Page 58 of Hayden's Haven
Hayden spottedthe red hair of the DSA’s Maximus Sloan before he, Frank, and Sloan’s two dozen guards reached the center of Liam’s camp.
“This isn’t what we agreed to, Sloan,” Hayden said, working extra hard to contain his wolf which was even now clawing to get out and do some damage.
“You knew about this?” Liam said as he barreled out of his house, six soldiers in formation around him. With a glance to the hill behind the camp, Hayden counted another dozen soldiers, and that didn’t include the ones he smelled to the west and north. Sloan wasn’t taking any chances.
“Sloan is from the DSA.”
Liam folded his arms over his chest. A vein was pulsing fast at the side of his neck and his coal-black eyes didn’t begin to describe the anger Hayden smelled coming off the alpha. “I’ve already received the introductions, Novak. Explain what Damien’s done now.”
“Not Damien. Drake.”
“Your better half then. I should have figured.”
“Easy,” Frank whispered. Hayden hadn’t realized he was growling beneath his breath. He should have had that fight with Frank when he had had the chance. At least he would have gotten some of the aggression out of his system and wouldn’t have to fight his wolf to keep him calm while trying to handle both Liam and Sloan.
“I met with Sloan last week. It’s the reason I was coming to see you. To update you.”
“Damien’s going after Drake,” Liam said, arms still folded. It wasn’t a question. Liam had anticipated this eventuality. He didn’t even look at Sloan, but the DSA man was watching both of them closely, no doubt memorizing every detail.
“Unless I can talk him out of it,” Hayden said.
“Looks like I’m not the only one who changed the plans,” Sloan cut in.
“I didn’t change them. I still plan on handing Drake to you. My alpha and I disagree on how to capture him. Nothing more. That’s why I’m here, to get Liam’s help. Why areyouhere, Sloan?”
“Simple really,” Sloan said, his hand resting on the Glock in his side-holster. “This camp and everyone in it is leverage.”
“Leverage for what? I’ve already agreed to hand Drake over to you, and that’s what we’re doing. Except you and your soldiers here are impeding that.”
“Do it without them.”
“We’re not doing anything until you remove your soldiers.”
“As I said, Mr. Novak. They’re leverage. You now have one week to bring me the shifter Drake. What is his last name by the way?” The man was grinning, ear to ear. He knew. This was the entire reason he was holding Liam’s pack hostage. Sloan didn’t trust Hayden to do as he promised. As if the threat of dousing every U.S. forest with the shifter virus wasn’t enough of a threat. . .
“You know it’s Novak. Same as mine.”
“I suppose every family has a bad egg, even shifter families.”
Hayden took a second to look around at what was usually a busy area of the camp. Nothing appeared shot up, blown up, or even knocked over. “How did they overtake you, Liam?” he asked, trying to focus on an ally rather than the scumbag who was threatening to kill every adult and child shifter in Liam’s pack.
“Leverage on me, the same way he’s using us against you.”
Liam didn’t have family, which meant it was someone else Liam cared for. Speaking of caring, where was Aloe? Hayden looked to Frank and mouthed her name. A slight shake of Frank’s head. He didn’t see or scent her either.
“Any casualties?” Hayden asked, afraid to hear the answer.
“Just my pride.”
That alone was hard to hear coming from Liam. Whatever else Hayden thought of the alpha, Liam wasn’t one to back down from a fight or lose one either.
“You’ll have him, Sloan,” Hayden said.
The DSA man nodded, his grin long gone. “One week, shifter. The virus and your brother or the first pack we exterminate with SEV2 will be this one. And I promise, while it’s the first one, it won’t be the last.”
Chapter Twelve
HAYDEN
