by Reese Morgan
Logan sat at the end of the table and gazed steadily at Eric. “A human who is bitten instantly establishes a bond, a connection of sorts to their Sire. All Mutts transform with an overstimulated caudate nucleus, which associates to the werewolf who bit them. This, in turn, makes them obedient to their Sire. It’s the reward system. Celeste enhanced this obedience until it became mind-numbing slavery.”
Eric frowned. “All newborns have this?”
“Of course they do,” Troy grunted and leaned forward. “Your female Alpha, Hayden, had Tracer as a Sire, did she not?” Without waiting for a confirmative, Troy pressed onward. “As her body went through the transformation, the caudate nucleus in her brain became overstimulated. She would feel the unmistakable desire to follow Tracer’s orders.”
“But she did not,” Nicolas informed with amusement. “She was rather defiant.”
Troy snorted.
“It’s her lineage.” Here, he glanced at Logan. “And perhaps her strong bond with Cole Slayter assisted her defiance. She is a dominant wolf. The others, with Celeste’s altered venom, do not stand a chance. No matter how dominant they are, they are entirely obedient on the Carrier who Sired them.”
“From what I’ve heard,” Logan started, “they also possess dulled nerve endings and enhanced strength. All of these qualities are easily modified. Celeste did an impressive job manipulating these qualities. What she accomplished is reasonably obtainable.”
“But not reversible,” Nicolas said. “What about Cole?”
Here, he turned to Troy.
“He’s purebred. Unlike the other puppets, he was not Sired, but born.” Nicolas raised his eyebrows. “He does not have an overstimulated caudate nucleus.”
“It is possible.” Troy shifted and looked at Logan.
Her father agreed. “Cole is an exception. Celeste meddled with his chemistry because he was an enemy she wanted to obtain for herself. He is not a puppet, but he is not a Carrier either. I’d say it is possible to reverse the effects.”
Hayden slumped, pressing her cheek against the cabin’s wood paneling.
It was reversible.
At least that was what Troy and her father claimed. It made sense, too, after learning about the difference between werewolves who were Sired versus born.
Cole had a chance. They had a chance of saving him.
She bathed in the sensation of hope.
“Hayden will want to speak to you,” Nicolas’ voice sounded from inside the walls of the cabin. “She is adamant of saving him and learning more about the altered venom.”
He sounded neutral.
Hayden remembered days ago when he looked down at her and claimed that he’d understand her desire to go back to Cole. Nicolas assumed that was what would happen. That he’d lose her to Cole.
She could only imagine what he was thinking now.
Relieved, most likely, that his younger brother had a chance.
“Troy specifically wanted to talk with Hayden,” Eric informed. “When he arrived, he refused to share anything until he spoke with her.”
“Damn right,” Troy growled. “I came here especially for her.”
“And you’ll have all the time in the world to speak with my daughter.” Logan slid off the table. “For now, however, I think it's best we go over our plans.” He slid a long finger down the map. “We’re moving out to the refuge the Hunters promised, but Kieran and I also believe we should strike Celeste’s base.”
Nicolas looked down at the intended location and scoffed.
“That location is heavily guarded and used often. Our first strike should be one of her lesser-used locations, but somewhere she still relies on. Like here.”
He pointed to a location and Kieran leaned forward nodding.
Logan had other ideas, however.
“What best way to destroy Celeste than by making her the most vulnerable?” Logan shook his head. “I know her. It will weaken her if we strike here first.”
“We want you to take a few men and scout this location, Slayter,” Kieran requested. “Do not engage. Bring back information such as the number of visitors per day and the layout of the sanctuary. Many men don’t trust you or your motives, Nicolas. It will be best if you pick a team that will vouch for your allegiance.”
Through lowered black lashes, Nicolas leveled Kieran with an amused look. “I will take my rogues with me. I don’t give a damn about appearances, Kieran. I don’t need anyone to vouch for my allegiance.”
