“Oh, really? Because when I first met you, I thought, what a wise-ass.”
“Really. That’s funny, because I actually thought you were a jackass.”
“I bet. So, you are taking all the responsibility. Why, exactly?”
I swept my hair into a high ponytail, then wrapped it into a tight bun. “Because I am alone. I have no one to—”
I looked in the mirror to see Brendan blocking the doorway, his hands in his jeans pockets.
“No one to...?” He pushed.
“No one to go home to. No one who needs me. No one to miss me. I have no plans for a family of my own. No plans for a career change. I have nothing to lose. Whereas everyone else does.” I leant over and splashed cold water on my face.
A sharp chill stabbed me in the gut. If I killed Marko and somehow survived, what the hell would I do? Get a job in a shop? Settle down? I currently lived off stocks and bonds and all the money that had been left me. Apart from bills, bits of food, and the ongoing trip to the butcher’s.... What did I really need money for? And a family of my own.... What good would I be to a family? I would get them killed, or worse, I could kill them myself. At least, I knew that children were completely off the agenda. I’d been tested; infertile. That was one blessing.
“I think I should go with you,” Brendan finally said. “To help you.”
“No.”
“Not my fight, right?”
“Right.” I grabbed the towel from the metal loop beside the sink.
“What does that matter?”
I snorted, dabbing water droplets off my skin. “What is the point of you getting involved in something that has nothing to do with you?”
He shrugged.
“Exactly. There isn’t a point. This isn’t a game, Brendan; this is serious. I appreciate the offer, but I don’t need you to come with me.”
“Isn’t it already, technically, my fight? I was with you when you killed Luca.”
“No, you were downstairs having fun ripping Vampires to pieces. I killed Luca alone.” I replaced the towel through the loop and turned round. He held my gaze for what seemed like an eternity. For some reason, my cheeks started to burn.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, breaking the strange silence.
“Your grandmother told me I would know when I have to leave you. That I would know when we should separate.” He pressed his back against the doorframe. “Either me simply walking away or you telling me to leave. I don’t feel it, Heather. I don’t feel that it is the time to leave you.”
What the hell am I supposed to say to that?
I shrugged. “I have places to go, Vampires to kill. You’ve spent, what, almost two months of your life either stalking me or kicking Vampires around with me? You have your own life that you have to get on with. She probably said that so you would stick around a little longer. Although I cannot imagine why.”
“Exactly.”
“You’ve done this long enough, Brendan. You’ve helped me. You got hurt in the process. After tonight, go home, get on with your life, and—”
“And leave you to get on with yours,” he finished.
“Yes. I’m sure after tonight is through, you will know that is the right thing to do.”
“You think so?”
I bleedin’ hope so. “I know so.”
A knock sounded on the bedroom door, followed by Owen’s voice. “Time to rock and roll, Wolfs and Slayers.”
Brendan didn’t move.
“You heard the man; time to go,” I said, walking toward him.
He moved into the bedroom, allowing me to walk through the bathroom doorway.
“Will you at least think about it?”
Nope.
“I will.” I walked to the bedroom door.
Why did my Gran say that to him? He’s going to drive himself mad.
“You’re such a bad liar.”
“I’m actually rather good at lying. I only seem bad because you’re a living lie detector,” I said, walking out of the bedroom.
* * * * *
The plan was simple: we go in and kill everything that gets in our way, destroy all the equipment and records, and then finally kill all the Infecteds.
Thanks to my stupid human legs, Eve had to drive me to the facility, and since Brendan had informed me he would be sticking by my side, I wasn’t surprised that he came along for the ride. Eight of the Werewolves would join us at our destination, but they were currently running through the forest, alongside the car.
Carter stayed behind, which meant he had to have the strongest with him. Dante and Owen were his second and third, and to my undying shock, I found that Brendan was his fourth. Philippe and the young male called Flynn also stayed behind, something that had left Brendan with a smile on his face for the entire car ride.
“So you’re the fourth top wolf?” I finally asked, breaking the silence.
His lips curled and he turned to look at me. “Impressed?”
“I have to say I am, but I am curious why a fourth would be sent to help me. Why not send someone lower down the rank?”
“Easy.” He turned to look out the front window. “I wasn’t Carter’s fourth when I made the deal with Sofia.”
I decided not to point out that my Gran knew he would be the fourth, but as Carter had informed me earlier, apart from Dante and Owen—who obviously also knew my Gran—he trusted Brendan to keep me safe and honour the promise he made. And coming from the Alpha, that was a compliment.
“So what is the deal with Philippe? You seemed rather happy when you found out he wasn’t joining us.”
“Did I?” he asked, the smile still sitting comfortably on his plump lips.
“You haven’t stopped smiling since Carter told Phil he needed to stay at the house.”
“I hadn’t realized I was smiling.”
“Oh, please.” Eve laughed from the driver’s seat.
“So, what’s the deal?” I asked again.
“Where do you want him to begin?” Eve asked.
“Phil is one of many in the Pack who isn’t...happy that I am Carter’s fourth.”
“And why would that be?”
