Xan's Feisty Mate (13 page)

“You gonna stand there staring at the ceiling or you gonna pour us a drink?” Kellen narrowed his eyes.

His eye twitched. “Your legs broke?” Xan grunted, but walked to the bar in the corner, not asking what the other man wanted, pouring two generous glasses of the amber liquid.

“Thanks.” Kellen’s fingers closed around the drink, upending it and swallowing before speaking. One brow raised, indicating Xan should refill. A damn good thing he’d brought the bottle with him.

A rueful grin tugged at his lips. “We getting drunk to celebrate, or something else?”

Kellen stared at him with an unreadable expression, then blinked. “Syn isn’t happy. I don’t know what’s wrong with her. I don’t know how to fix it, and I got too much shit going down to deal with her, and everything else around here. I yelled at her.” He scrubbed both hands down his face.

“You know who the best wolf to protect her is?” Xan asked, knowing Kellen knew the answer.

The alpha pinched the bridge of his nose, a war waging in the eyes staring back at him. “I’m not ready for that shit, yet.”

“She’s the same age as Lyric,” Xan informed him, waiting for the explosion.

Bodhi Underwood was more than Rowan had been before his transformation. He was a thirty-three year old shifter with speed and cunning in both his human, and wolf forms. He dyed his naturally dark hair blond and kept the sides shaved, spiking the top, with more tattoos than most of them, and always, always had more than one woman. Xan understood why Kellen didn’t want his baby sister hooking up with the wolf, but sometimes Mother Nature had other plans. Not to mention, Bodhi could hear others thoughts even when they weren’t pack, making him indispensable, and one of the most valuable members in the coming war.

Still, as a brother, you don’t want your only sister mated to a man who had issues of monogamy.

“Bodhi isn’t stupid, man. He wouldn’t fuck with Syn if he wasn’t prepared to mate her.”

Kellen blew out a hard breath. “His wolf may be telling him one thing, but man and cock may have other things to say.”

Xan could hear his best friend grinding his teeth. Lifting the half-full bottle he poured them each another glass. “Don’t borrow trouble, brother.”

“I’ll kill him, Xan.” Kellen sat back in his leather chair, staring over at the door leading out to the club. “If he hurts my sister, I’ll rip his head off and shit down his throat, then I’ll bury the body so deep, even the damn coyotes won’t find it,” he muttered softly.

Xan shook his head. “No you won’t. You know your sis would cut your nuts off. Besides, we may be wrong. I mean, he is like a mother hen to all the ladies.”

“I don’t know a mother who does what he does to them chicks. Do you?” He laughed.

Kellen stared at him for a moment. “Shit, you’re a dirty bastard.”

“That’s exactly what I’m talking about. A mama weens their chicks off their milk within a year. He’s getting women hooked on his
milk
when they’re old enough to be legal.” Kellen chuckled, then sobered. “My sister is not going to be another one of his notches. Feel me?”

“I get you, but I promise you this...you don’t want to stick your nose in her business. Look, trust your sis. You’ve done a hell of a job raising her to do the right thing. Bodhi is a fine wolf, and a man I would trust my life with, and my mate’s. You don’t want to alienate him by being a dumbass. Just chill and let shit happen. If you are needed to pick up the pieces, or kick some ass, you know I got your back.” And he would, but he didn’t think it would come to that.

“Let’s move onto what is more pressing matters, like the fact your mate is a target. Rowan’s men just called before you showed up. They didn’t want to say over the phone, but it seems they have some Intel, what the hell ever that means. They’ll be here in about,” he looked at the clock before continuing. “Fifteen minutes. I don’t know if you want her to hear what they have to say, or wait until after. It’s up to you, but again, since I’m not mated, I’ll let you decide.” Kellen shuddered, like being mated was a bad thing.

Breezy. His mate was his soul. She tore down his defenses, and rebuilt them. Made him a better man, wolf. He’d kill for her, and knew deep in his bones she’d do the same for him.

“Let’s see what they have to say first.” He propped his ankle on one knee.

They didn’t have long to wait. The camera from outside showed when the military style vehicles pulled up, long before they requested entrance.

Kayan came in first, his dark hair mussed from too many times he’d ran his hands through it. His expression darker than the last time Xan had seen him. Oz and Coyle followed, but Sully and Tay were nowhere to be seen.

