I sigh.
Caius grins. “Can’t let you have all the fun, V.”
“What fun am I even having?” I ask, annoyed.
Then a bell starts to ring, announcing our attack, and my lips curl again.
“A lot of fun,” I say, responding to myself. “Excellent.”
I take off in the opposite direction of the bell, aware of the security tactic the Nantahala Pack uses when under attack.
We may have let a few drones explode for fun.
Just to see how they react.
The technology was so well disguised and emitting such a low frequency that they never noticed them in the sky. And the ones that exploded were too destroyed for them to even begin to piece back together into something meaningful.
They knew where the explosions came from—Carnage Wolves.
But they didn’t know what they meant.
They went on full alert for months after the first attack.
We were all very amused.
I leap over a log toward the bunker the Nantahala Pack favors. Three shifters are waiting for me, their stature much larger than the others. They have guns, too. And don’t immediately try to shift.
True enforcers.
Interesting.
I thought they would have all been deployed to kill me.
I’m actually pretty fucking insulted to learn that’s not the case.
They pull out their guns, taking aim, but I use a tree as a shield, duck, and fire at a pair of knees. The owner goes down with a howl.
Music to my ears.
Two of our own enforcers join me, using the trees to their advantage and coming up behind the Nantahala Wolves.
But the enforcers hear them, spinning and firing.
Only for Caius to send one to the ground with a bullet through the head.
Just as Tieran takes down the other with a knife to the throat.
“He didn’t send all his enforcers,” Tieran says, reading the scene like I did. “That’s not a good sign.”
“No, it’s not.” It’s a sign that we should have reviewed the identities a little closer to find out how many enforcers remained behind.
But we have a decent team of nine, ten if I include Beta Lock. However, we left him in charge of guarding the jet a good ten miles away.
We used some four-by-fours to drive most of the distance.
Jogged the rest.
And now we’re maybe half a mile from the heart of Nantahala Wolf territory.
“We need to find Bryson,” Tieran says, heading toward the bunker.
It’s where the pack goes to regroup and hide. Which makes it a very likely place to locate Bryson as he’ll be among the front line protecting those inside.
We encounter two more enforcers along the way, both of whom earn quick bullets to the head.
But as we reach the bunker, we quickly realize Bryson isn’t here.
It’s all women and children with a few weaker males spread out among them.
They’re shaking, but taking defensive postures, which would be impressive if it wasn’t so sad.
Tieran frowns. “Where’s your Alpha?” He infuses the right amount of dominance in his tone to tell them what he is—a true Alpha.
A few of the females immediately fall to their knees. Others just avoid his gaze.
And the children cling to the adults, their confusion pungent in the air.
I share a glance with Caius. The rest of our pack has taken up a protective crescent around us, ensuring their top clan is protected from any unexpected attacks.
But none come.
Because Bryson isn’t anywhere near here. “What kind of coward leaves his pack like this?” I demand. “Where’s the honor?”
“He took their defensive line, too,” Caius adds. “Because there’s no way we’ve already cut through them all.”
Tieran steps forward, his posture holding an air of dominance that he makes less threatening by putting away his weapons.
I still keep mine drawn, my hand at my side. I don’t trust Bryson not to use this as a perfect opportunity to ambush us.
Caius must feel similarly because he keeps his gun out as well.
One of the females screams, drawing my attention and my gun to her, only to realize she’s yelling about her child who has just escaped her grasp. He’s maybe seven and running toward Tieran at full speed.
I take a step forward, ready to block the little tyrant.
But Tieran holds me off with his hand, then crouches to meet the little bugger’s fist.
He slams it right into Tieran’s shoulder.
The mother appears stricken, stumbling into a wall with her hand against her mouth.
However, all Tieran does is grin. “Nice hit, kid,” he says, catching the boy’s fist as he tries to punch him again. “You have fight, I’ll give you that,” he tells him, a little purr emanating from his chest in approval.
“Please,” the mother whispers, tears pouring down her face. “Please don’t. I’ll… I’ll do whatever you want. Just please don’t hurt him.”
“Will you tell me where your Alpha went?” Tieran asks as he catches the kid’s other hand.
He’s right—the kid has spirit.
Definitely alpha caliber. He’s growling and trying to tackle Tieran even while he has no hands. It’s sort of adorable.
And really fucking sad.
“Your Alpha left a child behind to fight for you all,” I say, shaking my head. “What a fucking craven.”
“H-he t-took the jeeps and headed down the b-back trails,” the mother stammers, her hands on her chest as she tries to step forward. But a woman with long black hair holds her back, true fear in her features.
Because they think we’re savage beasts.
What they don’t realize is they’ve been living under the rule of a real monster for decades.
He feeds them lies about our kind to keep them scared. Because if they knew the truth, they would run toward us, not from us.
Tieran spins the kid around as he tries to kick him. “Stop,” he tells him sternly, his purr intensifying. “I’m not going to hurt you or your mum.” He wraps his arms around the boy, pulling him back to his chest in a backward hug. “You can relax, little alpha. You did good trying to protect them.”