Page 95 of The Alpha's Seer

Then, like I’d summoned him, the door to my cell swings open and in he comes.

The burned man.

He whistles and grins, taking in my appearance as I steady myself, licking my lips so I can speak.

“What is your name?” I ask, and his grin fades.

“Why?”

“Because I want to refer to you as something other than my torturer.”

This makes him laugh, a deep-bellied laugh that makes his body shake. I’m glad I amuse him. I want to know who he is, and I’m sure he wants to tell me.

“Faolan.”

Chapter Forty

CALIX

I’m moving in a trance-like state. I’m letting my wolf guide me and following the drag marks I keep finding in the woods. Leon came this way; I’m sure of it. Did they change him in the woods or take him somewhere else to do it?

Evil.

My wolf hasn’t stopped saying this since we entered this part of the woods, and I get why. Everything feels different here. Tainted, somehow. The trees loom over me with their burnt leaves and strange bark, and excitement thrums through my veins.

I’m close.

We are. Be on your guard—there is magic here,my wolf commands, and I nod. I can feel it.

I stop in a clearing, backing up to blend into the shadows. I wait, wondering if I can sense or hear anything. If there is magic here, then I need to be careful. Part of me wants to tell the warriors to come here, that the rogues are hiding close to town. The warriors are going in the opposite direction, and I need every bit of help I can get. But something stops me, and I don’tknow if it’s the fear of the unknown or the preservation of my kind. Bringing angry wolves here would be suicide, and I’m not willing to risk any more lives.

I need to know what I’m up against and what magic is at work here.

I wait for almost an hour, but nothing happens. I rise to my feet and slowly look around, my eyes peeled for an entrance to something—anything. I know in my gut that Blair is close. I cross the clearing, slipping down a mossy, wet bank, which leads me to a dead end. I stare at the mountain at the end, wondering if there’s a way to penetrate it. It would be the perfect hiding place because I can’t see an obvious way inside.

My heart thunders as I trace the mountain rock with my fingers. I move, trying my damnedest to sense Blair. The rock is rough yet hot beneath my touch, the first sign that something isn’t right.

Be careful,my wolf reminds me, like I’ve forgotten, and I frown. The rock of the mountain bends naturally, and I follow it cautiously, every step light and silent.

Then I hear it.

The sound of sobbing.

My ears prick, and I concentrate. The sound of distant crying is still there. My wolf senses have picked it up; no human would hear this. I’m struggling as it is.

I step closer to the rock, and the sound increases.

“Fuck,” I hiss, leaning in so my ear flattens against the burning rock. It’s bearable, but only just.

The sound intensifies.

The crying is coming frominsidethe mountain.

I lift my head back and stare at it. Therehasto be a way inside. Women crying can only mean one thing… I’ve found their lair.After all these years of searching, it was right under my fucking nose.

Literally.

Even though I want to keep everyone safe, I have to tellsomeone.