Odin's Honor, page 12
The winds were picking up around the land, the branches of the trees surrounding his house began to sway and move. And that’s when he smelled the scent carried on the wind. It wasn’t his pack, because he knew their various scents as if they were his own. This one was odd, there was a sour egg smell that had been carried on the wind. No! It couldn’t be.
Odin heard a chorus of howls from the direction of town. Based on the echo bouncing off the trees and other structures in the forest, the pack hunters were on their way. Something was happening. There would be no reason for the hunters to come rushing out to him unless there was a danger to him or his mate.
Tilting his head back, he gave an answering howl of his own. Odin heard his friend Tobias’ unique howl as well, and his wolf smiled. His pack had his back, as always. His wolf was on edge because he also smelled the odd scent that seemed to be coming from many directions. Although he knew others were coming behind him, that didn’t make him feel any better, especially since Layla and Christopher were at the cabin alone.
Sending off another howl to his brethren, Odin turned and began to race back to his home. If the smell in the air meant what he thought it did, Layla and Christopher were in more danger than he’d thought. Odin ran faster, his paws almost flying over the ground beneath him as he used every ounce of strength his wolf possessed to get back home to his family.
No. I refuse to lose them. Not like this.
As he rushed by trees and other shrubbery, he saw a form to his side. Skidding, he turned around to confront the intruder. A hyena. Why was it here, deep in pack lands? What the… Oh, fuck! The hyena snarled at him and jumped, trying to catch him off guard. Odin opened his powerful jaws, baring his sharp teeth as he swiped at the other beast with his large paw. He needed to get back to Layla and Christopher, his mind yelled. The hyena caught him on the side, nipping at him with his razor-like teeth, which only pissed Odin off even more. Slowing his motion, he took a step back and circled his opponent. Lifting a foot as if to step back again, Odin changed direction and lunged, using his strong front paws to force the other animal down and onto its side. They both switched back to human form.
“I know who you are, Reaper.”
“Who sent you?” Odin was shocked to hear that name. He hadn’t heard that since he’d been overseas.
“Doesn’t matter, that bitch and her child are probably already dead. Haven’t you figured it out yet?” Just as the man began to shift, Odin did as well, except his was quicker. Widening his jaws, he clamped down on the other animal’s neck, ripping out skin, flesh, and part of his spine. Spitting out the foul-tasting meat, he began running again. Thinking back on the man’s words, he had to accept that he had indeed figured it out.
Anger roiled and bubbled inside him. Who sends The Hyena after a woman and her child? For the first time in a long time, Odin agreed with his wolf when it came to inflicting violence on others. All of them would die. No one involved in coming after his mate and her cub would survive. He heard the increased howls of his pack as they also changed direction and headed to his home. He knew every single one of them would die to protect his mate. It’s what they did. It’s what they’d always do. As he came upon his home, he smelled the odor of rotten eggs even stronger.
They were here.
If he didn’t know better, he’d wonder how they’d found them so quickly. However, the answer to that question was leaning against a black SUV at the gated entrance to his home. The gate wasn’t latched, because most people knew to never breach a wolf-shifters den. That kind of shit just wasn’t done. But then you had this motherfucker. Jack Dunford. The Hyena.
Odin slowed his pace, watching the movement around his home as Jack and his men seemed to be waiting for something, or someone, to show their face. Glancing back at the house, he knew exactly who Jack was waiting for, too bad he was never going to get the chance to finish the mission. His deep growl reverberated in his throat, and he saw Jack smile.
Yeah, motherfucker. You know exactly whose land you’re on now.
Even back in the day, he’d had issues with The Hyena. Their missions were always planned to the smallest detail. They had to be. Not only were they usually going in to eliminate a threat, but completion of their mission was more than likely a front to destabilize another country’s regime. Any trace of their presence or the country they pledged loyalty to, could not be left behind. The deaths were always completed in a way that no one country could be blamed. Somehow, Jack always seemed to forget the directive that their missions should be silent and deadly. Odin had him kicked out of his unit, and months later, he’d been informed that Jack had been discharged from their special ops organization for dishonorable conduct.