“Because Brendan—”
“Many reasons,” Brendan interrupted her. “He’s smart enough not to voice them, but he makes sure I constantly know how he feels. He isn’t the only one, but the others try to be more subtle. Something Phil is incapable of.”
“Plus, Brendan saved Phil’s life.”
Brendan laughed dryly and shook his head.
My brow furrowed. “Why is that a reason to hate someone?”
“He hated me already; the fact that I helped him at a vulnerable moment just pissed him off completely.”
“He is a waste of space, in my opinion,” Eve said.
“Can’t Carter do something about him?”
“We have ways in which to settle Pack business, but it’s never as simple as we wish it could be,” Eve said.
From what I knew about Pack politics, it all came down to strength. I would never understand the complexity of it all, but I knew one thing for sure—wolves fought when they had to settle an argument.
“Has he ever challenged you?”
Brendan glanced over his shoulder; small specks of gold danced in his irises as he studied me. “Not yet. But I am sure it won’t be long until he works up the courage to do so.”
“Something tells me you are looking forward to that day.”
Gold flooded his eyes and he gave me a toothy grin. “Oh, I am.”
“We’re here,” Eve said, directing her car into the side lane.
The forest grew thickly alongside the road. No lights brightened the back road, and even though I knew eight Werewolves lurked in the forest, I could only just make out the trunks of the second line of trees.
“Give me a second,” Brendan said, jumping out of the car and jogging off into the forest.
“You know more about our kind than you’re letting on,” Eve said as soon as Brendan
disappeared from sight.
“I know bits,” I said. “So why do most of the Pack have a problem with him? Does it have something to do with his cocky and overly opinionated nature?”
She stifled a laugh. “No.”
“Because I could understand that.”
“It really isn’t my place to say, Heather.”
“Has it got something to do with his scars?”
“You’ve seen them?” Her hazel-blue eyes widened as she looked at me in her rear-view mirror.
“I accidentally walked in on him changing his top.”
“I see.”
“I did.” I assured her.
As if I would have slept with him. Despite the fact that he had been stalking me for over a month, I had only known him for a few weeks. Sure, he looked good, and had a nice body —well, a really nice body if I was being honest with myself—but I didn’t have time for a luxury like sex. Besides, Brendan was annoying and cocky. Plus, he talked way too much. And, he needed to learn to keep his opinions to himself. He irritated me.
As if I would sleep with him. The thought had never even crossed my mind, and why would it? He had been sent to help me, and he had done so. We just had to get tonight done with, then we could say our goodbyes.
For some reason, my chest tightened at the thought.
“Do you know how he got them?”
“My obvious guess would be from another Werewolf, but why has he scarred?” I asked, fighting the urge to open the window and catch my breath.
“Isn’t it obvious?”
I didn’t answer.
She sighed. “You’re right; you do only know bits.”
I jumped as the face of a black Werewolf with pure white eyes pressed its face against my window.
“It’s Dabria. Time for you to go,” Eve said.
I nodded, my focus still on the Werewolf at my window. “Remember, they can hear you, but can communicate only with their bodies.”
I opened my door, the black Werewolf moving backward to give me room.
“Oh, Eve,” I said, sitting at an angle. “Thank you for the clothes.”
“You’re welcome.” She smiled. “Please be careful.”
I climbed out and shut the door.
“I will follow you,” I said while looking into Dabria’s freaky white eyes.
She nodded and headed into the forest at an easy run; I took a deep breath and followed her.
A light denim jacket, borrowed from Eve, made it easier for me to move but the thin fabric didn’t block the chill in the air. The hunting knife I borrowed from Carter remained in its sheath, trapped between my calf and my boot. Each movement caused an uncomfortable rubbing against my leg, but I needed some form of weapon.
My legs hurt for the first five minutes or so. My muscles had obviously had too much rest and had gotten lazy. I took deep, shallow breaths and forced myself to keep going. Running really didn’t help my ribs too much, but the pain wasn’t as bad as it had been when I first awoke.
After another few minutes, my limbs loosened up, and a strange sense of peace filled me. The scents of the forest wrapped around me in a friendly embrace. I suddenly found I understood the appeal. The freedom of simply running with a Pack, with an extended family that had so much in common with you—how nice it must be to belong.
The leaves of the tall trees blocked out the night sky, and every now and again, I heard the crunch of twigs under my boots as I ventured farther into the darkness. My eyes adjusted slightly, and I kept my focus fixed firmly on Dabria’s back, following every turn she made, in hope that I wouldn’t trip over, or run into, a tree. Adrenalin pumped through my body as the breeze flew past me, giving my skin gentle caresses. My senses began to peak and the urge to run faster burned through my legs, but I knew I had to keep behind Dabria. I had no idea where I was or where we headed; getting lost would only give Brendan more fuel for argument. I didn’t want to argue with him again. His concerns had been frustratingly reasonable, but no way in hell would I allow him to be right.
I heard a sharp snap to my left. I looked and caught a familiar set of golden eyes glowing in the darkness. The copper-blond Werewolf moved closer to me, until we ran side by side. The size of him still caught me off guard, but the lazy, unexpected grin that emerged on his lips relaxed me instantly. Brendan threw back his head and howled. His Pack brothers and sisters met his cry; their howls broke through the wind that shook the trees above us, splitting the night.
