** 3 POV **
The air in the Rogues' makeshift hideout was thick with the scent of stale coffee, pine trees and the scent of rain. Jason was slumped on a worn sofa, half-listening to Jax recount a particularly daring theft of the nearby town's convenience store.
Then it hit him.
It wasn't a sound, or a smell, or even a sudden shift in the room's temperature. It was a jolt, sharp and electric, that speared directly into his heart.
Victoria.
Her name echoed in his mind, not as a whisper, but as a scream. Fear, cold and gripping, laced with a blinding, searing pain – it flooded his senses, a tidal wave from their shared mate bond. It was raw, primal, and utterly consuming. Jason gasped and sat up, clutching his heart.
'What the hell?' he wondered, taking shallow breaths as the pain hit him in waves. 'What's going on?'
Jason was on his feet before he even registered moving.
"Jason?" Jax asked, stopping mid-story. "Are you alright? You look pale."
"Victoria," Jason gasped, shaking his head, trying to clear it. "She's hurt."
His eyes, usually calm, were now blazing with intense anger and pain. Another jolt, like a cold hand clutching his heart, slammed into him. It wasn't physical, not in the way a fist to the gut was, but it was just as potent.
Victoria.
Her fear, a sharp, icy spear, pierced through the mate bond, followed instantly by a wave of crushing pain that stole his breath.
Jason staggered, his hand flying to his chest as if to staunch an invisible wound. His wolf howled internally, a primal urge to tear through anything that stood between him and her. He spun, his eyes wild, already scanning the makeshift exit, his mind a blur of escape routes.
"J-Jason, h-hold on a moment," Jax stammared.
But Jason wasn't listening. He was already striding towards the grimy metal door, his every muscle screaming at him to go, to find her, to protect her. The bond was a live wire, pulsing with her agony, dragging him like a marionette. His hands were shaking, a cold sweat breaking out on his forehead. He had to get to her. Now.
"Woah there, easy, pup," a gruff voice cut through his panic.
Nikolai, beta to the leader of their crew, stood between Jason and the exit, a formidable barrier of muscle and unwavering resolve. His eyes, usually crinkling with dry amusement, were hard as flint.
"I have to go," Jason snarled, trying to shove past him. "She's in trouble, Nikolai! Can't you feel it? She's hurting! I have to go and help her."
Nikolai didn't budge. "I feel your panic, Jason. And I feel the tremor of the earth when you act like a hot-headed fool. You're not leaving until we know what's going on."
His hand shot out, not to block, but to connect. The world exploded in a burst of pain. Nikolai's fist connected with Jason's jaw, a short, sharp crack echoing through the hideout. Jason stumbled back, his head snapping to the side, a crimson burst blooming behind his eyes. He tasted blood.
"What the hell, Nikolai?!" Jason roared, his own wolf snapping at the indignity.
"That," Nikolai said, his voice low and dangerous, "is a reminder that you're not a lone wolf anymore. You're part of this pack. And you don't go running off blind into danger, not when we've got bigger fish to fry."
He stepped closer, his gaze burning into Jason's. "Stay put. Don't do anything stupid. We'll figure this out, but we'll do it together, and we'll do it smart."
Jason growled and clenched his fists.
"Stay put, you idiot," Nikolai growled, his voice a low, dangerous rumble. He held up a hand, blocking any further movement.
Jax knelt beside Jason. "Nikolai knows what's best."
Jason growled and wiped the blood away. "Yeah, yeah. I know that, but she is my mate. He'd better know what he's doing. If Victoria is hurt, I'll kill him."
With Jax's help, Jason stood up.
**
The flickering lights of Task Force's main office did little to dispel the gloom. Antoine ran a hand over a bare desk, making sure the cleaning company left no dust behind. He gently lowered a small, dented box containing dozens of hard drives into a more organized one.
"Can you believe it, Montego?" His voice was a low murmur, barely cutting through the rustle of packing tape nearby. "The Task Force completely disbanded."
Montego grunted in agreement. He meticulously wrapped a framed photo of the team's last successful mission – a blurred, triumphant shot atop a rain-slicked skyscraper – in a protective layer of bubble wrap. "Years, Antoine. Years spent chasing shadows, catching rogues, keeping the kingdom safe... and now we're packing up like it's a forgotten storage unit."
Antoine leaned against the desk, a weary sigh escaping him. "I'm not built for regular pack life, Montego. Never was. That quiet life is not for me… it'll drive me mad."
He paused, thoughtful. "You know, Captain Keira is at the Crystal Mountain Pack. I heard she is the new Luna."
Montego paused, his brow furrowing. "Keira? Our Captain Keira? The one who we thought would never find her mate?"
"The very same," Antoine replied. "I was thinking… I might apply to join her. See if there's a place for me there."
Montego straightened up, the framed photo clutched in his hand. A slow, thoughtful smile spread across his face, chasing away some of the lingering sadness. "The Crystal Mountain Pack, huh?"
He looked Antoine square in the eye, a spark of the old mischief returning. "Why can't we? As long as our application gets approved, we can join her."
Antoine's jaw dropped, then a wide grin stretched across his face. "You're right. There is no law against us applying to another pack. Montego, you're a genius!"
Montego gave a firm nod. "I know. Come on, let's finish packing here, and then we can submit our application. I'm sure Dr. Drew or Ian can help us get it processed."
Antoine nodded and continued packing.