Taze (Rise of the Pride #11) - Theresa Hissong Page 0,4

the fact, but now that she was older…it couldn’t be shadowed anymore.

She kept to herself, mostly, because seeing Taze everyday was getting harder. His scent stayed in her senses, and she could recall it anytime she pleased.

But she refused.

She made it to the office and leaned her head back, closing her eyes for a moment. It was important she keep the same level of business sense as she’d done before finding out one of the lawyers at the firm was working with one of the largest drug dealers in the world.

She stepped out of her car and made her way into the building. The door chimed as she entered the offices, flipping the light on in the waiting area. Spending some time wiping down the tables and straightening the magazines, she thought about the war the Guardians and Protectors were fighting out on the streets.

Evie, Hope, and Jade were taking what they’d learned and putting it to good use. Calla did miss the females, and she wished things were different, but she truly believed she would be doing good for her species if she stayed on her current path.

The shifters were going to require representation at some point, and they needed laws to be changed in their favor. Rogues were being reformed, but they were worried when the public found out about their existence, they’d want them prosecuted for their crimes no matter if they’d been brainwashed. Humans wouldn’t understand the magic an alpha had over their people.

Thankfully, the alpha in Colorado had given the rogues his blood, and the Gadaí alpha’s control over them would vanish. She shivered at the thought of what could happen if the captured ones could still call out to their alpha.

The day began, and she made sure there was no evidence of her trip to the office so early in the morning to get copies of the files. She may be a great tracker, but Storm had taught her a few things about computers, too. Erasing the footage was easy since the cameras in the office didn’t trigger unless there was movement.

When the first client entered the building, Calla straightened her spine and greeted them with a perfect smile and a pleasant attitude, but deep inside, she was praying the Guardians and Protectors were going to stop this war before it started causing massive problems within her species. They’d already had enough death and destruction to last a lifetime.

Chapter Two

Taze moved around Evie carefully as she crouched behind a dumpster in an alley close to the heart of downtown Memphis. The stench of the rotting trash overpowered the scent of wolves, but they didn’t need their noses to see the two males and one female gathered at the back where the darkened shadows camouflaged their presence.

Storm, Lucky, and Taze would separate the males from the lone female to allow Evie enough time to get to her. They had the upper hand, but with the possibility of the rogues having Khat in their systems, anything could happen. Noah was off rotation, and while Taze wished he’d been there for the extra back up, the male needed his vacation time with his new mate.

Evie made a motion with her fingers, pointing two of them at her eyes and then motioning to an alcove near the building across from where they were hiding. On Taze’s nod, she slinked over when the wolves were busy huddled together. As much as he hated the dumpster’s scent, it helped keep theirs hidden.

Storm patted Taze’s shoulder three times, letting him know it was the count for the strike. His beast was poised and ready for the takedown. Another thirty seconds passed before the group started to separate. He felt his fellow Guardian’s hand on his shoulder again, but this time, the countdown had begun.

Three…

Two…

One…

Taze used his superhuman abilities to rush the scene, capturing one of the young males before he had a chance to shift. He screamed out as a collar was slapped around his neck, but that didn’t keep the male from fighting.

Taze took a hit to his jaw, but it wasn’t enough to override the adrenalin coursing through his veins. The other male cursed for all he was worth once Lucky secured a large bag of Khat from his pocket.

“Don’t fight me,” Taze snarled through his thick canines. “I’m only detaining you so we can get you some help.”

“Fuck you,” the male replied, getting his arm free, but this time, Taze was ready. The swing connected with nothing. Taze