by Sara Dailey
“Holy shit, Cami…,” I said out loud when she got too close to one of Nathaniel’s goons. Watching as she hid behind a tree, her chest heaving in fear, was the last straw. I couldn’t do it anymore. I couldn’t sit by and watch her put herself in danger. Not anymore. Before I knew what I was doing, I had grabbed my phone off the coffee table, put it on silent, threw on my borrowed coat and went after her.
After being locked up in the house for a few days, the cold January air was a shock to my system. I was assaulted by the abundance of scents and sounds that drifted through the night winds. Closing my eyes, I tried to focus on the one scent that I needed to find.
It didn’t take long for me to pick it up, but the girl did a good job of spreading her scent around to keep wolves off her trail, so I had a hell of a time following it. I knew where she planned on meeting Cade. I just needed to figure out how to get there. What I needed was a marker; something that I could use as a guide through the estate. Since I wasn’t all that familiar with the layout of the grounds, except what I’d learned by watching the surveillance video, the main road would have to work. If I followed the main road to the entrance then headed west, I hoped I’d pick up her trail.
I pulled my hood up over my head, breathed in deeply, and headed in the direction of the main road. I kept my head low, but my eyes wide open. Remembering that Cami’s house was pretty close to the entrance, I picked up my pace a bit. Imagining Cami being caught by some asshole sent me into a full-on sprint.
Within minutes, I saw the line of trees that marked the main road into the estate. I should have felt relieved…should have, but when I got there, I had to look around to figure out which direction was the exit and which would take me to the lodge. I stood there wanting to kick myself for being so damn directionally challenged. I was probably the only werewolf in existence that got lost on a regular basis. As I stood there trying to get my bearings, I felt the presence of someone walking my way, and I knew it was too late to hide.
“Gavin? Is that you?”
Oh shit!
“Gavin? Oh my God! Gavin!” Avery or Kendall or whatever the hell her name was these days called out. I turned toward her voice in time to see her running my way.
“Hey, Kendall,” I plastered a big, fake smile on my face. How the hell was I supposed to explain this? I didn’t have time to think too hard about it before she was jumping into my arms. When I saw at how excited she was to see me, I almost felt bad for her.
“You don’t know how incredibly happy I am to see you here, Gavin! Finally, I’ll have someone to talk to. Drew has been such an ass. You wouldn’t believe it,” Kendall said, pulling back and linking her arm through mine. “How did you get here?” she asked as she looked around for my car.
I had to think of something quick since my car was hidden in someone’s garage. Phillip thought that was for the best, and I didn’t argue with him. “I had my roommate, John, drop me off down the road, and I walked from there.”
“Omigod, Gav! You must be freezing. Let’s get you to the lodge. I think your dad’s there. He’s going to be so happy to see you,” she said as she rubbed her hands up and down my arms. Kendall reached up and hugged me again. Suddenly, she pulled back and looked me right in the eyes.
“Gav, you don’t smell like yourself,” she said sniffing the air.
It was a statement, not a question, but she was definitely expecting an answer. “That’s weird. Well, I am wearing one of John’s coats, and who knows where that guy’s been,” I joked, trying to make light of what could be a nightmarish situation since she probably either smelled Luke’s scent on this coat or Cami on me. By the time we reached my father, maybe the wind would help get rid of their scents a bit.
Kendall shrugged. “I guess. Anyway, come on. I have so much to tell you.” She took my hand and started dragging me down the road toward the lodge.
CHAPTER 33
Kendall
With my heart pounding wildly in my chest, I tried desperately to play off just how excited I was to see Gavin here, but seeing him, touching him, just being near him again, I couldn’t suppress the ear-to-ear grin on my face. He was back, finally, and I didn’t want to let him go.
No, I wanted to pull him into the thick brush and trees and, under the cover of darkness, show him just how much I missed him, but I knew him too well. He was one of the good guys and wouldn’t lay a finger on me as long as I belonged to Drew. Little did Gavin know, as much as I’d fought it, a part of my heart had always belonged to him.
