Chapter Nine

 

 

 

Dakota pulled at the neck of the shirt she’d borrowed. She couldn’t wait until she made it down to the locker room to shower and dress in her own clothes. But first she needed to finish going over all the paperwork on the rescued shifters they were housing in the medical wing.

Alex had been taken back to the hotel with Jackson and his men to receive blood and be kept under guard.

So, it was just the shifters that had been admitted for observation. With the paperwork in hand, Dakota paced the corridor. There was no record of a young cougar shifter. They were missing her.

“What are you doing?”

Dakota whirled around. “You startled me,” she told Remy.

“Sorry.” He held up his hands. “Kieran sent me to find you. He wanted to make sure you’d gotten something to eat.”

“Yeah.” She waved him off. “I will.”

“You might want to clean up, too.”

“Sure.” Dakota glanced down at the files in her hand again. “Was everyone but Alex transported back here?”

“Yes.”

“You’re sure?” she pressed.

“What’s going on?” he asked.

“I saw a female cougar shifter in the cells. She was the first one I talked to. She was gone when I was helping Max out and she’s not here now.”

“Let me look.” Remy held out his hand. “Why don’t you go clean up and I’ll see what I can find out? I’ll meet you in the cafeteria in thirty.”

“Yeah,” Dakota agreed. “That’d be good.” She passed the folders over then turned to go down to the locker room. A hot shower really did sound good.

“Hey, Dakota,” Remy called.

“Yes?”

“Have you seen Sparro?”

She turned back to face him. “No, I checked in with his assistant when I got back, but she said he’d called in and had some meetings out of the office today.”

“Thanks,” Remy said.

“Sure. I’ll see you in a little bit.” She continued her way downstairs. It was weird Remy had asked about Sparro, but it was also worrisome Sparro wasn’t there. This was the biggest case in years and their director was missing.

Dakota took the stairs instead of the elevator. She thudded down them, thinking about her boss. She needed to talk to Kieran and see if he had any ideas. What if Bradley had somehow gotten hold of Sparro?

As she ran down the stairwell, she pulled out her phone to text Kieran.

 

Sparro missing? Could Bradley have taken him?

 

She slipped her phone back in her pocket before hitting the door and slamming it open. The ladies’ locker room was the first door on the right and she hurried through, glad it was empty.

“Good,” she murmured. The alone time would do her some good and help get her head on straight. She hadn’t slept much the night before and it had been a rough day with the shifting.

Dakota undressed and dropped her clothes on the bench in front of her locker.

“We need to talk.”

“Shit!” She jumped and whirled around. “Don’t scare me like that!”

Kieran grinned. “You should use your senses better.”

“In the locker room?” she asked. “In a building full of paranormals?”

“Especially here,” he said. “I have something to tell you.”

“I was going to shower. I still smell like that place.” Dakota did her best to hold in a shudder. It would be a long time before she recovered from all she’d seen.

“Okay.” He pulled his shirt over his head. “Let’s take a shower.”

“We’re in the women’s locker room. At work.”

Kieran unbuttoned his pants and let them drop. She watched as he got completely naked.

“This is a really bad idea,” she told him. Even to her own ears her words held no conviction.

He strode forward and lifted her off her feet before carrying her toward the showers. Halfway there he started kissing her and Dakota let go of all her worries. She’d just take a minute to enjoy being with him.

Dakota had her arms and legs wrapped around him as she ravished his mouth. He tasted so good, but most importantly he was alive.

After what she’d seen done to some of the shifters who’d died, she had a better idea of what Kieran had lived through. She’d seen the scars, felt them under her fingertips just as she did now, and heard Kieran and Jackson talk about their experiences, but she hadn’t known. Not really.

She ripped her mouth away as he stepped into the tiled shower area. There were six showerheads in the large open area. He walked to the closest one and turned on the spray.

“I want it hot,” she told him. They both knew she wasn’t talking about the temperature. Kieran would be a lot more successful at making her feel clean than the water.

“You’ll get it.”

