Jett's Wild Wolf (Mystic Wolves 3) (12 page)

Emerson had to take a deep breath, reliving the past always brought an ache to his heart. “After our mating ceremony, Keith disappeared. Our family said he was on a hunt for his own mate. I became the alpha when our father died, which should have gone to Keith, but nobody knew where he was, and the elder council chose me. Nobody liked him in the pack. No, correction, the pack hated Keith. He had a mean streak a mile wide, and the women especially disliked him. Long story short, nobody missed him. When he returned, Payton and I allowed him to move back onto pack lands, and then little things began to happen. He was changed. His power was great, and he wouldn’t shift with the rest of us. I can’t tell you all the terrible things he did, but he was evil. It took the combined power of the fey and myself to defeat him, only we didn’t kill him, we abolished him from our lands. The only way he is back now, is he’s found a way around our blocks. I believe we can defeat, and kill him, if we stand together.”

Niall nodded. “When he had Cora in that van, she said he was something indescribable. Do you know what we are facing?”

“He’s dipped into things unimaginable, and probably sold his soul to the devil if there is one,” Emerson assured them all.

“Well, let’s give him a one way ticket to hell.” Zayn growled.

A chorus of agreement sounded throughout the space.

“Has anyone heard from Jett?” Bronx asked.

Niall shook his head. “Last I saw he was still recovering from his injuries with the she-wolf. That’s why I didn’t want him called in. I sent the twins to guard his perimeter.

Biting back a retort, Emerson gave the group a stern look. “We need to be ready. I sensed his presence, so that means he is very near.”

“I’m calling Jett. He needs to know about the threat as well,” Niall spoke, dialing at the same time. A sharp pain hit his temple, bringing him to his knees.

“What is it?” Zayn asked.

Emerson grabbed Niall’s arm and helped him sit at one of the chairs on the back porch. “That was my grandson calling out to his father and me. He and Alaina are running for their lives. The fight has begun.”

Niall stood on shaky legs. “They just fucked with the wrong pack,” he growled.

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J
ett’s stomach clenched as his brain threatened to explode from the mental call for help. He looked around wildly, not understanding what was happening. He reached out to Niall on their mental path, coming up against an impenetrable wall.

“What’s wrong?” Taryn held her hand out to him, but all he saw was little Nolan’s face filled with fear.

“I have to go. I’m the fastest tracker of the pack.” He glanced around the living room, then realized he didn’t need anything except to get the fuck out of the house.

“I’ll come with you.” Her voice reached him from behind.

He shook his head. “No. Stay here and lock the house up. If you need anything, you can call out to me. I will answer you, but only if you need me. I must focus on Nolan.” He turned, nearly colliding with Taryn, his hands coming to rest on her upper arms. Gods, but they couldn’t lose little Nolan, or Alaina. Niall had almost given up after his first mate had been killed. If anything were to happen...Jett didn’t allow his thoughts to go any further.

Tears swam in Taryn’s eyes. “I’m a good tracker, too, and I’m fast. I can help you.”

Jett squeezed her arms. “If you came with me, I’d be worried about you, and splitting my focus. Like right now, I should already be on the move. Every fucking second counts, Taryn. Please, for me, just stay here and be safe. Can you do that? I have a safe room that nobody, not even the alpha knows about. If you feel like there is the slightest hint of anything wrong you go to that room, and don’t come out unless I come and get you. Now, let me go so I can help find my alpha’s son and mate.”

She shook his hands off, then stood on her tip toes, and pulled him down for a quick kiss. “Don’t get killed, asshat, or I will be so pissed.”

Stepping back took monumental effort, but he did it. Once he turned, it took him only moments to shift, and then he was running through the woods behind his home. They would not take Alaina and Nolan from the pack and live to talk about it, Jett would tear the throat out of every wolf who dared touch either of them.

He leaped over fallen trees, scenting the air as he went. His name was given to him as a young cub, and he’d never been happier in those few minutes as he caught the unmistakable scent of fear mixed with the sweet scent he always associated with Niall’s mate. He slowed, and sent a message to Niall and Zayn.
I’m about three miles from my home, and I’ve locked onto Nolan and Alaina’s scent. There are at least a half dozen shifters with them. Where are you?

