I have to admit it’s weird letting a voice into my head that isn’t Jasper’s, but this turn of events is a real boon for us and could be instrumental to pulling off our strategy.
“My wolves are in position,”Salazar continues.
“Good. I’ll check with the others then report back to you.”I scan more of the forest.“Olivia, can you read me?”
Her bioluminescent figure looks up as if she’s heard the snap of a twig.
“That you, Max?”
“Good, you can hear me too. I’ll get back to you as soon as I’ve connected with the other officers.”
One by one, I link up my mind with the other officers, including Morven and his beta.
“You ready to do this?”Mason says, standing at the head of a small battalion of his own.
“Yeah, I think so.”
Once I’ve connected with everyone, I’ve got a clear image of where all of our troops are located plus the layout of the entire forest, from my position to the eastern edge of the campsite and then some. The wolf troops have fanned out in a one-sided radial burst with the camp at the center, trying to cover the most ground as possible while leaving only small gaps. Morven’s wolves have then formed a barrier between those gaps and the lodge. And of course there is the security detail standing guard outside Jericho’s room.
I zoom in on the great hall, where Katie and the healers are waiting, arranging cots and organizing their medical supplies.
“Katie,”I say, trying not to spook her. She almost drops the box of gauze she’s carrying and looks around like she’s heard a ghost.
“Max?”
“Yeah, we’re all in position. Okay if I communicate with you when the first wave of casualties comes in?”
“Yes, of course, I can let the others know.”For a moment she sits on one of the cots, fiddling with the edge of the box in her hands.“Where are you, Max?”
“On the edge of the cliff about four miles from camp.”
“Are you scared?”
“What did we say, Katie? We’re going to be fine. Jasper’s plan is solid.”
“I know but are you scared?”
“Hell yeah.”
She breathes a little sigh of relief.“Me too.”
“But that’s good, I think,”I say.“It means we’re prepared for the worst.”
“Yep. It’s weird talking to you like this. But I like it.”
“Me too. But I’ve got to go,”I say a little reluctantly. Believe me I’d rather sit here and mind-link with Katie than think about the invasion that could be happening at any moment.“I need to scan for Walter’s army.”
“Okay, go. And ... good luck, Max. Love you.”
“Love you too, bestie.”
With the woods to the east mapped out I turn my attention behind me. Swiveling to face the western edge of the forest and sending out exploratory ripples across the ground, I search for any sign of wolf energy, for another consciousness. But I find ... nothing.
For what feels like an hour, maybe two, I scan continuously.
It’s difficult. It takes a lot of energy to stay in this state. I can tell sweat has broken out across my forehead, feel it dripping down my temple. But I do my best to ignore it and stay focused.
“Anything yet?”Jasper asks.
