Chapter 25

Chapter Twenty-Five

Landon

"Is this everybody?" As I look around the assembled group, it feels like it isn't enough. Not nearly enough.

"Yep!" Lily answers a little too brightly. "Azalea said to keep the team small so it's easier for her to cover us. Her magic can get us through the barrier and up to the house, but we have to do it quietly. The plan is to get into the house and sneak Derrek out, not do a full-on assault Braveheart style."

"And we're sure this is the best crew for this?" Besides myself and Lily, it's Jared, Milo, and two of the security team. We all agreed Derrek might trust no one but Lily, and if she goes, the three of us go. The other two are the real muscle; we're only going for her sake. Dom and Roxanne are here, but only because Lily wants to keep them informed.

She slips her hand into mine and tugs, tilting her chin up toward me.

I duck instinctively, accepting the quick kiss, but it doesn't do much to reassure me.

"As long as I have you guys, I'll be fine. Azalea swears it's a skeleton crew at night, because that's when they leave the people in the ‘program'," she shudders, "alone to heal . Nielsen always attends the high school sporting events to keep up the fa?ade of being a good mayor, and they're having an away game, so he's gone for the night. It'll go smoothly, I promise. I feel great about this plan."

I have to ask. "And you feel great about trusting Azalea?"

Her smile falters. "I'm still not sure about her. I want to believe she feels bad and is trying to make amends. I'm relying on the fact that she promised her grannie more than anything. Shuya I feel good about, and it's obvious Azalea keeps her word to her grandma. If nothing else, I believe she wants revenge on Nielsen for disrespecting her, and I hope that's enough."

"Fair enough," I reply. I wish I was as confident, but I still have a bad feeling about the witch.

"It'll be fine," she squeezes my hand.

"You're right, it'll be fine," I reply with a smile, just to reassure her. I don't want her worried about me on top of everything else.

One of the security team steps forward. "Alright, we should get started, if that's okay with you, alpha?"

"Sure thing, Richardson." She beams at him and he grins widely in return. It's so easy to see what a great alpha she already is.

"Okay. The plan is for us to drive around to the eastern side and meet the Montrose witch here." He pokes a finger at a map where a red ‘X' has been inked. "It's longer of a drive, but it's closer to the alpha house and less time we have to be in their actual territory. There's a state park that abuts the pack line, and we'll leave the cars there. Hopefully, they won't be patrolling that side as much, and it'll be easy to slip through.

"Once we're in, we'll follow this hiking trail that leads right up to the house."

A surge of pride rises in my chest and I catch Jared's eye, who's grinning as well. Our little trip was useful, after all.

"The witch claims that there's only two guards at the back door at night, so it should be easy to take him out. They do security checks every twenty minutes; we'll wait until they check in and then our timer starts. She'll use a spell to keep our movements silent. We'll unlock the door and then take out two more guards just down the hallway at a central station of some sort. The witch'll lead us to Derrek's room, which will have two more guards in front. Once we have him, we'll return the way we came, and hopefully we'll have time to get back to our cars before they even know we were there."

"Doesn't Derrek have some sort of collar on?" Jared asks. "What if that keeps him from leaving the property somehow? Or sets off an alarm?"

Lily steps forward. "Azalea assured me that all the collar does is keep him from speaking, so he can't cast spells. He's completely free to move aside from that. Since time is tight, she's going to remove it when we get back safely to Smoky Falls."

"Somehow, I don't feel very assured," Milo grumbles quietly.

"Me either," I agree.

"Questions?" Richardson looks around expectantly. "Hearing none, let's get started. If we leave now, we'll get there before midnight, and hopefully be in and out of Montrose by one."

We divide into two cars, and distribute two-way radios. In the event we can't get a cell signal, we'll have a way to communicate.

I wish I was driving my Jeep, but I know it's smarter to take the unremarkable Harridan House SUVs. It's already dark when we leave, and even though we've brought a stock of caffeinated beverages—energy drinks for most of us, but Milo insisted on his stupid coffee—no one cracks them open for our long drive. I guess everyone, like me, is too wired with nervous energy to need a boost.