It seemed to take forever before he felt the familiar tug on his conscience, but was probably no more than twenty seconds later.
You are supposed to be recovering.
Niall’s voice sounded relieved, yet worried.

If Jett had been in human form he’d have rolled his eyes.
I’m fine. Can you lock onto me?

Zayn’s chuckle came over their mental path.
We are within seconds from being on top of you, brother. Glad you’re okay. How did you shake Raydon and River?

Jett was about to ask what the hell he was talking about, but a large beast came flying out of the underbrush, fangs dripping with saliva. The beasts yellow eyes and stench was god damn offensive to his wolf’s nose.

The beast rushed him, freaky as all shit, desperation gave him speed, and the first swipe of his claws raked in low, but Jett blocked it with a toss of his head. Usually he’d play with his opponents, however he wanted to end the battle quickly. The next time it came at him, Jett lunged, catching the beast by the throat and shaking him like a ragdoll. Once the fight fell out of the creature, he dropped it to the leaf strewn ground then stalked forward. No way did they not know help was there.

Zayn and Niall stalked out of the darkness, followed by several other pack members.

They’d ringed around the idiots who’d thought to capture the alpha’s mate and child.

He held back, allowing Niall to lead the way, knowing the alpha always did. A mental snort echoed in his head.

When they walked into the area where Alaina and Nolan were, Jett growled along with the rest of the pack. Being half fey, half wolf she had created a shield around her and the boy, who’d shifted into his wolf form, snarling at the wolves who were doing their best to break into the invisible bubble.

Niall shifted to human. “Keep your protection up, woman. Can you make it to where you can’t see out? I don’t want my son seeing the carnage we are about to do here, babe.”

Alaina narrowed her eyes, but a mist covered the clear sphere, making them almost disappear inside.

Quick as lightening, Niall shifted back and attacked, slamming into the largest animal. Jett looked around for Keith, but quickly got caught up in the battle. He dug his claws into the hide of one of the wolves who’d jumped him from the side, embracing the pain as the animal bit into his flank. The next blow nearly took him to the ground as two wolves jumped on his back, determined to take him out.

Jett bucked and twisted until he was able to get out from under the two, finding Torq standing over one with his huge jaws locked around the its head. He nodded his wolven head in thanks, and turned to face the next, surprised to see they’d defeated them so quickly.

Instead of celebrating, Jett felt like they’d missed something. He shifted, wiped blood from his lip and looked around. “This was too easy.”

Zayn and Niall shifted at the same time, but the sphere stayed in place, letting him know Niall was speaking with Alaina.

“I agree, but since we didn’t leave any of these alive to question, what can we do?” Torq asked as he kicked the decaying corpse in the side. “By the way, these fuckers stink to high heaven. Who is taking care of the trash?”

Zayn raised his eyebrows. “Let’s make a pile and get it taken care of. One for all and all for one, and shit.”

“Fuck a duck, man. You suck.” Torq bent and started dragging two by their feet.

Jett couldn’t shake the feeling something was wrong. Terribly wrong. He tried reaching Taryn, needing to hear her husky voice tell him he was a dick for leaving her.

“What did you mean when you asked how I got past Raydon and River?” Jett asked, remembering what Zayn had asked.

Zayn’s blue eyes turned to him, a frown on his face. “They were at your place watching over you while you were supposed to be healing and shit. By the way, what the fuck, man? For someone who was at deaths door, you look great.”

Jett waved away the last part. “When I walked out on my back deck I didn’t scent anyone. If they were within a mile of my place I would have known. They are not that good at hiding their trails. Are you sure they wouldn’t have left to go fuck some chick?” The twins were known to share their lovers, so it wasn’t impossible, although to go against an order from their alpha was.

Niall went completely still. “Shit, I can’t reach either of them. Torq, can you handle the clean up here?”

Torq nodded from where he’d already stacked the dead, his green eyes holding Jett’s. “If you need me, holler.”

Niall walked over to the sphere, and then it was gone, leaving a shaking Alaina holding an equally shaking Nolan. “I think we were a diversion. There were more than these six, but they were very organized. Almost like they were being directed to divide and conquer. I talked to my mom and the rest of the fey made it safely. They wanted Nolan and me to get separated, Niall. They knew it would get you and the pack to follow.” Alaina’s voice cracked at the end, yet she stood straight.

