14. Drones and Devil’s Spawn

MARIGOLD

H eath calls the team together in the morning. He drives the first truck with my dad and Hawthorne. Slate drives the second truck with Hazel, Jasper, and me. I’m grateful. In the back seat, I can distract myself by holding his hand and tracing the lines on his palm.

Thunder clouds approach from the south, their rolling gray matching my anxious heart.

Nyx’s guard has tripled since yesterday, with six wolves standing around the pack house. My blood goes cold. Is this for us? Or have things escalated with Ironcrest?

Hawthorne climbs out and speaks with them. When it’s clear he’s being turned away, Heath joins the discussion. Two guards go inside, and after a long wait, they return and allow us entrance.

The meeting room is dusty. Heath sits and we all settle around him at the dated conference table. Hazel clicks her nails together anxiously.

“Nyx,” Heath says, rising as the Raven Pack Alpha joins us. She’s younger than I expected, with olive skin and dark hair in a short bob.

“Sit down and tell me what you want,” she says curtly. My hands grip the arms of my chair. Through our pack bond, I can feel a spike of irritation, but everyone’s face stays calm and neutral.

Heath begins, “Thank you for seeing us. I won’t waste your time. We have reason to believe Ironcrest and Granite Ridge are planning a full-blown attack against your pack and we want to help you.”

Nyx stays quiet for a long moment. “Why?”

“At the Alpha Counsel,” Heath says, ignoring Nyx’s snort, “Zephyr claimed your pack has been violating their borders and that you are the aggressors.”

“So I’ve heard,” Nyx replies dryly. “Not sure what his lies have to do with me.”

Heath takes a slow breath, his hands loosening as he calms himself. If it was my father, he would have attacked Nyx for that tone.

“Ironcrest has the numbers, paired with Granite Ridge, they have close to one hundred wolves who can fight. I would prefer it if my ally was not wiped off the map.”

Nyx’s lip curls. “You don’t need to worry about us. We’ve got things well in hand. ”

Heath’s control starts to slip. “What is your plan if they invade? If one hundred wolves descend on your compound?”

She shrugs, and I don’t expect an answer, but she finally says, “Lockdown.”

“And all your packmates out of this building?”

“I’m sure they’ll manage.”

“Why are you refusing help?” he asks, anger seeping into his words.

“Because I don’t need it,” she says. “I think you should take your wolves and go. I don’t want that devil’s spawn in my house.”

Jasper stiffens, and Slate leans forward menacingly. Even Hazel bristles. Heath’s voice drops. “Jasper is a valued member of my team.”

“Just get him out of here,” Nyx says, looking down her nose at us.

Still reeling, I reach over to grasp his thigh, trying to give him whatever support I can. Heath pushes his chair back. “Thank you for your time, Nyx. We can see ourselves out.”

Before she disappears, my dad abruptly stands. “Alpha Nyx, I would like to stay with my relatives. Let me see that my mate’s parents are safe.”

Her eyes narrow, but she says, “For Ivy’s sake, I’ll allow it. That one too, if she wishes.” Her long black nails point at me, before she spins on her heel and walks out.

The idea of hateful, judgmental Nyx abandoning her pack and hunkering down is not something I can tolerate. If I have a chance to help, I have to take it. I look to my Alpha. “I would like to stay too.”

Heath nods. “If that’s your choice, please be safe. And we will figure out what else we can do to help.”

My throat is thick, but I take deep breaths and stand with my father. I’ll miss Jasper, but it’s temporary. Heath leads us out and climbs in the truck with Hawthorne.

Jasper grabs my elbow and pulls me close. “I don’t want you to stay. It’s an unnecessary risk.”

“I’m sorry about what she said. But I want to help.”

“If this all goes sideways, you’ll be trapped,” he hisses, his platinum hair falling forward as he leans over me. “You can help from home.”

“I’m sorry, I already decided. I’ll be back soon.”

“I need you,” Jasper says, brows furrowing. The pain in his expression cuts away at my resolve.

Squeezing his hand, I remove it from my elbow and step back. “It’ll be okay. I’ll miss you.” My eyes burn as I fight tears.

“What did he say?” he dad asks, frowning as he looks over at Jasper speaking with Slate.

“He doesn’t want me to stay. He thinks it’s too dangerous.”

My dad crosses his arms. “That’s not his business. He isn't your Alpha or your family.” My heart twinges. “You’re doing the right thing.”

