Page 6 of Red Marked

“No! Fuck! I’m just as shocked as you are.” I look between the two of them, then at Saber, and then back at Atlas. Nobody’s got an answer. Every face I check gives me back the same look of confusion.

The rest of my team have landed behind us, still in their scales. Cindy is on Ash’s back. Several stay airborne to keep vigil.

The Draig females who were taken are all presumed dead. Three shifters and one human are still missing. It was called a terrible tragedy. Perhaps two of them survived.

My heart beats faster.

Holy fuck!

“We need to get back to the clinic,” I say. “I want answers before we go any further into these mountains. Those females might need rescuing, but we can’t go in half-cocked.” I look down the ravine, which narrows dangerously just before the bend.

“They could ambush us,” Atlas says, mirroring my thoughts. I like the way this male thinks.

“Agreed.” I nod.

“I’m sure they have no idea that we only want to help,” Rift says, pulling some hair behind her ear.

I look down the ravine. My dragon still wants to follow. He wants answers.

Since it’s my job to keep my team safe, I’m going to take the safest route, which is to return to base before doing anything more.

“Let’s go,” I say.

Ash growls and stomps his foot, pawing the ground.

“You good up there, Cindy?” I ask.

“A-okay, boss.”

“Let’s head back.”

“I had hoped to snag us another feral today,” she says.

“You and me both,” I tell her. “Tomorrow is another day.”

Nobody argues. We shift and go.

The flight back is fast and silent, and it doesn’t take long before the clinic’s landing pads come into view below us.

I land hard, shift, and I’m dragging on clothes as soon as I’m in human skin. I go straight to Pryce’s office.

I knock once and enter.

He’s behind his desk, the feed from the pad cameras pulled up on his monitor. He’s frowning as he takes off his glasses.

“No luck?” He doesn’t try to hide the disappointment. “You’re back a little early, aren’t you, Flint? I was hoping for two males today.”

“We made for the mountains. We took one down fairly quickly, but he wasn’t listed for rehabilitation. The further we got into that range, the quieter it got. I would go so far as to say that there are no ferals in the vicinity of the mountain range. It was strange.”

“That’s a pity. Why are you back? The sun is still up. There aren’t any storms in the forecast.”

“We found something very interesting.” I close the door behind me. “A group of females, Alastair. Around a dozen; they were in a ravine on the northern face. They fled into the mountains as soon as they caught wind of us.”

“Females? That can’t be right.” He shakes his head. “No, I’m sure you’re mistaken.”

“They were smaller and had the characteristics of females. It doesn’t make any sense, though.” I push out a breath.

“No, it does not. I’m sure you’re mistaken. They were probably too far away to see clearly. They⁠—”