“Good plan,” Rob agreed. “It’s getting light. Fly as high as you can so they don’t suspect you or sense you.”
“Okay. That I can do.” Angel shifted and took off into the air, flapping to maneuver between the branches that crowded in on them in this part of the forest.
“Ready?” Rob asked Cynthia.
“Yes.” Cynthia waited for Hunter to pass her and then followed him into the forest, keeping close. He desperately wanted to grab hold of her, put her over his shoulder and carry her off to safety, but that wasn’t part of the plan.
And we have to stick to the plan? his bear asked.
We do, Hunter replied. But if there is any sign that Cynthia is going to get hurt, we’ll change the plan.
“How much further?” Cynthia asked quietly as they moved on silent feet through the forest. She’d learned quickly to place her feet where he placed his, so they made no noise. The others all followed in the same direction but fanned out through the trees.
“Fifty feet, maybe less.” He kept his voice low, aware that any noise in the pre-dawn forest might alert the others to their presence. “Are you sure about this?”
“Absolutely.” She caught hold of his arm and pulled him back toward her. “I’ll be fine.” She kissed his cheek. “I’ve been in worse scrapes.”
“That’s not comforting to know.” Hunter held her close. “But I’m incredibly proud of you.”
“Thanks.” She took a step back and looked in the direction they were traveling in. “Can you sense anything?”
“Only that there are three of them. Not shifters. But since they are walking in silence, that’s about all I know.”
“Why don’t I go in and find out what they are doing?” she suggested. “I’m good at getting information from people fast.”
“Not until I’ve had a closer look.” He hated the idea of her going on alone, even though he was certain she could handle it, Cynthia was strong and confident, and he would be by her side in a heartbeat if she needed backup.
So will the others, his bear reminded him. We are not in this alone.
No, we’re not, Hunter agreed. But Cynthia is our mate. And our responsibility.
His bear chuckled. I can just imagine what she’d say if she knew you saw her as our responsibility.
It’s a good thing she can’t hear our thoughts, Hunter tapped Cynthia on the shoulder and put his finger to his lips.
She nodded and stuck close to his side as he closed in on the men. Straining his senses, he tried to pick out anything that might give away the reason for them being in the forest.
Unfortunately, they were being exceptionally quiet.
Hunters, his bear said with a low growl.
“Stay here,” Hunter whispered into her ear and pointed at the ground. The other shifters stopped, too, and held their positions while he ventured forward.
Cynthia pressed her lips together as if forcing herself not to speak, but then she nodded and stood still as Hunter moved closer.
Ducking down low, he approached the men. He was much closer than he would have liked. If these men truly were hunters, they would be alert to any sound in the forest. Hunter could not afford to snap a single twig.
Carefully, he drew closer and then shadowed them along the trail. He could see them through the trees, but he doubted they could see him. Not unless they looked directly at him. However, they were more intent on looking at the ground. The man in front stopped every few steps to put his hand on the forest floor, or occasionally brush away dry leaves.
Definitely tracking something, his bear said.
Hunters. One of them had a shotgun on his back. Whatever they were tracking, they planned to shoot.
They’re here for the children, his bear growled.
Or for the bear, Hunter replied. They might simply be tracking the bear. They might not realize it’s a shifter. They might not know there’s such a thing as shifters.
Or they might be working for Hansel. His bear was not convinced of the men’s innocence. In his eyes, they carried a gun while tracking children, and were guilty until proven innocent.
“This way. There are more tracks here. We’re getting close,” a man’s voice, more than a little cranky, reached Hunter.
Hunter kept to the shadows, hugging a thicket of scrubby brush. It was the best cover he had since the forest was so bare. But it was enough in the low light of dawn. Enough for him to see a man in uniform trailing behind two other men, who were dressed in camouflage gear and hiking boots, toward the place where the children were.
