22. Twenty-Two

This was crazy.

One wrong move, and my mate could die. I couldn’t let that happen. I wouldn’t.

I hated that I couldn’t be here in reality. My real self sat in a car parked on the side of the road miles away. I was protecting Lincoln and Sloane the best way that I knew how, but we had to win. I had to fight like everything depended on winning because it did.

We were closing in on the other pack. Sloane was so fast.

I took control, thankful that she let me and didn’t fight me.

I snarled, a ferocious sound ripping from my throat as me and Eric, the enforcer in charge, caught each other in a vicious hug. We both reared up on our back legs, snapping and growling at each other, grappling to get the upper hand.

His wolf was as strong as I was, but Sloane’s wolf was much more petite than mine. But where she lacked in bulk, she made up for in speed.

And it didn’t take away from the fact that I had years of training on my side with the advantage of working with the youngsters who were first learning how to shift. Most men didn’t know how to do that and weren’t used to wrestling someone so much smaller.

It was an advantage I intended to exploit.

I ducked my head, going for his leg and chomping down on the fleshy part of his armpit area. He yelped in pain and hopped backwards, losing his balance, and he fell on his back only to roll to the side at the last minute.

I bit at him, but he was fast, too, and squirrelly. He kicked his legs out, trying to turn me over. I put one paw on his chest, doing my best to hold him in place with Sloane’s weight.

He got his back legs underneath us and kicked up, hitting us in the gut and flinging us away. We rolled with the momentum and then skittered to our feet.

Sloane’s voice echoed in my mind. He’s favoring the leg we bit. We should use that to our advantage.

Agreed. We just got to get him into a vulnerable position again.

She chortled. Do what you got to do. I’m just along for the ride even though it’s my own body.

I chuckled. Sweetheart, now is not the time to make jokes.

I know. I’m sorry. Just be careful. I don’t want anything to happen to us.

Me either, sweetheart.

Eric lunged, and we darted to the side. Sloane was right about his leg. He put a little too much pressure on it, and it practically gave out on him, making him stumble. I used that as our opportunity to charge.

We threw ourselves at him and landed on his back. I put my mouth on his neck and bit down. Blood gushed into my mouth as I dug in as hard and deep as I could while shaking my head back and forth. He grunted and bucked up, trying to throw us off, but I refused to let go.

My right paw moved of its own volition, and it took me a moment to realize that Sloane was doing it. It was an odd sensation being in her body, and both of us controlling two different parts. Weird, but I’d take it.

She dropped her shoulder lower, giving her an opportunity to get her claw underneath his belly. She flexed her paw, exposing the sharpest points of her nails, and then sliced them across his chest.

Eric fell to the ground. Sloane got her leg out in time to keep it from being crushed, but I still had my death grip on his neck and wouldn’t let go. I tore in, making him whimper and gurgle.

Eric fought back and thrashed, but his movements grew weaker and slower by the second. He panted, and then his eyes slid shut, his breathing slowing before finally stopping altogether.

We got to our feet, ready to fend off more.

For the first time in a long while, I was pleasantly surprised. The majority of the pack had already taken out everyone else. Nine wolves of my father’s sat up on the hill.

Sloane narrowed her eyes. What are they doing?

I cocked my head to the side. I’m honestly not sure.

I could feel Sloane’s indecision.

They didn’t attack us. That’s weird, right?

Very,I answered her.

They just sat there and hadn’t done anything. It was the most bizarre thing I’d seen.

Sloane bubbled with hope. Maybe they’re defectors. And they were just waiting for the right moment. It wouldn’t be the first time.

I considered it for a long moment. She was right. It wouldn’t be the first time. The guys who had tried to abduct her just a week ago hadn’t been loyal to my father. They were only doing it because they were terrified. Maybe these wolves were in the same boat. There was only one way to find out.

Sloane must have come to the same conclusion. We need to question them.

I dug my feet into the ground to keep her from going up there. I don’t want you anywhere near them until we know what’s happening.

I could feel her roll her eyes.

I’m the alpha, she reminded me. It’s my job to question them. And if they are defecting, they need to swear their allegiance to me.

She wasn’t wrong, and I hated it. I guessed I was getting a taste of my own medicine. Sloane and Lincoln had to constantly stand by while I was in danger. My heart pinched at the thought. Was this what I put them through on a daily basis?

Sloane whined and jerked her head toward the wolves. Then she took off at a slow trot. I couldn’t see the other wolves following her, but I knew instinctually that they were.

Sweetheart, I don’t like you being up front. One wrong move, and they could all pounce on you.

She pushed forward, picking up the pace despite my warning. I don’t think that’s going to happen.

I squinted, watching the wolves for any signs that they planned to move. The one in front bowed his head and then dropped his belly to the ground. The others followed suit.

About twenty feet away from them, Sloane slowed. Her enforcers filed in, forming a circle around the other wolves. She closed the distance, moving far closer than I was comfortable with, but she’d stopped taking my advice.

Lincoln had been oddly quiet. I knew he wasn’t hurt because I could feel him a few feet behind me.

Sloane rocked forward and triggered her shift. She knelt on the ground in all her beautiful glory on her hands and knees. Slowly, she stood up. The shift pushed our minds apart and left me standing next to her with no choice but to watch if any of the wolves decided to attack.

I sneered at them even though they couldn’t see me. I would move heaven and earth to keep my mates safe.

