Chapter Nine

EOGHAN

He saw what was happening as it was happening, and it took everything in him to stay rooted to the ground, knowing that there was absolutely nothing he could do about it. Watching Lomax’s disembodied head flying through the air in a twirling motion, spraying blood all over the place, was horrifying…but almost elegant in the way it rotated while airborne. It hit the sand and rolled ten feet away from the body as Lomax’s knees bent and the rest of him dropped to the ground with a dusty thud.

Juan turned to face them, and Eoghan stared, transfixed at the werewolf who calmly shifted back to human, blinking his eyes through the blood which covered him like he’d just walked off the set of Carrie. Watching him placidly reach up and wipe away Lomax’s blood from his dripping cheeks made Eoghan’s stomach turn.

“I’m sorry, Alpha,” Tyler said, dropping to his knees and lowering his head to the sand as he kowtowed to his master. He didn’t look up. “I don’t know what I was thinking.”

“You weren’t thinking,” Juan roared.

Eoghan steeled himself, preparing himself for another beheading as Tyler’s other thug also dropped to the ground and bowed his head.

“I should kill you but instead, I’m going to be magnanimous and abjure you,” the Alpha continued.

Tyler obviously didn’t dare look up but kept his head pressed to the dirt. “No, please, Alpha. What about Carmen and our baby?”

“My sister doesn’t figure into this. She belongs to me and the Hawthorne pack,” Juan said. He took another step closer, but Tyler wasn’t daring to lift his face to look his Alpha in the eyes. “And so does her baby.”

“Please, Alpha. Please let us stay. You wouldn’t be so cruel as to banish Carmen, your own sister.”

“You dare ask me anything after this? You dare speak my sister’s name in the same breath as a plea to stay after what you did? You make me sick, Vallejo! How can I ever trust you again? You and the lowlife beside you. I will not force my sister to stay but you will go. If she’s stupid enough to follow you, then that will be her decision, but she’ll always be welcome back in Hawthorne.”

“I’ll be leaving with Tyler if you abjure him, Juan.”

They all turned to the small voice of the woman who’d come out of the restaurant along with the husband of the crying hostage. A third person was with them in his stained cook’s apron and stood beside Carmen and the husband, looking shell-shocked at the carnage strewn all around the battlefield.

Eoghan took a moment to glance around at everyone including his partner who was standing beside Edward and looking at his still healing stomach wound. It had knitted together nicely but was still stained with blood and had slightly puffy flesh at the seams. He marveled at the way the werewolves healed. A human would have succumbed to their disembowelment and the blood loss resulting from it in a matter of minutes.

“Carmen… hermana ,” Juan cajoled, walking up to his sister and putting an arm around her. Blood rubbed off onto her clothes almost immediately. “I don’t want you to leave. You and the baby are always welcome in the pack. Please…don’t go.”

“Please, Juanito,” she pleaded, looking up at her brother’s face. “I was silent until now but now that you know Tyler is the father of the babe, you must let us both stay. He has always been a loyal lieutenant to you, Alpha. Please let him stay. He will remain loyal. We don’t want to leave our family.”

“Aye, querida , you make my choices so difficult. I don’t want you to leave either, hermanita .”

“Then don’t make me, hermano .”

Juan looked torn.

“Let her stay, Alpha,” Edward said, walking over and addressing his lover with a sweet smile. “I will be joining your pack, so it’s only right that you grant me a wedding present. Let your sister stay and forgive Tyler. This should be a happy announcement.” He turned and looked at his own grandfather. “You’re okay with us now, aren’t you, Alpha?”

“You mean this relationship between you and Juan Garcia? Another man?”

Edward nodded. “Yes, Grandfather. You saw how my beloved saved my life. He showed you that being gay isn’t a weakness. Juan Garcia is strong. He will always be able to protect me and being mated to an Alpha of the Hawthorne pack is a good thing for the Bishop pack. Combined, we will rule Northern California and Nevada and you know it.”

Alvin walked over to his grandson and squeezed him around the shoulders. “I never said being gay is weak, my boy.” He looked at Juan before turning back to Edward. “I saw the way the Alpha protected you when you were injured. I think he saved your life. I just don’t know if he’s good enough for someone of your stature, Grandson.”

“He’s the Alpha of his pack and when we are mated, he will watch over the Bishop pack anytime you need him.”

“Yes, Alpha,” Juan said. “Anytime your pack requires our help, we’ll be there.”

“And children? You cannot give my grandson children,” Alvin said.

Juan nodded. “That’s true but even if I could, they would not inherit my position as Alpha. Anyone in the pack or even an outsider from another pack, can challenge me as Alpha. You know this is the case.” He turned from Alvin and looked at Edward, smiling at him. “And our love is the real thing. When he’s ready for a family, we’ll adopt an unwanted pup and raise them as our own.” Edward beamed at him and he turned back to Alvin, holding out his hand. “Are we in agreement, Alpha?”

