by Bethany Shaw
“Yeah,” Devon exhaled as they reached the manor.
***
Devon laid his head back on the plush couch cushion. These talks were going nowhere. For the past hour or so, they’d done nothing but talk in circles. They knew what needed to happen, but couldn’t decide how to execute it.
He would much rather be at The Cookie Jar with Lark. Despite his lashing out and prickly exterior, she had befriended him. He could only think of a handful of people who had cared enough to do that. She even made extra blueberry muffins for him on the days he accompanied her there.
“Have you considered Lark? She seems like a strong willed and smart young woman,” Derek Stiles, the other alpha from the pack in Amarillo, suggested.
His head snapped up coming out of his trance having heard her name mentioned. Why are they talking about Lark?
“She is, but I don’t like the idea of involving her,” Gene said from his chair. His hands were tucked behind his head, brown eyes focused on Derek.
“I don’t like the idea of it either, but we need to get someone in there. She may be our best bet,” Derek replied leaning forward, elbows on his knees, staring at Gene.
Devon looked between the two other alphas. He’d missed something while he’d been thinking. Fury enveloped him, he didn’t know what they were planning but he already didn’t like it. Lark didn’t belong anywhere near Emmett.
“Lark’s human,” Gene stated.
“I’m well aware of it. She lives here under your roof and you protect her as one of your own. Is she not one of us? Furthermore, Emmett has targeted Lark and Sarah. I would say she is as invested in this as the rest of us,” Derek commented.
“No, we have no idea what Emmett will do,” Devon snapped, leaning forward in his chair, attention now fully on the conversation.
“Our only other option is to trust Daniel, which we’ve all agreed is not something we can do. In my opinion he should not be involved in this plan at all,” Derek said.
“We shouldn’t make decisions like this without Lark’s consideration,” Gene cut in. “She isn’t one of us. She doesn’t have to follow my orders.”
Derek sat back in his seat the leather cushion crunching with his movement.
“Fair enough, but she would have more freedom to set our plan into motion than anyone else. If any of us show up, even for diplomacy, we will be under constant supervision. Emmett will underestimate her because she is a human.”
“You can’t be certain of that,” Devon growled.
“Daniel said Emily has been given free rein to move about the manor,” Gene reminded him. He got up with a sigh and walked to the liquor cabinet, pulling out three glass tumblers. “You would be killed on sight, Dev. Derek and I would no doubt be given very little room to explore if we went to talk to Emmett. Emmett’s downfall is his under estimation of women and humans,” Gene reiterated.
Gene poured the amber liquid into the glasses and passed them out.
“I don’t like it. Lark is my sister, but I do plan on asking her to help us.”
“If Daniel is supposed to help them escape, how do you expect to follow through with the plan if he has no idea what is happening? We need to come up with something else. And this doesn’t involve Lark,” Devon stood up snatching the glass from Gene, draining the contents in one gulp. He cringed and cleared his throat as the bourbon scorched his throat.
“Actually, Daniel could help us either way,” Gene started. “He only knows he referred us to Derek, not that we’ve made contact or that we’re working together. If Derek shows up with Lark under the pretenses that he betrayed us…” Gene trailed off tapping his fingers against his glass.
Gene took a sip of his liquor before he continued. “When Derek takes Lark as a prisoner he will be surprised. Even if we tell him you and I have a plan to rescue her we don’t have to inform him of everything. We will just ask for his help when the time comes and make our own arrangements to rescue Lark and Emily ourselves. If he betrays us and tells Emmett we’re coming it won’t be a surprise to for him. He will be expecting it anyway. We’ll have the cards in our hand because Lark will plant the incriminating evidence and the attack will come from his allies instead of us. During the confusion, we will get Lark and Emily. We should plan to take the two young girls with us too. If we leave them behind they will fall into Juarez’s, the leader of the Gulf packs hands. Either way I think it’s a win-win.”
“It still doesn’t involve Lark,” Devon hissed.
