Can you contact Jack? I send the idea to Brady as it forms.

  He brushes a hand against his hair, sending a shower of droplets scattering. No. It’s a distance thing. Dagny and I have been testing it this morning. You’re at about the end of my range.

  For now, Dagny adds. It’ll increase as it develops. It’s already gotten wider so far this morning.

  Although I only considered the idea for a split second, the fact that it can’t happen hits me hard. I want to know that Jack is safe. I want him to be here with us. With me.

  “Good, you’re up.”

  Maya’s voice catches me off guard, making me jump. Her lips curve and her dark ponytail is as sleek as ever, despite her just having gotten up.

  I press myself to my feet, not liking the idea of her hovering above me. “Barely.” I offer a half smile which she doesn’t return.

  She hitches her thumb at her companions. “We talked about it last night, and although we want to get to the Ontario sanctuary as quickly as we can, we’re willing to help you tell as many packs as possible about the meeting the witches are calling. If what they think about the vampires being after the hybrid is true, everyone and everything is in danger—including the sanctuaries. We have to stop them.”

  I send a quick plea for help to Brady before forcing a smile. “That’s great. Thank you. We’ll be able to reach so many more packs.”

  “That’s what we figured. You were a little short on details last night. Where and when do they want us to meet?”

  Brady steps into the spot beside me. He’s standing too close, but I’m getting so used to it the lack of space barely registers. I catch him up on Maya’s offer while sending a single thought: When?

  I’m aware of the mental conversation that transpires between Brady, Dagny, and Luke as I explain to Maya how to get to the location where Jack is being held. It’s difficult to concentrate on speaking while trying to ignore what the others are mindspeaking. It’s like tuning out voices at a party, except these voices don’t want to be silenced.

  Maya squints. “Getting there shouldn’t take more than an hour or two if we run it.”

  “If we run flat out, yes,” I agree. “We’ve been avoiding moving that fast because we haven’t wanted to disturb the local packs.”

  She nods. “The same for us. I figure if we start telling packs as we go, we won’t have to worry about upsetting anyone by running near their territory. We can also ask pack alphas to spread the word to anyone they’re allied with. That should cut down on how many we have to get to on our own. What’s the timeframe?”

  “They want to talk to us today—at sunset,” Brady says.

  I do my best to pretend like his words don’t come as a surprise to me. Tonight? Does that give us enough time? On the other hand, sunset is hours away. What if we don’t get there soon enough? I’d like to think that the witches won’t hurt Jack, that they want to use him to get to me, but how can I be sure? When Xander kidnapped me, I knew without a doubt that Jack would come for me. Does he have the same assurance now? Is he confident I’ll come for him? I rub at the pendant under my shirt.

  Maya’s lips press into a tight line. “That puts a severe limit on the number of packs we can reach.”

  “We should get started as soon as possible,” Brady says. “Which way does your team want to move? We need to make sure we cover as much ground as possible.” He slings an arm across her shoulders and leads her toward the edge of the stream.

  I make my way over to Lola, who’s awake. She offers a half smile. “How’d you sleep?”

  “Fine.” I sit down beside her.

  “Liar,” she accuses. Before I can defend myself, her voice sounds in my mind. I’m guessing your restlessness had to do with Jack.

  I nod before glancing toward Luke and Dagny. Can the others hear us?

  Her head jerks to the side ever so slightly. You’re worried about him, aren’t you? I can’t imagine how I’d feel if someone took Brady.

  I am worried, but it’s more than that. A single question pops forward like it’s been waiting to be asked: What’s it like—being merged?

  Lola’s eyebrows pull together and an inscrutable expression crosses her face. I don’t know if I can describe it. In some ways, I’m no different. In others, I feel completely new. I’ve always been pretty content, but when I saw Brady, I knew the truth—there was always something missing. It was like this new dimension of reality opened up. Her lips twitch and she rolls her eyes. I know it sounds sappy and romantic, but that’s how it feels. And now that we’re merged, I’m at peace. I’m whole.

  My stomach twists at her words. Whole and at peace. I don’t know if I’ve ever felt those things. There have been moments, of course, but nothing that lasts. Doesn’t it matter that you don’t know him?

  She meets my eyes. I know me.

  Before I can respond, Brady squats down beside me. Luke and Dagny approach.

  “Maya and her group will be heading south to tell as many packs as possible that they need to show up tonight.” He squeezes my hand before continuing. “We’re going north.”

  The significance isn’t lost on me.

  I clutch the pendant. I’m coming for you, Jack.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  My desire to run straight to Jack is overruled.

  Despite agreeing with the logic, I can’t help feeling like we’re wasting time. I understand that not alerting the northern packs that—hopefully—dozens of weres will be running near their territory is dangerous. If they perceive some threat to their land, they could keep weres from passing by. That wouldn’t do at all for our plan. And despite the fact that it would be difficult—if not impossible—to move on the witches without a distraction, I still want to get there as fast as I can. Simply being near Jack will make me feel better.

  Our plan is simple, if inelegant: we’ll run to the edge of the nearest pack’s territory and try to get their attention.

