Chapter 19 - Kaiden

The Collins pack compound was so damn full with all the other alphas here. Between me, Lupe, and Grayson already here, we'd added Alder, Rowan, Cade, Jet, and Brooks.

It was incredibly nice to see Jet and the others again, especially Brooks. He'd been a regular visitor to Jet's territory when we were young, he, Grayson and I raising hell for all our fathers—adopted or not.

Brooks had been the last to arrive, and he walked over briskly to where I stood talking with Gray, clapping us each on the shoulder in a firm greeting.

"Well, fucking hell, men. It's only been about a month, and there's already trouble?" He turned to me. "And now you're the one calling the meeting instead of old Papa Jet? What has the world come to?"

Chuckling lightly, I nodded at him. "It's good to see you, man. This…well, there's a lot to talk about."

Gray jostled Brooks with a playful elbow to the ribs. "And we've been waiting on your sorry ass to get started."

Brooks scoffed as I led us toward the other room where the counsel was waiting. The others had been waiting for Brooks to get here, and we were all getting a bit impatient, especially me.

"You're here now, so let's start. There's a lot to cover, and we can't waste another second."

I could tell that Brooks was intrigued by how focused I was on the meeting. Being around him and Gray usually brought out the playful side of me, and it typically didn't take long for us to devolve into a bunch of teenage idiots again.

But I didn't have time for that shit right now.

"Whatever you say, Alpha man." He leaned toward Gray, who walked on his other side. "What crawled up Kaiden's ass? It's just a few mutts, isn't it? Nothing we can't handle."

Irritation flared, and I knew that Brooks was just trying to defuse the tension. Still, I wasn't in the mood for any of that. Gray did the work of providing a brief explanation for me, and I pressed forward, leaving them behind me as I took up the spot at the head of the kitchen table.

Similarly to Jet's house, the kitchen had become the more comfortable place to indulge in all this "war room" talk, even though there was a perfectly good living room and cleaned-out study we could have used.

"Kaiden's a bit more concerned about what the mutts have," Gray said as he led Brooks in, and they took their seats at the large table. "Do you remember Kit?"

I looked up as the words left Gray and watched as the corners of Brooks' mouth turned down in a slight frown. But then he was nodding, his brows raising.

"Right, right. Cute, little human? Nice ass?"

The growl left me before I could think better of it, and the entire table eyed me. Quickly, I shook my head, clearing my throat as I tried to downplay my reaction to that.

"That's the one," Gray nodded, looking not at Brooks but me as he smirked slightly. Fucker .

"If you're done, gentlemen." They clammed up, Brooks sitting back in his chair and folding his arms over his chest. "Good. Now, the reason I called you all here is because we have a problem. I have a problem. Which, of course, is one Eli Williams, the Alpha reluctant to join our meetings and apparently the producer of a new drug targeted at young wolves in my territory."

Looking around the table, I was first to notice Jet's subtle nod, his way of showing me support. Relief trickled through a crack in the stress coating me, and I continued.

"The particularly interesting part of Eli's little concoction is that it appears to be giving wolves heightened abilities—right before killing them, that is."

"Fuck, seriously?"

I looked over at Alder as he frowned, the deep red slashes of his brows sinking low over his blue eyes.

"Unfortunately, yes. I don't know how Eli's getting it into my territory, but it's killed several of our teenagers. Just recently, two were found in the woods after having torn each other to pieces."

There was a collective wave of anger and sorrow that reverberated through all of us, and Lupe cleared his throat, subtly sending out the request to speak. I nodded at him.

"We have one of ours looking into an antidote. Willow. She's brilliant when it comes to this kind of thing, but we haven't had any luck because there's been no drug remaining in the bodies to test. It burns up quick, I guess."

The frustration I'd been feeling over that particular hang-up made my jaw clench. Jet adjusted in his chair, getting our attention, and when I locked eyes with him, he looked between me and Gray.

"And what's this connection to Terrance that Gray texted me about?"

My chest pinched. I knew I would have to tell him, but I had to admit that I wasn't looking forward to breaking it to the guy that two of the traitorous wolves that nearly killed him were involved.

Don't sugarcoat it.

I sighed, looking down at the table before moving my stare back up to Jet.