“Where’s the rest of your team?” Kellen looked toward the closed door.

“They’ve got a few things to do and secure before coming in.” Kayan’s deep voice rumbled.

A knock on the door had the three soldiers turning as one, arms lifting with practiced ease.

Xan raised an eyebrow. “At ease, men. It’s just Rowan and Lyric.” He pointed at the live feed above the frame.

It took a minute for him to realize he hadn’t seen or heard any of them remove the large weapons they pointed. “You planning on killing anything and everyone who walks through that door, boys?” Xan’s wolf didn’t like the thought of his mate accidentally being shot.

Oz scoffed. “We ain’t new to this, wolf. Take a chill pill and relax. Besides, we’ve worked with
others
.” He folded his arms over his chest. The short cropped red hair glinted in the overhead lights.

Why did Xan get the impression the team Rowan had been part of was indeed more than met the eye? He inhaled, but smelled human men before him.

“Don’t worry your big head, bro. We’re the serve and protect ones. Your family has become ours, due to Rowan.”

Rowan chuckled. “That is scary in itself.”

He and Lyric took a seat on the sofa. The instinctive need to control and protect his own baby sis, was easing now that she had her own mate. Sure, Lyric was full of the Carmichael arrogance that his own mate accused him of, but the man who held his sister so lovingly was up for the task.

“Are we waiting for the rest of the team before you fill us in, or what?” Rowan asked, impatience filled his voice.

“You got somewhere to be, Rowan?” Kayan looked at his former teammate.

Xan watched, anticipating a fight.

Lyric stilled. Her breath came out in a slow rush. “It’s that time for me, and it’s making him antsy.” Her fingers gripping her mate’s thighs looked painful.

Shit! She was in heat, which if he was right, meant his mate was going into her cycle as well. Which would explain a lot. The constant need to be inside her, mark her. Even now his mind kept thinking of how she’d look tied to a bed, while he had her on all fours. He pictured his hand leaving her lush ass a nice rosy hue.

“Fuck! Stop thinking about that shit, or you’ll be having a room full of jacking off men on your hands,” Coyle growled.

“What the fuck?” Get the hell outta my head.” Xan jumped up from his seat.

Coyle stabbed a finger at him. “You were projecting so loud, I’m pretty sure every single person who didn’t have a wall up saw your dirty thoughts.” He flashed a bright white smile.

“We got company. Xan, control your thoughts. I don’t need to see you fucking Breezy in my head.” Kellen pinned him with a laser blue stare.

Lifting his middle finger on both hands, he flipped Kellen the bird. “You’re just jealous cause I’m totally getting laid on the regular.”

Two brief knocks heralded the arrival of Sully and Tay. Damn, the men pounded on the wood like battering rams. “Enter,” Kellen ordered, amusement laced his voice.

Rowan shook his head. “They are like children. They need order and regimen.”

Xan didn’t give two fucks what they needed. His mate was on her way, the distinctive smell he associated with her had assailed his nose as they’d entered. Cotton candy curls walked through the open doorway, her curvy figure encased in a long skirt that hung low on her hips, a too tight top, showcasing breasts meant for his hands, had his dick standing at attention.

“We aren’t going to get shit done if you keep looking at her like that.” Kellen propped his feet on the desk.

“Dicks under control, men.” Kayan took a disk from Tay. “You get something we can use here?”

Tay nodded. “Yeah, it’s something, I just don’t know what it is. Who’d y’all piss off?”

“Let’s see what you’ve got before I lose two wolves to mating fever.” Kellen brought his feet down, indicating the large screen TV mounted on the wall.

Tay muttered something about not being anyone’s bitch, but went to the machine and inserted the disc. They’d pulled the feed from the surrounding businesses where the woman was supposed to take Breezy, not entirely surprised to see a couple vans similar to the ones like what had run her off the road.

“See how they move, and keep their faces hidden? Clearly, they can’t wear face masks, or it would draw attention, however, they are aware of their surroundings.” Tay touched the screen. “Check out these two. They are making sure there are no threats on either side of the van. Their body language shows they are either ex-military, or professionally trained. Either way, it is not good news. They’ve got men in the vehicle, too, but the windows are blacked out so we can’t see in.”

