Cloaked in Secrecy

by T. F. Walsh

  “That’s why she’s here.”

  “We want to help her.” Alena nodded. “And I think she likes you.”

  “Really? Wouldn’t have guessed.”

  “Well, she hasn’t attempted to bite you yet.”

  I retreated a few steps. “Good to know.”

  Back on her feet, Mila paced the cage in a circular motion, a low grumbling sound rolling from her chest.

  “She misses Nic. He used to visit her daily, spend hours with her.” Alena’s words were barely audible.

  “I’m sorry we couldn’t free him.”

  Alena shook her head, keeping her gaze on Mila. “Can’t do anything about it now. Father is watching me, and with the lockdown, we’re all stuck.”

  “Still brazen of you to try to rescue your brother.”

  She turned my way with an expression I couldn’t quite pinpoint. A cross between intrigue and biting back an insult. I guessed the latter.

  “I would have done the same for my pack,” I said.

  Her brow pinched, and she looked away. “You’re not really what I expected from a Varlac.”

  “Did you just give me a compliment?” I covered my heart with a hand. “I’m floored. Maybe Varlac aren’t as terrible as you think they are?”

  When her gaze jerked my way, I realized I’d pushed my luck. “I know exactly how terrible they are. You seem a bit different. That’s all.”

  I changed the topic. “Who gets the privilege of enjoying the second cage?”

  “Nic, since he’s still a moonwulf and changes once a month at the full moon.” Alena knelt in front of the occupied cage and threaded an arm inside. Mila was sniffing her hand, licking it, and dropped down onto bent legs.

  Leaning against the wall, I studied the way Alena carefully placed both gloved palms above Mila’s back and shut her eyes. The same way she’d used her healing energies on my bullet wound. I could’ve used a bit of her mojo right now … and a bit more, too.

  Peace fell over the trailer. Only the rush of wind beating against the walls sounded and the occasional grunt from Mila—or was she snoring? Alena laid her forehead against the metal cage and stayed there.

  I couldn’t help but admire the devotion Alena showered on Mila, never giving up on the poor child. And the way she’d risked almost getting caught for her brother—these weren’t the actions of a bloodthirsty wulfkin. Perhaps my way of dealing with her father was wrong. I needed a diplomatic approach, a proposal Sandulf obviously hadn’t been able to pull off. This option meant either revealing myself, or enticing Maxim to open up about his intentions to take over the Transylvania land and how he planned to rescue Nicolai. Except, either way, I’d draw unwanted attention, and my situation could turn ugly in a hurry.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  ALENA

  One bruised shoulder and a deflated ego later, I dragged myself off the makeshift soccer field at the front of the circus. Bright lights lit up the yard that would otherwise be drowned in the darkness of night. I tagged Sonia to reenter the game in my place. The pack could have their soccer game. I couldn’t get Nicolai out of my head, so I turned against the icy winds and hurried toward my trailer.

  Two stir-crazy, uneventful days had passed since Father announced a pack lockdown. The police hadn’t left their posts from across the main road. Father might as well have gotten a bed to sleep at the police station or his legal aid’s office while attempting to get Nicolai out on bail before the encroaching full moon.

  Enre had been keeping his distance from me. And then there was Kalina, the Interpol lady, who visited us three times a day asking about Mila. She dropped hints about other missing kids. Her words about human trafficking and the idea of us being framed swirled in my mind.

  Father was still pissed that I wouldn’t tell him who had accompanied me to break out Nicolai. He didn’t need to know. I owed Enre that much for risking his life to help me rescue my brother.

  A part of me hoped my instincts about Enre were right—that he was different from his father. Mother had once told me about the riches the Varlac stole from other packs, the girls they kidnapped and forced to work for them, and how easily they disposed of anyone who stood in their way. What if they weren’t all the same?

  The night howled around me. Reaching the rear of the big-top tent, where only the moonlight bounced off the trailers, a chill crept through my bones. The sudden awareness of being surrounded by shadows played on my nerves. I kept checking over my shoulder. The night never worried me, but tonight the darkness felt heavy on my shoulders.