“Taryn. He went for Taryn,” Jett said.

Zayn caught his arm. “Why would he go for her?”

Jett remembered her words about Keith being daddy dearest, and feared they were truth not jest. “He’s her father.”

The words fell like a boulder into the quiet.

“What the fuck, dude? You screwed the daughter of the enemy. For all you know, he sent her to lure you into a trap. To lure all of us into one big ole fuck nut of a trap.” Bronx’s voice rumbled. The largest of all the Mystic wolves, Bronx didn’t have to raise his voice to be heard, his presence was enough to get everyone’s attention.

Jett looked around at those he called his family and met each one in the eye. He raised his fist to his chest. “She is not like that. I feel it in here. My wolf recognized her, I can’t explain it, but I trust her. I,” he stopped, hung his head. “I don’t expect you to take my word.” He looked back up. “Hell, I even thought she had, until I pulled my head out of my ass, but I know for a fact Taryn is good. You can do what you want, but I’m going home. If I find something has happened to my mate, then I’ll be out for blood. You can stay here and protect what’s yours.” He shifted before he could hear another word. Taryn was his. He only hoped he had a chance to tell her, and prayed she accepted him.

The woods surrounding his home didn’t look any different, but he slowed, inhaling deeply. Several things hit him at once. Raydon and River’s blood. He sent a mental call through the pack’s link, not surprised at the immediate response that help was on its way.

He nosed around until he found the twins bodies. A rush of relief washed over him when he found a steady pulse beating in both wolves throats. He relayed the locations and then went in search of Taryn. The animals that had attacked his packmates had clearly not been in stealth mode as his land looked like a handful of vehicles had driven over the grass, knocking down several of his smaller trees and shrubs. However, the most disturbing sight was the huge hole in the front of the house where the big bay window had been and the deep ruts leading to it. A large vehicle had been driven through his home.

Rage threatened to consume him. He battled it back and continued in through the rear door. Even before he entered, he knew Taryn had been taken. Her scent of fear and resignation was strong, but the stench of evil overrode everything else.

Jett whirled around as he heard claws scrape behind him, lunging without thought, pinning Zayn in wolf form on the tile floor of his kitchen. He released his best friend, turning back to search for clues.

More wolves filed in behind Zayn, but Jett ignored them. Taryn was his only focus.

Torq cleared his throat. “She’s yours. We go get her together.” It was said as a statement.

Niall shifted into human form. “We don’t know exactly what we are going up against, but we do it as a pack, Jett. I’ve linked with Payton, and Emerson. This Keith is an unknown in the sense that he has dabbled in shit we can’t comprehend. Those wolves had the same yellow eyes and scent as the ones who took Cora. He’s controlling them with drugs. Or they are using them on the side. I don’t give a flying fuck which, but we can’t go in halfcocked and get ourselves killed.” He held up a hand. “Yes, we are going to get Taryn back, but if we run in without a plan, we could be doing exactly what he’s wanted all along.”

He glanced around at the men he loved like brothers. “What exactly do you think Keith wants?”

“He wants to make Emerson suffer,” Niall announced.

Dread filled every wolf’s expressions in the room, even those still in wolven form.

Emerson stepped through the busted up front door, his brow furrowed. “I assume you all know what we suspect? No, what we know.” As the old alpha explained his connection to Keith, Jett felt the tick of every second on the clock like it was a blow to his body.

Zayn addressed the group. “What’s the plan of attack? I assume we are doing this now, instead of later. Do you think he’s expecting us to come at him so soon, or what?”

All eyes went to Niall.

“We do this now. I don’t think Keith has a bit of compassion in his body, and if he thinks it would hurt Jett, therefore hurt the pack by killing Taryn, he’d do it and deliver her body to us. Did Payton give you anything we could use?” Niall asked, looking at Emerson.

Emerson nodded. “The fey are working on protecting our wards. He was able to worm his way under their guards because of Adelynn coming back. She hadn’t used her powers in a long time and while learning to strengthen and hone her abilities, it seems she actually created a rift. He was waiting in the wings. I guess he had his own warning bells set to let him know if there was ever a breach in the wards. I’ve been assured the wards are up and stronger than before. I’ve also been given this.” He held up his hand. A black pouch rested in his large palm.