Grim and Bear It
Chapter Thirty-Five

Jake

I rarely had the opportunity to wake up with Poppy in my arms, this being only the fourth time in my entire life. The first three had been when we were camping with our families, and Poppy and I were stuffed into a tent with Eliza. Inevitably sometime in the night, we would gravitate toward each other. We'd always had to let go as soon as daybreak came.

Now there was complete freedom. The weight of her, the coolness of her body, the smile I felt against my skin, her lips on my chest. Her touch always made my head quiet. This, right here, was why every other relationship had failed. No one had ever made me feel the way Poppy did. She could slow down time and make the rest of the world disappear.

Poppy was my person. Well, my reaper.

I didn't know how this story would end, but right now I couldn't be bothered to think about it. Not when her lips were moving down my body again. Not when her mouth and hands woke me up better than any coffee or alarm clock in the world.

After she'd made stars appear behind my eyes, I hurried to get dressed, impressed that despite the long day yesterday and the physical activity with Poppy, my leg was only moderately sore. I stretched and then Poppy helped me put more of Hazel's cream on my leg. By the time I had slipped into jeans, my body felt better than it had in weeks.

I checked out my bullet wound and was impressed that it no longer stung when I moved my arm. "Hazel's creams are magic," I admitted. "I don't feel like I've been hit by a bus this morning."

Poppy clapped her hands. "Excellent." She gave me a deep kiss, and I had to admit, she was magic, too.

A knock sounded, and I opened the door to replace Paris. "Loren's here."

I nodded and grabbed my fleece. I looked over my shoulder at Poppy. "You coming?"

"Is it okay if I do?"

"Of course." Truth be told, I wanted her in my sight. I still wasn't convinced that she wasn't going to disappear forever when my back was turned. There was a warning deep in my gut, one I couldn't quite vocalize, that knew this wasn't over yet. That a banished Poppy didn't mean she could just stay with me until the end of my human life...unless that end was today.

I shook my head to clear it. I had to be sharp and focused. I could worry about Poppy and me tomorrow. Hopefully, tomorrow. "You're limping less today," Paris noted.

"Hazel's creams are amazing. I'm going to have to buy several to take home."

Paris made a sound in the back of her throat.

"What?"

"You have the tendency to push yourself to your breaking point. Hopefully, with a little less pain, you'll rest better and not use it as an excuse to push even harder."

Poppy snapped her fingers. "I like her."

I sighed, not bothering to argue. I knew I did. "You're so reserved at times, I wondered why you chose field work," I told Paris. "But the way you read people is astonishing." We started walking again. "You remind me of Eliza sometimes." She laughed. "Don't tell her you said that."

"Are we going to ever talk about that?" "Nope."

"I have some theories," Poppy mumbled.

"Me too," I whispered back.

We climbed into Loren's truck and headed into town, to a small diner called Eggs 'n Oinks. Hazel, Romi, Raine, Fenton, and Grayson were already there, waiting at pulled-together tables in the back of the restaurant. Romi touched an empty chair next to her and said, "Poppy, come sit near me."

My chest ached at the gesture of inclusion. I took a seat on Poppy's other side, so I could translate if needed. The group told us about Hayvenwood, the history and the lore. After we ordered, we got down to business.

Loren looked at his watch, then back up at us. He was a natural-born leader, and I could see why he was on the elite team. I was happy to defer to him for this mission. His knowledge of the town and geographical challenges were unrivaled. "I also have some new knowledge about yesterday," he explained, sucking down the rest of his coffee. "Talked to a werewolf friend. He used to work at Billy's and is part of the only registered werewolf pack in Hayvenwood. Said they've been keeping an eye on the aggressive wolves, which showed up in January and have been multiplying."

Paris and I exchanged a long look. January. When the former weight-loss company Thinner had launched. When rogue vampires first appeared. When oral venom-a distribution form previously thought unattainable-hit the market. "This wasn't about only human hybrids," I concluded. "This is bigger."

Loren nodded. "The question is why? Is it ego to see how many creatures they can crossbreed? Or is there a bigger purpose behind it?"

"We've been shutting down Vixen circles for three months. Hopefully someone will talk in exchange for leniency."

"What's your gut say?" Loren asked, looking from me to Paris.

I looked at Paris, too. Despite us only working together for a short time, I trusted her completely. "I want it to be ego," she said. "But my gut says this is bigger."

I nodded. "I agree. At the hearing for Lucinda Nicks, she said there was a supernatural crime syndicate behind everything. I don't think she's wrong, but I don't think that's all of it. Someone's trying to create a hybrid army. The question is, why?"

