Chapter 8

Preston changed by his car and left everything in the bag some guy from forensics provided. They took pictures and samples from his body, then Preston was given permission to leave, but he sat in his car instead. Thankfully, the tires on his vehicle were fine, but Albie's…

Fuck.

He didn't know either man well, but shit.

Parking by the Deac's office building, Preston's body protested when he got out of his car. There was a light on, and he knew Deac would be inside. Any good leader would be when their men were in danger.

Knocking on the door, he waited, and a minute later, he heard the locks disengage and a tired, weary looking Deac opened the door. He nodded Preston inside, then shut and locked the door behind him. He entered Deac's office and saw a woman sitting, waiting.

Younger than him, she stood and held her hand out. "I'm Serenity. We haven't met yet. I help to run things around here."

Preston sat and slouched in the chair, fatigue running through him. "Ask away," he murmured in a voice that sounded tired to his own ears.

"Been a long night."

"You'll let me know about Albie? He didn't look…" He paused and glanced at Serenity, who blinked rapidly. "I'm sorry."

"He's my mate," Serenity whispered.

Preston somehow managed to not show his surprise. "Why are you here?" he asked quietly.

"What good would I be there? At least here I can help to find the bastards who did this to him and who took Fabien from us." She straightened, and Preston had to admire the strength she carried.

"Tell us everything from the top."

Preston began. He went over his statement numerous times, including how he felt, how his body reacted, anything he scented on the air. The description of the things they'd run into. "They're smart, intelligent. They knew how we operated as well. Not just how shifters operate, but military people as well. They hid in the trees. How many shifters without a military background would look up?"

"Not many." Deac rubbed a hand over his face, then paused when Serenity's phone rang. She looked at Deac, the fear and anxiety written all over her face. "Answer it," Deac told her gently. "It's going to be good news."

"Costas." Serenity bit her lip, then cried out, her head dropping low as she covered her hand with her mouth. "He's alive." She handed her phone to Deac, who took it and had a brief conversation with his mate, then hung up.

"The next twenty-four hours are going to be crucial. Go and get a bag ready. I'll have someone drive you to Salutem. I don't want you driving alone right now."

Serenity stood, then gave Preston a wobbly smile before handing her pad and pen over to Deac. He put them to one side and walked her out, leaving Preston alone. The relief he felt for a man he barely knew had him sagging in his chair. Albie had come across as a good, solid, dependable man.

A few minutes later, Deac re-entered the office and shut the door. "We needed some good news."

"How bad?"

"Bad." Deac sat and slumped in his chair. "He'll need surgery to fix all the damage to his chest, and he won't be able to help out on the ground for some time. If ever. If he wants to return, that is."

"Move him to the main security building. He'll still feel useful that way. When he's ready."

"I just want this to be all over and fucking done with. These things have to have come from A.S. We saw some of the shit they were trying to do, mixing species to create some super soldier hybrid."

"Looks like they succeeded, and I'm not scared to admit I don't want to run across one of them again. They were a team. Worked as a team. Picked us off. They must have had one tailing me and Manu while the other three took out Albie and Fabien. They made sure Albie was alive and left him as bait. It was a trap, and they almost succeeded in taking us all out."

"They used military tactics. We considered what they would do if they were able to create a hybrid that they could control. The potential that would bring."

"Control them and have them pick off your enemy for you. If you had an army of those things, you would be virtually unstoppable. Having seen them in action…" Preston rubbed his mouth with his fingers. "With these creatures, whoever created them would have the potential to control governments."

"I need to pass all over this on to Indy and his brothers, plus their security. Can you work with an artist to do an impression of what one of them looked like?"

"It had two different forms that I saw. Shifted between them easily too. Both forms appeared as equally dangerous."

Deac closed his eyes and kept them closed for a few minutes. A small smile covered his lips, then he opened his eyes. "Go home. Get some sleep. We'll talk again tomorrow."

Preston nodded and stood. "If I recall anything else, I'll let you know."

Deac nodded, but Preston could tell his mind was on something else, and he knew exactly what that was. This new discovery meant increased danger to everyone here and Salutem. Leaving his office, Preston made sure the door was shut behind him and leaned against his car when he reached it.

He almost closed his eyes when he heard hushed voices nearby. Two. Both men. He leaned forward and hummed when he saw Eli looking like shit, gesturing at Alvin. It appeared that even if Eli didn't want a mate, he was going to protect him, anyway.

"I won't hide."

"I saw one of those things. Please do this for me."

Alvin jutted his jaw out and shook his head. "No, and you have no right to ask me to. We might be mates, but you're not willing to do anything about it, so fuck off. I have a family to raise, and I want someone who isn't afraid to be my man and help. That isn't you, so stay away just like you have been doing, and I'll find a man who is willing to be with me."

