“Then how are we going to stop him? Let’s run.”
“Because he’ll never stop looking. My brothers are all like dogs with bones. Like Tim, it will hurt his pride to have you reject him. He’ll never stop hunting us.”
“Well how in the hell are you going to stop him from controlling your mind?”
“There’s a few things I know. One, he can only control us while he’s watching. Which means that every single time he’s had us under his control, he’s had a vantage point.”
That thought made me sick. Was he watching when Jared and I made love?
“Also, shapeshifter magic is designed from thousands of years of evolution in regard to hunting. Its mechanism is well-studied by the shapeshifting scientific community.”
“Well that’s convenient.”
“It certainly is. We’re move advanced, but we’re forced to hide everything. The Council knows that even with all of our technological and genetic advantages, humans still outnumber us one hundred thousand to one. Until there’s more of us, we don’t have a fighting chance.”
“So, what does the science say?”
“Mind control relies heavily on cortisol and adrenaline production. If you are stressed, afraid, or in an unfamiliar situation, his magic will be more effective.”
“Doesn’t sound that advanced to me.”
“How do you mean?”
“Well, as long as you know that, we can fight it.”
“How?”
“You’re forgetting I work in a hospital? If what you need is a drug cocktail, I can get it. I just need some time.”
“Okay. Call your mother and tell her I’m going to pick up the girls and text me the address. You go to the hospital and get us what we need. I’ll meet you back here.”
“I can’t just walk into the hospital and grab it. Everything is locked up.”
“We don’t have the time. He could show up at any moment. And we have to be ready.”
He grabbed my face between his hands and gave a little squeeze. When our foreheads touched, I could feel the heat emanating from his skin. “You can do this. I know it.”
“I’ll do my best. For us. And our baby.” I touched my lower belly. My girls were the only thing that mattered. And now, I needed to fight for them. And our survival.
Chapter 38
Frank
It’s all come down to this. Brother versus brother. Jen wasn’t even the real prize I was searching for now. It was seeing the surprise on Jared and Wes’s face when they realize that I can act as an independent person. That I am not one of three, but I am only one. One. An individual. It never used to bother me. In fact, I played my part well. Loyalty. That was all I cared about. And then, I saw her. Someone that stirred my emotions. A woman that attracted me and one I couldn’t stop dreaming about. And one that I would never be able to have. Not because she was in love with my brother. Not because she had a crazy ex-husband, or children, or that I was unable to support her. It was because I belonged to a group that didn’t value me or my opinions. And they never had. I’ve never been valued. And I didn’t want to die without knowing what that was like. Even if it meant I needed my brothers to kill me, I was getting out of this pack one way or another. The men I’ve gathered to overthrow Jared were washed up. Mostly sick or weak and tired of being told what to do. We’re making a stand. It’s going to be difficult. My nerves are shot. I haven’t been able to sleep since I decided. But, the excitement of being free excited me. What awaited me in the next world? I couldn’t be sure. But at least it would be different
than this one. And it would be one that I had to myself for a while. It would be some time before my brothers could join me. I looked around at the men in the room. A dozen losers. “Are you guys ready?”
“Tim’s not here yet,” said one of the white-haired bandana wearing scum that I punched around a dozen times. Man, I couldn’t wait to be rid of this lot.
“Why is he late?”
“Something about his kids. I think he was still trying to find them. He had a lead on their location.”
A pinprick of panic rose in my gut. Tim couldn’t find his children before we stormed in to surprise Jared. The whole point was to make sure Tim died in the crossfire. My last gift to Jen before I left this world. I couldn’t do much, but at least I could deliver her a guilt free death for Tim. “Call him and tell him he needs to come now. We’re leaving soon.”
I waited for someone to pick up their cell phone. No one moved. “Get on with it!” I snarled. The blue bandana started dialing. He held the phone to his ear and whispered. Humans never really understood how good a shapeshifters ear were. Especially since they didn’t know we really exist.
“The boss is mad. He’s getting his panties in a bunch. I’m just checking to see where you are.”