25. Kezia

I stoodon the edge of the packlands as I watched the pack leave. They left in groups. Cannon was the first one to go, and I’d had no embarrassment as I kissed my alpha goodbye and told him to come home quickly. The shaman had blessed them with Luna’s grace before they left, and then Cannon had shifted, and I’d watched the massive wolf lead his pack to war.

Kris had been with him, and I didn’t think I had ever been as scared as I was right then when my brother and my mate left me behind to go fight a battle that I was at the center of.

I felt helpless, but not for long, I vowed.

Royce led the next team out. Team was probably the wrong word, but they looked like they were split into teams, so that’s what I was calling them. Royce went in a different direction, and I didn’t need to ask, because I knew the plan of attack.

I knew all of it, which if you thought about it, was Cannon’s own fault when he found out I had followed him.

Leo and his team left next, in human form, which surprised me because I knew how fast Leo was as a wolf. His cheery grin and wave as he left made me smile. The big bulky shifter Ned was with him. He didn’t smile or wave, but the wink he gave me was as good as.

It was dawning on me that perhaps Cannon’s pack had more than a touch of eccentricity running through their veins.

Your pack.

My breath caught as I heard him through the link. How far out before we lose this?

Not being a radio frequency, I can’t answer that.

My huff of laughter had the shaman looking at me curiously. “Pup?”

“Nothing.” I watched the last team disappear over the horizon before turning to the shaman again. “Have you seen Cass?”

“She chose not to come down,” he told me quietly. “I believe she’s resting.”

I saw Hannah talking to some of the pack who were left behind. There were twenty-four of us, and we had our orders. A perimeter around the town was already in place, and the children and older shifters were in the hall together. Keeping us contained and together.

I was to regularly check on all aspects of the guard Cannon left behind. Hannah was well-versed in what to do, so I wasn’t feeling too guilty about my plan to ditch them. Which wasn’t true at all—I felt like shit—but he was my mate, and Luna knew he wouldn’t be sitting back if it were the other way around.

Feigning patience while my insides screamed at me that I needed to move fast, I went back to the house on the pretense of checking in on Cass.

The shaman was heading to the hall when he stopped and looked back at me. “There are herbs on the counter, take them.”

“I’m good, thanks.” My pulse had spiked, and I felt like I’d been caught even before I did anything.

“Kezia, take the herbs.”

I was glad he was partially sighted so he didn’t see my eye roll, but I grumbled my agreement, and with urgency snapping at my heels, I made my way to the house. Running up the stairs, I yelled out to Cass that it was only me and then threw myself into Cannon’s bedroom.

All of my things had been moved in here from the guest bedroom where I had stayed at first. This was now our bedroom. He’d explained about the hole in the wall, and we’d both reflected somewhat sheepishly at how hardheaded and stupid we’d been about fighting the mating bond. If we had just completed it sooner, would any of this have happened?

Stripping off my shirt, I pulled on a formfitting black T-shirt. Kicking off my jeans, I pulled on a pair of leggings. The door opened and I turned quickly to see Cass leaning against the doorframe.

She looked me over and smiled. ”Knew I could count on you.” It was only then that I realized what she was wearing. A black shirt, black jeans, and a black hoodie.

“What are you doing?”

“Coming with you.” She pulled her long blonde hair into a high ponytail. “You think my mate is going to war against my father, who wants to kill us, and I’m going to sit here and bite my nails?”

“You’re pregnant.”

“Even more reason why I will not let my mate go without me.”

I watched her as I reached for my own hoodie. “You marked him?”

Cannon and I had made the mate mark the night we completed the mate bond. I’d noticed, almost by accident, that Kris and Cass had no mark. They were mated, there was no doubt, but they hadn’t marked each other.

“I told him I was pregnant,” Cass said, with a flush in her cheeks. “Your brother was very happy.”

I grinned. “Nice.” I frowned as I realized what I had said. “Ugh, ew, no. Not nice.”

Cass smiled wider before she turned serious again. “I won’t lose him, Kez. Tell me you’re defying your mate’s order too?”

We shared a conspirator’s smile. “Does a bear shit in the woods?”

Together we hurried down the stairs, and I directed Cass to the back door. We’d need to be quick to get out of town and then make it past the perimeter guards. Grabbing her arm, I pulled her to a stop as we passed the kitchen counter.

