Ruthless alpha shadowed.., p.26
Ruthless Alpha: Shadowed Heirs book one, page 26
A giggle slips free from my lips and I shake my head, elbowing him playfully. “Good luck with that one. Nobody holds a grudge quite like Maddox Kessler.”
Tristan’s face scrunches up in a grimace. “What do you see in that guy, anyways?”
I smile dreamily, thinking of all we’ve been through, all we’ve overcome. How from the moment I hit puberty and started looking at Madd as more than a friend, I knew there’d never be a question in my mind as to who I’d choose to spend my life with.
I glance up at Tristan, confidently replying, “Forever.”
33
Coming up with a plan is the easy part. The execution is where you can run into trouble- when unknown variables that you didn’t fully account for come into play and knock the train off its track.
That’s why plans like this are never simple. They’re plans on top of plans, contingencies to counteract every worst-case scenario. We picked apart every detail of Sloane’s vision to try to get a clear picture of what we’re up against, but there are still a lot of unknown factors, the biggest one being what the hell our enemy’s angle is.
We’ve heard about the hunters’ attacks on other packs. They never make their presence known beforehand- they use the element of surprise to sweep in and decimate the ranks. Their only goal seems to be extinction, and if they do take prisoners, it’s only to explore easier ways to kill us. They’ve already identified silver and wolfsbane as weaknesses to shifters, and the tactics they’ve employed in the aftermath of those discoveries have been devastating to the packs they’ve hit.
Those other packs weren’t ready for the hunters, but we are. Sloane’s vision has given us a unique advantage, and we’re using that information as an opportunity to stay a step ahead of the enemy. Our best assumption is that the hunter is coming here on a scouting mission, though if things go right today, he won’t get the chance to report back to his comrades about what he’s found. Not only that, but he may also be the key to us staying a step ahead.
“We’ve got a black truck incoming,” Lo says from the back seat of my Jeep, her laptop perched on her knees as she starts typing furiously. “Sending an alert out now to let the patrols know.”
I keep my eyes fixed on the tablet in my own lap, watching the live feed from one of the new cameras we installed out here a few days ago. We’ve got multiple views of the main road outside the territory as well as the access road leading into it, where Sloane saw the hunter in her vision. Our own scouts are hidden in the surrounding forest, ready to report back at any sign of a disturbance, and all three of the Raines siblings are out there too, armed and ready.
Andie, Archer, and Ares have the most experience with firearms out of any of us, and they’re all adept with long-range targets. Hopefully we won’t have to use them- our plan is to take the hunter alive so that we can get information out of him- but just in case, all three of them are waiting in the wings, more than capable of taking him out if it comes down to that.
I watch as the black pickup truck on the screen slows, ignoring the ‘no trespassing’ signs to turn onto the access road to the six-pack territory. All of us in the Jeep collectively hold our breath- Sloane in the passenger seat beside me, and Avery and Lo in the back. We’ve been waiting here for the better part of an hour, positioned about a mile from the main road on the northern end of the territory where the turn-off is. Iver and Tristan are in their own vehicle behind us, and we’ve all got earpieces in to remain in constant contact with one another.
“Everybody ready?” I ask, and am immediately met with affirmative responses from Iver, Tristan, and the Raines’ through my earpiece.
I tap a finger against the tablet screen to switch camera views, watching as the truck turns, then pulls off onto the shoulder of the road, the driver cutting the engine and climbing out.
“That’s him,” Sloane hisses, gripping onto my arm tightly as she leans over the center console to stare at the screen in my lap.
The image isn’t the clearest, but I’m surprised to see that the guy looks to be around my age- tall and broad with tan skin and dark hair. He slams the door closed behind him, stepping around the front of the truck and out onto the road.
“Let’s move out,” I say, handing the tablet over to Sloane and firing up the Jeep’s engine. The tension inside the cab of the vehicle is thick as I mash the gas, speeding toward our target. If he realizes it’s an ambush and attempts to flee, one of our shooters will take out the tires of the truck. If he tries to escape on foot, he won’t get far. We expect him to run, so we’ve accounted for that in our plan.