“I’m not sure, Dad. ”

He huffs and walks back inside the pack house. I’m going to follow, but I can’t help but linger for one more goodbye with Jasper.

Instead, Slate goes from speaking to Heath to approaching me. “Marigold, we need you back at Bracken Creek with us.”

I blink at him. “What? Heath said I could stay.”

Slate’s expression softens. “Jasper brought up some good points. We need your knowledge of the Raven Pack to advise us. And it’ll be easier for Jasper to contribute if he isn’t panicked about your safety.”

Are you kidding me? The prickle of tears burns as anger fuels them. I could go to Heath and protest, but I already know he will back up his Beta. I hold no ranking, so I have no grounds to argue against him.

Numb, I climb into the truck. Jasper slides into the seat beside me, and Slate steers us back onto the road.

“I’m sorry,” Jasper says quietly.

All my anger overflows, and I’m not even quite sure what I’m so upset about. Flashes of Nyx calling Jasper demon spawn, Jasper going behind my back, the idea of those Raven Pack members trapped outside the pack house and left for dead, it all swirls in my mind.

“I can’t believe you did that,” I mutter, feeling hollow.

Jasper reaches for my hand, but I pull away. “I’d rather you’re angry with me and safe, than putting yourself in harm's way. ”

“That’s not your call to make,” I blurt, my heart rate accelerating. “I never thought you would be that controlling.”

Slate looks over his shoulder. “Marigold-”

“Shut up, Slate, you’re in trouble too,” I snap. Hazel pats his knee and stays quiet.

“I don’t want to control you, I want you alive,” Jasper says, his voice dropping to a dangerous growl.

“That’s not your job. You’re not my mate, not my boyfriend,” I say, my vision blurring slightly. It feels like stabbing myself with a knife, saying those things to him, but I’m so angry and scared, I want him to hurt the way I am. Even if I’ll hate myself for it later.

Jasper looks straight ahead, his jaw tight. “Last night, you wanted to commit to me because of how serious everything was. And now you’re pushing me away for the same reason.”

Snarling, I hit the back of my head against the headrest. “I’m not scared, I’m angry that you’re trying to make decisions for me that aren’t yours to make, and you’re going behind my back to manipulate the situation. If that’s how you operate, I clearly don’t know you well at all.”

His chest rises in shallow breaths, but he has no response. The entire car stays silent, seeped in heavy emotion, until we reach the parking lot.

Heath calls Jasper and Slate away for a meeting to discuss our new tech surveillance, and I throw my arms around Hazel and cry into her shoulder until I am gasping for air.

Hazel rubs my back and holds me steady .

When I finally get ahold of myself, she squeezes my hands and says, “Okay babe, what do you want to do about the situation?”

My eyes feel gritty and my throat is thick, my chest aches. But under it, I feel so disrespected. He didn’t trust me to make my own decisions. Is that how every major conflict is going to go? Because that’s a deal breaker for me.

“I’m not sure,” I say, tucking my forehead against her shoulder. Her hands run up and down my back, soothing me.

“You have any and all options. I’ll beat his ass for you. We can trash his cabin or key his car. Anything you want.”

Through the ache, I can’t help but smile. She’s loyal to the end and I’ve neglected our friendship during this whirlwind with Jasper. When she was falling for Slate, she never pushed me aside.

My hands tighten around her in a hug. “Thank you.”

Her nails run through my hair, brushing it off my cheek. “You deserve to be treated the best. If that’s Jasper, great. But if he is being a dick to you, I don’t care if he is my brother-in-law. I’ll neuter him without a second thought.”

JASPER

Trudging after Heath, my heart thumps in my throat. Marigold was far more devastated than I expected, and now I’m walking away from her .

“Give her a little time, man,” Slate says. “Hazel will help.”

Will she, though? I love my brother’s mate, but she is emotional.

“I’ve never seen her that upset.” I scrub my face with my hands.

“Neither have I.” I flinch at his words.

“I should have found another way. Or stayed with her.”

“You know that’s not reasonable. What you did was fucked up, but I would have done the same thing.” He shakes his head.

“No, you would have dragged your woman off like a caveman.”

Slate shrugs, a small smile lifting his mouth. “Maybe.”

In his office, Heath pulls up the security feeds. We sit and watch the records on fast forward, slowing the feed whenever a group of wolves runs by. It’s our patrols.

“Let’s set a second patrol along that northern border,” Heath says.

Slate nods. “I’ll arrange it. Any specifics you had in mind?”