Her back hit the wall as he covered her body with his. Dakota arched so she could rub up against him. He nipped and sucked at her neck while she rolled her hips. It was obvious she wasn’t the only one feeling desperate for the connection between them. Kieran was already hard as he pinned her.

“You want me?” he teased as he brushed his fingers up against her clit.

“Yes,” she hissed.

He plunged one digit inside and Dakota rocked.

“More,” she demanded.

Kieran added a second finger, thrusting them in and out. Dakota let her head drop back as Kieran began to play with her. They ended up in the shower together quite often and she loved it.

“I need you,” she told him. “Take me.”

Kieran withdrew his fingers and grasped the base of his cock. Dakota watched him, licking her lips, trying to keep from begging.

“Hang on to me,” Kieran ordered.

Dakota tightened the grip she had to his shoulders.

He threw his head back and roared as he plunged his shaft into her pussy. Dakota cried out in ecstasy and he began to plunder her.

“Harder,” she ordered. “I can take it.”

Kieran sped up his thrusts, moving her higher up the wall each time he slammed into her. Dakota’s nails bit into his shoulder and she could smell his blood. Her vision grew sharper and for the first time ever during sex, she was afraid of losing control.

“Kieran.” She whispered his name.

“It’s okay,” he reassured her as he stopped. “Let your jaguar come to the surface.”

“No.” She shook her head. It was bad enough that she’d already let her jaguar rule during the fight, but she couldn’t give the power over during sex. She didn’t want to hurt her lover. “I can’t.”

“You won’t shift. But now your jaguar knows I accept her, she needs to come to the surface.”

He sounded so sure. “What are you talking about? How do you know?”

“Instincts,” he told her.

Dakota nodded even as she remained unsure. She always loved to feel the jaguar inside, but this new fear changed so many things for her. She could still feel him pulsing inside her and wanted to just let go of her uncertainty to be with him. “Okay.” Dakota could try. Kieran was always telling her that he could keep himself safe. This might end up being the biggest test, though.

Kieran rested his forehead against hers as he slowly withdrew. “Let me see all of you.” He thrust back in and Dakota kept looking at him. Keeping that connection, their bond, open.

As Kieran began to drive himself deeper, she felt the electric spark that was always between them sizzle and snap.

She tilted her head back and howled as her jaguar came to the surface. Her vision was sharp, her hearing precise and her scent better. The water fell around them with steam rising to surround them in their own world. There was a wildness within not only her body but also her mind. This was her man, her mate. He needed to claim her with his seed and she would feel complete.

Her teeth lengthened, but she didn’t shift. Instead she felt more connected to her animal and to him than ever before in her life. Dakota clung to him. She couldn’t hold back the sounds, small mewing noises she was certain she’d never made before.

“Look at me!” he demanded.

She raised her gaze. He was beautiful. Dakota gripped the back of his head while keeping his face close.

Kieran spread her legs wider and she bucked her hips to meet each of his frantic strokes. He filled her deep each time and Dakota couldn’t hold back any longer. She roared as she climaxed.

He didn’t stop or slow down. Instead, as her body went limp, he tightened his hold and drove on. She was so slick from her release that each thrust remained velvety smooth. Dakota forced his head back and attacked his neck with her tongue, making sure her sharp teeth stayed covered. She did nip at him when he started to tremble.

“Mine!” he yelled, coming within her.

She cried out as he climaxed. Her feelings were swirling around and she didn’t know which to hold on to. The exhaustion edged out all other feelings, though. With his shaky legs, he showed he was just as wiped out.

They collapsed down onto the tiles, but luckily she landed on top of him.

“I think you’re trying to kill me,” she muttered.

“No.” He rolled over before bracing himself on his elbows. “I won’t ever let you get hurt.”

“I know.” She cupped his face. “I was only kidding.”

He nodded.

“That was intense, though,” she said.

“It was the first time we gave our other halves full range together,” Kieran mused.

“How’d you know we could do that?”

“It was just a feeling. Ever since I first went into the caves, my instincts seemed heightened, along with my other senses.”

“That’s strange. Is it something we need to worry about?”

“We have enough to keep us busy right now.” Kieran stood, bringing her with him. “Finish cleaning up. We still need to talk.”