What I don’t expect is for him to just be standing there waiting for us when we crest the hill.
I hit the brakes, tires screaming against the asphalt as I crank the wheel and skid sideways in the road, coming to a stop about a hundred feet from where he’s standing. As soon as I get the Jeep in park, I throw open the door and jump out, Iver and Tristan quick to exit their own car and rush up to flank me on either side.
“I have a clear shot,” I hear Andie say through my earpiece.
Then I hear another door slam, turning my head toward the sound to see Sloane jogging around the front of the Jeep toward me.
“What are you doing?” I growl, as this was decidedly not part of the plan. She’s supposed to stay in the car, ready to get the hell out of here if this goes sideways. I’m willing to put myself in harm’s way, but not her. Never her.
“Something doesn’t feel right,” Sloane whispers, her panicked green eyes meeting mine as she steps up beside me. “I’m coming with you.”
I shake my head. “Get back in the Jeep,” I snap, the warning in my tone brokering no room for argument.
But this is Sloane we’re talking about here. Only a few people will ever step up to challenge me, and she’s one of them.
“No, Madd, I’m-”
“Tris!” I bark, not letting her finish. She may hate me for this, but it’s not like I have time to stand here and argue with her right now; not with so much at stake.
Tristan’s at my side in an instant, and I level him with a hard stare. “Stay back here with Sloane, and make sure she stays.”
Tristan furrows his brow, opening his mouth like he’s going to argue with my command, so I change tact, pulling out the only trump card I have in my arsenal.
“If you wanna make things right between us, then you’ll do this for me,” I say to him.
His head swivels between me and his sister, and for a moment, he looks torn- but then he sidesteps closer to Sloane. “I’m sorry,” he mutters as he grabs ahold of her arm.
Her jaw goes slack, her furious gaze darting between her brother and me as she tries to shrug off his grip.
I turn back to Iver, giving him the nod, and we start forward.
“Madd, wait!” Sloane calls after me, grunting as she struggles to free herself from Tristan’s hold.
I don’t.
I can’t, because this isn’t about me and her right now- it’s our one chance to get ahead of the hunters. If we can take this guy alive and pump him for information, it’ll give us an edge when they come for us. This plan is all we’ve got, and I need to see it through to protect my pack. To protect us all.
“This is private property,” I call out to the guy in the road as Iver and I advance on him.
He raises his hands, showing me his palms. “I know. I don’t want any trouble,” he calls back.
Sloane’s right, something feels off. Why is he just letting us approach him like this, and why doesn’t he seem surprised to see us? I don’t like it. The whole thing stinks of a setup.
We could always just take him out. Andie’s already said she has a clear shot, and she doesn’t miss. But we have to play this smart. He’s of more use to us alive.
“Then why are you here?” I demand, my long strides eating up the distance between us as he remains rooted to the spot.
I get a better look at him as Iver and I draw closer. He’s definitely around my age, and we have similar builds. His tight-fitting t-shirt betrays his muscular physique, and he’s got a sleeve of tattoos decorating one arm.
“I just want to talk,” he replies, still holding up his hands where I can see them.
But that’s not all I see. There’s a swirl of metallic in his irises as his scent is carried to me on the breeze, and I stop in my tracks.
“You’re a shifter?” I blurt.
He drops his hands, nodding.
“You’re hunting your own kind?” I snarl.
His eyes widen at my accusation, his hands lifting in surrender again. “No, my pack is on the run from the hunters,” he rushes out. “We have been for a long time, we came here seeking refuge…”
“How did you find us?” Iver interrupts, folding his arms over his chest as he steps up beside me. There’s still a few good yards of distance between us and the stranger, but we’re holding our position, not taking any chances.
