Series: Shifter Ops Series by Renee Rose
Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 65371 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 327(@200wpm)___ 261(@250wpm)___ 218(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65371 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 327(@200wpm)___ 261(@250wpm)___ 218(@300wpm)
“Did they get him?” I ask.
“They got his bike,” Canyon says.
“Even better.” I grin and give Deke a thumbs-up. He nods, and we slow to cruising speed. Hannibal’s roar echoes at our backs as we speed away into the night.
Chapter Two
Channing
“I can’t believe you let them shoot a rocket launcher,” I say to Deke. The van’s pulled over on the side of the road, and Canyon has rejoined his brothers.
Deke grunts.
I’m wearing the high-tech boxer shorts developed by the military to cling in place, even after we shift. I pull on an extra pair of sweatpants I keep in my bike’s cargo hold along with my wallet. The space is too small to fit much else, so I still need a shirt, jacket, and boots.
Hashtag shifter problems.
“I guess it turned out okay.” I stuff the thin military suit into the cargo hold and shut it. “You going to be okay to get these guys home?”
Deke glowers at the triplets, who are retelling their parts in tonight’s mission to each other, adding more blood and guns. “Where are you going?”
“Private mission. I already cleared it with Rafe.” I keep my tone light, but my chest tightens, and I catch the ghostly whiff of a lilac and lavender scent.
Deke frowns but says nothing.
“Hey, Deke.” Canyon gallops to his side. “Can I shoot the rocket launcher next?”
Deke glares at me as if to say I can’t believe you’re sticking me with werebear-sitting duty. “No.”
“But what if that guy Hannibal comes back?” Hutch asks.
“You run,” I say. “You’re probably faster than him on foot.”
Canyon opens his mouth, and I snap, “That's an order.”
“Sir, yessir!” Canyon and his brothers stiffen and toss sloppy salutes.
“See,” I say to Deke. “You’ll be fine.” I mount my bike. My feet are gonna freeze in the wind, but what am I going to do?
“Where are your boots?” Canyon asks, zeroing in on my bare feet.
“Lost ‘em when I shifted over the fire,” I answer, leaving out the rest of the explanation. Because I had to save your ass. Again.
Canyon’s ears turn pink. “Here.” He kicks off his boots. “It’s the least I can do.”
I dismount and shove my feet into them. Turns out they’re close to my size, a bit bigger. “Thanks.”
Canyon grins.
Hutch sticks his head out of the van’s passenger side window. “Want my shirt?”
I narrow my eyes at the poofy pirate shirt. “No thanks.”
Bern offers his, but it’s similar to Hutch’s except in black. I pass.
Deke heads to the van and pulls out a bomber jacket, brown leather with a shearling wool lining. He tosses it at me.
“What’s this?” I ask.
“An extra. Take it,” Deke says. “You can’t ride shirtless.”
I could but it’d be weird. “Appreciate it, brother.” I put on the jacket, flip up the collar and hold out my arms. “How do I look?”
The triplets snicker. I’m in borrowed boots, jacket, sweatpants, and nothing else. There are better outfits to wear to a reunion that’s ten years overdue, but beggars can’t be choosers. No clothes shop is going to be open before dawn, and my instincts tell me to get back to Julia ASAP.
Of course, my instincts also tell me to walk into her house, scoop her up, toss her onto her bed and claim her as my mate. Something I definitely can’t do.
But one thing at a time.
“You bears behave yourself for Papa Deke,” I say, remounting my bike.
“Sir, yessir!”
Excellent.
“Get in the van,” Deke orders the bears, and they scramble to obey. Deke steps closer to me, looking thoughtful.
“This private mission,” he asks. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
It’s normal for members of my pack to accept solo missions between bigger jobs. Usually small time stuff, like a bodyguard job or surveillance. Our alpha is fine with it as long as we clear it with him first.
“I’m all good,” I tell him. “I’ll radio for support if I need it.”
“You do that.” He pauses.
“Aww, Deke. Are we having a moment? Because I feel like we’re having a moment.” I put my hand on his shoulder and make a moon face.
“No,” he swats me away, but he can’t negate the fact that he took a moment to let me know he’d have my back.
“I hear you. Good luck dropping off the package.” I wink. “Remember, you can’t kill them.” I point a finger gun at him, “but you could choke them out if they get too annoying.” I wrap my fingers around my own neck. “Unconscious is technically alive. Babysitting rule number one–keep the kids alive.”
Deke grunts.
“See? It’s a good thing you’re the one taking them back and not me.”
I go to start my bike, and Deke grips my bike handle.
“One more thing. Call me Papa Deke again, and I’ll gut you like a deer and dry you in strips.”
I grin, showing all my teeth. “10-4… Daddy.”