“I’m grateful for you allowing us to meet here,” Bass said.
“Didn’t have much choice,” Cage grumbled.
Katalina smiled at the not-so-discreet jab to the ribs Anna gave Cage.
“Of course, Bass. You’re our friend. You’re more than welcome any time,” Anna reassured.
“So, what are we all doing here, Kat?” Cage asked.
“Not everyone is here yet,” Anna replied before Katalina could answer.
“Do you know what this is about?” Cage asked Anna quietly.
“No,” Anna answered.
“Then how do you know everyone isn’t here?” Cage quizzed.
“Because Nico and Olivia aren’t here and they’re part of the group.”
Cage grumbled.
“Cheer up, Cage. You’re only here because you live outside of pack lands,” Toby joked.
“Shut it, squirt,” Cage jeered.
Toby laughed. “Not sure if you’ve noticed, but I’m as tall as you now.”
There was a knock on the door, interrupting the squabbling. “Thank God,” Katalina muttered, jumping to her feet. “I’ll get it.”
A few minutes later, they were all seated in a circle of sorts, various drinks in hands and bellies being filled with treats. Katalina met Bass’s eyes across the room, and silence fell.
The group consisted of Katalina, Bass, Nico, Olivia, Cage, Anna, Jackson, Toby, and Dax. These were the people Katalina trusted most within the packs. There were others she considered good friends, but the people with her at that moment were more than friends, they were family.
The group looked to Bass. “This was your idea, Kat. I think you should explain.”
“Me?” She felt suddenly nervous.
“Yes.” Bass smirked. “You said get the gang together and come up with a plan.”
“A plan for what?” Jackson asked.
“To trap Bill, and get rid of him for good,” Katalina explained. A few eyes widened, while most of the men in the room looked as if they thought it was about time Bill got what was coming to him.
“Getting rid of him is the easy part. It’s the trap that will be hard,” Bass said.
“Why a trap at all? Why not just execute him?” Dax asked.
“Because I want solid proof,” Bass answered.
“I thought you were certain it was him,” Jackson questioned.
“I am,” Bass said. “But I want proof for my pack, not just my word of his actions.”
“Your word should be enough,” Dax added firmly. “It is for me.”
Bass smiled. “Thank you, Dax, but we all know it isn’t to some others, and I do not want to breed discord,” Bass explained.
“Well, if he’s reporting to Castor, then he’s gathering info that will help him take over Dark Shadow,” Toby said.
“Or that will break the alliance,” Cage added.
“So, me then,” Katalina replied. She didn’t like it, but had reluctantly accepted that their enemies saw her as an easy way to damage the packs.
“No,” several of them said at once.
Katalina laughed, rolling her eyes. She’d expected their exact reaction. “How many times have I been told I’m what holds the packs together?”
“No” was repeated in unison.
“We can’t risk you,” Olivia said. “Doesn’t matter how good you are at defending yourself. There must be another way.”
“I see,” Katalina said. “I’m only the glue when it works in your favor, but when it doesn’t, we all go on pretending I’m not important.” She huffed with frustration.
“It’s because you are important that you’re not signing up as bait,” Jackson shot back. His arms were crossed over the wide expanse of his chest, and the glare he gave her was intended to scare her into obedience.
Not one for being obedient, Katalina sought out the one person she’d need to convince for any kind of plan to work.
“Don’t look at me with those puppy-dog eyes,” Bass groaned. “I’m with Jackson on this one.”
“Look, everyone in this room knows using me as bait will work. You’re just too chicken to admit it,” Katalina protested.
Bass looked pained. Running his hands through his hair, he gazed at her with tired, worn-out eyes. She instantly felt guilty for causing him more stress. “Why are you so intent on putting yourself in danger?” Bass asked.
“I just want to protect my family. Find me another way and I’ll back down,” Katalina answered.
Silence stretched on as Katalina finished speaking. It wasn’t that she was reckless with her life, or overconfident in her ability to protect herself. It was Bass’s worn face, the look of defeat in his eyes, it was the fragile threads that held two packs together that meant more to her than words could explain.
