Jury looked away from the crack in the door just long enough to frown at Narae. “I don’t believe you.” Her attention went back to the door slit, and when it did, Narae silently crossed to stand before Thrall. Holding out her hand, palm side up, she gave him a stern look.
Thrall shrugged and shook his head, feigning ignorance, and mouthed, “What?”
Narae curled her fingers in a “give-it-to-me” gesture. Face a mask of ‘don’t fuck with me’.
Thrall retrieved the syringe from his pocket that Oliver had prepared. It was a sedative, and Koe’s directive had been clear. It was only to be used on Jury if absolutely necessary. Secretly, Thrall was relieved that Narae was making the decision for him.
Narae mouthed, “Follow me.” She turned and slowly walked to where Jury was still standing vigil at the door.
Jury was unaware of what was about to happen. “Is…is that smoke?”
Narae popped the lid off the syringe and jammed it hard into Jury’s arm.
Jury yelped and reeled back, looking down before her eyes snapped up to Narae. “What the fuck! What the fuck is that?” Her legs were already giving out, but Thrall was there to catch her.
“Sorry, Jury,” he breathed, lifting her into his arms and turning for the panic room.
Narae didn’t follow. She took Jury’s place and peeked out the front door, and sure as shit, Jury had been right. There was black smoke billowing up from the south. Thrall had said the Biters were on the northern perimeter. Something wasn’t right.
“There’s a fire,” she muttered, turning to find Thrall nearly out of the room with Jury.
Thrall slammed to a stop, still holding Jury’s limp form. “What! Where?”
“Smoke’s coming from the south.”
“Shhhit,” Thrall hissed.“I bet it’s Daemon’s cabin.”
And that pissed Narae off. Bragga was destroying the one thing that belonged to Daemon while he was on the opposite end ofthe territory trying to do the honorable thing and face him man-to-man.Motherfucker!
Narae rushed for the door. “I’ll go. You get Jury secured.”
“No!” Thrall roared, “It’s just a fucking cabin. Let it burn!”
But Narae was already halfway out the door.
“Narae!” Thrall roared. “Stay the fuck here!”
Narae’s wolf exploded from her, and she was off. In the house, Thrall raced for the panic room and hastily deposited Jury on the sofa inside before locking her in. Then he blasted out of the house, chasing after Narae. He could just make out her wolf in the distance, but try as he may, there was no catching up to her. In fact, it wasn’t long before she disappeared from his sight completely.
Ffffffuck! She was going to confront the Biters alone. She was going to get herself killed, and Daemon would blame Thrall. Hell, Thrall would blame himself. He’d fucked up bigtime and Daemon would kill him for it.
Thrall slowed his run, knowing he wouldn’t be able to reach out to Koe through their pack ties if he got too far away. In a panic, he focused.“Alpha!” There was no response. He was too far away from Koe, and he was torn. Did he race after Jury, knowing it was an ambush and that both of them would most likely be killed, or did he go back to try and get reinforcements? He paced a moment, indecision gnawing at his gut. Every second mattered. Decided, he turned to continue after Narae but stilled, ears pricking.
“Thrall!”
Turning, relief hit him like a sledgehammer to the chest when he saw his packmates, Colson and Blake.
“Thank fucking, God!” He blasted toward the two Enforcers, and when he was close enough, he slid to a halt and shouted, finger jamming the opposite direction, “Narae’s gone to Daemon’s cabin. It’s gotta be an ambush! One of you get close enough to reach out to Koe.” Pack ties only worked with the Alpha. Pack members could reach the Alpha telepathically and he them, but they had to be in close enough proximity for it to work.“The other, come with me!” He didn’t wait for a response, just turned and bolted in the direction Narae had disappeared.
***
Narae’s heart hammered in her chest, mirroring the rapid staccato of her paws as she propelled herself across the field at a breakneck pace. This was it. This was her redemption. Today, she got to face Biters as an outcast. Today, she got to unleash years’ worth of pent-up rage and hatred.
Cresting a rise, she saw a cabin burning in the distance. The structure was engulfed, the flames were feet high. There’d be no saving Daemon’s home.
Narae knew this tactic. Bragga had used it before. He’d send most of the pack one place while he, Sid, Lionel, and Komp ambushed from behind. They were the strongest of the Biters, and it was pathetic because he routinely sacrificed the weakest of them to get the upper hand.
Fucking coward!