“We’ve been looking for you for a while, since we heard about your alliance,” he replies, chancing a step in our direction. “I heard that your packs came together decades ago to give you strength in numbers, and my own pack is tired of running. I thought if I could talk to someone in charge, if we could join…”
“You could’ve led them right to us!” Iver interrupts again, scowling.
The guy shakes his head. “We haven’t. They lost our trail months ago. But we know about them, valuable information that could be of use to you, if you’ll grant us refuge.”
Iver slides me a questioning look, but I’m still focused on the man in front of us, sizing him up.
He meets my eyes and blows out a breath, scrubbing a hand over his face. “Look, I understand your hesitation. But I came here alone, and all I’m asking for is a chance. I know you have scouts in the forest and snipers waiting for your command. We did our own recon, and I knew it was a risk coming here, but I still came because we have a common enemy, and we can help each other.” He pauses, shifting his gaze to look between the two of us. “I can tell you’re both Alphas. I am, too. And I’m trying to do right by my pack and keep them safe. The full moon’s tomorrow, and wolves need to run.”
I just stare at him for a long moment, considering his words. Then I step forward, extending a hand in greeting. “Maddox Kessler.”
His shoulders slump in relief as he slaps his palm into mine, shaking my hand firmly. “Javier Cruz. My friends call me Javi.”
“We’re not friends yet,” I grumble, pulling my hand back and shoving it into my pocket, “and I’m not sure if we can help you. I’ll take your request to our council for consideration.”
Javi nods, turning to Iver and offering a handshake of his own. While the two of them greet one another, I glance back toward Sloane and the others waiting by our cars, beckoning them over with a flick of my head. They’ve all heard everything we’ve said through their earpieces, so they don’t hesitate to advance.
“Where are you from originally?” I ask as they start toward us, still sizing up this guy and wanting to get as much information from him as I can.
“My mom was from a pack in Bozeman,” he replies easily, “but we’ve been nomadic for most of my life. I only became Alpha recently, and my priority is finding a place for my pack to finally call home.” He reaches up to push a hand through his hair, my eyes catching on a set of roman numerals inked on the inside of his bicep.
“Like I said, we’ll consider it,” I mutter.
His gaze flickers behind me as Sloane and the others approach, lingering on her for a beat in a way that my wolf definitely doesn’t like. “Mine,” I declare, the word leaving my mouth in a growl as I reach out for her and pull her to my side.
Sloane rolls her eyes at me, then turns to Javi, giving him a little wave. “I’m Sloane.”
He nods, only giving her a cursory glance before looking to me again, like he’s trying to demonstrate he’s not a threat.
Smart man.
As Tris, Avery, and Lo introduce themselves, Sloane pulls me aside, delivering a sharp jab to my bicep. “I was trying to tell you something was off,” she hisses, glaring daggers at me. “Maybe try fucking listening to me next time. What if you’d given the order to shoot?!”
“Then I guess we wouldn’t have to take this to the council,” I grumble.
“Think I can come to this council, plead my case?” Javi pipes up, and I turn back toward him, irritated by his eavesdropping.
Damn shifter hearing.
“This is as far as you go, for now,” I say, giving him a hard look. “We’ll get your number and let you know what the council decides.”
The metallic shimmer of his wolf flares in his irises, betraying his agitation, but he gives me a friendly smile nonetheless. “I understand. I appreciate your consideration.”
Sloane’s hand slips into mine, giving it a little squeeze, and my own wolf settles in my chest. I glance down at her, but I can’t quite read the expression on her face. She’s staring at Javi in contemplation, like she sees something we don’t.
It’s enough to put me on edge, so I’m quick to wrap things up, taking Javi’s number and sending him on his way. As soon as he gets in his truck and pulls out, I turn to Sloane, arching a brow in question.
“What is it?”
She gives a little shake of her head, chewing on her lower lip. “I’m not sure,” she says softly, though I can see her wheels turning. “Can you bring me to Riverton? I think I need to talk to my mom.”
34
The ride to the Riverton packhouse is tense as we discuss the curveball we’ve been thrown and what to do about it.
