Chapter Seven
~ Radalf ~
My heart clenched painfully as I watched the dust blown up by the Jeep going down the driveway to settle. I watched until the Jeep disappeared through a line of trees, fading from my sight.
"You just going to let him go like that?"
I didn't turn to acknowledge Gunny's words.
"Seriously, man?"
"I put a tracker on his Jeep," I finally said. 'I'll give him half an hour before I start to follow him. I want to make sure there is a little distance between the two of us so he doesn't figure out I'm following him."
Gunny snorted. "Knew you wouldn't let him leave."
I glanced over my shoulder. "I'm letting him leave. I'm just not letting him leave without protection."
"Want company?"
I shrugged. "If you want."
Whether he came with me or not I was going after Ajag and Sy. Until I could convince him to come back to the ranch I was going to do my damndest to make sure Ajag and Sy were safe.
"Have you discussed this with Ze'ev?"
I nodded. As Ze'ev's second in command, I couldn't leave without getting hid permission first. I wasn't sure Gunny could either. If we both left, that left Ze'ev with only Lu as backup if there was trouble.
"Have you talked to Ze'ev?"
"Yeah, he said I could travel with you for a couple of days, but then he wants me to head back. He doesn't like leaving the place unguarded for longer than that."
Made sense.
"If Ze'ev really plans on making this a pack," I stated, "we need to think about recruiting a few new members."
We still hadn't solved the issue with Jackson's cousins.
"I'll talk to Ze'ev before we leave and give him a few names. He can decide what to do from there." Gunny stepped over and bumped shoulders with me. "You might want to think about doing the same thing. I'd bet anything you know other shifters that could use a good home."
I did. I just wasn't sure I wanted other shifters around Ajag and Sy.
"I wish we could find Val."
If we found him, we wouldn't need any other shifters to guard the ranch. Valko was the strongest dire wolf of any I had ever met. Hell, he was the strongest wolf shifter I had ever met period.
Seriously, the man could fight a tank with his bare hands and still come out the winner. I'd never seen him lose a fight.
"Ze'ev already put out several feelers for him," Gunny replied, "as have I. I think we'll see him sooner or later."
"I haven't seen him since that dust-up we had down in Texas about a year ago. I have no idea what he's been up to lately."
"Knowing Val, he's either laying low somewhere or neck deep in shit."
That was true.
The man wasn't a huge fan of people. It didn't matter if it was humans or wolves. He just didn't like them and tended to give them a wide berth. On the other hand, he had a hero complex a mile wide and if he saw someone in need of help, he'd be right there in the thick of things.
"If you hear from him, let me know." I'd be a lot more relieved if Val was here to help protect the pack.