“My bag’s still in my locker. I need my shampoos and soaps.” She really didn’t want to move, but they’d only have the locker room to themselves for so long before someone else came in. Maybe Kieran would take pity on her. The sex had been his idea, after all.

“I’ll get it.”

She grinned. He really was amazing to her. As Kieran walked away, Dakota moved back under the spray and let the water wash away the evidence of their lovemaking.

“Here.” Kieran handed her a bottle.

Dakota poured some into the palm of her hand before she began to wash. Kieran stepped up behind her with a bar of soap.

“If you do that, we’ll end up rolling around on the tiles again,” she told him.

“It’ll save time,” he replied.

She had to ignore the feel of his hands on her body and that wasn’t easy. Dakota finished cleaning up and twisted the knobs to turn off the water. She grabbed the towel Kieran held out to her.

“What do you want to tell me?” she asked.

Kieran motioned his head to the side. “Come on.”

Dakota followed him back into the main part of the locker room. Her bag was on the bench with clothes lying on top. She wiped off the water as she walked.

“Caspar is missing,” Kieran stated.

Fuck. Dakota shook her head. “So is Sparro.”

“But not for the same reasons.”

“What does that mean?”

“We have evidence that suggests Sparro has been helping Bradley,” Kieran told her as he dressed.

“No.” Dakota grabbed her clothes and pulled them on in jerky movements. “I can’t believe you’d even say that. I know you don’t trust him but—”

“Caspar told Remy. Emailed him the files from Mount Fauna.”

“The same ones Jackson gave you?” Dakota knew more than she’d let on.

“Yes,” Kieran said. “It’s Sparro.”

Dakota yanked her shirt on. “I want to see the proof.”

“That’s the problem. We have evidence, but not the proof we need yet.”

“So what are you going to do?”

“Let’s go get you something to eat.”

“You didn’t answer my question.” She grabbed his arm. “What are you going to do?”

“I’m going to get the answers out of Bradley and the doctor.”

“We have trained agents—”

“No!” he yelled. “No one but us gets to talk to any of them. Dean is handling the shifters in the medical unit and Jackson is coming in to help me with Bradley and the doctor.”

“But—”

“I only trust our group. Our friends.”

She started to argue but thought about what he’d just said. “Our friends?”

“Jackson, Dean, Gabe, Mitch, Remy, even Damon. Those are who we trust.”

He might not have noticed the number of people he trusted had grown, but she did.

“Okay, but there’s something I have to do,” she said.

He nodded.

“There was a female cougar shifter in one of the cages. She was gone by the time I got Max, but she’s not here. She never got checked in.”

“You think she might still be there?” he asked.

“I have to find out,” Dakota said. “Maybe she shifted and is happily roaming the Red Rocks, but if not, then she needs help.”

“You don’t go alone.”

She nodded.

“And you eat first. You’ll probably have to shift again.”

“Remy is supposed to meet me in the cafeteria.”

“Good.” He grabbed her hand and drew her to him. Dakota lifted onto her toes and kissed him as he lowered his head.

They parted as someone came into the locker room.

“Uh…” The female agent paused, looking at Kieran.

“We were just leaving,” Dakota said, shoving her bag back into the locker.

Kieran started to snicker and she glared at him, which only made him laugh harder. She had to dart back into the shower and grab her soaps and other shower stuff, then dropped them into her locker and slammed it closed.

“Come on, wise guy.” She yanked Kieran behind her.

 

* * * *

 

“Three hours,” Jackson said as he paced next to the table with a scalpel in his hand.

He was a scary sight, but luckily Kieran wasn’t the one tied to the table. “Three hours and fifteen minutes to be exact,” Kieran corrected from where he had his feet up on the desk inside the interrogation room.

“Stop! Just stop!” Doctor Scott McCall begged. For all the torture the doctor had put them through, he wasn’t doing so well himself. He’d already pissed his pants and hadn’t stopped talking at all. They’d barely had to put any pressure on him. Which was a real pity, because as much as Kieran would have loved to be brutal, they hadn’t had a need for it. Scott was having no trouble giving up info or remembering anything he’d done.

