VIKTOR
“I still don’t get why I have to come with you,” I say as I get into one of the black trucks with her.
It is a hilux truck, with a stunning, shining black paint coat, with sleek tires and a purring engine and there are three others ready to go.
I know had seen it before but I am astounded by their wealth. No ordinary rogue settlement can be this well organized and well to do without a structure.
It was foolish of us to look down on them and even more foolishly of those wolves to think they are easy to kill.
Or subdued.
“What is there not to get!”she asks as she closes the door after her. “Are you not curious to see if any of those wolves might recognize you?”
Not particularly, no.
Not if it jeopardizes my chance of getting my mate to look at me with something other than suspicion.
“I am, but how sure are you that the wolves out there are from the same pack as the ones that you found?”
“I am not. Which is why I am going with a company of twelve wolves.”
Fair point.
The ride to the city is spent in comfortable silence. Rowan is focused on the series of calls she makes as she communicates with the wolves following us as well as those already on sight while I spend the time alternating between watching her work and taking in my surroundings.
The scenery changes from trees and forests to paved roads and the usual bustle of cities.
Humans moving around, going about their mundane lives and business being mostly unaware of the other sentient lives that move around them.
It has always fascinated me at how blind they can be.
How unaware of the danger that they are surrounded in.
I don’t know if that is a blessing or a curse.
“We are here,” the wolf driving announces as he parks into the lot of a large building.
“Where is here?” I ask as I alight and walk up to Rowan.
“This is the workplace of one of our contacts. You can wait outside while I go in.”
“What? Why? I want to come with you?” I whine
“No.”
“Oh, come on. Why can’t I?”
“Because we are going to be discussing some sensitive things that should not be privy to outsiders like yourself. I don’t trust you yet. Alden, watch him,” she says before leaving me to my devices.
So bossy.
I like it.
I watch as she disappears into the building before leaning. g against the wall only to see Alden staring at me.
Like a creep.
“Uh, is there a problem?”
“No, why do you ask?” he asks, still not wavering with his eyeballs.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Like how?”
“Like that! Like you are some kind of creep.”
“I am sorry you feel that way, but as I am sure you heard , Guia said I should watch you.”
“You can watch me without being so damned weird about it.”
“Hmm,” he hums w with a shrug
“And what does that mean? Guia? I have heard you call her That several times now.”
“It is a title . It means leader or chief.”
“I have never heard of it before.”
“One of our… members calls her that and it kind of stuck.”
“Oh, I see. It’s cool.”
“Hmm.”
“So, how long have you been here?”
“Where?”
Is he toying with me?
“Here, in the Coalition.”
“since the very beginning. I was one of those who launched the attack in the pack before we took over.”
Ah. A loyalist.
“And uh, how long has that been?”
“What,?”
“How long has the Coalition been in existence?”
“For about three years.”
“No, I know that. I mean, how long have you all been together.”
“Oh, I joined a year before the attack. Guia as well as the twins were the founders.”
“I see.”
So, he will have no idea about Jhnelle’s father.
“My turn now,” he says as she walks towards me.
“For what?”
“questions. What is your plan exactly?”
“What do you mean?”
“I can sense your energy. You are not some ordinary wolf or warrior. Your power is in the leagues of beta and Alpha. And you can bet that I am not the only one who can sense it. Guia feels it too. So, what Is your plan here?”
“I already told you, I have no…”
“Recollection of your memories,”he finishes. “Yeah, yeah, we heard you so much it is like a broken record. News flash, no one buys it. We are all just biding out time till you fuck up. But some of us aren’t so patient.”
“Well, I don’t know what else to tell you. It’s the truth.”
“Hmm. You-”
“Alden!” a wolf runs up to us breathless.
“What is it?” he asks, all laser focused and the likes.
“We just got a report about some of those wolves sighted at the center Square, we are trying to cage them in. We need your help.”
“Of course. You, come with me,” he orders me as he begins walking.
Interesting.
When Rowan orders me, it fascinates me but when this punk does it, I have flashes of ripping his head off his shoulder.
But still, I follow him.
I don’t think leaving one of her trusted aides headless will score me any points with her.
By the time we arrive at the square, it seems everything has gone to pieces.”
“What happened?” Alden demands from the frustrated wolves .
“They made us. The moment we started moving in them, they broke loose. They ran through the crowds causing chaos and mayhem everywhere. Even hurting some of the humans.
Hmm, so not my wolves then.
They are not that stupid, disorganized, or cruel.
Before Alden can respond, Rowan’s panicked voice reaches us.
Turning, as one, I see her running towards us, with fear and terror in her eyes.
“Rowan?” I call as I rush to her. “What is wrong?!”
“Jhenelle,”she cries.” Jhenelle is missing!”