Chapter 17: Chapter 17

SLOAN

Twenty minutes later, Sloan was staring down at the grisly scene. There were two brutally slaughtered bodies in the cell, and the doors were wide open.

Bloody footprints, both human and animal, were spread chaotically around the room. “Before you ask, it’s Toby and Adam.”

“Fuck. They were rookies,” Sloan said under his breath.

“From the layout of their bodies, Toby was first, then Adam. It looks like he tried to get to the panic button.”

Sloan’s nostrils flared as he inhaled all the different scents in the room.

He separated the overpowering metallic rust scent of blood over the sickeningly sweet smell of Tristan’s cologne and the residual scent of Myra on his beard.

~“What is that? Ash?”~

“Yeah, I smell it too. It’s ash.”

“It’s familiar. I just can’t place it,” Sloan confessed, still staring at the two dead shifters. “They were just rookies. Guarding Elizabeth should have been an easy task.

“How the hell did she get in and out without anybody seeing her?”

“There are at least six different footprints, not including Elizabeth’s. She had help. We think she’s working with the rogues,” Tristan responded grimly.

“Fuck,” Sloan muttered. “Well, we’ll have to search the premises thoroughly.”

“Declan’s on it, Alpha,” Tristan responded.

Sloan nodded and mind-linked with Declan to get an update.

A moment later, he responded, ~“We’re still going through the CCTV footage to see what the hell happened. Security also swept through the entire pack house, everywhere except your bedroom.”~

Sloan felt like his world screeched to a halt.

“FUCK! Myra!”

The reality of the situation crashed down on him.

Their home was being infiltrated and violated by rogues who had already proven they had no problem killing, and he had just left Myra unsecured in a soundproofed room.

Without saying another word to Tristan, Sloan rushed back to their bedroom.

It didn’t take him long to climb the three flights of stairs back to their oasis. As he rounded the corner, he saw his worst fears confirmed.

His bedroom door was hanging off its hinges.

Panic surged through him as he approached.

~Myra had been taken by rogues.~

~But~ ~wait a second. He’d broken the door last night at the height of lust. It was already hanging off its hinges.~

He ran forward and lifted the broken door off its hinges and hurried into the room.

Instantly, a wave of relief washed over him.

“What…? Who…? Umm…,” mumbled Myra incoherently, waking from her peaceful slumber.

He sighed in relief that she was unharmed, but the sight of her bare breasts reminded Sloan that Tristan was right behind him.

Sloan growled and turned to attack his brother, but the smart beta had stayed away from the bedroom. Sloan quickly closed the door, providing them with some privacy.

“Angel, I know you didn’t get much rest…,” Sloan started to explain, looking at the clock and wincing. It had only been two hours since he’d left her here. “But there’s a problem, and you need to get dressed.”

He watched as she let out a great big yawn before attempting to rub the sleep from her face. Her hair was a curly mess, which only added to her cuteness.

Her movements slowed as her head dropped gently to the side and her breathing evened out.

Sloan slowly approached the bed, looking around for anything different within the room. He rubbed her soft cheek and whispered to her. “Angel… Myra, I need you to wake up.”

“But I don’t want to go to school.” She smiled, opening her eyes again, but she froze when she looked into his. Worry flashed over her face. “What happened?”

“There was a breach in pack security last night,” he said. “Elizabeth escaped, and two rookies are now dead.”

“Oh my god.”

“Declan’s reviewing the security tapes as we speak. You need to get dressed, and our room will be swept as a precaution,” Sloan explained.

She nodded, and he watched as she untangled herself from the bedsheets. She winced climbing out of bed.

He gently stroked her cheek and smiled sweetly at her. He observed the dark circles and bags under her eyes, and he smirked to himself.

“Good morning, angel,” he whispered, laying a featherlight kiss on her still-swollen lips.

“Morning.” She giggled as Sloan kissed down her neck to where he marked her last night. “What happens now?” Her question was like a dash of ice-cold water to his libido.

~Dammit, get your head in the game, Jamison.~ He cleared his throat before answering, “You stay here. I’ll get you something to wear.”

He grabbed one of his white T-shirts and a pair of his sweatpants. “Here you go.”

“I’m not even going to protest your choice.”

“Two reasons. One, I don’t want to waste time searching for a dress for you, and two, I like my scent all over you,” he said, nuzzling her neck.

She giggled, pushed him off her, and quickly pulled on the clothing.

Sloan struggled to concentrate after the sight of her naked body, but he allowed the reality of their current situation to keep him in check.

The last thing she did was take one of his hair ties from the bedside table and pull her hair into a messy bun.

“Adorable.” He smiled, taking a tie as well and tying his hair up into a man bun.

“Not done. I’m drowning in your clothes,” she said, knotting the hem of the tee and folding the sleeves. “Done. I just need to brush my teeth.”

He nodded and accompanied her to the bathroom, his eyes still roaming over the room, looking for something that did not belong. She quickly brushed her teeth, and just as she was finishing up, Declan’s voice echoed in his head.

~“Alpha?”~

~“We’re on our way,” ~Sloan replied, taking Myra’s hand in his, and they exited the room. “Tristan, please have the crew thoroughly check the room for anything.”

“Gotcha. Bugs, listening devices, video recordings, et cetera.”

Sloan nodded, leaving his brother to deal with it. With Myra in tow, he walked down to the ground floor. He avoided passing the dungeons on their way to the security office, but the smell of death still hung faintly in the air.

“This isn’t how I imagined our claiming.”

“Oh yeah? How did you imagine it?” she teased. The sensual coo of her voice caused his fragile control to snap.

Sloan pushed her up against the nearest wall, and he kissed her deeply. He felt her nails rake through his hair as their tongues danced with each other.

His hands roamed over her back and down to her butt, which he squeezed, earning him a moan from Myra. “You’re playing with fire, angel.”

“But you burn me so well.”

“Excuse me.” Declan cleared his throat, reminding Sloan that they weren’t alone in the house, which was crawling with shifters. The threat and consequences of Elizabeth’s escape were hanging over them.

“One problem at a time,” Sloan muttered, more to himself than to anyone else.

“Sorry,” Myra said.

“Never apologize for wanting me.” He smiled, set Myra back on her feet, and looked over at Declan. His beta stood discreetly away from them and avoided spying on their carnal activities.

“What did you find?”

“Come and see for yourself,” Declan said, entering a room to his right.