If word got out that this tiny town harbored a trafficking ring, it would strike fear into the community, and they would leave.
With the warehouse going up in flames and the enemy properly disposed of, the town’s law enforcement let the entire wooden building burn until it was nothing but ashes. No traces were left behind—no bodies, no cameras or evidence for anyone. It was like nothing had happened in the old, worn building that would have eventually been torn down, anyway.
One could arguably say that the police in this town were just as evil as Idris and his men, turning a blind eye to the matter and reaping in the benefits while we took care of the town. But we needed it that way. We needed to be in control, and they all knew we could overpower them.
Our men scouted the whole warehouse before fleeing the flames, and no innocents were found. The building was deserted except for Idris and his men, which posed another problem. We didn’t have the rest of the missing women.
These women were nobodies. That was the appeal of taking the homeless or those with no families. No one was looking for them, and no one cared. The local police would do nothing about it, so it would be our job to find them and bring them back here to help them start over.
Because that was our job, our purpose. To help those who’d been rejected like we had been.
Like I used to be.
Three days after the fire died, Switch scoured the internet. Idris was dead in the supernatural world, but not in the human world. He thought he was so invincible that he didn’t even need to change his name. Instead, he went by Adam Idris, businessman and entrepreneur. He had his hands in the pockets of the many politicians around the country—stealing, blackmailing, human trafficking, gambling, you name it.
Since Switch had found the fucker’s name, he was dragging apart his entire empire via the internet. He was also working on hacking into Idris’s home computer, which had proven a challenge. Once he was inside, we hoped to find the women and any other scumbags that had worked under him.
Soon, we would have pages and pages of assholes we could go after and an abundance of places where we could find the innocents. It would take time to go through the information, but everyone in the club was more than willing to pitch in.
Journey slept for four days. I brought her home, and I immediately took her to the shower. I cradled her in my arms as I bathed her, washed away the blood and the dirt that covered her body. The only sounds that came from her were the gentle purr of contentment. She frequently nuzzled me, trying to find my neck for comfort.
She looked so frail when I held her beneath the water. Her hair was dark and damp from the constant flow of raining water, but I had to remember. My mate was a warrior.
Journey might have thought of herself as weak when I first brought her here, but she was far from it. The moment I laid my eyes on her, I knew she was strong. Despite finding her under the bed, shaking, she was a warrior. She survived.
Now my mate had blossomed into something new, my wilted flower had now come to full boom. She’d grown into what she was destined to be—a wolf, a priestess, full of hope and light that brought every one of my brothers and sisters a second chance. Because of her, they would live.
I kept her in our nest for days as she slept—cleaning her, bathing her, wrapping her into our blankets. She hardly moved as I kept watch over her, watching each breath escape her. It was the most rewarding feeling, having her by my side.
She was mine; she was everything I ever could have hoped for. I didn’t think I would ever be able to get my head around that.
Locke, Sizzle, and Bones kept frequent tabs on the both of us. It could be a delicate time when a wolf first shifted. It was a shock to the body, even for a shifter. I can’t imagine how it was for Journey. So, I wanted them to stay away. Let Leif comfort the beast inside my mate, that way she would be more receptive to waking up.
Bones offered to do an exam to see how she was healing and progressing. In reality, the bastard just wanted to monitor her so he would have a better idea of how future humans would take the shift.
I was a selfish bastard. I was going to keep my mate away from all the poking and prodding. She wasn’t a damned science experiment. So, I selfishly took the meals they left at the door and kept them away.
And I was left completely alone in my thoughts.
As the minutes ticked by, I only worried she wouldn’t wake, but Leif reminded me how much energy she had to put into becoming what we were. Journey had every right to sleep as much as she wanted. She was a damned hero to everyone, and her new priestess status only added to the legacy she was creating.
Leif continued to listen for Journey’s wolf. We could feel her wonder, her curiosity about the new world around her. Despite the outburst and taking immediate action when she saw us in danger, she would have trouble trusting anyone around us.
A jealous wolf. I liked the idea.
Leif purred, soothing the beast inside my mate. She was already perfect, Leif especially thought so. Most men would take it as a stab at their masculinity that they could not protect themself and their mate had to save them, but my heart swelled with pride.
She fought for me. She fought for us. She fought for all the souls waiting for a mate.
It was as if she didn’t need me.
Leif growled as I frowned. My finger traced her cheek as the doubts of inadequacy filled me.
She purred continually beneath me as I hovered over her. I’d like to think she was trying to comfort me, because all these thoughts running through my head were becoming worse. I rested my cheek on top of her head.
I took long, deep breaths until a spike of the most intoxicating smell enticed my lungs.
My eyes darted open, and a growl rumbled in my chest. I held her from behind as my dick pressed against her ass. I cupped her breast and squeezed it gently while my dick pushes into her body.