When Alvin took his hand and shook it, Eoghan blew out a long breath. He glanced over at Ari to find him looking back at him. He hadn’t even realized how much he’d worried about Alvin’s capitulation until now. If he hadn’t agreed, then this would have been a whole new thing. Ari looked just as pleased as he did.

He glanced over at the chief. Washington nodded, clearly as relieved at the outcome as his agents. Chastain still looked very green around the gills, and Rusch just appeared happy they wouldn’t have to fight.

Frankly, Eoghan hadn’t been looking forward to that either. He relaxed as he watched Ari slip the can of werewolf deterrent back into his tac pants.

“Well, I guess that means we’re done here for the night,” the chief drawled. He walked over to the two Alphas who were standing side by side. “If you two don’t mind, we have a favor to ask y’all now.” He turned to the werewolves. “Would everyone leave your Alphas be now? We have some business with ‘em.”

“Come along, boys,” Carmen said, taking Edward’s elbow and Tyler’s arm in the other. “Let’s leave the marshals to talk to our Alpha. I suggest you cover up first, though. I know Juan carries spare clothes and boots and I suspect you do too, Alvin.” To Eoghan’s surprise, she turned and winked in their direction. “And before you ask, you want to know how I realized you have business with the Alphas.” At Eoghan’s nod, she smiled. “You didn’t come all the way from Los Angeles for no reason.”

“No, ma’am. Thank you, Ms. Garcia,” Eoghan said. He glanced at Ari and canted his head toward Washington who was leading the two Alphas and the other marshals back over to their vehicles where they could retrieve spare clothing.

Afterward, they sat down at the picnic tables out of the way of Tyler and his minion who were loading the bodies of the dead human werewolves into the back of Juan’s flatbed with the assistance of Edward. He assumed they’d be taken back to the Hawthorne reservation where they’d be burned on ceremonial funeral pyres. That’s how most paranormals honored the dead since they couldn’t be buried for fear of humans digging them up and learning of their secret world.

“What can we help you with?” Alvin asked once they were seated.

Eoghan and Ari did their best to explain the situation with John Townsend’s vampire reservation down in Flagstaff and all the reasons why it would be a good thing if the werewolves would agree to help. At the look of clenched jaws, he really hoped they’d be allowed to get through the whole explanation before they objected. But the weres were extremely polite, letting Eoghan make the point that Severin and Invictus had already agreed to help, and also that the Tahoe shifter reservation would send several of their predators to the fight to bolster their numbers.

“Our chief—Arizona Priest—is working to get other tribes, packs, and reservations to join with us so that we can put Tillis Bradshaw permanently out of business and accomplish our goals here,” Ari said. “We only want to do this once.”

“I understand and even sympathize with this undead king, if what you say is to be believed,” Alvin said. “But I’ve been an Alpha for a long time and I have never met a vampire I didn’t despise. Tell me why this should be any different.”

“Because all of you will be in danger eventually,” Eoghan explained. “We know that Tillis Bradshaw is taking over a third artificial blood factory as we speak. This one is in Santa Fe. For all we know, he may already be in the process of taking over another right here under our noses. There’s one in Eugene, Oregon not that far from where we are. We need to stop or soon, he’ll have them all which means he’ll be able to control every vampire in the country.

“You must understand how problematic this is. If he has the entirety of the synthetic blood supply, and decides to starve vampire reservations until they capitulate to his will, they will burst out of their borders and begin draining humans left and right. That means the entire balance of the shifter world and this great experiment started by Teddy Roosevelt will have to come to an end. The Agency will be forced to move against all paranormals so that they can deny they even exist. You know how that works. If the experiment gets out of the lab, the government usually overreacts. No one wants to see a great purging of the paranormal world or even war between creatures and reservations. Please take this to heart and understand how important it is for you to help us.”

The Alphas exchanged a glance with each other and then Alvin looked back at them, nodding. “I agree and I see how that could become a problem. The U.S. government really does like to interfere with everything.” He looked at Juan. “What do you think, Alpha? What can it harm? It might be fun to band together and kill some undead who are on the wrong side.”

“I agree,” Juan Garcia said, letting a slow smile cross his handsome face.

“As long as you’re killing Tillis Bradshaw’s bad vamps, that’s fine,” Eoghan said, “but there are no doubt some good ones who’ve been recently turned—innocents—forced to serve an evil king.”

“I’m afraid I can’t determine an evil bloodsucker from one who’s been newly turned, operating out of self-preservation, and I don’t think we’re going to get time to figure that out before they attempt to rip our throats out,” Alvin said.

“Alpha, common sense dictates if a vamp is trying to rip your throat out or actively engaged in a fight with you, they’re a target and you should attack without reservations,” Eoghan said. “Now, what do you say? Will you please join us?”

