thrum of the pack grew more intense as the helicopter descended. Jake stripped off his t-shirt and jeans, readying to shift. Although there were times he carried a gun, tonight he'd take them all as wolf, tearing into every last adversary, establishing his dominance, commanding his pack. "Two minutes. Y'all ready?"
"Jake," Kai said. She wrapped her arms around her Alpha, "Thank you."
"I promise when this is all over … " I'll complete the mating. I'll love you forever. "You and I will have time just for us on a beach somewhere. Chasing sunsets together."
"Be safe," she whispered.
Jake pressed his lips to hers, a gentle goodbye kiss. Goddess, he loved this woman. As he tore his lips from hers, he sighed, forcing himself to let her go. As the helicopter touched ground, he stood and slid open the door.
"Take care of her, Quint." Jake gave a parting glance and leapt into the air, transforming into his magnificent black wolf.
His paws clutched the dry dirt as he tore into the night. Hunter growled, hot on his heels. The cool desert air carried the trail of his enemy, a vaguely familiar scent nagging his memory. Neither Acadian nor Anzober, the rogue wolf had once crossed his path. The brown wolf had been in his presence for only seconds yesterday, and he hadn't had a chance to identify him. But as Jake sprinted toward the house, his mind churned with the memories. He went on alert as he recalled the stench. Unclean and impure, it'd been tainted by demonic forces. With an odor of rotting flesh, the wolf had died, then been reborn. Logic told Jake it wasn't possible but there could be no mistaking it. No fucking way. Jake's heart pounded in his chest as the realization slammed into him.
He spied the doors to the pack house open, and he knew they'd be waiting. A trap. He sniffed and caught the scent of Kasdeya inside. The Alpha paused at the wooden stairs, strategizing his attack. He'd draw his enemies into the open where they would be judged by the pack.
Transforming to human, he sucked a breath as he stood upright, anger burning in his blood. He glanced behind him, and caught a glimpse of Quintus ducking behind a truck with Kai. Hunter remained as wolf, as Jake went on the aggressive.
"Chaz," he yelled. Chaz Baldwin. Jake's eyes flared in rage as his adversary stepped out of the darkness and onto the porch, illuminated by the spotlight.
"Did you really think you could take my pack from me?" Chaz sneered, extending his arms, proudly displaying his nude form.
Jake glared at the killer Alpha. Chaz had kidnapped Dimitri's mate, killed Nick, Jax's beta. As he stood nude before him, reeking of death, Jake's thoughts raced. After Chaz had orchestrated a brutal attack in New Orleans, Gillian and Dimitri had eviscerated him on the spot. Acadian Wolves had buried the bodies off pack land, but there had been no question; he'd been dead.
The triad. Demonic magick had resuscitated its body. Necromancy. Chaz had rallied, returning to kill Alexander.
"You're a coward. Waiting until I left to take out Alex?"
"I waited until we'd merged fully again. The triad. We're unstoppable," he claimed.
"Not anymore. The triad is dead. Seems to me it's just you and the vampire. Nothing special about you at all. You're nothin' more than rotting vermin." The muffled cries of wolves ripped through his soul; they were being held in a nearby location. Jake scanned the area, spying a light in one of the several surrounding cabins. "Where are my wolves? Come to me. This is your Alpha, speaking. Jake Louvière."
"You think it'll be that easy? My wolves are loyal. The rest? They'll die one by one until they submit."
"It's a good thing I showed up then, isn't it?" Jake gave a cool smile, considering what Chaz had done to the wolves. He'd only taken over a few weeks ago. When he'd been demon, he'd more easily forced them into submission. They hadn't realized his dilemma. Jake reasoned the pack was being held hostage by force. It'd be likely Chaz and Kasdeya had used silver ammunition to keep them in order. He'd have to smoke out the guards, and pick them off, but his wolf growled, reminding him that Chaz would die first.
"I think you might be interested in meeting a few new members of my pack." Chaz snapped his fingers.
Jake rooted his feet into the ground as Kasdeya flashed to the stage. She held Cassandra's limp body in her arms, dumping it onto the porch. Jake refused to take the bait, patiently waiting. He prayed like hell Quintus would yield to his demand.
The air grew thick with magick, a familiar fragrance swirling around him. Jake froze, readying to attack as a female stumbled out onto the porch, wearing a dirty, tattered bra and panties. Like a feral animal that had been trapped in a snare, her eyes were glassed over, her fear and agony palpable. Chaz snatched her by her hair, dragging her to him.