The Alphas Wonder Land Phoenix Mountain Book 9
Chapter 8

Dressed all in black, Ops 1 approaches the tiny museum outside of Tulsa.

I give the signal to one group of four to go around back and signal the group on my left to go the front.

The three with me, I motion forward.

We all crouch and run to the building under the cover of darkness.

We set up a launcher and fire a hook to the roof.

‘Front secure, Alpha 1.’

‘Rear secure, Alpha 1.’

‘You have a go.’

‘Don’t mind if I do.’ I link back.

I run to a skylight and get to work, detaching it from the roof.

Once the glass is off, I poke my head in. Luckily, museums like these have almost next to nothing in security.

I pull my head back and throw a rope down. I repel down to the floor and look up. I nod and my agent pulls the rope up.

The halls are dark. It’s well after close.

I pull out a small steel tube and a tiny mini dart as I walk carefully through the halls. Loading the dart in one end, I plant my back on the wall. I quickly look around the corner.

The night watchman is at his desk watching cameras.

I put my head on the wall then roll it to the corner.

I walk out. “How’s it going?” I smile and wave.

“What the hell?” The guard spins in his chair and I blow the dart at his neck.

He flings back and is out in seconds.

I grab his shoulder and pull him out of the chair to the floor. “Out of the way.” I grumble.

I take his seat and open a chest pocket. Pulling out a data stick, I insert it into a USB slot.

I punch keys and bring up the stolen 24 hours of looped camera feed.

I erase my entry and hide my future movements. After, I hunt what I came here for.

I look up the office of Dennis Grover. After I replace it, I load another dart and cautiously stalk the halls.

When I get to the door, it’s locked. I squat and pull put my lock pick gun. I shove it into the keyhole and press the trigger. The door clicks.

I walk in, shut the door behind me and get to work.

I quickly check drawers and boxes in the Doctor’s messy office.

I check books and other boxes small enough to fit the amulet.

I check another shelf and was about to lose my shit in frustration, when I spied a wall safe behind some books. I scoop the books out of the way and put them on the floor.

I drop my pack and pull out a listening device. The safe is old school and I decided after the introduction to Torrents vault, I should enhance my skills.

I put the ear piece in my ear and one by the lock wheel. I close my eyes and listen as I turn the wheel. I hear the tumblers inside as I try to replace the right combination.

I get the second number when I hear voices.

My eyes open and I hear the footsteps.

Shit.

I pack up and look around. I rush to the closet.

I slowly close the door as the office door opens.

“Yeah…Alvin’s always falling asleep. Nothing ever happens here.” A voice chuckles.

“Never a dull moment in Washington.” Another male voice says.

The first I can only assume is Dennis.

Through the crack I made, I can see him look at the door. “I thought I locked this.”

I silently cringe in my hiding space.

“I’m always forgetting.” He waves it off.

Dennis is old. Looks to be in his sixties with grey hair and salt and pepper beard. The other guy is young, tall and muscular with black hair. He doesn’t really look like a science geek.

They move to the desk across the floor and I silently switch sides so I can watch their movements.

“Damica didn’t come with you?” Dennis asks.

The other guy shakes his head. “I’m sure you heard about the accident.”

I was loading another dart when I stop dead. Accident?

“I heard. Horrible thing.” Dennis shakes his head, “I thought she would be up and around by now.”

The young guy crosses his legs. “She’s been in a coma the last three weeks."

My eyes flick to the men. Excuse me? Say that again.

“A coma? Oh my God. What happened?” Dennis asks.

“Brain injury.”

I close my eyes and yell Fuck in my head. I’ve been so preoccupied with her background, my pack and the mission, that I didn’t even realize I haven’t checked up on her. I’m a dick! I guess I know where I’m headed after this.

Dennis stands. “Well, I’ll make this quick.” He walks to the shelf. “Huh. I thought I covered you up.”

Damn. I prepare the dart in my hand.

“I swear it gets worse every day.” He laughs.

The guy laughs too. “Hopefully, the amulet is on there.” He jokes.

Dennis holds up a finger. “That I know I did.”

He opens the safe and brings out a long slim black box.

I watch as he opens it. The amulet seems to have a gold shine to it over it green gem.

“Whoa. That’s it, huh.” The young guy looks it over.

He reaches out to touch it. “Don’t. It’s dangerous.”

“How?” The guy asks.

“You touch this and you feel this power inside you. It’s an amazing feeling, the problem is it’s addictive. So no touching.” Dennis warns.

“Ok. I won’t.” The guy agrees.

Now's my chance.

