Peace and Quiet - 8. Chapter 8

When we landed, I was confronted with the most tense scene I think I have ever witnessed. Worse than being in combat. Worse than seeing my best friend squaring off with the enemy, both holding guns and readying to fire. Worse than when my Father met Amos.

Jon and an absolutely huge man stood glaring at each other. I knew instantly who the man was: Angus McLeod, the ECP Alpha. The one Jon had beaten in combat. Neither was giving an inch in their staring contest, as open a challenge as there could be in their world. My eyes were darting between Jon and Angus because if one twitched wrong, the other would attack, and it would be one nasty war. Still, Angus nodded his head, which was as much of a surrender as he was going to give. “Jon, welcome.”

“Thank you Angus. You didn't have to come all the way out here for us.” His tone said he was not happy to see the man, even though he had won.

“I didn't. I came out here to give you this.” He handed him an envelope. “Remember this for the future, Jon.” He looked at the other two Alphas. “Travis, Alan, good day.” He went towards his car, but stopped. “Which of you is mated to the bear?” I raised my hand. His looked was measuring, looking for God knows what. “Quite the laddie you got. Took four of them to drag him into the truck.” With that he left.

“And you beat him?” I asked, unable to stop myself.

Jon only nodded. “When someone tries to sacrifice your son's heart, you kind of get pissed.” Jon looked over at Dylan who was white knuckled and just as angry. “Son,” he said, trying to calm him.

I reached over and touched his arm, the shock making him jump and look at me. His expression cleared of most of the anger, and he nodded. “You're right. He's not worth another thought. I'm fine, Pop. Let's just find our teddy, skin the cat, put down the mangy mutt, and get the hell out of this place.”

Jon opened the packet and handed it to me. Inside was a picture of the truck, Zeke being dragged into it, and more importantly...the license plate, owner, driver's records...everything I would need to know to find them. “Ashton...Burwell.” I looked up slowly and looked at Colton. He could see the surprise I felt.

“That's him. Why are you so shocked?”

“Because. I've met him before. At the one family reunion Amos took me to before he infected me. Cousin Ashton was there.” The two of us held each others' gazes and nodded. “Kill 'em both?”

“Slowly and painfully?”

“Yep.”

“Mmhmm.”

“We have an address to check out, but knowing Amos they won't be there.”

Colton looked at the address. “That's his mother's house.”

“Good ole' Aunt Gin. So sweet, so loving, so blind to her insane family.” Colton could only agree with me. Aunt Gin, or Virginia, was a wonderful woman, but the lights were dim inside. She never saw anything but good in people, and she doted on Ashton at the reunion as if he were her master. It was a long shot, but she might know where they were or where they were going. “Now, are we going to go after them now and risk losing the light, or track them in the morning when our Solaris are strongest?” I looked to Dylan, who seemed a bit shocked.

When he looked at Jon, the Leader smiled. “It's your call, Son. I leave the enforcing and hunting to those who are trained.”

I felt Dylan's unease, but then I felt the pride he felt at having his father defer to him. “Both. Grandpa, Pop, and I will come in the morning. Papa Travis, Gene, and the two of you will track them and get them out if you can do it safely. No risks. No hotheaded maneuvers.” This he said as he looked at Colton. The man nodded. “We're splitting because the four of you are the best at stealth and tracking. The three of us have the morning as our strength.”

“I'm being dense about something, I know it, but ain't Jon a Lunais? I know Solaris change in the daylight better, but he's still a lunar Lycan.”

“I change when I want,” said Jon. I gaped. “Pat does too, but not all the way like I can. I should call him to let him know what is up.”

We split up and us trackers went to the address listed. It was a nice little house in the suburbs, nothing fancy and perfect place to raise a small family. Dylan had left Gene in charge as senior Hunter. I wondered exactly what Alpha Travis's role was. I knew he was a powerfully built man, and I knew he could do some damage in a fight. I pondered this as we walked up the driveway and knocked on the door.

After a moment I saw Aunt Gin open the door. She hadn't changed all that much. Still lovely, still motherly. “May...Quintin Marshall! Oh my stars! Come in, come in.” She ushered us in and shut the door. “Look at you. It's been years and here you show up on my door step so soon after Amos. I bet you're looking for him.”

I couldn't help but smile. “Yes, ma'am. He said to meet up at the airport, but he wasn't there. I remembered you and Cousin Ashton lived around here, so I thought I would check in.”

“The boys went fishing up at the lake yesterday. Probably forgot to tell you. I swear, they would forget their heads if they didn't have a minder. Can I get you boys anything? Water...Colton Matthews?” She registered the shock so plainly. The classic hand to the heart.

