Free Haunted Sanctuary (Green Pines Sanctuary) by Moira Rogers Page A

they’re running wild down there. Rape, torture, you name it.”
    Fletcher cut off Colin’s angry snarl with a hand on the other wolf’s arm. “If some of their victims are here, you’ve got to choke it down, Colin. I’d wager they can’t handle rage of any sort right now.”
    “No, far from it.” Jay began to pass out the rest of the coffees. “The enforcers targeted a smaller pack in the city. Took their alpha when he wouldn’t fall in line—that’s Zack. With him out of the way, it was open season. They toyed with the ones that amused them and killed the ones that didn’t. So, right now, I have three top priorities. One for each of you. Shane—”
    “I know.” He gave a small salute. “I’m nice and non-threatening, so I’ll be dealing with the refugees.”
    “You’re the only one not likely to scare the shit out of them,” Jay agreed. “Colin, I need you to hit your contacts hard and find out everything you can about these assholes in Memphis. We need a game plan.”
    Colin shook off Fletcher’s hand. “Fine,” he grated out. “But it better end with us wiping these bastards out of existence.”
    Fletcher caught Jay’s gaze and held it for a moment before deliberately shifting the conversation. “So Colin’s making phone calls, and Shane’s petting and soothing. What’s that leave for me?”
    “A different kind of babysitting.” The kind that would break Eden’s heart if she knew. “Zack. Who the hell knows what those bastards did to him? He’s had a few shaky moments—to be expected, I know, but we need to be sure that’s the extent of it. I don’t think he’d ever forgive me if I let him hurt someone.”
    “All right, I can do that.” He lifted both eyebrows. “Do you need me to start signing checks while I’m at it? This place is looking pretty sparse, Ancheta.”
    Fletcher could well afford it, but Jay shook his head. “I’ll hold you to that when we figure out something long-term. If we’re not generating some kind of income, money’s a moot point.”
    “Paying it back’s a moot point,” Fletcher argued, leaning forward to brace his elbows on the table. “Having it’s damn important, whether you’re generating income or not. Come on, man. They deserve a few creature comforts.”
    “And I’m going to handle it. I’ll take plenty of your money, Fletch, believe me, but I’ll do it later.”
    “Not even for essentials?” he pressed.
    “Maybe,” Jay finally allowed. “Drop it?”
    Fletcher didn’t back down the way Colin or Shane might, but after a moment he nodded, indicating that he was willing to step aside and recognize Jay’s place as leader. For now.
    “This house is where we’re staying?” Colin asked, filling the silence.
    “Yeah.” Better for everyone if the strong newcomers stayed separate from everyone else—at least for a while. “There’s one more thing I’ve got to say. I don’t think I need to, but I’d hate for there to be misunderstandings later.”
    Fletcher’s gaze turned considerably more wary. “And that is?”
    “The women,” he answered bluntly. “They’ve been through a lot, and it’s sheer instinct for them to look for something solid now. Something safe. But it’s a bad idea.”
    Shane almost choked on a sip of coffee, and Fletcher snorted. It was Colin who eyed him with amused disbelief. “Good advice. Maybe you should take it, since the snarly little blonde smells like she slept under you last night.”
    Leave it to Colin to call him out on perceived hypocrisy. “The snarly blonde’s not from Memphis. Eden is Zack’s cousin, and I’ve known her for years. She was just turned and has no Guide, obviously, so it’s up to me.”
    Colin sat back and ran a hand over his dark hair. “Ah, shit. Well, that explains why she feels so…volatile. Have you thought about getting someone down here to perform an official Guide-Initiate bonding?”
    Shane opened his laptop again. “I have a friend who’d do it in a