60. Chapter 60

Chapter 60

J ackson looked back the way they had come and listened. There was nothing but the sound of the forest animals and the wind howling through the trees. They had already walked far enough into the forest that it was too dark for human eyes unless they brought their torches.

The Hunters would have torches. They'd have heat sensors and night vision. They'd have military-grade weapons to wipe them out.

He sighed and held Hope closer to his chest. Layla hadn't complained yet even though they had been walking for hours, only stopping when the baby wanted to feed. Faith led the way because she knew where the meeting point was, and Layla followed her without stumbling. If anyone else had come with them, they would have been asking why Layla could see so well in the dark.

They were about an hour away from where they would meet the pack when Hope started to cry. Her little voice echoed in the darkness, and it made him worry. Layla rushed back to him and took her from his arms. Faith stayed ahead and became the lookout, as she had done before.

"Sit here," he instructed Layla, brushing some dead leaves and twigs off a fallen tree trunk.

Hope quietened the moment she started to feed. There was still nothing for miles behind them, but he wouldn't relax until they were safe with the pack. He had only covered their tracks in the first hour, and beyond that, they'd had to tread as lightly as possible.

Dylan was a skilled warrior, so he wouldn't have left tracks to begin with. Why had he gone back? Why was that idiot deviating from the plan? It wouldn't have mattered if there were any odd tracks near the city. All he'd had to do was get as far away from the town before he entered the woods and then ran for his life. Who the hell was going to look after Hope if he got himself killed?

Cain tried to push himself to the surface, but he pushed the beast back. Now wasn't the time to act impulsively or emotionally. He couldn't head back and kill all those Hunters.

"Are you sure they won't find us?" Layla asked.

"The last time the Hunters got any of the packs in our territory was over a century ago," he explained. "We have a system, and there are wards up ahead. We'll be safe once we get to our meeting point."

That was always the hope, but the fact was there hadn't been a hunting party in Wolfsdale since that time. The Hunters that had come to town when his father had been alive had been just passing through, and though they had done some hunting, they'd had nowhere near the force of an entire party. This was the first time any of them were going through this, so it could go either way.

His ears pricked. Somewhere in the distance, a twig snapped under someone's shoe. Layla gasped and looked up at him before she rushed to her feet. He hadn't realised her range of hearing had become that advanced.

"I'll feed her while we walk," she whispered before joining Faith. Faith helped her to strap Hope to her chest so both of her hands were free to protect the baby from the dense undergrowth of the forest.

He looked back again. They were still hours ahead, but had the Hunters found a trail, or was it just dumb luck that they were heading in the same direction?

‘Go faster. Layla will keep up,' he instructed Faith.

Faith didn't question it. They started to move at a speed a human would not have kept up with until he sensed the powerful magic of the protective barrier. After the last hunting party had almost wiped them out, the remaining packs in the territory called a truce so their witches could work together to create a spell to ward off intruders. Even though the wards hadn't been tested yet, he relied on them to protect Layla and Hope.

Lead settled in his stomach. He should have stayed behind to lead them away.

The magic rippled over his skin as it allowed him entry, and then he finally sensed his pack and heard their whispers. At least that much was working. They could hide anywhere past this point once everyone arrived.

As they approached the clearing, Faith's mother appeared at the edge of the trees. The young girl ran into her mother's arms, their relief at being reunited tangible. But this was just the beginning. They couldn't celebrate yet when the hunt had just begun.

As they walked into the clearing, the pack quietened down. They were in light clothing that they could easily carry because, from this point, they would flee in their other forms.

"Why has she come back?" someone whispered. "She'll get us caught."

Micah stepped forward and approached him with his head lowered. He'd stepped into his role as Gamma much easier than Jon had before he'd been killed.

‘Alpha,' he started in the mind link. ‘There's only one group left to join us, and then we can go. Have you heard from Beta Dylan?'

He shook his head and looked back in the direction they had come from. The Hunters stayed on their trail as if they knew where to find them. Unease settled on his shoulders.

