Page 29 of The Alpha Dire Wolf (Bloodlines & Bloodbonds #1)

Lincoln

“I t’s going to be dark out there.”

I nodded at Gerratt, agreeing with his assessment. Not just night, but true darkness, the shadows of the Chained unbanished by our night vision.

“I know. We’re going anyway.”

“Didn’t think we wouldn’t,” he grunted, tugging on one of his mutton chops in anticipation as he and the others readied themselves.

I surveyed the wolves who would compose our heavily reinforced expedition to the heart of the forest. It had taken time to find even that many volunteers, but I was proud of them nonetheless. The final two, Ricky and Ulysses had come to see Gerratt just that morning.

Apparently the inability of the elders to “commune with the forest” in a fashionable time had swayed them into action. They weren’t the only ones either, and that further boosted my pride in my pack. They could see that the time for action was upon us, and we could no longer sit around.

“The new moon will ensure that everything out there is the weakest,” I said, speaking loudly enough everyone could hear, even if it was only directed at Gerratt. “That is why it had to be tonight, and why we waited. It will give us the best chance of getting across the Dyne without issue.”

Gerratt nodded, well aware that I was talking not for his benefit but for those who were coming with us. Making sure we were all on the same page. I also wanted to verbalize what we knew so that Chase fully understood it and would stay cool.

At only twenty, he was the youngest of the group by far.

But he was also the first to volunteer. Grand-nephew to Elder Germander, he did not share his patriarch’s views, and made that very clear when he’d come to Gerratt to volunteer, insisting he had to help.

I had thought of turning him down due to his lack of seasoning, but Gerratt had argued against it.

If we saw anything in there, he’d said, it would be smart to bring Chase so he could tell his relative and the rest of his family. Perhaps sway some of them into my camp. I’d accepted the logic, but now, looking at him and seeing his nerves on full display, I was less than certain.

“Gerratt, you take Ricky and Ulysses. Chase and Ryker, you’re with me.”

Six adult dire wolves should be more than enough for whatever we might encounter.

“Remember,” I continued, “this is simple reconnaissance. The goal is to penetrate as deeply as we can, see as much as we can, and then get out . We are not there to get stuck in with anything that objects. If you encounter resistance, hit it hard and move on. Keep moving. Don’t waste time, and don’t get bogged down. ”

I swept my gaze over the team. All eyes were on me. Even Chase’s. He was doing an admirable job of trying to blend in with the others, but while they stood perfectly still, like only a wolf could, he was practically vibrating. Still, he kept quiet, and didn’t speak out of turn. That was good.

“We’re going to swing wide first and approach from the west,” I said, and a few heads twitched. “Yes, that means we’ll be going around Mount Blisbane. Far around it enough that we won’t disturb Verminax.”

Nobody wanted to dare awaken the dragon.

“What about the blood drinkers?” Ulysses said in low, gruff words. “Their territory butts up against his on the north side.”

“They know we’re coming,” I said, tilting my head at Gerratt. “We’ve secured permission to cut through their lands this time. But again, do not waste time. Got it?”

Heads bobbed.

“Once we cross the river, we’ll split up into teams, explore for one hour, and then get out. Any questions?”

After a pause, Chase raised his hand. Ryker and Ulysses snickered softly but didn’t tease him further.

“We’re not in the classroom, Chase. Just speak up.” Then I glared at the others. “You were all new and wet behind the ears too once upon a time. Except maybe you, Ryker. I think you came outta your mom with gray hair.”

There was laughter among the group as tension eased a bit. Chased smiled.

“Um. This is probably a stupid question …” he started.

“Being aware it’s dumb means it’s not as dumb as you think,” Gerratt said.

I nodded for Chase to ask.

“What, exactly, are we looking for in there?”

“No idea,” I said. “Anything. Everything. Something is going on, and right now we’re operating blindly.

We need more information. Any information.

Keep your eyes open. Watch out for shadow creatures.

Those I’d say you can expect. They hit hard and fast. Hopefully, the new moon will keep them down as well, but if the Chained truly is behind all this, who knows.

It’s been a century and a half since the last incident.

Perhaps we’re just due?” I shrugged. “That’s what this mission is for. Help us figure it out.”

I was about to tell them to put their game faces on and head out, but the buzzing of my phone on the bench behind me interrupted me. I glanced at it and froze.