“Run it twenty-four seven. And I think it’s time to use those drones,” he says, leaning back in his office chair.

“Agreed.” Slate looks at me expectantly.

Two drones arrived yesterday. “It might take a while to get them set up, and then I’ll need to train a few people on using them. ”

Heath nods. “Maybe Vale, Aven, or Onyx.”

“Onyx would be great at it,” Slate says.

“Alright, I’d better get started. Can you send Onyx my way? I’ll let you know when we are up and running.”

The drones are fairly easy to set up, and within an hour, Onyx and I are flying them across our compound, trying to get the hang of it. Visibility would be better if it wasn’t so cloudy, but overall I’m impressed with the little machines.

However, the light is fading and while they have night vision capabilities, I can already tell it will be tricky to fly them after dark. We are not experienced enough yet.

Heath observes us. “Looks good. Go ahead and run one in along the borders around the Raven Pack tomorrow, and see if we can spot anything.”

“Anything else tonight?” I ask.

Already striding away, Heath shakes his head. “Go get some rest. I have a feeling tomorrow is going to be rough.”

We stow the drones away and leave the offices. Darkness has fallen. Onyx grips my arm and nods resolutely before we part ways.

For once, I’m glad my cabin is close to the training building and offices. My jog slows on the porch, and as I step in, I breathe in her scent. It’s faded like she isn’t here. Frowning, I push open the door to my room, empty. The door to her room, empty.

My stomach clenches as I realize the bag she brought her things in is now missing from its spot hanging on the footboard. Striding across the room, I pull open the closet and reveal empty hangers.

No.

She’s taken her belongings and left. My chest feels like I’ve been struck. I stumble and slump onto her bed. Where would she go? Back to the Raven Pack? No, she has no way to get there unless she runs, and she wouldn’t disobey Slate. She’s got to be with her brothers or maybe Hazel.

My gut roils and my shifter instincts surge. But I can’t have this discussion in wolf form. Gritting my teeth, I head toward Slate and Hazel’s cabin, trying to contain my pace to a fast walk when all I want to do is sprint.

Warm light glows from the windows, diffused by linen curtains I helped hang. Hazel picked a dark green paint for the front door, with brass hardware. I have to pause a moment before knocking. It won’t help to start this conversation angry.

My knuckles rap on the glossy wood and my sensitive hearing picks up hushed female voices. Finally the hinges rasp as Hazel cracks the door.

Her body fills the opening, blocking my entrance and my view into their living room. “Jasper,” she says.

“Is she here?” My voice is harsher than I intend.

“She doesn’t want to see you.” Hazel tucks her hair behind her ears, the only tell that she feels guilty.

My hand grips the door frame. “We need to work through this. ”

Hazel’s brown eyes meet mine and I see resolution in her unwavering gaze. I won’t be getting past her. “She’ll come talk to you when she’s ready. Not before.”

“I want her to come home,” I plea.

Slate steps onto the porch behind me and rests his hand on my shoulder. “It’s okay. She needs some space.”

Her safe space should be with me. She needs to be home. In our home. My mouth opens and closes but I have no response.

“I’ll talk to her,” Slate offers. Hazel’s eyes narrow at him, but he shrugs. “Go home. We’ll see you tomorrow.”

My throat is thick. Slate takes one last look at me and steps past his mate. I can hear Marigold murmur a greeting to him, and it’s like knives cutting into me.

“Good night, Jasper,” Hazel says softly, closing the door in my face.

I can’t seem to move my legs. Each breath is jagged. My wolf surges forward, overtaking my human form. My ripped shirt falls to the ground and I scramble out of my sweats, not caring if Hazel or Slate sees the evidence of my shift.

The anxiety buzzing under my skin slowly fades away. In this form, worries are dull, but the grief of potential loss still chokes me. My four paws stumble and regain balance as I lope into the forest.

Every step further from Marigold feels like a mistake. My path curves, bringing me back toward my brother’s cabin. Snarling, I pick up speed and run past .

Needing to feel anything else, I increase my speed until there’s nothing but the ache in my lungs and the burn in my muscles. Our endurance is for moderately paced runs, not full out sprints. Soon, I am spent.

I intend to return to my own home, but I finally slow outside of that same damn cabin. It’s silent now, with all the lights dark. Panting, I stand outside of the window of their second bedroom. It’s an art studio with a day bed pushed against the far wall.

Exhaustion strips away the remaining fear, until only sadness lingers. I curl up, white tail over my nose.

