Shifter In Ascent (Louisiana Shifters) (21 page)

realization that these girls had truly accepted her, warts and all. Tessa, who’d never truly fit in anywhere in her life, had found a home. Jace or no Jace, she would stay with this pack. Being here was like being surrounded by a loving, if dysfunctional, large family. Another point for the Shifters, Tessa thought.

“Believe me when I say, the pleasure is all mine. Jace is a huge pain in the ass sometimes. I consider this a little payback.” Cera flashed a winning smile and slipped on a headset, then gave Angel a thumbs up.

“Cera will remain here while we all go looking for your Ascendant,” Emmy explained. “I’m the man on the inside,” Cera joked, without looking away from the screen of her laptop. “Okay. So… now I call him?” Tessa asked, looking anxious.
“That’s the plan,” Kat confirmed.
Kat pulled out Tessa’s cell phone, having refused to explain how she’d got it off Rhett

without his noticing. Tessa accepted it and turned it on, thankful that it still had plenty of battery left. She stared down at the phone for a second, formulating exactly what she wanted to say. James was no idiot; Tessa would have to be convincing.

Tessa looked up to find the four women in a semicircle around her, staring at her expectantly. Only Cera, still involved in whatever undoubtedly highly illegal computer hacking she was doing, was uninterested.

Once they’d dispersed to lounge on the couch and chairs of the living room, Tessa took a deep breath and dialed James’s number.
One ring. Two. Three.
Tessa hesitated. Jameson normally picked up right away. Just as she was about to hang up, his voice came across the line.
“What the hell is taking so long?” he growled, his voice raggedly thick.
“Um… remember that thing you were asking me for?”
“Hold on.”
A rustling noise told Tessa that James was trying to move somewhere more private.
“Okay. You found out how to make me like them?” he asked, his tone nearly pleading. Tessa’s heart went out to him a little, even though he wasn’t exactly saintly.
“I, uh, I can do it. It’s pretty simple, just a bite and then I recite some words,” Tessa bluffed.
“Are you sure? It’s a huge risk for me. If it doesn’t work, they’ll surely kill me. Not to mention Camilla,” he said, voice anxious.
“Yeah. Here’s the thing about Camilla. I’m going to need you to bring her here before I change you.”
“Are you insane? They’ll kill us on sight!” he accused.
“It’s pretty simple. I have something you want very badly. You have something I want very badly. So we trade, and we both walk away happy.”
“I can’t… they’ll never understand,” Jameson said weakly.
“James. Listen to me. You’re not thinking this through. They might have control over you now, but when you become a Sh… a werewolf, what can they do? You’ll be bigger, stronger, and faster than them. Basically they’re trading my not-even-a-werewolf sister for a fully changed wolf. They’re not going to care about Camilla once they see you in all your glory,” Tessa said calmly, feeding him the script she’d planned out.
There was a long stretch of silence, and Tessa started to worry she’d lost him. Finally, he responded.
“I’m not even sure I can get her free. The Pentagon has weaker defenses than the ones set up around Camilla.”
Tessa tried not to sound too relieved.
“You know that whole place in and out. If anybody can do it, you can.”
“We’ll have to move right away. The Elders are restless, wanting to know when we’ll have the werewolves captured or terminated,” James said slowly.
“As long as Camilla and I are far away when it happens, I don’t care what you do with the rest of them,” Tessa lied, glancing guiltily at Kat. Kat merely gave her a thumbs-up in response.
“Fine. Tell me where their nest is located and I’ll leave now.”
“Sorry, Jameson. You led me around by the mouth once before, so I’m not ready to give you that information just yet. We’ll meet on my turf,” Tessa dictated.
“And where would that be?” he asked.
“Just get on I-10 going west and drive. I’ll call you with more instructions in an hour. If I’m not happy with how far you’ve gotten or I think you’re trying to pull something over on me, the whole thing is off.”
“Jesus. Alright. I have to get moving,” James said, his mind already planning his next move.
“James?”
“Yeah?”
“Don’t screw this up. You won’t get another chance,” Tessa said, keeping her voice cold as ice.
As she hung up, Tessa let out a huge breath. Hugging herself, she looked over at the girls assembled before her.
“Well?” Kat demanded.
“It’s on. We should get moving if we want to get there before James,” Tessa answered, shaken.
Kat’s eyes glittered mischievously as she stood up and brushed herself off.
“Cera, do your thing. We’re going to need some cover to leave the portal without the males. We’re gonna catch ourselves an Ascendant male,” she said.
SIXTEEN

Less than two hours later, Tessa stood alone in the parking lot of a dingy and forgettable roadside motel just a few miles from the Den. She shivered despite the Louisiana sun beating down on the asphalt, her heart racing. She’d given Jameson the last instructions over ten minutes ago. If Jameson had betrayed her, she’d probably be taken down by Legion soldiers any second now.