It was Sylvie.

“Hang tight a second,” I grunted, stepping back. “I have to take this.”

Snatching up the phone, I walked away, trying to keep calm. There was no good reason I could think of that she would be calling me this late. Something was wrong.

“Are you okay?” I asked, not even bothering to say hello.

“I’m fine now, I—”

“Now? What do you mean now ?”

“Someone threw a rock at the door. A big one. It scared me.” Sylvie paused to take a breath.

“There’s more. Isn’t there?” I pushed when she didn’t immediately continue.

“Yeah.”

“I’m not going to be happy about it either. Am I?”

“Probably not.” She exhaled, slow and steady. “The note told me to get out of town. That I’m the evil that’s coming.”

I wanted to curse. Of course one of the idiots had gone ahead and done just that. It was what the elders had wanted, when they’d forced me to speak up at that stupid town hall. Idiots! What were they thinking?

“Hey, easy man,” Gerratt grunted from across the room.

I glanced at him.

He jerked his chin, indicating the phone. “You’re squeezing it hard enough it’s gonna break.”

I pulled the phone away from my ear, noticing the whites of my knuckles as a I did.

“Who’s that?” Sylvie asked.

“Gerratt.” I gnashed my teeth helplessly. “If you’re safe now, why are you calling me at this time?”

“It’s just, I’ve had a bit of a day. Some other stuff, and I was just, um, I was hoping that maybe you could like, come over and I don’t know, like, look around a bit?”

Her nerves were showing through. I wasn’t sure I’d ever heard her that uncertain before. It took guts to show that kind of vulnerability, and I wanted nothing more than to tell her that I would be there in an instant.

But I couldn’t. This patrol had to happen. And I had to lead it.

Fucking Elder Council. I am going to abolish them before this is over, if it’s the last thing I do as alpha.

“Sylvie,” I said slowly. “I will do more than just look around. I promise. But I have some things I have to take care of here first. I can be there by sunrise. I’m sorry I can’t just drop everything and leave.

I really am. Are you going to be safe in the house?

Maybe you should go wake up your neighbors. Stay there for the night.”

“No, I feel safer here,” she said quickly. “Besides, I’m not about to let some anonymous jerk scare me out of my grandmother’s place with a rock.”

Some of her usual feistiness was back, a sure sign she would be okay. Some of the guilt at not being able to go to her right away faded. Some. Not all.

“Promise you’ll be here bright and early, though?”

“I promise,” I said, glad that it was only some easily impressed human telling her to leave. Something from her world, not mine. “If something else happens, call the police right away. Don’t hesitate.”

“I will.”

For a moment I contemplated asking her why she’d called me and not them. It was flattering to think that she trusted me to handle the problem, but I doubted that was it.

She blamed me. That was far more likely. In her mind, I had created this mess with my comments, and now she wanted me to clean it up. Nor could I blame her for having that mindset. It was a stupid situation that should not exist, but did, because some fearful old men insisted on staying scared.

Which was precisely why tonight’s mission had to proceed. I had to show the pack a different way forward. We had to be proactive, not reactive, and this was the start.

Once we returned, though, I was heading right to her place, and I wasn’t leaving. Not for a long time. My wolf agreed heartily, howling from the back of my mind, eager to spend as much time around Sylvie as humanly possible.

Humanly. Heh.

“Okay, people,” I said after hanging up. “Game faces on. Let’s move.”

I tossed the phone onto the pile of my own gear and led the way out of my house, hitting the ground on four giant paws before I’d even left the porch.

The others followed, with Gerratt taking up the rear and closing the door before shifting into his midnight-black wolf, nearly as large as I was, though thicker across the chest.

The others stood ready as well, a mix of colors, brown, black, gray and some mottled white and gray mixes. I inhaled deeply, sensing nothing but readiness from all of them. Including Chase. That was good. Everyone was focused on the mission first and foremost.

An image of Sylvie cowering in a dark room in her house leaped into my mind. I put it down with a vicious killing blow. Focus was necessary. We were heading into the heart of the forest, crossing the Dyne River, so now was no time for distractions.

With a growl that could only mean one thing, I dug my claws in deep for purchase on the grass, and then took off. Five sleek, powerful forms followed a heartbeat later. We flowed across the lands of our den, under the interlocked branches of the mighty trees, and disappeared into the forest beyond.