“You can see they’re heavily armed as well.” Sully indicated the slight bulges in the men’s clothing.

“I wouldn’t have noticed if you hadn’t pointed it out,” Xan said.

Rowan sat Lyric away from him. “I think I recognize that guy.” He walked closer to the screen. “Kayan, take a look at the back of this one’s neck. We need to go to my place. I have the equipment to isolate the feed and run facial recognition on each of these guys.”

“Already did, boss. That’s Jase Tyler.” Kayan tossed out the name like a loaded gun.

“What the fuck is he doing? Hiring out as a merc now?” Rowan snarled.

“Who is this Jase, and why is he a problem?” Xan got close to the 80” screen, trying to get a look at the guy’s face.

“Jase was part of our team until he got a dishonorable discharge for trying to kill us all on a mission,” Oz growled.

Kellen tapped the desk. “A little more info, if you please.”

Rowan turned, his dark eyes flashed to blue. “We were in another country when shit went south. It was not unusual, but when we found out it was because our mission had been compromised and who had been the narc.” His head bent. “We didn’t lose any men, but it was close. Jase snuck out, thinking we’d all die during the firefight that was to come. He underestimated all of us. A thing I’m sure he regrets to this day.” Rowan’s grin turned feral.

Sully cracked his knuckles. “I’d love to get my hands on him.”

Oz nodded. “When he was court-martialed, they wouldn’t allow any of us within a hundred yards of him. He swore he’d been out taking a piss. I mean we all travel two miles to do that in the desert, right.”

“I thought he was sent to Leavenworth Prison?” Rowan glared at the screen again.

Xan didn’t care so much as to where the man had been, as to where he was now. “Is he dangerous?”

The six Phantom Team members all nodded at once. “A well trained military man with a chip on his shoulder, a hole in his pocket, and a possible ax to grind? You betcha!” Tay was the one to answer, his deep voice calm.

“Do you recognize any of the other men? How long ago was this mission he tried to have you killed on, and do you know why he did that?” Kellen came to stand by Xan.

Rowan sat back down, pulling Lyric back onto his lap. “A little over three years. Long enough he could have easily recruited a small army, trained them well, and did all sorts of shit we won’t like.”

Breezy’s hand on his arm soothed the beast wanting to go out and hunt. He didn’t pretend to be anything other than what he was, and that was pissed when he turned to face her. “You do not go anywhere alone. The walk from our rooms here was your last walk alone. Feel me.”

Her eyes held a hint of fear. “I wasn’t alone, Xan. My brothers are at the bar getting a drink.” She waved toward the closed door.

Because he couldn’t stand another moment without holding her, he pulled her into his chest. “We done here for now?”

“Pretty sure you ain’t gonna be good for us at the moment. Go take care of your woman. I’ll holler if anything new comes up.” Kellen tapped his head.

Kayan raised his brows, but Xan ignored all of them as he lifted his mate into his arms.

“
Put your arms around my shoulders, and wrap your legs around my waist. I need to feel you all around me.”

“It’s my cycle. I figured it out after you left and started having strange dreams, and heat washing over me. It’s different now that we’re mated than before.”
She buried her face in the crook of his neck.

“
That’s because you know what if feels like to have my dick deep inside your sweet pussy.”
He licked the shell of her ear, keeping his eyes peeled to where they were walking. He’d not allow any danger within a mile of his mate.

“
Xan, you can’t talk like that out in public. Every wolf will smell my need.”

“Let them. They’ll know exactly what they’re missing and what they’ll never have. The sweetest thing since sliced pie, only your pie is mine.”
He imagined licking all her lovely juice as it spilled from between her thighs and worried he’d come in his jeans.

The short trek to the small apartment they’d been given took too damn long in his mind. When he reached the space, the thought of entering and fucking her against the wall was dimmed by the need to ensure her safety.

“Hold that thought.” He punched in the new code on the door, inhaling for any strange scents. Nothing other than his and Breezy’s could be detected. His mate followed him as he swept each room with his gaze and nose. The freshly made bed looked way too inviting. “Are you tired, mate?”

She stretched her arms above her head. “Soo sleepy.” Her eyes held promises he wanted to cash in on.

“Let me help get you out of those clothes. They look bothersome.”

Breezy laughed. “Bothersome? When did you start talking like that, Xan?”