But here he was, standing in Odin’s front yard, trying to collect the bounty that had been placed on the head of Odin’s mate. Then he heard the other man call out, and the hair on the back of his neck stood up.
“Layla Hughes. I’m here for you. If you come out real nice, maybe I’ll leave that sniveling brat of yours alive. Before you answer, let me warn you. I’m not someone to be trifled with. You will come out on your own, or I’ll come to grab you myself. Now, if I do that, you—and your brat—will both come out in pieces.”
Clearly, this son of a bitch had a death wish. Luckily, Odin was feeling like the motherfucking genie in the bottle. Wish granted.
Chapter 23
Layla
From the moment she woke up earlier this morning, she’d known something was wrong. As she rolled over in Odin’s bed, she stretched her body and took notice of all the kinks and painful areas along her body. She smiled as she felt the ache between her legs and the stickiness of their combined releases. Damn, her man was insatiable. Seeing that the sun had just breached the horizon, she slipped on one of Odin’s shirts and went looking for him. Since she didn’t smell breakfast, she had an idea where he was.
Opening the front door of the house, she noticed Odin in wolf form in the front yard. His head and body were facing away from the house. He’d been on high alert since the other day, and no matter how much she begged him to relax, he wouldn’t. He was worried about her and Christopher, and Layla knew he wouldn’t rest until they were safe. She knew it, understood it, but that didn’t mean she had to like it.
Stepping out onto the porch, she called his name. “Odin?” His head turned to look at her, and she marveled again at just how beautiful he truly was. “Come inside. It’s too early,” she tried to sweet-talk him, but it never seemed to work. Not when it came to this. As she watched him stroll over to her, she smiled at his confident swagger. Wait, could wolves have swagger? Nodding, she decided they could. At least, her wolf could.
Odin climbed the stairs, his cold nose pressing against her stomach as she rubbed the fur on top of his head. She realized he was pushing against her, forcing her back into the house. Sighing deeply, she tried to stand her ground. “I don’t want to go inside. Stop being such a bully, Odin,” she fussed. He didn’t listen or stop his forward motion. With one last look over his shoulder at the front gate of his yard, he stepped inside the house, Layla stood in front of him, arms crossed over her chest. “Are you happy now?” She knew he was just protecting her, but she didn’t want to be stuck in this house every day, as lovely as it was, it was beginning to feel like a prison.
She could swear he rolled his eyes at her before padding over to the gun safe situated in a cut in the wall off to the side. Motioning with his head, he looked from her to the safe, making a soft grunting noise. “You’re not going to turn back into your human form for me?”
Odin stalked back over to her, circling her body until he was behind her, then used his head to push her toward the case. Fine. Message received. “Okay. Okay. You win. And since you’re not going to turn back into the Odin that I want right now, you can leave,” she pouted. As he walked out the front door, she couldn’t help but follow behind him. “Be safe, Odin.”
Layla walked the length of the living room and looked at the digital clock. It seemed that more than thirty minutes had passed, but it had only been about five. She was more on edge than usual and didn’t know what was happening to her. The hair on Layla’s arms raised as goosebumps appeared on her skin. Glancing out the window, she couldn’t see anyone approaching the house, but she could feel a sense of doom in the air. Looking over at the clock one more time, she noticed it had been just over two hours since Odin left to walk the perimeter—his words, not hers. Usually, it didn’t bother her when he left the house, but today, everything seemed different. This was the moment she wished that her wolf had already woken up because she needed to get Odin to come home. Right. Fucking. Now.
“Momma,” Christopher came running over to her. “No want mean doggy. Him go away,” he said as his face crumbled, and tears began to fall down his soft cheeks.
It didn’t make complete sense to her either, but she knew when her son got these visions in his head, she needed to listen. “What mean doggy, sweetheart? Where is he?” She tried to keep the fear from her voice but didn’t know if she’d done a good enough job.
Christopher pointed his finger toward the window facing the front of the house. “Ou’side.” Sniffling, he grabbed her face in both his small hands. “Where’s Oda doggy, momma?”