“You beheaded one of our allies,” Kieran grumbled. He ran a hand through his wild mane of golden hair. “The others are on edge. Skittish.”
Nicolas countered with cruel disdain. “He threatened to kill Hayden the moment my back was turned. Even if it was an empty threat, it was stupid enough to warrant a sword through his neck.”
Kieran stared before dropping his eyes in agreement.
“Others don’t agree,” was all he said.
“You will not be taking my daughter on this scouting mission,” Logan informed casually, but with authority. “She will stay with us.”
Her father looked up from the map and engaged Nicolas in a staring contest of sorts.
Hayden watched from her hidden perch, sensing an imminent quarrel. Both males assessed the other with a certain stillness that predators often practiced before pouncing.
“You are a traditionalist,” Nicolas whispered. “Those customs and traditions you enjoy enforcing, clearly state that a male has total control over their female mate. Her father holds no sway.” Nicolas smiled twistedly. “I will let Hayden make her own decisions.”
Logan’s expression turned sour, but he did not counter.
Hayden smirked. Nicolas had him cornered.
“I’ll leave tonight,” Nicolas informed the others. “If that’s all?”
Kieran nodded and Hayden quickly ducked down as Nicolas made for the door. She moved around the cabin, watching as Nicolas exited and went the opposite way.
Exhaling, she slumped in relief.
The last thing she wanted was for him to know she’d eavesdropped.
“Heard anything informative?” his sly voice asked directly behind her.
Hayden jumped. She could feel Nicolas close the distance between them, pressing his chest against her back and settling a hand on her hip. Despite the situation, a silly grin crossed her lips as he leaned closer, tickling the small hairs on her neck with his breath.
She could feel him smile softly against her neck.
“How long did you know I was here?”
He chuckled quietly. “I wanted you to see me enter the cabin. You have a right to know what goes on behind closed doors.”
“So you knew the whole time…” she trailed off, dismayed.
“You were very sly.” He humored her. “The others did not sense your presence.”
She turned, brushing noses with him. “One of these days I will sneak up on you.”
“Unlikely.” His eyes were alive with emotion, yet his expression stayed firm. “I’m always aware of your presence.”
Hayden frowned. “I want to come with you.”
Nicolas nodded. “Any other time and I would agree with you. But I think it’s best if you make the move with the others.” He carefully observed her stubborn features and a very light grin crossed his lips. “It’s simply a scouting mission, Hayden. You’re not missing anything.”
“Is that supposed to make me feel better?”
Hayden’s gaze dropped to Nicolas’ neck, instantly noticing the bite mark peeking out from just beneath his coat collar. A thrill ran down her back. It hadn’t healed. She’d marked him as easily as he’d marked her.
She exhaled and looked away from his cool, patient features.
The other men in the cabin filed out, bypassing them without a glance. They were nestled near the back of the cabin, cast mostly in shadows. Her father happened to look over, however, and their eyes met.
Logan looked away, his jaw tightening.
“I thought you said it was my decision.” Hayden turned around and faced Nicolas, which proved to be a mistake.
With an air of superiority, he stepped even closer, caging her against the cabin. “And it is your decision. I am only expressing my opinion on the matter. Scouting will take days of inactivity with little to no results. You may prefer staying with your pack.”
“Our pack,” Hayden corrected unhappily.
He simply raised an eyebrow.
Trying to ignore his smug proximity, Hayden realized that Nicolas’ absence hadn’t affected her before. So why did she feel anxious at the prospect of his distance? She wanted to have his back, to fight alongside him.
“You promise it’s only scouting the area? You won’t do anything reckless?”
His playful teasing vanished, and in its place was something akin to warm devotion. His hand cradled her cheek and his thumb brushed the sensitive skin underneath her eye. Leaning forward, he placed his forehead against hers and stared intensely into her eyes.
“I will not do anything reckless so long as you promise me the same.”