“On the contrary, it does. Humans aren’t supposed to know of our existence. If we fail in our attempts, who is to stop Emmett and the Gulf packs from harming the two Davies women? It is a crime for them to have knowledge of us, and as volatile as the packs are I can see action being taken against them.” Derek took a sip of his alcohol as he watched Devon.
Derek sighed, setting the glass on the cherry end table.
“I understand you have feelings for the young woman, Devon. I admit, I would have a hard time asking my wife, or daughter, to do this. It is dangerous. However, if we’re to get the upper hand we need someone who can set the trap. None of us trust Daniel to plant the letters, that means one of us needs to do it.”
“Emmett will kill her to get to me,” Devon glared back.
“No,” Derek shook his head. “He is a vindictive man; killing her would be easy. You would get over it eventually. He will keep her alive and send her to the Gulf Packs. That will eat you from the inside out, son.”
Devon slammed his tumbler down on the edge of the desk. “I’m not discussing this any further, I vote no.”
Derek let out a long frustrated breath. “Very well, then. I vote we ask her. Gene?”
Gene scrubbed a hand over his face and locked his hands behind his back.
“I don’t like it, but I vote we ask her also.”
“Fine!” Devon walked to the door throwing it open. It collided against the wall, knocking a picture frame to the floor. Glass shattered, scattering all over the floor.
“What exactly is their relationship?” Derek asked as Devon stomped towards the front door.
“I don’t know,” Gene responded.
Devon threw the front door open stripping his shirt off. He needed to go for a run.
***
Devon sucked in a deep breath as Lark’s green SUV pulled to a stop in front of the house. His stomach knotted, rage brewed just beneath the surface. He’d voted against this plan, and had been adamant about figuring something else out. But they had come up short. Lark’s downfall was her compassion, he had no doubt she would agree.
Gene stood on the front porch with him. They had arranged to speak with her together. Both agreed that it might be more well received coming from Gene. Gene did a better job of getting his point across. That was something Devon would have to work on now that he was an alpha.
“Good evening,” Gene greeted with a smile. “You mind taking a walk?” He held his arm out to Lark.
Lark looked between the two of them for a moment before accepting Gene’s arm. A twinge of jealousy shot through Devon, Gene made it look so easy, and Lark quickly accepted. With a grumble he walked beside them. They took the trail leading down to the pond where they could have some privacy.
“So what’s going on?” Lark asked warily.
“I imagine Dev has told you we’ll be extricating Emily a week from Thursday,” Gene started.
“Yes, he mentioned it,” Lark stated.
They rounded the bend and came upon the pond. Gene led them to the bench and they both sat down, arms still looped together.
“We have a favor to ask of you, Lark. I understand completely if you say no.” Gene turned to look at her. “We have a plan to breech Emmett’s pack.”
“What does this have to do with me?” Lark’s blue eyes slid up to Devon’s, confusion evident.
“Lark, I think of you and love you like a sister. I would never put you in harm’s way,” Gene paused, causing Lark to pull her gaze from Devon�
�s to Gene’s. “If you’re up for it, we would like you to consider going with Vincent to the Guymon ranch.”
Devon had insisted that Vincent accompany Lark if she agreed to go. He didn’t want her to walk into Emmett’s lair by herself. He would go, but Emmett would slaughter him on sight. While there were issues between father and son, Devon knew their mother wouldn’t let anything happen to her youngest boy.
“I’m willing to help, but I’m not sure what you want me to do,” Lark stammered, rolling her bottom lip between her teeth.
“Vincent and Derek will be under constant watch, where as you should have slightly more freedom. We will give you official sealed letters written in Emmett’s hand to plant throughout the manor,” Gene gripped Lark’s arm tighter. “Only if you want to.”
“They won’t suspect me of doing something?” Lark frowned.
“It’s not likely. You’re human, and a woman no offense,” Devon added quickly. He didn’t mean to be degrading. “This is how Emmett will see you. Women are a means of reproduction - nothing more - in his eyes.”
