An Unexpected Triad, page 25
part #4 of Copper Creek Pack Series
Chapter 31
Harold watched as the three teenage girls walked out of the grocery store. Giggling and carrying on like girls without a care in the world. He grinned. If they only knew he’d set his sights on them. He bet they were sweet as peaches. He licked his lips. The girls climbed into a small SUV, the short brunette was behind the wheel. She looked like a tiny version of the sexy deputy. He’d never been what you would call lucky, but it seemed as though that was changing. The girl had to be the deputy’s daughter. Harold wished he could get closer so he could scent her to know for sure. Oh well, it didn’t really matter. He was going to kill them anyway.
They pulled out of the parking lot and he followed them. He remained far enough behind them so not to arouse any suspicion. Not that teenage girls were naturally observant. They were usually self-centered. Bitches. All of them. He followed them as they drove out of town until they turned into a place called Helping Hooves. Harold looked at the clock, he still had a couple of hours before sundown. He turned around. He had to find a place to stash his car then he’d come back for those tasty little morsels.
****
Jennifer drove down FM175 on her way to pick Lada up from her new friend Janie’s house. She and Carly had gone over there to hang out today. It did Jennifer’s heart good to see her daughter making friends. She and Carly had been joined at the hip since Lada’s first day working at the pack daycare. Jen glanced at the clock on the dash. She was running late picking up Lada. She didn’t want her daughter out after dark until they caught Webb and the sun was already hanging low in the sky. Sundown wasn’t far off.
She turned her eyes back to the road. A man walking along the shoulder in the distance caught her eye. Jennifer glanced behind her checking to see if she missed a broken down or abandoned car. Nothing. She slowed down getting ready to pull over and ask the man if he needed assistance when he turned toward her.
Jennifer gasped. “Motherfucker.” It was Harold Webb. She had been right. He changed his appearance. Blond hair instead of brown. Clean shaven instead of scraggly beard. But, it was him. She’d bet her life on it.
The man met her eyes and grinned before hopping the fence that edged the Clearwater’s property.
“Lada,” she breathed. Jennifer momentarily considered pulling over and hopping the fence. But, giving chase at this point wouldn’t give her an advantage. Be smart. Calm your tits, girl, first things first.
“Mates!” She called through her link.
“Baby? What’s wrong?” Kell’s voice was filled with panic.
“Love? Are you alright?” He asked. Jennifer could feel his worry.
“Webb. He’s here. I just watched him jump the Clearwater’s fence.”
“Lada’s there with Carly today. Right?” Kell asked.
“Yes. They’re hanging out with Janie. I’m on my way to pick her up.”
“Wait for us, Jennifer.” Kell ordered.
“No time. He saw me. The fucker actually smiled at me.”
“We’re in the car on our way, love. Where along the road did you spot him?”
“He jumped the fence just before the sign that says: Helping Hooves, turn right in five miles. I’ll see you there. I have to call Lada.”
“We love you, baby. Be safe.” The men pushed all their love for her through their link. She felt their arms around her and their lips on her skin. She returned their love with her own.
Jennifer hit the phone sync button on her steering wheel, prompting it to “Call Lada.”
“Hey, Mom,” Lada answered on the second ring. She sounded so happy. Jen hated that she was about to change that. “Are you on your way?”
“Yes. Where are you?” She asked a bit sharper than intended. Jennifer knew her daughter would take the question as an accusation.
“At Janie’s with Carly. Where else would I be?” She could hear the confusion and defensiveness in Lada’s voice
“I know that.” She forced herself to breathe and remain calm. “Where are you? Inside? Outside? In a ditch?”
“On the back deck. We’re roasting marshmallows.” Carly and Janie giggled in the background and shouted, “Hey, Ms. Jennifer.”
“Roasting marshmallows? It’s like a hundred degrees outside?” What was she doing? Getting sidetracked? Seriously, Jen? “Never mind that. Get inside. Now,” she ordered. God this sucked. Jennifer hated that she was about to instill fear in three teenage girls, but it couldn’t be helped. Right now, they were unknowing prey to a rogue werewolf.
