AllFreeNovel
Share Us
As he zipped along the highway, he dialed the headquarters’ number. A high-up named Zane answered casually and sprightly.
“Where is she?” he snarled through the car phone.
“I’m sorry, who is this?”
“I know the council took her. This is Timber. I know you took Lyra. Now tell me where she is, and we can talk about this reasonably.”
Zane was a newer member of the council, but that didn’t mean he lacked knowledge or sway. There was a long pause in between his response, meaning that someone was likely behind the scenes, slicing their throat in a cut-him-off gesture.
“I have no earthly idea what you are talking about, Timber. Do you want to tell me about what’s going on?”
The softness of his tone only served to irk Timber further. He slammed the red button on the phone, hanging up on him.
“Fuckers,” he muttered.
Timber got to the headquarters in no time, parking his truck in the woods nearby so he wouldn’t be seen. There were certain parts of the headquarters that any bear shifter could walk into and seek out advice or an appointment. Then, of course, there were the secure areas requiring a guard or passcode to get through.
That was where Timber planned on going. He would break into the secret files he knew were kept just beyond the security detail team entryway. All he needed was to use what existed of his charm, as well as his physical presence, to intimidate whoever was on duty.
He was a big man and held in high regard for his leadership of the shifters in Montana. He walked in casually, scooting by the security table without gazing their way.
“Oh, can I help you, sir?”
A young man who was as thin as a tree branch called to him with a trembling lip. Timber turned, expressing his annoyance.
“Yes, I have a meeting,” he said, looking lazily at his phone. “Can you let me into the back area? Zane won’t be long.”
The young man’s brow furrowed, his hand going to the Taser on his sidearm. Timber’s hand reached to the bridge of his nose and rubbed it with impatience.
He then approached the young man, casting a shadow like an eclipse.
“Look, I know you’re just doing your job, but I’m in a bit of a rush. Zane is going to meet me here, but he is running late. I'd be eternally grateful if you could let me into the back.”
Not an ounce of charm in his voice, merely a stern threat. The young man swallowed, then pressed a button behind the desk that unlocked the security door. The buzz rang through the lobby with humming success.
Timber grasped his chest in a strange act of gratitude.
“Thank you. I will be sure to get you promoted.”
Timber opened the door, feeling the young man’s eyes on him. He could detect the sour, acidic fragrance of fear on the boy, so he wouldn’t likely address him anytime soon.
That worked out for him because he needed time to rifle through the files in the digital security room.
Timber moved with swiftness and agility, finding the addresses of each council member promptly. He took pictures with his phone and decided that he would narrow it down that way since he was having trouble picking up Lyra’s scent. It only took him a short five minutes, then he closed the door softly behind him.
The young man buzzed him out again, barely looking up from the security desk. Timber gave him a salute as he tried to walk casually, completely aware that he would likely be seen on camera by someone who knew what they were doing.
That didn’t matter, though. Even if he was caught, jailed, and punished, he could go on. But only as long as Lyra was safe. She and Marigold were the only people who mattered to him.
He snuck back into the woods and climbed into his truck. He had the addresses input into his GPS and planned to visit each of them, one by one, scouting out their properties and picking up his beloved’s scent.
Just as Timber started the engine to leave, his phone rang. His throat ran dry; it was Zane.
He guffawed out loud as he ignored the buzzing, ripping the vehicle out of the woods and pulling onto the highway. He would visit the closest address first, then spread out from there. She was going to be at one of their places. There were simply no other options.
TWENTY-EIGHT
LYRA
