Cynthia couldn’t believe they had been defeated so soundly.
The attack had come in the night and taken them unawares so how had the Mountain Coast pack still managed to turn the tides in their favour?
It wasn’t like she was really bothered because she had taken the necessary steps to avoid capture. No one would know that it was she who had sent the guard routine and safe house location out.
The only problem was Calvin. After the forced kiss they had shared, he seemed to fancy them a couple who had declared undying love for each other.
He had come to see her just the day before and her parents had been unable to help her field him because she had gone for a walk to clear her head, among other things.
“Cynthia.”
She was startled. She’d thought herself alone only to see Calvin standing there, his blond hair a shade lighter than hers and his smile warm and inviting if a little weighted.
“Calvin, what a pleasant surprise.”
What else was she supposed to say? She had no idea.
He closed the distance between them and took her hand, his finger felt cool around hers.
“Every moment of the battle, I worried. I thought I would never see you again. You have no idea how much it disturbed me. I know this is too soon and you are still grieving over the father of your child but I just want to let you know that I am here. I will wait.”
He would be waiting a long time then. She had dug this hole for herself thinking that the entire pack would be slaughtered or at least reduced enough that she would be able to slip away with the tunnel and be labelled one of the casualties of the war.
But now she thought about it, she did need an in into the ruling structure of the pack now that Gabrielle had failed and the attack had been unsuccessful.
She lowered her eyes demurely and peeked at Calvin through her lashes.
“Calvin, I don’t know what to say.” Truth.
“Just say you’ll have me.” His voice was earnest and pleading as he pulled her close. His lips hovered over hers as though asking for permission.
I need an in with the upper ranks of the pack. I need an in.
Sliding her hands across his shoulders, she leaned into him and her eyes fell shut as he kissed her.
Cynthia touched her lips. She smiled. Even with her pregnancy and little effort on her side towards looking good, she was still insanely attractive.
Once Calvin returned from his reconnaissance to find out more about the rogues – already she had access to more information that Ava had not shared with her for whatever reason – she would be able to have a firmer hold in the pack.
Her burner phone rang and the smile disappeared from her lips.
This failure wasn’t her fault, she had done everything right.
“Hello.” Her voice was solid with no quiver, she was almost surprised.
“Cynthia.”
She paused her breath racing.
“Dorian?”
********
Gabrielle was glad to see that she wasn’t the only one blindsided.
After the fight, she was surprised to discover that she was relieved that all her family had made it even Ava.
Being a footstep away from death had put things into perspective for her. She didn’t have a mate so she could only imagine and guess at how scared Ava must have felt with Adrian’s life at stake like that. She had been so scared for Adrian and she was only in love with him, not his mate.
She had seen the fear in Ava’s eyes after she came back to herself and the frenzy with which she had gone at Ivy like a crazed woman. A mate in pain and scared about her other side.
Weirdly enough, it reminded Gabrielle of a younger Ava who was always quick to pick a fight if anyone so much as looked at her wrong.
Gabrielle suddenly felt ashamed about her recent behaviour towards her sister. She had justified it in her head that she had been the one wronged and that she loved Adrian. That the ends would justify the means. She had convinced herself that Ava didn’t really care about her or Adrian.
If she was parted from Adrian then the depth of pain she felt would be different from the one Gabrielle was currently going through. How long had they been a couple after all? But after seeing her sister the night before, she couldn’t say that with a clear conscience. Ava loved Adrian.
She needed to have a sincere heart-to-heart talk with her sister. Cynthia might have been unto something.
If only this unexpected pack meeting hadn’t come up.
Her mother walked next to her obviously itching to be at home with her mate. Her father had gotten some minor scrapes but had collapsed due to overexertion immediately after the battle had been won.
He was in the clear but the doctor had emphasized on bed rest and a light continuous exercise routine afterwards to get his body used to the surges of adrenaline accompanying a fight so that he wouldn’t collapse again.
Upon the call of the emergency meeting, he urged them to go. He would be fine, he said.
Her mother had conceded to make him feel less of an invalid. Naturally, they had kept it from Ava who had also sustained substantial injuries.
They gathered at the makeshift arena that they had also used for Ava’s trial. A trial she had contrived to happen. Goddess, what had come over her? Had she been so lost in her pain that she had lost sight of who she was?
The elders sat, resplendent in their robes. Adrian sat with Ava settled in next to him. As though she could feel them enter, Ava looked towards her direction and smiled lightly.
Gabrielle found herself almost smiling back at her before guilt held her immobile. She didn’t deserve a sister like Ava.
***
Within minutes, the place filled up. Gabrielle saw Cynthia enter and looked away. Cynthia had been a good friend to her but she wondered if she hadn’t incited her maybe she would have seen the light sooner.
Elder Elvis, Ivy’s father, took the podium.
“My people, we are gathered here today because of the rogue attack.”
The rogue attack?
“An attack that rendered a lot of our loved ones injured and some dead. We bled and fought. Today, however, we stand strong and unbeatable. We shall burn and mourn our dead as tradition dictates but before that comes the matter of punishment.”
What was Elder Elvis talking about? Punishment for what? The rogue attack was something that happened to every pack. The only thing that had been unusual about it was the numbers.
All around Gabrielle, the pack members murmured equally confused as she was. Her mother looked at her and she shrugged. Who knew what went on in the man’s head? His daughter must have gotten her craziness from somewhere.
“I see the confusion on your faces but I shall enlighten you. The rogues attacked us with the information given to them by one of our own. That was how they knew the safe house location and breached our borders.”
Shock raced through the pack members. Betrayal on such a scale was unheard of.
“We have investigated thoroughly and today, today we shall expose this traitor and execute them as per the laws of our land.”
He paused for a theatrical effect letting the anticipation build, his eyes gleaming with eagerness.
“Warriors, seize Gabrielle Black.”