Shadowlands Sector, Three

by Mila Young

  “Oh, it’s not just for me, but for any woman in trouble and needing clothes, fire supplies, and a warm blanket.”

  I’m partly gobsmacked by her admittance. Why has her idea never crossed my mind before? I was so busy surviving, keeping away from everyone, that helping others who are just trying to live never occurred to me once. And now, I make a note in my mind that it’s something I intend to start doing.

  I stroll over to the fire and plonk myself down on my heels, already reaching over for a piece of rabbit.

  “You were busy while I fell asleep, and I would love to meet your sisters one day.” I rip free a drumstick and sit back, eating. The meat is a bit tough, but it’s hot and fatty, making it everything I need.

  She shrugs, gnawing on a bone before going in for another helping. “I never made it to our spot.” Her voice grows faint and she stares into the flames, the blaze dancing in her eyes.

  “So tell me, what happened after you ran away from me?” I ask, trying to distract her a bit from the obvious pain of not reaching her sisters. Jae told me last time that they’d gotten separated, but they had a meeting point if that ever happened. Smart. I’ve heard of people spending weeks trying to cross paths with someone.

  “I didn’t want you to try stopping me, so I took off to meet with my sisters. One person on her own is easier to slide through the woods unnoticed than two, especially from the undead.” She holds herself strong and her fighting spirit reminds me so much of me.

  Most likely, I would have done the same in her position.

  She swallows the mouthful and wipes her mouth with the back of her hand. “I didn’t hear the Alphas sneak up on me. I should have been more careful, and now I’m even farther away from the meeting zone.”

  “Your sisters will wait for you,” I urged.

  “I know they will,” she answered adamantly. “She made me agree that we’d meet there even if it took years.”

  The hope in her voice tears through me. I used to believe in so many things before I watched the Shadow Monsters kill my mama. After that, I lost my hope in this wretched world we live in that eats and spits you out daily if you let it. The only way I survived was to become selfish, to accept that no one would come rescue me. I spent many nights crying myself to sleep, and it doesn’t get easier being alone. But how can I say those things to Jae when she holds on to that thread of possibility like a lifeline?

  “How about we make an agreement?” I suggest. “You don’t run away anymore, and I will help you track down your sisters with the Ash Wolves.”

  Her eyes widen with shock. “Are you mad? No Alphas help Omegas, don’t you know that? And I don’t intend to be captured.”

  “You won’t be. I have three mates, all Ash Wolves, and well, I need to rescue them from the assholes who tried to kidnap you. Then they will help you get back to the waiting spot, I give you my word.” There was no doubt in my mind that they would help.

  Jae shakes her head. “You worry about what you need to do, but I don’t need your help.”

  “We all need help sometimes. Like when I rescued you from that rogue Alpha in the woods over a week ago, plus today.”

  She stiffens, her shoulders squaring. “And I saved you and got you to shift back into your human body. We’re even.”

  I laugh and collect the rest of what’s left of the half-eaten rabbit. “I just want to help you, Jae. You leave items in a cave in case other females are in trouble because you want to help too. It’s okay to accept assistance.”

  Her brow furrows instead of fighting back.

  Only the crackling fire floods the silence as we eat.

  “Why don’t you come with me?” she finally says. “Narah will welcome you to stay with us. There will be no Alphas to command or try to rut you.” She snarls after saying the words.

  And I realize then, she doesn’t quite understand the concept of meeting a mate. But I understand. I spent so long hating males, seeing them as nothing more than wanting me as their slave. And some of them are that way, but not all of them. The connection with a fated mate is unbreakable and captivating and alluring. I want to scream that I’m away from mine while they remain in danger. At the back of my mind, I keep wondering if I still have leukemia, seeing as how the Shadow Monsters are keeping their distance from me. But I push those thoughts aside. I can’t think about that when I have Alphas to save.

  The ache in my chest burns for them, but I’m also not an idiot to know Mad would have wolves out there searching for me. The pouring rain outside is my savior, concealing our scents and that of the cooking rabbit.

