“They got her.” River’s voice was so low it was barely audible. Dylan looked at him, seeing the same hurt and pain he was feeling. In Felix, in Jackson, in everyone. It was surprising. This was his job; Flora was his responsibility, yet that didn’t matter to his Pack. Someone was in trouble, and they’d save them together.
“What do we do?” Eddie questioned.
“Has anyone caught her scent? We could follow it?”
“I can’t smell shit, it must be scent blockers. We’ll have to come up with a strategy better than rushing in. Cassandra and Romeo obviously have planned this down to a T, so we need to come up with something fast. We have 48 hours to get Flora back. Meet in the meeting room in ten minutes,” Jackson instructed, storming off with Luxe striding just as strongly beside him.
Dylan walked directly to the Pack meeting room. His weapons felt heavy on his body, he could feel them with every muscle he moved, and he itched to hurt someone. He needed time to think separately from the group. Flora was gone and he had to get her back. That was his mate in their hands.
His mate.
Hismate.
He knew Flora was his fucking soulmate, and he still let her slip between his fingers.
“It's not your fault, hun.” Lola's voice streamed into the room. Will followed close behind.
“It was my job to protect her, to keep her safe, and she’s not only gotten hurt but now she’s gone,” Dylan complained, running his hands through his hair. Her parents were comforting him. Comforting him, how much of a joke was he?
“Do you think Will was able to keep me safe 24/7? All 30 years we’ve been together?” Lola asked, taking a seat beside Dylan and taking his hands in hers.
Will explained, “Cage fighting collectors got furious that a whole load of panthers escaped. They found out I did it and they came for my wife. This was before Flora was born, thankfully, and fairly early in the relationship.” He rested his hands on his mate’s shoulders. It looked as if the action was to comfort her, but Dylan could tell it was really for Will. “I lost her. I was crushed and could hardly breathe. I knew she was mine to hold, to keep, to love, and protect and I was already doing a shit job. But the important thing is that I got my shit together and found her then killed everyone involved.”
“The most important bit being that he brought me home safe,” Lola emphasized, a playful glare shooting at Will.
“You’ll find her. Your Pack will find her.” His daughter was in danger, there wasn’t much he could say other than "find her".
“Damn right, Mr. Larkspur. Let’s get this rescue mission started,” Jackson announced, taking his seat at the head of the table. Lola and Will moved further down the table as the rest of the Pack filed in moments later.
Dylan sat stewing, already missing the heat of Flora’s body next to him. He sat still, completely relaxed as the decision of his next assignment came to light. He’d been too lax and now he was paying the price for it. Protecting Flora was supposed to be just that. Protecting her. That job was over. It was time to save her and end this. Cassandra and Romeo should’ve never gotten a second chance and he’d make them regret taking that chance.
“Cassandra and Romeo Bray, I’m putting them on the List,” Dylan said as the meeting came to an end.
“What about turning them into the Council? Are you sure, man?” Leo asked, sitting up straighter. They couldn’t stop him, and they knew it; the ball was officially in Dylan’s court. A court he knew like the back of his hand. where there was only one winner, and that winner was always him.
“Positive,” Dylan confirmed.
He wasn’t supposed to fall back into his assassin nature, but for Flora, he realized he’d do absolutely anything.
“What's the List?” Luxe asked slowly. Her eyes searched each of the Pack members. Most of them avoided eye contact, not wanting to lie to their future Luna.
“It means their asses are grass,” Eddie snickered as Leo shoved him.
“More like their ass can be found several feet under the grass,” River laughed and was met with an icy glare from Felix that shut him up immediately.
“Dylan?” Jackson asked, waiting for permission to share his life. Most were never ready to hear, let alone keep a secret, but he trusted Luxe with his life. He viewed her as his Luna already. They’d be together sooner or later.
“I was an assassin for six years. The List is where assassins pick up jobs. We can add or remove a target from the List with team approval. As long as weaddsomeone to the List, the big guy will cover my ass if shit gets to the Council.”
“Who’s the big guy?” Luxe asked.
“My old boss,” Dylan said.
Dylan turned his attention to the empty spot where Flora usually sat. Is this how it would feel after he eventually let her go? Empty, lost, heartbroken? Would the empty pain sit in his chest for the rest of time?
“Okay,” Luxe said, staring straight into his eyes. “Dylan, if you don’t think I wouldn’t kill Cassandra and Romeo myself at this point, you’d be dead wrong. All things considered, good and bad aren’t always black and white and if anyone knows that it's us.”
“How are we getting Flora back?” Willow questioned, bringing her restless hands to the table.