Lily hooks her phone to console and puts some benign playlist on as soon as we climb in, filling the vehicle with music. It's a smart move—none of us feel much like talking, judging by what I see in the rearview. Milo and Jared are staring out the dark windows as we depart Smoky Falls, the same as Lily in the passenger seat.

Which leaves me with my own thoughts.

If I'm honest with myself, I don't like this at all. I'm still not a fan of having our Lit professor as a brother, let alone sharing Lily with the much older man. Jared and Milo aren't excited about it either, but we all know we don't have a choice. If he's really her fated mate, she doesn't have a choice, either.

So there's no point in acting butthurt about it, since there's nothing we can do. And all it does is hurt Lily.

But it would be amazing if he broke the curse. We grew up resigned to the idea that once the next Harridan heir officially mated with us, we would all be tethered to Smoky Falls forever.. Not that we aren't already, but at least we can leave for things like overnight games and family vacations. After the eclipse, we'll have the 24-hour clock just like Lily.

So if we can escape that fate, end the curse for ourselves and all the alphas from now on, it's definitely worth it.

And if the curse ends, that wouldn't just affect us. With a start, I realize we hadn't discussed an important factor of the curse: that the entire pack can only shift between midnight and one am. If Lily and Derrek break the curse, that goes away too, and everyone will shift whenever they want.

The concept is almost too large to wrap my head around. We could just slip into the woods on a sunny day and run free, maybe find a river to splash in. The freedom that would mean!

I glance at Lily, excited to discuss it with her, but her eyes are closed. I don't know if she's asleep or not, but I can't bring myself to disturb her.

I refocus on driving, but I'm suddenly much more enthusiastic about bringing Derrek into the family.

LILLIANA

"We're here." Landon's voice is low, probably because he didn't want to scare me. Even so, it makes me jump.

Staring out the windshield, all I can see are deep shadows broken up by trees with scraggly branches. The headlights point straight ahead, following the curve of the road as the tires crunch over gravel and eventually slow at a parking area where the second SUV waits.

I face Jared and Milo, who also appear as if they've just been startled awake, and I can't help but grin.

"Thanks for driving, Landon." I place my hand on his arm and he smiles warmly, his dimple appearing.

"Of course, Lily." Then louder for the other guys, "I obviously couldn't trust those two to stay awake for it. We'd have ended up in a ditch."

"Haha," Milo groans, stretching. "It made the most sense to rest up in the car. If I'd been driving, I wouldn't have had a problem staying awake."

"Me either," Jared agrees.

Taking in Landon's tired eyes, I ask, "Do you need a minute to rest?" My gaze darts to the console. "We got here a little earlier than we planned. You could easily sneak in a power nap."

"Nah, I'm fine," he assures me, popping the top of his energy drink. "Just give me two minutes to pound this down and I'll be ready."

I clamber out of the car while zipping up my coat and realize it's even colder than I thought. Frost has formed on the fallen leaves, and our breath comes in thick clouds of vapor. My nose is instantly cold.

"Alpha," Richardson steps out of his still-running vehicle. "I received a text from the witch. She's already in place. We can move whenever you're ready."

"Okay, thank you. Let's take a few minutes to stretch and shake off the road. I'll let you know when we're ready."

"Copy that." He climbs back into his car to wait.

The guys have stepped out and are stretching their long limbs. Landon's drink can rests in the cupholder, and if I had to guess, he's already finished it.

Nervous energy zips across my skin. I have to project confidence, no matter what. The first sign of doubt from me will make them worried, and I need everyone convinced we're heading safely back to Smoky Falls with one extra passenger.

Even if I'm not so sure.

"You guys want to do some calisthenics, maybe take a few laps?" I tease them brightly. We've all dressed in dark colors. The security guys have their uniform on, complete with combat boots but with no logo. Landon, Jared and I have on hiking boots and similar cold-weather coats akin to ski gear, and Milo—of course—sports expensive-looking leather boots and a heavy pea coat.

Jared shifts his weight from one foot to the other. "To be honest, gorgeous, I just want to get this show on the road. I won't feel better until we cross back into Smoky Falls."

"Same," the other two agree in unison.

"Alright then, I guess it's time to move. Richardson?" I signal the others, and they shut off their car and join us.

"You guys have your radios in case we get separated?"

Milo and Jared hold up the devices.