The silent but persistent anxiety and sadness she’d been feeling all day had been increasing with every mile they’d driven toward the motel. A couple of times Tessa had to stop and steady herself, struggling to draw a deep breath. She couldn’t afford to have a panic attack now.

She heard the crunch of tires on gravel, then a black SUV turned into the lot and parked by room 104 just as Tessa had instructed.
She waited another long minute, trying to gauge whether or not there were more vehicles coming. When none appeared, she pulled a sleek black handgun from her purse and approached the SUV cautiously.
There was noisy shifting around in the vehicle, and then the passenger side door opened. Camilla emerged, looking pale and withdrawn. When her eyes lit on Tessa, it seemed to barely register. Something was very wrong with her sister.
“Cami!” Tessa blurted, unable to help herself. Camilla looked at her again, but didn’t react. A gun appeared next to her neck, and James climbed out behind Camilla.
Tessa swung her aim away from her sister to avoid an accidental shooting. She dragged in another breath, trying to keep her cool in front of the others.
“Put the damn gun down, James! Are you crazy?” Tessa shouted.
“It’s my insurance policy,” he returned.
Tessa made herself breathe before she continued, moving around them toward the row rooms.
“Are you okay, Cami?” Tessa asked
Her sister looked down at her own hands, silent.
“She’s been heavily sedated since she was captured. It will take some time to wear off. For now it’s probably easier for all of us,” Jamen commented.
“Camilla, go inside,” Tessa urged, motioning toward the door to room 104.
James nudged the drugged girl with his free hand. When she looked up at him, he pointed to the door. Camilla ambled to the door like a zombie, and then went in.
When James moved to follow, Tessa stopped him.
“No. She doesn’t need to see… she won’t understand,” Tessa said quietly. She held both her hands up as a white flag, then tucked the gun back into her purse.
“She has no idea what’s going on,” James said, lowering his gun but not putting it away.
“I don’t think you understand. There are things involved with the ritual that are private. Sexual things,” Tessa answered, playing shy.
“You told me it was just a bite and some words,” James said, sounding ambivalent.
“I lied. I thought you would freak out if I told you that we had to… you know.”
“I’m not freaking out. I’m a guy, Tessa. I still have, you know, desires,” he mumbled, embarrassed.
“Can we not talk about it?”
“Okay. Uh. So we just…” he asked, tucking the gun in his waistband.
“I got us the room next door,” Tessa motioned.
“Well. Ladies first,” James said nervously, inclining his head.
Tessa walked to the room 103 and turned the knob, hesitating for a second. “James?” she asked tentatively.
“What?”
“Are you sure you want this? The werewolf thing, I mean. It’s a huge life change. You can’t go back once it’s done.”
“They’re going to kill me, Tessa. If I slip up, show resistance even once… that will be the excuse they need to do it. My uncle will probably shoot me himself. Erase the stain on the family name,” James spat bitterly.
“That’s terrible, James, but it’s not a good enough reason to change who you are,” Tessa persisted.
“Jesus. I want to change, okay? I hate my life, I hate everything about myself. I have to change, Tessa. Please,” he said, looking at her with pleading eyes.
“If you’re sure…” she said.
“I’m sure,” he blurted, his face heating.
Tessa nodded and opened the door, dropping to the ground as soon as it swung all the way open.
WHOOSH
.
James cried out and cursed. Tessa looked back to see him pulling several bloodied bits of metal from his chest. He glared at her accusingly for a moment before his eyes rolled up in his head and he collapsed in a heap.
Kat sprung up from her hiding spot behind the hotel’s musty and overly-used double bed.
“I can’t believe I finally got to use this dart gun,” Kat said cheerfully, “Thank god I got the rhinoceros tranquilizer to go with it. A girl likes to be prepared.”
Tessa turned and bolted for the other room, leaving Kat to deal with James. In a flash she was huddled next to Camilla on the musty double bed, hugging her so hard it felt like Camilla might break. Tessa leaned in and rocked Camilla gently, murmuring soothing words.
Angel stood by awkwardly, but Emmy came over and knelt before the sisters. She stilled Tessa’s rocking, then proceeded to feel Camilla’s forehead for fever, check her eyes, and examine her arms.
“We must get her back, Tessa. She doesn’t look very well,” Emmy said with surprisingly genuine concern. Turning to Angel, Emmy began issuing orders.
“Angel, you will take Tessa and her sister back to the Den. Take the big truck the man brought,” she fired off.
Angel nodded and moved over to the bed, helping Tessa get Camilla to her feet. The other two girls followed them outside.
Kat met them just outside, looking overly satisfied.
“Everything all right on this side, then?” Kat inquired.
“She’s sedated, but I think she’s fine,” Tessa said of her sister.
“Great. Let’s all get going, then. The boys already shut Cera down, so we’ll have to figure out how to tell them what we’ve done,” Kat said forebodingly.
There was a nervous silence for a moment. Finally Tessa shrugged. The feeling of anxiety pressing down on her hadn’t let up for a second; if anything it was growing worse. Tessa pressing down on her hadn’t let up for a second; if anything it was growing worse. Tessa