"Fine," Eli spat. "You want to find someone who will help you raise those brats, then do it, but I'm your mate, and you will do as I order."

"I'm not one of your men, Eli. I'm nothing to you. You don't want us to be mates, then fine. I'll live with it, but you don't get to order me around. You said no to us mating, so that means you have no right to tell me to do anything."

"Alvin. I'm doing this to help you. You wouldn't survive?—"

"Oh, I forgot, the big hard military man knows so much more about this than poor little old me." Alvin jabbed his finger at Eli. "I won't do a thing?—"

"None of my business, but you need to listen to him." Preston stood and faced them. "I had an up close and personal experience with them, and it isn't something I want to repeat. Albie almost died, and Fabien did. Do as your mate asks. It's for you and your siblings' welfare. If you don't want to do it for you, then do it for them."

"Preston," Alvin murmured. "You saw them?"

"Albie's alive?" Eli asked his question at the same time Alvin did.

"I was with Deac when the call came through. I'm going home. I'm exhausted and I…" Preston shook his head. "I'll be here tomorrow."

"I'll see you in the morning, then. Get some sleep. We'll talk more tomorrow."

Preston nodded, got in his car, and started the engine. As he drove away, he saw Eli take Alvin's hand in his. Maybe Eli wasn't as distant as he wanted to be, even if he was going about it the wrong way. Reminded Preston of him and Manu.

He'd barely been homea couple of minutes when there was someone banging on his door. Dropping his coat on the sofa, Preston trudged to the door and opened it, groaning when he saw Manu standing there. Manu didn't wait for Preston to ask him to come inside. No, he just barged right past him and walked into the small apartment.

"Did you give your statement?"

"Hi, Manu. I'm fine, thanks. How are you? How's the leg? You know where you were shot."

"I shifted, so it's almost back to normal."

Preston nodded, then dropped onto the sofa and closed his eye. "I gave my statement. I'm tired, so you can leave now."

He felt the sofa move as Manu sat and sighed. He didn't want to deal with his mate, who claimed he wasn't his mate. He wanted a shower and sleep. He'd been dragging his body around since the attack, and now he was spent.

"How are you?"

The softly asked question had Preston opening his eyes and rolling his head to the side to search Manu's face. He appeared to be asking from a place of genuine concern. "I'm good. Just tired."

"Did you hear about Albie?"

"Yeah. I didn't think he would make it, but he has someone to live for."

"You met Serenity." Manu smiled slightly. "They kept it quiet for a long time. He wanted to go slow because he's older than she is, and she'd just began working with Deac after coming back from university. They're good together."

"She took my statement. I thought she would be in Salutem, but she told me she would be more useful there."

"She's mated to an ex-military man."

Preston didn't respond. His eyes wanted to close and stay that way. "Was that all you wanted to know? I want to go to bed, so you can leave now." When Manu didn't move, Preston got up and walked over to the front door. "Just go. I'm too tired to deal with you tonight."

"We need to talk at some point."

"Can't see why? We're not mates. We're just work colleagues. You told me so when I asked."

Manu stood and walked over to Preston, causing him to look up. He hadn't even noticed Manu was slightly taller than he was. Not that it mattered. Preston wasn't his mate, even though they both knew that was a lie. Preston could feel a connection to the shifter, one he didn't have with the others.

Preston opened the door and pointed outside. "Let me stay," Manu said quietly.

"Why?" Preston stared into Manu's dark eyes, seeing them close.

When they opened, Manu watched him. "Please."

"No. When you can be honest with me, then I'll think about it."

He saw Manu work his jaw from side to side, the way he narrowed his eyes and pointed back outside again. Yeah, the shifter was stubborn and so was he. "Preston…"

"That's the name. Now leave."

Manu fidgeted on the spot, then muttered, "I can't."

"And why is that?" Was Manu going to actually admit the truth? Preston crossed his arms over his chest and waited, watching Manu stare—or should he say glare—at him. Because it was clearly Preston's fault that Manu couldn't admit the truth.

"You know why."

"Not good enough. You want to stay here with me tonight? You tell me the truth. From your own lips."

"Why do you have to be so fucking annoying?"

"Hmm. Perfect for you, then. Get out." He was so done with Manu. Why this shifter? If he was meant to have a mate, why this one? Stubborn fucking idiot was wasting both their time.

Manu hissed long and low, then moved. Preston didn't have time to even blink his eyes before Manu slammed their lips together at the same time as shoving the front door shut. Breaking the kiss, Manu growled, "Mine," then kissed him again.