AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I don’t.
Ican’t, because this isn’t about me and her right now- it’s our one chance to get ahead of the hunters. If we can take this guy alive and pump him for information, it’ll give us an edge when they come for us. This plan is all we’ve got, and I need to see it through to protect my pack. To protect us all.
“This is private property,” I call out to the guy in the road as Iver and I advance on him.
He raises his hands, showing me his palms. “I know. I don’t want any trouble,” he calls back.
Sloane’s right, something feels off. Why is he just letting us approach him like this, and why doesn’t he seem surprised to see us? I don’t like it. The whole thing stinks of a setup.
We could always just take him out. Andie’s already said she has a clear shot, and she doesn’t miss. But we have to play this smart. He’s of more use to us alive.
“Then why are you here?” I demand, my long strides eating up the distance between us as he remains rooted to the spot.
I get a better look at him as Iver and I draw closer. He’s definitely around my age, and we have similar builds. His tight-fitting t-shirt betrays his muscular physique, and he’s got a sleeve of tattoos decorating one arm.
“I just want to talk,” he replies, still holding up his hands where I can see them.
But that’s not all I see. There’s a swirl of metallic in his irises as his scent is carried to me on the breeze, and I stop in my tracks.
“You’re a shifter?” I blurt.
He drops his hands, nodding.
“You’re hunting your own kind?” I snarl.
His eyes widen at my accusation, his hands lifting in surrender again. “No, my pack is on the run from the hunters,” he rushes out. “We have been for a long time, we came here seeking refuge…”
“How did you find us?” Iver interrupts, folding his arms over his chest as he steps up beside me. There’s still a few good yards of distance between us and the stranger, but we’re holding our position, not taking any chances.
“We’ve been looking for you for a while, since we heard about your alliance,” he replies, chancing a step in our direction. “I heard that your packs came together decades ago to give you strength in numbers, and my own pack is tired of running. I thought if I could talk to someone in charge, if we could join…”
“You could’ve led them right to us!” Iver interrupts again, scowling.
The guy shakes his head. “We haven’t. They lost our trail months ago. But we know about them, valuable information that could be of use to you, if you’ll grant us refuge.”
Iver slides me a questioning look, but I’m still focused on the man in front of us, sizing him up.
He meets my eyes and blows out a breath, scrubbing a hand over his face. “Look, I understand your hesitation. But I came here alone, and all I’m asking for is a chance. I know you have scouts in the forest and snipers waiting for your command. We did our own recon, and I knew it was a risk coming here, but I still came because we have a common enemy, and we can help each other.” He pauses, shifting his gaze to look between the two of us. “I can tell you’re both Alphas. I am, too. And I’m trying to do right by my pack and keep them safe. The full moon’s tomorrow, and wolves need to run.”
I just stare at him for a long moment, considering his words. Then I step forward, extending a hand in greeting. “Maddox Kessler.”
His shoulders slump in relief as he slaps his palm into mine, shaking my hand firmly. “Javier Cruz. My friends call me Javi.”
“We’re not friends yet,” I grumble, pulling my hand back and shoving it into my pocket, “and I’m not sure if we can help you. I’ll take your request to our council for consideration.”
Javi nods, turning to Iver and offering a handshake of his own. While the two of them greet one another, I glance back toward Sloane and the others waiting by our cars, beckoning them over with a flick of my head. They’ve all heard everything we’ve said through their earpieces, so they don’t hesitate to advance.
“Where are you from originally?” I ask as they start toward us, still sizing up this guy and wanting to get as much information from him as I can.
“My mom was from a pack in Bozeman,” he replies easily, “but we’ve been nomadic for most of my life. I only became Alpha recently, and my priority is finding a place for my pack to finally call home.” He reaches up to push a hand through his hair, my eyes catching on a set of roman numerals inked on the inside of his bicep.
“Like I said, we’ll consider it,” I mutter.
His gaze flickers behind me as Sloane and the others approach, lingering on her for a beat in a way that my wolf definitely doesn’t like. “Mine,” I declare, the word leaving my mouth in a growl as I reach out for her and pull her to my side.
Sloane rolls her eyes at me, then turns to Javi, giving him a little wave. “I’m Sloane.”
He nods, only giving her a cursory glance before looking to me again, like he’s trying to demonstrate he’s not a threat.
