Page 84 of Hayden's Haven
“Which one?” Travis asked.
“Hayden.”
“This could work out really well,” Travis said with a haunting grin.
Vance had that glint in his eye, the one that always made Mila shudder within. “That’s why I brought her here. Of all the shifters to fuck, she picked him.”
“Killing the humans in those two towns didn’t work. The government’s too scared to enter this deep into the forest.”
“They’re holding Greyson’s pack hostage demanding Black turn over the shifter responsible.” Vance laughed. “Hayden told them it was Drake. Ratted out his own brother.”
“Doesn’t surprise me. You were right to bring her if you think it will draw Hayden here.”
“Oh, it will,” Vance said. “If you fucked her, you’d know why.”
“Good. Drake doesn’t think straight when it comes to his brother.” Travis walked over to Mila, grabbed her by the chin and thrust her head back. “How about renting her to me for a bit when we’re done?”
Mila pulled her head away. Travis chuckled. “Spirited. I like that.”
Vance stood there looking down on her, his arms crossed over his chest. “Hear that, Mila? If you don’t start obeying me, you’ll get more than a fist to your face.”
“Or we could share her. Have a grand celebration just the three of us.” Travis elbowed Vance in his side. “Come on, Van. Old time’s sake. Or I’ll get another piece of ass in here for you, one that won’t complain about a little pain, while I have fun with green-eyes here.”
The set to Vance’s face eased as he put an arm around Travis’s shoulders. “I have a better idea. I want to get back to my pack so my alpha can have an accident. You can keep her while I’m gone. Keep her busy, teach her to appreciate me.”
“Now that’s what I’m talking about.” Travis squeezed Mila’s breast and she clamped her eyes shut.
“Now let’s figure out how to give Damien Black exactly what he wants,” Vance said as he hoisted Mila to her feet and they continued walking through the woods.
* * *
HAYDEN
“Why are you here instead of Frank,” Hayden asked Callen as they neared the southern border. Hayden hadn’t questioned Callen when he had shown up to accompany him, as his mind was on Mila. He had considered turning around and going north instead, sneaking into her pack and stealing her back while Damien and their forces headed south to overtake Drake. It would have kept Hayden away from Drake, from potentially having to kill his own brother, but this plan had the best chance of succeeding for all.
Damien could speak with Truman first, as the two alphas got along for the most part. If that didn’t work, Damien would have the shifters he needed to go in and rescue her by force. Truman’s new shifters were lone wolves from other packs who would not have had the training or time to learn to fight as a unit yet.
Every time Damien and Hayden accepted a new wolf into the pack, it took on average three to six months for the shifter to learn the territory as well as the rules. Every pack had their own system, their own routines, but the hardest part of joining a new pack was learning the personalities and making those friendships that bonded another shifter to you to the point that they’d risk themselves for you. Wolves without those bonds turned away from a deadly fight too easily. That’s what made Truman’s pack weak for the time being, unlike Drake’s pack that had worked together for generations. Drake had his share of screwups and lazy shifters to contend with, but the pack knew how to fight as a unit when needed. Damien’s shifters never would have reached Drake. But Drake would let Hayden enter.
“Damien was so impressed with how well we worked together last time he thought I’d be a better back up for you.”
“Bullshit. I do just as well with Frank.”
Callen sighed. “Fine. Kate sweet-talked him into having me go because she’s worried about you.”
“And Drake.”
“And Drake. Actually, she was sweet-talking Damien into letting her come and he was about to sayyes.”
Hayden raised a brow.
“Okay, Tess and Kate together almost convinced him to sayyes.”
“These women sure know how to join forces when they want something.”
“I don’t want her near Drake,” Callen said, not sounding the least bit happy. “Kate is still too innocent, too forgiving when it comes to Drake.”
That didn’t surprise Hayden. Drake had always had a soft spot for Kate as kids, and apparently she had one for Drake too. On the other hand, he wondered if Kate saw something in him the rest of the world couldn’t see, including Hayden. She hadn’t known some of the things Drake had done when Drake had befriended her a few years back, as adults this time.
