Page 49

Images of Mason, Hendrick, Sierra, Dax, Caine, and Addison flickered into my mind. They needed me to keep it together. Caine and Dax were the future of this pack and they needed to be trained. Which probably meant other packs that were allies of Black Path needed it too.

I went back and took my punishment. My friends were worried. Caine whispered, “Let Hendrick or Mason go.” I shook my head, “No. We don’t know the level of danger we are up against and…” He cut me off, “Exactly. More than one of us should go.”

I disagreed even though it pained me, “No, you are the future of this pack and their hope…so you can’t go… and Mason and Hendrick have a love that should be protected…. and Dax… well he can’t come for the same reason as you…” He grimaced because I was right.

Sierra stood declaring, “I’ll go.” I disagreed, “You’re not trained enough yet…

and neither is Addison. She’s actually a very…

um… she has room for…. well…. improvement…

. in the shooting…. area.” Addison snorted, “I’m a hopeless case and we all know it.

” I quickly said, “No… you hit the targets… so… you do have promise… and you just started. It’s not like everyone is amazing right away. ”

Addison asked, “And what about you? How were your first shots?” I admitted, “I got it right away… but I get a lot right away and… like my Grandma Esther is…” I gulped down the sob that wanted to bubble up, “a great shot. I’ve had a gun in my hand since I was a very young pup…

so… my cover is intact anyway. I was whipped…

so spray me down.” They used my scent concealer.

Dax gasped. Sierra’s face lit up while Caine and Addison looked stunned.

Mason whispered, “It worked.” I winked, “Of course it did.” I’d worked really hard on it.

I’d wanted to talk to Levi about it, but it stood to reason he hated me now too.

I put on my gear gingerly and took the rifle, running my hands over it.

Mason asked, “And how will you get away?” I answered, “I won’t.

Well… I mean… I will…but I’ll just wait them out…

” Dax asked, “And if they look into the tree?” I snorted, “Werewolves don’t search trees for people.

It’s a risk… but a very low one… I’ve calculated…

” They waved, “We know.” They chorused. They chuckled.

I left and got in the car. In theory, I knew how to drive. I wasn’t going to crash this old beat up truck I’d purchased in cash. I drove until I was twenty miles out, then hiked. I found the spot based on the communications Alpha Edward had and scoped it out.

I found my perch and the tree I’d go to once I’d made sure no one died. I set up and waited for hours. I knew when other people got here. The hair on my arms began to rise. I willed my tears away when I saw Grandpa Ben with Jason and Julian Conners.

I looked at them both and felt a multitude of emotions. They looked fine, the same even. I didn’t. I’d lost weight, my wounds were still bleeding, and they looked fine. I looked through the scope trying to see Jason’s mark, but his collar was too high. Caine sent me a text.

Caine: Got to see Nate and asked about the code phrase. It’s Bless the Goddess for such a good day. No matter what the question is.

The group coming to meet them arrived. I watched my brother square up to them. I nearly called out to him but stopped myself. It started off wrong and I could see that quite clearly. They knew who they were before a single word was spoken.

My finger hovered over the trigger. I was not going to watch a member of my family be shot ever again. I pledged it here and now between me and the gods and goddesses. The guy they were meeting called, “Nice weather today, isn’t it?” Grandpa Ben agreed, “It’s a nice day.”

My stomach tightened knowing that wasn’t the right answer.

One took out the drugs. Julian Conners was instantly suspicious.

He asked, “You’re not going to name your price?

” The one guys snorted, “No, I just thought you’d like to know what you’re dying for.

” I saw the man in front of Jason reach for a gun and rage filled me.

I fired three shots before anyone could react.

All head shots then hit them for a total of six shots each because I had their six.

That had been my plan. I wanted them to think the Hackura did this…

or at least have the Hackura as suspects.

It would peak their interest in us too. It was all a part of my pl to be their secret source.

Logically, I had to throw everyone, allies included, off my trail. The problem was I wanted to fire more than six at each of them. I fired at the other side’s snipers. Jason shouted, “GRANDPA BEN!” I could see them all in my scope. They were fine.

I was a little surprised Julian didn’t pop to me, but that was ok. I fired another shot to keep them distracted. Jason called, “Julian!” He replied, “I got nothing! I can’t…” He trailed off and I set everything up. All my shell casings and drew the Resistance circle.

