Chapter 27

Valor

Brielle's scent hung in the air, leading me through winding alleyways. Every few feet, I dropped a small green stone so Ezra and Korren could follow me after handling the males in the bar. I'd carried these stones on all my tracking missions since I was sixteen. It was an easy way for others to follow my trail.

My path veered further from the center of town. Panic surged within me as Brielle's familiar fragrance thinned, but I pressed on, refusing to stop. My wolf willed me to shift. His agitation twined with mine, and my muscles went taut.

The trail led to an abandoned building—a dead end. I went inside and looked around. The craggy cement walls seemed impenetrable at first glance, but my senses told me that wasn't entirely true. Stale air gave way to the crisp scents of grass and pine.

I approached the edge of the barren room, and the scents intensified. A shiver danced down my spine as I realized a false wall concealed the entrance. I skimmed my hands along the rough surface, feeling for inconsistencies in the stone. I sensed Korren and Ezra closing in behind me, their presence a reassuring force.

My anger flared as I turned to face them and saw the bruises blooming on their skin.

Ezra jerked his chin toward the wall. "What's this about?"

Swallowing my temper, I said, "A false entrance. Brielle is somewhere beyond it, and I'm trying to figure out how to open it."

Korren kneeled beside me and checked the bottom of the wall. His nimble hands crept along the edges, nails scoring the rock with a soft hiss. He paused, then dragged his fingers back and forth a few times.

"Found it," he muttered, tracing an invisible seam.

Korren dug his hand into the opening, prying the door from its camouflaged threshold. We stepped into a short tunnel and emerged in a dense wood. Magic. They were using magic.

The scent of multiple females—including Brielle—hung in the air, creating a bewildering tapestry of fragrances. I took point, and Ezra and Korren followed, scanning the wild lands around us until we found a small, well-used footpath.

The trail led us to a cluster of cabins. Without exchanging words, we entered the first of them. Empty. We tried the next one, but the scent wasn't right.

"I think the cabins are another distraction," I said.

"Trap door?" Korren asked.

"Most likely," Ezra confirmed. "I'm honestly impressed with the lengths they've gone to hide their secrets."

I grunted. "I'll be more enthused by their evasive maneuvering once we have Brielle."

Retracing our steps, we returned to the first cabin, where Brielle's scent was most potent. I pointed to the kitchen, and we spread out, looking at every square inch of the room. Ezra moved the kitchen table and discovered a section of wood that didn't match the rest of the floor. We shoved it aside and revealed a small door with an iron latch.

Korren carefully opened the metal panel. Stairs appeared, leading beneath the earth.

"You have to be kidding me," Ezra muttered. "A fucking tunnel."

I swatted his chest. "Don't be scared, big guy. You can always hold my hand."

"Fuck off. You know confinement will make things sticky if we get into another ‘friendly miscommunication'."

Korren descended the stairs first. "Here's hoping that isn't the case."

Our steps were silent as we traveled through the damp passageway. Luckily, the tunnel wasn't as narrow as I had expected. It was wide enough for Ezra and I to stand shoulder to shoulder. Determined to rescue our mate, we ventured deeper into the underground labyrinth.

The darkness began to fade as light pierced the shadows. We slowed as the mouth of the tunnel widened, then came to a halt as a group of shifters stepped into our path. Four females surrounded Brielle, holding her arms.

The blonde from the bar approached us, her wolf flashing in her eyes.

Brielle tried to join us, but the females held her back.

I growled a low warning.

"Stay where you are," the blonde ordered.

Korren, ever the diplomat, held up his hands in a calming gesture. His eyes darted from Brielle to the woman. "We mean no harm. We just want our mate back."

The blonde female eyed us warily. "And why should I believe you?"

"You were the one who stole our mate—not to mention you let your dogs attack us. If anyone should be untrusting, it's us," Ezra spat.

Korren shot him a look over his shoulder and crossed his arms. "Brielle can vouch for us if that would help."

The blonde shook her head. "Even if she did, it doesn't mean I trust you. Ray, come here."

A petite redhead stepped forward.

"Hold out your hand," the blonde ordered. "Swear that you won't harm anyone in this bunker or take them without consent."

I joined Korren, the tang of magic thick on my tongue. "You're a witch."

Ezra tensed.

"Half-witch," the redhead replied.

Korren placed his hand in hers without another word. "Hello, Ray. I'm Korren, a healer from the Hidden Creek pack. We aren't here to harm anyone or take Omegas against their will. We're here to retrieve our mate and, hopefully, give her a chance to see her sister."

She let go and held her pale palm toward me, repeating the process before turning to Ezra. Ray's gaze bore into us, scrutinizing our intentions for what felt like an eternity. Finally satisfied with what she saw, she nodded.

"They're good," Ray announced.

I fought the urge to scoff. We wouldn't have wasted time chatting with them if we meant to attack.

"Neat trick," I said, looking the half-witch in the eye.

Whatever line of witches she came from must have been blessed by their god, Aster—the Father of Witches. Like shifters, witches were blessed by their god at birth. He marked those he favored with his sigil—a serpentine birthmark on the chest or back of the neck. Blessed witches had abilities that surpassed those of the typical magic wielder. Truth-seeking wasn't an average ability.

"Comes in handy at times," she replied just as coolly.

My sour mood vanished when Brielle ran into my arms. Korren and Ezra huddled close as Brielle reassured us that she was okay.

She leaned back, relief and joy shining in her eyes. "Come, let's go say hi."