Chapter 8

Chapter

Eight

MIKAEL

W e landed in the middle of nowhere, and it was shaky enough that it took me several moments to regain my bearings. Eduardo was kind enough to allow me time to put my stomach back where it belonged, and there was little judgment in his eyes as he watched me exit the plane.

He'd confessed we were landing on the coast of France, along the far west, which wasn't anywhere near where I needed to be, but it was the best he could do. "Kasher has no control here," Eduardo said as the plane taxied along the short stretch of tarmac, "but he likely has people watching air traffic. This is the best we can do, and your Alpha left you supplies."

It was a car—a small, European thing that looked like it could tip on a stiff breeze. But it was something, at least, and I knew Kor had also prepared for after I managed to retrieve Danyal. I shook off my frustration, then shook Eduardo's hand before crossing the distance to inspect what Kor left me.

I rummaged through the trunk and found a handful of supplies. They weren't much—non-perishable food, a sleeping bag, some MREs, a first aid kit that was geared toward humans, and a few changes of socks which would be helpful if I found myself trekking through the woods somewhere.

Inside the car was a stack of Euro—more than I thought I could possibly need—a small GPS system, and a gun with enough bullets to take out a small human army if it came down to it. I was the sort of Wolf who preferred to fight with fangs and claws, but I was enough of an expert in weapons, and it was likely going to come down to a fire-fight between me and the compound where Danyal was being kept.

Not for the first time—and probably not for the last—I regretted my cowardice. If we'd bonded, I would have been able to sense him. If we'd bonded, he wouldn't have left my side. These bastards wouldn't have gotten close enough to grab him, and if they had, I would have found him long before he'd been carted halfway across the goddamn globe.

I breathed out, then half-considered calling Talia to see if she could give me an update on what she could feel, but I also knew it wouldn't be much. With this much distance between them, she'd know nothing more than whether or not he was alive. I wanted to believe I had time to get him before Kasher could do anything permanent, but I didn't trust myself. And I certainly didn't trust the human.

I slammed the trunk and turned toward Eduardo. "Thanks for all your help."

He nodded, but he didn't turn away. Instead, he took a step closer to the car. "I'm thinking I should probably stay."

My eyes widened in surprise, and a small part of me wondered if that was a threat—if this was a set-up. But there didn't seem to be anything deceptive about this man, and something in my gut told me to trust him. "You said you couldn't."

"I know," he replied with a small laugh. "But I've come to like you, güey. And I want to get you to your mate. I have some friends in Paris that are willing to help you, but it means you have to trust me."

I blew out a puff of air, then I nodded. My instincts had been all over the map, but I knew Nadya wouldn't have sent me off with him if he posed a danger to my mission. "All right. That shortens the drive, but if we have to stop and rest, we'll be sleeping in the car."

"I've slept a lot worse places than this," he said, then gave the roof a pat before opening the door and sliding in.

There wasn't a lot of cover where we were at—it was green, but open coast that left me feeling vulnerable. Nadya had been insistent about the anti-Wolf sentiment growing across Europe, so the last thing I wanted to do was be obvious. But having a human with me would have some perks, I realized. He could slip in and out of the cities, grabbing supplies when we needed them, and he wouldn't have to explain himself.

We'd still be sleeping on the road, but it added a strange layer of protection I hadn't realized he could offer.

I attached the little GPS unit to the radio, then hit the road with sunglasses perched high on my nose. It felt good to lean back and control the journey for this little while, and I found myself breathing a little easier, even with the weight of what was on the horizon.

"Can I ask you something?" I said a while into the drive.

He made a soft noise of assent, his head tipped back and eyes closed, though it was obvious he was awake.

"Did you fight in the war? I know Mexico wasn't as involved as Canada and the US, and I know you said your family had a policy about not getting involved, but…did you take up arms against Wolves?"

He was quiet a long time. "No. I didn't take up arms against either side. I regret that now."

I was a little surprised by his answer. He'd been cagey on the flight, and after he met a lot of my questions with silence, I gave up and slept for most of the journey. We ate together, and he told me a little bit about growing up so far away from the big cities, and about his family's ranch, but it was so little substance.

Now, with the way he stayed by my side, I had to wonder if it was personal.

"Is that why you're still here?"

He hummed in thought, then opened his eyes and turned his head to look at me. In the sunlight, there was an almost preternatural glow to the mahogany irises, and I could almost see them glowing like a Wolf's. "I'm here because the people I've gotten to know deserve better. This man you're going to rescue, your mate? He shouldn't be subjected to any of this. No one should."

I squeezed my hands on the steering wheel. "I know it's not just Wolves. I know that humans were snatched off the streets. Hell, even that bastard Kasher used his own son in his fucking labs. But he's trying to eradicate us."

"I know," Eduardo said. He looked away again, at the passing countryside as we headed out of Brest and to the south where Danyal was supposed to be. "There are things I could have done—that people like me could have done—but we chose to keep our silence. So, we have to take our part in the blame."