struggled to put together a coherent statement.
“We did what needed to be done, and we did it well. No one was hurt and we got Camilla
back, not to mention brining James back. They’ll just have to deal,” she said. “I’m thinking the boys aren’t going to see it that way,” Angel said with a grin, “especially
one Jace Copeland.”
Tessa cocked her head.
“You just leave him to me. I owe him a few words already,” she said grimly. Tessa wasn’t sure how she was going to approach her former-almost-mate, but it wasn’t
going to be pretty.
Slipping her shoulder back under Camilla’s arm, Tessa sighed and helped her sister into the
SUV so they could begin the short trip back to the Den… and back to Jace.

Tessa opened her eyes to find Shaw staring down at her with a frown. She cleared her throat and straightened from her slumped position in an uncomfortable armchair next to where Camilla lay sleeping. She couldn’t believe she’d actually fallen asleep like that, but the aches and cramps she was now experiencing seemed to confirm her theory.

“Uh,” Tessa said, nearly squirming under Shaw’s intent gaze. Immediately she was filled with a painful anxiety, as if someone had a blade to her throat.
“I need you to come with me,” he said, his deep baritone putting Tessa even more on edge.
“I have to stay with my sister,” Tessa replied automatically. She’d been saying the same phrase to practically every person who came in the room. No, she didn’t need to go rest in a real bed. No, she didn’t need a hot meal. No, no, no. She just needed to be here when Camilla woke up.
“Kat will stay with your sister. You need to come with me,” Shaw said.
“Listen. I know that everyone hates me, except Kat and the girls. I know that I’m probably going to be kicked out of the pack. I know Jace is never going to look at me again. Frankly, the only thing I have to look forward to is apologizing to my sister. Which is why I need to stay here and wait for her to wake up,” Tessa said blearily, her shoulders slumped in resignation.
“It’s Jameson. He won’t talk to any of us,” Shaw said, pain filling his voice.
Tessa looked up at the alpha Shifter for a moment and then sighed, trying to find the words to explain.
“They’ve been teaching him that Shifters are demons. He’s been raised thinking we’re all pretty much the devil incarnate, and the Legion is a champion for mankind,” Tessa said dryly.
“He’s been asking for you.”
Tessa stared down at her hands, twisting them in her lap. She wasn’t sure what Shaw wanted her to say.
“I don’t know anything more than I told you,” she finally said.
“I need him to calm him down. We have to know what the Legion is planning against us, and we need him on our side for that. There are ways we can force his compliance, but…”
Shaw trailed off, looking frustrated and sad.
“But you think he’s your brother,” Tessa finished for him.
“I don’t think anything. I know. Have you ever for a second wondered if Camilla was really your sister?” he asked.
“No, of course not,” Tessa said slowly, processing.
“Exactly. That’s a Shifter ability. James is my brother Jameson. My wolf recognizes him. And I think he’s been through enough without us coercing him into helping us. Please come with me, Tessa,” Shaw asked, not bothering to mask his desperation.
“Okay. I mean, of course. I’ll come,” she said, standing and attempting to straighten her wrinkled dress and smooth her wild hair.
Shaw nodded and motioned for the nurse. The nurse and Kat came in together, the nurse checking on Camilla and Kat giving Tessa a sympathetic smile.
“I’ll be here with her the whole time, Tessa,” Kat promised, dragging the now-unoccupied armchair over to sit beside Camilla’s bed.
“Thanks,” Tessa replied, then looked to Shaw.
With that Shaw lead her out of the room and down to the other end of the hall. It was the same padded cell Tessa had been kept in just a day earlier, and she still found it suffocating.
“Can’t you put him in a regular room?” she asked, keeping her voice down.
Shaw shook his head sadly.
“He’s already hurt several of the guards, and tried to hurt himself as well. We can’t keep him safe anywhere else.”
They stopped in front of the cell door.
“He’s restrained and lightly sedated. It’s the only way we can keep him from becoming violent. Still, you’ll need to keep your distance from him,” Shaw instructed.
