Sinclair’s lips quirked in mocking acknowledgment.
“Did you know before you met with my daughter that you were her mate?” Dash asked then. “And before you answer, let me tell you, I’ve already spoken to Styx.”
Well now, he bet that conversation was damned interesting.
“And what does that Scots bastard have to do with any of this?” Dog snapped, still more jealous of that redheaded fool than he liked to admit.
“Styx caught a hint of your scent in that atrium six years ago, and he didn’t forget it. Your scent. You knew Cassie was your mate and you tricked her into meeting you, didn’t you?” No one could accuse this Breed of a lack of intelligence.
“‘“Tricked’ is a rather strong word,” he admitted with a cocky grin. “I merely suggested a meeting.” The snarl that pulled at his lips wasn’t entirely voluntary. “I waited six years to claim her; you were damned lucky I didn’t do it then.”
“Does she know you’re also the bastard that nearly killed her on that island?” The guttural tone, rough with the animal rising inside the Breed, was indicative of the anger brewing inside him.
“She knows.” Dog had made certain she knew several years ago during one of the infrequent phone calls he’d bargained for.
“Goddammit,” Dash muttered, grimacing at the weapon he thought he’d have, though what good he thought it would do, Dog wasn’t certain.
As the other Breed cursed, a subtle, faint scent caught his attention. Cassie’s scent.
Turning toward the entrance of the Bureau, he searched for her, certain he had to be wrong. She wouldn’t be out in the general public when the smell of her Heat was impossible to miss.
Surely to God she knew better …
Son of a bitch, she didn’t know better.
She moved across the concrete concourse as graceful as life itself. Head held high, her expression placid as she stepped for the curb and as Dog cursed and moved quickly for her. Behind him, the Wolf Breeds followed as her father caught sight of her as well.
As she paused, a group crossing the street blocked his view of her for precious seconds. But he still heard her cry as it drifted from within the group. When they parted, he snarled in fury, running to get to her, screaming her name as he watched her hit her knees, then slowly topple to the side.
He caught her before her head hit the cement.
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“Follow them,” he heard Dash yell out to his men.
Swinging Cassie into his arms, he ignored her father, ignored the chase for the group of Breeds racing from the area and rushed for the entrance to the Bureau.
“The labs,” Dash snapped as they headed for the security scanners. “Take the stairs.”
Pushing past the Breeds and humans as they paused, watching them in shock, Dog rushed through the scanners, only to find his way blocked by six Bureau Enforcers.
“She no longer has clearance, and you damned sure don’t,” the Wolf Breed Enforcer facing him sneered as he glanced down at Cassie’s unconscious form.
Before Dog could snarl back, or her father could push in front of them, the Wolf Breed was thrown aside, along with the two enforcers flanking him.
“By God I do,” Styx Mackenzie snarled, canines flashing. “Get the fuck out of the way, morons.”
Dog rushed past, heading to the door one of the Coyote females was holding open for him, her expression filled with concern.
“We saw the attack on the monitor,” Ashley snapped as he and Dash rushed past her. “Sobolova and Armani have been notified you’re bring her down.”
“Get her mother,” Dash ordered the Breed. “Now.”
“She’s on her way; she was notified immediately along with Jonas,” Ashley assured him as Dog rushed down the stairs to the medical area of the Bureau’s offices.
Cassie lay limp in his arms, unmoving, her face pale. She barely appeared alive. His heart was in his throat, rage pounding in his head. He was only barely aware of the growls leaving his throat or the savagery that echoed in them.
That attack wasn’t meant to capture her; it wouldn’t have been Council ordered. It was meant to hurt. A spur-of-the-moment attack by Breeds. More than one. He caught their scent on her clothes, drew it in, memorized it.