  I’m surprised by how well it works. We speak to three packs within our first hour out. The first two are curious enough they promise to send a delegation to hear out the witches. The third is almost jubilant with the prospect of a war against the vampires.

  As we edge ever nearer to the place where Jack is, I grow increasingly confident that our plan will work. The witches are bound to be baffled when werewolves start showing up at twilight. As we run from pack to pack, we discuss rescue plans using mindspeak. The only time our minds aren’t connected is when we’re talking with pack leaders. Dagny and I find it too difficult to concentrate on what’s being said aloud when there’s a separate conversation echoing through our heads, so Brady and Lola shut the link down during those discussions.

  A bubble of happiness burgeons in my chest. This will work. Fate or destiny or whatever is on our side—finally.

  Or at least I think so until we’re with the fourth pack.

  Two leaders agree to speak with us at the edge of their territory. Becca, the alpha female, is tall and willowy with wavy light brown hair. Dan, the beta male, is broad and burly with a long dark blond beard. They listen, nodding at intervals as we describe the sanctuary attack and the belief that the hybrid was the target.

  When we finish our explanation, neither of the weres speak, but it’s clear by Becca’s expression that she’s communicating with her beta. She glances at him and he gives the slightest nod before she turns back to us. “If what you’re saying is true, the witches are right to step in. Vampires are already a plague. The last thing we need is them finding out a way to get stronger. There’s no telling what they’ll destroy.”

  A thrill like electricity surges up my back and my skin begins to warm, despite the day’s chill. At first I ignore it, assuming the usual discomfort when someone lumps all vampires together and casts them as evil, but when Luke shifts beside me, I wonder if something else isn’t happening.

  That’s when I smell it. Or rather I don’t. The steady scent of chamomile that has emanated from Luke since we used the glamor pebbles ebbs. When his wide eyes meet mine, the irises are less hazel and more blue than they were before.

  The spell is fading. I fight the urge to look at my hands to see if my glamor is slipping too. I try to use mindspeak to alert Brady of the situation, but he and Lola shut down the link on their end and my warning doesn’t reach them.

  “So, we can count on a delegation from your pack to be there?” Lola asks.

  “Absolutely,” Becca says. “But if we get there and the witches start going on about nonviolence or some other nonsense, I won’t be happy.” She turns to her companion, and I blow out a relieved breath.

  But then they turn back, brows furrowed.

  “Do you smell that?” Dan squints as he stares off into the distance.

  Becca nods. “Vampire.”

  Lola casts a glance back at Luke. “What would a vampire be doing out here?”

  Dagny’s fingers twitch and she rolls her shoulders. I get the sense she’d do anything to pull the backpack off and grab for more glamor pebbles, but she can’t do it without looking suspicious. Not to mention Becca and Dan would probably notice if Luke and I cast the spells in front of them.

  “Maybe they caught wind that the witches are finally going to stand up to them,” Becca says darkly.

  My body begins to tingle and hum. At any moment, the glamor could drop. Luke’s eyes have already changed back to their usual electric blue.

  We have to get out of here—now.

  “We need to move on to the next pack,” I say. “We can search the area for any vampires as we go.”

  Becca swivels her gaze to me and I hold it, despite the overwhelming desire to hide away. “I appreciate the offer. I’ll have some of my pack come out and join you.”

  It feels as if insects are crawling under my skin. I’m going to change right here in front of them. I can’t think of a single thing we could tell them to explain. If they find out Luke is a vampire, there’s no way they’ll believe he’s on our side. There’s no telling what relationships they have with nearby packs, but if they spread the word that we’re lying, no one will show up where the council is, and we might not be able to rescue Jack.

  “Thank you,” Brady says. But the word that echoes in my head is different: Go!

  I don’t need to be told twice. I take off, keeping pace with Luke. We just need to get far enough away that those weres can’t see us. My body burns and my muscles are weak. In front of me, Luke drops to the ground. In a few more paces, I’m on the forest floor, too.

  I don’t know if we’re far enough away, but it doesn’t matter—I can’t move any more. The sensations that flooded me when the glamor was cast in no way prepared me for what the reverse feels like. My insides churn and it takes everything in me not to cry out.

  “I found something!” an unfamiliar female voice calls a few moments later. She’s too near, but I can’t open my eyes to see where she is.

  Footfalls crunch and swish through the brush. Each step is louder than the last. I want to yell for Luke to run, but the words won’t come.

  “Found him,” the girl says. Her voice is quieter than before.

  “What’s wrong with him?” asks a guy.

  The girl snorts. “Nothing in a minute.”

  Some twigs snap and Luke moans.

  “Hey, don’t you think we should question him first?” the guy asks.

  “About what? There’s no reason to be all the way out here except to spy.”

  Luke moans again and I try to pry my eyes open, but my body isn’t responding. I need to get to him, but I can’t. I focus all my energy on moving toward the sound of his voice, but I only manage to make my limbs jerk.

  “What was that?” asks the guy. Footsteps edge toward my location. “There’s another one over here.”

  My eyelids flutter, but I can’t make anything out. Still, I can feel him standing over me.

  “There’s something familiar about her...”

  “Back away if you know what’s good for you.” Lola’s low, dangerous voice cuts through the air like a knife.

