Chapter Twenty

My team came in dragging their feet, clearly exhausted from the trip. They made a beeline for the coffee pot except for Jason. He dumped a rather large black bag onto a bed that was suspiciously large enough for a person.

"Is that what I think it is?" I nodded to the bag.

"If you think it's an unconscious brainwashed little hunter, then yes, it is what you think it is," Jason replied with a smirk.

I smiled at him. "It's good to see you," I greeted.

"You too little warrior," Jason smiled back and enveloped me in a hug.

I smiled up at him as he kissed my forehead. "You sure know how to make an exit," he mentioned. "Il Duce Luna is in quite the uproar."

"Drink your coffee, and we can head out of here," I patted his chest and moved to start putting away my file.

"Damn, how much did you drink last night?" Dean asked toeing an empty bottle on the floor.

I gave him a pointed look to drop it. Dean just shrugged and went about taking large gulps of caffeinated elixir.

"Who are you?" Jason asked Lucas, only now noticing him.

"Lucas Daciana," He introduced and extended his hand.

Jason gripped his forearm and nodded to him. When he realized the name his eyes widened. "Daciana?" he asked. "As in…"

"I am Lenuta's father," he nodded.

The room stopped. Everyone was looking between us.

"Explanations will happen when we get to the safe house," I brushed it off and went back to packing.

"Jez," Dean started.

With a glare he held his tongue. He drank another couple cups of coffee before we were moving to the back of the warehouse.

"I thought we were leaving," Stefan asked.

"Remember when I said you would never get to drive any of my cars?" I asked.

"Yeah…" he nodded.

"Prepare to start begging," I grinned as I drew back the curtain.

Five sleek black Porshe 911s were lined up. I grabbed the keys off the wall and clicked the remote. Stefan and I climbed into the car that beeped, tossing our bags in the trunk.

"The computer has a signal scrambler that Tommy installed, so we can't be tracked, but we disabled the GPS just to be safe." I rattled off. I hit a few buttons and the garage door behind us opened up.

As a caravan we hit the road. Tommy road with Macie; still sedated in the front seat. Dean was with Carlos. Jason was with Lucas.

"Alright," I said hitting the radio link up, "Is everyone's comms working?" I asked.

"Indeed they are, you forgot to say over, over," Tommy jested in a southern accent.

"We can hear you loud and clear, Jez," Carlos's voice came in next.

"Same here little warrior, lead the way," Jason checked in last.

"Just try to keep up," I couldn't help but grin as I shifted up through the gears.

"Damn babe, you drive like an insane maniac," Stefan laughed while grabbing the ‘oh shit' bar.

I rolled my eyes at him. "Don't be a fucking baby," I laughed.

We headed into the mountains, far from prying eyes. I relaxed the farther we were from the city. I truly detested cities.

"Alright everybody, stay close," I said through the comms.

"Just don't do that Tokyo drift shit like last time," Dean replied.

I grinned. "Aww, did it scare you last time?" I prodded.

"Just take it easy this time, we are carrying precious cargo," Jason's voice came through.

"Fair enough, remind me to teach you all how to drive when this is over," I replied with a smirk.

"You seriously drifted through these mountains last time?" Stefan asked disbelievingly.

"Damn straight," I smiled cheekily and drifted around the first curve like it was nothing. With my heightened senses, driving stunts weren't hard to pick up.

I slowed down after hearing protests through the comms and laughed at their concern. I like driving the way I liked running, fast with a side of controlled recklessness.

"Okay, okay, I'm slowing down," I laughed to calm them down.

We had been driving through the mountains for a little over half an hour when I said through the comms, "Okay, we are nearing the door, everyone turn on your keys," I announced.

I turned on the key which was actually a button on the dash that sent out a signal that unlocked and opened the door to the safe house. It was hidden in the mountains just off the highway. The fortress had been modified over the years by the mercenaries. It was my idea to add the door security after watching dogs and doggie doors with those fancy colors that only open when they get close to it. Tommy figured out a way to make a big one in the side of the mountain so we could disappear in the blink of an eye.

We came around the last curve and drove straight toward the mountain as the door opened just high enough to let us in. As soon as I passed the barrier I hit the brakes. The lights were triggered to come on as the door closed behind the last car.

"I damn near shit my pants when we drove straight at the mountain," Stefan admitted and let out a huge gust of air. "This has got to be the most ingenious safe house I've ever seen." He commented.

"It's been passed down through the generations of Mercs, It's not really clear on who built it first, but it's been expanded on quite a bit." I informed as we exited the car.

"Wow," was all Stefan had to say.

"Hey Tommy, make sure Macie gets into a secure room and some food and water for when she wakes up," I request. "Then report to the ops room," I nod at him.

"No prob," Tommy nods back.

"Jason, you're on food and coffee duty, seeing as you're the only one who can cook," I smile at him.

"Yeah, as soon as I get my bags put up I'll head to the kitchen and whip up something, I called ahead to Ian, he should already be here and stocked the fridge." He nodded.

"Who's Ian?" Stefan asked.

"Retired Merc who keeps up the place for when we need it." I explain.