  That’s why this is the time for me to check the perimeter of the compound to see how the hell I’m going to break in to help them.

  “My place is here,” I answer, something I never thought I’d ever say. For all my life, I’ve run away.

  Except that stops now. The time has come for me to claim what is mine and fight for my three wolves.

  I discard the rabbit bones into the fire and wipe my hands down my pants, then get up.

  “Where are you going?” Jae asks, a quaver threading through her voice.

  “To scope out the Ash Wolves’ compound. I need to break in.”

  She trembles, as if the mere thought terrifies her. “That place is filled with Alphas. Are you sure you don’t want to come with me and leave this war zone behind?”

  “I’ve never been more certain in my life about anything. But I hope you change your mind and don’t go anywhere,” I plead, though based on her past behavior, I doubt she’ll listen to me. “Whatever you decide, stay safe.”

  “You too.” She returns to eating, while I head out of the cave and into the tragic weather. It may be wet and cold, but it’ll conceal me from the monsters out here.

  I have no idea how I’m meant to save them, but I guess I’ll come up with something once I reach the pack home.

  “Good luck,” Jae murmurs behind me.

  Yeah, I’ll need it.

  Chapter 4

  Meira

  Rain drenches everything, slips under my clothes, and I’m soaked to the bone. But I welcome the wild weather to keep away the Alphas searching for me, no matter how much I’m trembling with the cold.

  The canopy of leaves overhead mostly protect me as I press up against a wide fir tree where only the occasional heavy drops fall onto my head. From my location, I get a clear view of the Ash Wolves’ compound.

  Thunder roars and the ground trembles, sending the branches into a tremble, throwing more water onto me. But I don’t move, even as an icy drop slides down my spine.

  A metal fence, about fifteen feet tall, closes in around the settlement. Left and right, it stretches outward. I’ve circled the perimeter from within the woods already to scope out my potential entry points. There are three into the place.

  First, the main entrance gate with two snipers sitting up on the stone posts. There’s another on the opposite end from me with one guard, and a third gate to my left at the rear of the settlement. And I remember the guard on the back door. He stood outside my room when I was first brought into this pack, and he always smiled at me. Plus, I’ve seen him talking to Dušan a few times, and you can always tell a lot about a person by the way they treat others, especially prisoners. I don’t even know the man’s name, but there was awe in his gaze when he spoke with his Alpha. Perhaps it had to do with him being older than the other guards, so if I trust any of them, it would be him.

  Yeah, it’s a risk, but what else can I do? I need a way in. Scaling the fence is close to impossible, and breaking it down will bring all sorts of attention. My plan is to sneak in as undetected as possible.

  I chew on my lower lip, my stomach churning as I’m standing out here as an easy target should anyone come in from behind me. I keep looking over my shoulder, but with the heavy rain, I can’t detect anyone.

  The more I stare at the brick fortress beyond the lofty fence, the more I’m reminded of Dušan and the first time he brought me here. Terrifie
d, I would have done anything to escape capture, and ironically, now I’ll do anything to get inside.

  Steadfast stone walls, the pointy towers, the crenellations across the top. I can’t stop thinking about the time Lucien took me up on the top balcony for breakfast, and we shared our first kiss. Later when I escaped my room, the Viking beast, Bardhyl, tracked and dragged me back inside. My heart clenches at the memories, and an urgency drums through me to get to my men faster. Every second that passes, I drown farther in thoughts that I’ll lose them. But I can’t allow my worries to pull me under. Not until I do everything I can to rescue them. So I need to cause a distraction at the opposite end of the enclosure. Then, I can finally slip into the compound.

  I scan the open land and find no sign of anyone, so with my head low, I push out from behind the tree and hurry through the woods. Running, I remain in the shadows and follow the downward sloping land toward the front gates.

  While scouting the entry gates to work out which guard looked easiest to convince, I discovered a recently dead deer carcass down in this area that I intend to use for the interference. Now, my heart beating frantically, my lungs burning, and I’m mentally gathering my energy to triumph.

