Abandoned and Unseen (Branded Packs #2)(63)

Shit.

If he insisted that he be allowed to stay with the female, it would only put her at greater risk. For now, Grant seemed willing to leave her alive. He had to trust they could get her out before the head of security changed his mind.

And he had a crazy idea of how they were going to do that.

“You.” Turning to Sinclair, Grant nodded toward a Jeep that was parked next to the gate. “Get the doctor.”

Sinclair gave a nod and hurried to jump into the vehicle.

The first thing he had to do was track Tucker down.

A polar bear shifter on the hunt for his mate would be…catastrophic.

****

Tucker groaned as he slowly regained consciousness.

He felt sluggish, as if he’d spent the night drinking his way through a barrel of whiskey. It wouldn’t be the first time. But he thought he’d outgrown his occasional need to join his friends in a night of drunken mayhem.

Forcing his eyes open, his puzzlement only deepened.

What the hell? He was in a house. A human’s house.

Unnerved, he planted his hands on the nasty carpet and shoved himself into a seated position. It was only when he glanced down to see the blood staining his shirt that the memories came flooding back.

Nicole.

In one fluid movement, he was on his feet and racing through the house. Seconds later, he was back in the living room. She was gone. And worse, he could detect the faint scent of her blood.

Fury burned away the lingering lethargy that came with the intense amount of energy he’d used to heal his wound. Thankfully, however, it hadn’t completely destroyed his ability to use his brain.

Which was the only reason he managed to contain himself long enough to leave the house and drive to the outskirts of town before he shifted into his animal form.

There was nothing that attracted attention like a massive polar bear running through the streets of Broomfield.

Once shifted, Tucker loped his way through the wildlife refuge before heading north.

He had no way of knowing exactly where Ian Viker would take Nicole, but Tucker was betting that he would be headed to the SAU headquarters.

Otherwise…

No. He wasn’t going to let himself even consider the possibility that the bastard may have disappeared with his female. Not if he wanted to stay sane.

Intent on reaching the headquarters, he ignored the wolf that was suddenly running at his side. He didn’t have time to explain things to his Alpha.

Right now, nothing mattered but finding Nicole.

Sinclair bared his teeth in warning then nipped at Tucker’s haunch. Still, Tucker refused to slow. It wasn’t until Sinclair had actually rammed into his side to knock him into a shallow stream that he was forced to halt.

With a shimmer of power, Sinclair was shifting into his human form, glaring at Tucker, who was trying to shake the chilled water from his fur.

“Listen to me,” the Alpha commanded, his brows drawing together as Tucker widened his jaws and prepared to attack. “Christ. Do you want to save Nicole or not?”

Those were the only words that saved Sinclair from being sliced to bloody ribbons.

With agonizing pain, Tucker forced himself to shift back to human. It was too soon to make the transition easy, but if Sinclair had information about Nicole, he had to be able to communicate.

Naked and wet, Tucker shivered as he climbed back onto the road. Not that he gave a shit about the chill in the air.

“Where is she?” he demanded.

Sinclair surveyed Tucker, his piercing gaze moving down to the tender bullet wound that was still visible. Then he answered.

“The SAU headquarters,” he said, swiftly moving to block the path as Tucker took a step forward. “Wait.”

Tucker bared his fangs. Dammit. He would destroy anything and anyone who tried to get between him and his female. Including his friend.

“Get out of my way,” he snarled.

Sinclair refused to budge. Typical Alpha.

“You’re going to get her killed if you go charging in there.”

Tucker growled in frustration.

He didn’t want to acknowledge that Sinclair might have a point. Not if it meant he couldn’t rampage his way through the building, killing the humans who’d stolen his future mate.

“What do you suggest?” he snapped, in no mood to be reasonable. “That I leave her there?”

Sinclair’s expression hardened, but he refrained from shoving his fist in Tucker’s face.

“Of course not. But I don’t intend to let you put yourself or your female in danger.”

With an effort, Tucker sucked in a deep breath. As much as his animal may want to create a bloodbath, he knew that it might very well endanger Nicole.

Clenching his hands at his side, he tried to clear his mind of his primitive fury.

“You’ve seen her?” he asked, his voice still edged with lethal anger.

Sinclair gave a slow dip of his head, no doubt preparing to physically try and stop Tucker if necessary.

“Yes.”

“Has she been hurt?”

A nerve twitched in Sinclair’s jaw. “She’s fine.”

Tucker quivered, barely capable of leashing his animal. “You’re usually a better liar,” he told his friend.

Sinclair grimaced before reaching out to place his hand on Tucker’s shoulder.

“She’ll be fine.” His fingers tightened in a silent warning. “As long as you’re smart about rescuing her.”