I wasn't sure what to say, so I kept quiet until we hit a little village, and I realized we'd have to stop for food and a piss. "Do you speak French?" I asked him as I pulled behind a building and hunkered down. "I could really go for some real food, especially if we're gonna be stuck on MREs for a while."

He snorted a laugh. "Not a word of it, but I think I can get by. I'll get us enough to finish the journey. It'll be better if we stop tonight and sleep though. If we drive straight through…"

"I know," I told him from behind a sigh. I was already wrecked, and pushing myself would only make it worse. Getting to Danyal could wait—because it meant I might be able to form some sort of plan to get him the hell out.

Right now, I was flying blind.

I handed off the Euro to Eduardo, then I began to arrange all the supplies so we could get to them easier. I loaded the guns, then tucked them under the dash, and hoped if it came down to it, he knew how to use one. I didn't have the time or patience to teach this human how to defend himself.

When everything was settled, I eased back against the seat and closed my eyes. My body was begging for proper rest, but I knew I wasn't going to get any. Not until I had Danyal in my sights. It was quiet moments like these that I could remember him—the scent of him, the taste of him. I remembered how he heated up under my touch, his body bowing against mine.

He was beautifully responsive, desperate and begging, and I couldn't keep my hands off him. When I sank into him, when my knot locked us together, it felt destined. It was a feeling I couldn't shake for years, and just when I thought I was free of him, he was there again—unobtrusive, working his brilliant mind to help save us all.

And I had let him down.

There was no way I would deserve him, but if he let me, I'd spend the rest of my life trying.

I jolted back to reality when the passenger door slammed, and I realized I'd dozed off through Eduardo's return with the food. He'd shoved it all into the back, and he was looking at me with a wry smile.

"Tired?"

"Exhausted," I admitted. Not too beat down to keep going, but once I got Danyal to safety, it would be a struggle to do more than sleep for the next several weeks. "Any trouble?"

"More news programs about the US election," Eduardo said with a shrug. "I couldn't understand most of it since it was in French, but I think it was more bullshit about Kasher's bid for the presidency."

I shuddered, then started the car and pulled out onto the main road. Eduardo dug into the bags as I picked up speed, and I let out a sigh when he pulled a sandwich out of a bag. It smelled rich and hot—fresh, which made his stomach rumble and his mouth water.

"Where did you get that?"

He grinned at me and carefully unwrapped half—meat dripping with melted cheese—and handed it over. "There was a little restaurant full of young people, so I had a feeling the food would be good. And it smelled fresh—like right off the farm."

He wasn't lying, and I was impressed with his senses as a human. I dug my teeth in and tried not to moan, but the noise I made was so pornographic, he threw his head back and laughed. "Shut up," I hissed through my thick bite, "I haven't had anything this good in weeks."

He waved me off and dug into his own meal, and we enjoyed the silence for the next hour. It was harder to drive now that I was full and sated, but eventually, the anxiety crept back up my spine, and I glanced over at him. Eduardo wasn't looking at me, but I could tell he was aware—almost like he was waiting for me to speak.

"I want you to know that if you need to bail at any point during this journey, I'll find you somewhere to go. When I eventually get Danyal, we'll have to split up."

"I know," he said. "I wasn't going to finish the journey with you. But it's going to take more than you to get him out, and there may be others I can help get back to safety. I still have my plane."

I jolted with surprise, but I realized it was a brilliant tactic. It was likely Kasher only had enough men as a personal guard, and if Eduardo could make off with a few captives, it meant Kasher would have to decide between them and me—and if I had Danyal, the choice was obvious.

"Is there anyone in particular you're looking for?" I asked him.

His silence spoke volumes. Yes. The answer was yes, but he wasn't going to tell me, and I was willing to let him have his secrets.

"Nadya made sure we were fully packing," I told him after a beat. "There's enough ammo to take down a small army. I'd like to avoid hitting any of the Wolves, no matter how feral they are, but if you need to…"

"I know," he said very quietly. "A single shot to the back of the head. I don't know if there's any creature on the planet that could survive it."

I didn't pretend to know everything that lurked out there, but he wasn't wrong. It was difficult to kill a Wolf…unless you knew exactly where to strike. It wasn't sure how I felt about how well trained he was in killing us, but if Nadya trusted him, I'd lay my life in his hands. If it meant getting to Danyal faster, I was willing to risk everything.

We switched places not long after that, Eduardo insisting that I sleep. I felt like that's all I had been doing, but he seemed to sense it in me that I needed the extra rest, and it was likely he was right. The stress was taking a toll, and every time I hit REM, I was bombarded with nightmares of having Danyal in my sights, but never being able to reach him.

Sometimes, I'd be back in the past. He'd be under my hands, his body hot and needy. And then claws would be tearing at him, pulling us apart. I'd wake up with a scream lodged in my throat, my heart racing with panic, Eduardo's knowing eyes on me. Was this what it was like to lose a mate? One with the ability to bond to your soul in ways no other Wolf could?

