16. Mike

SIXTEEN

Mike and Tristan stormed out of the hospital room, thankful for Barbara's calm demeanor. They returned to the spot near the vending machines where they had been waiting to hear about Beatriz"s surgery and stood face to face. Two powerful shifters hell-bent on vengeance.

"Let's take a moment," Tristan said, taking him by the shoulders. "Tell me everything you have found so far. Let's be smart about this and not let our emotions run amuck."

Mike listened to his sage alpha and took a deep breath. There was no point in getting unruly just yet. He had to channel his anger into strategy and make intentional moves. Not only were his employers, the Wolfes, in danger, but so was his mate.

Tristan breathed in and out with him for a long thirty seconds, then when they were finally centered, the two men took a seat. The alpha leaned back into the chair while Mike perched on the edge, big, gigantic arms hunched over.

"Tell me then," Tristan urged.

Mike did just that. He told his alpha about the information he'd found from Danny and Doris and how quickly the trail had run cold on the dealers. Tristan nodded, listening intently while a steady fire burned in his eyes.

"Did you get the feeling that they weren't telling you everything?" he asked.

Mike was quick to agree.

"Yes. There was an air of secrecy. Though they were pretty candid about being users themselves. A lot of shame there."

Tristan nodded solemnly. The hospital was quiet, murmurs at a fair distance, calamities averted for the time being.

"So now we know that Wallis is a traitor," he began, rubbing his chin. "She is a member of the Rahound pack. It's obvious now that she's been getting close to Ellie to somehow get these drugs up and running again."

He looked lost in his musings, a wise thinker and leader wandering into the abyss of imagination. Mike knew that it was a practiced tool, but something in him looked pained. Perhaps age was finally catching up with the wolf.

"And Beatriz said she didn't recognize the second person. This man who was called Franky," Mike said.

"Yes," Tristan said softly, continuing to stroke the small stubble gathering around his chin. "He must have known Rocco. Ever since Caleb took out the ex-alpha, Wallis and the Rahound pack have been getting closer. Now we see that it has all been a ploy."

Mike scowled, his knuckles turning pale with rage.

"We have to tell Caleb. He needs to know that there could be men who are still loyal to Rocco on the inside."

Tristan agreed, but he paused, stating they needed to re-think the approach with Ellie.

"We don't want to upset her so late in her pregnancy. This kind of upset has been known to trigger early labor."

They decided they would tell Caleb and encourage Caleb to tell Ellie that something was going on but to be vague. Mike couldn't imagine having to live with someone like Ellie and keep a secret. She was like a dog with a bone when it came to details. Eventually, you gave in because she was so damn tenacious.

"That'll be Caleb's problem to deal with," Tristan said as he dialed the number. "He has been running the pack for some time now. He can deal with his persistent wife."

Tristan told Caleb over the phone everything they'd found out since Beatriz was attacked. He was tending to Ellie, who was beside herself with worry.

"Tell her we are dealing with it and be blunt. We don't need her going into labor just yet."

Caleb agreed, and Tristan hung up the phone. Next, they had to inform Aric and Nate. Mike rose from the seat to leave the hospital when his alpha laid his hands on him once again. The look on his face was eager but solid.

Mike didn't know why he was stalling.

"You have to stay," Tristan said, raising an eyebrow. "You have your mate to look after now. She is your duty."

Mike grumbled, every cell in his body telling him to go, to protect his people, to not wait another moment. But those same cells ached to be near Beatriz; every second apart was a thunderous blow to his weary heart.

And beneath all of that turmoil, there was the thirst for violence and punishment. They had gravely hurt his mate, after all. They deserved to have their limbs separated one by one.

"Tristan, she's okay now," he said, the words like splinters on his tongue. "I can take care of this with you and then get back to her. I can do both."

Tristan smiled. He looked astronomically younger again. When he spoke, he tilted his head the way a father does when he is teaching his son a precious lesson.

"Do you remember what I told you earlier?" he said, a smile tickling the edges of his mouth. "Finding your mate changes everything. Everything. And I know you are not a man who is accustomed to change, especially this drastically. But you are going to have to get used to it."

Mike hated how right his alpha was.

"Also," Tristan went on, his tone more lighthearted. "You are still going to be a very capable enforcer. It"s the balance that you have to figure out next. The push and pull of duty, the longing for your beloved. I understand, trust me."

Tristan slid his hands down Mike's arms and took a step back. It was his way of letting him make the final decision.

Tristan then smiled broadly, the years of trauma disappearing in his face.

"I am going to decree that it is your job to protect the Wolfe nanny. She is a part of our family, and she is of the utmost importance."

Mike smiled. It was a rare and beautiful sight.

Then, a nasty thought crept into Mike's mind and settled there like a stubborn leech.

"Do you think Beatriz needs protection? Could Wallis and this Franky guy come back and attack her again?"

Tristan's expression turned somber once more. He sighed and tilted his head back toward the ceiling. The truth visibly pained him.

"I'm afraid they could. They may not and assume that her condition is more dire than it is. All the more reason for you to stay put and protect her. They might try to eliminate her as a witness."

Mike felt fire scourge through his veins. He would like to see those bastards try.

"All right. I will stay here. Keep me updated on Nate and Aric when you can."

Tristan and Mike returned to the hospital room to find Barbara and Beatriz laughing over some reality TV show. Mike felt a glow bloom in his belly at the sight of his mate's smile. He was sure it could heal even the most arduous of wounds.

"Oh, you're back," Barbara said, rising with a dazzling smile. "I'm going to head out and look after the triplets while Beatriz recovers. I think this silly show is doing most of the work."

Beatriz suddenly looked concerned and then tried to frantically get out of bed. Mike raced to her side, pushing her gently back down.

"I'm fine. I can take care of them," Beatriz mumbled.

"No, no, Beatriz, don"t worry," Barbara said, coming to her side with her soothing tone. "We are a big family here. That's what we do. You are a part of it, honey. You need to rest."

Beatriz and Mike looked at each other, and something moved between them. It was a knowing, and it was enough to make Beatriz let go of the reins.

"What about Indulge?" she asked.

Barbara did her signature hand wave and pulled at the bed sheets to tuck Beatriz in.

"We've got that, too, sweetheart. You focus on healing, and Mike will take care of you. That is what the Wolfes do."

After Barbara and Tristan left, Mike and Beatriz were finally alone. Mike was glad to see that she looked somewhat settled, but there was still something bothering her.

He went to her and took her hand, fluttering kisses over her knuckles. It made her smile, but there was still discomfort.

"What's wrong, baby?" he asked softly, trailing his lips along her fingers.

Beatriz looked terrified, her hand stiffening under his touch. He didn't like that one bit.

"Am I a target? Is that why you"re staying here with me?"

He stopped his venture around her fingers, lowered her hand, and brought his own to her cheek. She stared at him, visibly frightened, panic rising like a bubbling volcano.

"It's my job as your mate to protect you," he said, evading her inquiry. "I am going to protect you no matter what."

"Are they going to try to kill me again?" she asked, looking more and more frantic.

"Beatriz …"

When she began to hyperventilate, Mike didn't know what to do. So he did the only thing he could think of to comfort her during her explosive moment of fear. He climbed into bed with her, guiding her head to rest on the armor of his chest.

"Just breathe with me," he whispered. "Listen to the beat of my heart. I am here. Everything is going to be okay. No one is getting past me."