Those few hours of sleep do nothing to refresh me. Sunrise curls through the forest. With a shake, I force myself to trot away from Marigold so I can shower and change before getting to work protecting my pack. I’ll be back as soon as I can.

The morning is filled with video surveillance. Additional volunteers need to be trained in using the monitors while our Thetas and Zetas are all busy preparing for the fight we all hope is not coming.

I miss lunch, and perhaps some part of me hopes that Marigold will notice and bring me food. But she doesn’t. Why would she?

“Are you ready to use those drones?” Heath asks.

I glance over my shoulder. The lines of his face seem deeper, as if he hasn’t slept either. “Yes, Alpha.”

“Take Onyx and get going.”

We drive around to the highway north of the Raven Pack. The drone’s range is only about twenty miles, so we pull onto the pack’s access road to stretch our reach. Not deep into their territory, still in the border region where we don’t risk offending them.

The drone whirs as it lifts off the ground. I study the screen and navigate it higher as Onyx settles back into his seat and closes the car door.

“I’m sorry about the other night,” Onyx says after a stretch of silent concentration.

Shrugging, I say, “It’s okay, no big deal.”

“You guys get in a fight?”

I grind my teeth, trying to not imagine how upset Marigold is right now, while I’m miles away working to keep her safe. “I’d rather not talk about it right now.”

Onyx looks out the window, respecting my request. “Do you think we’ll find anything? I can’t imagine Ironcrest actually making a move.”

“Oh, they will. I hope I’m wrong, but I don’t think I am. My dad wouldn’t hesitate to invade another pack, and Zephyr is a narcissist.”

We pilot the drones along the border between the two packs, following the coordinates Heath and Slate maintain. Just empty trees. Sweeping back north, we see a lone scout, but it’s not clear which pack he is from.

It’s impossible to tell if the apprehension I feel is from the scout, the overall situation, or my fight with Marigold. Onyx seems unconcerned, so we continue our sweep.

The sun dips lower, but we still have at least an hour of light. I want to pack it up and leave, but Onyx has taken over piloting and he squints at the screen. “What’s that? ”

His mouth turns downwards as he slows the drone.

“Shit.”

A dozen wolves weave through the trees, headed directly west. I fumble my phone and type out a warning to Heath and Slate.

Onyx hands me the control and I circle around, trying to stay far enough away that they don’t notice the drone. But as I push further into Ironcrest territory, I see another group of a dozen wolves, and then a third.

“Shit!” I say louder. “If they’re making their move, they’ll follow up with drivers. We need to get out of here.”

Onyx’s eyes widen. He knows as well as I do that if Ironcrest is attacking and they catch us on this access road, we are dead. Pebbles crunch under our tires as he turns the truck and hits the gas.

It’s not until we lurch back onto the highway that either of us breathes. His knuckles are white on the steering wheel as we build up speed. Mile markers zip past.

As we pass the turn-off for Ironcrest’s compound, we see a line of silver and white SUVs. We are safe, but it’s a punch to the gut to know Ironcrest is fully moving against the Raven Pack.

Despite my best efforts, our drone can’t keep up and we lose the connection. It drops into the trees somewhere along Ironcrest’s southern border. Hopefully I can retrieve it in a few days with its tracker, if it’s still in one piece .

Throwing the controller down, I type out messages to Heath, detailing everything we were seeing and answering his rapid questions.

In record time, we pull into Bracken Creek’s dirt lot.

Pack members jog in and out of our training building. Heath stands in the middle, giving out directions.

“What’s the plan?” I ask.

“We’re going up there. Gear up for a full assault.”

Onyx follows me to the storage lockers, and we pull on chest rigs and grab handguns and wolfsbane bullets.

The guns are a relatively new addition to Bracken Creek’s defenses. After Heath learned of the weapons Granite Ridge keeps on hand, he agreed to upgrade our options as well. The wolfsbane bullets will knock a shifter out for half a day or longer, and a second bullet can be fatal.

“Are you ready for this?” I ask Onyx.

He narrows his eyes. “Those motherfuckers shot me last year. I’m about to get my revenge.” He tugs the neckline of his shirt down to reveal a scar high on his chest.

“Sorry about that,” I mutter, tightening the straps of my harness.

Onyx shakes his head. “It wasn’t you.”

It’s kind of him, considering I was on the wrong side of the conflict when he was shot.

“Fifteen minutes and we roll out!” Heath shouts.