The woman’s words douse some of that fiery rage, and I let my shoulders slump. “Sorry.” I glance at Taylor. “I believe you don’t know where they took Macy, but do you have any information that might help me find her?”
He twists his fingers together as he thinks. “She might have been taken to the barracks?”
“The barracks?”
“It’s where people are kept before being fitted for collars,” he explains, his fingers absentmindedly moving up to brush the metal band on his own neck.
That definitely sounds promising as far as places to keep a prisoner. Unfortunately, I have no idea where it is and time is running out.
“This might be a big ask,” I say, meeting Taylor’s gaze. “But can you take me there?”
Thirty
Ollie
Taylor silently leads meon a convoluted path through the woods. The route we’re taking isn’t the same one I used to get to his grandmother’s house so I’m almost completely turned around.
Eventually, we reach a break in the trees where there’s a small clearing containing a single-story concrete building with chain link fencing on one side of it. The grey, weathered exterior blends in with the gravel surrounding it, giving the area a dreary, utilitarian feel.
Taylor may have called this place a barracks, but it definitely looks like what it actually is. A prison. The only thing missing is barbed wire.
“That’s it,” whispers Taylor, unnecessarily pointing to the squat concrete structure. “I don’t think there’s anyone awaiting punishment right now, so it should be empty unless your friend’s in there. There are regular cells on one side.” He gestures at the fencing. “And there are kennels on the other for when the Alpha decides someone is more useful as a wolf.”
“More useful as a wolf? I don’t understand.”
His hand comes up to touch the collar on his neck. “I can’t shift with this on. None of us who wear them can. It’s the same for those the Alpha wants kept in wolf form.”
“Why would… you know what, never mind. I don’t think I want to know.”
Taylor flashes me a sad smile. “No, you probably don’t.”
“Any guards? Alarms?” I ask, running my gaze over the darkened building.
“Probably not,” he replies with a shrug. “Like I said, I don’t think anyone’s currently waiting on a collar, so there shouldn’t be anyone else in there.”
“That makes things easier.” I bite at my lower lip. “Which side do you think Macy would be on?”
“Probably in a kennel,” he says. “The wolves get harsher punishments, and the Alpha Mate didn’t much care for your friend.”
Pressing my lips together, I nod. “Thank you, Taylor. I couldn’t have found this place on my own.”
“It was the least I could do,” he says softly, shoulders slumping. “I wish I could do more, but if the Alpha finds out…”
“I understand.” I pause, debating. I’m probably not supposed to say anything, but the guy deserves to know. “You won’t have to worry about him much longer,” I say. “The triumvirate will be raiding the compound within the next week, and they’ll appoint a new Alpha, someone better.”
Taylor gapes at me. “How…?”
“Before it all went to shit at dinner, we were sort of on a recon mission,” I say. “The triumvirate didn’t have much information on Rockcastle and, since we were headed here anyway, we were supposed to report back on the layout and numbers and stuff.”
“That’s… amazing,” he whispers, a watery sheen over his eyes.
I smile. “Just keep your head down for a while longer. This will all be over soon.”
He gives me a quick nod, then scurries back into the trees, presumably returning to his grandmother as I turn my attention to the center of the clearing.
Crouching low, I swiftly cross the distance to the building, then creep along the side with my back pressed against the concrete, until I reach the only door. I try the handle, but—unsurprisingly—it’s locked.
Continuing around the building, I find a series of narrow rectangular windows. They’re completely useless as far an entrance goes—not even I can fit through a space that small—but at least I can use them to get a look inside.
