Savage Silence: A Dire Wolves Mission (The Devil's Dires Book 4) (15 page)

“You ready to get out?” Thaus asked her, still holding on. Ariel smiled and nodded before turning to his brother. His friend. His family…and hers.

“Keep your junk out of my face, okay?” She reached for Mammon’s hand, not even flinching when he grabbed hold of her and pulled.

“Pretty sure the only face I want near my junk is my mate’s.” Mammon helped Ariel to her feet, all while Thaus stood nearby. Stunned.

“What?” Ariel asked, probably noticing the stupor he’d fallen into.

“He touched you.”

“Yeah?” She grinned, faking as if it was no big deal. “He’s family, right? You said we’re all pack. I’m safe with my pack.”

“Ooh Rah,” Mammon grunted before reaching for Thaus. “Your girl is a badass, brother.”

“Don’t I know it.” Thaus slid his arms around his mate when he reached the rocky shelf, pulling her closer with as much care as he could before diving in for one deep, delicious kiss.

“What was that for?” Ariel whispered when he finally pulled away.

Thaus shook his head and chuckled. “For being brave. And mine.”

Ariel grinned. “All yours for sure.”

T
haus was
ready to kill someone. Not a random someone—a particular someone. Two someones, really. One of his packmates and a Feral Breed member. Both of whom were causing his mate fear and pain.

Killing seemed like the right idea.

“Don’t kill them,” Phego said from where he stood leaning against the wall beside the door that led into the room where Thaus’ mate was. Where he couldn’t go.

“They’d deserve it.”

“No, they wouldn’t.”

Thaus nearly whimpered as his bond to Ariel buzzed. “She’s hurting.”

“They need to remove something from inside of her.” Phego cocked a grin. “Imagine how bad she’d going to hurt in a few months, and that’s totally your fault.”

Jackass. And yet, Thaus couldn’t hold back the goofy grin Phego’s words caused. He wasn’t kidding—in a handful of months, Ariel would be in a lot more pain than she was right then. But he’d be beside her through everything, and at the end, they’d have something that would make it all worthwhile. A tiny, sweet-smelling something that would change their entire lives.

Still, that didn’t mean Phego could get away with calling that detail out. “You’re an asshole.”

“Yup. And you’re acting like an idiot. She’s in the care of a medical professional and one of our brothers. Trust them to do their jobs.”

Thaus growled and paced, pushing as much calm and love through the mating bond linking him to Ariel as he could. And feeling helpless.

They’d taken the fastest way to Chicago after the whole Chilton episode was over and the Glaxious pack destroyed, but they’d been stuck waiting at the mansion ever since. Deus had wanted to study Ariel, to see what sort of frequency the chip inside her used, and President Blasius wanted to make sure if anyone was tracking her, they knew she was under the protection of the NALB. All fine and good, except it had meant months spent at Merriweather Fields as they waited for the right time to remove the damned chip. But a blood test along the way revealed that the time had come before the team was ready.

No one wanted a pregnant Omega being tracked in any way, just in case.

“You think about where you’re going to move?” Phego asked, still looking overly casual. Thaus didn’t buy the slouch or the slow drawl to his words. He knew Phego was ready to take him to the floor if needed. Deus and Shadow had told the Dires to stay out of the room while they removed the chip, something about the blood of his mate possibly causing Thaus to lose control.

Fuckers.

“Ariel wants to go back to the cabin.”

Phego chuckled. “The scene of the crime. I can see that.”

“I’m not sure, though.” Thaus groaned and ran his hands through his hair as he stared up at the harsh overhead lights.

“Why aren’t you sure?”

“The microchip.”

“It’ll be gone. All the Omegas are being located and checked. No more chips.”

“But we don’t know who else knows about it.”

“Chilton said he was the only one with the tracking hardware,” Phego said, his eyes bright with a hate all the Dires felt in regards to the chipping of the Omegas. “I worked him over for three solid days before disposing of him, and that story never changed.”

