Dark Instincts

“This could get bad,” warned Ryan, indicating the large amount of various breeds of shifters that were hanging around. “Jackals or not, these shifters could decide to involve themselves in any fight that might ensue.”

 

 

Nick’s expression said, “Who gives a fuck?” The guy was out for blood after what happened to his mate, and Marcus didn’t blame him. If anyone fucked with his mate, even though he wasn’t looking forward to finding her, they’d be dead before they could blink.

 

It almost looked choreographed the way Nick, Trey, and Taryn entered through the double doors with Derren and Dante closely covering them as Roni, Marcus, and Ryan covered the rear. It was a sight that caught everyone’s attention, and every single shifter in the establishment froze.

 

Nick and Trey both had reputations for being powerful and dangerous. To see both presenting a united front while looking, well, rabid . . . it spelled trouble. The fact that they were accompanied by six very dominant wolves, all of whom looked supremely pissed, made for an extremely intimidating sight that had everyone’s “fight or flight” instinct kicking in.

 

Within seconds, the establishment was empty, apart from several jackals. Marcus immediately spotted Sergio Milano. He was seated at a corner table, surrounded by people who were most likely pack members. The surprisingly slight Alpha looked indifferent, but his amber eyes gleamed with irritation as the wolves came to stand before him. “Do you have any idea who I am?”

 

Nick smiled. “Of course. That’s why we’re here.”

 

“Displaying such bold, antagonistic behavior toward an Alpha on their territory isn’t a wise move.”

 

Trey arched a brow. “Neither is attempting to kidnap my son.” No response. “You don’t look surprised.”

 

“It wasn’t us.”

 

Taryn’s hands fisted. “But you knew about it.”

 

“Every jackal in the shifter community heard about it. Our grapevine works at high speed.”

 

“Then I’m assuming you also know who it was.”

 

Sergio stared blankly at Taryn, who let out a low growl. Responding to his mate’s anger, Trey slammed his hands on the table, causing Sergio’s pack to jump to their feet. But Marcus knew they wouldn’t move without a signal from their Alpha.

 

“This isn’t an interrogation, Sergio. If it was, my Beta would be snapping your limbs like twigs while my mate then beat you bloody with them. You tell me straight up who tried to kidnap my son.”

 

Sergio studied his fingernails. “You might remember I proposed an alliance between our packs, Trey. Had you accepted, we could have saved ourselves all this drama.”

 

“You want an alliance in exchange for information?”

 

Sergio’s smile was devious. “It’s just business.”

 

Roni sidled up to her brother and pointed her lollipop at Sergio. “You’ve got to give it to the guy, Nick: he has balls. Of course, we can always fix that by scooping them out with a rusty spoon and shoving them down his throat.” She spoke to Sergio then. “I’ll bet that’ll leave a familiar taste in your mouth.”

 

“Bitch, you—” His words were abruptly cut off as Nick plucked him out of his seat by his throat and slammed him high against the wall while the other jackals yelped and cackled.

 

Sergio struggled against Nick’s hold. “What the fuck!”

 

“Let me explain something,” rumbled Nick, power and rage pouring from him. “We’re not here to chat, or negotiate, or interrogate. We’re here to get the facts. You’re going to give us what we want. If you don’t, I’ll destroy you and every single jackal in this building.”

 

Now Sergio looked suitably afraid. It was impossible not to while Nick was glaring at him with homicidal urges in his eyes.

 

Taryn squinted up at him. “Glad it’s not me up there. I get nosebleeds in high altitudes. Do you?”

 

“You’re still not talking.” Trey took one menacing step forward.

 

“I heard it was the Scorpio Pack,” Sergio blurted out.

 

“Go on,” prodded Nick.

 

“Can you put me down?”

 

“No.”

 

Sergio sighed in resignation. “I don’t know for sure; I’m not in contact with them. They were blacklisted a few years ago.”

 

A pack could be blacklisted for a number of reasons, usually crime-related. They would then be mostly isolated from shifter society, losing their territory and alliances and no longer recognized as a pack by the shifter council.

 

“You sound disgusted with them,” observed Dante.

 

“I am. They were blacklisted, for God’s sake.”

 

Taryn snorted. “It’s not like your pack is squeaky-clean.”

 

“But there’s not a thing anyone could pin on me. For a pack to be sloppy enough to have evidence brought against them is worthy of disgust.”

 

“Well, since you have so little respect for them, you won’t mind telling me where I can find them.” Nick gave Sergio’s neck a cautioning squeeze.

 

“I don’t know,” he wheezed. “After they were blacklisted, they were forced to go on the road, so they’re never in one place for very long.”

 

“Why was the pack blacklisted?” Marcus asked.

 

“They were running an illegal fighting ring for shifters. It went on for years. At some point, they started including humans. The humans were willing, but they were getting badly hurt. Then some started . . . disappearing. Before it could attract the attention of the extremists, someone tipped off the council, and they blacklisted the pack.”

 

Taryn’s brows arched. “Wow, great story. In what chapter do you tell us where the fuck they are?”

 

“I told you, I don’t know where they are.”

 

“Then what do you know?”

 

He was silent for a moment. He closed his eyes as he said, “S. N. M.”

 

Dante’s brow furrowed. “What?”

 

Opening his eyes, Sergio elaborated. “It’s a website: snm.com. You should find some answers there. But you might not like what you see.”

 

Nick allowed Sergio to slide down the wall. “There. That wasn’t so hard, was it?”