"Gray scented Leon at the Williams compound when we attempted to take the alpha out. I think it's fair to say that he and Reginald are likely involved with Eli's plot to pick off other wolves one by one using his drug."

Jet growled low, the deep sound rumbling through him.

"They're here." He looked toward Grayson. "I'd know that scent anywhere, Alpha. It's them."

Slamming his fist down on the table, Jet fought back a shift, and we could all sense the anger radiating off him.

"Look, Jet," I encouraged, "I want them dead as much as you. Not only have they done horrible harm to my once home—yours—but they've worked with that bastard Eli to kill my pack members. It will not be tolerated."

The table rang out in agreeing howls and whoops. Brooks nodded at me as he put his fist over his heart, his show of support.

"But," I sighed, the truth that came next being one I despised, "this pack is not strong enough to contend with Eli alone. Our numbers are low, we've already been injured, and the last time we encountered the hopped-up wolves, one of our own was kidnapped."

Solidarity flowed out of the other alphas in my direction, but there was also a hint of nervous curiosity coming from Jet.

"Who, Kaiden?"

Another sigh took me, and I held my head in my hand as I rested my elbow on the table. Just as I was about to speak, Gray cleared his throat, still trying to take some of the heat for me.

"My sister, Kit. Apparently, all this time, she was living with the Williamses. When she'd finally escaped because she'd found out about the drug, Eli wasn't…thrilled. He—"

"He fucking kidnapped her right from under our noses during the assault. She's there now, and…"

I couldn't continue.

"Kit?" Jet's brows were up to his hairline. "That Kit? Fucking hell, Kaiden, I…understand."

I appreciated that the guy knew what I was feeling without me having to say anything, but if I expected that kind of acceptance from the other alphas, I was sorely mistaken.

"I'm sorry, wait. You're freaking out because they kidnapped an enemy pack member? Make it make sense, Kaiden." Cade's brow was down low over his dark eyes.

Another growl rippled up from the depths, and I did everything I could to hold it back. Still, I knew my scent was deepening with that char aroma, and I squeezed my hands into fists.

"She's not an enemy. Kit's—"

"Well, for starters, she's human. Right?" Brooks eyed me. "And I mean this with all due respect, but we're talking about the same Kit here, yeah? Can't be two curvy, little humans running around."

The growl broke free, and I snapped it back as best I could. The entire room stared at me again, however, and it was becoming increasingly difficult to hide my reactions whenever Kit was brought up.

"Yes, Brooks. She's human," I bit out, turning to Cade. "And she was going to Eli's with us as a guide. She was providing her insight. So, not an enemy."

Cade and I just stared at each other for a moment, our tempers simmering under the surface. Rowan was actually the first to speak up, and he held up a pale hand, addressing us a bit like we were children.

"That's enough, boys. Put them away." His deep voice was accented with that strange European flare he'd always had. "It's clear that these mutts need to be dealt with. A drug problem among any of our territories is a recipe for disaster. But you've said that there are no leads regarding an antidote. Correct?"

"Actually," a small, feminine voice cut in, "there may be one."

We all turned to the door that led to the living area. Willow stood there with one of the younger wolves, Benjamin, clutched in her tiny hand by the scruff of his shirt.

"All right, kiddo. Spill." She held him forward, her strength clearly more significant than her diminutive frame implied.

"I'm sorry, Alpha, really! We all are!" The boy's voice cracked as he yelled out, his eyes sparkling with tears, and I shook my hand, getting up and going to him with my brows down.

"Slow down, Ben. What are you saying?"

He sniffled, and Willow still held him forward, making sure he couldn't leave or chicken out.

"The others around the territory. Eli's been…making us hand out the drugs to other kids. We…we knew it was bad shit, but he's scary as hell, and some of us were just curious. I mean, it was kind of cool at first, but then they were getting mean. God, those bad trips? I mean, I saw Dale freak out and attack his buddy, Lief. I just thought—"

"Wait. Hold on." I put a hand on Ben's shoulder. "Eli was going right to you kids? Making you sell the drugs?"

Ben nodded. "Yeah. We all kind of tried it, except for like the really nerdy kids. But this is way bad. I don't want to be involved in this anymore. I thought I was just like pot or something. It's definitely not."

