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I was going to send them to Black Mountain.

I quickly sent out the orders for Valentina to get a car in the area for them.

I just knew they’d fit there, I knew it.

I addressed the two I’d spoken to earlier, “I’ll give you two a choice, since you weren’t out here making horrible comments about the pups and the mate.

In fact, you look horrified. It’s the only reason you’re still breathing.

You can turn to your true cause as Hunters or die.

” Everyone stared at me confused. This always happened.

The woman questioned, “What true cause? We hunt wolves.” I scoffed, “No, you don’t. First, you’re horrible at it… because you’re not supposed to do it in the first place. You’re Supernatural’s yourselves. You’re even mates.” Donna actually gasped and Ezekiel raised an eyebrow.

The Hunter argued, “She’s my wife.” I mocked him, “Oh yeah? Is that so? She’s just your wife. So, you don’t feel sparks when you touch her? You don’t feel possessive? Touch my hand.” I held it out for him. His wife instantly looked like she wanted to kill me if she possessed the skills.

I explained it to her, “The name’s Red One, and you’re quite possessive in ways human women aren’t. I asked him to touch my hand to prove he feels sparks when he touches you.” I had to reach out and touch him, but his wife yanked him back.

Both looked shocked by this revelation. The man said, “I want to know more about what you’re saying.” I hit the call for Virgil to come to me. He did instantly. I instructed him, “Debrief them.” He would take them to Anastasia, and she would explain and determine if they should join the cause.

They would be monitored and if they stepped so much as a toe out of line, I’d kill them. Or one of my people would. Anastasia was very protective of her cause for good reason. Virgil shimmered away with them.

I turned back to the stunned couple. Ezekiel questioned, “Who are you?” I repeated, “Red One.” It was the name I’d chosen for operations when I went out with the Hunters. It felt right to have a different name than Bravo One.

I couldn’t have them in allied territories letting them link Red One and Bravo One since Cayden knew I was Red One.

I gave him information and was his source.

So, I had to let him in on this code name.

It was reasonable… and logical… plus, he had to help sometimes.

That was a thing… and I just really enjoyed seeing the pride in his eyes when I did it. It meant everything to me.

I urged, “Let’s go. I have a car waiting to take you to a bus.” I tapped the button on my watch for the bus tickets to Black Mountain and handed them to Ezekiel with notes for the Alpha’s. I put them on all the watches for everyone. We had bus tickets for all the allies with notes.

Paige wrote Lux and Alpha Theo’s notes out since I knew them, and according to my friends it came across in the note. Avery wrote the one’s for Red Run because they said it was the same problem. Ezekiel gasped, “You’re sending us to Black Mountain?”

I answered, “Yes, I think you will work well with Ethan. Which…makes no sense to you because you don’t know Ethan…

that didn’t explain anything. So, he’s their pack doctor.

He runs the pack hospital… but he has another hospital that sees other supernatural’s and given your papers I think you will fit well there.

He’ll like you. Again, it’s not the pack hospital, but I think you’ll… ”

Donna interrupted, “Please can I ask you about my sister? Did you save her too? Can I see her? Please.” I winked, “She always wanted to go to California.” I’d sent her to Everly’s home pack. Donna sobbed, “She did always want to go there. She talked about how sunny beaches were her calling.”

I added, “She was placed with a good Warrior pack in California, and she asked me to get you out next.” I just didn’t know they were going to be targeted and hadn’t quite looked into them yet. Ezekiel surmised, “You’re Ashley Griffen.” Crap.

I took off my mask admitting, “I don’t usually tell people that, but I assumed you would figure it out.

” Ezekiel held out his hand graciously saying, “Thank you. I owe you our lives.” I assured him, “Our people will make sure you cross the border to Black Mountain through no man’s land. If we need to step in, we will.”

He held his pups tighter before saying, “Thank you is not enough.” I disagreed, “It is. Go live the life you were meant to have. I’ll make sure these guys can’t track you.

” He commented, “You’re something aren’t you?

” I shrugged hoping that he might talk about other things I did down here in Black Mountain.

Not this, obviously. He could talk about the challenges I win, or the attacks I make sure people don’t die in. Things my brother would be proud of me for.

I tapped my watch issuing a folder to Valentina’s with Dorothy’s information.

Also to supply one of our coded computers to Ezekiel.

