Thank you to everyone who has been so patient with my short chapters. I know it can be frustrating for some, but as I've said before, it works best for me. I hope you all understand.
I appreciate the wonderful comments. Please keep them coming. And don't forget to vote!
-----------------------------------------------
Rhys watched the dust from the departing car. "He'll be back after she is at the compound safe and sound. There's time." He turned around and looked at the Alphas. "So now we wait?"
Carr slowly nodded as he listened to reports from his pack. They were deep inside the cave system. They knew when the Dire Wolves returned they would know something was wrong as soon as they got within scent distance of the caves. What they had to hope for was that they'd be stupid enough to enter the caves. If not, it would be a fight to the death with ten altered wolves twice as big, twice as strong, and twice as deadly as any normal Werewolf. Even minus the numbers they had sent back to the compound with prisoners they still had over one hundred here. But those Dire Wolves were far worse than any rogue he'd come into contact with. He'd seen the damage they could do first hand. Many would die.
Bryant carried a sack that held the wireless cameras. He tried to secret them away in any nook or cranny he could find. If they were noticed too soon it could be a disaster. His practiced eye spotted likely places quickly and after installing each, he radioed back to the monitors at the cars. "How's that one look Phil?"
"A little to your left." The earpiece kept anyone else from hearing the bodyless voice.
Bryant made a few small adjustments.
"Perfect, you got it."
Bryant scanned the cave face for another likely position.
"Bryant, Steve says they are in the middle of a killing spree out there. I still can't figure out the purpose of this hunt unless it was to get their blood lust up. He says they're killing everything in sight. For now we're still OK. Gary doesn't seem to notice anything off yet."
Bryant nodded to himself to acknowledge Carr's message. He continued to move along the walls in the main corridor.
"Craig, are you sure about these blasting caps? They'll work by remote but not get set off early by the wireless signals from the cameras?" Cole was a little uneasy. He knew Craig was an expert at these things but it still made him nervous to be around all these explosives.
"Hey if you're scared you can step out." Craig had a huge grin on his face. He knew Cole wouldn't bug out on him but he loved to make a few jabs anyway.
"I'll stick it out with you. But just remember, if you get me killed, Karen will come after you, and you've seen what she can do." Cole smiled at the face Craig made. He'd seen first hand the job Karen had done on Cheryl and didn't want to be on the receiving end.
"No worries, I'll get you out of here safe and sound. We need a single charge over here." He walked to the Y in the cave. "And a double charge over there." He pointed to the left tunnel that led to Paul's quarters. If someone made it through there they could get to an exit. But he had a detail setting charges there as well. But an integral part of the plan was to trap them inside the main chamber.
"You have the inside scoop on things Cole. Why don't we just set the charges to cave the whole place in? Why try to trap them at all?" Craig continued to work while talking. The answer didn't really matter, he'd do his job just the same. He was just curious.
"The Council decided since Kyle came out of it and was kind of forced into it, they had to give the same chance to the others. But I'm with you, I'd rather just let them die in here. Altered or not, I'm pretty sure Gary and Paul are psychopaths."
Craig was in full agreement with that. But theirs was not to question why. He pointed out another spot for a charge and continued on.
-----------------------
Alistair's wolf was ecstatic. His mate was safe and under his protection. The wolf thought of how he would tear Gary limb from limb for what he'd done to her. Alistair had to remind him that in his Dire Wolf state, they would be at a great disadvantage. They would have to hope all worked well back at the caves. Then his wolf would have his turn. Alistair promised him that.
Jenna hadn't felt this safe while awake in who knows how long. Since being taken to the caves she hadn't had a moment's peace except when she slept and her white wolf would come to her. Now she was with him and knew she would never have to worry about Gary again. There were no words needed between them right now. She laid in his arms in the moving car and enjoyed the feel of his arm around her, his hard chest under her head, his hand stroking her hair.
Alistair held her tight as the car drove to the compound. He leaned in close and inhaled deeply. Her scent would forever be with him. It would be hard to leave her once he got her to the hospital, but he knew she'd be safe with Carr's pack until he returned for her.