  Cause a disturbance.

  Then bolt back up to the rear entrance.

  Beg the guard to let me in. It’s a long shot, but I’ll try anything right now.

  Rain pelts down on me, the sky growling, and I rush forward when the ground suddenly slips out from under my feet and I fall on my ass. “Argh,” I moan from the sharp pain of landing on a branch. Mud coats my pants and hands. “Crap.” I get back up, taking the hill slower this time.

  Dead ahead, I come around a cluster of trees where the terrain flattens, and where I last saw the dead animal. Except now two Shadow Monsters are hunched over the thing, gorging, their slurpy sounds sickening me.

  “Okay, maybe this will work even better,” I whisper, meaning I won’t have to lure them to me. I skid to a halt several feet away, and that’s when I catch movement deeper in the woods, more undead coming to the scent of blood. At least a dozen of them lurch amid the trees.

  “Oh, shit.” They’ll make this harder if I don’t move now.

  Sucking in a deep breath, I throw myself forward, cringing on the inside that I’m actually going to do this. Reaching the rump of the deer, I grab its hind legs. They are cold and damp to the touch. Thank goodness it’s not a huge animal.

  Then I haul the thing, directly out of the undead’s reach. The creatures don’t seem to even notice me but lurch after their meal with outstretched hands and gaping mouths dripping with blood.

  Groans from the woods draw my attention to the other monsters coming this way.

  So I move with speed, shuffling backward, tugging this half-eaten carcass and doing my best not to look at its open ribcage or I’ll be sick.

  One zombie latches on and bites down on its neck. As I drag the deer, the undead loses its balance and falls, still attached on with teeth and fingers. Their weight resists me now, and I swear under my breath at the fucking thing.

  My heart pounds in my chest, and the rain is unrelenting, soaking me. It drips down my face and into my eyes and mouth.

  Glancing behind me, I approach the edge of the woods, and behind that is a clearing between me and the fence of at least twenty feet.

  I scan the area and find no one there, so I move fast with the deer and creatures.

  Emerging from the woods, the sheet of rain pours buckets over me, slamming into me ferociously. I slide the deer over the muddy ground, one zombie still clinging on to its neck, eating, while the other staggers after us.

  Fear pummels into me now. Those guards in the compound shoot on site, and I’m in open territory with their enemy.

  My arms tremble with exhaustion, but I keep wrenching the damn deer over the bumpy ground and shrubs. I pivot and tow the meal closer to the edge of the settlement. Farther around the corner stands the main entrance, and well, I need to create a big enough diversion that draws attention to this end of the settlement.

  After the last break-in Mad caused, I’m guessing most of the pack members will be hypersensitive to uncover a horde of zombies clustered together near their home.

  On cue, the dozen monsters emerge from the woods, so now I have little time to waste.

  Gritting my teeth, I fight the dead weight and two damn creatures eating the deer. I want to scream but keep my mouth shut. Those in the mob chasing after us are moaning enough to make a racket.

  A shiver races down my spine, my body shaking over the thought that I’ll get caught.

  My back hits the wall and I dump the animal to the ground, my muscles screaming with pain, my legs straining, and I wipe my hands down my soaking pants. Scraping the rain from my face, I peer around the corner. No trees or people. There’s a driveway at least fifteen feet away, leading to the main front gates. Peering up, I can’t make out anyone, but I know the guards are there.

  Growls rise behind me, and I snap around, my pulse racing. The other zombies have arrived and all are pushing over one another to get to the carcass.

  Goddammit.

  Two Shadow Monsters are in a tug-o-war with part of the deer they tore free. I don’t even try to make sense of what part of the body they’re fighting over.

  Instinct kicks in, and I lunge toward them. Like a crazy person, I snatch the long bone, still covered in meat and fur, and wrestle it away from the zombies.