Sighing, regret and disappointment swirled. I let it hit the kid, hoping Ben would understand the gravity of his actions just that little bit more.

"I'm…I'm sorry, Alpha."

It would have to do for now, and I nodded at him. "Okay, Ben. You've told us. That's a step."

"He's also graciously volunteered his blood so that I can do a full panel on the chemical composition. He's got a little bit of the raw product left as well, and I'm going to run all the tests I can. I'll get you that antidote, Kaiden."

Everything surged, and a genuine hope bloomed behind my ribs. "Thank God. Oh, Willow, you're a fucking lifesaver."

Ben turned toward me, his eyes a bit wide, and I realized what I'd said. "Ugh, ignore that."

He nodded, the corners of his mouth turning down, and I couldn't bring myself to punish the kid more than getting poked and prodded with needles all day.

"Ben?" He looked up from the floor. "You're going to work with Willow, understood?"

"Yes, Alpha."

"Good. You're also going to work with Lupe and Sunny to get every affected wolf to the main house. Do whatever you need to convince them that this drug is no good, and it stops now."

Willow smirked, her water and grass scent flaring. "A little community service. That's a damn good idea, Alpha. I need a set of extra hands around the lab."

Not demure in the slightest, Willow's tiny frame was always such a funny juxtaposition with her snarky attitude. I like her—a lot, actually. Hell, I'd even considered her potential as a mate. Before Kit arrived anyway.

Nodding again, I met Willow's pale green eyes. "For as long as you need him, Ben and any of the others affected by the drug who are capable of helping you are at your disposal."

She grinned, her freckled cheeks bright, but then it immediately faltered, and Willow shook her head, sending her short black bob swinging. "Oh, I shot myself in the foot with that one. I hate a crowded lab. Well, c'est la vie."

I smirked, and Willow led Ben away to her room, which, of course, she lovingly referred to as the lab. When she'd left, Alder broke the brief moment of silence.

"An antidote is on its way then. I say we enjoy a drink then; talk war with at least a beer in hand."

We all laughed, but the idea wasn't a terrible one, and I had Lupe fetch us a round of beers with Gray's help. We settled around the table again, and I proceeded to offer the details of the last encounter with Eli's wolves to the others. The intensity of the conversation didn't back off much in spite of the news about the antidote, and my skin itched with the need to do more.

Just wait, Kaiden. This can work. This can get Kit back.

My wolf stalked within me, circling the darkness and looking to tear after her. He didn't like waiting, wasn't patient on a good day, and I swallowed down more of the beer to ease the growing tension roaring through my muscles.

We had a plan set, though. As soon as the antidote was ready—Willow having given us a timeframe of about eighteen hours—we would launch a renewed attack. We'd get Kit out of there.

Jet sat next to me at the table, and he clapped a hand on my shoulder, drawing me out of my thoughts.

"You all right in there?" His concern was as enjoyable as a rash, but I knew him. Jet was basically my father, and dads had a way of worrying over their pups.

"I'm…I don't know, honestly." Shaking my head, I polished off the rest of my second beer. "If something happens…"

"Hey," Jet lowered his face to mine, "I get it. I mean, come on. Of everyone here, I understand what you're feeling. Senna is back home alone right now, and I could scream about how much I hate it."

I laughed. "She's not alone, Jet. But…yeah. That."

"Funny thing having a mate, huh?"

Blanching, my stomach did a flip-flop. I knew what I'd said to Kit in the heat of the moment, but I still hadn't truly let myself consider her as my…mate.

Oh, buddy. Don't kid yourself.

The voice in my head sounded distinctly like my wolf. When I looked back at Jet again, the others at the table were eyeing me, too, having overheard our conversation. Damn wolf hearing.

Sighing yet again, I resigned myself to the reality facing me—at least for right now.

"I swear to everything on this green earth, Jet. If Eli hurts a hair on her fucking head…I'll tear him apart with my bare hands."

Cade laughed. "Here fucking here, Kaiden. Hell, I like this side of you."

The others joined in with their own laughter, and soon, we were drowning our tension in a few more rounds of beer. Come tomorrow night, we all had a lot of work to do, and being together like this—giving each other shit for everything from mates to broken bones—felt like the calm before the storm.

But that storm was coming, and one way or another, I was getting Kit back.