“Hi, Gin.”

“You...have grown so big. I haven't seen you in, well since then, really. How did you boys meet up?” she asked, looking from me to Colton and back.

“We work together, ironically enough. Aunt Gin, this is Gene and that's Travis. They're our mentors. We work at a camp up North and I invited them along.”

“A pleasure,” said Travis as he bowed over her hand.

“Believe me, it is all mine.” I could see that Aunt Gin was captivated by Travis's good looks and charm. “Now, how about that water. I have lemonade too.”

“As much as that sounds delightful, ma'am, we need to meet up with the boys.” Travis bowed over her hand in a very gentlemanly way, making her go all red in the face and flushing.

“Oh my word. Such a gentleman. You boys have fun. I know that Ashton and Michael are having fun. You should have seen Ashton's face when Amos showed up. Said he had bagged a good one and wanted to get another. But you boys run along. Give my love to the rest.”

I had to force a smile. “Sounds great. I'll give them all the love.” We left with a good bye and got into the truck we rented. Something tells me it was a good thing we got the insurance on it.

I knew where the cabin was, and so did Colton since he never corrected my admittedly faulty memory. It wasn't that long of a drive in miles, but backroads didn't care about miles, only potholes, runnels, and crumbling terrain. Good thing we did bring a truck. I was awash in memories of the time Amos brought me up here. It was probably the most romantic time for us. Looking back...it was the last fond memory of him...that last night before he raped away my humanity. The candle lit dinner, food perfectly prepared, freshly showered, caresses before the fireplace.

Then he bit me.

I didn't know what had happened until the next night. We had always enjoyed passionate sex, and this was no different. I knew something was different when I changed that next night. Amos changed. He became controlling, violent, possessive. I became his property held by fear and rage. This would not be a good time for me...and Amos knew it.

We parked the truck a few miles away and set off through the woods at a fast pace. It was near enough to night for me to change, and I did. I also felt something massive beside me and looked up into the piercing, yet comforting, gaze of Travis in his lunar form. Gods above he was a glorious beast. He may be middle aged, but he was a wonder sight. He licked my nose once, and I batted his playfully. He accepted my limits, my fears, my lack of everything and gave me respect for being here anyway. I didn't speak his howls, but I understood all of this.

We went swiftly through the woods, Travis taking the lead with Gene at the rear. It was a fast trek, but we had to stop when we smelled the fire from the cabin. I could see two guys were sitting on the porch with shotguns, and I could smell them. Lycan. Lupus. Not even worthy of being betas but far from omegas. I could smell Amos and my stomach turned. I could smell Zeke. I knew he was here or had been within the past fifteen minutes because he had taken a piss less than ten feet from me.

Gene motioned for me to move around to the other side with Colton. I didn't get it until I remembered one thing. Colton could find the spot they could not sense us. He was a good pathfinder. I was also coming to realize I was much better at stealth than I knew. We moved off. I looked into the cabin's windows for any sight of Zeke. Nothing at all until I got to the higher ground of a hill covered in trees. I looked into the bedroom and saw him tied down with chains, a pained look in his eyes, and I knew the chains were silver. Even laying against his skin would be agonizing. Amos was his guard. Ashton was below in the kitchen and I smelled Colton getting angry beside me. I nudged him and he hit me. He actually punched me in the rump. I glared but then I felt why he did it. He was pissed. Thoroughly and completely pissed off..and it made his change that much swifter.

He could change outside of the moon? Was his change fueled by rage? Could that be why it always looked so painful, because only when he was angry did it not hurt him? Something to talk about later. We stared down at the two people we hated the most and waited. There was no way we could get to Zeke with Amos there. He was way too strong. There was no way we could get to Ashton with four other guys in the cabin. We could only watch...and that made us even more angry.

Dude, calm down. They will smell your anger. I heard the Creep loud and clear this time. No distortion, no wavering. This time it was as if he were right beside me with his hand on my head. I felt the anger leave me like a leak in a bucket. Slowly, but it was gone. Colton was not so fortunate. He was growling in the back of his throat almost too quietly for me to hear, but it stopped when Zeke turned his head and looked us right in the eyes.

He knew we were here. He could tell exactly where we were. Some of the pain left his face as he closed his eyes.

“Passing out, are we?” Amos taunted, then he hit Zeke enough to break his jaw...again. Zeke just laid there with his eyes closed. “Fucking punk can't even handle that. Ash, send Mike up to take care of this. I need to piss.”

Colton flinched. The other guy was here too? Well... “He's getting supplies, Am. He won't be back for a few hours.” Colton relaxed somewhat. One less problem as far as I was concerned, but one for another day.

