Talis sighed as his phone chimed with my text. “It’s been a while since we’ve had hunters on our doorstep.”
“It has.” I ran a hand through my hair, knowing what he was going to say next. Away from the major cities, we tended to fly under the radar. Packs around here were too small to warrant close scrutiny. Had something happened to change that?
“People are going to be scared,” Talis murmured, hands flexing on the steering wheel. “We’ve never had to deal with something like this before.” He paused. “LikeCallum.”
And that was the other issue I’d have to bring up tonight. Non-humans going feral or losing control of their abilities wasn’t a common occurrence. Not around here. We had our fair share of crime, like everywhere else, but that was people intentionally committing offences, not losing their grip on reality.
“That’s why we need to keep everyone informed so no rumours start and make things worse.” I also needed to call Max and find out what the fuck was going on because I’d never known his department to call in the hunters before. Not since I’d been alpha anyway.
“Come on,” I said opening my car door. “People will start arriving soon.”
He stopped me as I rounded the front of the car, a hand on my arm and concern in his eyes. “I know Max would never put us in danger, I trust him. But I get the feeling you don’t trust Gabriel Mason.”
I couldn’t stop the harsh, bitter laugh that escaped. “No.” And I never would again.
“Do we need to worry about him as well as Yates and the others?” Talis looked at me expectantly, trust for his alpha shining through, and I wished I had a more definite answer for him.
But the truth was, I didn’t know who Gabriel Mason was now. And if I was honest with myself, I hadn’t known him back then either.
Even ten years later, hurt and betrayal cut deep into a wound that had never fully healed. Couldn’t. Not without closing off a part of me I couldn’t quite bring myself to let go of, even if it left an ache so deep, I felt it in my soul.
Talis watched me, forehead furrowing into concern.
I blew out a breath and looked up to the moon, wondering if she had any guidance for me tonight. “You’re right, I don’t trust him. But Max does,” I added when Talis opened his mouth to speak. “So for now, we’ll let the police do their thing.”
Talis nodded, then said, “We’re not going to do nothing, though, right? About Callum?”
That’s why he was one of my betas. Not just because he was my best friend. “No. You heard what Falon said. Callum was fine one minute, then gone the next. That reeks of magic or some outside element.” Shifters didn’t suddenly lose their minds out of the blue. Yes, some plants could evoke that kind of behaviour if ingested, but we were all taught to avoid them before we could walk. No way would Callum have made a mistake like that. “I’ll call Falon after the meeting. Offer him our help with whatever he decides to do.”
We’d lingered outside for long enough that car headlights shone in the distance, heralding the arrival of our pack and the other non-humans who lived here.
“Let’s go get set up.”
I led the way inside, mentally preparing for the meeting ahead.
My mind had other ideas though, Gabriel Mason once again an unwelcome intruder into my thoughts. He was beautiful, there was no denying that: all jet-black hair and blue eyes, high cheekbones that made him look otherworldly in the right light. But I knew better than to be fooled by how he looked because inside hid a soul full of lies and deceit. Gabriel had been a hunter once, and to me, he always would be, and I’d never think of him in any other way.
Not again.
As Talis held the front door open for me, I squared my shoulders and acted like the fucking alpha I was. I had a pack who depended on me, trusted in me to keep them safe, and I’d give my last breath to protect every last one of them. That was more than enough to keep me content.
The naive boy I’d been ten years ago died the day I discovered that my soulmate was a fucking hunter.
GABRIEL
Rys Calder.
I’d known there was a good chance I’d run into him at some point, but I hadn’t expected it to be quite so soon. And with no warning.
Watching him burst out of the treeline, imposing in a way he hadn’t been the last time I’d seen him, was a shock to my system. Not that I let any of that show. I’d learnt the hard way to keep my thoughts and feelings from showing on my face or in my body language.
My poker face was perfection.
Scent was another matter, but there wasn’t much I could do about that except keep my emotions locked down tight. Not that I had to worry about that with Rys. I wasn’t a shifter, but I had no trouble recognising the animosity he sent my way. The anger rolling off him and Falon would’ve been enough to cover any scent I was putting off.
And to be honest, I had no idea what I’d smell like to them when I didn’t have a clue how I felt about seeing Rys again after all these years. Surprise was right up there, but I was in no mood to delve any deeper.
Especially not with three angry hunters having a stand-off with me and my equally pissed-off partner. Max stood by my side, body poised for a fight. He had about five inches on me and a huge pair of shoulders that made him look a little terrifying to the casual observer.
