Bear
MyheartpoundedasI raced across the darkened lawn of the estate with the other five Moonlight Outcast members. The small runway was far enough from the mansion so it wouldn’t disturb anyone on the property, and the pilot could land with no lights on the runway.
The pilot had to be compelled over a dozen times over the trip across the states because none of the vampires’ compulsions would last more than an hour. Much less than it usually would if they were at full strength before their own rejections. Rejection could rip your soul in half, and even their powers were crumbling like the rest of us.
“Forty minutes. We need to be back on the plane,” Quillian said as he stared down at the side door of the conservatory. He’s wearing night vision goggles to enhance their vision like the rest of us. It doubled as cameras, which gave access to a feed so Switch and the rest of the club could watch at home.
Switch didn’t cut off all the alarms upon our arrival, so no one in the mansion would question any changes in the house. We were going to open and close doors one at a time, making sure to be as stealthy as we could. We weren’t sure if Duke Idris would take up residency or even knew if Shane Cunningham was dead. Running into the dark fae would mean certain death for all of us.
“You’re clear,”Switch said through our comms.
We all stepped inside and found ourselves in the conservatory. The vines wound up the glass, keeping a lot of the moonlight out but still giving us enough cover.
“Remember to stay together,” Quillian reiterated.
I growled, rolling my eyes. I was ready to move, ready to blast in there with guns blazing, claws out, and fucking kill them all.
“See that is not what we want,” Quillian snapped at my huffing. “This isn’t a Locke mission. He isn’t here. I’m the one in charge.” His black leather gloves stretched around his hands and grabbed onto my night vision goggles, pulling them toward him. “Don’t fuck up my system, Bear.”
I snarled, showing my teeth, and he let go, his eyes widening for a fraction of a second. He shook his head and threw out some hand signals only his guys would know.
Locke had his own hand signals, and I went on missions with him, not with these guys. So I just followed behind them, my hand on my Glock with a stupid silencer, and listened through the comm.
Switch spouted off directions, his voice calm, cool, and collected as he gave out orders. It was like he was right there with us, reading the map. He knew what was around every corner, if a guard was nearby, telling us when to wait, when to grab someone by the neck and take them out.
All was done in silence, not a single disruption and not another guard alerted of our presence.
As we moved through the house, we entered the massive hallway. It did not surprise us as we entered a den area with sleeping human bodies scattered around the couches and TV blaring with infomercials per Switch’s description. There were no women. Just beer bottles, lines of cocaine, drugs, glass pipes, and bongs lying everywhere.
We continued through the house, taking one man down at a time. The entire pack back home was watching on the big screens at the bar, watching our every move as we went through the house. It was deathly quiet through the comm as we grew closer to the kitchen.
I clenched my hands tightly, feeling my nails digging into my palms as my heart thumped wildly against my ribcage. The sound was deafening, like a muffled drumbeat echoing in my ears. But it wasn’t just my own heartbeat that I could feel—there was a low growl emanating from the depths of my being, a primal sound that rumbled in my chest like thunder. I could smell the musky scent of my own fear mingling with the sharp tang of adrenaline, making my nostrils flare. And beneath it all, I could sense the stirring of my grizzly, restless energy that pulsed through me like a live wire. It was both exhilarating and terrifying, and I wasn’t sure what it could mean.
As my claws grew longer, they shredded through the leather with a faint scratching sound. Quillian and the others were completely oblivious to the transformation happening to me. They were staring at Cyran, who was sniffing their air, pulling off his goggles and reaching for the kitchen door.
When I glanced down at my hands, the sight of my elongated claws was both mesmerizing and terrifying. The smell of freshly ripped leather hit me, and my eyes widened at the sight of my elongated claws. As I attempted to wrap my fingers around the trigger of my gun, the length of my claws made it difficult to maintain a steady grip, causing a sense of clumsiness and unease to wash over me.
Shit.
And everyone back home just saw it.
“Hey, big Bear,” a familiar voice came on the comm and it was none other than Journey.
Grim’s woman was the club’s priestess. The Moon Goddess blessed her when she willingly listened to the Goddess months ago when no one else would. She damn saved us all and is trying to get our stubborn asses to find our mates—not that I would ever reject a second chance. But, now that she was talking to me, maybe it was too late.
“We are on a private line, Bear. It’s just us,”she soothed.
I swallowed hard as the team watched Cyran staring at the kitchen door.
“Can you ask her to give me more time? I’m trying here.”
Hell, I was. The goddess couldn’t take me now. I’m trying to live, trying to get my chance.
I could almost see Journey’s smile. That’s how bright she was. A giggle came from her line. “I think I can do that. Just don’t stress, okay? Things are going to work out.”
Cyran pushed the door open, and the blinding light threw our night vision goggles back to daytime mode. Cyran’s throat made a growling, purring noise, and he projected his voice across the room. “Sleep,” he commanded.
In a sudden frenzy, he bolted across the spacious kitchen, barely avoiding colliding with the female who accidentally hit her head on the sharp edge of the island. Crimson blood trickled down her temple, creating a stark contrast against her pale skin. Without hesitation, he swiftly lifted the unconscious female, whom he had previously commanded to sleep, and cradled her delicately against his broad chest. A low, comforting purr emanated from him as he held her close.