There was a brief pause. Jennifer knew Lada was putting two and two together, but not quite getting four. “What’s going on?” Lada’s voice shook with fear.
“Lada, just do it,” Jennifer barked. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to yell. But this is important. I need you girls to move your asses. Go inside. Lock the doors. Do not let anyone in. If Mr. Clearwater has a gun, get it.”
“Mom? Is it the… were?” She whispered the last part.
Jennifer wanted nothing more than to reach through the phone and comfort her baby, but that wasn’t possible and there wasn’t time for consolation. Dammit! “Yes.”
She could hear Lada on the other end telling the girls to gather their stuff to go inside. “Momma. Mr. Clearwater wants to talk with you.”
Thank the Fates for small favors. She hadn’t realized he was there. This was good. “Alright. You girls keep moving while we’re talking, Lada.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Jennifer heard Lada and Dave mumbling in the background as she sped down road. “Hello? Jennifer?”
“Brad, I know you wanted to talk, but I need you to listen first and not interrupt. I just witnessed a fugitive we’ve been hunting hop your fence. He’s wanted for murder. Several in fact.”
“Fuck,” he breathed. “The women?”
“Yes. I need you to move the girls and anyone else there with you inside. Find interior room in your house and lock yourselves in there. Do you have gun?”
“Several.”
“Good. Make sure you take them with you. Give one to Lada. She knows how to use them. Do not. I repeat. Do not leave that room until myself or the sheriff comes for you. This man is extremely dangerous and he will kill you to get at the girls.” The short drive to the Clearwater’s turnoff seemed to take forever.
“Jesus.” Jen could hear him moving around and calling to his wife and ordering the girls around. “I’ll keep Lada and Carly safe.”
“I know. I’m pulling into your drive now.” She left the road and sped down the long rutted dirt drive to the main house. “I’ll be outside securing the area and waiting for my back up. You take care of the inside.”
“Got it.”
“Oh, and Dave… If anyone else comes inside that isn’t related to me or wearing a uniform, shoot first and ask questions later. Remember, it’s always better to be judged by twelve than carried by six.” Jennifer disconnected the call. She pulled to a stop in front of the house and called Paul.
“I just spoke with Kell,” he said by way of greeting.
“Good. Then you know fugitive Harold Webb hopped the fence to Helping Hooves. I just pulled up to the main house. Dave is armed and has the girls locked in the house with him. I told him if anyone but us comes through the door, shoot first, ask questions later.”
“Excellent advice. I’m on my way. I’ll be there in fifteen. Ten tops, if I have my way.” She could tell by the tone in his voice he wanted her to wait for him, but respected her enough not to say it out loud.
“I’m not waiting,” she stated. “I’m heading around back. I figure he’ll come from that way.”
Paul let out a breath. “Be careful, little sister. Kell and Gunnar will kick my ass if anything happens to you.”
Jennifer rang off and climbed out of the car. She pulled her SIG from its holster and swapped out the clip for the one containing the silver bullets Paul had given her. She pocketed an additional clip. Keeping an eye on the perimeter, Jennifer made her way around to the back of the house. Considering where Webb jumped the fence it would stand to reason that he would be coming from the north, either from behind one of the out buildings or from the trees. Either way, she would make her stand from the back deck. The railing would offer her a bit of a barrier. She could either hop it and run to her vehicle if needed or she could kick in the back door and barricade herself inside and wait for back up.
But you don’t plan on running like a bitch, do you chica? Fuck no, she didn’t. She stood ready, hands at her sides, her gun in one, the other balled into a fist. With her chin held high and her eyes constantly scanning her surroundings, she waited. She tried to clear her mind and push away the worry for Lada and the others in the house. Lada was safe for now and that was what mattered. Jennifer didn’t need to be distracted by her maternal instincts right now. She had a job, and it was to protect the people inside the house and stop Harold Webb. He’d been breathing good air for far too long.
A chill raced down her spine. Jennifer swore she could feel his eyes on her. He was here. It was only a matter of time before he made himself known.
“Are you alright, baby?”