We could collaborate with him. He was smart and felt indebted to us.

He would help and we could make everyone safer.

I watched them until they disappeared then went about setting up their deaths to this pack. Once I was done with that I went home.

My days blended together in a strand of monotony, yet different somehow. The Resistance and being Red One changed up my days along with Rebel Concert, but in Black Path I was repeatedly punished. That wasn’t new, but lately it was for refusing to mate with Trevor.

The dissention in the pack was at an all time high now.

Wolf less that hadn’t felt the bond with their mates were pissed.

Ones that had felt the bond were happy they were with someone who respected them.

Overall, it was probably the worst tension between the pack leadership and the pack itself I’d seen yet.

Which I was also being punished for. Because it was my fault I’d exposed their lie. Not that they called it that. I’d caused ‘pack dissention.’ The dolts actually thought it was MY fault their gaslighting came to be public knowledge.

I’d supplied Cayden with tips over the years, but this urgent need to check out the drug buy place we’d told him about recently was eating at me.

Sierra asked, “What is that face?” I answered, “I want to go by the drug place we gave Cayden… no want to is the wrong word. We HAVE to.” Valentina shot up, “I’ll come too.

” She shimmered us there. Everything immediately felt off.

I was trying to be normal, but my eyes kept being drawn to the edge of the forest. Sierra sighed finally asking, “What’s up?” I shrugged admitting, “I don’t know. Something.” We’d been keeping an eye on all the drug rings, but usually when I’d given them to Cayden we let the Hackura handle it.

I still felt the need to be here today, which made no sense. We all heard someone walking towards the building. I turned to see who it was and my jaw dropped. I linked Sierra, “HE SENT CASSIE?! WHAT THE HELL WAS HE THINKING?! THEY KNOW HER!”

Sierra looked at me when she replied, “That’s not Cassie.” I retorted, “Uhh yes it is.” Sierra whispered out loud, “Val, is that Cassie?” Valentina snorted, “No.” I gaped at them nearly shrieking, “Yes... it is! That’s Cassie Conners! The red hair ....”

Sierra interrupted, “That girl does not have red hair.” I rolled my eyes insisting, “YES, she does. Because THAT is Cassie Conners.” Sierra gently asked, “Why do you think that?” I sighed, “Because it is. I have eyeballs and I know what she likes… I’m not sure what other answer you are looking for here.

She went with my brother to dances… there were pictures of her EVERYWHERE! That is her.”

Sierra frowned and Nate popped in. I was proud of him. We’d worked on his distance. I wasn’t the best teacher he could have but he didn’t want to meet the Conners yet. He had to have a powerful bloodline to do all he was doing. We were still working on where his sisters were.

I was gaining traction into the Hunter files, but I was going slowly like I was with the Ring. Nate smiled saying, “I made it on the first try.” I smiled offering, “Good job. What are you doing here?” Sierra inclined her head asking him, “Is that Cassie Conners, Nate?”

Nate studied her before answering, “Well, it could be. That girl has a Fairy charm.” I rolled my eyes, “You all need to get your eyes checked. It IS Cassie Conners. As the one who saw her pictures… I’m right.

Also, she looks EXACTLY like her mother.

I know things about my Xander and his family… all the things.”

Nate shrugged, “Sorry Mel, the jury’s out on whether that’s Cassie Conners or not.” He popped out while I rolled my eyes. The jury was NOT out. It was Cassie. They needed their heads examined stat. Ceila could have new patients that weren’t me. She’d be thrilled.

Valentina admitted, “She does know everything about her Xander.” Sierra snorted, “That woman still looks nothing like Cassie Conners.” She looked exactly like her because she was her! I scrunched up my face when Cassie went inside. I didn’t like it.

In fact, I was twitching to text Micah and ask what the gosh darn heck Cayden was thinking sending Cassie here.

He wasn’t thinking….is what he wasn’t doing…

.clearly. Was this a post sex haze assignment he made?

That no one thought... ‘hey maybe we send…. literally anyone else.’ Literally even Micah with his same dang name. ANYONE ELSE.

Honestly, if they’d sent Xander I’d be calling Micah’s SO FAST. Maybe I should call them anyway. I started to pace. Sierra sighed, “Potentially Cassie is probably fine. She went to a buying room.” We did have eyes inside. Just not in the buying rooms themselves.