They shifted in the open, calling attention to all of us. There’s a helicopter in the air now. I’m not sure if it’s following us or trying to track the Urbat. The back window is broken out. We’re too easy to identify from the ground and air. I need to change vehicles.
Do what needs to be done.
I turned onto the next street I found and parked the car.
“Everyone out,” I said.
“Are we going back?” Paul asked, opening his door and moving to grab Aden from the middle.
I grabbed their bags from the back and tossed them each one without answering.
“You know we can’t,” Henry said.
Both boys—men—looked down at the cubs.
“We need to move, now,” I said, my eyes on the sky while I listened to the approaching sirens and closed the back of the van. “Cut through this yard to the next block over. No fur. As soon as we’re on the next block, hold hands with the cubs and walk like nothing’s happened.”
They listened then responded immediately. One block over, a helicopter flew overhead, speeding in the direction we’d been headed.
“Don’t hurry,” I said softly.
We continued walking, cutting another block west. A car idled on the sidewalk.
“This one?” Paul asked.
“No. It’ll be reported missing too quickly.”
Three houses down, I saw a paper still on the front stoop. After we passed the house, I told the boys to keep walking and ducked in between yards, circling around to break into the garage. The older car looked brand new. It didn’t take me long to start it up and quickly back out of the garage. Hopefully, the owner wouldn’t notice it missing for a long while.
Catching up with the boys, I pulled over so they could pile in. Liam helped Aden buckle as I pulled away from the curb.
“Are we going back for Uncle Gregory?” Liam asked.
“No, buddy. He doesn’t want us to,” I said.
Is he still alive?Henry sent me. I allowed myself to focus on where Gregory’s link should be in my mind. Its presence was only a small relief. We’d left him surrounded by Urbat and exposed to humans. If the first group didn’t kill him, the other would likely take him and—I couldn’t finish that thought.
Where should we meet you?I sent Gregory. I waited several long minutes before I understood there would be no response.
He’s alive, but not answering,I sent back to Henry.
We can’t risk going back for him.
No, we can’t.
His maturity saddened me. Too much, too young. Paul sat in the front. He’d said nothing since getting in. Soft traces of anger laced his scent. Mostly, though, I smelled his grief.
“I’m sorry, Paul.”
“It’s not your fault. It’s not anyone’s but the mutt who wants power at any cost. He won’t win.”
I agreed with his last, growled sentiment.
The distant sound of the helicopter grew louder before fading again. We headed out of town, my thoughts on Mary and Gregory and the boys they’d left behind.
Blake wouldn’t win. We would make sure of that. But at what cost? Would there be any werewolves left in the end?
We’re in a new vehicle.I sent to Winifred.Does it seem like anyone is following us?