Kell’s voice in her head still startled her, but not as much as it had in the beginning. She was getting used to this link thing. Cracking a grin, she responded, “I’m fine. I’m enjoying the beautiful sunset on the back deck. Wish I had a mimosa.”
“Smart ass,” Kell growled. She could picture the scowl she knew was on his face.
“I wish you’d go inside, love.”
The concern for her safety was evident in Gunnar’s voice. Don’t get her wrong, it made Jennifer feel special, but it also insulted her a little. She also knew what she was doing. “Don’t ask me to not do my job, Gunnar.”
Gunnar sighed. “I’m not. I just wish you wouldn’t do it right now.”
Jen smiled and rolled her eyes. She made sure they could see her expression through their link. “Semantics.” She teased.
****
Well, well, well. What do we have here? Harold spied Creed and Stanton’s bitch standing post on the deck. He’d thought that was her in that cop car. She was a fine piece. He stuck his nose in the air and sniffed. She smelled like a mated woman. A snide laugh escaped him. This was too perfect. He wasn’t into rape, but for her, he’d make an exception.
The need for revenge festered within him. He owed the emissary for hunting him. He owed their fucking kind for what they’d done to him. Turning him into this abomination. Although, he had to reluctantly admit it made what he did to those women more satisfying. The fear. The terror in their eyes when they realized they were facing their own deaths as well as who and what was about to take it? Yeah. That fucking got him off.
He closed his eyes and felt the beast taking over as the murderous rage consumed him. He fought hard against the were inside him. He knew his control wouldn’t last long, but he wanted to face her as human. He needed to. Harold wanted her to look into his human eyes and know he was the one choosing her fate. He was the one who was going to kill her. Only then would he feel satisfied. When he shifted, she would look into the eyes of his beast as she begged for her life. She would know only agonizing pain until she took her last breath.
Stepping from the shadows he had one thing on his mind. Kill the cop bitch.
****
Noise behind the large shed Jennifer assumed held equipment of some kind caught her attention. She turned her head just as Webb stepped from behind the metal structure. The evil muddy, hazel eyes of Harold Webb leered at her as he moved closer. Damn. She thought he looked creepy in his mug shot. That photo did not do his creepy factor justice. He had a wild look about him. Not just the maniacal insanity you knew to expect. He twitched. He was fucking tweaking that was for sure. It was hard enough to subdue a normal human who was hopped up on meth, but stopping a werewolf? She knew it would be next-to-impossible. Jen was glad she pocketed that extra clip. She had a feeling she was going to need it. Especially, if her men didn’t move their asses. “Shit.”
He stopped about fifty feet from her. An evil smile warped Webb’s face. “I’m going to enjoy killing you, more than the others.” His eyes began glowing amber. His tone of voice was so matter of fact it was chilling. “You’ll scream and beg, but it won’t do you any good. The pain when I rip into you will be unbearable. Don’t worry. Your body will eventually shut down, but my beast will be the last thing you see before it does. You’ll also die knowing I’m going to kill the girls in the house. I did come for them after all.” He sniffed the air. “One of them belongs to you. Your daughter perhaps? How perfect. This day just keeps getting better. Oh, and once I’m done here, I’m going to take the Alpha Bitch. Maybe even her cute little girl. I bet she’s real sweet. Killing the bitch, the Alpha’s unborn whelp, and adopted cub… why that would be a trifecta. I bet knowing you won’t be able to stop any of it, is its own special kind of torture.” He laughed. It was the most unsettling thing Jennifer had ever heard.
Jennifer raised her chin and glared. “Fuck you.”
His mouth and nose elongated into a snout, and claws erupted from his fingertips. Fur sprouted on his skin and bones cracked and contorted. He stood on hind legs like a man. Oh fuck. It was just like in the movies. Half man. Half beast. You know, you hear the term deranged werewolf, but you don’t really comprehend the true meaning until you’re faced with one. Webb threw his head back and howled.
She raised her weapon and prepared to fire. She blanked her mind of every thought except one: Don’t stop firing until he’s dead. Kill the motherfucker.