"Supernaturals haven't liked SHAP for decades," Loren offered. "That's nothing new."

"But they're not just focusing on creating hybrids," Paris reminded. "One of our victims had said whatever they took was supposed to cure them. Maybe hybrids aren't the focus there, but then what's the missing piece?" Poppy tapped the table in front of her. "They're trying to start an empire," she offered.

I stared at her for a long moment, the unspoken fear in my stomach solidifying. I set my coffee cup back on the table and swallowed hard. She was right. "Whoever's behind this would be able to create a near-invincible army and also promise to cure any ailment. Together? They could create a near-undefeatable community."

Grayson let out a low whistle. "And become exceedingly wealthy in the process."

Loren ran a hand down his face, Raine and Hazel exchanged a long look, and Romi put her hand on the back of Poppy's chair. My hand squeezed Poppy's and I looked at Paris. "We have to get this right today."

"I'm all in, partner," Paris promised. She looked around the table. "Last night didn't go as expected and we know they have the upper hand."

"I've been working on that," Loren said, and picked up his phone. "And it looks like we have some backup meeting us here in an hour. They were there last night." He gave Paris and me a long gaze. "Couldn't talk to them until they were home this morning."

"Is it enough?" I asked.

"You've got me, too," Poppy added.

I turned to face her. "Poppy"

She shook her head. "I can help. We know the hybrids are afraid of me. I go in first and-"

"You can't take on an entire pack of hybrids alone."

She raised her eyebrows. "I mean, I did it last night."

"Then what? If we had the numbers, we would be unstoppable. But with only a handful of us? The risk is still too high."

"Then you need quality over quantity. Ask them how many other supernatural people they know who may be willing to help!"

"And how can we trust them?"

Romi cleared her throat. "Jake, please translate for us."

"We're not going to do it," I warned. "Poppy says quality over quantity."

"And?" Romi prompted.

I frowned my disapproval. "She suggested I ask you how many other supernatural people might help. I am concerned about the wrong people replaceing out."

"A valid concern," Loren confirmed. "But there are those in town whom I would trust with my life."

Romi and Hazel exchanged a long look.

Raine smiled and nodded at them. "You know I'm in."

Grayson crossed his arms. "Not a chance in hell, woman."

Hazel just smiled and tilted her head at him. "If you wanted a wife who obeyed your every command, you shouldn't have married me."

"What?" Loren asked, looking between them, then pointing at Raine. "No. You are not going after Mordecai. Fen, back me up."

Fenton sat back in his chair, calmly sipping his hot chocolate. He shook his head. "No can do, Lucy. One, I am not an idiot. I'm siding with my wife on this. Two, I happened to think she's right." "Until a dragon eats her."

"She's not going to eat us," Hazel said. "She only eats people who assume she's male based on her name."

"Allegedly," Grayson grumbled.

"Hybrids don't have anything on a dragon," Fenton chimed in.

"Dragon?" Paris breathed, her hand reaching out and capturing my forearm. "The rumors are true?"

Romi nodded. "She's hard to replace, but I spent a lot of time exploring this place when I was a ghost. With the Hayvenwood pack and a dragon for backup, we won't need SHAP."

I grabbed my coffee and gulped down the remaining overly sweet brew, frowning at the taste. I hadn't mixed well enough. "Let's go replace ourselves a dragon."

By the time we paid our bill, the alpha wolf of the Hayvenwood pack, August, was waiting in the parking lot in human form. They were lean but toned, with a low ponytail and tanned skin, dressed in a tank top, jeans, and boots, despite the cold and cutting wind. August looked up from where they were leaning against a car, piercing dark eyes locked on Poppy. They shifted, their jaw clenching and shoulders tightening.

"Reaper," they hissed. "I can't see them but I know they're here."

"She's on the team," I explained. "Not here for any souls."

"Forgive me for not believing her lies." They turned and grabbed their door handle, but Loren stepped forward and put his hand on the door.

"I'm calling in my favor," Loren said. "Last year, when you were being hunted, my brothers and I were the ones who protected the pack until the poachers were caught. You said you owed me. This is payback."

The air went electric. August froze, closing their eyes. Their hand dropped from the handle and turned. They lifted their chin, squared their shoulders, opened their eyes, and nodded. "I don't renege on promises." Loren was close enough to August that their noses almost touched. "Neither do I. And I promise you, this reaper won't hurt you or the pack." Loren stuck out his hand, and August shook.

When they let go, Loren stepped back and nodded. "We're going back into the woods today. We need protection."