I pull down my black out mask and burst out of the closet. I blow a dart into Dennis' neck. “I’ll take that.”

The guy practically falls out of his chair trying to stand up. “Why? What could you need this for?”

I put my hand on my hip. “I like to play dress up. How the hell is that your business?”

He blinks at me. “It’s not.”

“So, hand it over.” I demand.

“No.” He scowls and holds the amulet close to him.

I tilt my head. “Please, give it to me?”

He shakes his head.

I place my hands on my hips and shake my head.

I sigh loud and throw two mini darts to his chest. He falls to the floor on his face.

“I tried asking nicely.” I strut over to the box and pick it up. I grab the amulet. It glows red gold and I look at it. It hits me with this energy that almost knocked me on my ass. It was a feeling I haven’t felt in a very long time. It was the power of the pool.

I look at my other hand and flex it. I walk over to the wall and feel it. Cinder block. I pull back and punch it as hard as I can. My fist creates a nice sized hole in the wall. I look at my knuckle. Not a scratch.

My lips part to a smile. I haven’t had this much power since Sage was alive.

I stuff it in my pack, retrieve my darts and head down the hallway.

After climbing out, I meet my team on the lawn in the dark.

“Did you get it?” My 2nd in command, DeLane, asks.

I pull it out and hang it from its chain off my hand. “Oh yeah. I got it, alright.” I grin.

I get back slaps and we disappear into the dark.

****

I furrow my brow and look around the table through my brow.

I hold up the amulet gem in my fingers. It’s an oval shape about two and half inches long, set in gold.

The guys eyes go wide as the lay their hands on the table while they stand.

I slowly lay the amulet on the table on its back. I took it off the chain because we don’t need it.

It hit the table and a gold shimmer crossed its surface.

“Whoa.” Darcy grins and he reaches for it.

I hold up my hand. “No. Don’t.”

“Why not? It’s not going to zap my ass, is it?” He blinks at me.

“No, but it fills you with power you won’t know how to handle, so don’t.” I scowl.

He closes his hand and backs off. “Ok then.” He presses his lips together.

Zander eyes me. “So the stories are true.”

I nod. “I barely got it here. It calls to you. Fucking creepy.”

“Ok.” Ricky crosses her arms. “We lock it down with the other bad things we have here.”

“Agreed.” Zander says.

“Should we connect it to the cross?” Ash asks.

Zander rubs his chin. “I don’t know what it’s reaction would be. We still need to replace the last piece.

I point to the amulet. “You don’t think this is a piece?”

He shakes his head. “I feel like it’s a piece of the lock. If I have to shove my father in, I need this to make that possible.”

“Speaking of lock…” Ricky starts. “We found out something about Mateo’s lock.”

Mateo’s brow went up. “What?”

She stands straight and crosses her arms. “The key is, in fact, a dagger. A gold dagger.”

Zander looks at her. “My gold dagger?”

She shakes her head. “Sorry, king. Your dagger is…a little too big.” She smirks and looks him over.

His mouth goes small. “That’s a first.” He mumbles.

She chuckles. “No. The key is our smaller dagger with the M scrolled on it. We still don’t know who it belongs to.”

Zander nods. “Send for Titus. It’s got to be him.”

Ricky nods. “Ok.”

I pick up the amulet and slip it into a bag. I hand it to Ricky.

She holds it in her fingertips. “I’ll take care of this and you all look for the other pieces.”

She walks out with Zander right behind her.

I head out to prepare for the next flight to Washington, when Jake stops me once again.

I groan and turn around. “What?” I flop my arms out.

He puts his hands on his hips. “I just…I don’t like how we left things the other day.”

“Jake! I’m fine!” I raise my fingers to his face and emphasize that I don’t want his bullshit.

“No. I’m not buying it, Sawyer. Somethings wrong.”

I growl and spin around. “Get away from me, Jake. I mean it.”

“Sawyer. I really think we need to talk about this.”

I shake my head. This little rat just won’t let up. “There’s nothing to talk about.” I turn back around.

“Sawyer!” He yells.

I ball my fist, spin on my toes and deck him one hard in the chin. I probably shouldn’t have, but it felt damn good.

People in the hall around us gasp and some yell “Hey!”

The rest of the Alphas come up behind him as he lays on the ground rubbing his jaw. A look of concerned shock fills his face.

I lean forward and point at him. “Leave me the fuck alone.” I shoot an angry glare at the other Alphas and turn away, storming to the Operations Unit.

It could have been a lot of things. This mission. The affects of the amulet. My pack. Mostly, I think, it’s Damica. Miles away in a fucking coma. It’s pissing me and my wolf off that we’re here and not there.