“He sounds real nice,” Lark muttered.
“Yes, very twenty first century,” Devon joked, causing Lark to smile and gaze down at her feet.
“It will fall on you to make sure the letters are planted where the leader of the Gulf packs, Fernando Juarez, can find them,” Gene murmured.
Devon sighed. Gene disliked the idea as much as he did. They were left with no other options. Vincent would be questioned, even beaten, and in their worst scenarios possibly killed. Lark would be a prisoner, she would have some freedom to roam.
“How do you know they won’t suspect me? They kidnapped Sarah and attacked me.” Lark brought up her eyes shifting nervously between the two men.
“We don’t know, but you’ll be going as a prisoner. Derek Stiles will escort you and Vincent as a faux means of making a deal for himself and his pack,” Gene told Lark.
“How can you be sure I’ll be able to wander around?”
“From what Daniel tells us, Emily and another woman they’re holding are able to move freely about the estate. The two teenage girls who live there, Maddie and Amelia also have free reign,” Devon assured her.
Lark took in a shaky breath and Devon watched her closely. She used her pointer finger to dab tears from her eyes.
“I’ll do it, but what is in the letters that is so important? How can you be certain it will make a difference?”
“Evidence that Emmett is plotting to try and take control of the Gulf packs. He made the mistake of contacting the wrong person. They made contact with someone who is close friends with Derek Stiles.” Gene squeezed Lark’s shoulder and she fell into him. They wrapped each other in a tight hug. “This is going to work,” Gene assured her, with a confidence Devon wished he had.
Chapter 17
Lungs screaming, Lark jogged alongside Devon. Her legs burned with each stride, but she pushed forward. The past two days had been brutal. She had less than a week to train before Derek escorted her and Vincent to Guymon on Monday. Needless to say, she wanted to be ready for anything Emmett might throw at her.
Anxiety pitted in her stomach thinking about it. It would be dangerous, but she had to protect Sarah.
Lark had been leaving the bakery everyday at two to train with Devon, leaving Sarah to close the shop for her. If they kept up this pace, she might keel over and die.
“Stop,” she cried out breathlessly. Her body refused to move another inch. “I have to stop,” she choked out through long gulps of air. She collapsed to the ground landing on her butt and lay back on the soft grass. She closed her eyes blocking out the scorching white of the sun. Her breath coming out in ragged pants.
“We did about three miles,” Devon stated, the grass ruffled beside her, she assumed he had sat down.
“Wonderful,” she huffed.
He didn’t seem fazed at all by their run. Lark breathed in through her nose and out of her mouth trying to get her lungs to function normally.
“I usually run about twenty miles a day.”
Lark turned her head, placing her hand on her forehead to shield her eyes from the sun, and fixed a death glare on him. No wonder he wasn’t winded.
“You did well though. I was wondering when you were going to stop,” Devon smirked at her.
“Do you run as a human or a wolf?” Lark asked, her chest heaving and heart racing.
“Either. I have an unfair advantage though. You should probably stretch or you’ll be sore.”
“Humph, you should have been a personal trainer instead of a paramedic.” Lark sat up, stretching her legs out in front of her. She wasn’t out of shape, but she wouldn’t exactly call herself fit.
“Nah, too many people, too much talking,” Devon joked, taking the bag off his shoulder and pulling out a water.
“Don’t you ever talk to your patients?”
“Sometimes, it depends on the severity of their injuries. Keeping someone calm on the short ride to the hospital is a lot different than being personable and conversational in a gym.”
Lark bent over and reached for her toes, her breathing finally returning to normal. Sweat beaded on her brow and the back of her neck, rolling across her forehead to her eye. Disgusted, she wiped her head against her cotton tee.
“Do you trust this Derek guy?” Lark asked suddenly. It had occurred to her numerous times they were putting an awful lot of trust in a man she barely knew. Did Gene and Devon know him?