"Good. If we need to, Jared will go with Lily and Landon with Milo. We should always be in pairs, and always with someone who has a radio. And set your ringers on silent, understood?"

We all nod; no need to answer. Only old people use ringers; the rest of us keep it on vibrate all the time.

"Let's go."

With the cars off, there's very little light to see by. The sky is overcast, and we quickly come under cover of the trees, anyway. This area is remote, and the closest structure is the alpha house over two miles away.

Richardson leads us in a silent, single file line for a while. He's got some sort of coated, printed map he's following, and he checks it regularly with a tiny flashlight. It's nice to be surrounded front and back with pack members, but something about this place feels really exposed and almost threatening. As if I'd called him, Jared walks up beside me, and I slide my hand into his, grateful for the company.

We continue walking in silence. I'm just wondering how much further we have to go until the barrier when Richardson stops. "We're almost there; I'm going to signal the witch, but be ready to run."

We wait while he walks forward, and my heart pounds against my chest. A dozen ways this could go wrong fly through my head, and I clench Jared's hand tightly.

Richardson stops, then lifts his flashlight and flicks it on and off three times in rapid succession. He waits a moment, then repeats it.

My nerves are on edge, ready at a moment's notice to turn and flee. Then a condescending voice calls to us from the shadows.

"Oh, for goddess's sake, this isn't mission impossible! Get over here already."

I'm not surprised that Azalea's decked out head-to-toe in black. She even put on a black hat to cover her electric purple hair.

Passing through the barrier is surprisingly easy. Even though the guys got on the property several days ago, Azalea didn't know if Nielsen had specifically banned me. But her family's magic created the barrier, and she's officially a member of Pack Montrose, so she has all the authority she needs to pass us through safely.

It's probably just in my head, but it feels more dangerous on this side of the magical field. Azalea leads the way, muttering to herself about the cold, but the rest of us follow in silence.

I'm still not sure that trusting the witch was the best plan, but it's our only option. At the very least, I know I can trust her to abide by her own self interest, and she seemed sincere in her professed need for revenge against Nielsen. At a certain point you have to stop questioning everything to death and just decide, so I did.

For better or for worse.

It seems to take forever, not knowing exactly where we're going in the dark, creepy forest. On the plus side, we keep a pretty good pace, so I'm warm enough despite the frosty air. I've fallen into the rhythm of following the back ahead of me, Jared in step at my side, so when we stop it feels very abrupt.

We're at an intersection of trails, and we all gather to huddle together.

Azalea speaks in a low voice. "The house is about a hundred yards further up the trail, up on a hill. It's pretty easy to get up, and no one will see us from this direction. Once we're all there, I'll cast a pass-through spell to get us through the hedge. There's no camera on the side because it's basically right next to the house. From there, we'll go around back and then it's up to you guys to get us in."

Richardson nods. "The four of you hang back until we make sure the area is secure."

We nod in confirmation, knowing this was already the plan.

With nothing left to say, we follow Azalea to the hill she mentioned and climb. True to her word, there's a hedge just like Jared and Landon described. A few mystical hand gestures along with a whispered phrase, and a magical doorway appears in the hedge, allowing us through. When we hear the guard just around the corner radio in, we hold back and wait for Richardson and Levi to slip around the corner and take care of him.

Blood rushes through my body, heart pounding, and my ears strain to pick up any clue of what's going on. The guys and I are crouched and waiting, but Azalea leans lazily against the wall with her arms crossed, looking bored.

Suddenly the guys' radios spring to life, static interspersed with two clicks—Richardson's ‘all clear' signal.

I draw in a deep breath of relief and follow the guys around the corner, where the two security guys stand over a pair of bodies on the ground. I hope they're not dead.

Richardson points above our heads and we note the camera angled out toward the dark lawn. Hugging the side of the building, we creep toward the back door and stop in a huddle.

Richardson nods at Azalea, who whispers a few phrases I don't understand and swoops both hands around in a large circle.

I don't feel anything, but she finishes and looks around expectantly. "For the next half hour, your movements won't make a sound. Let's go."

Richardson slides a key into the lock and turns it slowly, then eases the door open and peers inside before waving us in. Azalea and Milo follow him, then me, Jared, Landon, and Levi.