  Wulfkin voices shrilled in the background as I reached for the door handle to my trailer. Grass crunched in the empty lot behind my trailer. I wasn’t alone.

  More steps, fading quickly.

  Too many wulfkin and human scents mingled in the air to distinguish any particular one. I crept around my trailer and peered out. A silvery tinge lay across the field where overgrown grass swayed in the blustering winds. In the distance, a black, human figure slipped away. Whoever had been there was barely a blip in the night.

  Before I had time to debate whether it was a great idea or not, I was in the greenery, zipping behind the stranger, curious to uncover who was spying on us.

  The figure stopped, and I dropped to the ground, nestled in the grass. I peeked out through the blades. The breeze blew the intruder’s hood off and revealed Enre. A Varlac who broke rules. What a surprise.

  My wolf whimpered with longing for Enre. Total betrayal. But then again, the past two nights, I’d had the same horny dream with me tied to a tree and Enre teasing me. Aside from leaving me desperately unsatisfied, I suspected change was coming soon. If the premonition involved Enre satisfying me, then I was all for it, but if it had anything to do with the dead bodies in my nightmare, I didn’t want an inch of it.

  Why was Enre sneaking away from the circus anyway?

  He hobbled away from the empty lot. His limp had improved, though I’d never seen a wulfkin take so long to heal. Perhaps he’d had a critical injury recently. Someone might have attacked him before he arrived at our pack. A pinching sensation squeezed in the pit of my belly. Was that pity? No way.

  Up on my feet, I tracked him, keeping a safe distance. Father told me to watch the pack, and … well … I wasn’t sure if Enre was included in that. I’d pretend he was.

  He slinked through the streets, hurried through any lit areas, seemingly returning to the strip of woods where Mila always escaped. A couple of times Enre peered over his shoulder, and I hid behind trees, fences, or cars, thankful the winds were in my favor.

  Up ahead, he crossed the major highway and vanished into a narrow passage of dense trees. Why was he coming back here?

  A black mutt the size of a cat ran after me, growling as I waited at the curb for a truck to zoom past.

  “Shoo.” I waved a hand at the dog. “Go away.”

  He barked in response.

  I snarled, and the little critter scampered back the way I’d come seconds earlier. At least he wouldn’t get hit by a car.

  Tiptoeing to avoid the clicking of boots against asphalt, I darted across the road.

  Once in the cover of forest, I couldn’t see Enre anymore. I traveled through the woodland, sniffing the air.

  A twig snapped behind me. I spun and spotted Enre standing several paces away.

  He raised an eyebrow. “You should practice your stealth skills.”

  “You left the circus, and we’re on lockdown.”

  “Doesn’t apply to me.” He rubbed his lips, staring at mine. “It seems you’ve broken the rule though, following me.”

  A police siren blared in the distance, and we turned in unison toward the sound.

  “We should head back,” I said, my gaze locked on the shadows over my shoulder, convinced I’d see the blue and red lights at any moment. Except, it wasn’t against human law to be outside at night. They had no idea it was Enre and me who’d broke into the prison, or we’d have been arrested by now.

  Enre
strolled deeper into the woods, away from the freeway, his head low and his body already blending into the night.

  “Hey,” I called out, following him. “What are you doing here?”

  He cut me a side-glance from hooded eyes, and if it weren’t for the occasional spray of moonlight amid the canopy of leaves, his grim expression would have been lost.

  “Getting fresh air.”

  “Right, and I’m a fool.”

  He released a chuckle, and the tone made my wolf squirm, clawing at my insides for release. She’d claimed him as her own on no basis other than pure physical attraction. It didn’t mean I agreed.

  “Why are you following me?” he asked, not slowing his pace.

  I kept up with him, pushing low-hanging branches out of my way, twigs snapping beneath my boots. “Why won’t you tell me where you’re going?”

  He didn’t answer.

  “While you’re on our territory, Father has a right to know your whereabouts and what your intentions are. I can easily go back and tell him about your little stunt here.”