They’d also gotten intel once the doctor had been taken into custody. He’d been fingerprinted and his DNA swabbed, which had all kinds of details popping up from their system.

The man who had tormented them for years had been once a doctor who’d had his license revoked for experimenting on his patients inside the hospital for mental illness where he’d worked. That little titbit hadn’t surprised Kieran at all.

Jackson picked up one of the other tools from the tray and laughed. “What else can we use?”

“I made you better,” Scott told them.

It was also easier knowing his name now. The mystery being gone helped Kieran really see the doctor clearly for the first time. He might be a monster, but so were many other men and women in the world. He was just a high-priced murderer. The doctor held no secret power over them and finally Kieran wasn’t scared.

“I made you better,” Scott repeated.

“Better?” Kieran leapt to his feet and leaned over the doctor. He was tired of hearing that sentence. The really fucked-up thing was the doctor actually believed his own words. “You tried to kill me.”

“You’ll see,” Scott claimed. “You’ll be the most powerful Walker in the world. Your instincts will be sharper and you’ll need less blood. I improved you.”

Jackson went to cut the doctor, but Kieran caught his wrist. This was new information.

“What are you talking about?”

“I added something extra to your DNA. A concoction that includes some traits from shifters. You’re the only Walker it worked on though,” Scott said. He turned to Jackson. “I thought it was working with you. You showed such promise.”

“Then what happened?” Jackson asked.

“You died,” Scott told him. “Or at least I thought you were dead. You had no vitals at all.”

“So you dumped my body?”

“What was I supposed to do with you?” Scott asked. The man actually seemed confused by the question.

“What did you put in me?” Kieran demanded. He wasn’t sure how to feel about this development. If what the doctor was telling him was true, Kieran was even more fucked-up than he’d known.

“Everything and anything I could,” Scott replied.

“Oh, that’s helpful,” Jackson muttered.

“I don’t know what took and what didn’t,” Scott said. “If I had the chance to run some tests—”

Jackson punched the doctor before he could finish the statement. “You won’t be doing anything like that ever again. Your time of torturing people is over.”

“I don’t think so,” Scott replied. “I was making a breakthrough. If it worked on Kieran, the reverse should work on the shifters. We can finally be as strong and fast as you.”

Kieran shook his head. “That’s what you were doing with the shifters this time, wasn’t it? You were trying to add DNA from Walkers into their system.”

“I’m close!” Scott screamed. “I could feel how close I was. If I just had a little more time. I needed more samples from a Walker. We took Alex, but he wasn’t handling it as well as the two of you. I told Bradley if I could just get you back…”

This time it was Kieran who stopped the rant. He grabbed the doctor by the throat and squeezed. This guy was fucking unbelievable. “You wanted us back?” he asked. “Well, you got us. Even though I’m sure you’re going to find being on this side of things feels a lot different.”

“I had plans for you,” Scott told him. “And your lover. You could have given me the perfect gift. A child from a Walker and a shifter. Think about the possibilities.”

Kieran was so filled with rage he began to squeeze tighter without realizing it. The doctor’s eyes bulged and his body jerked where it was tied down.

“I won’t stop you killing him, you know,” Jackson said easily.

Kieran ripped his hand away and turned around. He was tempted to follow through and just end the miserable bastard, but he had to think of the shifters that needed help now. Scott was still useful. That didn’t mean Kieran wouldn’t put fear into him.

“Tell me something.” Kieran leaned close. “What did you and Bradley do to make your blood smell off?”

“It’s just some natural ingredients I have. If you drank enough of it, you’d be sick for a few days,” Scott answered.

“It made you both sick?”

“Yes, but it’s worth it. We didn’t want to take the chance of being bitten and drained.”

Kieran shook his head. “All the time you spent torturing and experimenting on us and you still don’t know anything about us. It’s really sad.”

“We know you’ll lose control eventually,” Scott said.

“Get everything you can out of him,” Kieran ordered Jackson. He wiped his hand on his pants, trying to remove the feel of the doctor. Next time he would wear gloves. He didn’t want his skin anywhere near Scott.

