Abandoned and Unseen (Branded Packs #2)(27)

As soon as Tucker was gone, Anya turned in Cole’s arms and banged her head on his chest. “I want to go now. I want to run in there and get them. I don’t want to wait until dark. We’ve gotten through the SAU patrols so far, why can’t we try again?”

Cole tucked her hair behind her ear and rested his forehead on hers. “Anya, honey, as much as I hate to agree with that big, blond bastard, we got lucky so far.” He let out a sigh and ran his hands down her back. “We don’t know the area, and I won’t put my trust in anyone that quickly. Plus, my cat is telling me to stay behind for darkness. It would be smart.”

“I don’t want to wait. I want my babies.”

“I know. I want them back, too. And we’re going to get them. We just have to wait until it’s a bit darker. Then we’ll find them.”

He hugged her tighter, and she pushed at him as if realizing she’d been leaning on him in the moment. He didn’t let that bother him—much.

“I don’t know why that Unseen followed us, other than the fact that we were intruders in his territory.” She snorted. “It might not be his, but he claimed it just the same, didn’t he? Still. I’m grateful he came.”

Cole snorted. “Really? That *. He left. I’m here.” He shut his mouth quickly. Why the hell had he said that? He hadn’t meant to admit anything about that. Well, shit.

She rolled her eyes and threw her hands in the air. “Shut up. I don’t want him, Cole. I am grateful that he took time out of his busy day of acting all broody and mysterious to find us and give us a lead. But I don’t want him,” she repeated. “I want you.”

His cat purred, and Cole stalked toward her. “Really? Prove it.”

She cupped his face and kissed him. Hard. Her teeth bit into his lip, and she pulled away, panting. He wasn’t far behind her.

“I’ll prove it. Later. When we’re safe and not out in the open.” She let out a breath.

“This isn’t over,” he said slowly, agreeing with her on the timing.

“Oh, don’t I know it.” She rolled her neck. “Now, let’s get ready to go find my babies. Because I’ll be damned if that * human who thought he could take advantage of me is allowed to breathe another day. I’m going to make him bleed and beg me for forgiveness, but I’ll never give it to him.”

And just like that, he fell in love with a momma bear.

Talk about timing.





Chapter 8


They followed Tucker’s directions, and Anya prayed they weren’t heading into a trap. It had taken over an hour for them to reach the place Tucker had suggested since they hadn’t wanted to park near the place and make noise. They’d left their vehicle at another location and walked to where Tucker had said the boys might be. They’d studied the building and exit strategies together before they even thought of going inside.

While she wanted to run in, claws out for her sons, she couldn’t until they’d figured out what to do and had formulated a plan. Just because the Unseen were shifters, didn’t make them Pack. That was something she would never forget. The secret of their existence had been drilled into her the day her brother had become the Foreseer, but she could also pray that there was a sense of good in the polar bear. She hoped that he truly wanted to help in his own way when it came to the lives of her children.

Her mind working overtime taking in her surroundings and trying to work through how they’d gotten there in the first place, she tried to focus on what was in front of her.

The cat who’d risked his life for her.

She ducked behind Cole as they stared at the seemingly abandoned warehouse. Her bear pushed at her—wanting not only the man in front of her, but also blood from whoever had dared to touch what was hers.

Cole hadn’t wanted her there in the first place. Oh, he may not have told her as much, but there was no way a dominant shifter like him would like seeing her there. She could feel the pull between them—one that she was going to ignore until they were back at the compound, safe with her children. Because of that pull, she knew the immense strength of Cole’s dominance. He might not want her there, but he knew she could handle herself and hadn’t made light of her coming with him. He hadn’t fought it or told her she didn’t have enough experience. Instead, he’d simply told her the plan and asked if she had any better ideas. Then he’d gone on this mission tonight and knew she would be by his side as he would be by hers. Instead of dwelling on all of that, she ignored it, focusing on the one thing that truly mattered.

Her children.

The place looked like it was literally standing on its last leg. Dark, dreary, and so old it had to have been ready to fall down before the virus hit. How it was still upright—ever so slightly leaning to the side—she didn’t know. The building was also the perfect place for Frank to set up shop. She hadn’t seen a single SAU patrol or police cruiser since they’d begun surveillance. As soon as the cure for the virus was discovered and people started getting well, according to Cole, humans had shifted their focus to other parts of the city and their own kind. They ignored what they didn’t understand, either letting it fall to neglect like this place or caging it out of sight like her people.

The government and authorities didn’t care what happened in this area.