A pitcher of water sat between two cups, both of which had herbs in them.

“What?”

“There.” I pointed to the cups. “The shaman…” I reached for the water.

Cass gripped my arm. “What if it’s to knock us out?” she hissed.

Pushing her hand off me, I rolled my eyes. “Don’t be ridiculous,” I scolded her.

“He’s on the alpha’s side.”

Looking at Cass incredulously, I fought the urge to slap her. “We’re on the alpha’s side, dumbass.”

She looked stumped momentarily before knocking my hand away again from reaching for the cup. “Not on this. They want us here. We don’t want to be here. He could be working with them.”

“Has pregnancy made you stupid?” I poured water into my cup. “This better work cold.” Swirling the mixture, I watched as the water changed color, and then knowing the shaman’s potions better than I should, I held my nose as I drank the concoction down.

After a few moments, I beamed at Cass. “See? Not dead. Or unconscious. Come on, drink, we’re wasting time.”

Cass took longer to drink than I did, but she wasn’t as familiar with all of the shaman’s concoctions as I was. She was still gagging when we got to the back door. Looking at her over my shoulder, I had a twinge of guilt as I took in her pale, drawn face.

“Are you up for this?” I glanced at her stomach. “It’s not just you anymore.”

Cass’s lower lip trembled, but she nodded firmly. “This is my family.”

“Yeah, but half of your family could be trying to kill us.”

“My dad,” she choked. “Pack Leader Bale killed my mom.” Tears welled in her eyes, but they didn’t fall. “Even if he didn’t administer the blow, he left her in a cell to die. Alone. My brother? I know he’s got his issues, but he would never put a silver collar on my neck. I know it in my soul. Your alpha and his pack see him as an enemy—he isn’t. I know it, Kez. I need to do this for my mate and my brother. My unborn child. It’s my family, Kez.”

“Our family,” I corrected her. “Landon’s shady, he’s up to something, but I agree…he’d never hurt you.”

“Or you.” I could argue, but I merely looked away. Her hand on my arm caused me to look back at her. “He knows what you can take. He may have pushed, but he wouldn’t. Unless…” She swallowed. “Unless he’s desperate. He’s desperate, Kez. I need to get to him before he does something so monumentally stupid…”

“He is stupid,” I agreed. “This wasn’t supposed to be a rescue mission for Landon,” I scolded her as I eased the door open.

Cass scoffed. “Course it was. He’s your best friend.”

“I thought that was you,” I snarked as I peeked out onto the street.

“I’m mated to your brother; I’m your sister now.”

Looking at her over my shoulder, I saw the twinkling laughter in her eyes. It was the first time she’d looked happy in days.

“Yeah, well, something happens to you, and my brother is going to kick my ass, so you better be ready to remind him how much you love and need your sister.” The street was clear. “Okay, let’s go. Act naturally.”

We walked out the door, closing it firmly behind us, and headed towards the bunker. We didn’t see anyone and I didn’t hear a sound.

It was almost too good to be true. Right up until we reached the bunker, and Doc was sitting in front of a Jeep, a gun in his hand.

“Doc?” I asked warily.

He shook his head as he looked us both over. “I told Hannah she was stupid to doubt you, that you would listen to your mates, and she told me to sit here anyway and prove her wrong.”

“Hannah?”

He straightened. “Yup. Seems like I’m the stupid one.”

“What’s the gun for?” Cass asked cautiously.

Doc looked at it as if he forgot he had it. He placed it on the hood of the Jeep. “I’m on perimeter duty.”

“So not for us?”

I shot her a withering glare. “Doc isn’t going to shoot us, dumbass. He’s on our side.” I looked back at him. “Right?”

He shook his head. “No, I’m on Cannon’s side, always.” He frowned slightly. “But I also know you,” he told me. “And you’re getting out of this town no matter who stands in your way, so…” He walked to the passenger door, opened it, and pulled out two of the black backpacks. “I was told to make sure you had everything you needed.”

Gratitude swelled within me. “Hannah?”

“Also knows how stubborn and reckless you are,” he said with a small smile.

“If you don’t agree, why are you letting us go?” Cass asked suspiciously as she took a pack off him.

“Because I fucked up.” He shrugged. “I got too into my own head and wanted to fix a problem, a scientific problem. Only I was reminded not that long ago that there’s magic in this world, not just science. I made a mistake. This will not make up for it; in fact, it’s going to get me thrown out of this pack, but I’m not messing with the magic.”