Chapter 32
Kell drove his SUV while Gunnar and Mal stripped, ready to shift as soon as he stopped. Declan was on his way with Daniel, one of Carly’s fathers, but they were coming from town. It would take them a good thirty minutes to get to there.
“I want this fucker, Kell,” Mal growled as he pulled his t-shirt off.
“I know, brother.” Kell didn’t want to disappoint Mal. He understood Mal’s need for vengeance, but Webb was a threat to Jennifer. Kell would be damned if he and Gunnar would stand aside and let Mal do the honors. He pulled off the road along the Clearwater’s fence and slammed on the breaks. He closed his eyes and reached out to Jen through their link. “Are you alright, baby?”
“I’m fine. I’m enjoying the beautiful sunset on the back deck. Wish I had a mimosa.”
“Smart ass,” Kell growled. He knew she was trying to put him at ease, but nothing short of eliminating the threat and securing her safety would do that.
“I wish you’d go inside, love.” Kell winced at Gunnar’s proclamation. Not that he didn’t agree with it. He just knew how well it would go over with their mate.
“Don’t ask me to not do my job, Gunnar.”
Gunnar sighed. “I’m not. I just wish you wouldn’t do it right now.”
Jen sent them an image of her smiling and rolling her eyes. “Semantics.” She said the word in that little sassy voice that had him wanting to smack her on the ass.
“We’re on our way.”
Kell could hear sirens in the distance. Paul was coming from the opposite direction. He hoped by the time his brother showed up, this whole thing would be over and they’d be standing over Webb’s dead body.
“Clearwater is on lockdown in the house with the girls. Jennifer is our priority. Let’s take this fucker down,” Kell growled. Gunnar returned it with a snarl of his own before hopping the fence. Kell jumped the fence and joined Gunnar and Mal who were using the grove of trees along the property line for cover as they shifted. Mal’s wolf licked his chops then bared his teeth. Gunnar’s leopard roared and paced. Both beasts vibrated with anticipation as they waited for Kell’s wolf.
They ran through the woods until they came to an empty pasture. The Clearwater’s didn’t use the land as a working ranch. They ran an equine therapy center called Helping Hooves. The land was a mixture of lush pastures, dense trees, and outbuildings. Unfortunately, that made for a lot of places Webb could hide. Kell stopped and sniffed the air, searching for the man’s scent. They’d been lucky that the asshole’s scent had lingered at the crime scenes. Although, Harold had a good lead on them now and the scent was diluted, enough lingered to allow him to decipher the scents of those who should or shouldn’t be in the area at this time of day. Besides, Kell was one the best trackers the pack had. He didn’t need a scent to find Harold Webb, having one just saved time.
Kell’s lips curled into a snarl when he caught the sour, rotting smell that was all Webb. He took off not bothering to check if Gunnar and Mal followed. Kell knew they would. He followed the scent through another dense thicket of bushes and mesquite trees.
The scent led them to the Clearwater’s backyard. They cleared the trees and Kell spotted his mate. He sighed in relief when he saw her unharmed, standing on the deck like an avenging angel. A snarl and howl ripped through the air and the largest, black werewolf Kell had ever seen stood less than fifty feet from their mate.
“Why is she just standing there?” Kell growled.
“He dies, tonight,” Gunnar snarled through their link. “You go high. I’ll go low. Mal you flank him. We don’t stop until we’ve ripped that fucker apart.”
He and Gunnar took off. He had to keep his head in this fight. He couldn’t let his fear for his mate distract him. The others weren’t here to protect her while he, Gunnar, and Mal dealt with Harold Webb.
As soon as they were close enough, Kell and Gunnar leapt through the air. Both of them slammed into the werewolf as a shot rang out. Guess you know why she was just standing there now, don’t you, moron? He should have known Jennifer wouldn’t back down even when facing a psychotic were. In truth, Kell’s concern was getting to Webb before he hurt their mate. He forgot she had the silver bullets. So much for not letting his fear distract him. Thank the Fates in their haste, he, Gunnar, nor Mal caused her to accidentally shoot one of them instead. He spared a glance for Gunnar then Mal as they pinned the were to the ground. Neither one of them looked injured.