  He halted and turned my way. “And how will your father react when he finds out you allowed me to help you attempt to break out Nic?”

  My next inhale came with a gasp, but I reined it in. “Go ahead. You’ll be the one questioned for breaking your own precious Varlac rule about not doing anything to draw human attention to us.” The beat of my heart escalated.

  Only the breeze and occasional car noise passed between us.

  “Touché.”

  His response crawled up my spine. What was I doing anyway? Playing with the devil, a Varlac I knew nothing about. I shouldn’t be here but at home, listening to Father. I’d already ruined his plans to free Nicolai once.

  “What’s really going on in this pack?” he asked, his tone authoritative and direct.

  I tucked frozen hands into my jeans pockets. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Why have the police been finding dead humans near the circus in every city you visit?”

  “Who have you been talking to?”

  His bluntness and knowledge squeezed my chest. So that’s what he wanted—information on why the pack was drawing human attention. And who killed them.

  “Doesn’t matter,” he responded.

  “Speak to the alpha about such matters, not me.” I resisted the urge to step away.

  “I can never get close enough to your father for a simple conversation.”

  I inhaled an icy breath. “Is that why you’re visiting us?” I asked. “To get dirt on the pack so the Varlac have an excuse to kill us?”

  He shook his head. “Believe it or not, Varlac care for the well-being of wulfkin.”

  Right then, I wished I could peel back the night, see the lies on his face, and ask him why one of his family had killed my mother if their clan only wanted to help us. But Father had told me to never mention it. The Varlac would kill us before admitting to their atrocity.

  “Like I said, speak to the alpha.” A snarl hung off my last word.

  He stepped closer. “You can speak to me freely, Alena. I won’t share anything with the clan if you don’t want me to. What are your father’s plans to deal with the police? Will he cross the border and leave the country?”

  I retreated, hating where this conversation was going—interrogation-style. “I’m starting to see the real you here.”

  His lack of response said it all. I was a complete and utter fool. I turned away. My pulse raced, and sickness coursed through me.

  When I glanced over my shoulder, Enre had vanished into the forest. I blinked back angry tears.

  Varlac didn’t care about anyone but themselves. Part of me yearned to chase Enre and force him to tell me everything. Why he was really in Bulgaria, and what were his intentions? I should have known better. Varlac were cold-blooded murderers.

  As I entered the camp, I stomped between the trailers. Shame crawled up my neck and cheeks, and my stomach ached. The little doggy from earlier in the night was now sitting outside my trailer. If I wasn’t burning up with embarrassment, I might have considered it cute. I flung open my trailer’s door, not caring that the doggy jumped in or that I slammed the door shut so the whole place trembled. Enre had made me believe he might be attracted to me, and I was stupid enough to fall for it. Flopping onto the bed, I pulled a pillow over my face and screamed into it. Crap, I’d fantasized about that monster.

  • • •

  Flames burning orange and red crackled in the wind, licking at the limbs of a grand oak. A thick, sooty column of charcoal spiraled upward, blotting out the bright sky. No other tree in the forest was lit. Then I noticed someone tied to the trunk, arms pulled tight behind them and around the tree.

  “Alena.”

  They were calling me. My feet were now running, and the heavy stench of smoke pitched to the back of my throat, stinging. Fire captured the canopy of the great oak, crawling downward. Then I recognized him. Nicolai. Tied to the flaming tree. Suddenly, a bucket was in my hand. Except there was no water in it. No well anywhere nearby. I threw it away.

  Shudders snaked up my body, and I ran faster, but the tree was moving away from me.

  “Alena.”

  I tripped over a root and fell forward, striking the earth face-first.

  “Alena.”

  The roar and snap of flames grew louder. Jumping to my feet, the tree with Nicolai was now even farther away, and the fire almost upon him.

  “Hold on, I’m coming.” My heart drummed against my rib cage, and tears blurred my vision. “Please, don’t go.” I bolted closer, jumping over dead logs, not caring for the scratches from shrubs. I had to save him.

  “Alena. Hurry.”