“And then?” Jackson asked. They both knew they wouldn’t kill Scott yet, but Kieran liked to play along.

“Whatever you want,” Kieran told him. “If you do kill him, make sure it’s as slow and painful as possible.”

Jackson grinned, showing off his fangs.

“No!” Scott screamed.

“What are you going to do?” Jackson asked, ignoring the doctor.

“I’m going to check to see if our other guest is awake.” The medical team had treated Bradley earlier under his watchful eye and he’d put Dean in charge of him while they waited for him to regain consciousness.

“You need me?” Jackson asked.

“Not yet,” Kieran assured him. “Take your time.”

“I plan to. It won’t hurt the good doctor if his visit is extended.”

Kieran nodded. “I’ll call you when we’re ready.” He stepped out of the room to Scott’s screams. He didn’t feel an ounce of remorse. Especially at the comment about his and Dakota’s baby.

They were far from even discussing children. Hell, Kieran hadn’t even told her he loved her yet. But the doctor mentioning their baby and the plans he would have… Jeez, he actually felt ill at the thought.

He spotted Mitch, Jackson’s IT guru, sitting with his back to the wall across from the room he’d exited.

“Waiting on your boss?” Kieran asked.

Mitch shrugged. “I didn’t have anywhere else to be and Remy asked me to look into something while he’s gone.”

Remy was still searching for the proof Sparro was connected to Bradley, but he’d also volunteered to accompany Dakota back out to the Red Rocks. Kieran crouched down. “There’s probably a more secure area for you to be doing that kind of investigating.”

“Yeah.” Mitch nodded. “I’m actually going to be taking it back to the hotel with me, but I wanted to catch you as soon as you were available.”

Cautious now, Kieran rocked back on his heels. “Why?”

“Well, when I was talking to Remy and Dakota, she suggested you might take me on a tour of the building.” Mitch said.

“I don’t think now’s the best time—”

“She said you were real good about getting into offices no one else could,” Mitch interrupted.

“You want in Sparro’s office?”

“Yep.” Mitch nodded. “And you need to get me in and out.”

Huh, Kieran hadn’t thought of that yet. If there was evidence, that would be the logical place to look. “Okay.”

Mitch grinned and sort of bounced. “Really? Oh, man, that’s so cool.”

Kieran laughed. He didn’t know how old Mitch was, but Kieran hoped Mitch kept that innocence and enthusiasm for a long time. It wasn’t usual for Kieran to get to see that, in either Walkers or shifters. “Let’s go then, I’ve got people to torture.”

Mitch jumped up. “I don’t know if you’re kidding or not.”

Wow, the kid was really virtuous. He could see why Jackson wanted to keep him that way. “We’ll take the stairs.”

“Sure.” Mitch shoved his laptop into his backpack.

Kieran glanced around the hall, making sure they were still alone. This part of the basement wasn’t used a lot as far as he knew. Since the Organization had changed their policies, saying the agents needed to use non-lethal means, interrogating suspects had also slowed down.

Still, there were times like now when the only way to get answers was to get their hands dirty. That was what the Organization did. The Shifter Coalition played it strictly by the book, so it was up to agents like Kieran to deal with shifters like Bradley.

Kieran hadn’t come across the agents from the Coalition yet and he was hoping he didn’t.

“I’m ready.” Mitch bounced on the balls of his feet.

God, he made Kieran feel old. Kieran nodded to the emergency stairwell. “Just follow my lead. If I tell you to get down, do it.”

“I’m used to not being seen. It’s how I lasted on the streets for so long,” Mitch told him.

Kieran pushed the bar to open the door silently. He led the way up the stairs and through the quiet halls of the upper level where Sparro’s office was located. Sparro’s assistant had stepped away from her desk, which helped them. Kieran didn’t think he’d have a problem getting past her, as she remained terrified of him, but this just made things easier.

“Use your speed to get in when I signal you,” Kieran whispered.

Mitch nodded. He placed his hands in his pockets and strolled casually down the hall. The stairwell opened to the opposite end from Sparro’s office. Unlike the office on the main level, these didn’t have windows. So unless someone actually opened the door and stepped out, they wouldn’t see him. The security cameras would pick him up, but he couldn’t be worried. It wasn’t too uncommon for him to be strolling around where he shouldn’t be.

