Chapter 23 - Kyle

Even though I’m reeling, my body immediately goes into attack mode. I leap from the bed, grabbing my pants and shirt and fumbling around on the floor for my shoes.

I have to get there! This is all my fault.

“Kyle, slow down,” Leslie says. “What are you doing?”

“I have to get over to Silverton. This could be bad. I know what these guys are like, Leslie. Decker Pack is completely exposed.”

“Please.” She slides over the edge of the bed, grabbing my hand. “Please don’t go.”

“I have to, babe,” I whisper, taking her face in my hands. “I let this happen. I have to go and help. I’ll be back soon, I promise.”

I see pain in her eyes, but she nods. I lean down and hug her, kissing her gently.

“Call Gina and the others, find out the situation here in Silver Meadows. They’ll know what to do, okay?’

“Okay,” she says, nodding. “Please be careful, Kyle.”

I give her one more hug, then run from the house. My phone dings as more messages come in. The Sawpit Pack appears to have hit Silverton with all their numbers, and the place is being overrun. I jump in my truck, which is stocked with supplies and weapons, and gun the engine as I take the road out of town.

Bae has directed all prominent pack members to join the Decker Pack in defense. A lot are running the forest as wolves and will get there faster than us. A few of us, including me, will drive our trucks part of the way so that weapons and supplies will be on hand if needed.

As I put my foot flat to the pedal and brutally swing my truck through corners, I curse Rider’s name.

I should have known. Why did I trust him? I guess part of me still just wants to believe in the good in people.

It doesn’t take me long to get to the nearest meetup point. I leap out of the truck, shedding my clothes and shifting as I run into the forest. Feeling my wolf shape take over me floods me with confidence and power, and I throw my head back and howl.

Around me, I hear answering howls—Seth, Dane, Trace. Further off, I hear Sasha and Carson. The sound of our battle cry echoes through the forest in every direction as it reaches the ears of our fellows, filling the mountains with our song.

I caught the hint of smoke in the air from the moment I left the truck, but as I get closer to Silverton, it gets stronger and stronger. My heart twists in fear as I prepare myself for the worst.

When I come through the trees and see the little village below in flames, all my fear transforms into rage. I can smell the enemy wolves, a thick, unfamiliar haze that drifts through the air, mingling with the smoke.

Howls run through the forest, alerting us to each other’s positions. We have pack members circling around so the Sawpit Pack can’t easily retreat, and others forming a weapons relay from the trucks parked in designated areas.

Bae and Decker really set this up well. We’re stocked and prepared for anything these fuckers can throw at us.

As one, we move from the trees. The wolves in the village see us coming and form up through the streets. Our line breaks, sending wolves into the side alleys and falling into formation with those who are circling the town.

As I charge into the nearest street, three wolves come at me, snarling and snapping. I meet them at a full run, leaping for the throat of the first wolf. He tries to evade me, but I crouch down, reaching up to snap my jaws shut on his neck.

I flip onto my paws, shaking my head as hard as I can. The others start to move in on me, and I hurl my opponent’s body at them. They tumble against each other, sliding into the wall of a nearby building. I charge them again, snapping and twisting as they come at me. My fangs pierce flesh, blood stains my muzzle, but I don’t stop.

When those three wolves are dead at my feet, I continue down the street, listening to the fighting all around me. The burning houses make a sickening red glow against the pale dawn sky. The smoke hanging in the air is acrid and thick, stinging my eyes and throat.

I shift and run down the street, banging on doors as I go. The houses look empty, which is a huge relief. It looks like the Decker Pack had enough time to get out before the attack.

I was so afraid I’d see bodies piled upon bodies.

I shift again, loping through the streets and heading for Gladys’s diner. On my way, I take out several wolves, a sense of unease growing inside me.

Something isn’t right here.

I curse myself a bit. It’s a violent and brutal attack—there’s a lot fucking wrong here.

When I reach the diner, it’s not on fire, but the nearest buildings are. When I come through the back door, the meeting room is hazy with smoke but otherwise undamaged.

I’ve barely taken two steps into the room when there is a loud boom, and the wall above my head explodes into splinters. I crouch down on the floor, letting out a low whine.

“Is that you, Kyle?” I hear Gladys’s voice calling out from behind the table. I shift but stay close to the floor.

“Yes, Gladys. Please don’t shoot me.”

“Come on in, child. Can’t take any chances tonight. What’s happening?”

“We’re here, we’re winning,” I say, heading over to her. “Is anyone hurt?”