“Send me in your place, Grandfather.”

Everyone turned to stare at Edward who was looking determined. “Why?” Juan asked. The lovers exchanged a long glance with each other before Edward turned back to his grandfather.

“I want to go. It would mean everything to represent this pack, Grandfather. I am to be your successor—the new Alpha—right?”

Alvin frowned deeply. “Do you want to challenge me?”

Edward was quick to shake his head. “No, Grandfather. I want to represent you in this fight. That’s all.” He pointed to the new scar on his belly. “I have a reason to want to prevail in this fight and before you ask, no, I don’t think you couldn’t also assist the I.S.R. in this.” He dragged his gaze away from Alvin and looked back at Juan. Love shone in his eyes. “It’s because fighting beside my mate in a shared cause to save all our people will prove that a gay couple—” He turned back to his grandfather. “Aren’t going to be fucked with.”

Everyone stared at Alvin who looked pensive. He pursed his lips for a few seconds and then finally nodded. “I agree.”

Edward’s face broke into a wide grin as he nodded, getting up from the table to hug his grandfather who also stood. “Thank you,” he said quietly.

“You’re very wise, my grandson,” Alvin said as Edward gave him a final squeeze.

As everyone stood, Edward returned to Juan, taking the hand he offered.

“Well done, Alpha,” Juan said to Alvin.

The two Alphas exchanged a final glance before turning back to Eoghan and Ari. “You have my word on it,” Juan said. “We’ll be wherever you need us when the time comes to fight these vampires.” He held out his hand and shook Eoghan’s.

“That goes for me too. You’ll have every werewolf you want from my reservation,” Alvin said. He shook Eoghan’s hand and wiggled his nose, flaring his nostrils for a long second before his eyes lit with a bright yellow glow. “You know, you have nothing to fear from me.” He waved at all the other weres in the area. “Or them. Werewolves would never hurt you that way again. You don’t know it, but you’re protected, Marshal Sapphire.”

Eoghan felt his stomach do a slow roll. He frowned, wondering how in the hell the older Alpha had picked up on his terror of facing werewolves. “How do you…I mean how did you—”

“How did I know you’ve been attacked by a werewolf and nearly killed?”

“Yeah, how did you know that?”

“You have a piece of werewolf in you. Where is the claw mark? I assume he left deep grooves?”

“Yes, how did you know that?” Eoghan asked again.

“Because I can smell the tiny piece of bone he left behind. Of course, it could also be a claw. We shed them, to be replaced by sharper ones all the time. If it hasn’t worked its way to the surface of your skin by now, that’s good. Any werewolf coming into contact with you will know it for what it is, and they won’t lay a hand on you, not until they understand what’s going on with you.”

“Going on with me?”

“Whether you’re the mate of another werewolf,” Juan said, elaborating. “It’s an animal thing. We have to know and understand what we’re attacking. We are civilized.”

“But you just said it was an animal thing,” Ari protested.

Juan flashed him a brilliant smile with not so little fang. “What’s uncivilized about that?”

Eoghan felt his face heat and he ducked his head before turning and looking up at Ari under his lashes. Ari beamed back at him. He swallowed and glance back at Alvin. “I never knew he left any of himself behind. In fact, it’s pretty creepy knowing that I carry a piece of werewolf bone inside me.”

“It’s a good thing,” Juan said. “Really. It will protect you and I suspect it might help to explain why we remained focused on each other during the fight and completely uninterested in you and the other marshals in your immediate vicinity.”

Eoghan hadn’t thought about that, and it surprised him a little. “That’s very good to know. Thank you for telling me.”

“With your permission, Alphas, we’ve got to check in with our chief, grab some food somewhere, and get a good night’s sleep,” Ari said. “We’ll be on the road first thing in the morning.” He exchanged a glance with Eoghan, who realized they needed to warn the Alphas about keeping silent. He nodded in answer to Ari’s unasked question. Ari smiled at him before turning to them. “There’s one other thing. Someone at the Agency doesn’t want King John Townsend returned to his throne at the head of the Flagstaff clan in Arizona. We know this spy has somehow infiltrated the I.S.R. offices and planted a bug under Priest’s desk as well as in her house. When we talk about Townsend or in fact, any of these recruiting trips, we have to do it on burner phones.”

“What?” Juan said. “You have a mole at the Agency?”

“At our headquarters and also at the office. We suspect someone in power has recruited the spy in L.A. and that’s exactly why we’re asking that you two Alphas please keep this arrangement to yourselves. The dragons, Severin and Invictus, know what’s happening. Also, the tribal police chief of the Tahoe shifter reservation is going to help. They’re all trustworthy but please don’t tell your pack about it until it’s time to move on Bradshaw or it may somehow get back to the Agency.”

“I’ll pledge my promise,” Alvin said.