“Are you sure?” the man in uniform asked as his shirt got snagged on a branch. He yanked it loose and eyed the tree as if he wanted to tear it from the ground and burn it to hell.
“Yes, I’m sure,” the lead tracker spat.
“Chill, Tanner,” the third man said. “Deputy Gill here is only doing his job.”
“A job he can’t do without us,” Tanner said sharply. “You’d think after living out here close to the forest all of his life he’d have learned to track.”
“I can track people. But I’ve never had the need to track a bear before.” Deputy Gill tapped his sidearm. “But I can assure you, I’ll have no trouble shooting it when you lead me to it.”
We need to act and act quickly, his bear said as they slowly slid back away from the three men.
“What did you hear?” Cynthia asked as he made it back to her side.
“They’re tracking a bear.” Hunter ran a hand through his hair and shook his head. “I don’t know if they realize the bear is a shifter or not. One of the men is with the sheriff’s office, the hunters called him Deputy Gill.”
“Let’s check in with Guy.” She took the satellite phone from her pocket and dialed the number quickly. As she spoke to Guy, Hunter looked around, watching and listening as the other shifters stood alert and ready to fight. They needed a plan and they needed one fast. “Guy, we’re close to the children, but we have a problem. There’s a Deputy Gill out here with what looks like a couple of hunters, they are tracking a bear. We think they’re tracking the shifter child.”
“I’ll ask Sheriff Cartwright. He’s here with me,” Guy made certain Cynthia understood she had to be careful what she said.
Cynthia’s eyes lifted to lock with Hunter’s. “The sheriff is coming, too.” She spoke so quietly that only Guy would hear.
“Yeah, he’s a little way behind me. So I’ll talk fast. It would be quicker if we had four feet, but we’re stuck on two, I’m almost certain he doesn’t know about shifters and I want to keep it that way. Go in and apprehend the men if you have to, but make sure you secure the children. Specifically deal with the shifter child, if there is one. We should be with you in twenty minutes. Understood?”
“Understood,” Cynthia replied.
Guy cleared his throat. “Sheriff Cartwright is right here. What was that name again?”
“Deputy Gill. That’s what Hunter heard.” Cynthia was silent, listening intently to what Guy said.
“Deputy Gill.” Guy paused. There was another person with Guy, and Hunter could hear the two talking together quietly in serious tones. “Are you sure?”
“Guy?” Cynthia glanced up at Hunter, her brow creased as she waited for more information. “Anything? We don’t have much time. They’re getting away. They’re heading for the children.”
“The local sheriff, Sheriff Cartwright, is unaware of any of his officers being involved with the child trafficking ring but he’s new here. Deputy Gill has worked in this area for years and been passed over for promotion several times. He even put in for the sheriff’s job and voiced his opinion loud and clear when an outsider was brought in,” Guy relayed this information to Cynthia.
“So we think that might be the stressor? The reason Deputy Gill is working for Hansel Salvador? He’s involved because he didn’t get a promotion?” Cynthia asked. “How long ago was this?”
“Six months,” Guy repeated what the other person, who Hunter pre
sumed was Sheriff Cartwright, told him.
“The original investigation noted that the farmhouse was a recent addition to the trafficking ring. Horatio and Joey were some of the last children abducted. They had only been missing for a week or two when the trafficking investigation finally uncovered Cracol’s involvement.” Cynthia spoke so both Guy and the shifters around her could hear.
“Gill did this because he was pissed over not getting a promotion?” Sheriff Cartwright’s voice was loud and angry. “What kind of man does that?”
“The kind of man who thinks he has nothing to lose.” Cynthia raked her hand through her hair. She looked tired, but there was a spark in her eyes as hard as steel. “Do you know who the hunters might be?” Hunter gave a quick description, which Cynthia relayed to Guy, but Sheriff Cartwright drew a blank.
“You need to get moving. We’ll see you soon.” He dropped his voice low and repeated, “Get this done before we reach you.”
Hunter nodded. “We will.”
