Saved by Her Wolves Read online

  Saved by Her Wolves

  The Willow Creek Pack 3

  Cynthia Knoble

  Knoble Passions Publishing

  website

  Copyright © 2018 Cynthia Knoble

  All rights reserved.

  Paranormal Erotic Romance

  Knoble

  Copyright © 2018 by Cynthia Knoble

  First E-book Publication: January 2018

  First Print Edition: January 2018

  Printed by CreateSpace

  Copyediting by Sherri Good

  Cover design by Knoble Passions

  Image used under license agreement

  © canstockphoto/meggj

  Cover art copyright © 2018 C.A. Knoble

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole, or in part, without express written permission from the author.

  All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

  Letter to Readers

  Dear Readers,

  If you have purchased this copy of Saved by Her Wolves by Cynthia Knoble, thank you. Also, thank you for not sharing your copy of this book.

  If you are reading a copy that is watermarked and not provided to you by the author for the purpose of providing a review, you are in possession of an illegal copy of this book.

  Regarding E-book Piracy

  This book is copyrighted intellectual property. No other individual or group has resale rights, auction rights, membership rights, sharing rights, or any kind of rights to sell or to give away a copy of this book.

  The author works very hard to provide entertaining stories for your reading pleasure. This is her livelihood. Please respect her right to earn a living from her work.

  Disclaimer

  This story may contain words or language that are considered profane, vulgar, or offensive by some readers. Some scenes may be considered objectionable or offensive. For example, some scenes may contain graphic depictions of violence, sexual acts, and human anatomy, and as such may contain triggers for some readers.

  Dedication

  To my beta and ARC readers, Mary McCormack-Ward,

  Kathleen Banks, Carmen Alicia, Kymberly Holland,

  Patti Hesington, Mary Ann Boehm, Rhonda Butterbaugh,

  and Danaille Harton, you ladies are incredible,

  and I adore you all. Your feedback is invaluable to me,

  and I am forever grateful for the reviews you post.

  Acknowledgments

  Many people have helped this book along the way, some without knowing they have. To everyone who supports my work, listens to my woes, and encourages me when I’m floundering, I thank you.

  A few people should be personally acknowledged for their help. I extend special thanks to Rakel DeFreitas, who bounces ideas around with me and brings me Timmies, Rebecka Alves for providing me with company and the most engaging conversations, and Samantha Alves for letting me read to her. Sara Anderson, Jacqueline Anne, Gayle Cranfield, Susan Fisher-Davis, and Sherri Good are fellow authors whose support is invaluable to me. I adore you ladies. I also would like to acknowledge my mom. I suppose it goes without saying that none of this would have happened without her. Thanks for having me Mom, and for being so awesome.

  Contents:

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 1

  After bringing the SUV to a screeching stop before the diner, Jason leapt from the vehicle, Kyle and Alex behind him as he rushed to David who stood outside waiting for them. He wasn’t sure if he was actually shaking or if it just felt as if he was. He and his constables had been enjoying their poker game, sharing laughs, enjoying a perfect afternoon brought to a jarring halt by David’s frantic call informing Jason that a group of men had abducted Naomi, Emily, Nathan, and Ashlynn from the diner’s parking lot. He couldn’t recall how he got to the SUV, nor if he’d actually said anything to Alex and Kyle. Now, he didn’t know if he’d driven there but he must have as he’d gotten out of the driver’s seat, hadn’t he?

  Perfume strongly assaulted his nostrils as David, his face pale and drawn, shook his head slowly. “I’m sorry, Jason. If I’d seen anything, I would have come out here to help. You know that, don’t you?”

  The remorse in David’s voice cut through Jason’s fuzzy thoughts. He had to get a grip. “Yeah, I do know that. Where are my girls? Tell me they didn’t witness it.”

  “They didn’t,” David assured him. “They were already inside, Shawn brought them in. We were all together, everyone was talking, and then I heard Sabrina screaming for help as she ran to the door. I looked out the window, saw a bunch of vans and cars tearing out of the lot, and then saw Sabrina outside running to Sylvia. She was on the ground and I thought that maybe she fell. I ran out with Shawn. I couldn’t believe it when I got close to Sylvia and saw her. She was covered in blood and I thought maybe she’d been hit by one of those cars but then she told us what happened. That’s when I called you.”

  “Where’s Sylvia now?”

  “Inside. Shawn called Doc Cobb. I’m sure he’ll be here soon.”

  Wrinkling his nose with the strength of the perfume’s smell, he wished it would dissipate. He couldn’t think clearly as that damn stench threatened to bring on a pounding headache, and why did it smell so familiar? Gasping when the recollection shook him, he stepped back.

  “Jason?” David’s brow furrowed. “Are you okay?”

  Feeling like every ounce of breath within him had left his body with that small gasp he’d released, he was certain he’d pass out. He had to keep it together though, and be strong. Naomi and the others depended on him to be a cop now, not a shifter with a missing mate. He managed a quick nod for David as he forced himself to draw in a deep breath. Nerves frazzled, his heart beating so ferociously he was certain it would burst through his chest, he slowly released his breath before drawing another, this one even deeper. Assured he could keep his tone level and not reveal the crushing panic he felt, he put a hand on David’s shoulder.

