Druid Fox Chapter 8

Druid Fox Chapter 8

Fox

First nights in a new bed were always hard. Thoughts of the past plagued him before he finally fell asleep. Then, just as he seemed to sleep well, Isabell’s screaming had him running down the hall to find Javier had returned and was asleep in her bed.

The whole dreamwalking incident kept him awake longer still. It was little wonder he was grouchy when he finally woke up much later than his usual time, only to find Isabell snuggled up to Javier on the couch.

He studied the two for a moment. He wondered if it was possible, then shook his head. Surely not, but maybe. Luke mated with a tiger. Could Javier belong to Isabell?

He left them and his crazy thoughts to have a cup of tea and called Luke before approaching Javier.

“It’s past ten. I called Luke this morning when I found you. He’s at the land in your place. He didn’t even seem surprised. Do you think you can drive me over in about an hour?” Fox whispered.

Javier agreed, and Fox went back to his tea and an open laptop in the dining room. Twenty minutes later, while he was reading emails, Javier slunk sheepishly into the dining room. He didn’t seem intent on harming Isabell. On the off chance he could be Isabell’s mate, Fox let it play out further.

“Fox, can you lend me some clothes and the use of your shower? I seem to be short on both accounts.”

“Sure, use the master shower. Clothes are in the bureau. Don’t worry, Artie is down by the creek checking out the gazebo. I’ll let her know so she doesn’t surprise you in your birthday suit.” Fox smiled.

“Thanks. I’ll return the clothes when we get to my cabin.”

Javier walked down the hall and took a shower. When he returned, Fox was ready for a drive. They took Luke’s Mustang. Javier had given his truck keys to Isabell for her and Artie to take into town to buy groceries and household items. Fox missed having his vehicle, but it could be corrected easily enough.

They arrived at Javier’s cabin just before noon. Javier slipped inside to change his clothes. Fox met Luke on the porch. He didn’t think the meeting was going to be as good as the one the previous day had been, but there was no way around what he had to do. Luke needed the truth. Lies or half-truths wouldn’t be good enough.

“Spill it. What’re we dealing with?” Luke demanded after he clasped forearms with Fox.

Fox pulled out his cellphone, turned on a video, and handed it to Luke and Javier, who bent their heads together over it to watch.

After about five minutes, Javier walked over to a tree and threw up. He wasn’t even apologetic about it.

Fox said nothing. He felt the same way.

Watching a man brutalize a woman wasn’t a simple task to accomplish. Knowing Javier felt protective of Isabell made it worse, but these men had to know the truth. Peter Elliot was an enemy, and knowledge was a powerful weapon.

There were people in cages. Some were dead, others tortured and were dying. They hacked apart some bodies. There were syringes full of tranquilizers.

There was a gurney with odd straps that seemed to hold different shifters in both their human and animal forms. Vials of blood stood waiting to be tested. Slides, organized with tissue samples, waited to be analyzed. There were several computers set up in stations around the warehouse. The scene resembled a medical horror flick.

“Tell me you destroyed this,” Luke pleaded.

“We burnt it down,” Fox responded with a growl.

He’d felt compelled to send a message. It cost him, but it had been the right thing to do. When the video ended, he took the phone back and opened a different one that showed Isabell on it.

“This is what you need to see more, though, I think.”

He handed it back to the other two men.

The video feed was of the room Javier described witnessing in Isabell’s nightmare. Both men growled as they witnessed Isabell being beaten with a wooden club. They watched as blue flames traced over her, and she shifted into a phoenix.

They saw her blood drawn, feathers plucked, and finally watched as they dragged her around by the neck after they sedated her to bend her wings. Then Javier and Luke both sucked in a breath when Isabell bit her attacker and breathed phoenix fire. The man froze and turned blue like deep-ice. Then the red flames burned out of his nasal passages and consumed his eyes.

He burned out on the inside while his outer shell remained frozen. It was eerie. Isabell was a dangerous and extremely powerful first-order immortal shifter.

“I copied it from their database before the place went up in flames. Isabell is beautiful and deadly. Her kind was hunted to near extinction long before Christ walked. So far as I’ve been able to learn, there are less than ten still in existence. Some want to destroy them, others want to use them. They’re the source of the legendary Greek fire the Athenians used against other navies. Everyone fears the phoenix and rightly so,” Fox remarked.

“She would be an incredibly valuable asset to the pack,” Luke noted.

“If she had proper care and an authentic place here among us, she would have protection. She might even help protect the pack. She would make a good defense, the last resort, or a backup plan.”

Luke liked the phoenix, and he was happy Isabell wanted to join the pack. Fox knew his friend was telling the truth about thinking diversity would only make the pack stronger.

Luke had been a leader of men for years. He was good at assessing strengths and weaknesses in others.

“She’s broken, Luke. I saw it. She’s so afraid, so small. I know you said she was my problem, but the entire pack will have to work to help her. She has been alone for too long. Hell, what she is has tortured her before Elliot’s men ever got to her. This will take time.”

Fox nodded in agreement.

“She seems more comfortable with me. I know you saw it. Still, this is serious. She’s not a man like us, to kill when we feel threatened or think someone will harm the pack. Isabell’s not a soldier, not comfortable with violence. She was sorry and upset. She killed the bastard who beat her.” Javier growled.

“What do you think, Fox?” Luke asked.

“Javier hasn’t missed the mark. If she mended, she’d be a good last resort weapon. I agree with you about that. Fixing her is going to take time, and it will probably be heaviest on Javier. This birdie needs us all. I have my selfish reasons for wanting to join the pack, but Isabell might die without it.”

“Javier, are you up to the challenge?” Luke asked.

“I might need some time off work for this project, boss.”

Javier grinned. Isabell needed him, and he wanted to help her.

Javier grasped forearms with Luke, and they both smiled.

“From now on, Javier stays at Fox’s house at night. I’ll oversee the retreat in the mornings, and Javier will take over at noon until the construction crews leave. Fox, if an emergency arises, can you fill in for us?” Luke asked.

“No problem,” Fox replied.

He was already feeling better about the whole adventure. Isabell would get help, healing, and protection, and he and Artie would get protection.

Duncan was glad Luke wanted a diverse pack. He was powerful and knew how to lead.

Javier was street-smart with extra muscle. The best beta Luke could have chosen. Fox wanted in on that.

“Javier, Isabell is your primary job. Let Fox or me know if we need to help by filling in here. I’ll speak with Eli and maybe she and Artie can help by getting Isabell out for girl stuff. I’m sure she needs clothes and shoes. Spend the money and get her talking. She’s an artist, right?”

Fox and Javier nodded.

“Get her whatever supplies she needs to work. Working at doing something you love is a known therapy. Plus, it will help her feel like a contributing member of the pack. Let’s make her feel wanted,” Luke said.

Javier grinned in approval. Fox nodded at his friend. Luke understood exactly what needed to be done to save Isabell.

“How about y’all show me this retreat,” Fox said as he smiled. They had a plan in place to save a phoenix.

He spent an hour walking the grounds, listening to his alpha and his beta explain the plans for the retreat. It was a good idea. He wanted to put something out on the table for them to consider.

Thank you for your support! Welcome to the dream… Sincerely, -OK

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