“We’ve got movement by the old mine workings!”
Relief and fear tangled in her chest.They weren’t after her, but they’d found someone.Who?
Staying low, she crawled to a crumbling stone wall, part of the old mining site, and peered over.Three hunters stood at the shaft entrance, gesturing wildly.One spoke into his radio.
“…definitely heard something…big cat…went into the old mine…”
“Should we follow it in?”
“Are you mental?That place is a death trap.We’ll smoke it out.”
A low rumble echoed from deep in the mine shaft—definitely feline.But something about the call seemed off.The call was too regular.Too perfectly timed.
“What if it dies down there?”
“Then we drag out the body and claim the bounty.Smith doesn’t care whether it’s alive or dead.If it’s dead, he’ll stuff it and mount it for display.All he wants is his prize.”
The casual way they discussed murder made her sick.But that sound bothered her.She’d heard her brothers and father make distress calls, and this wasn’t right.
As she watched, one hunter held up a hand for silence.The rumbling ceased, then started again with the same pitch.
“That’s not a bloody cat,” the hunter muttered.“That’s a recording.”
“What?”
“Listen to it.Same sound, same timing.Someone’s playing games with us.”
Sienna blinked, the pieces finally falling into place.The smugglers.Jamie had mentioned they used the old mine workings.They must have set up the recording to scare off anyone who got too close to their hiding spots.
“Check for footprints.Recent ones.”
“The boss won’t like this.We’ve been chasing shadows while the actual targets slip away.”
One hunter kicked a loose stone.“The locals are playing us for fools.”
Sienna had heard enough.The hunters were desperate now.Angry and unpredictable.She eased back, her mind racing.If the smugglers were using recordings to throw them off, how long before the hunters realized real shifters were still in town?
She had to get home.They needed to leave.Soon.
Each step was slow and deliberate until she was far enough to risk running.Then she bolted, tears streaking her face.
Whoever was down there in the mine would have to survive on their own.
Her family couldn’t save everyone—they could barely save themselves.
She puffed out a sigh of relief when she entered the front door of the cottage almost two hours later.
“Sienna?”Jago appeared, his brow creased.“Your face is red.You okay?”
Jamie loitered behind him, concern on his youthful face.
Sienna inhaled, trying to steady her breath.She’d never run so fast, but fleeing a hunter made it easy.“Most of the shifters are gone.We need to leave too.A van.”
“What happened?”Jago asked.
“The hunters chased me.I didn’t see any sign of Liam, Kitto, or Calan, but the hunters were following a blood trail.”She brought him and Jamie up to speed.
Jago frowned.“Who in the village has a suitable vehicle?”
