“How long ago?” I ask.
“When the bells started,” he replies.
Tieran looks up at the male. “Can you show me which direction they headed?”
The teen nods. “Yeah. And I can get you some keys, too.”
“Jaxon,” one of the females hisses.
“What?” the teen counters, a fresh anger painting a wave of red on his features. “Alpha Bryson just left us to facethat”—he points at us—“alone. And so far all they’ve done is let Jimmy hit their Alpha.”
“That doesn’t mean they won’t do worse. They’re Carnage Wolves,” the female snaps.
“Yes, evil savage beasts who pillage and plunder,” I drawl. “Doing a hell of a lot of that right now, aren’t we?”
“Your Alpha has lied to you,” Tieran says, taking a different approach as he slowly stands again with the boy still standing before him. “I have proof of those lies.”
A few of them share looks.
Some of them don’t appear to be all that surprised.
Others are more disbelieving.
The indoctrination of this pack is intense.
“But first, I need to find him,” Tieran continues. “He’s going to pay for what he’s done to the Black Mountain Pack. After that, you’ll all be questioned. Those found innocent of his crimes will be given safe haven in our territory. Because when I’m done with your Alpha and his enforcer line, there won’t be much left of this pack.”
He looks down at the child again, turning him to face him.
“I want you to go back to your mum and not leave her side. She’s going to need your strength, little alpha,” he says, brushing his knuckles against his cheek in a gesture of favor from an Alpha to a pack member. “You did good, Jimmy. Now go protect your mum, yeah?”
The little boy stares up at him in wonder, then nods at the task he’s been given and runs back to his mother. She’s gaping at Tieran like he’s grown three heads.
These fucking wolves, I think, already done with this scene. “Show us where they went,” I tell the teen.Jaxon,I think, repeating his name.
Not that I need it.
But he immediately responds to my command, which earns him some points in my book.
A few of the wolves bristle, causing Tieran to tell two of our wolves to stay behind. “Keep them in line,” he orders.
They both nod silently, using the Carnage Wolf intimidation tactic to do exactly what Tieran said.
I suppose that’s one way to use our reputation to our advantage.
Are we deadly? Fuck yeah.
Savage? Maybe some of us.
But we’re not cruel. Unless the other party deserves it. Which Bryson absolutely does.
Jaxon leads us to the jeeps, telling us where to find a set of keys for the two left. I toss a pair to Caius, then take the other for myself.
“They went that way,” Jaxon says, pointing in the direction of a dirt trail. “It ends at a cabin used for training.”
“So he went to find more weapons,” I translate.
Jaxon nods.
