Daryl, reply when you read this and start your countdown. You have 5 hours.
The message had come from Alpha Cornell. Daryl stared at the words for a good minute before they actually hit home and he snapped into action. Snatching the landline phone up, he dialled Rachel’s number, replying to Alpha Cornell’s message as he waited for it to connect.
She answered on the second ring, tone wary. She knew. “Hello?”
“They took Jason.”
“Fuck.” The rustle of sheets sounded. “How did they get him?”
“They sent him a fucking text and asked him to come downstairs.” He still couldn’t believe they hadn’t thought of that.
Rachel’s incredulous laughter sounded down the line. “Of course they did.” He heard drawers opening and shutting. “Wait, how did they do that? I thought we had no signal here?”
“Wait there.” He ran across the room and snatched up his phone.
Fuck me.
Three bars of service.
Scooping up the landline again, he said, “Check your phone.” He waited for her to see it.
“Oh shit, I’ve got three— Scratch that, Ihadthree bars of service but they’ve just disappeared.”
Glancing down, Daryl cursed. “Yeah, mine too. Long enough for me to reply to their message.”
“Right. Well, whatever they’re doing to block the signal we can ask about later. We have a pack member to find.”
“And the clock’s already started.”
“I’m up. I can be ready in ten minutes. Call Jenn, let her know to ready her unit, and I’ll meet you both downstairs as soon as possible.” She hung up, and Daryl sat there, staring at the empty bed next to him, and let out a low growl.
Motherfucking bastard.
Why did it have to be Jason?
JUST UNDER THIRTEEN minutes later they were all assembled in the lodge foyer. Daryl held his phone up, showing the counter he’d started as soon as he’d replied to the message. Four hours and
forty-seven minutes left.
Jason’s scent led to the back door, though he’d come this way so often over the past week, it was hard to tell which trail was fresh and which wasn’t.
Rachel pulled out a map of the area, the council property outlined in blue and looking way too big for Daryl’s liking.
“Fuck, where do we start?” Jenn peered over Rachel’s shoulder, eyebrows drawn together. “I’m assuming they’re on foot, right?”
“Yeah. Otherwise we’ve got no hope of finding them in five hours.” Daryl pointed outside through the double doors. “There must be a scent trail.”
Rachel and Jenn motioned for the others to stay inside, then followed Daryl out into the chilly morning.
Jason’s scent was everywhere.
Daryl paced, inhaling deeply every couple of steps before turning to face the others. “Can you smell that? It’s like he went in four different directions.” He stopped and ran a hand through his hair, tugging on the strands. Thank fuck he’d grown it out.
“How is that possible?” Rachel joined him at the tree line. “Could they have had time to lay false trails?”
Daryl shrugged. “I’m not exactly sure when he went.”
Rachel raised an eyebrow. “What time did the two of you go to sleep?”
