Chapter 7

Chapter

Seven

Lana

I crouched on the soft mulch in front of Destin's steps. I'd been methodical, setting up the trap exactly as I'd seen it done when we approached. The filament was sharp to the touch, notched in a way that if it was pulled, it would dig deeper into the skin. I didn't know exactly what plant he'd used to coat it, but Kael had said it was some kind of natural poison. One that would keep a shifter from shifting. I needed more of that in my possession.

Now the trap was cinched around Destin's neck. The porch banister had made it easy for me to lift it up without notice while Destin was busy in the kitchen. He let out a low growl and tugged, but the filament only tightened, digging into his skin. "Son of a bitch!" he spat, his voice rough and filled with fury.

"Good evening." I stood and brushed dirt off my knees. "Fancy seeing you out here."

His eyes burned with anger, and he yanked harder against the trap. "Let me out of this, Lana."

I exhaled. "You know my name. I wasn't sure until you yelled it like a curse word." Destin seethed, and I shook my head. "I'm not letting you out until you tell me what I want to know."

I was fairly sure he was going to allow the barbs to rip through his skin at some point. Even if he didn't shift, he had mass and strength on his side. I pulled the dagger and held it out between us. "Don't test me." I wasn't going to use it, but he didn't have to know that.

Destin's hands balled into fists as he glared at me. His breath came in short puffs. He let out a low laugh but didn't speak. His eyes were wild, his wolf so close to the surface, they shone.

"Don't want to talk? I think I have a better chance than those alphas did." I stepped closer, the dried leaves crunching under my boots. Kael and Callista were still inside, and I was glad. I didn't want him feeling sorry for his feral mentor.

I stopped in front of him, just far enough that his arms couldn't reach without pulling on the thread. "They had one of the relics, Destin. This dagger? They were planning to use it to kill wolves in the area. They wanted to use our blood to control the packs." I pointed back to the house. "I'm pretty sure you already know that, though. I heard Kael talking with you on the phone."

Destin's jaw clenched. "And you think I give a damn about relics or alphas?"

I took another step closer, my heart pounding in my chest. "It doesn't matter if you care about relics or alphas. They're coming for us whether we like it or not. If we don't find them first, we'll be at their mercy."

He scoffed. "And you think you can stop them?"

I nodded, my gaze steady. "I think we have a better chance if we work together." I paused, searching his eyes. "Look, I don't know what brought you up here, what made you turn your back on the packs, but I was mostly trying to piss you off in there. Kael talks about you like you're a god. He helped deliver a baby in our pack because of the training you gave him, so I'm not going to pretend like all of this is the extent of who you are. I don't think you're a coward."

Destin's expression hardened. "You don't know anything about me."

"I don't need to know anything other than the fact that you want to help the wolves here," I said, my voice softening. "Help me see how doing nothing will accomplish that because right now, all I see is a pack I need to protect. And wolves in this area that are going to be caught in the crossfire. If you have a better vision of how this is all going to go down, then tell me."

He didn't answer, his eyes locked on mine. The silence stretched between us.

"I'd be happy to leave you tied up out here." I crossed my arms over my chest to keep him from seeing my trembling fingers. Trapping him had been a risk, but everything I'd seen from him told me he was all instinct. I needed to speak his language. Strength. Stubbornness. Two things I was relatively good at.

Kael and Callista's voices carried out from the cabin, and I turned my head. They were standing in the doorway, their expressions a mix of confusion and curiosity.

"What's going on out here?" Kael called. He stepped out into the snow, his breath fogging in the air. "Why is Destin all trussed up like a Christmas ham?"

Callista's eyes widened. "Is that—?" She glanced to the perimeter of the trees. "When did you?—?"

"It doesn't matter," I muttered.

Kael smirked, the corners of his mouth twitching. "I didn't realize you were into bondage, Lana."

"Shut the hell up, Kael."

Callista gave him a long look. "Are you forgetting she did the same thing to you?" Kael's neck reddened.

I focused back on Destin. "Just tell me about Lava Forks. Then we'll march out of your life and leave you to your log splitting."

"I can't tell you. It's something I'd have to show you." Destin stopped fighting the filament, but his muscles still tensed.

"What is it?"

He ground his teeth. "A sacred site."

"And you know this because?"

Kael pushed off the doorframe. "That doesn't matter."

I looked between the two of them. It didn't matter, but my curiosity was piqued.

"I'll take you there. It's a full day's journey. Then you're on your own."

Hope bubbled up in my chest, but I didn't let it show. "How do I know you'll keep your word?"

"He'll keep his word. He's a stubborn ass, but he does what he says." Kael pulled Callista into his side.

I stepped up to Destin. "Hold still."

He glared at me as I reached for the filament, my fingers brushing against his coat. I lifted the catch, and the filament loosened. I wasn't going to cut it and ruin a perfectly good trap.

Destin didn't move as I rolled the thread into a loose lasso. Warmth from his body seeped into me, and I stepped back. He muttered something under his breath and turned back toward the cabin. "You'll have to stay here for the night." He stormed past Kael and Callista.