Gavin pulled me to a stop, knocking all of the dirty thoughts of our writhing naked bodies out of my head. “Ave—Kendall, wait. I don’t want to see my father right now. I just came to find Scarlett. I know something must be wrong, or she would have returned my calls days ago. Do you know where she is?”
Dammit! I should have known he was here for her. When my eyes met his, and I saw the sorrow and fear that filled them, it wasn’t difficult to mirror those feelings in my own, and once again, the years and years I’d spent spouting bullshit at the drop of a hat came in handy.
Unlinking my arm from his, I let out a sigh as if what I was about to say was painful to admit. I ran my hands up his long, sinewy arms and then pulled him into a tight embrace. Standing on my tiptoes, all the while reveling in how his height always made me feel so petite, I wrapped my arms around his neck and ran my fingers through the back of his hair. When he hugged me back, I couldn’t help myself from melting against him.
Without letting go, I said, “Oh, Gavin, honey, I didn’t wanted to be the one to have to tell you this. You know how much I care about you, and it kills me to see you hurting.” I pulled away to look at him, but only slightly, keeping my hands locked behind his neck.
“The truth is she’s gone. She hooked up with some Red Ridge Pack member named Luke, and when your father told her that she wasn’t allowed to be with him, they just took off without a word to anyone. That Luke guy must have really gotten into her head if she is refusing to speak to anyone, even you.”
Gavin’s eyes grew wide with disbelief, and then he quickly looked away. When his arms dropped to his side, and he started to take a step back, I did the only thing I could think to do. I pulled him to me, molding as much of my body as possible to his, and hugged him tightly. Breathing him in, I pleaded, “Come here, baby. I know you’re upset, but she’ll come back soon, and if she doesn’t, I’ll help you find her. I promise. Everything will be okay now that you’re here.”
There was that scent again. I knew that smell, but I couldn’t place it. There were two things I was sure of. One, it didn’t belong to a guy; it was definitely a girl’s scent, a werewolf girl. And, two, I’d smelled it before. Inhaling again, I desperately racked my brain to connect that scent with a face, but just as quickly, all thoughts were lost when Gavin’s arms enveloped me once again. His hands rested low on my back, only millimeters away from my butt, and I wanted badly for him pull me in even closer so I could feel if I was having the same effect on him that he was having on me.
How would he react if my hand released his neck, slid its way down his chest, past his stomach, and cupped him hard on the outside of his jeans? A few strokes would have him wanting me, needing me too, and I wouldn’t deny him. I’d let him take me right here, right now.
When his lips pressed lightly against my forehead, I forced my fingers to remain locked behind his head before I made my dirty, little fantasy a reality. Making it even more difficult to contain myself, his gravelly voice sent giddy, little tingles coursing crazily throughout my body. “Thanks, Kendall, but I have to go. I can’t face my father now. I just need to find my sister. Can you get me out of here before anyone sees me?”
No! He couldn’t leave. Not when I finally had him here and in my arms. My heart plummeted when he let go of me and stepped away. Looking up at him, I felt my eyes burn, threatening to fill with tears, so I looked away. Then Gavin grabbed my cold, lonely hand and linked his fingers through mine. I couldn’t take my eyes o
ff our perfectly joined hands as he started to gently stroke my palm with his thumb.
“Kendall, please. Help me get out of here so I can find her. I’ll come back. I promise. I just have to know she’s okay.”
I didn’t know what to say. If I said no, he’d hate me, but if I agreed, he’d be gone. I knew everyone here believed Scarlett to be dead, but my gut told me she was still alive and hiding out with the rest of them somewhere outside of Red Ridge. I had to give him an answer, but…
A voice rang out, causing us both to jump. “Hey, Gavin! Holy shit, man. I can’t believe it’s you. I’ve been wondering when you’d show up.”
