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“No,” Nathaniel said, walking up to us and pressing a kiss to my cheek. “It doesn’t. But that’s likely the point. We enter in teams.”
My mate turned away and began ordering everyone to fall in line. Thankfully, Hunter was there to relay those orders, and by the time everyone knew what they were doing, it was time to send the first group of wolves close enough to have a good sniff.
“No sign of life,” Hunter growled when he returned. “There’s definitely something dead in there, though. It’s a trap, boss.”
“Not unexpected.” Aubrey strolled over to us. “But it seems like a strange tack for him to take. He’s smart enough to know you wouldn’t blindly walk into the building.”
I watched as Nathaniel thought through our options. If we went in, we risked setting off whatever trap Gabriel had arranged. But there was a chance we could find a clue that would lead us to wherever hewashiding.
“Did you scent explosives?” Nathaniel asked.
“Nothing over the scent of the body. Likely one of the reasons it was left behind.”
I wanted to know who that body was. Panic was fluttering in my belly at the thought that it could be someone I knew. A nice little “fuck you” from Gabriel.
“It’s going to explode,” Nathaniel said. “Either it’s on a timer, or he’s got someone planted here, waiting until we go in. Send a team to check out the neighborhood. Let’s see if anyone knows anything.”
I was biting my nails before I realized I’d lifted my hand. Nathaniel caught that hand in his.
“What’s wrong?”
“Redcaps,” I muttered.
He just smiled. “You know why they mostly keep to their territory, and they’re not terrorizing the city and stealing small children?”
“Why?”
“Because when the portals opened, and I finally gained control of the werewolves in my territory, I knew they needed to learn how to work as a pack. I was tired of seeing the redcaps run wild. So, we hunted them, rounding them up until they agreed to take this territory as their own. And if they step out of line, I send a few wolves out to kill the offenders.”
Pride and a savage kind of satisfaction roared through me. Nathaniel smiled, obviously feeling it through the bond.
The building exploded.
White-hot flames roared toward us.
Then I was on the ground, attempting to suck in a breath. The air was scorching, ash floating above my head.
“Evie.” Nathaniel’s voice was shaky. I’d never heard him sound so scared before.
I blinked. His hard body was over mine, one arm thrown over Kyla in an attempt to save her too.
“I’m fine,” I got out. “But you’re squashing me.”
Relief roared down the bond. Along with a healthy dose of retribution. Good. I was feeling the same.
Nathaniel helped me to my feet.
Kyla had a cut on her forehead and vengeance in her eyes. She stood next to us, and then we were all sprinting toward the building. Wolves were down. Several of them covered in rubble. However Gabriel had set his trap, he’d ensured that the building exploded in an unnatural way so anyone outside it would be hurt.
Sick son of a bitch.
The pack members who’d spread out to check the surrounding area were suddenly lifting steel beams, digging through rubble, and dragging out their pack mates.
I dropped to my knees next to Xander. His thigh had a steel pole sticking out of it.
“Hey.” He took my hand. “It’s okay.”
“I’m supposed to be telling you that.”