“I still don’t trust he told the truth. He and his pack knew where she was. They had her tracked to that mountain. As much as I want to live in that same place, it’s tainted now. Plus it’s too far from others. We’d have no backup if—”

He couldn’t finish, couldn’t find the words. That
if
could be anything from unknown threats coming at them to more guys like Chilton looking for Ariel. He didn’t need solitude anymore—not with his mate possibly in danger and a new baby on the way. He needed safety and security. He needed a pack.

But the Dire pack was spread out.

“You thinking of heading to Texas?” Phego asked, seeming to have read Thaus’ mind. Typical.

“Fuck and no, but Ariel doesn’t want to go as far east as Levi, either. Plus, the idea of Amy’s family pack with all twelve of her unmated brothers being close freaks her out. She won’t admit it, but I can tell.”

“She’s still nervous around strangers.”

“Yeah.” Thaus stared hard at the door, his stomach tying itself into knots. “Shadow is a stranger.”

“Deus is with her,” Phego said, though even he sounded worried. “He’s pack. She’s okay with our pack.”

“True.” Thaus sat in a chair and leaned against the wall. Ariel had grown closer to his brothers than he’d thought possible. Especially Phego. Those two were thick as thieves for some reason. “If you were me, where would you go?”

Phego shrugged. “Alaska.”

“You must like snow.”

“No, I like safety. And being around Luc is about as safe as I could imagine being.”

The man had a point. The Dire they all thought of as Alpha was another level of dangerous. Thaus could see why Phego would choose to spend time with Luc, but he couldn’t do that to Ariel. Pack or no, Luc would terrify her. He scared most people even without her sort of history.

Phego was quiet when he spoke next, reserved almost. “You could always come to Montana.”

Thaus stared hard at his brother, not sure of how to take that kind of offer. Phego lived in Montana most of the year, which meant… “You offering us a place with you?”

“I’m just saying. Mountains, forests, and safety, all rolled up in one package.” The Dire shrugged, not looking so casual anymore. “There’s a cabin close to mine. It hasn’t been used in years, but together, we could get it right homey before the baby came. It’s set back in the woods but close enough to mine to get help when you need it. Private but safe.”

Thaus blinked, unable to believe the offer laid before him. He knew his brothers cared for Ariel; he’d had no idea how much, apparently. “You’d be okay with a mated couple coming into your territory? With our pup running around?”

Phego met his eyes, the look he gave one of confidence and truth. One of honor. “It would be a privilege to protect someone as brave as your mate.”

Thaus didn’t have an answer, but he didn’t need one. As much as he appreciated the offer, this wasn’t something he could jump into. Ariel would want to voice her opinion, and he’d give her that chance.

Still, his throat was tight as he answered, “I need to talk to Ariel first.”

“Offer stands…today or two years from now.”

Thaus wanted to say so many more things, to offer his thanks to his brother in a way he wasn’t even sure the other man would understand. Ariel was everything to him. Always would be. For Phego to lay down his life, his privacy, that way—Thaus had no words for how grateful he was.

But before things got awkward or Thaus started blubbering, Ariel yelped loud enough for them to hear her in the hallway. Both men were crashing through the door into the operating suite before either could pronounce it was time to say fuck the rules.

“I’m fine.” Ariel held out her hand, a preemptive move to calm her mate. “It hurt, but I’m okay.”

“She refused the local anesthesia,” Shadow said. He stood a good two feet from the bed, he and Deus both looking ready to defend themselves if need be. Thaus had his mate’s hand in his, and she was smiling at him. His snarl wouldn’t ebb, though. Not with males near her when she was so vulnerable. Forget who they were, his mind was only focused on what they were. Even Phego looked ready to kill someone, and he wasn’t mated to the woman.

“Hi,” Ariel said as she rubbed her fingers over Thaus’ wrist in what could only be an attempt to calm him. “I’m chip-less.”