Katalina wasn’t so naïve to think this danger would end with Bill, but it could give them all a small window of peace. A window both packs desperately needed and if she had the power to give that to them, she would.
“I’m afraid there doesn’t seem to be any other way,” Anna said into the quiet. “Not that I can see anyway.”
“But does she get through it in one piece?” Jackson asked.
“That I cannot tell you,” Anna replied solemnly.
“I’ll be fine,” Katalina insisted. “It’s not like I’ll be alone, so if things go wrong, you can all jump in to save me.”
“And how do you envision offering yourself up as bait?” Bass asked
Katalina smiled.
“Don’t go looking so happy. I haven’t said yes,” Bass huffed.
But she knew he would. Written all over his face was the fact he’d relent. He had to use her to protect his pack, and he hated it beyond measure.
An hour’s planning turned into an early dinner of pizza, followed by a cake Anna just happened to have brought home from work the day before and instructed Cage not to touch.
It was evenings like these Katalina loved the most. Food, drinks, and family. The chatter flowed easily, and as the sun dipped below the horizon, she wished for these moments to never end. Because they were the times she forgot about shifters and enemies, when she became ordinary, a normal teenage girl surrounded by her family. It was the times she felt her parents’ spirits near and was reminded she came from them, not war.
Chapter 25
Signing herself up as bait seemed like a good idea until Katalina was on the edge of town supposedly waiting for her aunt to pick her up. Her plans to spend the last few weeks of summer with her aunt and uncle had been canceled, despite Bass telling her she should still go. Katalina knew he only wanted her to go to keep her away from danger. She half expected him to tell her to move there permanently. But she’d called her family and canceled because as much as she missed them and craved “real world” time, the packs came first. When that shift had happened, she couldn’t quite pinpoint, and it wasn’t a change she liked to dwell on. It was a fact, an instinct as easy as breathing, and it came from both her wolf blood and human heart.
The news of her immediate departure had been told to Bill only—not that he knew that. If all went to plan, Bill would use this opportunity to his advantage, and with it being last minute, the hope was he wouldn’t have the time to put a well-oiled plan into action.
Waiting on the road edge, the time she was meant to meet her aunt came and went. Anxiety levels peaked as she wondered what they’d do if Bill didn’t show, and what they’d say when she quite clearly hadn’t left with her aunt.
Looking at her cell for the fifth time, clocking four minutes past the fake pickup time, Katalina contemplated ringing Bass when the noise of a car engine caught her attention. Sending off a quick text before sliding her phone back into her pocket, Katalina faked a smile when the car came into view, then feigned confusion as Bill smiled at her from inside.
Pulling up, but not killing the engine, Bill got out.
“Bill? I was hoping you were my aunt. She appears to be late,” Katalina lied as he approa
ched her. She concentrated on keeping her breathing regular and hopefully her heart rate.
“I’m glad she is. I thought I was going to miss you.”
Katalina wanted to growl. “What’s up?” She managed a smile.
“Something has come up. Bass sent me to collect you,” Bill explained.
“Really?” Katalina frowned, pulling her cell free. “Why hasn’t he rang?”
For a split second, nervous anxiety crossed his features. “I-I’m not sure…. You know yourself he’s not himself lately.”
“No, he isn’t,” she agreed, her blood boiling. Because of you.
“I’ll give you a lift back,” Bill suggested.
“Okay,” she answered, heading slowly toward his car. “I best ring my aunt first.”
Not getting in the car, Katalina pretended to dial her aunt. Her nerves were beginning to show; she’d expected Bass to appear by now. The last thing she wanted to do was get into the car with him.
“Do it on the way,” Bill urged, a touch of urgency in his tone.
Katalina met his gaze. “It won’t take me a second.”
His whole demeanor changed, and Katalina felt she was seeing Bill’s real personality for the first time. He was a good actor; he’d fooled them all from the very start.
“I’m afraid I can’t let you do that, Kat. Put the phone down and get in.”