Another person entered the room, armed with a rifle, which was undoubtedly loaded with silver bullets. Still, he wasn't Amos. One Lycan was no match for the two of us.

Nothing rash, Quint.

For once, I am not following orders. You can yell at me later. I looked at Colton who nodded. He smelled my resolve.

A piercing howl split the air, one that could only be issued by a massive wolf with stunning blue eyes. It was a challenge of leadership. I saw Travis come stalking out of the woods as Ashton and Amos came running out. “Holy shit he's huge!” said the other men with guns.

“A challenge? Old man, walk away,” said Ashton. It was all the distraction we needed. We charged down the hill and were on the roof without a sound. We changed back, which was painful looking to Colton, but he nodded when I looked at him. I grabbed his ankles when he gestured, and lowered him upside down to the window where he quietly opened it. I was a bit distracted by the sounds of a scuffle from the front of the cabin, but I knew what was going on. Travis was fighting Ashton. Taking his time too. Giving us all the time in the world.

When the window was open, I heard a gasp and then a gurgle when Colton twitched. What had happened? He signaled to let him go and I did, looking over the edge to see him shimmy into the window. There were some hissed of pain and a few gasps, but when I saw Zeke practically tumble from the window and land on the grassy turf with Colton hot on his tail, I knew that we had better run. So we did. I had to trust that Travis could take them all.

Then I didn't have to as I heard a triumphant roar from the huge wolf's mouth. He had won. He had beaten Ashton. It was no doubt, really. He was still an Alpha Wolf. Might not be in his prime, but that didn't matter because Ashton would be no real match.

We ran, Zeke breathing hard as he struggled to keep up, but we stopped when we saw Jon, Dyl and Alan with someone I had never seen. Jon and Alan took Zeke. “It ends now,” said Jon, and he handed me a rifle. I knew what he meant. I took it and turned around.

“No,” whispered Zeke.

“Yes. He will not stop coming back until I end this. Plus...I cannot go against the wishes of my Alpha.” Even Jon looked shocked. “Especially when it's exactly what I want to do.” I spun and marched. “Hurt my mate...I don't fucking think so. Colton, stay here and protect Zeke. Dylan, you're with me. Jon, see if Travis needs anything, although Gene probably is doing that. Alan, round up the stragglers.”

I heard a small chuckle from Jon. “Listen to him. Finally giving orders. You heard him.” I didn't even turn around to apologize. I heard the joke in his tone, and knew he would never accept an apology when the course of action made sense. “Still...such language.” At that I chuckled. I didn't cuss much.

When I rounded the corner of the cabin, I stopped to see Amos was staring right at me. Ashton was being tended to by his friends, and Travis was back in human form with Gene and Jon by his side. Jon was in his lunar form...how the heck did I get into a pack with such hot men?

“Hello, Kitten.” I shot him in the leg. He looked so shocked too.

“I told you, I ain't your kitten, Amos.” The other guys raised their guns, but Dylan was right there as he shifted into his solar form. Yeah...his fiance was going to be sore. He was the biggest beast I had ever seen. A massive lion in the budding of his prime. God he was hot. “You better lower your guns. Silver don't hurt Solaris. Just pisses them off. Travis, you okay?”

“Fine, lad. This young one...well, he won't be attempting to breed for a few months.” I grinned at the words.

“Good. Now, Amos.” I shot him in the other leg. I knew torture was not the best thing, but I didn't want him getting away this time. “You hurt me for years. You hunted me across states.” I shot past his head. He hadn't moved, barely flinched whe I shot him. Damn Seal training. “I was going to be a nice guy and just let you be if you let me be. You came after my mate. That,” I said and pulled the trigger one last time, “was where you messed up.” He dropped to the ground in a heap, the bullet in his head meaning he would not get back up. “Ashton,” I said coldly and he glared. I shot him in the dick. When he howled, I knew I had hit a literal sore spot. “That is for Colton. Good luck finding anyone to fuck without a dick.” I had eleven shots left. “Anyone else want to get on my bad side tonight? I'm a good shot, have PTSD, and my mate was taken from me and tortured. You tell me if you feel like being uppity.” No one, not even my friends and pack, made a move. “Good. Ashton, I'll leave you to take care of the trash.” I turned when I felt Zeke right there.

He just looked at me with mixed emotions. He could not really understand why I so easily put a bullet through his head. He could not understand why I shot Ashton's dick off. He could not understand...but he could accept it. He held open his arms. I shoved the gun into Dylan's paw and leaped into the arms of the man I loved. I know he felt me shaking. No words were exchanged. They weren't needed. Maybe now, after all of this...there would be some peace and quiet.