Page 29 of Predator (Stope Packs #4)

In human form, stark naked in the blistering storm, Jackson dragged four dead wolves behind him by the legs. Snow clung to his skin, melting against the heat radiating from his body. Seth and Erik flanked him, each pulling four more wolves, their breath steaming in the icy air. Their footsteps crunched over frozen ground as they moved into the heart of the new Ravencall territory.

The camp sprawled in a rough circle around a massive bonfire, its flames twisting against the dark sky. Thick clouds blotted out the moon, yet Jackson could still feel her pull beneath his skin. Around the fire, tents of dark canvas and hastily built wooden cabins stood haphazardly, their rough edges still raw from recent construction.

Why the hell had they chosen to move away from their last headquarters? The place had been well planned and would’ve made a good permanent territory.

The air felt heavy and thick with the smoke from cooking fires and burning wood. Snow covered the canvas flaps of tents and the hastily built structures, casting the entire area in shades of gray with orange from the fires.

Faces appeared in doorways, eyes wide as wolves and humans alike stepped out into the cold to watch. Low murmurs rippled through the camp as Jackson and his companions approached the fire. He dropped the bodies with a dull thud, Seth and Erik doing the same. Blood soaked the snow in dark patches, steam rising where it touched the heat of the fire.

Jackson stood tall, unflinching against the cold, uncaring that he was naked and bloodied. Red streaks flowed from gashes across his chest and ribs, and a deep wound on his right thigh oozed sluggishly, but he ignored the pain. His breath fogged the air, and his gaze swept the gathered crowd with a fierce, unyielding challenge.

“Here’s your current Alpha and eleven of his enforcers or soldiers,” Jackson called out, his voice rising above the crackling bonfire and whispering wind. “It only took three Alphas from the Stope Pack Coalition to take them down.”

His gaze swept the gathered crowd—sharp, unyielding. Snowflakes clung to his bare shoulders, melting against the heat of his skin. “I suggest you end your association with the Ghostwind Pack immediately. Find yourselves a decent Alpha and go back to peddling your spices.”

Murmurs rippled through the crowd. The Ravencall Pack had built a surprisingly lucrative operation growing, blending, and selling exotic spices. It was an enterprise that should have kept them thriving without resorting to violence.

Seth stepped forward, shoulders squared. “I’m Seth Volk, Alpha of the Silver Pack.”

Next to him, Erik added, “Erik Volk, Alpha of the Copper Pack.”

Jackson stood straighter, his chest rising with a slow breath as he stepped forward. Apparently he should’ve introduced himself. All right. He’d play nice. “Jackson Tryne, Alpha of the Granite Pack. Your pack attacked the Alpha of the Slate Pack, who now lies wounded. We make no promises that the entire Slate Pack won’t retaliate and kill you all after he recovers.”

The flickering light cast shadows across the gathered wolves, their breath visible in the frozen air as tension crackled like the fire itself.

A female stepped forward from the crowd, her dark eyes searching Jackson’s face, defiant yet uncertain. She stood with squared shoulders, brawny and strong, her silk cloak clinging to broad shoulders. Deep lines etched her face, placing her somewhere in her sixties, and her eyes burned with sharp intelligence. “We didn’t want to align with the Ghostwind Pack,” she said, voice rough from the cold air. “And we didn’t want war. The Alpha and his ilk took over. They didn’t represent us.” Her gaze swept over the bodies on the snow-packed ground, and her mouth pressed thin. “But they were strong.”

A younger man stepped forward beside her, barely eighteen by the look of him. His breath fogged the air as he glanced between the dead Alpha and the three Alphas standing before him. “We just want to focus on our spices and stay out of wars. But…” His gaze lingered on the fallen wolves. “We don’t have the soldiers to defend ourselves against another takeover.”

Jackson scanned the crowd, seeing a few able-bodied adults and quite a few teenagers. “Do you have any protection?”

Silence answered him.

