Page 6 of Fat Enemy Mate

Luna and Nick need to see these. Connor needs to update the patrols regarding the runner, and the teams need to be updated before they come out on patrol blind because there could be more rogues out here. If I go after the woman now, I’d be turning my back on the protocols that keep the pack safe. I can’t put a stranger ahead of the pack, even if turning away doesn’t feel quite right.

The human has done well so far, and she clearly does know what she’s doing. The proof is at my feet—these two have been tracking her all night, and although they were gaining, she was evading them better than any human I’ve met. With them taken care of, she’ll be on her way, I’m sure. She just needed a helping hand. Which she got.

I deal with the bodies the way we’re told to by dragging them clear of the line and dropping them off the granite ridge into the thick pines below—they’ll be taken care of by the forest within 48 hours. The pack doesn’t burn the rogue dead due to the risk of residual dark magic. I head back and scuff the deer trail, covering the blood with fresh debris and leaving some stone markers in case Connor wants to check the scene. Grabbing the talismans, I consider putting them around my neck so I can shift and run back, but I don’t want to risk wearing them without knowing what sick shit the rogues are into now, so I hold them and set off on foot.

Luckily, when I dropped back down, it took me almost back to the crossroads that sit above my property line, so I jog back. My wolf feels quiet now, and I’ve got to admit, the violence helped—an honest pair of clean kills, something he could sink his teeth into instead of thinking about problems we can’t do anything about.

I throw the talismans onto my kitchen island and find a fresh pair of sweats before calling Connor. He picks up on thesecond ring, and I can tell from the background noise that his house is wide awake.

“What have you got?” He says, knowing I’d only call at this time if it was important.

I put the coffee on absentmindedly as I run a hand over my three-day stubble. “Out on the ridge, about three miles from my place, Cheslem activity heading west. I took down two of them, but one made a clean run for it.”

There’s a pause, and I know he’s doing that thing where he processes information before he reacts. “Anything else?”

“There was a human. Female. They seem to have been tracking her.” I tell him.

Another pause from Connor, longer this time.

“Ok, where is she now?”

“Moving. She’s clearly trained, maybe a hiker. I didn’t go after her because if she’s got any sense, she’ll get off the mountain now. The rogues were wearing some weird talismans. I figure Luna and her witch friends need to look at these and fast.”

“Talismans.” Connor repeats, “That’s all we need. I’ll get Luna and Nick up to speed, you can in as fast as you can, and I’ll have the team ready to go.”

“Will do,” I say.

I’m about to hang up when he stops me, “Wilf.”

“Yeah,” I reply, knowing exactly what is coming.

“You shouldn’t be out there solo; the protocols are in place for a reason.” He reminds me.

“I know,” I say, no apology.

“Yeah, I know you know.” He laughs, “Good job.”

He hangs up before I can say anything else, which feels more like a kindness than anything else. I pour the coffee before heading to the closet to find a clean shirt and pocket the talismans again, trying to ignore how strangely light and unwelcome they feel. I drain my cup as I look out the kitchen window with a view straight up to the ridge, and I can’t help wondering if that woman is going to make it off the mountain.

Surely she has a vehicle parked up nearby if she’s a hiker? They were hunting her for a reason; maybe she was working with them. It wouldn’t be the first time the rogues turned on someone they’ve done business with, after all. I know I made the right call, so I shake off the feeling. Besides, the whole team will be all over that hillside today. If she needs help, we’ll find her then. We don’t go running down lone humans, but we do help them if they ask. If she needs help, she’ll still be there.

At the back of my mind, though, I remember the way she was masking her scent and running a sophisticated system to evade her hunters. I suspect the last thing she wants is any help from us.

Heading out in my truck, I turn onto the road toward town and instantly feel my wolf tense up. If he’d found any release out on the ridge, that’s long gone now. I suspect the rogues are going to give me more to focus on than myself for a while. And right now, I could do with the fight.

Chapter 4 - Lara

I've been moving for only about half an hour when I hear fighting in the distance.

It’s been fully light for a while, and I’m moving as fast as I can, but nowhere near covering enough ground. I’ve been working uphill since leaving my little hollow, but my ankle isn’t holding up as well as I hoped. The cold was bad last night, and it seems to have settled into my bones in a way that’s getting impossible to ignore. I’m trying to focus on my system—setting an irregular pace, crossing paths that won’t leave a trail, and doubling back if I think I’m leaving a trail—but it’s getting harder to replicate.

I’m just considering which line to take across the next slope and whether to risk heading to the stream first to refill my bottle when I hear the first snarl and freeze.

It comes from somewhere behind me and slightly uphill, far enough that it’s slightly muffled by the forest, but still far too close. The first snarl is short and seems cut off; it sounds deadly. A second, louder snarl echoes through the trees, sending birds flying, followed by a crashing sound that signals large wolves fighting. It’s ferocious. I press myself against the trunk of the nearest tree and hold my breath as long as my body will allow.

I want to squeeze my eyes shut, but I know I can’t. Instead, I let my mind run riot with a mantra that seems to soothe me, even if just temporarily.Please don’t be them, please don’t be them, be anything else, just please don’t be them.

I’ve never believed in a higher power, but it’s funny how praying is the only thing to get me through.