“Gene does, I’m not sure I’m the right person to ask. I don’t really trust anyone. Derek was close to my father and Rick. Gene has had a lot more interaction with him then I ever have. Emmett either ‘befriends’ you through intimidation, invades your pack, or you make the list of alphas he wants to conquer. I trust the fact Emmett dislikes Derek,” Devon said, eyes on Lark.
“Do you remember much of your dad? From what I hear he sounded like a remarkable guy.”
“I was three when he passed. I don’t really remember anything,” Devon turned his eyes to the ground his fingers going to his shoe string, retying the loose laces.
Lark switched to her other leg bending until the dull pain encompassed her entire thigh.
“I’m sorry. It must have been hard.”
“It was. I wasn’t Emmett’s son and he made sure I knew it,” Devon said bitterly.
“What about your mom?” Lark asked quietly.
Devon got up and walked along the path, his hand trailing through the tall grass.
“She didn’t do anything to stop it. I think she is afraid of him, I don’t know. Emmett and my mom grew up together. They’re from the same pack. My dad was from here, the home I am fixing up was supposed to be for his pack. The ranch has always been Rick’s. Normally, the alpha gene is passed to the first born son and daughter only, but Rick and my dad were twins. They both had the gene and had the desire to run their own packs.”
“How did he become the alpha in Guymon then?” Lark asked, curiosity getting the better of her.
“It’s usually up to the alpha female as to where they reside. Claire, my mother, didn’t want to leave her home. Her father, the alpha, left the pack in their hands when he passed. After my father died, I was much too young to assume the role of alpha. My mother’s eldest brother lives in Oregon and he had his own pack that he was in charge of. Her other brother attempted to take over the role, but Emmett challenged him and my uncle lost,” Devon pulled a fistful of grass from the ground and threw it out into the field.
“When you say challenged…“Lark trailed off unsure she really wanted the answer.
“To the death.”
“Oh,” Lark whispered. That must have been awful for his mother and for him.
“Come on, enough resting. We have training to do.”
***
Devon lunged, grabbing Lark and tossing her toward the ground. His arms wrapped around her waist, catching her against him before she hit the grassy earth. He clutched her close, inches from th
e ground. Her sporadic breath hitting his face, eyes wide with surprise.
“Follow my eyes,” he said, pulling her back upright, hands holding her tightly, her body pressed into his. “Most people avert their eyes to the direction they plan to go seconds before they do it.”
Lark nodded, blue eyes glued to his. “Okay.”
“You have to watch, it’s what will make the difference for you. No matter what you do, I will always be faster and stronger than you.” He tightened his grip to emphasis his point. Her soft perky breasts crushed against his chest as she inhaled sharply. He needed to focus, what he taught her could mean life or death.
“Most men will underestimate you. That’s where you have the element of surprise. Use their stupidity to your advantage,” Devon explained. He released his hold and took a step back, needing some space from her heated skin.
Devon gave her a moment to adjust her shirt and get a drink of water. She was an attentive student, never once complaining. Lark listened to all of his advice and tried her best to follow through. He couldn’t ask for a better training partner. He just hoped what he was teaching her was enough.
Lark set her bottle down, squaring her feet and shoulders. “Alright.”
Devon stared for a long moment, her blue irises locked on his. They’d gone over the technique, but she’d yet to execute it correctly. He wanted her to get this, to know that she could protect herself.
She flinched, but steeled herself as he came at her again. With a quick sidestep, she grabbed his arm and wrenched it like he’d taught. Her elbow jarred against his chest, not quite to the point of pain. She was always afraid of hurting him. She spun and stopped her fist inches from his face.
“How was that?” She beamed excitedly.
“Good!” A smile slipped across his face. “Just make sure you don’t take it easy on a real attacker.”
“Trust me, I won’t.”
“Let’s try a couple more times, then we’ll be done for the night.” Devon looked out at the setting sun. They’d stayed out late tonight. Getting back to the ranch could be tricky for her in the dark. They had several miles to hike through the woods.