Cynthia ended the call. The others had all regrouped and had likely heard the conversation for themselves. “I’ll go on alone and distract the men. I should be able to stall them long enough for you to get the children.”
“No.” Hunter had another idea.
“I know you’re worried about me, but this is the best way,” Cynthia insisted. “I can stall them.”
“But I can lead them away from the children.” Hunter moved closer to his mate and placed his hands on her upper arms. “They are searching for a bear. So let’s give them one.”
“The Hunter becomes the hunted.” Rob nodded. “I like it.”
“I don’t.” Liam put his hand up. “They have guns.”
“Guns that could shoot Cynthia just as fast as they could shoot me.” This was not open for discussion.
“They are less likely to shoot a woman,” Liam said calmly. “They are out here to hunt a bear. Not a human.”
“Do you think that would stop Gill if he has something to hide?” Rob asked curtly. “If he had to, he could shoot them all to cover his tracks. Especially if he recognized Cynthia from the news. If he’s that deeply involved in this crap, there’s no telling what he might do.”
“Perhaps that’s his plan,” Cynthia suggested. “If Sheriff Cartwright doesn’t know these men, then maybe Deputy Gill hired them from out of town so when they go missing no one will know they were here.”
“This is getting far too complicated.” Hunter ran a hand across his stubbly chin. “I can avoid their guns.” He turned to Cynthia, whose jaw was set firm. “You need to go to the children.”
Cynthia opened her mouth to answer when a flicker of movement above their heads heralded the return of Angel. “Let’s see what our eye in the sky has to say.”
Angel landed and shifted instantly. “I saw them. At least I saw three of them. Including the shifter child.” She held her hands up to stop them asking questions. “I can sense all four of them. But only see three. The fourth child is inside a small dugout shelter. I think he might be sick.”
“Go to the children,” Hunter instructed. “Leave the men for me.” He lifted his head. “I sense Guy and Sheriff Cartwright. I’ll lead the hunters back toward them.”
Cynthia sighed and nodded. “Don’t get yourself shot.”
“I won’t.”
“Because I’ve just gotten used to the idea of having you around.” She kissed his cheek and walked away, heading toward the children.
Hunter stood still and watched her go, the others followed. All except Liam. “I know what I’m doing. But I also understand your concerns.”
“Just be careful. Stick to the trees where they can’t take a clear shot at you.” Liam shrugged. “I don’t know why I’m telling you this, you’re a better tracker than anyone I know.”
“Thanks. I just have to take everything I know about hunting and turn it around.” He looked over his left shoulder, he could still sense the hunters and Deputy Gill. He skirted around to the left before heading directly for the men in the forest. He was certain Cynthia could look after herself, but he wanted to be by her side to make sure she stayed safe. He didn’t want to take any chances. Not with his mate. But they had a job of their own to do. One that he could not fail.
His bear grumbled menacingly inside his head, but Hunter was not going to lose his cool. Cynthia could handle herself, she could keep out of danger. This was what she did, this was her job, just as it was his job to look after people and protect them.
We should be protecting her, his bear roared.
Not yet. If this is the police officer that the children were afraid of, then it would be great to get proof. Proof that could get him put away for a very long time. Proof that could stop him from abusing his power in the future.
But how did they know the children were here? Why were they coming for them now?
Cold dread filled Hunter. What if they already knew where they were? What if only the bear shifter had gotten away? What if the other children were captives, held deep in the forest where no one could find them?
Let’s take them down and ask questions later, his bear insisted.
I couldn’t agree more. Hunter saw the men through the trees, he could sense the children not too far away. He could not let the men find the children and harm them.
Time to break cover. He shifted into his bear and ran forward, toward Deputy Gill and the hunters. With a low growl, he made sure they saw and heard him. Then he turned around and ran, heading for Guy and Sheriff Cartwright who were close by.