  “This doesn’t concern you, outsider,” the girl says. “Why don’t you run along?”

  “Sorry,” Lola says. “Can’t do that.”

  Feet scuffle against the forest floor, and a series of thuds and grunts leads me to one conclusion: Lola is fighting these weres.

  Everything in me wants to get up, to help her, but my body won’t cooperate. I fight to open my eyes, but I can’t.

  Someone tumbles to the ground beside me, their body brushing up against mine before jumping back into the fray.

  How long can Lola hold out in a two-against-one battle? How long before reinforcements arrive?

  Lola grunts and growls and a heavy weight thuds to the ground. Before I can wonder what they’ve done to her, rapid footfalls approach. As the newcomers skid to a stop nearby, another weight drops to the forest floor.

  “It’s about time you guys showed up.” Lola’s tone is casual, if a little breathless.

  “Did you just take down both of those weres by yourself?” Dagny asks, a distinct note of awe in her tone.

  “That’s my girl,” Brady says.

  A crack rends the air, followed by an ominous creaking. Dagny yelps.

  “Can you cast a confusion charm?” Lola asks.

  It takes a moment for Dagny to respond. “Um… Yeah. Yes, I can.”

  Hands touch my cheeks. “Are you okay?” Brady asks.

  I finally force open my eyes, but my vision is blurry. “What happened?”

  “You’re safe,” he says. “Luke, too.”

  “As soon as Dagny casts the confusion charm, we can get out of here.” Lola is an indistinct blob behind Brady. “With any luck, these two won’t remember what they saw and they’ll think a tree fell and knocked them unconscious.”

  I try to sit, but my muscles are like jelly. “What’s wrong with me?”

  “It’s the charm,” Dagny says, her voice heavy with concern. She presses a hand to my forehead. “I didn’t think. The stone acts as a focus for the spell. You didn’t have it pressed to your forehead when the glamor started wearing off, so the magic kind of went everywhere instead of out through one spot.”

  The world comes back into focus. My hands and arms are back to normal. Dagny crouches in front of me, face creased with concern. Lola stands beside a newly felled tree, casting watchful glances at the man and woman pinned under its trunk.

  Luke groans as he sits up. Every bit of him is normal, from his dark blond hair to his broad shoulders to the irritated look on his face. “That sucked. Let’s not do it again.”

  “Unfortunately, you’re gonna have to,” Brady says. “As these two just showed us, it’s dangerous for you to look like a vampire around here. And we’ve still got a lot of land to cover before we get to where the council is.”

  Dagny presses a pebble into my hand and offers a second to Luke. “Next time the spell starts to wear off, put this to your head again.”

  Luke hesitates before plucking the stone from her fingers. We press them to our foreheads at the same time. I brace for the agonizing burn I experienced moments before, but it doesn’t come. The sweeping warmth and tingling is a welcome change from the earlier assault.

  I’m pocketing the charm when crashes sound through the nearby trees.

  “We should get going,” Lola says.

  “Couldn’t agree more.” Luke pops to his feet, back to looking like the slender brunette werewolf, and opens his arms to Dagny, who allows him to pick her up.

  Brady helps me to my feet as a shout cuts through the air. The person is too far away for me to make out his words, but the fact I can hear him at all means he’s too close. They’ll be here soon, and I don’t want to be in the vicinity when they find their fallen friends.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  We meet with three more packs without incident.

  Things change when we speak to the last one.

  Arnold, the pack’s alpha, crosses his thick arms over his broad chest and snorts when we explain our request. A jagged scar runs from his left temple to his jaw, and his dark eyes survey us with open distrust.

  “Just like witches,” he mutters. “Always late to the party. Of course they’re interested in doing something about the vampires now that someone attacked one of their precious sanctuaries. I bet now they’ll want to take credit for the work we’ve begun.”

  Brady and I exchange glances. “What work is that?”

  “The resistance, of course,” Arnold says as if it should be obvious. “Got a coalition five packs strong now. Had to do something to stop those demon leeches.”

  Luke draws his shoulders back as he takes a half step forward. “You can’t have too much of a problem with vampires up here, can you? It’s not exactly a metropolitan area. Vampires tend to congregate where there are—you know—people.”

  “And that’s part of the reason my pack lives up here,” Arnold says. “We don’t want trouble. But now that trouble’s found us, we won’t hesitate to fight.”

  “What trouble is that?” I ask.

  “They’re picking us off!” Arnold spreads his arms wide, making him appear larger and more menacing than he already does. “It started a few weeks back. A group from my pack—including both my betas—went into town to shoot some pool. They never came back. I can’t contact them, can’t locate them. Few days later, a search party went missing. Only reason I know they’re still alive is I haven’t felt ’em die. We’ve been staying pretty close to home since then, but I heard from my buddy who’s the alpha of a pack east of here that he’s had some weres go missing too. That’s when we started the coalition. We gotta work together if we’re gonna stop those leeches.”

  His story makes my stomach twist. “Have any weres gotten away? Evaded capture?”

  He shakes his head.

  I bite my lower lip. “Then how do you know it’s vampires taking them?”

 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24