Changing Times (13 page)

She put her arms around him from behind as she started
stroking his chest.

“Slade?”

He took his attention off the fight long enough to look at
her avid face. Maggie smiled. “Will you let me have what’s left of him?”

“Why?”

“I want to skin him before he has a chance to change back to
human form and I want that bastard’s skin on my floor.” Maggie looked up, her
face contorted in fury as Slade’s shove sent her sprawling.

“We don’t skin our own, Maggie.” He let his disgust show
through in his face and voice. Maggie backed down immediately, knowing she’d
gone one step too far this time. She crawled toward him on her hands and knees.
Wrapping her arms around his leg, she pushed her face against his hip, stroking
her hand across his groin. He stopped her. This kind of fight wasn’t any place
for sex, no matter how bloodthirsty a bitch she could be.

After a moment he moved his hand to stroke across the top of
her head. He let her know he’d relented enough to forgive her for the moment. Slade
didn’t see Maggie catching Cutter’s eyes. He didn’t notice when she shook her
head slightly at the expression on his face.

Micah disposed of one of the other males after receiving a
crushing blow to his ribs. He knew he’d broken at least one rib, possibly two,
but that didn’t matter. There were still six males to fight. Micah could tell
that Slade was getting bored when he waved toward Shelly with his hand. Though Micah
couldn’t hear what he’d said, he saw Cutter moving toward Shelly.

Another of the Beta males joined in the fight, which meant Micah
was now facing three again. Cutter cut Shelly loose from the stakes and threw
her over his shoulder. He carried her out of the clearing. Micah spared a
glance in their direction. It cost him dearly as two of the males he’d been
fighting got him on his back. Micah howled in pain and fury as he heard Shelly
cry out.

He felt one of the males bite his foreleg. Micah shot his
energy into the wolf biting his leg, forcing the change on him. The younger
male looked around in surprise wondering how he had shifted in the middle of a
battle. That moment cost him his life as Micah’s powerful jaws closed on his
neck. He saw Slade stiffen in surprise and fury.

Micah dropped the dead shifter, raising his head to see
Cutter getting off Shelly. As Shelly curled into a ball on her side, Jack took
Cutter’s place. Micah growled in fury again as he disposed of another of the
Beta males. Now it was five to one, counting Cutter and Jack who didn’t bother
to pull his pants back up. He shifted to join the fight. Smelling Shelly on
Jack infuriated Micah beyond reason.

Now he knew the only way he could get out of this alive
would be to kill them all. He fought for his life and Shelly’s as well. Slade
had already broken his word by allowing Cutter and Jack to have Shelly before
the fight was over. He saw Maggie dragging Shelly even farther away from the
clearing. Cutter stood beside Slade as they watched the fight.

Micah felt himself weakening from blood loss and strain.
Knowing he wouldn’t be able to hold them off much longer, his heart dropped
when he saw Maggie rejoin Slade and Cutter. She held an empty syringe in one
hand. The sharp scent of silver nitrate cut across his nostrils. He knew then
that Shelly was dead. Micah howled as he continued to fight. Suddenly Cutter
and Maggie shifted, howling in counterpoint to his sorrow as they joined the
fray.

The fight didn’t last much longer. Cutter and Maggie
rejoined Slade, nearly untouched. Jack had a broken hand and numerous cuts and
bite marks, one of the other Betas looked as if he wouldn’t make morning and
still another lay dead in the center of the clearing. Slade smiled as he met
Cutter’s eyes.

“Good work. Now to get rid of Pantera.”

“What do you want us to do with the bodies?” Jack sucked at
a bloody knuckle, his gaze on the clearing.

“Burn ‘em. Cutter, take care of that other little matter for
me.” He started back toward the house. Slade’s path led him to the garage where
he hopped on his bike and left the property. Part one of the plan had worked
like clockwork, now for the rest.

Cutter left Jack in charge of gathering up the dead for
disposal. Maggie walked over to stand over Micah’s unmoving body.

“You should have taken me up on my offer, Micah. You’d be
alive now and in charge of the pack. Together we could have been in control of
everything. Instead you and your sad little bitch are dead.”

Maggie turned. She didn’t see the faint twitch on Micah’s
face or the slow, deliberate flexing of his hand.

