Page 45 of Redeemed Wolf

Maybe what they’d all needed was a villain to get this messy job done.

Shan bumped my shoulder with his. “Maybe, but it wasn’t anyone. It was you.” His smile turned teasing. “And you got a mate out of the deal, I see. Though I don’t see a bite on him anywhere…” He craned his neck, as though searching Carter’s body from a different angle.

I huffed a hard sigh. “He doesn’t even remember who he is. I couldn’t tie him to me forever when he didn’t even know what it means.”

Shan’s gaze moved down to where my own healed bite was peeking over the collar of my shirt, exposed from when I’d loosened the top buttons. “You’re a stronger man than I gave you credit for. I can’t imagine that feels good without its corresponding half. I only managed a matter of minutes without biting my mate in return, and that bite looks days old.”

My throat was tight as I swallowed, heat creeping up my neck. Though I’d been actively working toward being in Shan’s good graces, now that it came time to accept his praise, it was harder than I’d expected. “Almost a week,” I confirmed.

He laid a hand on my shoulder and squeezed in a brotherly way. “Good man.”

The sun seemed to set early here in the camp, nestled in amongst the trees, and it had been a long day. The adrenaline high had long worn off, and I could see Carter starting to sag. “Is there somewhere we can rest?”

“Take the cabin behind Jude’s. We had a few extras built quick since we figured we might have some company. It’s nothing fancy, I’m afraid, not befitting an Alpha, but—”

“I don’t need fancy,” I said. “As long as there’s a bed.”

He huffed a laugh. “There’s a bed,” he assured me.

I was about to collect Carter for the promised shower when we heard the rumble of an engine coming up the road behind us. Everyone went immediately on alert, heads darting up. Amelia was on her feet in an instant, grabbing Andy’s hand, ready to haul him off into the woods, no doubt, but Tristan dismissed us with a wave of his hand. “It’s just Joe. He called to say he was coming.”

Before the vehicle had even stopped, Jesse was leaping from the car. His cheeks were wet with tears, eyes puffy and red-rimmed. He let out this gut-wrenching sob as he ran across the clearing, a sound of such raw emotion that I swore I felt something tear inside me.

“Daddy?” Amelia said, her disbelief clear in her voice. She’d only taken a few steps toward him by the time he’d crossed the entire clearing, wrapping her up in a hug.

“Oh, my baby girl,” Jesse sobbed, leaning back to cup her face, tracking her features. “And where’s—” His eyes fell on Carter, and I immediately saw his intent.

Before he could take a step toward my mate, I moved in front of him, blocking his path, my hands out in front of me. “Whoa, hang on a second.”

He tried to step around me, and I felt Pacey at my back. “Get out of my way, Silas,” Jesse snapped.

“I can’t do that, Jesse, I’m sorry. He still needs a little space.”

The look on Jesse’s face was one of anger, confusion, and so much hurt, like he’d been physically slapped. I met his eyes and shook my head. “Just be patient, okay? You remember what it was like in the lab.”

His gaze found Carter, and he nodded jerkily. “Of course. Take all the time you need,” he told Carter, but it seemed to cost him something dearly. He clenched his hands into fists, fighting the urge to reach for his son. Moving slowly, deliberately, he joined them at the table, lowering onto a stool across from Carter.

Joe came to join me and Shan. He lowered his voice, but if any cared to listen, they would no doubt hear every word. “We got the rest of the rescues back to my estate. They’ll be safe there for now while we search for any family they might have left.”

“And the lab?” Shan asked.

Joe’s smile was dark and vicious. “Closed for business. Once you were clear, we made it our mission to raze the place to the ground, but we didn’t find Dr. Taylor anywhere on site, dead or alive. We’ve bought you some time, at least, but I would suggest having a talk with your pack—and with Vesta. You have some decisions to make.”

Shan looked grim. “Will there ever be a day when our lives aren’t in danger?”

“I’m sorry for bringing this to your doorstep,” I said, my shoulders heavy.

He shook his head, smiling sadly. “This has always been our fight. If anything, it was us who invited you to the party.”

I laughed lightly. “You sure do know how to show a guy a good time.”

My laughter died, smile falling. “I just wish we still had a way to keep an eye on what was going on within Apex, because Iknow for damn sure we haven’t seen the last of Dr. Taylor,” I lamented. Joe’s grin widened suspiciously. “What is it?”

“The man at the gate… Greg Thompson? Yeah, he’s working for us now.”

“What? How?” I sputtered.

Joe sniffed, fighting the urge to brag, but it was a losing battle. “So, a couple months ago, we picked up this woman, a former guard at the lab. She was looking for another job, and we just happened to have the perfect role for her.”

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