Chapter 22 - Jack

I’m halfway through my morning coffee when the call comes in. My phone buzzes on the counter, vibrating so hard it nearly tips over the mug beside it. Reiner’s name flashes on the screen, and I can already feel the tension creeping up my spine. We don’t get calls this early unless something’s gone sideways.

“Yeah?” I answer, cradling the phone between my shoulder and ear while I shrug on my jacket.

“Jack, we’ve got a situation,” Reiner declares. His voice is tight, all business. “Evan wants us at the clearing near the east border. Now.”

I’m already moving, snatching my keys off the table. “What’s going on?”

“Possible shifters in the vicinity. We need to figure out if they’re friendly or if we’ve got a problem on our hands.”

Dammit. Other shifters passing through Green Lake isn’t unusual, but unannounced visitors? That’s a whole different game. “On my way.”

I hang up and grab my boots, lacing them up as fast as I can. Sonya’s still asleep with Fiona nestled beside her. For a second, I hesitate. I want to wake her, tell her where I’m going, but she looks so peaceful, and I don’t want to drag her into this mess just yet.

I scribble a quick note instead, leaving it on the kitchen counter where I know she’ll see it:

Got called out. Be back soon. Stay inside and keep your phone close.

—Jack

The drive to the clearing is a blur of winding roads and half-formed thoughts. Reiner’s truck is already parked at the edge of the trees when I pull up. He’s leaning against the hood with his arms crossed, and his expression is as grim as I’ve ever seen it.

“Nice of you to join us,” Reiner comments, pushing off the truck and falling into step beside me.

“Wouldn’t miss it,” I reply, trying to keep my tone light, but there’s no hiding the edge in my voice. Whatever this is, it’s serious enough that they called the alpha in. Evan doesn’t bother with anything less than an SOS.

We walk up the path, and the sound of crunching leaves underfoot breaks the morning quiet. The air is thick with tension, and when we reach the clearing, I spot Evan and Rafe, our alpha and beta, standing by the tree line, deep in conversation. The alpha’s presence is a force of its own, commanding and unyielding. Evan’s broad shoulders are squared, and his gaze is fixed on the distant horizon like he’s already sizing up whatever threat might be out there. Beside him, Rafe stands with his usual calm demeanor. The two brothers are like opposing forces—Evan, all fire and readiness, and Rafe, the steady anchor that keeps him grounded.

Evan turns when he hears us approach, nodding in greeting. “Glad you made it.”

“What’s the story?” I ask, cutting straight to the point. We don’t have time for pleasantries, not when potential enemies are sniffing around our borders.

Evan gestures toward the trees. “We got reports from one of the patrols. Said they spotted a couple of shifters lurking just beyond the perimeter. Didn’t recognize them, and they weren’t showing any signs of being friendly. Could be passing through, but we can’t take any chances.”

Reiner lets out a low growl, and his hand tightens into a fist at his side. He’s had his fair share of run-ins with rogues, and he doesn’t take kindly to interlopers. “You think it’s the rogues from last year?”

“Possible,” Rafe answers. “But we won’t know until we get eyes on them. We need to find out if they’re just here to cause trouble or if they’ve got some kind of agenda.”

I exchange a glance with Reiner, and I can tell he’s thinking the same thing I am: this isn’t a random run. If rogues are sniffing around, it’s only a matter of time before something goes wrong. We’ve had too many close calls in the past, too many times when one small misstep could’ve cost us everything.

Evan catches my eye and says, “I want you two on point. If things go south, you’re our first line. Get in, assess, and report back. No unnecessary risks.”

“Got it,” I confirm. This isn’t just about protecting Green Lake; it’s about making sure that what I have here, what I’m building with Sonya and Fiona, stays safe.

Reiner claps a hand on my shoulder, a silent promise of backup if things go sideways. “Let’s get this done.”

Evan gives us a sharp nod, dismissing us with a final look that says he’s counting on us to handle this. As Reiner and I head back to get ready, the gravity of the situation settles in my gut like a lead weight. I think of Sonya, of Fiona’s little laugh, and it drives home what’s at stake. I can’t afford to screw this up. Not now. Not ever.

When we reach the trucks, Reiner’s got that focused look in his eyes, the one that means he’s ready for whatever’s coming. He has his own family to protect, and I’m right there with him. No matter what we find out there, we’re going to handle it. We have to.

“Ready?” Reiner asks, sliding into the driver’s seat and firing up the engine.