Our eyes connected briefly once more before we turned to find out who had spotted us. One of the many guards, whose name I couldn’t remember, was heading our way. He pressed a button on the intercom clipped to his shoulder and spoke into the receiver. “Gavin Reed has just shown up. Be expecting him soon.”
Oops! I guess Gavin won’t be going anywhere now.
CHAPTER 34
Cami
After a close call with a CH guard, I finally made it up and over the wall and could now see Cade’s SUV parked a little ways down the road. I would have thought I’d be relieved, but seeing his car door swing open only caused my rapid heartbeat to intensify. No matter how hard I tried to act as if I wasn’t scared to death, I couldn’t deny that until this whole thing was over, I wouldn’t feel even a tiny bit of relief. Only when Cade and the rest of them were back and Crescent Hills was defeated would I be able to breathe easy. And the only chance of that happening rested solely in my hands.
Swallowing down the lump in my throat, I jogged over to Cade and handed over my bag. “This is all the surveillance footage from the time Crescent Hills arrived until now. Review it carefully. The guards pretty much stick to their same route each night, so it’s not too difficult to avoid them if you know what to expect. You got the phones?”
Before responding, Cade pulled me into his embrace and hugged me tightly. “Thank you, Cami. We wouldn’t have a chance to get through this without you. And what you did for Aiden…he owes you big time. We all do.”
A tremble tore through my body as my eyes filled with tears, and I silently cursed myself for being too weak to hold it together. Cade pulled back and looked at me. “Hey, everything is going to be okay. We can do this. You can do this. Do you hear me, Cami? We’re going to take back our pack.”
My gaze dropped to the ground and I wiped away the few escapee tears. “I hope so, Cade. But we are running out of time. We have to act fast. Their alpha is a freaking psychopath and won’t hesitate to kill anyone who stands in his way.”
Cade, appearing as confident as ever, assured me once again. “We can do this, Cami. This is our pack and no one is going to take that away from us.” Then he turned to throw the bag I’d handed off into the front seat and pulled out another one. “Here are the phones. There is enough for all of you, and my number is already programmed in each of them. Whatever you all do, keep them hidden. We will review the footage and figure out a plan. We’ll contact you as soon as possible, and if you need anything or if anything changes, you call me.”
I so badly wanted to believe that this would work. It was our only shot, but I suddenly had a bad feeling about the whole thing. My gut told me that it was going to take a miracle to pull this off. I looked back up at Cade and knew he didn’t need to hear that my confidence was slipping away. He didn’t need to know that I had serious doubts about pulling this off.
So instead, I nodded my head and replied, “I got it. The major players are scattered throughout the estate. They’ve taken over quite a few of the homes since our elders and high-ranking members have been taken into custody. Their alpha, Drew, and Kendall are in the guesthouse. Brian and your mother are still at your house, and Clayton is at the Petersons’, which is where all the guards are staying. Just review the footage carefully before making any moves.”
“Don’t worry, Cami. We will. We don’t want anyone else hurt. Now, you better get going, but be careful. We can’t lose you. We can’t do this without you. Get the phones handed out and tell them all to be ready. When the time is right, we will take back what is ours. I guarantee you.”
The determination in Cade’s eyes told me he believed whole-heartedly every word he spoke. As for me, all I could do was hope that he was right. After a brief goodbye, I headed back to the wall. I needed to move fast, not only to avoid getting caught, but because I needed to see Gavin. I needed to be in his arms, needed to feel his lips against mine, needed him to help me forget how much danger we were in even if it was only for a little while. There was only one person who could make me feel as if we weren’t buried under a six-foot pile of shit, and I needed him now more than ever.
I made it over the wall and halfway back to my home when I noticed a guard up ahead. Immediately, I dropped to the ground, thankful for the nearby bushes that provided cover. This was the second guard tonight that wasn’t where he was supposed to be. Had they decided to change routes? If so, this would not bode well for our own attack. The guards’ predictability was the one thing on our side.