“Alright. I’m ready,” Tessa said.
Shaw pulled open the cell door to reveal Jameson, bound tightly to a cot with leather restraint straps. Tessa’s heart wrenched as she started toward him. Shaw placed a restraining hand on her shoulder, keeping her several feet from the Ascendant’s still form.
“James?” she called softly.
No response. Tessa stepped closer, pushing away Shaw’s hand when he moved to hold her back again. Stepping next to the man, she placed a hand on his chest and felt for his heartbeat. It was rhythmic and steady, and Tessa relaxed a tiny bit.
Her heart truly went out to the other Ascendant. He hadn’t had any more choice in his service to the Legion than she had, and he’d had twenty years of their cruel treatment. Could she truly hold a grudge against him? Tessa thought not.
“James?” she asked again, a bit louder.
He stirred, eyes opening and locking onto Tessa.
“I didn’t think you’d come,” he said hoarsely.
“Well, I did,” she said, sitting on the cot next to him. She smoothed some hair out of his eyes, feeling almost motherly toward the man.
“I want them to let me go, Tessa. I need to go home,” James pleaded.
“I’m sorry, but you can’t go home. You’re going to stay here with us,” Tessa said soothingly.
“They’ll kill me!” James said, struggling a little against his restraints.
“James, look at me.”
James turned his head groggily, looking up at Tessa.
“Will you trust me?” Tessa asked, her tone soft.
After a long moment, he nodded and laid his head back down. Tessa felt a surge of hope at his acquiescence.
“Shaw and I only want to help you. He can help you be stronger and better, like we talked about before.”
James stilled.
“He’ll help me become a werewolf?”
“Yes, but there are some conditions. You won’t be able to go back to the Legion, James. And you’ll have to help us, too. Do you think you can do that?” Tessa asked.
James thought for a moment before nodding solemnly.
“We think the Legion is going to come here and hurt some of the nice people that live here. What can you tell us about that?” she asked gently.
“My uncle wants to capture as many of them as possible. He said they need to study live specimens so the Legion can make some kind of super-werewolf.”
A low growl came from Shaw, but Tessa talked over him.
“How are they going to do that?” she asked.
“They’re going to use flash grenades and stun guns and tranquilizer guns. The Elders have been debating how best to take over the camp. My uncle was advocating a pincer approach,” James said, as if reading from notes.
“I see,” Tessa said, even though she didn’t really understand.
“Then they’re going to bring in a bunch of trailers and load the wolves up in cages to take back to the compound.”
“When is this supposed to happen?”
“The initial strike is supposed to happen at 0300 hours on Thursday. The… fifteenth, I think.”
Shaw cursed under his breath and Tessa looked back at him. Shaw motioned for Tessa to come outside with him. As she turned to leave, James spoke again.
“Tessa?” he asked.
“Yes, James. I’m here.”
“I am sorry for… you know, all of this,” he said, his speech slurring with exhaustion.
Tessa patted James on the shoulder.
“I know you are. Thank you, James. I’ll be back in a little while.”
“And then you’ll help me change?” he asked.
“We’ll see. Just rest for now.”
Slipping out of the cell and closing the door, Tessa faced Shaw.
“If what he’s saying is right, we have less than 48 hours to fend off a strategic attack,” Shaw said darkly.
“Is there anything I can do to help?” she asked.
“Go get some rest. I’ll meet with the pack and we’ll figure out the next step. We’ll probably need you to question James again in a few hours.”
Tessa nodded anxiously and turned toward the door, unsure of her destination. Perhaps Kat would let her crash for a few hours of much-needed rest.
“And go tell your mate I need his assistance,” Shaw added as she reached the door.
Freezing, she turned to correct Shaw’s mistake. Before she could even open her mouth, Shaw stopped her.
“It’s an order, not a request. Go tell him before you find someplace to crash,” came his “It’s an order, not a request. Go tell him before you find someplace to crash,” came his