Touchy.

I followed them inside where a dim light from a single oil lamp cast shadows across the room. The furnishings were minimal, no clutter, no excess. Destin knelt next to a trunk and pulled out a few quilts and blankets, then a rolled-up mat that looked like it had seen better days. "This is what I've got." He stood and handed them to Kael, his eyes meeting mine for a brief moment before he looked away.

Kael nodded, taking the supplies. "Thanks."

"You two can take your old room. If you want." Destin looked at a set of narrow stairs at the end of the room leading to a loft.

Kael glanced at me, and I nodded. He'd hear if anything went down overnight.

Destin turned and walked out of the room and down the hall to what I presumed was his bedroom. I took the mat and bedding from Kael, then found a spot near the fire. Callista handed me my pack. We'd brought them inside, but I'd completely forgotten about them.

She and Kael used the guest bathroom first, then escaped to the loft. I took my toiletries into the room, surprised that there was any kind of running water. Sure, I had to use a pump to get fresh water in the sink and the same to fill a bucket to flush the toilet, but it was better than walking to an outhouse.

Questions swirled in my head. Had Destin built this place? Had he dug a well? Built a septic system? Regardless of whether I was convinced he was crazy, it was impressive. And it was a stark contrast to my life with the pack, where there was plenty of luxury and comfort. Or had been. What did that say about Destin? About me?

My mind buzzed with the events of the day as I brushed my teeth, and I couldn't help but replay my conversation with Destin over and over. He hadn't said anything to the alphas. He'd let them beat the shit out of him, but he hadn't divulged his secret. Why? It was stupid. He didn't care about any of it. He could've talked and gone back to his solitary life in the woods, but instead, he'd taken the abuse and kept his mouth shut.

Maybe they wouldn't have let him go. Maybe they were waiting for Kael, regardless.

My thoughts spiraled. What if the alphas decided to go ahead without him? Had they already sent wolves to Lava Rock? My gut twisted at the thought of them finding something before we did—something powerful enough to shift the balance of power in their favor.

Tomorrow. We'd find out at least some of the answers then.

My thoughts wandered back to Destin. What had happened to him? Kael had protected him when I brought up Lava Rock. What had driven him to live alone in the mountains, to fashion traps and keep people at more than arm's length? Had he been betrayed? Abandoned like Kael? Or had he chosen this life, casting off the bonds of pack and family for reasons only he understood?

I blew out a breath and closed my eyes, trying to shut off my racing thoughts. I needed to be ready for whatever came next. For the alphas and their power plays. For the secrets Lava Rock might reveal.

I stalked back into the room, settling next to the crackling fire. I lay down on the mat and pulled the blanket over me, but my mind still raced. I reached for my pack and pulled out the book, turning to the same page I'd read earlier.

There once was a man named Thorne Moreau . . . One by one, he claimed them . . . But power has its price . . . Lost to madness.

What had he done? I turned back, taking in the swirling color and the goblet that lay at the center of it. I read the subtitle.

The mate of Thorne Moreau, once stricken with disease, then revived with wine from the everlasting goblet.

Must be nice. I flipped back, this time finding another picture of Thorne, a gilded crown sitting atop his head.

The alpha and the crown. No wolf's mind is his or her own.

I frowned. What the hell kind of kid's storybook was this? I closed the book and set it aside, then flicked off the lamp. My muscles began to relax, and I almost drifted off when I felt a twinge in my bladder. Damn it. Had I forgotten to use the toilet or had I drunk too much at dinner? I groaned and pushed off the blankets and made my way across the room, careful not to disturb Kael or Callista.

The cabin was dimly lit, the only illumination coming from the flickering flames and the soft glow of the oil lamp on the table. I found the hallway and turned the corner, my eyes adjusting to the dark.

I was halfway to the bathroom when I heard a rustling sound and looked up. My breath caught in my throat. Destin stood in his room past the open door, his back to me, shirtless. He must have just come from the bathroom. I hadn't heard anything in the hall, but?—

His muscles flexed as he pulled a shirt over his head. His skin was taut over defined muscle, and his shoulders were broad, tapering down to a narrow waist. I tried to rip my eyes away, but couldn't.

My wolf let out a low hum, and I almost laughed. Days of nothing from her, and now she was wide awake? Down girl. I finally succeeded in forcing myself to look away, then slipped into the bathroom.

My heart pounded in my chest as I stood there, staring at the porcelain sink. What the hell, Lana? It was just a body. Just a very nice, very attractive body that I'd never seen before. Even though I'd seen him shift outside of the alpha's building, he looked nothing like that. He'd healed. Grown strong again. And it was a sight to behold.

I pumped water and splashed it on my face, trying to cool the sudden heat that had risen to my cheeks. I took a deep breath, then reached for the towel hanging on the rack. I nearly forgot to use the toilet, but thankfully remembered at the last second. I relieved myself, then washed my hands and dried them.

I opened the door and stepped back into the hall, tiptoeing back to my bed. I needed to stay focused. To keep my eyes on the prize.

Not on Destin's muscular back.