The hunters called out, partly in shock, partly in excitement. A shot rang out, but it hit a tree ten feet to his right. They were not good shots.
But that didn’t mean he was safe. He had to keep a good distance between them, so he didn’t get himself shot, while also leading them toward Guy and Sheriff Cartwright. He changed the angle of his path through the trees so that Guy and the sheriff wouldn’t be in the direct line of fire from the hunters’ guns. Instead, his bear would pass around ten feet to the north of them, which would give them a chance to react.
“Hey, Deputy Gill. Drop your weapon!” The sheriff’s voice cut through the forest like a lumberjack’s well-sharpened axe cuts through a log.
Deputy Gill had other ideas and turned his weapon toward the sheriff. “Not happening.”
“What the fuck are you doing?” one of the hunters called out.
“He’s in a whole mess of trouble and your next actions will determine if you are in the same trouble,” Guy called out with authority.
“What he means is, put the guns down, boys,” Sheriff Cartwright’s demanding voice had the desired effect and the hunters lowered their weapons.
“We’re only here to track a bear. The deputy said it had been straying into people’s back yards and killing their pets.” Tanner sounded scared, as if he knew he was caught up in something bigger than he was led to believe. “Said it was only a matter of time until it killed a small child.”
“Thanks for your help, boys,” Sheriff Cartwright said. “But there have been no bear attacks reported as far as I’m aware.”
“Care to explain, Deputy?” Tanner asked.
“I spotted some bear tracks while on patrol. I was just following up. Making sure I do my job and keep people safe,” Deputy Gill sounded genuine, but they all knew he was lying.
“Keep people safe, or trying to cover your involvement in the child trafficking?” Sheriff Cartwright asked.
Deputy Gill had no answer. Instead, he turned and tried to run away, but Hunter was not going to let him escape. On silent paws, he skirted around the group of men until he stood behind Deputy Gill. Then he leaped on him and knocked him to the ground.
The hunted had become the hunter.
Chapter Twenty-Seven – Cynthia
The children were close, this nightmare would soon be over. For them, at least.
As for Cynthia, she wondered if she would ever get over the toll of the last couple of months. It had
cost her both emotionally and physically.
She forced herself to concentrate on the present, instead of hiding in the past. She’d get over this. Her concern was whether the children she was about to encounter would. This whole episode must have taken a much bigger toll on them and their families.
“Ready?” Rob asked gently. “I’m certain when we get a little closer, they’ll know we’re here.”
She nodded. “I’m…” A gunshot ripped through the forest. “Hunter.”
“He’s okay,” Liam assured her. “I can sense him running through the forest.”
Cynthia let her breath out slowly, her knees weak at the thought of losing Hunter. Of losing the man she loved once more.
“We should go, the gunshot freaked the kids.” Rob ran forward and Cynthia followed close behind, with Angel next and Liam at the rear.
Cynthia’s mind raced as her heart hammered in her chest and she tried to stay on her feet and not trip over a tree root or get snagged up in the tree branches that seemed to reach out to her and drag her back, as if preventing her from reaching the children.
But nothing was going to stop her. It was time for this to come to an end once and for all.
With Hansel, or whoever he was, in custody, the child ring was gone, broken for good. She suspected Deputy Gill had been sent out here to tie up all the loose ends.
“The bear is running,” Rob called over his shoulder as he broke off and headed right.
“What about the others?” Cynthia asked.
“Straight ahead.” Angel took the lead and they ran on until they broke out into a small clearing, where two frightened children were standing ready to fight.
“We’re not going to hurt you,” Cynthia told them. She put her hands up and tried to convey a non-threatening air. “We just want to help.”
“We don’t need help.” One of the children stepped forward, holding a thick branch in his hands as a weapon.
“Don’t you want to go home, Horatio?” Cynthia barely recognized the child from the photo given to her by Michaela. “Your mom has been looking for you. She knew you were alive. She called me when the trafficking ring was exposed, asking me to help find you.”
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