“No, thank God,” she answers. “We had a relay set up, so the second we saw the fire, word got around immediately and everyone went straight out to the safehouses.”

“Perfect. It won’t take much now to mop this up, then we can all go home. What are you still doing here? Shouldn’t you be in a safehouse, too?”

Gladys chuckles, propping the shotgun on her hip. “If you think I’m leaving my diner for those scoundrels to tear up, you’re dumber than you look. I got this, hon. Get out there and clean house.”

“Yes, ma’am,” I say, giving a mock salute.

I turn and shift back to wolf as I run out the door, returning to the street. The fires are mostly out now, but smoke still spirals up into the sky, blocking the morning sun. I can hear fighting on the north side of town, so I hurry in that direction.

Along the way, I see small groups checking through buildings and clearing the streets, making sure there are no injured to care for or enemies hidden in the shadows. We were extremely well-prepared for this, even if we had to change plans at the last second. Rage burns in my chest again when I think of Rider, but I can’t let guilt consume me.

Not now, anyway. Plenty of time to overthink it every night for the rest of my life.

I wonder if Rider is with the others, and where Jethro might be. I expected the other alpha to find himself a defensible position and take hostages. I also know it wouldn’t matter if we fulfilled his demands or not—he’d slaughter any hostages he managed to take, just because he enjoys murdering people.

The sounds of fighting intensify, and I brace myself to face my foes. I vow to personally take out Jethro and Rider as a matter of honor.

I round the last corner, joining the line of wolves slowly pressing forward and driving the others out of town. They are retreating, so we can push them with threat alone. I keep my eyes peeled, looking up and down the line for familiar faces.

Wait… there aren’t any!

It takes a moment for this to sink in. Before I can say anything, our line breaks as one of the bigger wolves charges our enemies. Suddenly, all of us follow him, triggered by that first movement.

For a few minutes, there is no time and no sense to the world, only flashes of fur, slashing claws, and sharp, glinting teeth. I hear bones crack, and blood soaks the ground. With a series of yelps and barks, the others retreat, turning tail and running into the trees.

My pack starts to howl and bark, sounds of triumph and joy. Before anyone can get too comfortable, I shift and wave my hands.

“Listen to me! Everyone, stop!”

Carson and Seth shift immediately, hurrying over to me.

“What is it?” Carson asks.

“Those weren’t Sawpit Pack,” I answer. “I didn’t recognize any of them.”

“Are you sure?” Seth says. “It was chaotic in there, man. I wouldn’t blame you if you couldn’t see a thing, or separate a single scent.”

“No.” I shake my head. “It’s worse than that. I felt it on the way into town. Something isn’t right here. This isn’t Jethro’s style.”

Sasha has shifted and is walking over to us. Most of the pack have surrounded us and are waiting, their ears pricked up.

“Maybe the pack got quite a bit bigger, and this wasn’t anyone you knew,” Sasha says. “I mean, you couldn’t have been close to everyone there.”

“That’s true, I wasn’t,” I agree. “But the pack isn’t that big. I know their faces, and their scents. I haven’t seen a single one of them.”

Everyone shares a worried look as the implications begin to manifest in our minds.

“Also, where is Jethro?” I ask. “Did anyone kill him? Did anyone see him?”

Carson, Seth, and Sasha shake their heads. I look around at the circle of wolves and see a lot of head-shaking and confused faces.

A groan of despair shudders through me. “This isn’t his style at all. If he was still alive, we’d know exactly where he was right now. He’d been pulling off some major cruelty just to sicken us. Even if he knew he was beaten, it wouldn’t stop him from tearing up a few innocent people, just for kicks.”

“So, what is this?” Seth asks, baffled. “What the hell is going on? If Sawpit Pack aren’t here, where the fuck are they?”

My chest tightens, and I cover my face with one hand. All the fear, all the rage I felt when I first woke up this morning is nothing compared to the dread flooding through me right now.

Maybe… Rider didn’t lie.

When I look around the circle, it’s obvious the others have reached the same conclusion as me.

“The Sawpit Pack is in Silver Meadows,” I whisper, looking up at the nearby mountain range. “I’d bet any money they are attacking right now—from the foot of the range.”

“The shadow of Mount Sneffels,” Sasha whispers.

For one brief second, everyone is still, and the air is strung with tension, singing like a bowstring pulled tight. Then, all at once, we turn and shift, running for the woods.

We have to get back! We have to get home!

I left my pack—my mate !—undefended, and now, all my worst fears are coming true.