August studied the group, then looked back at Loren. "Those messed up wolves aren't the only thing you need to be afraid of. The creatures that come out of that place aren't normal." "We know." Loren confirmed. "The plan is to get the evidence we need to take them down."

"Can't do it with just my pack. You got back up?" They crossed their arms. "Besides the reaper?"

Loren shook his head. "Can't trust backup."

"We're going to replace Mordecai," Romi added.

August scoffed. "No one just replaces Mordecai. She replaces you."

Romi tilted her head and studied August. "Except you, right?"

They shook their head. "Maybe. But it's still not smart."

"Get the dragon and I'll owe you," Loren added. Judging by August's stunned face, I surmised that Loren bestowing a favor meant a great deal.

August blink hard a few times, swore, and ran a hand over the back of their neck. "I need two hours. Pack sleeps during the day and they're hard to wake up early." They sighed. "And then I'll see if I can replace Mordecai." "Done," Loren promised. "Stay in contact."

August nodded, then turned and opened their car door before pausing. "If you make this compound disappear? Slate's clean. Some of my pack went missing when they moved in. My guess? Failed experiments." "Two hours," Loren reiterated.

Two hours somehow felt like minutes and years at the same time. We set up shop at Billy's again, checking and triple-checking detailed maps and satellite imaging to make sure we knew all the ways into and out of the woods. Earpieces and bulletproof vests were distributed, and weapons were checked and double-checked.

Every breath was an eternity as we stared at Loren's cell sitting on the table. Exactly two hours after August left, the text came. "We're a go," Loren said.

Fenton, Raine, and Hazel stayed at Billy's, running home base, doing preliminary surveillance with the drone, and communicating with us via earpiece, while Loren, Grayson, Romi, Paris, Poppy, and I piled into the truck. We drove to the edge of town, a half mile away from the compound, and pulled close to the tree line.

A reddish-brown wolf emerged, walking up to Loren's window and lowering its head. "August," Loren explained. "Ready?"

The tension in the car ratcheted to ten. "Ready," we each confirmed.

Loren lifted his hand and the wolf moved. Shifting the truck into gear, we followed it into the woods, tree branches scraping the sides of the vehicle. I could make out the roofline of the lab when Loren slammed on the brakes.

I jerked forward in my seat, my arms going out to keep Poppy, Paris, and Romi safe. In front of us in a small clearing, a pack of werewolves paced back and forth, snapping at the hybrids on the opposite end of the clearing. Grayson swore. "Why is Grayson using that tone?" Hazel asked into the earpiece.

"We've been delayed," I responded. "Nine werewolves, six hybrids."

"What if we back out?" Grayson asked. "Go around the main entrance at full speed?"

"That's not going to work," Paris explained.

I turned around to see another three hybrids creeping down the trail behind us. They were the size of black bears and hitting one would severely damage the truck.

"Oh shit," Hazel said. "We have a problem."

"We never liked things easy," Grayson sighed. "What, babe?"

"Drone spotted Fletcher," she replied.

"She just pulled up to the warehouse," Fenton added. "I don't know how she got to town without us seeing her."

I straightened in my seat, anticipation burning beneath my skin. "You get the sample, I get Fletcher."

"Sample first, Fletcher second," Loren argued, voice tight with concentration. "She won't talk. Sample will go farther."

"She's after my family!" I argued. Poppy squeezed my hand in support.

"Doesn't matter right now anyway," Romi explained. "We're trapped."

Poppy squeezed my hand one more time and then let go, giving me a quick kiss. "No, we're not."

"Poppy!" I yelled but she opened the back door and jumped out.

"I'm assuming that was Poppy exiting the car?" Romi asked.

I moved to follow her, and Paris put her arm out to block me. "She's already dead. You're not."

"I can't let her do this alone," I argued.

"If you get out of this truck, I'll shoot you myself," my partner promised. "Don't let your emotions screw you up this close to the end of the mission. She's got this."

I stopped fighting her and instead leaned through the middle console and watched as Poppy walked toward the hybrids without hesitation. The Hayvenwood pack whimpered and stepped back, giving her a wide birth. The hybrids barked and snapped at her.

Poppy stood perfectly still as a gray hybrid wolf charged her. Right before the collision, Poppy raised her right hand, as if to pet the creature. The creature took two steps back, dancing on its paws back and forth but not getting closer. Three more hybrids ran out from behind the truck and she spun around and raised her other hand.

"They're not running," I exclaimed. "Why aren't they running like yesterday?"

"I don't know," Paris said.

The Hayvenwood pack scurried between Poppy and the hybrids.

"I need to get her out of there!"

Just then, a hybrid ran into the side of the truck, cracking the back window and jolting us to the side. A second one slammed into the opposite side.

