I need to see them.
All of them.
The alpha in me needs to make sure my pack are alive at the very least. But the wolf? That primal force drawing me into those trees? That’s all about Morgan.
“Wait.” Cal grabs my arms and hauls me back.
I round on him, teeth bared, and he holds his hands up.
“Calm the fuck down or you’re gonna get us all killed.”
I could order him to get out of my way. Not gonna lie, it’s really fucking tempting, and judging by the way he squares his shoulders, he knows it too. “What?” I snap.
“They could have people in the woods waiting for us.”
My lip curls. “I know that.”
“We should wait for the others.”
“We’ve already been through this.” I grip his shoulders. “Ican’twait.” My forehead touches his, and he grabs the front of my jacket.
“Birch could have his whole pack with him in there.” He gives me a shake to underline his point. “They’ve already stabbed Flint once with an aconite blade. They’re gonna have more. We can’t rush in there and get fucking caught or we’re no good to anyone.”
He makes sense, but I don’t want to hear it. “What the fuck do you suggest?” I don’t remind him that waiting isn’t an option.
“We shift. And we go slow.” He leans back enough so our eyes meet. “And you don’t do anything stupid when we find them.” When I don’t answer, he growls, grabbing and shaking me hard. “Fuckingpromiseme.”
Can’t do that. “If they’re in danger?—”
“Then we fight.” His fierce gaze bores into mine. “Together. You don’t fucking rush in there without a plan.”
“Fine.”
He nods once, then lets me go.
“You two done wasting time?” Jet scowls as we face him.
We strip in silence, shove our clothes into a rucksack that Cal carries in his teeth, and enter the forest on silent paws.
It’s quiet.
Too fucking quiet.
That alone tells me we’re heading towards something even the forest is scared of.
Fucking Birch.
He and his pack have done some fucked-up things but never anything like this.
I’m going to kill him.
Him and any other fucker who’s laid a hand on them.
Jet stops so suddenly I almost run into him. He snarls, teeth bared and menacing.
And then I smell it.
It’s faint, so fucking faint I might’ve missed it if Jet hadn’t stopped.