One camera pointed at Sparro’s door, but as Kieran passed it, he tilted it up to look at the ceiling. Easy enough to do and when the security people came to fix it, he would hear them in the hallway.

As he walked toward Sparro’s office, he pulled a small bag out of his pocket. He selected the tool he needed and in less than ten seconds he had Sparro’s door open.

He waved his hand behind him and Mitch raced to him and inside the door. Kieran closed it behind them.

“What are you looking for?” Kieran asked.

“It looks like he took his laptop with him, but let’s look for some files,” Mitch said.

“Okay.” Kieran walked to the row of cabinets against the wall while Mitch began pulling out desk drawers.

The cabinets were locked, but Kieran took care of that easily enough. He saw Mitch messing with the locks of the desk drawers and the young man got them open as well.

“Not bad,” Kieran commented.

“Alex’s been teaching me,” Mitch said. “He’s good.”

Kieran had no doubt. Kieran didn’t actually want to know everything Alex, head of Jackson’s security, was responsible for. The files Jackson had passed to him that were obviously hacked from the Organization were bad enough.

Kieran started searching through the cabinet, not even knowing what he was looking for.

 

* * * *

 

Dakota glanced over at Remy and raised a brow. “Do you smell that?”

“Cougar shifter, female, and she’s scared,” he said with a nod.

“I knew something was wrong. I never should have left without making sure she was already being transported back.”

“It’s not your fault,” Remy said. “You had your hands full with Max.”

Dakota sighed. She still should have followed through on her instincts. She’d promised the young cougar she was safe then failed her.

“Did you find out who she is?” Remy asked.

“Corey Rebel,” Dakota answered. “One of the other shifters knew her. She’d been living in the tunnels for three months. Since she’d left an abusive relationship.”

“Damn it.” Remy shook his head.

“Yeah. She has to be one of the first taken. Everyone I talked to said she was there already when they’d been taken.” Guilt ate at her. “I’m going to shift and see if I have better luck in my jaguar form.”

“Good idea.”

Dakota stepped behind one of the boulders and quickly undressed. She’d had two cheeseburgers and a large order of fries so she was feeling better, but another shift was going to take the rest of her energy. She crouched and called forward her animal.

Once the transformation was complete, she stretched out her body before hopping up onto the boulder.

“I’ll grab your clothes,” Remy told her, walking over. He stuffed her belongings into the backpack he carried. “Why don’t you see what you can pick up?”

Dakota jumped down and circled the entrance of the cave. She could still smell the cougar she was after, but the freshest scent was leading away. Dakota took off at a sprint.

The sun had heated the rocks around her and she could feel it even through her paws. She was picking up another shifter odor. A powerful one. It seemed familiar, but she couldn’t place it.

Remy ran behind her, but she couldn’t wait for him. The cougar’s fear was pushing her along. Dakota leapt through a small gap and stopped. She could smell blood.

She sniffed the ground. It was the cougar’s.

The drops were small, but she could be really hurt. Dakota sniffed one last time before she crawled back through the opening. Remy was almost to her. She pawed at the gap.

“Got it,” Remy called. “Go ahead.”

She nodded before taking off again. She didn’t know how long she’d run but was certain it way past anywhere they’d even gotten to search yet.

She heard a roar and froze. That wasn’t good.

Dakota glanced over her shoulder but couldn’t see Remy anywhere. He’d be able to follow her, but there was no telling how long it would take him unless he shifted. She could wait for him or go ahead.

The sharp cry of the cougar decided the matter for her.

Growling, she ran to find the lost shifter. The sounds of a fight began to echo around her, so she had to use her nose instead of her hearing. Luckily, she was pretty good at tracking.

She slipped and almost fell into a crevasse but managed to dig her claws into a crack. She tried to get traction with her back feet, but it was no use.

Above her, she heard a bark and saw the wolf just before he grabbed the scruff of her neck and lifted her back up.

Dakota butted her head up against Remy’s neck in thanks.