"This isn't ideal," Paris said, leveling her pistol at one of the wolves. "I'll tranq them." She pulled the trigger as another blow landed, causing her to drop her gun.

A large shadow blocked out the sun for a moment, nearly as dark as an eclipse, and when the sun reemerged, every creature in the field had frozen. "Mordecai's here," Romi breathed, reverently.

In a blur of black iridescent streaks, the hybrids closest to Poppy disappeared. Only a breath later, the two wolves destroying Loren's truck vanished. The remaining hybrids ran for the trees as Mordecai landed in the clearing, next to August. We all sucked in a breath as the giant four-legged creature slender with bat-like wings and white eyes-nuzzled August, nodded to Poppy, then launched herself into the air. Her iridescent dark purple scales glittered in the afternoon sun as she released a burst of sound that was a cross between a bassoon and a chainsaw before she disappeared into the clouds.

"That's the coolest thing to ever happen to me," Grayson whispered.

"I'd be mad at you since our wedding was literally three weeks ago," Hazel responded, "but I would say the same thing. Romi, I need a detailed play-by-play later."

"Got it, Zee."

August trotted up to Poppy and bowed their head, then ran in front of the truck, looked at Loren, and started running. "We're moving!" Loren warned.

Paris opened the door and yelled for Poppy, who dove in.

"She's in!" I confirmed.

Loren hit the gas. This time, neither August nor Loren went slow. It was probably a moot point anyway. Hybrids running through the trees would explain any loud noises until they heard the motor.

"Fletcher is exiting the building," Fenton said. "She's standing next to a white Escalade, license plate Charlie, Zulu 1-5-8 Tango. She has two large suitcases and two bodyguards with her." Fenton described the men we had arrested in Café

Eleonora.

Paris turned to me. "Looks like our leak at SHAP let them go.

"They're either not super loyal to her or this is a trap," I offered.

"I always think everything's a trap," Grayson said.

I nodded. "Good call."

Before the final clearing to the driveway, we stopped and parked. "Did a perimeter check with the drone. We're clear for exterior foot traffic and visible traps," Fenton said. "Through the windows, I've counted four other people inside in the lab and one in the bathroom. Fletcher climbed in the passenger seat of the truck. You get the sample. Raine and Hazel are taking over drone duty. I'm going after Fletcher." We heard car keys clinking in the background. "Stop at the yellow light on Crooks and Main," Romi warned. "Love you."

"God you're creepy," Hazel said. "Fenton's out the door. Raine's got him on speakerphone to listen in. I'm following Fletcher with the drone. Her truck just did a U-turn and is speeding away from the compound. No one else has come in or out." "Paris, Jake, and I will take the lab," Loren ordered. "Grayson, bathroom. Romi, you and Poppy eyes on perimeter."

"Copy that," I said, and the others agreed.

"Be careful, team," he added.

Poppy pressed her lips to mine hard, and then at Loren's hand signal, we all exited the car, closing the doors gently. Romi and Poppy headed off deeper into the woods, while the rest of us inched closer to the warehouse. "Ready on my signal. Three...two..."

Romi screamed and I turned to look over my shoulder at her running out of the woods and toward us. She was waving her arms, but I couldn't hear what she was saying.

Not over the sound of the building exploding.

I tackled Loren as the explosion shook the ground, a wave of heat washing over us. Feedback filled our earpieces. "ROLL CALL!" I shouted.

"Paris safe!"

"Grayson mostly safe," he said. "Just a little shrapnel."

"Romi safe! I think Poppy's still with me."

"Loren safe."

"What happened?" Hazel asked, voice high.

"Explosion." I rolled off Loren and pushed myself up.

I surveyed the wreckage. Scorch marks stopped a foot away from us, debris littering the ground mere inches away. Had we been a few steps closer...

"JAKE!"

I turned to replace Poppy running at me. I scooped her up in my arms as she wrapped herself around me. "I'm okay," I promised.

"I can't lose you."

"You're not going to. I'm okay." I lowered her to the ground as Grayson and Paris moved into view.

"It's a brutal explosion, man," Grayson said. "Not even sure a vampire could survive that."

Fire truck sirens filled the air.

"We going on record or escaping?" I asked.

"Our emergency team is well briefed on weird," Loren said. "Let's hope there's something in this mess that can help."

"I need to get out of here before the reapers come," Poppy warned.

I relayed her concern to the group and Romi lifted her hand. "Keys!" Loren tossed them to her. "I'll be back to pick you guys up. We'll head to Billy's." Poppy gave me a quick kiss and ran after Romi.