Hayden smiled.
Before she could respond, a gunshot sounded across the reservation.
She flinched and Nicolas curled his hands around her shoulders, shielding her with his body. When a length of time passed without another gunshot sounding, both Hayden and Nicolas pushed off from the cabin and approached the general location of the sound.
There were already werewolves crowded around near the entrance to the woods.
Nicolas pushed his way through with Hayden hot on his heels.
Lying prone on the ground, with a gunshot wound directly between his eyes, was none other than Troy Arnold.
12. Chapter Twelve
A hearty laugh boomed across the grounds.
“No, no, not like that.”
Hayden sat near the window and watched as her father trained a group of werewolves. They did this every morning. Logan would take those willing to learn hand-to-hand combating skills and go through drills with them.
Nathan, Fergus, Devan, and a lot of other werewolves attended and always listened to Logan with rapt attention.
From her position, Hayden noted his unique teaching abilities.
Even she could admit to her father’s prowess when it came to demanding and maintaining attention. All the werewolves seemed to swarm him, listen to him, and admire him. He was a natural born leader and he thrived on the responsiveness.
They’d been at the refuge for over two weeks and Hayden carefully observed.
Always from a distance.
“He’s dying for you to approach him, you know.”
Hayden glanced at her brother before looking back at Logan.
“He certainly shows it,” she quipped sarcastically.
Her contact with her father the past few weeks was little to none. She avoided him and he appeared to do the same. She always watched him from a distance, however, always noticing how easily he adapted back into the fold of a pack life.
He had his charisma back, his popularity.
The same contagious personality that many people boasted he possessed.
He no longer appeared like a sickly skeleton either. A healthy glow was in his face now, and while he was still slender and long-limbed, he gained significant bulk.
“You got off the wrong foot, I get it. He gets it. He’s waiting for you to approach.”
Hayden turned from the field and faced Julian fully.
Two weeks ago, they’d successfully relocated to the refuge the Hunters provided. There were several vacant homes in a gated community for the werewolves to occupy. Some packs shared a home while some were able to possess one for themselves.
Hayden’s pack took one of the smaller homes for themselves. They always kept the door unlocked and Julian took advantage of dropping by unannounced.
There were no territories here.
All the werewolves lived as one, all under the command of Kieran.
Hunters also occupied the area. Hayden made sure to keep an extra eye on them when none of the other werewolves seemed inclined to do it themselves. Rylee Donovan seemed to be the mediator between the Hunters and the werewolves, always vouching for both parties and acting neutrally.
Hayden didn’t know what she felt about the Hunters.
Past experiences told her not to trust them, and yet, all things seemed ordinary.
“You know,” Hayden started, assessing her brother as he lounged arrogantly in the armchair across from her. “Pushing me to talk to our dad is kind of ironic for you, considering you were the one willing to kill him in his sleep.”
Julian crossed his arms behind the back of his head and reclined lazily.
Kicking up his feet, he toed off his muddy boots. “I said it depended on Logan’s frame of mind when he came out of his coma.” He glanced out the window and toward the trampled, snowy fields. “He’s adjusted well.”
“Extremely well,” Hayden muttered.
Julian shrugged, observing her closely. “Why don’t you just relax, Hayden?”
Perched at the edge of the couch, she stared at him listlessly. She had no idea what he was insinuating and she wouldn’t bother with a response.
He scoffed. “You still wear your knife holster underneath your clothes.” He peered pointedly at her chest. “Your sword is always within reach. You always have your boots on, ready, and your coat nearby.”
“I will relax when this is all over.”
Julian lost his smirk. “But will you really be able to relax when it’s over?”
His question rang unnervingly between them. Hayden looked away, setting her chin upon the back of the couch as she watched the distant fighters. Would she be able to relax after everything was over? Lower her guard and pretend as if everything were ok?
The thought seemed ludicrous to her.