Standing to the side of the window, she kept looking out, trying to see what was out there waiting for them. Nothing. She could see absolutely fucking nothing. Jostling Christopher on her lap, she went to turn away when a movement at the end of the long driveway caught her eye. Two black trucks pulled up, idling at the edge of Odin’s property.
“Oh fuck,” she whispered. Looking behind her, she saw her phone on the kitchen counter. Walking over to grab it up, she quickly dialed Romi’s number. If Odin was out there doing God knows what, she’d call the next best person. The phone rang several times before voicemail picked up. “Romi. Code Alpha. Black Cat. I repeat. Code Alpha. Black Cat.”
Code Alpha. Life in Danger. Track and Locate.
Black Cat. Death is possible.
Hanging up, she made sure the GPS tracking was now activated on her phone. It didn’t do any good to try to hide her location now. She wasn’t sure how they did it, but the bad guys had found her. If she had the luxury, she’d break down crying and ask why this was happening to her. Too bad she no longer had time to consider the mysteries of the universe. “Where the fuck are you, Odin,” she whispered.
Christopher gasped, then whispered. “Momma! Oda doggy!” A big smile lifted his lips, and he seemed to calm down.
Layla wished she had that much faith in a man to save her, even if he was her mate. Without any way to know if help was truly coming, Layla knew she might have to save her and Christopher on her own. Like she’d been doing since the day he was born. Looking down at her baby, she didn’t know how to get out of this situation.
Glancing back out the window, she gasped, and her heart began pounding in her chest. She could feel the blood rushing through her body as she stared at the person she knew had been sent to kill her.
“Layla Hughes. I’m here for you. If you come out real nice, maybe I’ll leave that sniveling brat of yours alive. Before you answer, let me warn you. I’m not someone to be trifled with. You will come out on your own, or I’ll come get you myself and you—and your brat—will both come out in pieces.” The front window was cracked to allow in the cool air since she’d been baking, so his words were loud and clear.
“Oh, baby boy. Momma’s so sorry,” she whispered. For a moment, she wondered how her life had turned out this way. She’d done all the right things in her life, followed all the rules laid out in front of her, and yet somehow, she was the one being hunted down. This shit wasn’t right. She didn’t deserve any of this, and neither did her son.
Christopher squirmed in her arms. “S’kay, momma. Oda doggy.”
How did she tell a small child that his hero wouldn’t make it in time to save them? Christopher didn’t fully understand what was happening, but she did. Her running had only gotten them so far. She’d had just over a week to spend with Odin. Getting to know him. Loving him. Accepting him for who he really was. She only hoped he’d understand what happened and didn’t blame himself. He had no idea they’d come today when he was away. Maybe it was best if she gave herself to them. Leave Christopher inside and walk out there to accept her fate.
“Bitch, you have one minute to walk out that door,” the horrible man yelled.
Anger began to seep under her skin. How dare he come here and threaten her and her child? Who gives a shit what she heard or saw at that hotel? This shit wasn’t worth her life or her son’s life. And she sure as hell wasn’t going to just roll over and let this man take her from her child. Wiping her eyes, Layla smirked. That woe-is-me bullshit was over. Her weapon was in the back room, so if she had to go out in a blaze of fucking glory, then that’s what she’d do.
Just as she moved to step away from the window, she saw someone new enter the scene. Tall, muscled, bare-assed, and looking pissed as hell. “Odin,” she whispered. He was back for her. For Christopher.
“I know you remember me. You know exactly who’s land you’re on. Walk away, and I might let you live,” Odin growled.
Layla couldn’t help but admire her man in action. Even at a time like this, she thanked her lucky stars that she’d been lucky enough to be held in her arms.