Jeff and Trina waited for the first casualty to arrive. The report from Carr was that she was in pretty bad shape. Jeff saw the headlights and readied himself for what he'd find. The car seemed to be moving so slowly. Get here already. "Dammit, I forgot something, I'll be right back." He ran back into the hospital. Of all things, how could he forget a stethoscope.
Trina pulled open the door before the engine was even off. "Oh my God, Carr wasn't kidding." She quickly assessed the dire situation. Luckily the tranquilizer had worked and hadn't killed her yet. But the damage done was so severe. Just a cursory glance told her that. She looked up to see Becky and Gina in tears. "We'll do what we can for her. Why don't you clean yourselves up and go to where the other women will be brought?"
They silently nodded and held hands for support as they got out of the vehicle and back to their quarters to throw water on their faces. They had to get it together before they saw the human females again. Becky stopped and turned around. "Oh her name is Sheila."
"How is she?" Jeff was running to the gurney but stopped in his tracks. He looked shocked. He tried to compose himself as he looked over the woman. She was so frail looking. Her heart was barely beating. The first thing they'd have to do is counteract the tranquilizer. Luckily Lila had only used a one quarter dose. Even that might have been too much. Trina was looking at him strangely. "What? Let's get moving." He turned away from Trina and back to his patient.
Something was wrong with Jeff. He was never flustered. He was trying to act like nothing was wrong but she knew him too well. They'd known each other forever and had worked side by side for over one hundred years. A trauma case never had him acting like this.
They moved Sheila into the trauma room. The team had worked together for decades. Hardly a word was spoken as they each did their job. They wouldn't have long before they had more patients. Carr had told them the women were on their way. Most had minor injuries. And Alistair was bringing his mate.
Jeff couldn't take his eyes off her as they worked. He had to save her, he had to. "Did you clean those wounds completely?" He looked over Trina's shoulder as she carefully dressed the infected wounds.
"Seriously Jeff?" She rolled her eyes. He was acting like she didn't know how to do her job. If she didn't know better she'd think...oh crap! "Jeff, what does she smell like?" She looked up into his anxious face.
He didn't look at Trina as he answered. He looked at Sheila, her dark brown hair fanned out across the pillow and spoke softly. "She smells like nutmeg and gardenia."
She gently laid a hand on his arm and spoke quietly so only he could hear. "I'm sure we got to her in time Jeff. Her vitals are already stronger. We'll take good care of her." She hoped she wasn't just wishing.
Neither noticed the person waiting patiently for them outside the door.
"Um, Doc, sorry to interrupt, but could I get more tranquilizers for the rogues?" David hated to bother them. It looked like a serious discussion, but if any of those rogues woke up there'd be hell to pay. "I want to make sure we have plenty on hand. We've got almost thirty males. We don't know if any of them want to defect or not, but we can't take a chance on them waking up and alerting Gary."
Trina whirled around to answer so Jeff could worry about his new found mate and the other patients.
"Thirty? I thought there were closer to fifty?" She seemed puzzled. Did Gary lose more in the last few days than just Jackson and Adam? She reached for the vials and handed them to David.
"Quite a few of them still held allegiance to their former Alphas and wanted to leave Gary. So they helped us. They're back at the caves. Thanks Trina." He stuffed the vials in his pocket, flashed a smile and made his way back to the security cells.
David walked in and heard moaning from one of the males. "Damn, good thing I made it back before he was all the way awake." He loaded the dart and jabbed it into the arm of the rousing rogue. "We need to keep a really close eye on these guys. We can't let any of them wake up. Got it?" He scanned the faces of the security guards who all nodded. If anyone screwed up it could mean injuries or worse for their Alpha and the others. David shivered for a second remembering back to his run in with Paul in this very room. He closed his eyes for a second and relived the horror of it. He could still see Isaac's surprised look as he died.
He opened his eyes and saw Nathan staring at him.