* * * * *

Slade arrived at the building across from Carly’s condo via
a convoluted route. He watched from the rooftop as the two forms revealed their
passion to him. Tony lay flat on his back with Carly straddling him. His hands
curved around her buttocks as she moved on top of him. Slade saw Carly throw
her head back.

Her ecstasy glowed in her aura. He watched Tony sit up to
wrap his arms around her then roll with her. Even as he drove his body into
hers, Tony was kissing Carly, so total was their immersion in each other. Slade
laughed softly. He had such a nasty surprise for the lovebirds.

Propped up on his arms with Carly’s hands tangled in his
hair, Tony drove his hips forward. Carly tossed her head from side to side, a
signal he’d learned meant she was about to come. He thrust harder and faster
into her body, concentrating only on pleasing her. Carly’s grip on his hair
tightened as she pulled his head down. The thrust of her tongue in his mouth
matched the motion of his cock into her body and he felt her starting to come.

Carly sucked hard on his tongue, pulled one hand free of his
hair and grabbed his ass, pulling him tightly against her body. Tony threw his
head back on a harsh growl as he came. They’d made love four times since
returning to her condo and each time felt stronger, deeper.

Tony could smell his own mating scent in the air, though he
hadn’t marked Carly permanently as his mate. Carly shivered under him, wrapping
both her arms and legs around him to pull him tighter against her warm, soft
body. He nuzzled her neck, kissing her with warm open-mouthed kisses just to
hear her sigh.

Sliding his hand slowly up her side, Tony palmed her nipple,
reveling in the heat she threw off. He took a deep whiff, loving the mix of his
scent with hers. “Kitten, you make me crazy. Just the feel of you clamped
around my cock,” Tony pushed his hips forward again, “I am getting hard again,
just lying here with you. Can you feel me? This is what you do to me, Carly.”

He pulled away, allowing her to move. Carly started to roll
on top of him again, and he stopped her. Sliding quickly out from under her,
Tony got on his knees. “Let me take you this way, from behind. It’s deeper for
you.”

Carly smiled as she got on her knees in front of him, she
glanced over her shoulder with a smile. “What are you waiting for, tiger?”

“I’m no tiger.” Tony laughed as he came over her. Sliding
deep into her body on the first thrust, he tangled the fingers of one hand in
her hair, pulling her head back slightly to kiss her. Wrapping his other arm
around her, he cupped her breast as he started thrusting in and out of her
body.

As a shifter he had amazing stamina, but he was surprised,
albeit pleasantly, when Carly had matched him in both stamina and attitude.
Ferocity, gentleness—they had swung the spectrum end to end. Each time had been
an amazing experience for him. He’d never been with a human who could match his
appetite. This time they were both fierce. Carly met every thrust he made into
her body with a lift of her hips, and his climax came swiftly, surprising him.
They fell to the bed together, moving to face one another.

Carly tangled her fingers in his hair then met his eyes. “Tony?
Will you stay?”

“You’ll have to throw me out,
querida.
” He leaned
down to kiss her again even as he grabbed the spent condom. “I’ll be right
back.”

Tony got off the bed long enough to dispose of the condom,
thankful she’d had a supply in her bathroom since he’d only had one in his
wallet. He’d been hopeful, not positive they’d wind up in bed, and bringing
more than one condom might have jinxed his chances at being with Carly. He
closed the French doors then returned to the bed to wrap himself around Carly.

She was already half asleep as she snuggled closer to him
with a soft sigh. Tony chuckled as he rubbed his jaw over her shoulder. The
tenderness he felt seemed natural as he drifted into slumber. He knew he would
wake at the first sign of trouble.

* * * * *

Slade growled softly as his cell phone vibrated in his
pocket. A slow deadly smile curved across his face as he read the text message
on the screen then closed the phone. One last look at the bedroom where Tony
and Carly lay entwined in one another. He couldn’t hear their conversation from
this angle, just the soft murmur of their voices before they’d curled into one
another to sleep.

He left the yard, wondering why watching the two of them had
unnerved him. Something about the obvious connection they had made him wonder
about his own partners.

Sex for him was a diversion, a release, nothing more. He had
never wanted more and he never slept with his partners. Why did they call it
making love? Slade knew love to be an easily faked emotion used to manipulate.
He remembered Tony’s face as he had closed the French doors.