One by one, the wolves started to shift back to humans. Someone from behind us handed Sloane an oversized T-shirt and pajama bottoms that she slipped on. She fluffed out her hair and then crossed her arms over her chest as she waited.

I moved close enough that our shoulders touched. You need to find out what they want.

I could feel her excitement but also her fear of the unknown. The mixed emotions made me feel nauseous.

Sawyer, they might be about to defect. This could be huge. Not only will we rescue the Dennings, but we will be bringing nine new members into the pack.

I shook my head. Sloane, you can’t trust all nine of them. What if this is a trap?

She paused, tilting her head to the side as she studied them. I’m not saying I’ll let them go unguarded, Sawyer. But we’ve seen it before. Not everyone who serves your father is there of their own free will. Sometimes they’re just trying to protect the people they care about. You can’t blame them for that.

I glared at the men, but my face softened as they stood and brushed the dirt off their bodies. I couldn’t blame them for wanting to protect the people they loved. That was all I wanted to do, too. But I needed to be sure that Lincoln and Sloane were safe before I trusted these men.

She put her hands on her hips and stared at the nine men, taking her time to look at each of them before she spoke. “You came here on Alpha Dane’s orders but decided not to attack.”

One guy took a step forward. Multiple growls echoed through the trees, and he stopped in his tracks.

“Alpha, we have no desire to follow Alpha Dane,” he said. “We only did it to save our lives after we watched him slaughter all the other men in our pack. We had hoped that we could make a difference there, but I don’t see how we can. It’s hard to know who to trust.”

That was the truth. That was why Lincoln and I had never reached out to anyone. Not only were we the alpha’s sons, but one wrong word to the wrong person, and that was it. Game over.

Sloane narrowed her eyes. “You understand why I’d be hesitant to just trust you. What pack do you come from originally?”

The guy looked at the ground, and his shoulders fell. “Pack Munson out of Wisconsin. I can’t blame you for questioning our loyalty. We would like a chance to prove it to you, though. If you’ll have us.”

I exhaled and put a hand over my mouth. We acquired Pack Munson about a year ago. They were a larger pack, and the fighting grew brutal. It cost my dad about fifty men.

I didn’t remember these guys because they hadn’t needed much training. They were already skilled fighters.

Lincoln came up behind Sloane and put a hand on her shoulder. “Why didn’t you say anything sooner? I defected a while ago. You made no effort to contact me or anyone else.”

Sloane shifted on her feet and nodded. “You could’ve sent a message through the website. You know that he’s the one who runs it.”

The guy who seemed to be the spokesperson for them scrubbed a hand over his face. “I know you think that we should’ve been able to reach out, and maybe we could have. The cost of getting caught would’ve been someone’s life, and it could’ve put all of us in danger. You know that Alpha Dane monitors the phones that he gives out. We have none of our own. Your website has been banned for anyone in the pack. It would have been a risk.”

I touched Sloane and Lincoln’s shoulders. He’s telling the truth. Father forbids anyone from going to the DarkSide site.

Sloane spoke to both of us through our connection. You guys would’ve known them best. What are your thoughts? Is this a trap?

Lincoln looked at her and held her gaze for a long moment. We always suspected that there were more people there who weren’t happy with what Father was doing.

She pursed her lips. I don’t think we have a choice, then. We have to give them the benefit of the doubt. If we turn them away and others learn about it, we’ll never get new people to come here from your dad’s pack.

I hated every bit of it, but she was right. Promise me you’ll proceed with caution.

You know that I will. Her voice sounded soft, and I could hear the indecision in it.

Sloane took a step forward, standing taller as she stared at the men. “I’m willing to offer you temporary sanctuary. You will be under constant surveillance until you prove that you are trustworthy. I understand that your pack was brutally taken over and you were forced to work with Alpha Dane. But I think you can understand why it would be hard for me to trust you as well.”

The wolf who had been speaking fell to one knee. The rest followed his lead. “Alpha Sloane, we will serve you and earn your trust. We promise.”

He bowed his head and put one hand on his chest, and the others did as well.

Sloane drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Then we will accept you into our pack. Did you bring other cars, or did you travel on foot?”

The wolf continued to look at the ground. “We followed the Dennings on foot. Our cars are parked about where their car was run off the road.”

She tapped her fingers on her bicep. “How far back is that?”

The wolf shrugged and looked back at his men. None of them seemed to have any idea either. “My apologies, Alpha. I’m not sure, but I feel like we have been on our feet chasing them for a fairly large distance. At least thirty miles, maybe more.”

She tilted her head back to stare up at the sky through a break in the trees. “We will take you back to the pack this evening. The sun will be setting soon, and it’ll be getting dark. We’ll discuss what to do with the cars this evening and make plans for the morning to retrieve them.”

Sloane rubbed her hands together. If we could get the cars and have black two-door Mustangs, we could move to your father’s property undetected easier.

Lincoln stiffened. What are you thinking, sweetheart?

She bit her bottom lip, but it didn’t stop the smile from forming on her face. I’m thinking it’s time that we bring the fight back to him.

It was a brilliant plan. And though I’d packed a bag, if she was bringing the fight back to Dad, and on the off chance I could find more defectors, that meant I didn’t have a choice. I had to go back. They needed me there to watch their backs. They wouldn’t be happy, but they would be safe.

Me, on the other hand… I was less sure how much longer I could pull this double-agent thing off.

And then there was the whole Fiona issue.

I had to think of a plan, and fast.