  “Go back in. Make sure my girls are okay, I’ll be in there soon to see them. Just tell them Daddy’s working but I’ll see them soon. Tell Sabrina we need her statement and find out if anyone else saw anything.”

  “Okay,” David responded softly and entered the diner.

  When Jason turned to the stricken looks on the faces of his constables, he knew they too had recognized the scent, one that signalled much more than the rogue shifters’ attempt to prevent Kyle, Alex, and him from following their trail. It was also a ‘fuck you’ gesture and they all knew it.

  The trio turned at the sound of squealing tires and Jason swore as Ryan’s truck came to an abrupt stop. The Tremblay brothers leapt from the truck and bore down upon Jason who focused on the mix of worry and fury that lined Scott’s face.

  “What the fuck happened? And why aren’t you after them?”

  Jason held his hands up slightly. “We just arrived. We’re going to do everything we can to find them, you know that.”

  “Peel off the fucking kid gloves,” Scott snarled nastily. “I fucking know how bad this is. What I want to know is what you three are doing standing here with your thumbs up your asses. They have my mate, my sister, and my brother!”

  “They have my mate too,” Jason shot back tensely, struggling to control his temper. The last thing he needed at the moment was Scott’s hostility. “We are going after them but we need a plan. In case you can’t smell it, they covered their tracks
with perfume. We can’t follow their trail. We need help. I’m going to call Ryder.”

  “Because SASS has been so effective so far, haven’t they?”

  “We need them and you know it,” he hissed through clenched teeth. “Now, go inside and see to your mother. Doc Cobb is on the way. If your dad doesn’t already know, call him, and get him here.”

  Scott’s nostrils flared and Jason tensed, prepared to take the big shifter down if he made a move. He didn’t need this shit and wouldn’t tolerate it. Ryan pushed Scott’s shoulder.

  “Come on. Let Jason do his job. Let’s go see Mom.”

  Relieved when Scott left with Ryan, Jason pulled his cellphone out to call Ryder. As his eyes scanned over the broken perfume bottles, his heart rate kicked up yet again. The rogue pack had been his enemy for far longer than he’d realized and, despite his current stymied situation, he would put an end to the fuckers once and for all.

  ***

  Amazed they’d arrived without causing an accident, Ryder pulled the SUV into the parking lot of the Willow Creek RCMP division, cut the engine and scrambled out of the vehicle. Wayne on his heels, the pair hurried to the front door. After receiving Jason’s call, he and Wayne had rushed to the vehicle, and Ryder had shaved considerable time off the drive from Calgary, hitting speeds he shouldn’t have attempted, not needing Wayne’s encouragement to do so but understanding his friend’s need to voice it. Wayne was as crushed by Jason’s news as Ryder who, entering the building, swore his stomach dropped even lower at the sight of the corporal who stood with his constables, all three men wearing devastated expressions.

  Nodding curtly to the pair, Jason then met Wayne’s eyes. “Kyle and Alex will fill you in. I need to speak to Ryder alone.”

  Wayne visibly stiffened at the request but didn’t question it and turned his attention on Alex and Kyle. Jason cocked his head toward his office as his eyes locked on Ryder.

  “Let’s talk in there.”

  After closing the office door, Jason quickly outlined what he’d learned since calling Ryder, which sadly wasn’t much. The few witnesses inside the diner had been able to estimate the attackers as roughly a dozen men but couldn’t describe the vehicles they drove, nor provide detailed descriptions of the shifters due to their vantage points in the diner. Sylvia Tremblay had provided an account of the abduction but due to the stressful encounter, couldn’t recall what the men who’d attacked her looked like. Jason then sighed deeply.

  “There’s one other thing. I already told you they used perfume to cover their tracks but not that I recognized the scent.”

  “From?”

  “Trina’s murder scene.”

  “What?”

  Jason sat on the edge of his desk as he nodded solemnly. “When I arrived on scene that day, there was an overpowering smell of perfume and a shattered bottle on the ground, along with a small bag from a department store. There was no receipt but at the time, I’d assumed Trina had bought the perfume and it had been broken in the struggle with the perpetrator. But now, knowing it was the same perfume ...”

  “You don’t think it was a carjacking at all. You think the rogue shifters tried to abduct her and she was killed when she resisted.”

  “Yes.”

  Although convinced his stomach had already shrivelled to the size of a walnut, Ryder’s gut wrenched brutally. “Shit. If it was that pack then ... fuck, we thought they’ve been operating for a year and a half, but now, that would be five years. At least. This changes everything.”

  “Yeah, but in telling you, I don’t want to be pulled off this because someone in SASS thinks I’m too close.”

  “I want you on this.”

  “But brass will be involved. They have to get this information.” He slipped a hand through his hair. “Ryder, I can’t be pulled from this. I have to get Naomi back. The others too, of course, but please, I have to be a part of this.”

  Ryder’s phone rang. Glancing at the screen, he was surprised to see it was Hank, his former commander, calling and, despite the situation, he answered the call.

