17. Chapter Seventeen

Cortana's nails bit into her palm in an unconscious reaction. When Riaz had said he didn't know who had bitten him, she thought he'd been joking. It was, after all, his typical play.

She felt nothing but shame for her knee-jerk reaction.

"I'm so sorry, Riaz. I didn't know." The apology spilled from her lips as she took in the disquiet of his features. She paused a beat before asking, "You didn't choose immortality?"

The man didn't respond, and when she glanced over at him, he seemed lost in thought. Suddenly, the darkness Ava and Gwennie had mentioned made more sense; why he spared no effort to support his packmates and stay balanced. It was now cruelly apparent why Riaz hunted the rogues himself and reacted so viscerally to their presence in his territory. Why he both feared and hated them.

Arno greeted them with a smile, the brilliance of it fading a bit when he took in Riaz's discomfort. "Alpha, we're ready when you are."

Without another word, Riaz launched into discussion with his beta, the two of them drawing away toward where a group of pack members eagerly waited. They greeted their alpha with the warmth of a loving family, radiating happiness at his proximity. Immediately, the man was smiling and embracing as though their grim conversation hadn't just happened. Cortana noticed Gadriel staring at her with the icy eyes of his wolf.

"Is it common among werewolves to be bitten by rogues?"

Inclining his chin only just, Gadriel gave a slight shake of his head. "No."

Wishing desperately she could take back her insensitivity, she focused on the pack members moving towards the great hall. The wolf at her side nudged her gently with his shoulder.

"Come on, let's go make sure everyone gets one in the butt."

Laughing stiffly, Cortana followed him into the throng. Nico and Ava were distributing vaccines. Fortunately, it looked like Riaz had it well in hand, running through a list on a clipboard and hollering out names.

By the time they drew up to his side, Arno was nodding fervently. "Everything looks good. All our numbers are accurate here. The same can't be said of our armory."

Riaz asked, "Our armory?"

"We're missing a sidearm. I keep getting one off in the counts."

"It's probably my fault." Riaz's eyes narrowed conspiratorially. "I probably didn't sign something out. Wouldn't be the first time!"

Arno offered him a withering glare. "I wouldn't be surprised, alpha."

"I'll check my quarters when I get back and bring it back like a good wolf."

"When have you ever been a good wolf?"

The comment was out of Cortana's mouth before she could stop it. All three men around her burst into riotous laughter, and she couldn't help but grin. Fisting her hands on her hips, she stared down Riaz as the wolf tried to look solemn and failed miserably.

"She's got your number, alpha," Arno chuckled.

Ava trotted up to them, toting three vaccines. "Alright, kids, time to get poked."

While Arno and Gadriel gladly accepted theirs, Riaz waved her off dismissively. "Give it to the next person on the list."

"You're next on the list, alpha." The bland stare she wore communicated her upset. "All pack who do field work. That's you."

"Don't care. Next person."

His wolf appeared behind his eyes, challenging the blonde woman who was his second. Though she gave it a valiant effort, Ava couldn't withstand the dominance in his eyes, submitting with a growl.

"If you go feral because you were too stubborn to get the vaccine, I'll skin you and wear your pelt like a cape."

"Looking forward to it, Ava. Now run along."

Riaz' attention went back to the list in hand, skimming down the names and checking them off as his betas each got their vaccination. As he spoke with several packmates about side effects and the next shipment, a young wolf jogged in, making a beeline to Riaz.

"Alpha!" Benny called. "Can I get my vaccine?"

Riaz gave the younger man with an apologetic smile. "You're not qualified for field work yet, Benny. But be patient, pup, your time will come."

Benny offered a low whine, pouting. "Please, alpha? I almost beat Cortana!"

For the second time that night, all of them burst out laughing.

Hours later, after every vaccine had found an arm, Cortana shadowed Riaz and Ava toward the den's exterior, the three of them talking animatedly about the Immortal Accords. The doctrine had been drafted for peace between the immortal societies nearly three years ago, after the Citizens of the Light had made their first move.

Since then, the delegates had concocted fail-safes for the dangers the Citizens posed. For attacks on their people, attempted assassinations, even for what the terrorist organization had deemed ‘The Choke'. They predicted it to be some type of airborne poison toxic to immortals.

Unfortunately, the fail-safe for that particular attack only had one solution: an air Elemental named Jeremiah. The remainder of the plans, fortunately, included multiple response teams.

Cool night air kissed her senses as the three of them emerged outdoors. She drew in a deep breath, savoring the fresh pine scent, and immediately, Cortana's attention was drawn to the west.

Beyond the line of mountains was an orange-red glow. "What is that?"

"Wildfire," Riaz answered, his gaze never leaving the illuminated sky. "The winds are changing direction, Ava. Our den might be in the path; we need to prepare for evacuation."

His anxiety spiked, and though he gave no outward sign of it, Cortana felt the alien sensation of his emotions crawling through her core. Something akin to terror was shadowing behind the natural worry.

Riaz wordlessly disappeared back into the den.

Frowning, Cortana asked Ava, "Does evacuation pose problems for the pack other than the obvious? He seems very distressed at the thought."

"It's not that, Cortana." A soft admonishment. "He nearly died in a fire when he first shifted. He healed, courtesy of his nature, but his wolf never forgot."

Reflecting on the alpha, she realized that he was predominantly a creature of joy and nurture, excited about life—except for the darkness and unease he felt around the rogues, which included discussing his sire. If his change was marked by the extreme violence of both feralness and fire, his character was all the more impressive.

Another glance toward the fires to the west and they were headed inside, the night no longer holding sway. By the time Ava fielded questions from several subordinates, Riaz was already prepping the scouts for that night's reconnaissance. Tonight's mission was simply keeping tabs on the facility—and not something that required her or Riaz's support.

Cortana's attention, however, was on the young buck trying his best to be sneaky. Casually listening in, Benny leaned against a wall on the opposite side of the great hall, arms crossed but ears alert. She jerked a chin toward him when she caught Ava's eye.

"Benny!" The beta immediately chastised. "Get out of here!"

He treated them to an uncivilized groan before stomping out of the area, his muttered growls echoing back to them. Riaz continued, unperturbed, reciting their mission parameters.

Once he'd sent them off, the betas gathered in an informal circle and Cortana excused herself to call her sire in New York City.