Once I get to the Operations Unit, I head to our computer lab. I make myself a shiny new doctors badge and create a pretty little file complete with a nice PHD in neuro surgery. Sawyer, the brain surgeon. I like it as I look over the badge.

****

I talked my way past the doctors and stood outside Damica’s room.

I suck in a breath and open the door.

I quietly slip in and shut the door behind me. The room is dim and Damica is bandaged with tubes coming out of everywhere.

My heart actually hurts seeing her like that. I look to the machines beeping and breathing for her. I pick up her chart and carry it over to the bed. Pulling up a chair, I open it.

Fractured skull causing severe lacerations to the brain.

Then the words that killed me.

Patient determined to be clinically dead.

I closed the file and look at her sweet face as she sleeps.

I set the file aside and grab her hand. A very tiny electric shiver entered my fingers.

“What happened, huh?” I ask her.

I squeeze her hand. “I leave you for a couple days and this is what happens? What kind of thing is that?”

I scrub my face. “You know. This really is a good joke…Damica?...You got me. You can wake up now.” I give her a small smile.

The machines continue to beep in the God awful silence of the room.

She wouldn’t. Her human body can’t handle trauma like that. Shifters can barely handle it, but we stand a better chance. Fuck, I wish I was turner.

I sit up and look around. I scoot my chair closer. “Fine. I’m not leaving until you wake up. How’s that? You’re stuck with me.”

I hold her hand again and lay my head on the bed on my arm.

I watch my thumb softly rub her fingers.

I guess jet lag got the better of me because the next thing I know I’m in a solid white room.

I look down at myself. I’m barefoot. Wearing white cotton pants and a white button down shirt.

I look around the room. It’s a square room that almost looks soft. Like the walls are pillows or something.

It’s empty save for one tiny thing.

A smile pulls at my lips as I slowly cross the white floor.

I stop and squat down. I look at the tiny child of about eight in front of me.

She has silky, long chocolate brown hair. Wearing white pajamas.

“Hello.” I say quietly.

“Hello.” She says. She’s coloring a picture on the floor.

I look her over and try to see her eyes. “I’m Sawyer. What’s your name?”

“Your wolf doesn’t belong in here.” She mumbles.

I’m confused. “What?”

“Your wolf. He needs to go away.” She says.

I smile again. “I can’t exactly do that.”

“I can.” She looks at me with huge, brown eyes and freckles on her nose.

She licks the tip of her finger and reaches up. She touches my forehead.

My brows furrow as I feel my wolf recede then disappear entirely.

She removes her finger.

I tilt my head. “Where is he?”

“Gone.” She mutters.

“Will he come back?” I ask.

“I don’t know.” She shrugs.

Then the little girl drops her crayon. She slowly lifts her head straight forward and her hair starts to tremble as her eyes widen.

Concern fills me. “Damica? What is it?”

Without lowering her head she pushes her drawing to me.

I spin it around and it’s a shifter head.

The growls were deep and dark.

I turn and black is leeching into the room from the dark door.

I watch as it creeps along the floor, walls and ceiling like spilled paint.

The room was almost entirely filled with black when I stood up.

I can hear them. Just outside.

I step slowly to the door.

The ceiling drips black goo like blood.

“Don’t! He’ll get you! You’re safe here!” She yells.

“Who, Damica? Who will get me?” I ask.

She puts a hand to the side of her mouth. “The Wolf Giant.” She whispers.

I stand with my back to the door and put my hands on my hips. I look at the little child on the floor. “The Wolf Giant?”

Just as the words leave my lips, two sets of claws enter my back. I throw my head back and scream in complete pain.

The child screams even louder.

I’m lifted off the floor, blood flowing off my feet. “Wha…what?” I pant and whine as I look at Damica.

“Sawyer!”

My eyes widen and I reach out. “DAMICA!!”

I’m sucked into the black door.

****

I shoot straight up. My eyes looking wildly around. I look down and pat my chest. Giving myself a once over.

My hand flips to my back. It feels for claws or blood.

My hearts pounding, I’m sweating buckets and my brain is trying to process what the fuck that was.

I thump my head on the bed and try to catch my breath.

“Fuck, that was weird.”

I lift my head and Damica is still asleep.

I shake my head and stab my fingers into my hair.

I kiss her hand. It’s clear I need proper sleep.

I get up and place a hand on her head.

I lean to her. “You better be awake when I come back tomorrow.” I place my lips on her forehead. Her faint scent calms my heart. If I can smell her and feel her, she’s still in there somewhere.

Hopefully, she’ll come back to me.