“Yes, I’ll keep the secret too,” Juan echoed. “What a fucking mess.”

“We agree,” Eoghan said, feeling slightly queasy as he thought about it. “And if you don’t hear from us again, forget everything we said about the mole and protect your packs at all costs.”

“Why?” Juan asked.

Eoghan swallowed, feeling a little sick. “Because we’ll be dead.”

The Alphas both nodded, looking gravely serious. “Be careful,” Juan said.

They all shook hands again and got up from the picnic tables. Eoghan bid the chief, Carly, and Evan goodbye. It had been a risk bringing them into their confidence, but they needed allies. He just hoped for his sake and the sake of the man who walked beside him to the Charger, that he hadn’t made the mistake of a lifetime in trusting these people with their lives.

“We need to check in with Priest,” Ari said, grabbing his burner. “I wasn’t kidding about that.”

“I know,” Eoghan said, starting the car and enjoying the feel of the rumble of the engine under his ass. He pulled out of the parking lot and onto the main road, headed back toward the highway which would take them across the border into California. His aim was food and for that he needed to find a restaurant not located in the center of nowhere. He listened to Ari calling the chief and relaying what had transpired. The conversation took a while and just as he reached the border, he watched Ari put the phone on speaker.

“Sapphire? Are you there?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Your partner says this entire operation went off almost flawlessly and without any of the marshals including Deputy Chief Washington even having to participate in the fight between the two packs.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“What’s your take on that?”

Eoghan flicked a look at Ari who was frowning before he glanced down at the phone on the center console.

“My take, ma’am?”

“Why do you think the werewolves didn’t attack you?”

Eoghan glanced at Ari again. His partner nodded at the phone and then back at him. “Go ahead, Eoghan. Tell the chief what you were told.”

“What were you told and by whom, Sapphire?” the chief asked.

Something clicked in Eoghan’s brain.

“What wasn’t I told after my werewolf attack, ma’am? Is there something you know that I don’t?”

She sighed and there was a long pause…so long Eoghan thought for a second that the line had disconnected. He nearly jumped when she finally answered. “Do you think for a moment that I would send you to talk to werewolf packs if I didn’t know you were protected, Sapphire?”

“What, ma’am?”

“I’m aware of the piece of werewolf claw which was left behind after your attack. The doctors found it on your X-rays and were going to remove it, but I overruled them when I learned that it wouldn’t harm you,” she said.

“I can’t believe that you got involved with my doctors and overruled them,” Eoghan blurted. He was outraged that he’d never been told any of this. It made him feel vulnerable and somehow used…and a whole host of other feelings that simply didn’t make any sense to him. He wanted to punch something, but they were in a small car and smashing his fists against the dash or the steering wheel was inadvisable, especially when he was the one driving the thing.

“I understand your anger, Eoghan.”

She never used his first name.

“I’m just shocked,” he said, sounding more subdued than he felt.

“No, you’re angry and you have every right to be. I should have told you about the claw a long time ago. It wasn’t a decision I made lightly and the idea of telling you after the fact, didn’t make a whole lot of sense. You were so sick for so long, your doctors weren’t certain you’d even survive. None of us were. By the time you finally turned the corner and began to feel better, it felt like the window of telling you had passed. It actually gave me a little bit of confidence in you being protected on the job, because I knew that the weres would leave you alone. It’s one of the reasons I agreed to let you train a rookie like Brown. I knew he would also be protected until he learned the ropes just because he was your partner and clearly in your orbit most of the time.” She paused before sighing again. “I’m sorry, Eoghan. I should have trusted you.”

“You should have, ma’am, but thank you for telling me the reasoning behind it.”

“Okay then, I believe it’s time for you two to come home. You’ve done an excellent job there in Northern California. With the strength of Severin and Invictus and their unique fire-breathing skills, I think we have an advantage. Fire does kill vampires you know.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Ari said.

“I’ve been calling in favors of my own. More shifter clans are on board. With them, the dragons, the two werewolf packs, and Two Trees shifters pack, we should have a solid advantage. I think you should drive home tomorrow so that we can begin planning things the day after.”

“We were planning on leaving first thing in the morning.”

“Good. I’ll see you the day after tomorrow then. Um , no, make that two days after tomorrow. You’re probably exhausted and need a couple of full days off. It’s not enough, I know. After we deal with our little mole problem at the Agency and have King John back at home, you’ll have some well-deserved time off. Have a safe drive home.”

Eoghan exchanged a relieved look with Ari. “Thank you, ma’am. You have no idea what even one extra day will do for us.”

“I know how hard you work, Sapphire. You too, Brown. See you then.”

“Thank you again, ma’am.” With that he hung up and glanced over at his partner. “I’m starving.”

Ari reached for his hand, and Eoghan gladly took it, allowing his lover to engulf it in his big, warm palm, happier than he’d been in a long while.