Grant shook his head. His blond hair stuck straight up, probably because he kept running his fingers through the strands. “This isn’t her area of expertise. Besides, she won’t get directly involved in pack politics.”
“Could we ask the Shadow Pack for assistance?” asked Roxie. She tried not to let her desperation show.
“They’re in the middle of their Choosing ceremonies.” Jack put his hand on her leg and squeezed. “We’re not looking to start a territory war. If the Shadows were to help us and we failed, we’ll have a lot bigger problem on our hands.”
“True. If wolves can’t help us, maybe we should consider the bears.” Grant looked at them. “The Pearsons. They’ve got an excellent rep among the shifter community—at least according to Delta. It’s one of the reasons she put us in their mom’s hotel. Extra protection.”
“Why would they get involved?” Roxie felt so helpless, even in the company of her brawny, brave men. If it was just a matter of overpowering Crawl with physical strength, they could take him down. But her brother was the kind of crazy that was unpredictable, and most definitely homicidal. He’d kill hundred innocent people if it meant taking out his target. There was no line Crawl wouldn’t cross. He wouldn’t think twice about eliminating the Earth Pack alphas—and would welcome a pack war. He loved chaos.
“The bears aren’t set up in allegiances like the packs. Bear clans are small, usually consisting of two or three families.”
Roxie glanced at her phone and noted the time on its screen. “We have forty-nine minutes to figure out what we’re going to do.”
“I’ll call in the Pearsons,” said Grant.
* * *
GABE AND MIKE Pearson were big, imposing men—the size of NFL linebackers. Roxie had come across plenty of shifters, but she’d never met any bears before.
They listened patiently to Roxie, Grant, and Jack’s story. With only twenty minutes to go before she was supposed to meet her brother’s minions, time was running out.
“Do you want to take out Crawl?” asked Gabe. He wore his dark blond hair in a military-style haircut. He had a boxer’s face, square and solid. His full lips softened his fierce visage, but with the scar above his right eyebrow and a nose that had no doubt been broken more than once, he was—overall—scary-looking.
His brother, Mike, was just as huge, but wore his long, brownish-red hair pulled back into a ponytail. He had sharper features than his brother, and his smile seemed to come a lot easier.
“I don’t want to kill him,” said Roxie, finally answering Gabe’s question.
Gabe lifted a single brow. “But…”
“But I have to.” Roxie swallowed. Hard. “He won’t give up being alpha. And he will never leave me alone.”
“You want to be the alpha?’ asked Mike.
“Hell, no,” said Roxie. She couldn’t stop herself from trembling. Grant and Jack each put an arm around her shoulders. Their strength transmitted to her, and she felt less shaky. Determination filled her. She wasn’t alone anymore. And she trusted her mates.
“She’s already an alpha of the Earth Pack,” said Grant. “I don’t care what it takes to protect our mate, even if it means eliminating Crawl once and for all.”
“We’ll get you close enough to take care of business,” said Gabe. “You meet with the goons, Roxie. We’ll follow you to the location and rescue your friend. Your mates will be there to help you deal with your brother.”
“Okay.” Roxie inhaled a deep breath. Fear fluttered in her belly with wings of ice—sending chills straight through her. She had to do this—Crawl was forcing her hand. He was a relentless psychopath. She didn’t want to be responsible for his death, but the truth was, she’d save a lot of lives when she took him out.
Foreboding lodged in her lungs, stalling her breath. The next few hours wouldn’t be easy, but she’d get through them.
And then she’d finally, finally be free.
* * *
ROXIE WAITED FOR her brother’s minions on the street corner, less than a block away from the boutique hotel. Her husbands and the bear shifters were in a running vehicle waiting in the alley to her right, ready to follow. She didn’t think Crawl was stupid enough to take her to the Blood Pack compound, but she didn’t have a clue where he might hole up—thus the need for covert actions. One of those actions was embedding a tracking device into the base of her neck. That extra step guaranteed that no matter where Crawl took her—her mates wouldn’t be far behind.
A black SUV smoothly stopped at the curb in front of her. The back passenger door opened. Roxie took a deep breath and slipped inside the dark confines.
Two men she didn’t know occupied the front seats. Unfortunately, she knew all too well the female sitting next to her. Her brother’s crazy lover.