“Let’s get this done,” I reply, settling in beside him. As we pull away from the clearing, my mind is already running through a dozen scenarios, each one more dangerous than the last. But one thought stays constant, sharper than any threat we might face. I’ve got something worth fighting for, and I’m not letting it slip through my fingers. Not without a damn good fight.

Once we park again, we shift at the edge of the forest. I feel the familiar burn and hear the crackle of bones as muscle and fur take over. The world sharpens around me; scents and sounds amplify in ways they never do when I’m human.

Reiner and I fall into an easy rhythm, paws thudding against the soft earth, each step carrying the weight of the mission ahead. The wind rips through the trees, bringing with it the scent of pine, damp earth, and something else—something off. A tang that makes the fur along my spine bristle.

Reiner picks up on it, too. He lets out a low growl, his eyes scanning the dense foliage as we push forward. My ears perk at the faint sound of voices, muffled and agitated. I signal to Reiner with a short bark, and we slow our pace, creeping forward with calculated stealth.

Through the underbrush, we catch sight of the source. A group of shifters, rogue by the looks of them—scruffy, mismatched clothing torn and dirty, faces hard and unfriendly. There are five of them, and they’ve got three women tied to a tree. The women look scared, one of them with a fresh cut across her cheek, blood trickling down her neck.

My wolf instinct kicks in, and the urge to attack is overwhelming, but I force myself to hold back, to assess. Rushing in blind could get us all killed.

Reiner nudges my shoulder, his eyes narrowing on the leader of the group, a big guy with a thick beard and eyes that burn with a cruel kind of confidence. I’ve seen his type before. Likes to throw his weight around, thinks he’s invincible. He’s barking orders at the others, directing their actions with grunts and one-word sentences. I bare my teeth, a silent promise that I’m ready to tear him apart if he makes the wrong move.

Reiner shifts back to human beside me first, and the transformation is quick and seamless. I follow, letting the human part of me resurface, the chill of the forest air biting at my exposed skin.

“I recognize him,” he tells me. “Name’s Vince. He bounces around from rogue unit to rogue unit, stirring up trouble.”

“Fantastic,” I grumble.

Reiner nods, keeping his eyes fixed on the leader, who finally notices us. He steps forward with a smug grin spreading across his face.

“Well, look who decided to join the party,” he sneers, crossing his arms over his broad chest. “Didn’t think Green Lake would send their puppies out to play so soon.”

“Let the women go,” I demand, keeping my voice steady but lacing it with the kind of warning that I hope cuts through his arrogance.

Vince chuckles, a low, menacing sound that grates on my nerves. “You think you can waltz in here and start making demands? You’ve got balls, I’ll give you that. But you’re outnumbered, and this is none of your business.”

Reiner stalks forward. His posture is relaxed but ready to strike at a moment’s notice. “This is our territory, Vince. That makes it our business. Last warning—release them and leave, or we’ll make you leave.”

Vince’s grin widens, revealing a row of teeth that seem sharper than normal, even for a shifter. “You’ve got some nerve, throwing threats around. We’re just passing through, collecting a little insurance for safe passage. Ain’t that right, ladies?” He shoots a glance at the women, one of whom flinches under his gaze.

My hands curl into fists at my sides, and it takes everything in me not to lunge at him. “Insurance?” I snap. “You’re holding them hostage, and you think that’s going to fly here? You’ve got one chance to walk away without bloodshed. Take it.”

Vince’s eyes darken, and his smugness falters for a split second before he pulls it back. “I don’t take orders from pups. And I sure as hell don’t back down because some small-town wolves think they can play hero.”

I lock eyes with Reiner, giving him a barely perceptible nod. This is going to get messy.

Vince raises a hand, signaling his men, and in a flash, they shift—fur sprouting, bodies contorting into massive wolves. Vince’s wolf form is a hulking mass of dark fur and rippling muscle, eyes blazing with a vicious hunger. Reiner and I waste no time, lunging into the fray as we shift mid-air. Our wolves slam into the rogues with a fury that’s been simmering since we caught wind of their presence.

The clearing erupts into chaos. Vince and I collide, our bodies crashing into the ground with a bone-jarring impact. I snap at his neck, narrowly missing as he thrashes beneath me, claws tearing at my flank. Pain shoots through my side, but I grit my teeth and keep going, driving my shoulder into his ribs and shoving him off balance.