  They are so slow to react at first that they snap toward me with savagery. A shiver races down my spine at the hunger in their eyes, but I remind myself it’s the food they want, not me. They would have attacked me by now already if that were the case. The idea that I am still sick flutters over my mind, but I don’t have time for that.

  I pivot and rush around the others in a wide sweep, carrying a damn deer leg, and now that I look down at the hoof, bile hits the back of my throat.

  The moment I reach the corner of the fence, I hurl the leg as far toward the front gate as possible.

  The thing lands with a thump about seven feet away, then rolls a few more, landing in a small puddle that splashes.

  Undead shove past me, moaning, pushing me aside. At least half a dozen of them take the bait. I swing back around the corner and avoid being seen.

  My heart booms in my chest, and I bolt toward the woods. This is my moment to escape and head up the hill.

  But farther up the slope, four large gray wolves approach. I startle, tripping over my feet as my stomach drops through me. They are Ash Wolves, most likely Mad’s search party for me. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

  I throw myself to the ground where the undead roam to reach their meal. The bastards walk over me, bony feet against my back and head. I wince at something kicking into my side, then a Shadow Monster trips over me. The shrubs around me whip wildly in the weather, rain battering into my back.

  In the distance behind me, gunfire pops. I flinch. The guards are taking out the zombies. How long before they come to investigate this side where I’m hiding from the wolves?

  Terror seizes me, and I don’t know what to do.

  My hand flies forward and parts the greenery for a view. The wolves are running this way already, and I’m trembling. Have they seen me?

  I shudder, and adrenaline shoves into me. My mind screams to run. Fucking run!

  But I don’t move. Not an inch. My brain is on overdrive, sparking and every nerve snapping. I’m no stranger to danger, but this is me cornered with no way out.

  Bang. Bang.

  The shots come again, louder, closer. I jump in my skin with each shot.

  I won’t allow myself to be caught.

  When a feeding undead suddenly lurches upward from the deer in front of me, I jump into action.

  Scrambling to my feet, I dart behind the creature, lowering my head to hide, fisting the torn shirt it wears. I stay close behind the putrid thing that has me gagging from the stench of rotting flesh.

  I shove him sideways,
shuffling to remain hidden. It moans, stumbling on its feet as it fights the direction I’m forcing it to go away from its meal and into the woods so I can hide from the wolves.

  I keep looking over to the wall, expecting to find the guards popping up on the fence any second now. I suck in every rapid breath, terror raising the hair on my arms.

  Peering over the shoulder of the undead man in my grasp, I see the wolves charging down the hill.

  A whimper slips past my throat. I need to get into the woods. The high pitched howl pierces my ears. It sounds close and comes from somewhere back in the compound.

  Panic buttons have been pressed and my distraction worked to get their attention, but I’m not meant to still be caught in the chaos.

  A blinding light flashes over the land, followed by an earth-shattering boom of thunder. I shudder as the sound shakes me to the core. And as if it weren’t raining hard enough before, now the heavens split open and fall unrelentingly heavy, blurring my vision. Rain drums incessantly on the trees and grounds, dinging furiously as it hits the metal fence behind me.

  I push the damn zombie to get moving as it attempts to turn around, but I won’t let go of him. Pushing my shoulder into his back, I drive him toward the woods as I keep concealing myself from the wolves, praying they haven’t seen me. Its moans of protest are lost beneath the storm ripping away all noises.

  Suddenly, the stupid zombie trips and falls sideways, taking me with it. I cry out and fall.

  I’m soaking, and the wolves are almost upon me, leaping down the hill, one of them sliding over and crashing into a tree. I’d love to laugh, but I’m too busy trying not to die. I clamber to my feet and dart right the last couple of steps into the woods just as a wall of Shadow Monsters emerge. There are dozens of them, careening right for the dead deer, some already reeling to where I tossed the leg. They hustle against me, driving me back at first.

  Hell! I burst into the mass, fighting their shoving and shoulders knocking into me or them stamping on my feet. But I push my hands against them and carve a path for my escape.