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Callum let out a bark of sorts, and we took off, running in the night. As we skirted the outer wall of the Bluffs, something had me stopping. It was a slow, creeping feeling. Like icy fingers running at a snail's pace down your spine. But I couldn’t tell why.
The others stopped when I did, turning and making small whining noises to see what happened.
Then we all tensed at once. The breeze brought with it a distinct smell. My stalker was back, and more bold than ever before. He was close. Too close.
Before I could do anything, Callum let out a call to arms, a howl that shook me to my core. Garren gently clamped his teeth on my tail, pulling me back toward the center of the community while I watched Leven, Callum, Nyx, the twins, and several other wolves scale the walls, using strategically placed boulders for leverage.
My heart pounded. Knowing the tracker was close terrified me. But having my pack go after him was even worse. The man was an assassin, could pick one or two of them off effortlessly if he wanted to. That was enough to give me nightmares.
I rushed away from Garren, though he stayed on my heels. When we reached my clothes he turned, giving me privacy as I shifted and changed.
“I’m going to the security office,” I told him, running that way on foot now. He followed by my side, staying in wolf form and refusing to leave me unprotected. “Thank you for staying with me.” I’ve never seen a wolf wink, but I swear the old man winked. That was enough for me to have to fight off a bit of hysterical laughter.
“I’ve got eyes on them,” Daniel called from the security feed. I walked up behind him, watching with my heart in my throat as our wolves chased one. He was dark like Leven, though he had a streak of brown down his back that wrapped around one leg. He was smaller than ours, made to blend in and disappear easily when he wanted, and he was obviously quicker.
“Oh gods,” I gasped as Leven lunged, landing on the wolf. He tore at fur and flesh, a loud cry echoing in the night, heard even from our position. A shiver ran down my spine, but in my gut there was a twisted sense of satisfaction. I wanted him gone for good, to stop torturing me and my pack.
There was a flash of something and Leven flew back. Literally shot away from the tracker like he’d covered a landmine with his body. Our pack was a mix of stunned statues and aiding wolves running forward to check on Leven as the vile tracker made his escape. I was at least relieved to see only a limp in Leven’s gait.
“They’re coming back,” Daniel announced even though we were all watching the screens intently, refusing to miss a single detail.
“What would cause that?”
“Witchcraft maybe?” Daniel surmised. “Witches are rare and mostly in hiding. But there are the few who work for contracts. That has ‘charm’ written all over it.”
“Interesting,” I said with a sigh. “Hopefully he’s okay.”
Daniel chuckled. “Leven’s fine. He’s the strongest wolf I’ve ever met and twice the size. He might be a bit sore but he’ll be all right.”
Moving away from the screens as they moved out of frame, I went to the gate to wait, pacing back and forth until the gate swung open. A minute later they were running in. The gate closed behind them with a loud snap as they all shifted back. Leven was next to Callum and his face twisted into a grimace as he finished the change.
“Are you all right?” I asked, rushing forward and running my hands over his side and chest, then back to his face, staring with wild eyes. I must have looked crazy, his lips tipping up in a pained, but amused grin.
“Were you worried about me?” he asked, liking it a bit too much.
I glared at him. “Of fucking course I was. How often do you see wolves fly, Leven?”
His expression hardened. “Saw that, did you?”
“Yeah, Daniel had feeds going so we could watch,” I explained. “What the hell was that?”
“Magic,” Callum said angrily, heading into the office. I followed him in, the others behind us. They stayed silent as they went to the row of lockers and pulled on backup clothes. It was a sea of gray sweatpants and despite the gravity of the situation, my eyes took at every single one of them.
“Our eyes are up here,” Nyx teased, coming over and tapping my chin to force my eyes upward.
“But it was a nice view,” I said unapologetically.
“Don’t tell Antonio that, his ego is big enough,” Callum joked but it held no real humor. He was worried, I could tell. Fuck. This was all me. I brought this hell upon them. I just never realized that one wolf could cause so much damage.
“I’m sorry,” I told him. “I shouldn’t have brought my problems here. This is my fault.”
“Shut up,” Leven groaned. If anyone else had said it, I might have been offended. “Do you really think we’d rather you be dealing with him on your own?”
“Nah, I like you where I can appreciate you,” Nyx teased, leaning back to take in my ass in the leather pants. “These pants are exquisite, by the way.”
That had everyone chuckling. He’d officially lightened the mood and I had a feeling that was his usual style.
“Come here, I’m hurt, you can sit with me so he can’t stare at your ass and be distracted,” Leven said, pulling me to a chair with him and setting me in his lap. I didn’t argue for once. In fact it was more for my benefit, touching him I could reassure myself he wasn’t going to be hurt and leave me like everyone else had.