Vince snarls before he lunges, snapping his jaws inches from my throat, but I twist away, my teeth grazing his muzzle in a warning bite. The taste of blood hits my tongue, metallic and sharp, fueling the fire in my veins. Vince roars, a guttural sound that shakes the trees, and he barrels into me with all the force of a runaway freight train.

We tumble, a flurry of claws and fangs, each of us vying for the upper hand. I dig my claws into his back, raking down his spine, and he howls in pain, kicking his hind legs wildly to dislodge me. He rolls, pinning me beneath his massive bulk, and for a moment, I’m staring up into eyes filled with unrestrained fury. His breath is hot and foul against my face, and his jaws close in, aiming to crush my windpipe.

But I’m faster. I jerk my head to the side, twisting just enough to slam my paw into his throat, forcing him back. With a heave, I throw him off and scramble to my feet, keeping my stance wide and ready. Vince shakes himself, and blood drips from a gash across his muzzle. He snarls, lashing his tail like a whip behind him.

To my left, Reiner is locked in a brutal dance with two of the rogues while the rest guard the women. He ducks under a swipe before his teeth latch onto one rogue’s leg, yanking hard enough to send the shifter crashing into the other. He’s relentless, not giving them a moment to regroup, and I can see the determination in his eyes as he fights to protect our home, our pack.

Vince charges again, his massive form barreling toward me with reckless abandon. I brace myself, planting my feet and lowering my head, meeting his charge with a force that shakes the ground beneath us. We clash, and the impact reverberates through my bones, but I hold my ground, pushing back with everything I’ve got. Vince snaps at me, and his teeth graze my shoulder, but I retaliate, closing my jaws around the scruff of his neck in a crushing grip.

I can feel the resistance in his muscles, the strain as he fights against me, but I don’t let go. Not until I feel the shift in his stance, the moment of surrender that ripples through his body. I release him, shoving him back, and he stumbles, his breathing ragged and uneven. I have no interest in killing anybody if I can avoid it.

“Enough,” Vince snarls after shifting back to human form. He’s bloodied and bruised, his chest heaving as he glares at me. “You made your point.”

I shift back, panting as I stand over him. “You’re done here. Leave, and don’t come back.”

Vince wipes a hand across his mouth, smearing the blood that drips from his split lip. He looks at his men, who are limping away from Reiner with their tails tucked low in defeat. “This isn’t over,” he growls, but there’s no fight left in his voice. Just bitterness.

“Yeah, it is,” Reiner retorts, shifting back and stepping up beside me. “Unless you want to try your luck again.”

Vince snarls but says nothing, turning on his heels and motioning for his men to follow. They disappear into the trees, and the tension in the air slowly begins to dissipate.

As the rogues fade from sight, my focus shifts to the women. They’re shaken but alive. Their eyes are wide and wary as they take in the aftermath. My eyes move over them, and my heart stops in my chest for a beat when they land on one of them.

Casey. Fiona’s mother. My old fling. Her hair’s tangled, and there’s a bruise forming on her cheek, but it’s definitely her.

“Casey? “What the hell are you doing here?”

Her eyes meet mine. “Jack?” she asks, her voice shaky but unmistakable. “I… they grabbed us near the border. Just after I dropped Fiona off at—”

“Save it,” I cut her off. I don’t think I can handle her finishing that sentence. I hate her for abandoning our daughter, for never telling me about her to begin with until she decided she couldn’t handle it anymore. But she’s part of our pack, and dammit, that means I have to get her to safety. “We need to get you out of here first. We’ll figure the rest out later.”

Reiner steps up, eyeing Casey. “Let’s get them back to Green Lake. Evan will want to know what’s going on. I doubt they’ll let this go.”

As we help the women to their feet, my mind is spinning. I haven’t seen Casey since the night Fiona was conceived, and now she’s here, tangled up in rogue shifter business that’s bound to complicate everything.

Against my better judgment, I lead Casey to the truck, keeping my grip firm on her arm as we navigate the rough terrain. She stumbles, and I catch her. The familiarity of her touch sparks a thousand memories I’d rather forget. I push them aside, focusing on getting out of here before those wolves come back.

I’ve got to get her back to Green Lake, make sure she’s safe. I could drop her off with Evan, let him deal with her, but something keeps me from just unloading her like that. Like it or not, she’s the mother of my child, which means I have an obligation to protect her. I’m going to have to bring her home with me, just in case those bastards come to town looking for her.

But as I glance over at Casey, a pit forms in my stomach. How the hell am I going to explain this to Sonya?