  “Hank, this is a shitty time. Can I call you back?”

  “No, I need to speak with you. This is SASS business.”

  “I’m not alone.”

  “Who’s with you?”

  “Jason Gagnon, a RCMP corporal and—”

  “I know who he is,” Hank interrupted. “That’s fine. You’ll have to inform your team of much of what I’m going to tell you anyway. Gagnon can hear it all. I know he’ll keep info to himself, if need be. Put me on speaker.”

  Ryder did, and then laid the phone on the desk. “Okay, you’re on speaker.”

  “Corporal Gagnon,” Hank’s voice issued briskly, “I’m Hank Snow, Ryder’s former commander. The official story is I’m retired from SASS but unofficially I’m part of a little-know group of agents working off grid, unknown to most everyone, including SASS. May I call you Jason, for ease of conversing?”

  “Sure, but Ryder’s face tells me he didn’t know you were doing this. My curiosity is piqued but we have a crisis here. Can this not wait?”

  “No, it can’t. I know what’s going on, that both your mate and Ryder and Wayne’s mate have been taken and you’ll need my team.”

  Jason looked to Ryder inquisitively and Ryder shrugged slightly, not previously aware of anything that Hank related and truly shocked by it.

  “So your team is working on the rogue shifter case then?” Jason asked.

  “In part. SASS is working on that and getting nowhere. My team is investigating why.”

  “You’re searching for leaks in SASS,” Ryder concluded.

  “Yes.”

  “And?”

  “Our best guess is this goes high up the chain of command. Very high. Which is exactly why we’re working off the books.”

  “How is that even possible?” Jason asked. “Who sanctioned you? Who’s funding you? How can you operate without SASS support?”

  “Have you ever heard of the SIA?” came Hank’s response.

  “As a myth,” Ryder said, his heart rate kicking up with Hank’s words. Even as there had never been proof of the existence of the Shifter Intelligence Agency, the thought alone inspired fear in most shifters.

  “Oh, it’s no myth. That’s whom I work for now, well truthfully have been for many years, even while in SASS. That’s how we operate, infiltrated into SASS, the Alliance, corporations, and government agencies even, hiding in plain sight as it were.”

  “Well, I’ll be.” Ryder shook his head in a vain attempt to clear it. Hank was adding more intrigue to an already confusing situation and Ryder was uncertain how much more he could deal with. “I guess that makes sense though. I never had a clue what you were doing.”

  “There aren’t many of us but we’re everywhere. Unfortunately, we’ve got our own mole, which is why I’m contacting you. I trust you, Ryder, and Wayne. You too, Jason. Although I’ve never worked with you, a colleague of mine has, and he vouched for your credibility. That’s good enough for me.”

  “This is a shitstorm,” Jason responded, “truly. So SIA is looking for moles in SASS but you have a mole. Which means you could have more. How the hell can you determine if you do?”

  “That’s what we’re working on doing. Coming up with a way to flush more out, if they exist, and where you in particular come in, Ryder. I need you to talk with the known mole and convince him to tell you what he knows.”

  Ryder couldn’t contain his surprise and felt the dramatic scrunch of his forehead. “What? How? How can I talk to an SIA mole? Why would he tell me anything?”

  “Because the mole is Mark.”

  ***

  Emily strained to push her arm through the bars of the cell, not able to reach Nathan but desperate to get as close to him as she could. Pulling on the chains that bound his ankles and led to the wall behind him, then ran to his shackled wrists, he could barely lift his hands past his waist. At least three feet still distanced them and yet she pushed ha
rder, the steel bars biting into her shoulder, trying in vain to reach her injured mate. She wasn’t even sure how he had the strength to stand, but he was on his feet, trying to get closer to her.

  Tears streamed down her cheeks as her eyes roved over his ravaged face, his left eye swollen shut, his nose obviously broken, lips so swollen they barely resembled a mouth and then rested on the multiple Taser burns on his neck and upper chest. Cut, bruised, bleeding, he had to feel tremendous pain but his open eye reflected nothing but love as he stared at her.

  “Don’t cry,” he said softly, “I’m okay.”

  His words sounded as mangled as his lips and she hitched out a sob. “You’re not,” she cried out, “You’re hurt. What if they hurt you more?”

  “Emmy, I’m okay. We’re safe for now, well as safe as we can be, I guess. The others will find us. You just have to stay strong.”

  “What if they don’t? You know what these shifters do. I know what they’re going to do to me, to the rest of us, but they don’t keep men. Nathan, I’m terrified for you.”

  “I know, but remember they said they kept me for ransom. That’s good news. It’ll buy us time until the others find us. You know Ryder, Wayne, and Jason are doing all they can. Same as Jason’s men. SASS will be all over this, and Scott and Ryan will be right in the thick of it. They’ll find us.”

  “What if they don’t?” Her question shakily exited her lips on a terrified breath.

  “They will,” he insisted, his voice steady. “Maybe SASS hasn’t got close before, but Ryder and Wayne are now searching for their mate, same as Jason, Scott, and Ryan, and they’ll find us. They won’t give up until they do. You can’t give up either.”