Keeping my body flush against the ground, I remained perfectly still and tried desperately to slow my breathing. The smallest noise would give away my location. Hearing his footsteps only few feet away, I froze and held my breath, and within seconds a second set of footfalls joined his.
I couldn’t see them but knew they had both stopped nearby. An unfamiliar voice spoke first. “I didn’t think you’d come.” He sounded breathless and…nervous maybe?
A sultry female voice replied, “I told you I’d be here. And now that I am, whatever are you going to do with me?” Flirting? Really?
“Baby, if only you could read my mind right now. Let’s get out of here. I can’t wait to show you just what I plan to do to that fine-ass body of yours.” Definitely flirting.
They hurried off towards the trees to do God knows what, and finally I could breathe again. I silently thanked my lucky stars for horny teenagers and secret rendezvous as I snuck back to my home.
Once safely inside, I headed straight for the safe room, but as soon as I opened the door and didn’t see Gavin sitting at the surveillance screens, I knew something was wrong. I called out his name and searched the small area. Nothing. I hurried back out and did the same, searching every square inch of my home, but Gavin was nowhere to be found.
He was gone. But why? I dropped to my knees in the middle of my bedroom, unsure of what to do now. How could he just be gone? Did they find him? Did he go after me? Could he be lost out there somewhere? Nothing made sense.
Suddenly, it dawned on me that there was only one way to find out. Scrambling to my feet, I took off out my door, almost tumbling to the ground again in my haste. Within seconds, I was in front of surveillance screens shifting from camera to camera in search of any sign of him.
It wasn’t long before I found the view of the outside of the lodge. A loud gasp escaped my lips as my hand flew up to cover my mouth. No way! No fucking way!
Clenching my eyes shut didn’t stop the tears from sliding down my cheeks. It didn’t shut out the image that would forever be burned into my brain. And it certainly didn’t prevent my heart from shattering into a million tiny pieces right then and there.
Cautiously I opened them again, if for no other reason than to confirm what I already knew I’d seen. Kendall and Gavin, arm-in-arm, were walking up the steps of the lodge. Together.
CHAPTER 35
Gavin
I had to fight back the bile rising to my throat as I walked past pack members that I once considered family. Everyone who saw me smiled and welcomed me home. Home, as if they had any right to call this place their home. Kendall, who kept her arm wrapped in mine during the whole walk here, quickly let go when Drew came into view. He was standing next to the one person I didn’t know…not anymore.
“Son!” my father said with enthusiasm as he left Drew and walked over to me.
/> I could hardly look at him. He’d tried to kill my sister, his own daughter, for Christ’s sake. What kind of monster would do that? Standing before me was not the man that raised me. He had become what everyone assumed he was. His reputation as the cruel, heartless Fixer was now well deserved in my eyes. My mother would have killed him with her bare hands if she were still alive. Seeing him just confirmed what I already knew: Scarlett was the only family I had left.
“I’m glad you decided to come and join us,” he said looking back and forth between Kendall and me.
“I couldn’t get Scarlett on the phone, so I decided to come in person,” I said flatly.
“I was just telling Gavin about how Scarlett ran off with that Luke guy. It’s just horrible. And now she won’t even return Gavin’s calls either,” Kendall jumped in. My father’s face tightened at Kendall’s lie. It was a good cover, I thought. It’s not like he would ever tell me the truth anyway.
“It was a shock to us all. I never imagined she’d do something like this. Well, you know how sensitive she is. We got into one small argument, and she bolted with that meathead,” he explained, and I did my best to look surprised.
“Well, I have to go,” Kendall said suddenly. She gave me another hug and this time she whispered, “I’m so glad you’re here.” She started to pull away but stopped. She pressed her nose right up to my neck as she breathed me in.
It was more than obvious what she was doing. I mean really obvious. She took a whiff of my neck right there in front of my dad. Right there in front of Drew. I could see the wheels turning in her head. She was trying to figure out what, or rather who, I smelled like. Quickly I stepped back out of her reach and tugged my jacket tighter.