“Good, you’re here,” she says. “We had a breach to the west. Patrols out there are still detecting movement in the trees. We’re getting ready to deploy.”
“What is it? The snake is in the opposite direction, isn’t it?”
“Correct. Our big scaly friend likes the eastern ridge since he left his rock, so it’s very unlikely this is him. He also doesn’thide in the trees this well or affect things in a subtle manner. Mostly, he leaves a trail of heat we can track from space.”
“Copy that. Are we heading out?”
“First unit is,” Sloan answers, gesturing to the nearby squad. “And second is backing them up, coming in from the opposite direction by road, and some of them shifting to scout.”
“What exactly was the breach?” I ask. “Do we have any clear information?”
“There was a direct report of an unknown wolf,” she answers. “A short time later, the signal went dead, and the nearest Shadow to his position found his body. Pretty badly mutilated, too.”
“Shit,” I mutter. “What could have done it?”
“A wolf could have,” Sloan says. “But he’d have to be one sick fuck. Okay, first unit, deploy.”
The five Shadows nearby jog into the woods, slowly spreading out to move silently through the trees. Sloan gestures to the others, and they pile into a jeep to head west around the edge of town.
“Where to now?” I ask.
“I want you set up in town,” Sloan says. “Listen to me very carefully, Brad. You are not to go out into active duty, do you hear me?”
“I’m one of the best Shadows you have—” I start to argue.
“You aren’t a Shadow anymore, Brad,” Sloan snaps. “You’re a civilian and an alpha. Your mission is to protect the pack and protect Eccles. You’ll set up a command center in town, get your elders and able-bodied youngsters on a perimeter—justa watch group, you understand—stay in close communication with each other, and relay to me.”
“Where is Rex?”
“Running command back in Rose Hollow, at their town hall. The military base is under Saunders's right now. Rex understands his place.”
Sloan’s tone clearly indicates that I don’t. I hold in a verbal jab and take a few steps back.
“I’ll just check in with my mate, then I’ll head in to set up a command center.”
“Good man,” Sloan answers, waving a hand dismissively.
I bite my tongue and turn around, pulling out my phone. While the action has been going on, the sun has slowly risen and given birth to the day. Instead of being bright and cheery, the light seems hollow somehow, pale and without color. I text Alisha, and she immediately texts back that she’s fine, and Scarlett and Grace are on their way over.
Reassured that she’s okay and won’t be alone today, I turn back to Sloan, expecting her to be ready to get rid of me. Instead, she’s staring into a small tablet device, her eyes wide and white rimmed.
“What is it?” I ask, my voice husky.
“It’s moving,” she answers. “The snake.”
I’m next to her in two quick steps. The device has a dark screen, with green gradient lines rippling across it, showing the surrounding terrain. In a system of caves to the northeast, a red heat signature is slowly coiling through the underground tunnels.
Fuck! Why does everything have to happen at once?
As my guts drop, I think about Alisha, and for some reason, it doesn’t comfort me that the other girls will be with her. I have a feeling deep in my bones that I’m missing something, and I really don’t like it.
I don’t have time for paranoia now. We’ve got a real problem here.
Sloan’s phone beeps, and she groans with exasperation as she grabs it. “Sloan,” she snaps.
“Commander, we have a problem!” a frantic voice yells. “The rock—it’s hot!”
“What do you mean?” she yells. “Where are the science guys?”
