Their talk about Tripp Honing’s limited social media files and the little information Drew had scrounged from his brother was bullshit. Though it sounded like a logical step in their mission, the reality was Drew was offering an excuse not to sit beside Jude for two hours in a cramped space which offered no escape.
By the time they arrived, Gale was on edge. His blood itched beneath his skin and there was no avoiding Jude—his scent filled the car, like no one else existed. Gale would lose his sanity on the journey back if he didn’t act fast.
As soon as the car stopped, he shot out and took a deep breath of fresh air.
Immediately, Drew was around the car with a hand to his arm. “Are you okay?”
Gale shook his head and swallowed. There was no crowded human presence to shelter his words from m’weko ears. “I need a chat with Jude,” he said and faced the team. “Isaac, Janet, scout the area for a scent. Drew, sit in the car and read the file from top to bottom,” he ordered and was relieved when Drew nodded and got into the car without question.
Janet and Isaac obeyed without pause as Jude sauntered over to lean against the car.
“And me?” he asked, digging hands into his jeans pockets.
Beyond words, Gale stalked to Jude and caught him by the back of the head, burying his face into his neck. Breathing in deep, Gale closed his eyes to the instant relief—his mate’s scent, proximity, the tickle of acceptance at the back of his throat.
When hands clutched his T-shirt, he was afraid to find out if it was to pull or push. Gale backed away and took a steadying breath. “You,” he said, managing words with a level tone, “need to save your strength. We don’t know what we’re getting into. Your job is to have my back.”
They’d deliberately parked several feet from the main house to give Tripp time to spot them, to scent them, and decide what he would do about their presence.
Prepared to shift, Gale stalled and spun at the scent of blood on the air.
Janet came running from the woods. “He’s on the run,” she called, removing her clothes to shove them into the car.
Reluctantly, the rest of the team, bar Drew, did the same: throwing their clothes into the back of the car to keep them intact for travelling home.
Before starting his transition, Gale gave his final orders. “Isaac, stay with Drew. Keep him safe and stop Tripp getting access to the car or running off.” Drew was top priority. Gale didn’t care if Tripp got away as long as everyone went home safely, and Drew wasn’t a warrior. “Janet, Jude, flank him. Draw Tripp to me.”
He shifted seamlessly from broad human male to hulking beast of a m’weko. Tall, wide, and ferocious, his fur was as dark as his human hair: midnight black. His feet were sturdy and reliable, his human mind logical and primed for the hunt.
Within the space of a step, he was fully immersed in m’weko senses and ready to run. He started slowly, letting his nose capture the unknown scent in the forest and trail it towards the hut Tripp called home. The scent circled around, fresh and clean. Tripp had recently washed, probably hoping to distract them and make it harder to find him.
Following the natural trail around the side of the house, Gale led the hunt, walking rather than running. Conserving his energy, he noted every shift in the wind, every deviation from the path, every possible clue.
He got halfway along the path through the woods when he heard rustling. With Janet and Jude flanking either side, and Isaac doing as he’d been told, no one should have been at his rear.
Gale played the game and paused. When he saw nothing, he resumed his walk, listening to the pad of footsteps in autumn leaves. This wasn’t the place to attack. From the maps he’d studied during the drive, he knew there was a clearing ahead. He’d continue toward it, hoping Tripp was smart enough to do the same.
Walking another half-dozen paces, Gale entered the clearing and paused at a snap to his left. The attack was imminent.
Three steps later, a growl erupted and a great black m’weko pounced from the right, knocking him over. Gale rolled with the attack, letting Tripp think he had the upper hand.
The game begins.
He rolled to his side, out from under the m’weko who was trying to rake his back with long, sharp claws. A kick pushed the m’weko off and put distance between them.
Tripp was a massive m’weko, bigger than any Gale had seen. He couldn’t dally. This m’weko was desperate for a fight, and he was in the mood to give it one. Gale seized his opponent, pinpointing Tripp’s stature and scent, to gain insight into strengths, weaknesses, or an advantage.
Before he could formulate an attack, a second m’weko,pepper grey and growling menacingly, emerged from the trees.
Jude.
A glance to his left showed Janet holding back, wise enough not to give away their advantage, safely hidden from view. She could spring a surprise attack or retreat to warn Isaac. Smart girl.
Without the ability to reason with Tripp with words, he had no choice but to fight, subdue him, and explain their presence. Even if he shifted, Tripp would never listen. The scent of m’weko had sent him running.
Gale wouldn’t take the risk. As an opportunity emerged, he circled to let Jude get into attack position and used his favourite trick. Feigning an attack, he darted in, and Tripp lunged, scoring Gale’s underbelly with his claws, teeth scraping his shoulder.
Though he growled, it was the opening Jude needed.