I fired another round to keep them thinking someone was out there then ran to my tree and climbed. Grandpa Ben asked, “Do you hear any heart beats Julian?” I quickly pulled out the eerie emitter I’d been working on.

I prayed it would work, and they wouldn’t hear my heartbeat. Running away was my fall back plan. I was always faster than Grandpa Ben and Jason. Julian admitted, “I did but now I don’t.” They fanned out and I nearly groaned when they went in the wrong direction.

Jason ended up right below me. Part of me screamed down at him silently in my head begging him to look up. To see me again, but he didn’t. Which wasn’t really that surprising at this point. He didn’t want to see me.

Grandpa Ben said, “We need to find some clue, but we also need to get back. Everyone will be getting worried.” Julian replied, “They already are.” I bit my lip hard, so I didn’t say anything. My Xander was worried about his brother and probably mine. Jason and Xander were best friends.

Finally, they’d found what I’d left for them. I saw pride in all their eyes. Tears filled mine. Jason and Grandpa Ben were proud of me again. Then Julian popped them out. I waited a beat then got down. I called Sierra.

She answered, “Yeah.” I told her, “Have a message thrown across Red Run’s border with the code word.

” Nate gave us the names of some good Hunters and they’d agreed to help us if they could.

She replied, “It’s done and addressed to the Beta no name because they were being weird.

Are you on your way back?” I answered, “Yup.”

When I got in the truck my scent came back, and I quickly wrote down the times. I needed to get my watch program done. It was close, but not perfect yet. I drove back and parked. I told myself, “Pretty good for never having driven before.”

Hendrick shouted, “YOU HAVE NEVER DRIVEN BEFORE?!” I jolted admitting, “I didn’t know you’d be here.” He snorted, “We are teaching you how to drive. I cannot believe you didn’t tell us you didn’t know how to drive.”

I pointed out, “Umm you would’ve insisted on going and…” He cut me off, “I know.” He took me back to their house and I changed. I left and felt the air still. What the hell? Why did everything suddenly feel wrong?

I hid in a bush and tried to figure it out.

I heard screams and people began to come outside.

Someone cried, “Oh no. Who is it this time?” Somone replied, “A pack from Virigina came.” A woman gripped her husband’s hand.

She whispered, “Are they coming for our pup?” His eyes showed devastation and defeat. He said, “We don’t know.” Huh?

I heard Dax scream, “NO!” I started running before I saw who it was. Caine was being held down and so was Dax. Addison, Beta Female Eden and Luna Elena were as well. My heart stopped. That meant this was about Sierra.

A man was dragging her by her hair. She screamed, “Leave me alone!” He hit her and I saw red. Beta Jean urged, “Sierra, don’t fight him. He won’t hurt you. Clay will be a good mate.” Clay actually laughed. Yeah, no….Beta jean was wrong… that was not the laugh of a sane person.

Beta Female Eden screamed, “YOU CAN’T GIVE OUR PUP TO HIM! SHE’S NOT EVEN EIGHTEEN! SHE COULD HAVE HER FATED!” He replied, “He has Alpha blood. It’s a good match.” Sierra tried to fight back.

Clay snarled “You’re MINE! Clearly you lack discipline, so I’ll mark you now.” Dax roared in anger and shifted into his wolf and was promptly shot with a dart which forced him to shift back. Caine shouted, “NO!” He shifted too and was shot.

I hadn’t stopped running to watch. People gasped at me as I flew by them. Alpha Edward finally saw me. He ordered, “Do not interfere!” The Alpha Command yet again did nothing. Sierra was pinned to the ground.

I dove and got my arm between her neck and his teeth. He sank his canines to the bone, and I screamed in pain. Sierra gasped, “Ashley.” Right. Because that’s what outside packs could know about my name.

I kicked Clay so hard I heard his ribs crack. Someone grabbed me from behind and I took him down with a simple move. I stood over Sierra and took them down as they came. They stared at me in shock. I screamed, “Is that all you got?” They said nothing.

I shouted, “PATHETIC! All of you! Come on! LET’S GO!” I had all the rage I could ever need on my side and nowhere and no one to take it out on until they showed up. One man said, “We are taking Sierra with us.”

I mocked him, “Then come get her… jerk. Oh wait, you tried that didn’t you? You will NEVER get past me.” Alpha Edward said, “They bought her.” I replied, “Then give the money back! She’s not going anywhere, and you can’t just sell pack member! Ordinance 124…”