I shift to my wolf again. I can’t smell them, naturally, so I can’t tell if they are all wolves or if some of them are casters or something else entirely. Wyatt and Jorge make a wide arc and double back to try and trap them in.
***”Midge, this feels like a trap, but we haven’t come across anything yet. What the hell is going on?”***
***”No idea, but if it’s Mike, who the f*ck knows what he is thinking.”
“***
We all stop as one of the group approaches the lump that is Gentry. They sit her up and pull the cloth off of her head, she looks around, but it isn’t wild or frightened. She is slow and confused. ***”She’s probably drugged like Jena and I were. Oliver, we need Elena here now.”***
***”Where’s ‘here’ Bitty and when did Elena get here?”***
***”No time for talk. Elena is here. Came in with Reggie and the whole crew. We are on the mainland border. A group has Gentry, we have eyes on her and I need Elena. Move your ass.”*** ***”I thought we said no more patrols for you, target! Why weren’t we notified of a threat?”***
***”Bite me Dakota, and get up here to help or stay the f*ck out of my way. THere’s your notification.”***
***”We’re coming, but you shouldn’t be on patrol. Please tell me you weren’t dumb enough to go alone at least.”***
I cut them both off, I will not be lectured.
***”When you three finally kiss and make up, remind me to be in the next pack over.”***
***”Shut up, Lillian.”***
***”I can’t wait to put a face with those flaming red cheeks.”***
***”Oscar, no.”***
***More than one as I recall.”***
***”Oscar, mission, focus.”***
The three of them keep laughing as we stalk forward. It has to be some kind of twisted, broken part of our brains that we can joke about s*x as we are heading into a hostage rescue mission. ***”Details will be needed, and if you don’t give them freely, I will enlist the help of Sierra. Nevermind, I’m going to just have her ask anyway, it will be way more fun.”***
***”I hate you, you know that?”***
***”Not a chance, you are stuck with me, Midge.”***
***”We are in position, check in.”***
I get confirmation from everyone else. I can feel Oliver and the twins close now, one of them must have carried Elena, they are coming in fast.
***”Nathaniel, any signs of movement outside of this group?”***
***”No boss, you look clear from where I’m sitting. Be careful on your approach, it looks like they might be waiting for you.”***
I look at Nikolas and he starts to run. We all follow. The masked group only puts up half a fight though. They take swings, but I can tell no one is really trying.
“Stop!” I shout and there isn’t any hesitation from my group or theirs. I take a look around and see a familiar build. What the hell is going on? I walk over and rip off the hood. “Robbie! What the hell are you doing?”
“It’s the only way, no more talk, get her out of here. She won’t survive for much longer and I know she is important to you. Take them with you too.” He nods at the group around him. “What the f*ck is going on?” Osiston is right behind me. Damn I forgot how fast and quiet he is.
I ignore him of course. “Are they trapped by the binding spell?”
Robbie hangs his head. “Yes, but there has to be a way to free them. You have to find a way.
“No offense, but no. You may have let Jena and I go, but you have had plenty of time to reach out. I don’t trust you.”
“And you shouldn’t, but I told you I am trying to make this right. Mike is getting worse and you are the only thing he is focused on. He’s even cut off communication with the Rogue King.” “How do you know that?”
“We don’t have time for this. He knows a small group came out to do recon on your border. He doesn’t know I took her.” He points to Gentry in Nikolas’ arms. “Or brought more people. So either kill me or let me go back before he decides to search. They are here to be freed, but they can be tracked because of the spell, they need to be released completely. Figure it out or don’t but now it’s on your head if they die.”
“What the f*ck did you just say to her?” Cam slides in behind me. “Don’t lay out threats when you can’t handle the consequences.”
“None of your business, baby Alpha.” He doesn’t take his focus off of me. Cam growls and tries to push forward. I shoot my hand out and feel Osiston move next to me, most likely holding him back. Cam stays right behind me and places a hand on my shoulder. “Mike is obviously close enough and I can’t take him down alone. I can’t get out until he dies. You and your pack won’t be free until he dies.” Dakota walks up and places a hand on my other shoulder, letting a soft grumble out. Robbie looks at their hands on my shoulder then back to my face. “Figures.” He shakes his head and then smiles and leans so close our noses touch, takes a deep breath and whispers. “See you around baby Luna.”
Then he just turns and takes off. I blink and look over to Elena, leaning over Gentry. She’s in good hands, but she needs a hospital.
“Hey boss, do we follow?” Wyatt asks and I look at Osiston, I am so out of my depth here. I took the lead because it’s my pack, but it’s hard not to relinquish that lead to people I have been taking orders from for two years now. They have more experience at this than I do.
“Do you trust him, Little One?”
“No, there is always something more going on, but he has also had way too many chances to hurt me, so I don’t think that’s his thing. He still needs me alive, for now.” This brought on growls from behind me. I know it’s the twins, but there are more too. I just don’t care enough to look. I feel so overwhelmed all of a sudden.
“Let him go. Round these folks up and let’s take care of Gentry. We are more than likely being watched so take them as prisoners for now and we can figure out what this kid’s game is.”
“We need to see if they all have trackers, before we leave this spot. Mike may know we have them, he may not, but we are not leading him straight to where we will keep them.” I look around for Sierra. I’m hoping that her time away was spent figuring out some of this sh*t with her parents. I know she’s here somewhere. Neither her or Sam would miss this. “Sierra?! Where are you?” I yell over the crowd. Some of these people look scared and malnourished.
Her and Sam walk up to me ready to work. “Please tell me your mom told you how to locate and remove the trackers that Mike puts in his people.”
