Savage Awakening (Alpha Pack #2)(69)

"I'd be honored to be included," Rowan said eagerly. "Yes."

"Objections?"

Aric expected one in this case, and not surprisingly it came from Hammer. Their friend who was also sweet on Aric's woman. A growl escaped from Aric's throat, but he managed to make it sound like a cough.

"She did fine before," Hammer said worriedly. "But we didn't know she was with us until it was too late. I've got my doubts about bringing a woman into battle, cop or not."

Oh, the big man would have his hands full with his own mate someday, with an antiquated attitude like that. Aric smirked to himself. Sure, he'd had the same urge to protect Rowan, but he knew she wouldn't have it.

"Are you saying you refuse to fight at her side?" Nick asked sharply. "That what? Her sex will be a distraction in the heat of danger?"

"No," their friend protested with a scowl. "I'm a better warrior than that, and you know it. You asked, is all, and I said my piece."

"Noted. Anyone else?"

"Nope."

"It's cool, boss."

To Aric, it was anything but cool. Being in the minority, he kept his trap shut. For a change.

"Everyone be armed this time, and use your gifts as you can. Let out your wolf-and panther-only if you have to get that close to one of these creatures. Wheels up in one hour."

The meeting was dismissed, and Rowan turned to Aric. "You're upset that I'm going. I can tell."

"I'm overjoyed," he drawled sarcastically. "Does it make a difference? You'll do what you want because you're as stubborn as anyone I've ever met."

"Including you."

"Yep." He tweaked her nose. "Meetcha at the hangar."

He left her standing in the hallway, and he felt kind of shitty about that. But he needed some distance between this woman and his emotions. He had to psych himself for the coming fight, or risk endangering his friends. His mate.

In his quarters, he stood panting, the fever almost unbearable. He had the strength to get through tonight, barely. This would be his last battle.

He'd make it f**king count.

One hour later, he was armed to the teeth as he strolled into the hangar. He headed for the group and glanced around for Rowan, then spotted her coming in after him. As she joined him, he grabbed a gun from the waistband of his leathers and handed it to her, butt first.

"My extra hand cannon, complete with silencer. Figured you'd need one."

"Thanks. I was going to ask, since they confiscated mine when I got here."

"No problem."

Nobody said much else as they loaded into two Hueys, buckled up, and took off for Texas. Time to kick some Unseelie ass.

And catch his bitch of a wicked stepsister.

They crept through the foliage, and Aric blessed the carpet of pine needles for muffling their approach. They were prickly, and the heavy pine scent in the air made his wolf itch to sneeze, but they were useful.

The Pack fanned out, but Aric kept Rowan close. The woods were almost pitch-black, occasional slivers of moonlight providing a path, like the floor lights in a movie theater. The Pack could see much better, but their human companions were vulnerable.

Thankfully, the cabin wasn't far off the isolated county road, so their trek wasn't as long as some they'd been on. Even though they were moving slowly and cautiously, within a half hour the place came into view. Crouching, they froze as a unit. The hulking shapes of more than a dozen Sluagh were posted in the front, on the porch and perimeter combined. Some lumbering around, a few dozing. One in particular was snoring in one corner of the porch, so loudly he could be heard halfway to Dallas if the wind was right. Aric snorted to himself. No matter how evil you were, good help was hard to find.

"Be careful," Nick whispered. "They just look stupid. Go in quiet, kill as many as you can before the alarm is raised, and then A.J. will do his thing. Okay, my group, let's take the back."

Nick, Ryon, Jax, and Zan moved off silently, leaving Aric, Rowan, Kalen, and Hammer to cover the front. A.J. hung back in the trees, sniper rifle in hand. They were as ready as they'd ever be.

Aric's group moved forward, and then spread out to pick off the beasts hanging on the outer edges, the ones alone and close to the shadows. Taking a deep breath, Aric took aim at one and fired. Thanks to the silencer, the shot made the barest whisper. It struck the kill zone and the thing slumped to the ground, dead.

The problem proved to be the noise their rather large bodies made when they fell. Hearing the thump and a grunt from its fallen comrade, one Sluagh swung its big head around, searching for the source of the disturbance.

"Come on, you big bastard," Aric said under his breath. "That's right, come on over and see what's going on."

Sniffing the air, the creature ambled toward his spot. A few steps later, it came upon the other's body and lifted its head to let out a roar. Aric fired again, striking this one in the heart as well, and it crumpled.

To his left and right, his group began taking out the rest of them, but their luck couldn't hold. Someone's shot went wide, hitting one beast in the shoulder instead. The creature let out a booming cry that brought the area to life and made his ears ring.

"Fuck."

Time to dance. They rushed the remaining creatures, picking off as many as they could before the numbers overwhelmed them and he, Hammer, and Kalen had to resort to their gifts. Just as he shot a Sluagh to his right, he spun to find two more nearly on him. He threw out a hand, unleashing his fire, grimacing as they burned, squealing.