He nudged her forward. She needed to be more careful, still fast, but there was a lot of danger around.

A screech pierced the air and she roared in response. Remy scrambled away and she followed. Ahead, just in front of them. As Remy darted around broken pieces of the rock, Dakota leapt and climbed until she came to a small round space.

The cougar was on the ground, cowering, with a large lion standing over her.

Dakota growled and jumped to land next to the lion. She had no idea how he hadn’t heard them coming, but it was obvious she’d surprised him. She managed to avoid a swipe of his claw and danced out of the way.

He turned on her as Remy skidded to her side.

She wasn’t sure she’d ever seen a lion shifter as big and powerful as this one. Well, except for her boss. Oh shit. She peered closer at the shifter.

It couldn’t be Sparro. She’d given Mitch permission to look for a connection because she’d known Sparro was innocent.

The lion’s eyes widened and it was in recognition.

He leapt at her and she didn’t have time to get away. Dakota went down under his massive weight.

Remy howled and jumped on Sparro’s back, distracting him enough for Dakota to slip out from his hold. She swung her claws out to catch his stomach, but Sparro smacked her away from him. At the same time Remy went flying and landed with a hard thud. Dakota snarled as Sparro turned back on her.

She tilted her head as she took in her boss. She could smell his blood, but she knew she hadn’t managed to hurt him. That was when she saw the deep cuts around his neck.

It appeared the cougar had gotten a piece out of him. Good for her.

Sparro stepped forward and she automatically backed up.

He growled deeply at her and her fur stood up. She might not have ever gone against a shifter this strong before, but she had to get the cougar to safety.

Dakota opened her mouth, let her sharp teeth show and saliva run down her chin. Jaguars were known for their powerful jaws and she was reminding him of that.

Sparro rose and began to stalk toward her. Dakota stayed where she was until she could feel his breath against her face. She snarled and attacked.

She used teeth and claws, all her energy and power, until she was on top of him, tearing out patches of his fur. She let her anger and rage consume her. All those shifters in the cages, abused and hurt. Sparro had been a part of that. He’d helped Bradley. Bradley, the man who had almost killed Kieran!

Blood coated her muzzle, but she still continued to slash at Sparro’s neck.

“Stop!”

She heard the words, but they didn’t matter. The only important thing was making sure Sparro, Bradley and the others never got the chance to hurt anyone ever again.

“Stop!”

She was jerked off Sparro and tossed against the edge of a boulder. Dakota rolled, panting and shaking.

“You can’t kill him.” Remy stood naked above Sparro, blocking her from ending him.

She snarled and tried to snap, but her stomach burned. Dakota peered down and saw her own blood coating the ground.

“Shit!” Remy rushed over to her. “You’re hurt.”

She tried to shake her head, but her vision blurred.

“Fuck, Kieran is going to kill me for letting you get hurt,” Remy complained.

Dakota whined, but when she tried to rise, her shaky legs gave out on her and she fell back down.

“I’m going to get my bag,” Remy said, crouching over her. “I’ve got to call for backup.”

She nodded.

“Sparro’s out,” he said. “So is the cougar. Just stay here.”

He took off and Dakota looked around the small clearing. There was blood staining the ground. She needed to check on the cougar. Her stomach was still stinging, so Dakota started to crawl toward the cougar. Corey, she needed to remember the young woman’s name. Corey had fought well. She’d stood up to the powerful lion and Dakota was going to make sure she was okay.

She wouldn’t fail her again.

It was hard not to rip out Sparro’s throat as she crept past him, but now the adrenaline had ebbed, she was feeling the pain.

After what seemed like forever, Dakota finally dropped down beside the cougar shifter. Corey blinked open her eyes and watched her as Dakota took in the cougar’s injuries.

Nothing looked life-threatening and Dakota was beyond relieved. Maybe that was a little less guilt she would carry around, because she knew Corey getting injured was all her fault.

There was no way Dakota could shift in her current condition so she laid her neck against Corey’s to offer comfort.

Corey rumbled and nuzzled her back.

Dakota closed her eyes, hoping Remy hurried.