Wolf Betrayed (Talon Pack #4)(29)

Gideon nodded. “That’s the plan. We’re not even going to take one to study. That’s how bad decisions are made, and things end up in the wrong hands.”

“I’m looking over the computer now, and the formula is still here, and it looks like it’s still not connected to a network,” Max said from behind them. Charlotte had been aware others had entered the room, but she’d been focused on the vials at the time.

“We’re destroying that, too,” Gideon ordered. “We want no evidence of what they did here.”

Kameron rolled his shoulders and met Charlotte’s gaze for a moment before turning to his brother, their Alpha. “We’ll set the majority of the charges here and put the rest at key places to ensure the explosion doesn’t harm any of the outlying areas. If you guys want to get out and give me and my people some space to work, we’ll be ready shortly.”

Charlotte suppressed a shiver. Kameron was always so cool, remote, in all of his deals. At first, she had thought it was because he was the Enforcer and that was his role, but now she wasn’t so sure. There was something lurking beneath the surface she didn’t quite understand.

In the end, though, she ignored it, knowing he was loyal and dedicated to his Pack, even if he scared her. She made her way outside the building. She was still on alert since anyone could be watching, but they had other wolves around the perimeter for that reason. The world wasn’t that large anymore with so many people looking in on what shifters were doing at all times, but for now, she felt as if in the darkness here, she could be alone…or at least hidden amongst the shadows.

“You think it’ll be over once the building is gone?” Shane asked after a few minutes of silence.

She stood once again between Bram and Shane. Bram, she knew, always tried to protect her, even if it was the simple task of standing near, but now Shane seemed to be doing it instinctually, as well. Soon, she’d have to teach Bram once more and Shane for the first time just how strong of a wolf she was. But for now, she let them work their protection gig.

They’d learn soon enough.

The first explosion rocked the ground beneath them, but they didn’t stagger. They’d been expecting it, after all. All of the wolves were a safe distance away. Kameron and his people were fast and efficient—they wouldn’t be working with the Enforcer if they weren’t.

“No,” she answered as flames escaped the windows and the structure collapsed in on itself. “No, I think it’s only the beginning.”

What came next was a mystery, but Charlotte prayed they were strong enough to face it.





COLLECTION


General Montag watched the monitors as his original compound burned to ash. He fisted his hands at his sides and cursed.

Damn wolves.

They’d found his research and had destroyed it. He hadn’t had time to grab everything on his way out. He might have tried to keep the computer on him as well as a vial or two, but he hadn’t been able to ensure its safety. He’d had meetings in Washington, and couldn’t have ensured the security it would take to keep his secrets hidden. Senator McMaster was already too suspicious of everything he was doing, even if the other man was supposedly on his side.

He’d never had cameras inside the building where he’d kept his plans, as he hadn’t wanted his face on anything that would incriminate him. However, he’d had a few placed outside the compound for an extra layer of security. He was glad he had because the men he’d hired had been useless. When he’d found out just how useless, he’d had them silenced permanently. There were no second chances when it came to a future of his making.

Montag paused the screen and looked at the image there. He’d thought Bruins dead, but he’d been wrong. The man was alive and working with the wolves. If anything, he seemed stronger, more alert.

The serum had worked.

Montag gripped the edge of his desk. And because of his need for secrecy, he’d lost everything it had taken to make the formula.

He touched the screen, his fingertip tracing Shane’s face. Not everything. The formula lay within the ex-soldier’s veins. Now that he knew Shane was alive, he’d find him and take him. There was no other option with so much on the line.

Montag’s attention turned to the dark-haired woman at Shane’s side and the other man in the frame. These two had worked with Shane and leaned toward him in other images. That fact might be useful later. Just what hedonistic things was Shane up to in the animal den?

As he clenched his jaw, Montag started working on a new plan. If Shane was alive and indeed a wolf, that meant he needed to be in the right hands. Not those of an animal who thought itself a leader. They called themselves Packs and howled at the moon like the dirty dogs they were. He didn’t care for what they turned into, but he did care what their strength could do for him.

He would be invincible with an army of wolves that only knew him as their leader.

There would be no more loss of human life, no more endless wars where he had the possibility of losing.

He would be their savior.

People would remember his name, his duty, his purpose.

He would be immortal.

And he only needed Shane Bruins to do it.





Chapter Eight


Things had been easier when he’d only been in love with his best friend. At least then, he only had one thing to worry about. Now it seemed as if the entire world had thrown him for a loop, and he wasn’t sure he’d find his footing again.