We creep down a partially-lit, innocuous hallway. It has a sort of sterile smell to it, like a hospital, along with the unmistakable scent of human misery.

My heart's racing and I feel like I might throw up, but we keep pressing forward. Azalea's spell is working. Our shoes don't make a single squeak on the polished floor, and we continue forward silently.

When we reach a cross hallway, Richardson throws up an open palm, stopping us, and then signals Levi to come forward. Once again, they slip around the corner and leave the rest of us waiting. This time, however, we can distinctly hear the muffled movements, a person trying to speak before getting cut off, and then two distinct thuds.

The radios click twice again, and we move forward again.

Just as Azalea described, we catch up to Richardson and Levi at some sort of desk that reminds me of a nurse's station. There're a couple of computers on it, and basic office supplies like pens and clipboards.

Richardson looks at Azalea expectantly, and she takes the lead, walking stealthily down the hallway.

We pass through a set of double doors and turn left, then right, then left again. Every dark doorway we pass my heart jumps, wondering if there's someone inside being tortured, someone who needs rescuing.

But I force myself to keep going; today is not about them. Today is about Derrek, but I'll come back for them. I'll come back for all of them.

Suddenly, the sounds of several people talking, along with heavy footfalls, echo down the hallway.

Richardson immediately turns and begins pushing us back around the last corner. He leaves Azalea stranded alone. Her eyes panicked as her head turns between the approaching threat and the rest of us. I gesture for her to follow before I'm muscled around the corner, but I realize the next second that it's too late.

"What are you doing here again, witch?" A nasally male voice snarls. "Alpha warned you to stop turning up like this. He's going to be pissed you don't seem to be able to listen."

"What do you care?" She shoots back with that condescending, disinterested tone. "I'm not hurting anything, and he can't banish me from the building. Why don't you mind your own business? I have somewhere to be," she sniffs.

"Oh, no you don't," a deeper voice growls. "Alpha said that if we catch you here again, we're to give you the same treatment as the rest of our guests. He said," the unknown male chuckles, "he said that if you want to be here so badly, that can be arranged."

"Get your hands off me! Despite her attempt to sound indignant, fear laces her voice. "You have no right-"

"I have every right, witch, and you can't use your powers against me. Alpha told us that your contract forbids it. So cut the crap already. We have a nice comfy cell for you to sleep in until Alpha gets back tomorrow." Shuffling noises of an obvious struggle ensue, then a horrifying thwack echoes down the hall, and it falls silent.

"Good job. She's such a pain in the ass!"

"She'll be out for a couple of hours at least. Come on, let's toss her in a room and report her to the commander."

We wait as the footsteps fade away, and a distant door clicks open and shut. A hand on my shoulder almost makes me jump out of my skin, but it's just Landon, pointing at his watch.

Shit, we just lost half our time until the next check in. We have got to move.

Richardson makes eye contact with Landon, who shows him the timer.

The older man nods grimly, then peeks around the corner. He gestures us forward, and we continue on our quest. When we reach the spot we'd left Azalea, a guilty lump forms in my throat; her thick black hat is on the floor, along with a few drops of blood. Several feet ahead more blood smears the white tile, leaving a bright red streak every few feet of the long hallway.

And now we're running out of time and don't know where to go from here. We pass a cross hallway that looks exactly the same as the one we left. It's like a maze in this place, probably intentionally. The house above didn't cover nearly this much ground, so they must have expanded this massive basement out like an ant's nest to keep it hidden from prying eyes.

Richardson chooses a direction and moves, the rest of us following on silent feet. We're following Azalea's blood trail, right up to another set of double doors, this time with a window.

And there, just a few more feet down the hallway, is a doorway with two bored-looking men standing outside. One of them is Billy.

Excitement and relief and fear swirl together in my gut; we still have to get Derrek out and somehow find Azalea, since she's the one who can remove the collar. And then we all have to make it out of this maze and back to the safety of our vehicles.

Richardson and Levi are both at the double doors, communicating with a series of hand gestures, probably discussing their plan.

Then something buzzes; it's just a vibration, but in the absolute silence of the hallway it seems almost deafeningly loud.

I turn to look at the source, along with the rest of our party.

Landon's face is bright red, but he holds up his wrist, revealing that our time has run out.