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Vanya
“What have you got for us?”Callum asked. The Rivera twins had set up a video call and projected it onto the screen. Only Zoey and Grant were staring back at us, apparently her trusted circle was smaller than mine.
“First, we have the ongoing list of missing wolves. Three more reports this evening alone, that’s seven total reports for today,” Liam said. He clicked something and his spreadsheet went up on the board. What had been thirty was now well over fifty. My heart clenched for all the women disappearing.
“We’ve tried to triangulate a location based on the attacks, but it almost feels like there are multiple. I have my doubts that this tracker is working alone now,” Zoey added in.
“He can pop in and out instantaneously,” I countered. Just the reminder had me shaking off a chill. The cold sensation was one I would never forget. If I hadn’t been forced to travel with him then I’d barely believe it was real. They all looked understandably shocked at my words.
“But would his magic be strong enough to nab seven girls in one day?” Zoey asked me. The fact she was regarding me with respect and genuinely asking was refreshing from another alpha outside of Callum.
“I’m unsure. He’d popped in then back out when he took me and didn’t seem fazed,” I answered truthfully. Nyx’s hand settled on mine, stopping me from bending the poor pen I’d been fiddling with, into more of an angle than I already had.
“You got away though, and stayed away, despite his magic,” Grant added. “That could have been because he’d lost some potency. Or it has some sort of cooldown time.”
“This isn’t a video game.” Nyx laughed. Grant grinned at the fact he’d caught the reference.
“You’re right, but it’s obviously not his magic specifically, so I’d wager there’d be rules and limitations,” Grant countered.
“There are,” Leven said in agreement. “When he used magic here it was never back-to-back attacks.”
“So where do we go from here?” I asked. “We’re no closer to finding them.”
“We are going to be checking in with some elders who might have answers on where the covens might be hiding, another direction that could help us,” Callum said, dropping that bombshell. Though I was unsure why he kept it so vague.
“Smart,” Zoey praised. “I’ve sent scouts to a few other packs in the area. I don’t have high hopes, the wolves out here aren’t exactly friendly neighbors. It’s about all we can do while our tech guys scour every feed they can. I think it’s time to make a more pointed post in the network though.”
“Let’s wait,” Callum argued. “Let us follow this lead for the witches first, I don’t want anyone getting spooked before we get the chance.”
She bowed her head in a show of respect. “We can do that. Let me know when you think it’s time, it seems we are in this together and I won’t step forward without your pack.”
Callum nodded back, his blond hair flopping in front of his eyes for a second. Seeing him looking tired and disheveled like he currently did was frustrating. Even as we napped, he tossed and turned. The weight on his shoulders was starting to be too much but no one could take the burden from him, he’d never allow it.
“We appreciate that, we have a few leads but I don’t know how worthwhile they are,” Callum finally said before ending the call.
“What leads?” Daniel asked quietly after a few long seconds of silence.
“One really. We’ll be flying out to Philadelphia the moment Garren gives us the lead we need. There’s an old hive of vampires there that may be able to help us locate any remaining covens. They have to be out there; no way this asshole has captured them all.” Callum finished his explanation with a long sigh. His head dropped and his fingers tangled in his hair in frustration.
“It’s sad really,” I said. “The fact we are so disconnected we don’t all know each other exist. And who knows how long the witches have been in crisis, screaming for help into the void, and no one was there to hear them.”
“Damn Vanya, that’s dark,” Antonio said with a low whistle. “But when you put it like that, it’s really fucked up.”
“I just hope we aren’t the next ones to be wiped out,” Nyx said solemnly. “We’re scrambling for help and allies but we’re just as disconnected from each other.”
“Then it’s time for that to change.” My words hung in the air, bolstering the confidence in the room again. We were all determined to find a solution. Wolves had strong survival instincts and we were a resilient species. He could throw everything he had at us, and we would still find a way to fight back. This wasn’t over. No. It was just beginning.
ChapterSix
Vanya
Sweat poured down my face and soaked through my shirt. Yet I continued to swing the ax, busting enough firewood to get us through a harsh winter. We weren’t exactly facing that reality, but the weather was getting colder and I wanted us prepared. With how persistently we were being taunted, I wasn’t going to take chances, and no one else in town was either. Not to mention it was cathartic to my frazzled psyche. I’d been back for nearly two weeks yet felt like I was still in survival mode.
“Vanya. Stop,” Callum ordered. I let the ax swing down one more time, completing its arc. The wood splintered as it made contact and seeing the shards fly off was kind of satisfying. He walked over and took the ax from me, tossing it aside and leveling me with that alpha look.
“I’m not being reckless. I needed an outlet and this helps the pack,” I defended even though he hadn’t accused me of anything yet.