All right. Well, he wanted to diversify, and these folks wouldn’t last without protection. For the first time in his life, he considered offering something that went against every rule of his pack that would extend protection beyond their borders. But he needed numbers, and these wolves needed to belong somewhere.

That, he could provide. “I am willing to let you all interview to be members of the Granite Pack if you’re interested.”

The kid’s eyes lit up. “Seriously?”

“Yes. We are expanding our mining operations as well as beginning to farm and ranch. Growing and selling spices cannot be that different. However, I will need to speak with each one of you personally.” Well, after Raya interviewed each wolf. Jackson paused, already imagining her reaction when she found out she would have to skip the mining conference in Vegas this year. She wasn’t going to like it.

The Ravencall female hesitated, her gaze shifting to the others before returning to Jackson. “My name is Janet, and I guess I’m the de facto leader for now.” She squared her shoulders, determination hardening her features. “What do you want us to do?”

“First, get everyone together. Make sure they understand this is an opportunity, not a guarantee. I need to know what skills each of you brings to the table. Farming and ranching require discipline. Mining is dangerous and physically demanding. There is no room for anyone unwilling to put in the work.”

Janet nodded. “We understand. We just need a chance.”

That seemed fair. “You’ll get one.”

The young man beside her stepped forward. “I’ll be there. I know how to work.”

Jackson met his gaze. “Good. We will see if that is true.”

Seth and Erik stood silent on either side of Jackson, their faces unreadable. The snow beneath Jackson’s bare feet had begun to seep through his skin, sending a dull ache through his legs. Still, he kept his posture straight. “Bury or burn your dead. Decide who wants to join my pack and understand that it means full allegiance. If we’re attacked, you fight. If not, you contribute through your spices, mining, or farming. Everyone will be trained to defend themselves, and some of you will be assigned to work where the pack needs you most.”

Janet clasped her hands together, shoulders sagging slightly with what looked like relief. “That’s fine with us. We’ve been searching for a place for so long. This could really work.”

“It could,” Jackson agreed. “Dawn will arrive in a few hours, so do what you need to do here and then head north. You may enter through the southern border of Granite Pack territory. You will be met there, and each one of you will be interviewed. No one is forced to come, but if you take the pack oath, you are in for life.”

Janet’s chin lifted, a hint of hope softening her eyes. “We’ll be there. I promise.”

Jackson focused on her. “Good. Prepare for harsh winters and long workdays. Loyalty and discipline are non-negotiable. I need people who are willing to build something stronger than what we have now.”

“We’re ready,” the young man beside Janet said. His gaze met Jackson’s, steady and unflinching.

Jackson held his stare for a moment longer. The kid might make a decent Enforcer. “I’ll see you when you arrive.”

The fight was over, and the adrenaline had drained from Jackson’s veins, leaving behind a bone-deep ache that settled into every muscle. Snowflakes clung to his skin, melting in rivulets that traced down his chest. The metallic tang of blood still clung to the air, sharp against the crisp winter wind. He turned in sync with Seth and Erik, their movements silent and purposeful as they walked past the dying fire and into the swirling snow beyond the camp.

He shifted into wolf form through the air, needing to heal himself. He could repair all injuries better in wolf form—except when silver was involved. Snow whipped sideways across their path, blurring the outlines of distant trees. The wind howled and tried to kill him, shooting through his fur to his bones. His paws tore through the ice on the ground, and he ignored the shadows all around them. They’d killed the enemy, and they were the most dangerous animals in the forest.

The transition brought a brief surge of warmth, fur shielding them from the worst of the weather as they ran through the snow-laden woods. Branches scraped their sides, and ice cracked beneath their paws as they sped toward the hidden stone building tucked deep within the forest.