“It’s been two weeks without any sort of issue,” Julian continued. “We’re gathering weapons, we’re training our people, and thanks to Nicolas, we’re scouting our first base to attack. We now have Hunters to watch our backs. We have food. Water. Things are good.”
“Things aren’t always what they seem to be,” she retorted fiercely.
“And you don’t always need to expect the worse, either.”
Hayden flashed him a look. “What happened with Troy Arnold—”
“He killed himself,” Julian interrupted. “Look, he killed himself, Hayden. No one else was around him at the time. Witnesses saw him go into the trees by himself and heard the gunshot a moment later. It happens during times like these.”
She laughed cruelly. “It does not happen. Not to him.” She stared back at the sky, a hazy, gray day. “He was all about running and survival. He wanted to tell me something.”
Julian stayed silent.
Upon discovering Troy’s body, chaos had erupted at the reservation. An identifying trail was impossible to pinpoint near Troy’s body, simply because everyone’s presence and corresponding scents tampered with the evidence. Only one thing was clear.
Troy’s lifeless hand had held the murder weapon.
The Alphas ruled it a suicide after investigation and burned his corpse the next morning. Nicolas hadn’t believed it, either had Hayden.
He had appeared reluctant to leave. Only after Hayden and the rest of the pack reassured him they’d be fine, he grudgingly agreed to go on his scouting mission.
Before he left, he told her not to trust anyone and to keep the pack close.
His distance became more evident every day he was away. She was on edge, not because of his absence but from the sheer normalcy of their current sanctuary. Everything was far too convenient, far too at ease.
It upset her.
“It’s hard for me to relax when there is a war going on outside these walls.” She lifted her chin from her hand and observed her brother. “There is so much more we need to do.”
“But we’re on the right path.” He looked at the empty boo
kcase and the grandfather clock stopped permanently at six o’clock. “We will be out in the wild in no time, beheading puppets and blowing up laboratories. I imagine you’ll feel more at ease then.”
Hayden leveled him with an unfathomable look and he laughed.
“It’s no wonder you and Slayter are a perfect pair.”
The front door opened abruptly and Blake shuffled inside. To Hayden’s displeasure, he threw his tatty coat on the ground and crossed into the living room. In his wake, wet footprints marred the recently cleaned hardwood floors.
“Get off my damn chair,” Blake growled, not even needing to look in Julian’s direction to know the blond-haired teen currently lounged on his self-proclaimed perch. “Next time, I’ll kick you out on your ass and lock the door.”
“As if that would stop me.”
Nonetheless, Julian kicked down the recliner and stood.
“Don’t you have a pack to watch over? Or has daddy taken over that?”
Hayden hid a grin, knowing Blake’s taunt was partially true. Logan enjoyed spending time with Julian when Kieran was preoccupied elsewhere. Consequently, it appeared as if he had ended up being co-Alphas with his son. Perhaps it hadn’t been intentional, but Julian’s pack members clearly adored Logan.
Julian’s eyes narrowed as Blake rummaged through the refrigerator.
“At least I am an Alpha… at the ripe age of nineteen, no less.”
Blake turned, stuffing a large piece of meat into his mouth. “Nineteen? And here I thought you were fifteen.”
“You’d be surprised to know that with your mouth full, we can’t understand you. But I’m sure whatever you said would have been witty and hilarious.” Julian grimaced as Blake folded another chunk of meat into his mouth.
Hayden watched the two trade barbs, amused despite herself.
Clearly, they adored each other. It was unmistakable that Julian would make a perfect addition to the Slayter pack. Unfortunately, he had his own pack now and his ego would undoubtedly prevent him from accepting a ranking lower than Alpha or beta.
Julian turned to address Hayden. “Let me know when you want to spar.”
With her nod, he turned his heel and retreated towards the entryway with dignity reserved for royalty. She watched him silently as he purposely stepped on Blake’s discarded coat and marked it with dirt.