I took the offered backpack. “He won’t throw you out,” I told him softly. “I won’t let him.” Reaching up, I kissed the Doc’s cheek. “Thank you, Mal.”

He rubbed his cheek, a blush in his cheeks. “Told you it’s best to call me Doc.”

“Doc is for the pack,” I told him, putting my backpack on. “Mal is my friend.”

He watched me for a minute and then chuckled. “Well, it’s a nice thought. Won’t stop the punch though.”

“I’ll help nurse you,” I told him with a wink. “Or we just don’t let him know.”

“Right.” He checked Cass over. “You’re in your first trimester; you need to take care. Nothing too strenuous, no heavy lifting, keep hydrated.” Leaning back against the hood of the Jeep, he sighed. “I’d say try not to stress, but I honestly don’t think you can avoid that right now. Whether you’re here or following them, I reckon your stress levels are pretty much shot.”

Cass actually laughed. “Yup. I weirdly feel calmer doing this than I would sitting not knowing.” She looked at him thoughtfully. “You’re an actual doctor?”

“I am.”

I watched my bold friend become suddenly unsure. “Um, when I come back, could you, would you…”

Doc looked more sure of himself. “I can give you a full medical, check the baby if you like.”

Cass nodded, and her bottom lip trembled as she rubbed her belly. “I do like. Please.”

“Are you going to cry all the time?” I demanded. “Stay here with Mal, get checked now. I can’t have you weeping all over the place.”

Cass’s eyes hardened. “You’re not a nice person,” she scolded. “I told you we’re doing this. Come on, you’re holding us up.”

She beamed at Mal like they were sudden bosom buddies, and then set off, leaving me staring after her.

“I think Kris would want you to make sure she’s okay,” Mal prompted.

With a curse, I ran after her, ignoring his low laugh behind us.

We moved at a steady run. Cass may not have done a lot of chores at home, but she trained and hunted and liked to run in both human and wolf form. After my third time of asking, when she told me to stop asking her if she was okay or she’d punch me, we ran in easy silence, both of us watchful of our surroundings.

It was a trek I had made three times now, so it was familiar to me, and I had the advantage of knowing the attack plans from listening to the meetings.

We stopped after a few hours. Cass needed to rest, even if she wasn’t saying it. She downed her water bottle, and I gave her some of mine too. There was a fresh spring further up the mountain, and I told her we would refill there. We both ate some dried beef and shared a protein bar.

We spoke little and, when she nodded, we set off again. I knew they were a few hours ahead by now. The pack would be moving at a much faster pace than us, but that was my hope. That they were so far in front that, by the time Cannon realized we were there, he couldn’t send us back.

When we reached the place where Landon had taken me, it was fully dark. I pulled Cass away from the direct path to the Anterrio Pack.

“What? Why?” she whispered.

“The place Landon took me, it wasn’t at the pack. It was somewhere else. I think it’s this way.”

“You think?” she hissed.

“Don’t hiss at me, Cassandra. It’s your father’s hidden pack; why don’t you know where it is?”

“Snappy much?” she grouched.

Inhaling deeply, I rubbed my eyes. “Sorry, I’m on edge.”

“I know.” Cass slipped her hand into mine. “We’ve got this, Kez.”

Did we? I was beginning to doubt my great plan to swoop in and save my alpha.

“Kezia?” Firm hands grabbed my face, turning me to her. “I need you for this. I need the badass bitch who struts into illegal fighting rings and kicks ass. I need her.”

I nodded. “You got her.”

“Yeah?”

Pulling free from her hold, I nodded. “Yeah.” I took a calming breath. “Yeah. Come on.” I nodded to the west. “It’s this way.”

We kept in low crouches as we moved over the terrain. I couldn’t sense any other shifter nearby, and that was beginning to freak me out more than I wanted to admit.

Together, we went lower down the mountain until I heard the faint snarls on the wind. “Cass?” I whispered.

“It’s already begun?” she guessed.

“Quickly!” We stood and ran towards the sound of the fighting, our feet flying over the uneven ground as we stuck close together.

Cass grabbed me, bringing me to a halt when the clouds suddenly parted to reveal the full moon high above us, which lit the world in sudden brightness.

I almost fell backward at the sight.

In front of us was more than a pack war.

It was complete and total bloodshed.