He frowns. “I don’t like the way that sounds, Enrique.”
“Trust me when I say I don’t either,” I growl, wincing as I hear her howl in the distance. “Can you track the escape pods to see where they landed?”
His jaw flexes on the screen. “No. Everything went dark when you crossed into Exiled Sector. I don’t know if it’s the storm you mentioned or something with the island barriers, but we lost sight of everything and everyone several hours ago.”
“Fuck,” I breathe, my heart pounding in my chest. I was relying on Ander’s fancy technology to be able to save the others. But if he can’t even track them…
“We also only have jurisdiction in Venom Island,” he goes on. “So if they landed anywhere else, which it sounds like they have, we would require outside assistance. But without coordinates…”
“You have no idea where to start,” Xavier interjects as he steps up beside me, his knuckles brushing the blood from his busted lip.
Ander’s gaze widens, recognition flashing in his features. “Xavier?”
The Alpha in question notches his chin upward. “Been a long time, Cain.”
“No shit. What the hell is going on there?”
“A whole hell of a lot,” Xavier tells him.
Ander studies him, frowning. “Things look to be a bit rough there, Xavier.”
He grins in response, his tongue touching the wound I created before he replies, “Enrique was just auditioning for a position in the Venom Island hierarchy.”
I grunt. “I want no such position.”
“Too bad, Riq, you have one hell of a punch,” Francesca murmurs. She comes to stand beside Xavier. “I think you have your proof, X. Let Riq go to his Omega.”
Xavier narrows his gaze. “We’re not done talking.”
A chorus of howls punctuates his statement, causing my jaw to clench.
“I don’t fucking care if you’re done or not,” I tell Xavier, taking off my watch and handing it to him. “Chat for as long as you like. I have an Omega to hunt.”
“Enrique,” Ander calls after me as I push through the crowd to retrieve my bags. “Elias is already on his way.”
“Good,” I say. “I look forward to seeing him.”Assuming I survive whatever’s waiting for me near Caja’s cave.
“How’s he going to get through the barrier?” Xavier asks.
I’m barely listening as Ander softly says, “I think you and I have a lot to talk about, Xavier.”
“I think we do, too,” he replies. “Starting with the Omegas you’ve supposedly rescued because I have a bunch of Alphas on this island with missing mates.”
I walk by as Ander nods in response.
Francesca falls into step beside me, announcing, “I’m going with Riq. Meet you at base in an hour, X.”
“I don’t need you to come with me.” Nor do I want her to accompany me.
“Oh, yeah, you do,” she drawls. “Because those howls? They’re from the rogues. And you’re going to need some help taking them out.”
I start jogging as soon as I hit the doorway. “I did just fine last night.”
“Yeah, with the broken mutts on night shift,” she says. “Those idiots get spooked by their own shadows. The rogues, however, have their wits about them. They’re feral. Deadly. And very hard to kill.”
I glance at her. “And I’m supposed to believe that you’re going to help me?”
She shrugs. “What other choice do you have?”