The man called Jack laughed, stepping away from the truck. He removed his coat before placing it in the backseat of the truck and closing the door. “Now, you know I can’t do that. I’ve been paid a fee to complete a mission. As tasteless as it may be,” he dropped his head as if he were upset about what he had to so, but when the odious man lifted his gaze to Odin again, Layla could see he held a smile. It was an evil grin that sent shivers up and down her spine. “Nah, it’s not tasteless at all. That bitch was just in the wrong place at the wrong time, and then chose to run to the woods and hide. Does she know you’re one of the worst wolves on the block? She’s hiding behind your furry tail for protection, but I bet she doesn’t know just how many lives you’ve taken. How many innocent lives you have snuffed out without a second thought? The women… the children.”
“What the fuck,” she murmured before taking a step back. That couldn’t be true. Odin may not have been the friendliest person she’d ever met, but his affection for her and Christopher was real. Could he really be the type of person who’d take the life of a mother or child simply because he’d been ordered to do so?
“Jack. Jack. Jack. That you keep pushing tells me two things. One, you forgot who the fuck I am, and two, you forgot who the fuck I am,” Odin’s deep voice was difficult for her to understand. “I’m only going to tell you this one more time. Take your trucks and your… pussy ass lackeys, off my land. I don’t want to rip your throat out in front of my mate and our son, but my wolf is feeling a bit jumpy. You had your chance to escape from me back in the desert. I allowed you to live once already. I won’t make that mistake again. By coming on my land and coming after my mate, you’ve signed your death warrant.” Odin stood in front of the group of eight men, naked and without shame.
Layla was listening to every word, almost too afraid to breathe. There was no way she was going to miss a moment of this. This man Jack served with Odin? If so, that meant he was shifter as well. She wondered what kind and hoped he wasn’t a lion or bear or some crazy shit like that. If she had to go get her gun to try and protect her man, she would. But she prayed like hell, that it wouldn’t be needed. Not with her child in this house. Plus, Odin was a big ass gray wolf, so he’d better be able to handle himself. Her eyes captured something in the corner, so she turned her head to look. When she realized what she was seeing, she almost whooped in joy. It looked like twelve giant wolves were exiting the forest. Each one began to shift into their human form, and she recognized their faces from the other day.
She should have known Odin wouldn’t have arrived without backup. Glancing at the men who’d dared show up at Odin’s home to try and lure his mate out into danger, she almost wanted to laugh at their stupidity. Layla wasn’t going to leave her spot and miss any of the fun, but she did adjust Christopher so that he was no longer facing the window. Maybe she was a little bloodthirsty, but in this situation, it seemed appropriate.
“The bounty on her head is too large. If I need to kill you and every dog,” he spat the word, “in this sorry ass forest, that won’t be a problem at all.”
Odin lifted his hand when the men behind him all took a step forward. “No,” he addressed them without turning his head. “If I need your help, you’ll know when to join in the fight. My land. My mate. My cub. My fight,” he said to his family and friends.
That he’d claimed them again, in public, brought real tears to her eyes. She wanted to open the door and run to him, letting him know she had faith in him. But her momma didn’t raise no fool. She was going to keep her ass right here behind the double-bolted doors and let them settle this like men. Or animals. Whatever.
Odin flicked his hands and claws extended from his fingers.
Layla jumped back at the quickness of the action, while Christopher giggled. “My Oda doggy,” her little boy squealed.
Layla could do nothing but roll her eyes. To her son, there was nothing Odin couldn’t do. “Yes, baby. That’s your Oda doggy.”
Within a flash, Odin began charging at the guy Jack, who also started running. The two men jumped into the air as if they had springs in their legs. Both she and Christopher let out a collective, “Whoa.”
Odin shifted into his wolf mid-jump, and Layla thought he was so fucking beautiful. Her body began to tingle, electricity going up and down her limbs as she watched her mate. The other man also shifted, but she couldn’t tell what he was until they crashed to the ground, lips pulled back, teeth bared in full-on aggression.
Her eyes must be deceiving her. There was no way in hell this was real. Odin’s people had shifted back into the wolf forms and were spreading out in a circle as if corralling the others. When the dust settled, she saw Odin’s wolf, his pack surrounding him… and Hyenas. Jack and his men had all shifted to fucking vicious ass hyenas.