Katalina stared at the gun he pointed at her. She hadn’t anticipated him having one, though she wasn’t sure why. Indiana’s favorite weapon of choice wasn’t teeth and claws, but guns. It made sense for Bill to use one if he was working for them.
“Why?” she whispered, looking into his eyes.
“They’re my family.”
“Family,” she ground out. “That’s your excuse?”
“I would have thought out of anyone, you’d understand. After all, you cling to your human past even though it has no real connection to who you are.”
“My past has everything to do with who I am. My family loves me. Can you say the same?”
He smiled, and it was nothing welcoming. “Get in the car, Kat. That’s enough stalling. No one is going to save you this time. As usual, your obsession with humans has put Dark Shadow at risk.”
Katalina sensed Bass near. “I don’t need anyone to save me,” she growled, and ducked.
Bill fired. Katalina moved swiftly enough to avoid a lethal shot but not quick enough to avoid the bullet altogether. Fire ripped through her shoulder as she twisted, sliding to the ground, the car at her back.
Two savage growls echoed around her, stirring the wolf within her to life. More gunfire exploded before Nico’s voice rang out, urgent and clear.
“Alive! We need him alive!”
Silence followed, then Bass was kneeling before her. Blood splatted his skin and hair, his jaw ridged with pent-up rage. But as his piercing gaze held hers, all she saw was love.
“Bass?” Jackson boomed from somewhere close.
“She’s okay,” he answered. “Injured but okay.” Bass cupped her face, kissing her gently. “You’re never being bait again.”
“Agreed,” Jackson said, appearing behind Bass, Bill looking half dead in his grip. “Now, when can I kill the peace of shit who put a bullet in my daughter?”
Bass straightened. “Can you stand?” he asked, holding out a hand for her as his gaze roamed over her with worry.
“I think so,” Katalina said, smiling through the throbbing in her shoulder. She gritted her teeth as she clasped his hand with her uninjured side, biting her lip to keep the sound of her pain inside.
“Good,” Bass said softly, helping her to her feet and steadying her gently before turning to Jackson. “The kill is mine.”
Jackson glared.
“You know why, Jackson,” Bass added.
“Yeah, yeah,” Jackson grumbled. “Doesn’t mean I like it.”
“None of us like it,” Cage answered, approaching. “But right now, Kat needs medical help.”
“Can I trust you not to kill him?” Bass asked Jackson.
Though Jackson looked ready to kill, he nodded and dragged Bill up.
“Regroup at Jackson’s,” Bass instructed to everyone, but looked at Jackson. Only when Jackson nodded his approval did he turn to look at Katalina. “You’re with me.” Bending, Bass scooped her into his arms.
“I was shot in my shoulder, not leg,” she pointed out, begrudgingly.
“I don’t care,” he replied, walking her to the car Bill had driven, and placing her gently in the passenger seat. “No walking until Karen looks at you.”
“I’m still not talking to her. Take me to Oliver,” Katalina moaned, as he climbed into the driver seat.
Pulling away, Bass glanced across at her and smiled. “You need to let that go.”
“Not yet.”
“Cage and Anna are happy. There is no reason to keep punishing her.”
“They wouldn’t be if she’d had her way.”
“Cage has forgiven her.”
“Clearly he’s more generous than me,” she retorted.
“Oh, I’m not sure…. I find you rather generous.”
Despite the pain she was in, Katalina couldn’t help but smile. Satisfaction filled Bass’s gaze, indicating his smooth tone, and the twinkle in his eyes had been intentional.
“Fine, she can treat me, but that’s as generous as I’m being. I’m not forgiving her. Not yet anyway.” She understood some of the reasons behind Karen’s actions toward Anna, but Katalina wasn’t ready to accept them. To forgive Karen for going behind her and Cage’s back. Not yet. Karen had to know what she’d done was wrong, however justified.
They pulled up outside of Jackson’s house as the others appeared from the trees. Jackson had a lifeless Bill over his shoulder. Katalina opened her door to get out when Bass appeared before her and lifted her into his arms without asking.