"Carlos, you mind showing Lucas to a room?" I ask.

"Not at all, we'll see you all in a bit," Carlos nodded to us.

Stefan and I moved into our room for the next few weeks. It was simple, no extra embellishments. We had a small closet and we shared a bathroom with everyone else on the floor. There were no private bathrooms here. I could tell by the set of Stefan's shoulders that he was tense, so while we had a few moments I moved to rub the muscles knotted in his back and for the first time, Stefan moved away from me. My wolf cried out at the rejection and my own heart twisted in my chest as a sinking feeling of dread seeped into my gut. I could feel that he had blocked me from reading his thoughts so I didn't pry. I may not be able to read his exact thoughts, but I could almost see the anger seep out of his pores.

"You're angry with me," I stated, with no question in my tone.

"What makes you think that?" he replied sarcastically.

I didn't respond and just moved to leave the room. I had a meeting to conduct if we ever wanted to get Stefan back to his pack. Only now was I questioning if he even wanted me there anymore.

The safe house was not homey, it was efficient and cold. The walls were unadorned and clean. The floors were gray concrete. The kitchen was set up with what we needed and the ops room was empty except for an old cork board a large oak conference table and a cup of markers and push pins. I opened the file on the table and set about pulling the important documents to put on the board. As I worked I could hear Jason enter the kitchen and start cooking. When there was a lull I felt him enter the room and set down a cup of coffee on the table. I turned and thanked him as he was leaving the room.

"Jason," I stopped him.

"Jez," he smiled back at me.

"Stefan is angry with me," I tell him looking at the floor, feeling ashamed at the fact.

"Why are you ashamed about that?" he asked.

"Because I don't understand why," I answered and sat on one of the chairs.

"Just focus on the job baby girl, that's all you can think afford to think about right now," Jason pulled me into a hug for a moment and went back to the kitchen.

With an audible sigh I went back to work and poured through the information I had gathered making notes and adding things here or there.

Tommy entered the conference room first with a mass of cables and electronic gadgets that I had no idea what they were for. He nodded at me in greeting before setting up his tech. We fell into a rhythm. My team and I had been working together for a long time and we worked as a unit. We barely had to talk as we knew each other's moves. Carlos was busy with blueprints of the Ulfric's compound looking for weaknesses with Lucas. Tommy was gathering various intel for each of our projects. Dean was going over arms and taking inventory of what we had versus what the enemy had according to Lucas's knowledge and my brief encounter with the Ulfric's armory. Jason was helping me organize and sort through the intel to form the big picture. I was compiling information on everyone in court that I could. I wanted to know every player on the board.

Stefan entered the ops room and I stopped to look at him, but couldn't shake the sad tightness in my eyes so I looked back at the table and the papers covering it.

"Stefan," Jason called to him. "We could really use your help on intel of the Shifter court." Jason requested.

Stefan stiffened further but didn't say a word as he joined us at the table.

Keep focused on work. Keep focused on work. I chanted it in my head.

"We are trying to pick out the major players," Jason explained, "And compile what information we can about them. Anything and everything."

"Most of the court is retired alphas," Stefan said and sat down with a sigh.

Since when did Stefan act so defeated? What the hell was wrong with him? Here I was fighting the fucking Ulfric and he is acting like he would rather be back in the states with his head in the sand.

"Can I talk to you?" I asked Stefan.

"You're my mate aren't you?" he replied with a sneer.

"Give us a minute guys," I said to the room, my eyes locked with Stefan's.

As soon as the door was shut, I damn near exploded.

"What the fuck is your problem?" I growled lowly.

"As if you could understand the problem with this situation," Stefan scoffed.

"Use your words and tell me what the problem is, I can't help you, if you can't communicate," I said condescendingly.

"Oh you want me to communicate?" he asked rising from his chair to tower over me.

"Yes, damn it," I swore.

"I'm a goddamn motherfucking alpha and I don't like being treated like your lackey," Stefan spat in my face.

"What the fuck are you talking about?" I asked astounded.

"Ever since we left court, you've led me around like a lost puppy you have to protect," he ranted. "You know I am not an idiot," he exclaimed.

"I don't think you are, but how many times have you had to survive without the support of your pack behind you?" I asked. "How many times have you stood on your own without the title of alpha to make those that defy you tremble and submit? Like it or not, you are in my world now ‘Alpha Stefan'" I said mockingly. "And when I was out of my comfort zone, trying to be the Alpha Female to your pack, I didn't whine this much." I raised my voice at the end.

"You left me when you couldn't handle it," Stefan growled.

I hit him hard and with a closed fist. I had tears in my eyes, part from anger, but mostly because I was so hurt by him.

"I am doing this for you damn it." I roared. "Do you think I give a fuck about what the Ulfric does? I could live rogue for the rest of my life and he would never find me, but I am going to war for you so you can go back home! You need your pack, and I need you to be happy, so the least you could fucking do is be a bit more supportive instead of acting like a child." I felt the tears go down my cheeks and turned so he wouldn't see me wipe them off my cheeks.

I took a deep shuddering breath when I felt his hand wrap around my wrist and pull me around jerking me angrily.