  The crash of timber collapsing echoed around me, and the burning branches of the tree plummeted, striking Nicolai, engulfing him.

  I screamed.

  When I bolted out of bed, sweat coated me, and I swore the faint ashy smell of fire filled my nostrils. Tears flooded my cheeks, and my body shook. Moon goddess, I never wanted to dream again.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  ENRE

  Bloody streaks tarnished the morning sky.

  No wulfkin prowled the circus grounds this morning—most were probably at the mess tent having breakfast. I didn’t have the stomach for food today, or to be gawked at. On the main road, a police car remained parked. The police had been watching the circus as they had been doing ever since they’d apprehended Nicolai. I stood between the parking lot and the big tent and rubbed my eyes.

  Last night, I’d returned to the detention center in the city, hoping to break Nicolai out. His incarceration posed untold danger of exposing us to humans. But once I arrived at the station, I’d spotted a problem. More specifically, multiple problems. Police had been posted outside, and some even lingered a block away. The passage Alena and I had used to sneak in was blocked off. And the back alley had been crawling with officers. Disappointment wormed its way into my thoughts. Getting in there was going to be a real chore now.

  A car door slammed from the parking lot, bringing me back to the present. The Interpol lady—Kalina—weaved through the cars and nodded to someone in the parked police vehicle. She was one determined woman. It surprised me the authorities had enough staff to spend this much time on one missing teenager, but what would I know?

  She glanced over and nodded at me. I sauntered in the opposite direction, toward the rear of the circus, avoiding her in case she decided to chat.

  Halfway across the grounds, Maxim rushed out from the mess tent, his gaze low as he weaved between the trailers. No goons. Time to act.

  I sprinted after him. For days, he’d been out of sight. This was my chance to discuss his situation and somehow force him to admit he had a real problem with Nicolai. Plus, I’d make him reveal his plans to move to Transylvania. If I got him talking, I could offer him a different solution than killing Daciana’s pack, including me.

  Fists clenched, I curved around the line of tr
ailers and emerged into a narrow path behind them. No sign of Maxim. I darted left. Blackie stepped out from behind a trailer right in front of me. I skidded to a halt, inches from smacking into him. His palms collided with my chest, and I reeled backward.

  The wolf clawed at my insides, attempting to climb out.

  “Why are you following Maxim?”

  The alpha reappeared from behind Blackie and set a hand on his shoulder. “It’s okay, Damir. I need to speak with Enre.” Maxim stared my way. “Come with me.”

  I nudged past Blackie, our shoulders grazing, and trailed after Maxim into his RV. Inside, shelves transformed his walls into an overflowing cascade of books. Not a single spot remained bare, and I wondered how he removed a book without the whole lot of them coming down on top of him. Yet his bed was neat and tucked. Did he even sleep there? No clothes on the carpet, unlike Alena’s place.

  “Unfortunately,” Maxim said, taking a seat at a small, wooden table, “it’s a bit hectic right now, the busy time of year.” He scratched his chin. “I apologize for not giving you more time when you first arrived. I hope everyone has been courteous and helpful to your every need?”

  Maxim wasn’t a fool, but I went along with his act.

  “I’ve never met a friendlier pack.” I slipped into the seat across the table from him.

  Hands planted on the table, back pressed to his chair, he stared at me. “What do you want to discuss?”

  The very moment my mouth opened, a loud knock on the door resonated. What now?

  Another of Maxim’s goons trudged inside the already small space, the RV swaying. “Two humans from the Ruse council are here, insisting it can’t wait. Something about us needing to vacate the location this week. They’ve cut our permit short.”

  Maxim sighed, his posture shrinking forward. Then the crease in his brow returned, deeper this time.

  “Should I tell them to return later?” the goon asked.

  “No.” Maxim focused his attention my way. “Sorry, but we’ll have to reschedule our talk for later in the day.”

  Already on my feet, I figured if the city council of Ruse were reneging on their permits early, it meant Maxim might decide to move into Transylvania this week. After his chat with the council, he might openly reveal his plans if he grew desperate enough. It also meant he’d need to make a move to free Nicolai soon.