"Miss Layla," Micah said to Layla, bowing his head. And then his eyes landed on the little bundle still strapped against Layla and lit up. "Congratulations."

"Thank you," Layla whispered.

But her anxiety had increased because she could hear the whispers, too. They may have accepted her after she had fought Brax's pack, but Hunters were a different story. One mistake could wipe all of them out.

‘The other group are not too far. Get everyone ready to move; the Hunters are already tracking us.'

Micah lifted his gaze, the worry evident in his eyes.

"Where's Diedre?" he asked out loud.

"Resting. It took a lot out of her to cover our territory," Micah answered, and the worry coming from him told him things weren't as simple as that. Diedre was in no state to have done such a big spell.

He sighed and then put his arm around Layla's shoulders to find somewhere for her to sit. The whispers died down, but the fear in the camp started to increase. When Layla had settled on the ground against a huge tree trunk, he handed her the rucksack so she could attend to Hope.

"Don't drop anything. Try not to disturb too much of the environment. Focus on hiding yourself, and you'll know what to do."

Her wolf would know what to do. Self-preservation was an instinct all wolves were born with.

He looked around the camp and saw Gina and her group of traitors standing at the edge of the clearing with a few warriors guarding them. She lowered her eyes and started to tremble.

‘What did they tell you?' he asked Micah.

‘Zach was working with the witch, but they never saw her. Amber found a way to relay the messages."

The same way she had appeared to Layla. And the way the witch had appeared to the Alphas she had tried to control.

‘They don't know what the end game was, but Zach threatened them when they tried to back out. They said they only wanted justice for their families; they never intended for things to go that far.'

They should have thought of the consequences. He had no sympathy for them anymore.

Only a few moments later, he sensed the other group finally crossing the barrier. His pack started to shuffle and whisper, unsure if they could shift in front of Layla. One of the older men came forward with his head lowered.

"Alpha, I don't mean to sound disrespectful, but why is the human here? It was her fault the Hunters came to this town the first time, and now they will easily track her here."

"And how was it her fault?" he growled.

If anything, it was his. If he hadn't left Costas alive when he'd kidnapped Layla, there would never have been any whispers.

"She has been in the middle of everything, Alpha. I've stayed quiet before, but if she leaves as much as a footprint, then we're all dead. I have children to protect."

"So do I," he growled.

The man's displeasure rose. He wasn't one of Zach's people, but he had obviously been listening to the lies about Layla.

"I think she should go back," someone else said. "She's human; she can take her chances."

"She's staying with me," he stated.

"You're still putting her above your pack?" the man asked.

"She is part of this pack."

The final group walked into the clearing and stood behind him, showing their loyalty. They were the warriors who had been with him at the hideout and the ones who had been guarding Layla's sister. Every wolf had to get to safety in such a situation.

"We can't have a human in the pack, Alpha," another member said. "I agree. If she starts to head back now, she will be far from us if they see her."

His anger started to rise. His fists balled up as Cain became more alert. They had been singing her praises and talking about how she had fought like the warriors. And now they wanted her to take her chances with Hunters?

"She can't go anywhere."

At the sound of the frail voice, everyone turned. The crowd parted, and Diedre came forward, holding on to a warrior's arm.

His anger dissipated. He hadn't been gone that long but Dee... She looked like she wouldn't make it through the night. Her hair was completely white, and her cheeks and eyes had hollowed and darkened. And her skin had wrinkled as if she was closer to one hundred. She hunched over as she walked, every step looking like it hurt her.

"Dee!" he said as he rushed to her side and picked her up. Her bones stuck into him.

She wasn't supposed to be on her feet like that. What if she got knocked over?

"Put me down, Jackson. If you want to carry anyone, go and carry your baby," Diedre said with a frown.

"What did you do?" he whispered.

"Our home will be safe. You won't have to uproot your family. Isn't that what you wanted?" Her voice was so weak.

"Oh, Dee," he sighed, putting his forehead against hers. "I told you to stop."

"But I can't. It's my job," Dee said before she looked at the pack again.

"Layla isn't leaving because what your Alpha said is true. She's part of the pack. She's your Luna."