He grunted and tipped his head to indicate a change in course. I nodded and fell in step behind him. From what I had been told, the facility was underground—a small bunker concealed deep within the forest, near a creek, masqueraded as the entrance. Carter had set two of his wolves to watch the bunker, and according to them, a small group of Vampires arrived two days ago. To my delight, the female they described sounded just like Constance, the bitch keeper of the Blood House. I still had a few words I wished to say to her, and so looked forward to our final conversation.
The sound of trickling water met my ears, while a sweet, potent scent that I couldn’t name danced around me. I caught up to Brendan and ran alongside him. The sound of water became stronger. I looked to my right and caught sight of steady movement as it flowed into our path. Brendan’s large paw went around my waist and he swept me up with no effort, holding me against his broad, heaving chest.
I felt his quick intake of breath and looked down just in time to see him leap from one bank to the other. With a jolt that ran through his body into my own, we landed, and he continued running.
“You can put me down now, Wolf Man,” I said, unable to take my eyes off his face.
He looked at me, his golden eyes studying me the same way he always did.
“Yes, this is weird,” I said, not knowing for sure what he thought.
His lips curved to the right, and he licked the side of my face.
I shuddered. “You win. That is definitely weirder.”
A hoarse cough erupted in his chest, causing his shoulders to bob, as he stopped and placed me on my feet.
“Are you laughing at me?” I looked up at him while I rubbed saliva off my cheek.
He shook his head, and then jerked it upward.
I turned and caught sight of eight sets of eyes glowing in the darkness, just beyond a group of trees. I followed Brendan as he headed toward the Werewolves who stood in a group. The sound of their soft, shallow pants met my ears as I stopped in front of them. Their eyes locked on Brendan. His head shifted every few seconds; I supposed as he communicated with them.
I caught sight of a black shape in the middle of a clearing. Plants clung for dear life to every inch of the old bricks. I stared at the building while the others stood quietly.
I couldn’t believe the Vampires would be so reckless as not to have security cameras if the facility was of such great importance. Sure, the place seemed desolate, and I wouldn’t imagine many people came this far into the forest, but in saying that, why was this little bunker out here in the first place? Surely, it belonged to someone? Or filled some special purpose, at least. But if I had a facility on Werewolf territory, I would have put security cameras up; that just make sense.
I knelt and patted the ground for some stones. I hadn’t heard the report from the last two Werewolves posted out here. For all I knew, they may have mentioned security cameras.
I straightened, holding a few small stones in my right hand, and walked around the group, focusing on the trees nearest the building. I would have placed cameras facing the building, but I would have also put some looking out at the forest. As I scanned the trees, my attention zoned in on a small red light to my left. I backed up a few steps, took one of the small stones, then threw it at the camera lens. I missed. I took two steps to my right and tried again. The sound of tinkling glass echoed around me. A furry paw clamped my left shoulder. I looked up at Brendan, who cocked his head to the left and pressed his index claw to his lips.
“I didn’t know it would b
e that loud,” I whispered. “Security cameras.”
Brendan looked at the trees. Five Werewolves walked around the building, keeping their distance. I watched three climb separate trees and break the cameras, while the remaining two checked the building’s moss-covered walls.
“I think they might be expecting us,” I said.
Brendan nodded.
“They might already know we are here.”
Brendan shrugged.
“I take that as an ‘if they do, they do’ kind of shrug.”
He nodded.
I followed his gaze to a rusty red-furred Wolf, whom I guessed to be the Irishman, Solomon, since no one else in the Pack had hair that colour. He stood at the side of the building. At Brendan’s firm nod, he walked out of view. I heard a scrape of metal, followed by a heavy thud. Two of the other Wolves jogged to the door at the sound of Solomon’s snarls.
Brendan nudged me a moment later. I followed him to the building.
As I stepped through the slim doorway, I noticed a single dim light hanging from the ceiling. Mud stains covered the concrete floor; the bricks crumbled where plants broke through and consumed the inside of the building, just like they had with the outside. Apart from the wide, rickety elevator built into the back wall, the building seemed empty. The lift looked like a rusty metal cage, like one found in a mine or on a construction site, or maybe in one of those American warehouse apartment buildings. The black metal flaked with age, and as the first five Werewolves climbed inside, the supports creaked from the weight.
Solomon rolled the gate closed and fastened the latch. He hit the red button on the yellow remote hanging on the wall, and with a shudder, the elevator lurched down.
“I don’t trust that thing.” Listening to the protesting metal as the cage travelled downward, I heard the thump as the elevator hit the ground, then more screeches as the Weres opened the gate. One of them closed the gate and hit the button; I heard grinding as the cage ascended.
The lift shook slightly as my feet hit the floor, then shimmied as Brendan and the last four Weres crowded in. We reached the lower level with jerky motions.
I stepped through the open metal doors and a shudder ran down my spine as I looked down the dim metal corridor. A hint of chemicals invaded the air and instead of silence, I heard slamming doors, followed by snarls.
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