“I was just saying,” Callum starts, and I give him my full attention this time. “That for aconite to work like that, it needs to be refined to a certain strength and mixed with other things to make it firstly adhere to a blade and second, spread throughout the body.” He runs a hand through his hair. “So where did theyget it from? The Feral Beasts don’t have that capability, unless they’ve suddenly built a lab that we’re not aware of?”
We can’t see into their compound. Like ours, theirs is surrounded by thick forest. It makes collecting information problematic and time consuming if we want to avoid a fight.
But I like to think we’d notice a fuck load of building supplies entering their place.
There’s one group of people that have both the capability and desire to create and use aconite poisoning against us. I share a look with Callum. “Hunters?”
He shrugs. “I can’t think of anyone else off the top of my head, but why the fuck would they be supplying it to Birch?”
The Feral Beasts have as much reason to hate the hunters as we do. As every shifter does. Or so I thought.
“Maybe they got it elsewhere?” Mal suggests. He’s sat with his back against the only tree in the clearing, head tipped up as he stares into its branches. It’s the oldest tree in our forest, the trunk thick and gnarled, but there’s a pull, a strength about it that we all feel. “Because as much as I hate Birch and his pack, I can’t believe that they’d willingly invite hunters into their business.”
“No.” I can’t either. “But they got it from somewhere, and if they used it once, you can fucking bet they’ll do it again.”
Low growls rumble around the clearing, mine included.
Birch crossed a line.
And if he’s willing to dothat, what else is he capable of? We have a hate/hate relationship with the Feral Beasts. On the surface, it’s the same animosity you’d expect any rival MCs to have. But our feelings towards the Feral Beasts run so much deeper than club level.
“They were after me,” Jet grumbles. “Stupid fucker took that blade.”
He’s been quiet up until now. Unsurprising, since he’s closest to Flint. Seeing him like that has to cut deep, especially if he’s blaming himself, like he apparently is.
And I can’t have that. Can’t let it fester and get under his skin. My own feelings aside, I need him for what we’ve got coming, and we can’t afford for his head to be elsewhere.
That’s how mistakes are made.
“Stop.” I let enough power bleed into the word that he immediately straightens. “They target one of us, they target all of us. We all knew what we were signing up for when we let you in.” I make eye contact. His are a pale green, the same colour as his shifted form, and I don’t look away until he dips his head in acknowledgement.
Mal stands, brushing dirt off his jeans. “What do you want us to do?”
“Nothing right now.” There’s a bite to my voice, because fuck, I’d like nothing more than to hunt Birch down and shake the fucking truth out of him. But we don’t have time for that. “We need to be ready for Saturday night, and with Flint sidelined, someone else is going to have to step in.”
“Shit. Forgot about that.” Mal leans back against the tree, one hand splayed on the trunk like he needs the old wood to ground him. I know how he feels. “Who?”
I’ve been running names through my head since we left Flint’s room. It’s been me, Mal, Jet, and Flint doing these runs since we started. We’re like a well-oiled machine by this point—everyone knows their roles without needing to second guess each other. Anyone new we bring in runs the risk of getting us all killed.
Or worse.
I listen for anyone within hearing range, but the compound is still mostly asleep. The soundproofing in Flint’s room did a goodenough job of not disturbing anyone. “What about Beth?” I offer. She’s the one I keep coming back to.
Mal’s low whistle raises the hair on the back of my neck and my lip curls in a snarl. He’s quick to raise his hands. “Not that I think she couldn’t do it, I know she’s fierce as fuck.” He raises an eyebrow until I dial it back. “All things considered, can she hold it together enough to get in and out without wanting to kill every fucker there?”
It’s a valid question.
Looking at the others, I’m not the only one who thinks so, and I need to give it the consideration it deserves. In my mind, Beth’s control is strong enough to do what needs to be done without letting her personal feelings get in the way. But it’s not just my life on the line.
And with her past, I don’t blame Mal for having concerns. Every single time we do this, I want to tear them all limb from limb. I can only imagine how much worse it’ll be for her. I lost one of my closest friends to these bastards, but Beth lost her brother.
But she knows what’s at stake here.
“It’s a good call,” Jet says after a prolonged silence. “She’s one of the best trackers we have, and she’s fast.”
Mal nods. “Faster than me. She can take my place and I’ll cover for Flint.”
We all look to Callum. He has his bottom lip drawn between his teeth, and I can’t get a sense for where he’s at on this. “If you think she can handle it without going feral in there, then I’m good.”