“I can walk into the house, Bass.”
“I know you can. Humor me?” he whispered, planting a kiss on her cheek. She smiled, despite not liking being babied, and allowed Bass to coddle her. Occasionally, she secretly liked it.
Zackary’s head appeared between the barn doors, gazing wide-eyed at the scene.
“He’s still a kid then,” Bass observed, walking past Zakary with Katalina in his arms.
“I told you he wasn’t a danger,” Katalina answered.
“Debatable,” Bass replied, smirking.
“Is… is that blood?” Zackary stammered.
“Out you get, son. You’re being upgraded,” Jackson answered.
Zackary hesitated for a second before rushing back inside the barn and reappearing with an armful of belongings. Jackson nodded his approval, then threw Bill inside the barn, and bolted the door shut with a satisfied smirk.
Brushing his hands together, Jackson met Cage’s gaze. “Organize round-the-clock guards.”
“On it,” Cage answered with a nod.
“I thought you said I was dangerous?” Zackary asked nervously, trailing after them as they entered the house.
“These days, kid, you’re a walk in the park.” Jackson patted him on the back. When Zackary’s look of fear didn’t recede, he continued, “Let me know if you feel out of control. I’ll make sure you don’t hurt anyone.”
“W-what if I hurt you?” Zackary asked.
“I’m tougher than I look.” Jackson laughed. “Come on, inside.”
And despite being injured and having a traitor in the barn outside, Katalina smiled at the craziness that was her life. At the people around her who she loved. The Indiana pack had used Bill in an attempt to destroy the relationships between both packs, but they’d not succeeded. Instead, they’d all worked together to bring him down. And no matter what Dark Shadow’s reaction was, they’d keep working together and bring an end to this war.
Chapter 26
It was one of those rare afternoons when they were both free, and they’d snuck away meeting in forest land far away from pack. Arriving in se
parate cars, Tyler pulled up, grinning as he climbed out of the vehicle.
“Chinese,” he said, holding up the bag in his left hand. “Beers,” he continued, holding up the right.
“Picnic blanket,” she replied, tucking it under her arm, smiling at the sheer joy on his face. “Shall we go, I’m starving?”
They walked at a fast pace, arriving twenty minutes later at their destination. Regan laid the blanket down, taking a seat as Tyler did the same next to her. Looking out over the slight ridge they’d stopped at, she searched the seemingly endless vista of trees and mountains, utterly at peace and relaxed. Tyler opened her food and handed it to her, and as she ate, Regan allowed her mind to wander to a place it often did when they were together on the ridge, stealing moments in time for themselves.
She imagined them never returning, imagined packing up their blanket and food and disappearing into the forest before them. Two wolves free. Free to be together, free from the constraints their packs put on them.
“What are you thinking about?”
Regan glanced at Tyler’s handsome face, her chest constricting painfully. “Running away.”
From the shock on his face, he hadn’t expected her answer. “Regan I… I actually don’t know what to say,” he admitted.
“Would you?” she asked quietly, fear stealing her breath. Though she wasn’t sure if she was afraid of a yes or a no.
“Is that what you really want?” he replied.
“Just answer the question,” she pleaded.
“Yes. For you, yes. I love you, Regan. You’re everything to me.”
She gasped, his answer rolling through her in a wave of mixed emotions. Her cheeks heated, his words whispering through her mind. The three words she’d known but not yet heard from his lips. Her heart expanded, becoming painfully tight with the love she felt in return.
“I love you too,” she whispered, a wide smile creasing her cheeks.
Smiling in return, Tyler cupped her cheek then leaned in for a kiss. His lips caressed hers softly. When he pulled away, his gaze studied hers.
“But that’s not really what you want is it, Regan?” Tyler didn’t look afraid of the answer. It was written in the depths of his eyes that he truly would leave everything behind for her. The knowledge was somewhat scary, yet amazing to know that there was someone in her life who would go to the ends of the earth for her.
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