Madd sees any outsider as a danger and is therefore resistant to the idea of another pack setting foot in our territory.
Avery is wary, but she’s open to the prospect of welcoming newcomers into the fold, so long as they’re fully vetted first.
Lo keeps listing off pros and cons, looking at this whole thing from an analytical standpoint like it’s a math equation she can find a clear solution to.
I’m freaked out, but it isn’t about the idea of this pack joining our alliance, per se. It’s about the feeling I had when I got near Javi and looked into his eyes. It was reminiscent of something I felt weeks ago, and the reminder of it connected dots in my brain that I previously hadn’t, sending my mind into a tailspin. And if there’s anyone who can help me make sense of what it could mean, it’s my mom.
“The council is meeting us in Riverton,” Avery mumbles, furiously typing away on her cell phone. “Iver already messaged everyone and they’re on their way.”
“Doubt this is the meeting they were expecting to have today,” Lo muses. She’s focused on her laptop, scouring the internet for anything she can find about Javier Cruz.
Madd’s gaze flickers up to glance at her in the rearview mirror. “What’ve you got, Lo?”
She huffs a sigh, pressing the lid of her laptop closed. “Nothing yet, but that’s not a huge surprise. Most shifters keep a low profile nowadays, and the last name Cruz is super common. I’ll do a deeper search when I get back to the hub and see what I can turn up.”
Madd grunts, obviously dissatisfied with that answer. Though it’s just more ammunition for him to use in his argument against providing asylum to this pack. I get why he’s apprehensive, but part of me wonders if this is just Madd being a dick because Javi checked me out.
Yeah, I didn’t miss the way he staked his claim over me like a caveman in response.
I throw up a hand to brace myself against the roll bar as Madd whips his Jeep around the corner like a maniac, turning off the main road to head into my home territory of Riverton. Though this isn’t an emergency situation, there’s still a sense of urgency in getting everyone together to debrief and figure out how to proceed. Hence the crazy driving.
And with the council getting together, putting half a dozen alpha males in one room to voice their opinions, I can only imagine how the discussion is going to go.
This whole thing is a little bit scary since it’s uncharted territory for us. The alliance first came together over thirty years ago, and it’s always been just the original six packs residing here, sharing the sub-divided land and pooling resources. We have an alliance with my uncle’s pack in Denver too, but they’re across the state. The thought of actually inviting another pack to join so close to home is intimidating.
And there’s something about that feeling I got from Javi, something I can’t shake.
I don’t even realize that I’m holding my breath until we pull into the driveway in front of the packhouse, the air whooshing from my lungs on a heavy exhale. Avery and Lo immediately unfasten their seatbelts and hop out of the Jeep, heading straight for the front door, but as I reach down to unbuckle my own, Madd’s hand lands on mine.
“Are you gonna tell me what’s up?” he asks, and I snap my head up to lock eyes with him, startled by his proximity. He’s leaning over the console toward me, his face inches from mine- I was so wrapped up in my own thoughts that I didn’t even notice him move into my space.
“What do you mean?” I ask slowly.
He slumps back into his seat with a frown. “I can tell something’s wrong.”
Of course he can.
I avert my eyes and click the button to unfasten my seatbelt, shrugging the strap off my shoulder. “Sometimes it’s a pain in the ass that you know me so well,” I mumble, feeding his own line right back to him.
“A blessing and a curse, right?”
I glance over to see a smirk lifting the corner of his mouth.
Touché.
“Did you see something?” Madd asks hesitantly. “A vision, or…”
“Not a vision,” I cut in, stabbing my fingers through my hair in frustration. “More like a feeling. I promise I’ll tell you about it, I just need to talk to my mom and try to make sense of it first. I mean, the visions are one thing, but if I’m an intuitive like her, too?” I close my fist in my hair, tugging at the roots as I drop my head back against the seat. Squeezing my eyes shut, I blow out a slow breath, trying to settle my nerves. “I don’t know, this is just a lot,” I murmur.