“I like chip-less.” Thaus coughed over his snarl, satisfied when it rolled down into a low growl. He leaned to press a kiss to Ariel’s forehead, never letting Deus or Shadow out of his sight. “How’s the precious cargo?”

Ariel’s hand went to her still-flat stomach. “Safe and sound.”

Thaus grunted and nuzzled into her neck, so fucking pleased that she was okay. He’d never let anything happen to her. Not again.

But his mate had other things on her mind. “How’s your shoulder?”

He huffed a half-assed laugh. Of course she’d be worried about him. “You’re the one on the gurney but you want to ask about my shoulder?”

Her voice softened, but her tone was determined. “I want to do this before we leave here.”

As much as he hated it, Thaus nodded. She’d been pushing him for weeks to let her operate on his shoulder. Ariel was sure she could alleviate at least some of the pain and stiffness he dealt with, but Thaus wasn’t sure he was ready to go back under the knife again. Besides, he’d been so focused on keeping her safe, the thought of being knocked out even for a few hours had been unbearable.

It still was.

“Only if all my brothers are here.”

But Ariel was nothing if not stubborn. “Thaus—”

“No.” Thaus kissed those soft lips he loved so much. “I can’t risk you. Even being in the hall, with you just on the other side of the door was…”

He couldn’t finish his thought. Couldn’t find the words to tell her what he feared without breaking something inside himself. He couldn’t risk her for a second, because the thought of losing her, just the thought, was enough to drive him straight into his long-neglected grave.

“You know, if you’re having—” Shadow probably had some excellent advice or words of wisdom, but the shifter made the mistake of taking a single step toward Ariel. Phego’s growl made the Feral Breed member go quiet quick. Even Deus backed up.

“Phego,” Thaus said, snarling the word. He was ready to take his mate and leave. He needed her someplace safe, someplace where they could be alone. “End it.”

Phego stepped to the end of the bed, placing himself between Ariel and Shadow. “She done here?”

When Shadow nodded, Phego moved to the other side of Ariel’s bed and gave Thaus a serious look. “Let’s get her back upstairs. This place is for sick people.”

Thaus was definitely ready, but rolling Ariel through the halls of Merriweather Fields on a gurney simply wasn’t going to happen. Shoulder be damned; he needed to hold his angel. So without thinking twice, Thaus lifted Ariel into his arms and cradled her against his chest as he headed for the door with Phego flanking him.

“I don’t need to be carried, you know,” Ariel said, sounding a little embarrassed.

Thaus didn’t answer her. He also didn’t put her down. His mate needed him, and he was going to take care of her. Even if she didn’t like it all that much.

Though, he knew she really did. Ariel curled into his hold, safe and unafraid. Brave, like Phego had said. Her scars weren’t healed by any stretch—there were still nightmares and moments of fear, anxiety attacks and the refusal to be close to certain people. But Thaus could deal with that. So long as she trusted him to take care of her, to keep her safe, he could handle anything.

And as Phego followed them up the stairs, as his brother guarded his six as only a true warrior would, Thaus leaned down to steal one more kiss from his mate.

“How do you feel about living in the Rockies?”

N
ovels

Claiming His Fate

Claiming His Need

Claiming His Witch

Claiming His Beauty

Claiming His Fire

Claiming His Desire

C
ollections

Claiming Their Forever: A Collection of Shorts

C
laiming
His Chance

Claiming His Prize

K
illian and Lyra

Gideon and Kalie

Blasius, Dante, and Moira

Homecoming

Also available in one convenient anthology in both electronic and paperback formats.

The Gathering Tales

S
avage
Surrender

Savage Sanctuary

Savage Seduction

Savage Silence

Savage Sacrifice

C
utlass

Hudson

Maverick

B
early Dreaming
: A Southern Shifters Worlds Novella

Masterson: A Vampire Sons Story

S
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