The look of contentment was one Slade knew had never been on
his own face. Could sex be more than just a release of tension? Slade shrugged
as he made his way to the street where he’d parked his bike. This wasn’t the
time or place to indulge himself in foolishness.

Minutes later he was pulling up on the side street that led
from the parking lot of the hospital to the highway access. This particular part
of the street stretched narrowly with pockets of shadows everywhere—perfect for
the events that had unfolded there just moments ago. Slade parked his bike then
jogged down the street. Cutter was waiting for him. The body at Cutter’s feet
had Slade laughing for just a moment. Perfect.

“Good work, Cutter. Did she give you any trouble?”

“Hell no. They all should be this easy. One tiny little
scream and on this street, who’s gonna hear her?” Cutter stood back as Slade
walked all around the body.

“You chose well. This will definitely send the right
message. Go back to the house. Wait for me there. We’ve got to set the rest of
our traps for Tony and his little kitties. I’m sure they’ll be coming by
tonight. He won’t be able to avoid me any longer.”

“Sure thing. You don’t want any help with her?” Cutter
indicated the body now at Slade’s feet. Slade squatted on his heels beside the
dead girl. He looked up at Cutter. His eyes reflected the light, glowing bright
yellow.

“Do what I told you, Cutter. Get back to the house.” Slade’s
voice was low. Cutter jerked involuntarily then nodded. He sprinted away from
the dark street toward the area where he had left his own car.

Slade waited until he couldn’t smell Cutter, then he turned
his attention to the girl at his feet. “Sorry, babe, you just happened to be in
the wrong place at the right time.”

Slade carefully knelt over the dead girl’s body. She had a
soft scent, one that was fading quickly. It wasn’t as spicy as Carly’s but it
would have to do. Slade leaned even farther over the body. He neither touched
nor disturbed the body in any way. He wanted the cops to be puzzled by the
absolute lack of physical evidence. Slade carefully placed his hands on either
side of her head then licked her cheek.

Even though her skin already felt cool to the touch, Slade
knew Tony would check carefully. He smiled when he thought of the look that
might cross Tony’s face when detected Slade’s scent on the body.

Slade sighed as he got back to his feet. It was turning out
to be a good evening after all. With Micah out of the picture, Tony would soon
be dead as well. Walking back down the street to his motorcycle, Slade
whistled. The next hospital shift change was scheduled for an hour from now.
The body would be discovered. Then his plans would be one step closer to
completion. Slade grinned as he got on the bike and headed for the house.

* * * * *

Maggie met Cutter in the hallway as he returned to the
house. “We have a problem.”

“What?” Cutter let his eyes go over her slowly. Maggie still
wore the shirt she had worn before the fight with Micah. There was a smear of
blood along one sleeve. Cutter could tell by the scent that it was Micah’s.
Still, it excited him.

“Jack has disappeared. The bonfire was burning like crazy
but Jack is gone.” Maggie flipped a hand through her hair.

Cutter took a deep breath. “Any chance Micah was still
alive?”

“I don’t think so.” Maggie shook her head. She glanced
around then scented the air to make sure they were alone. Maggie moved closer
to Cutter, trailing her hand down his arm. “I put the loaded drink on Slade’s
desk.”

Cutter wrapped his arms around her shoulders. He brushed her
hair back. “What did you give him?”

“Two tablets of silver nitrate. Not enough that he’ll taste
it but enough to slow him down. He should feel really good for a while then it
will hit him all at once. I’ve already told everyone that he wants them to bug
out if it looks like things are going against us. When he falls, they’ll think
he’s losing. It will be our moment. We can step in to ensure he dies. It won’t
be long now, lover. You’ll be Alpha soon.”

Cutter grinned as he wrapped his arms around Maggie to kiss
her hard. “Can’t be too soon. I hate watching him with you. You’re mine,
Maggie, you’ve always been mine.”

“I will be, lover, once Slade is out of the picture.” Maggie
moved smoothly out of Cutter’s arms as she heard someone approaching. The look
he sent her was loaded with heat but he dropped his eyes as the door opened
behind him.

One of the younger males came into the room. “We found Jack.
He’s okay but he was knocked out. Somebody dragged him off into the woods.
Should we tell Slade?”