I wanted him, desperately, but I wasn't sure I'd survive it if something happened to Danyal.

When I came to from the last stretch of sleep, I realized we'd stopped. We were parked alongside what looked like an abandoned cottage, and there was no sign of Eduardo anywhere. Panic gripped me by the throat until I tuned in my hearing, and eventually I picked out his heartbeat from amongst a handful of forest animals that were nearby.

There wasn't a single scent on the air that told me danger was nearby, so I let myself out and stared at the growing dusk. The sky was a gentle orange-pink along the horizon, and I breathed in the fresh air, trying to wake myself up before I went searching for the wayward human.

It didn't take me long to find him. Eduardo was sitting on a stone stoop around the back of the house, his legs stretched in front of him, his face turned up toward the sky. His eyes were closed, but his mouth twitched into a half-grin that let me know he was aware of me.

His instincts were so Wolf, I couldn't help but wonder if there wasn't something he was keeping back.

"Do you feel more rested?" he asked.

I scrubbed a hand down my face, then lowered myself onto the stone beside him. "As much as I can be, I think." There was a desperate itch in my bones to shift, but I knew better. Most humans who could handle Wolves only stayed on our side so long as we looked like them. The moment we became other, we became the enemy, so I stayed in my human skin.

"Paris is exactly two point five kilometers to the north of here," he said.

I jolted. I'd had no idea—no idea that we had gone that far. How had I slept through the entire journey? How had I not felt it?

Doubt crept up on me, but I shoved it down with a steel-toed boot, not willing to let weakness prevent me from doing what needed to be done. "Is this where we should part ways?"

"No." He sighed, then looked at me out of the corner of his eye. "I've called some friends and they're going to ride with us to the compound. You'll have enough time to get your mate out of that place—we'll see to that. But Ivan Kasher…he's mine, and I need help securing him."

The chill in his voice struck me, and I was a strong Alpha, but in that moment, I was too afraid to ask. What he was saying made sense though—we did need help if Kasher had secured the place, especially if I wanted to get Danyal out alive. "Fine, but we need Zivko Kasher alive," I told him. Misha's father needed to survive, and he needed to be taken into custody.

Eduardo bowed his head once. "I understand. I can't guarantee it, however. But we'll do our best."

"I don't suppose you'll explain anything if I ask," I chanced.

He chuckled, low in his chest, and he shook his head in a way that reminded me so powerfully of Wolves that I wondered if maybe he hadn't been raised by them. "I'm afraid not, but I'm hoping you can continue to trust me. Your cause is my cause."

I believed him, the gods protect me from my foolishness, but I read nothing beyond honesty in his tone. "When do we meet them?"

"The moment it's full dark," he said. "It might be best if we eat something now, and then prepare your supplies. We'll be heading into the city on foot. I know where we're going, but we can't let anyone see your eyes."

I swallowed thickly. I knew that much, but I was prepared for it, and I was ready to protect Danyal at all costs. "That's not a problem. I'll…" I hesitated, wanting to grill him for more answers, but I had a feeling it would be useless. I let out a small sigh. "I'll pack up what we've got."

Most of the supplies we'd picked up on the way were going to be useless weight, so I shoved what food I could into the small rucksack, then filled the smaller pockets with ammo. The last thing I wanted to do was keep using human weapons, but it was the most effective method on the run. I had no idea what state Danyal would be in when I finally got him out of that compound, but I had to assume he'd be just as bad as Kor or Zane.

If I was lucky, he'd be able to run. If miracles existed, he could shift, and we could make time on four paws that we'd never be able to accomplish on two feet.

But, if things continued as they were, I'd be carrying a battered, lifeless—maybe even feral—body through the woods in hopes that I could make it to the caves before the humans were on our tail.

I let my heart take a moment to miss him—to be furious with myself for squandering what might have been something good and perfect simply because I was afraid. How pathetic that fear seemed in comparison to how I felt now. How petty and small.

My reasons were my own, and my grief and trauma would never fully heal, but Danyal had deserved a better Alpha.

No.

He deserved for me to be a better Alpha.

With a sigh, I shoved that thought away and focused on the mission. Checking that the guns were in working order, I strapped one to my side, one to my ankle, then tested the weight of the rucksack. It wasn't enough to even begin to slow me down, so I set it aside, then turned away from the car and started toward the edge of the field, tuning my ears in an attempt to hear Paris.

The place was so unlike home, I felt a pang of sickness. Home had never been more than violence and survival, but somewhere along the way—after Kor had returned and filled us with actual hope—Corland began to feel safe. It began to feel like it had promise and purpose.

And I desperately wanted to be there with Danyal in my arms.

Pushing my fingers through my hair, I made a quiet promise to the gods, to the universe, that if I could do this—if I could save this—I would never waste another second with him lost in my past ever again.