Frost clung to the building’s rough-hewn walls, its heavy wooden door half-buried in snowdrifts. The trucks parked out front sat coated in a thick layer of snow, their windshields frosted over. Jackson shifted back into his human form, breath steaming as he tugged open his truck door. Reaching inside, he grabbed a worn, long-sleeved T-shirt with frayed cuffs and pulled it on. The jeans he found were torn at the knees, but they would do. He quickly laced up his boots, fingers stiff from the cold, then glanced back toward Seth and Erik as they dressed beside their vehicles.

“You guys good?” Jackson asked, adjusting his shirt as the wind bit through the fabric.

“Yeah,” Seth growled, wiping blood from the gash above his brow. The wound still dripped a slow streak of red down his skin. “I think we made an impression killing the Alpha and his Enforcers.”

“Me, too.” Erik pulled on his coat. His breath fogged in the air as he fastened the buttons. “Rumors will spread far and wide. Maybe the Ghostwind Pack will back off. They’re outnumbered.”

“They know it, too,” Jackson agreed.

Seth glanced sideways at him. “You sure about bringing more pack members in?”

“I am. We need to expand, and having people who know the spice trade could turn profitable fast. Plus, the numbers will help with defense,” Jackson said.

Erik gave a curt nod. “Tell Emily I hope Philip recovers soon. I need to get back to my mate. Also, I want my boots back at some point.” He climbed into his truck without waiting for a response.

“He’s always been particular about his footwear,” Seth said as he stepped toward his vehicle. Ice crackled beneath his boots as he paused and looked back at Jackson. “Cousin.”

“Cousin,” Jackson returned, shaking his head.

Seth grinned and then slid into his truck.

Jackson climbed into his, the seat stiff and cold under him as he started the engine. Heat slowly seeped from the vents, but it was enough to thaw his hands. He glanced at his phone. No signal. Even now, years after their ancestors had built the stone building, the place cut them off from the world. Cell phones didn’t work in the vicinity and probably never would.

Snow thickened against the windshield as he backed up and eased onto the narrow road, leaving the site behind him.

He drove for several miles, the snow pelting the vehicle, as the wipers scraped across the glass. The phone on the dashboard lit up, catching his attention. Five missed calls. A chill that had nothing to do with the weather trickled down his spine. Both Raya and Thane had called. He tapped the screen and dialed Thane first. Straight to voicemail. Damn it.

He hit the button to call Raya. The line barely rang before she answered. “Jackson,” she said, her voice rushed and tight.

“What’s going on?” He gripped the steering wheel.

“Thane is out looking for her now, but apparently, Emily took one of your trucks and headed out into this storm.”

Jackson’s pulse pounded at his temples. “What the fuck?”

“My guess is that her father took a turn for the worse? She just left while Thane was out patrolling,” Raya said quickly. “He shifted to wolf form to track her in case she needed help and asked me to keep trying to get ahold of you.”

Jackson exhaled, the frost of his breath mingling with the warmth inside the cab. “Thanks for telling me,” he said. “Stay put. It’s too dangerous in this blizzard. No scouts.” He calculated the route between the territories via vehicle. “When did she leave?”

“After midnight, but I don’t know the exact time,” Raya said, panic threading her words.

He pressed the gas pedal down. Hard. “Okay. It’s all right. I’m far enough away. I might be able to cut her off.”

“Let me know when you find her.”

“Will do.” Jackson clicked off and tossed the phone onto the passenger seat. His fingers tightened around the steering wheel, muscles coiled with tension. Fury licked through his veins, hot and fast, burning through the last trace of cold in his chest.

He drove even faster, the truck jolting forward as snow swirled against the headlights. Trees loomed on either side of the narrow road, branches weighed down with ice. The engine growled as he pushed it faster, ignoring the ache in his muscles and the exhaustion dragging at his bones. All that mattered now was finding Emily.

He soon reached the main interstate, which was blissfully vacant. Only his reckless female dared be out there. Jumping out of the vehicle, he let the storm batter him, lifting his face to the wind.

He caught her scent. Barely.

Growling, he jumped back into the truck and turned south toward the Slate Pack territory, which was still hours away.

The stubborn female had better fucking be alive.