Page 64 of Grim

Locke tapped the earpiece, bracing it in his ear. “Switch is off tonight, but apparently he is working from his room. We’ve got the mayor we saw when we rescued Journey from the warehouse. He’s got some back up, too.”

“How many and what species?” Hawke asked, putting his hand on his concealed weapon. His thumb thrummed over the metal to give himself comfort.

“Maybe four and species unknown. I have a feeling they are human, but they know what we are. Switch said he saw them on camera handing each other what appeared to be knives. I’m betting they’re laced with silver or wolfsbane.”

I growled, fist tightening. Journey laughed with Delilah, taking sips of a yellow drink.

“I don’t think they’re going to be a problem to deal with. They’re entering the lion’s den.” Locke chuckled, his eyes gazing over to Morpheus—a lion shifter—at the next table. Locke groaned, shaking his head at the stupid metaphor.

“You are just going to let them in?” Hawke hissed. “We have Journey and helpless human women here; you can’t be serious.”

“Oh, I’m dead serious.” Locke’s stared at the door, waiting for their arrival. “We have been hunting him, and now he is right here on a silver platter.”

Hawke groaned at another metaphor and rubbed his eyes with his fingers. “Fine, but we need to let others know of the possible hidden weapons.”

Locke waved his hand indifferently. “They already know. I’ve got a little errand boy making the rounds. Now, I need both of you to remain cool. I’ll be doing the talking, then we’ll have them escorted to the basement. We have to question these fuckers, find out if there are any more parties. Our trail is running cold after the last party Grim missed.”

I was usually more present in Locke’s life, but after finding Journey, I had slacked on my duties. However, he wanted me to spend more time with my mate. He longed to find his own mate and wanted to see if he could truly get his hopes up if Journey and I solidified our bond.

Nothing like being the lab rat for your best friend.

My instinct to move to Journey was cut short when the frigid blast of wind came through the door, bringing in the humans. They were indeed human, defenseless humans amongst the shifters filling the bar.

The music paused, and the club members all stared at the humans. I could hear Morpheus chuckling, along with other members mumbling to themselves what idiots these humans had to be.

As Locke and the mayor talked, my wolf grew anxious. He paced inside me, ready to unleash the power that had been restored to him. Journey was here in the presence of someone who sold women into slavery.

My jaw ticked in agitation, especially when my mate gasped from the other side of the room. Her body trembled, and my wolf jumped to attention.

We pushed past Locke, Hawke, and the bystanders that stared at my mate. I pushed some so hard, they tumbled into others.

My heart raced until I had her in my arms. I wanted nothing more than to rip the bastard to pieces, but my mate needed me. She needed my touch.

As I held her in my arms, the only word that escaped her that registered was “rape.” My wolf took over my body so quickly, I had no chance to hide the physical changes my body underwent.

Fear appeared in my mate’s eyes. She wobbled, looking at me with her caramel eyes. My heart throbbed, but the rage I needed to expel was far too great.

Voices muffled around me, my fury overshadowing them all. I let go of my death grip on my mate’s arms. My wolf’s claws emerged, and I pivoted to face the mayor himself.

He paled, his enormous belly jiggled as he stumbled backward. “You,” I growled, stepping forward and grabbing his collar.

Club members had already corralled the men that followed him, searching their pockets and bags for weapons. The mayor attempted to scream but stuttered, and my claws scraped over his chest.

I wanted to tear him apart piece by piece, make him suffer for touching what was mine and pay for any other females who suffered because of him.

Locke yelled, his commanding voice no longer able to control my wolf. My fangs erupted, leaking venom until I bit into the mayor’s shoulder.

The yell of pain caused a chain reaction. Members who still held onto the faintest control of their animals snarled and began clawing at the intruders. This was their home, their den, their lair, their pack. Glass shattered onto the floor, men and women ripping clothes off the intruders.

The situation grew out of hand, but all I could do was watch from the inside of my mind. My wolf had become the driver, too busy wanting to seek vengeance for our mate.

“You touched her,” my wolf snarled, ripping at his shoulder.

His pitiful screams filled the air, my venom making the bite that much worse. The serum helped break down bone, muscle, and skin. The burning stench of his skin filtered into the air, and satisfaction filled me as blood ran into my mouth.

My wolf groaned, lapping at the decaying flesh until Locke put his steady but firm hand on my shoulder. “He has to live. We have to find the others.”

My wolf ignored him, my claws reaching around the mayor’s neck, ready to slit his throat. “Think of Journey! Think of what she would want, Grim. She wants justice for all. She wants them all to die, every single one that touched her. How can we do that if you kill him now?”

---