“I’ll tell him.” Maggie indicated the back of the house with
a toss of her head. “Get everyone else ready for later. Oh and, Mickey?
Remember what I told you about the fight later. Slade wants everyone to take
off if things turn. That way we’ll be able to regroup later to really take care
of things.”

Mickey nodded his head as he headed back outside. “Sure
thing, Maggie.”

Maggie knew it would never cross his mind to question her.
She’d been issuing orders from the moment she left Slade’s bed the first time.
Everyone in the pack accepted her word as law just as much as Slade’s. Maggie
and Cutter exchanged another long look before they separated at the foot of the
stairs.

* * * * *

“Tony, we need you.” The
voice was Nolan’s, but the tension in it was unfamiliar to Tony.

“What is it, Nolan? I’m
a little busy here.” Tony let his eyes roam over Carly’s body as she stretched
languidly in the early morning sunlight and smiled at him. They had awakened in
one another’s arms to make slow love. Now they were holding one another.

“Tony, this is an alpha
emergency.” Nolan didn’t say any more. He didn’t have to.

“I’ll call you from the
car.” Tony cursed softly as he disconnected the call and got out of the bed.

“Carly, I have to go. I
don’t want to, but I have to.” Quickly gathering her into his arms, he kissed
her then tucked her back into bed. “I’ll be back as soon as I can. Make sure
you sleep. You’re going to need it.” He grinned at her as he turned for the
door.

Starting the car was
hard not only because he wanted to stay with her but the word “alpha” was code.
Someone had done something big. He called Nolan from the parking lot.

“Nolan? I’m in the car.
Where do you want me?” Hand on the wheel, phone at his ear this was a position
Tony was all too familiar with.

“There’s been another
murder. And you need to see this one. Meet me at the morgue. Donahue’s on duty
so we can get in and out quietly.” Tony knew Nolan still withheld something
important but he didn’t have time or inclination to dig it out of the little
wolf. He focused on getting there as fast as he could.

When he arrived at the
morgue, Tony was glad Nolan hadn’t told him over the phone. He would have
reacted rather than acted. This body was more than just another corpse. It was
a message to him from Slade. He would bet his life on that.

The body was female with
long honey blonde hair. She was still wearing her white jacket, earmarking her
as someone from the hospital. It was the same hospital where Carly worked. This
woman could have been Carly’s twin from the back. The face was different, the
smell totally wrong, but Tony knew Slade had a hand in killing her.

He could smell a
lingering scent that told him Slade had been near the body. The trace let him
know that she had already been dead when Slade had marked her. Tony felt his
world grow cold, close and dark as his eyes began to glow like molten gold.

“I will kill him for
this.”

They both jumped when
Tony’s phone rang again. Tony answered it curtly. He felt the blood draining
from his face. Tony staggered but caught himself before he fell. This new blow
meant nothing less than war.

“Tony? What is it? What’s
wrong?”

“That was Misty. She
said Micah dragged himself to her place. Slade set him up. He had Shelly killed
and tried to kill Micah. Misty said Micah is badly hurt. Nolan, he might not
make it.” Tony took a deep breath, his thoughts immediately turning to Carly.

He dialed her number. “Kitten,
lock the doors, load that pistol with those silver bullets I gave you and don’t
let anyone in. Micah’s been hurt. Bad. I’ll get back to you as quickly as I can
and let you know what’s up with him. In the meantime, stay inside and stay
safe.”

Tony closed the phone
without telling her he loved her. He just couldn’t yet. He and Nolan took off
for Misty’s apartment to see just how badly Micah was hurt.

* * * * *

Carly glowed. In spite of the fact that Tony sounded worried
about Micah, he’d called to check on her. She wondered what he meant by danger
but allowed herself a moment to bask in the knowledge that he’d called her. So
maybe Tony hadn’t told her that he loved her, but he had definitely shown her
that he did.

Through his kisses, his touches, the sound of his heart
beating against hers, she was as sure of his love as she was of her own name.
He had awakened her this morning with a deep rumbling purr as his body molded
to hers in bed. Carly skimmed her hand up her forearm, remembering how he had
jumped from the ground into the bedroom, how soft his fur had felt. Then he had
been there.