"Don't turn away from me, we aren't done yet," Stefan growled.

"Don't fucking touch me," I screeched and ripped my arm from his tight hold that was starting to ache. I pushed him away from me but he barely moved.

Instead I was pulled up by my arms and slammed into the wall.

"I am your Alpha, and I will touch what I wish," his eyes bled to the dark animal color of the beast pacing beneath them, waiting to be let out.

"You are not my Alpha," I growled. "I am my own Alpha," my own wolf had risen and she was just as pissed as I was. "Either lead with me, or leave," we growled.

"I should leave, that way you would see what it felt like when you left," Stefan growled back.

My wolf took over and I felt her take control of my body as she clamped down on the side of Stefan's neck. Our elongated canines nearly touched at the savage way we ripped at his skin. I licked the blood away, cleaning the mark until it healed.

"You are mine, and don't ever threaten me with that again." I growled in his ear as he dropped me. "We are a team, we don't do well with rules and leaders on this side," I said calmly. "So you need to accept that I am not ordering anyone around they can leave at any time, but they choose to help us, because they are my team, my family, not my pack. We are rogue, no one rules us," I finished and moved away from him.

"I gave up everything for you," Stefan said hoarsely.

"And I chose to give up my freedom for you when I agreed to be your mate," I returned. "You are my life now. Everything I do now is for you and your pack,"

"Oh don't give me that," Stefan interrupted.

"Oh yes I will," I growled back. "You had the choice of leaving and going back to your pack. You could have rejected me and left."

"As if I would consider going back with that kind of a disgrace," Stefan scoffed.

"Then shut the fuck up, and quit acting like a baby. I can't do this without you so quit fighting me, and focus on fighting the Ulfric. He's the one that has taken everything from you," I reminded.

Stefan remained silent for a moment and wouldn't look at me as I stared down the side of his head.

"You should have stayed away from me and my pack," Stefan said and left the room.

I glared at the back of his fat head until he disappeared from view. My team stood in the kitchen trying very hard not to stare at me. The awkwardness hung in the air and fueled my rage and internal pain until I grabbed the nearest thing to me, which turned out to be an empty coffee cup that I flung against the wall. I watched it shatter in satisfaction.

"No one tell him that the room isn't sound proof," Dean whispered.

I started to laugh. It wasn't a genuine happy laugh, it was a relieved almost delirious laugh that expelled the tension and emotional pain. I couldn't bring myself to cry so I started to laugh.

"He blames me," I said in between rib tightening chortles.

I laughed like a crazy person. Hell, I laughed like an evil supervillain with a diabolical plan to take over the world. I sank into a chair and supported my head on my hands with my elbows resting on my knees. I took a deep breath and my laughter turned to smaller chuckles.

"He was fine with all of this until we got here," I said aloud, but mostly to myself.

"Maybe, he was trying to be okay with it," Dean said sitting next to me. "Just give him some time, he will come around," he reassured me.

I could only nod as I closed my eyes, feeling exhausted.

"Let him cool off, this is quite an adjustment for him, and he hasn't had to adjust to things like this the way you have," Carlos nodded at me, offering me a small smile.

I only nodded back.

"I'm going to go to the training room for a bit, if you find anything let me know," I tell them and head to the training room that took up the entire second floor.

I don't know how long I trained. I alternated from running on the treadmill and hitting the bags. We had to have specially made punching bags that were reinforced with steel mesh and extra canvas; otherwise we busted them on a regular basis. Supernatural strength can be a blessing and a curse when it comes to gear. I was taking a drink of water when Stefan entered.

When he saw me, I could see his anger return and he turned to leave.

"Stefan," I called with authority.

He turned and I saw the defiance in his eyes.

"Let's settle this now," I growled moving to the mat.

"What are you doing?" Stefan growled.

"Let's settle this, the only way that our kind understands," I offer. "Let's see how much you really care about my submission," I challenged.

We began to circle one another and I recalled the first fight we had like this, where I fell from the window. I was so angry with him last time. This time I was angry, but I was incredibly clear headed. Stefan charged at me and I spun away from the attack. He rolled and sprang up ready to attack again. He was much larger than I was and physically stronger, he was probably one of the only people in the world that had a shot at beating me. Although, he was the one person who was supposed to not want to hurt me and he needed to be reminded that he didn't want to beat me.

He charged again and I used a martial arts maneuver to use his own momentum to throw him off of me. In a flash we collided and he overpowered me with ease so I was beneath him. His hand clasped me around the neck tightly but not enough to cut off my oxygen. I used my legs and flexibility to wrap around his neck and squeeze with enough pressure to make him realize I could put him out too. He squeezed so I squeezed back. After a moment I felt my lungs burning for oxygen and I could hear my heart beating in my ears. I squeezed harder. Focusing on keeping my hold on Stefan's neck, I could feel his pulse pumping as hard as mine.

Don't give in. Make him see he needs us. I chanted it in my head. I was seeing spots now so I closed my eyes and squeezed harder.

My heartrate began to slow. I was going to die if I didn't submit soon…

He needs me.

But it would be so much easier to give in.