Page 28 of Hunted Ink

For the next few weeks, I played the dutiful hunter. I trained the younger boys, made repairs to the roof, tended to the garden—and every night after dark, I texted my mate with the burner phone, telling him how much I loved and missed him. I told myself the precaution was necessary, but I was so tired of living two half lives.

Just before the full moon, something changed. My keen hearing picked up the distant ring of a phone. I’d never heard that sound from within the compound before, and I nearly missed a step and fell down the stairs. I quickly regained my composure and discreetly tried to track down where it had come from. I walked in the opposite direction from the bedrooms, and the closer I came to Pater’s office, I caught the murmur of his voice from within.

I slowed my steps, walking lightly on the balls of my feet, avoiding the boards I knew creaked.

“…can’t deal with that on your own? It’s your own fault,” I heard him say. Glancing over my shoulder to make sure no one could see me, I strained to listen in on the conversation. Pater’s sigh was muffled, but there was no mistaking the frustration he felt. “There’s only one thing you can do. You’re going to have to clean house and start over.” I hated to guess what that meant. Another pause. He was clearly talking to someone on the phone, but no matter how sharp my senses were, there was no way I could catch the other end of the conversation. “Alright, fine,” he snapped, his temper wearing thin. “I’ll bail you out—again—but you owe me big time.”

He must’ve hung up the phone, because suddenly his footsteps were marching toward the office door. Run! my wolf barked at me. I didn’t have time to retreat, so I wrestled my racing heart into an even pace and walked forward, acting like I’d been heading for Pater’s office the whole time. I was just raising my hand as if to knock when the door flew open.

Pater’s expression was thunderous, gray brows hooked low over his eyes, but it morphed into surprise when he found me standing there. “Oh! What is it, Apollo?”

“I just wanted to talk to you about our weaponry. A few of the trainees are having a hard time with archery, and I know how traditional our methods are, but I thought we might try a compound bow. Maybe we could—”

Pater cut me off with a wave of his hand. “I can’t talk about this right now. I have something urgent to deal with. Later, okay?” I nodded, and he hurried past me. He was obviously distracted, and I wasn’t sure he’d heard a single word I said. Just as well, since I couldn’t give a shit about compound bows.

Within an hour, Pater and the rest of the elders had dressed in combat gear, packed their bags and a small arsenal of bows and blades, and were driving off in three vehicles, a cloud of dust drifting in their wake. Whatever that phone call had been about, it apparently needed all of them to deal with it, and with how much stuff they’d packed, I had to assume it would be an extended trip—possibly a small war.

We stood on the porch and watched them leave, a strange excited tension running through the air. We’d never been left unsupervised before, and I had no doubt that they would be judging to see how things were handled in their absence. I wished I’d known this was going to happen or had any clue how long they would be gone for, and maybe I could’ve made plans to get everyone out. As it was, I wasn’t even sure if I could trust everyone not to rat me out to the elders.

“What now, boss?” Seth said with a teasing sneer, nudging me with his elbow.

“Don’t call me that,” I snipped. I hadn’t asked to be put in charge, but I suppose somebody needed to be.

“When the cats are away, the mice shall play,” Brahm said lightly, arching a brow in Seth’s direction.

“Party?” Seth asked, grin widening.

“Party!” the others echoed, Pallas and Erebus whooping as they ran back into the house, no doubt already making a list of everything they would need.

I wasn’t thinking about a party, though. My brain was caught on the fact that I hadn’t seen my mate in weeks. Could I really stay the night with him, without lies and fear of the consequences? A smile tugged at my lips. I knew I should’ve been using this time to search Pater’s office or working to get the other shifters free, but it was far too easy to set that aside for tomorrow. Even the itch of guilt couldn’t dull the lovestruck giddiness that raced through me as I packed a small overnight bag. Pulling the burner phone out from under my mattress, I sent Kedi a quick text letting him know I was coming, and he immediately said he had plans to make, whatever that meant.

“Hey, where you headed?” Seth called after me as I jogged out to my truck.

“Out. What are you, my dad?” I called teasingly over my shoulder.

His laugh was unrestrained, something I wished for more of. “Yeah, whatever, lover boy. Say hi to your cute little mechanic for me.”

Rage and fear reared up inside me before I could see reason. He must’ve realized the connection when he brought my truck to the garage, but… why hadn’t he said anything about it before now? Why hadn’t he told the elders?

Simple. Because he was on my side, not theirs. Maybe I could trust him after all.

I paused with the door open, one foot in the truck. “Hey, Seth? If something happens… I left a phone number on my dresser.” I’d debated leaving that number, but I was the person they’d left in charge, after all. I had to trust that he wouldn’t turn me in.

“You got it, boss,” he said with a mock salute before turning and heading back into the house.

Laughing, I hopped into the truck and made my way into the city.

Kedi’s apartment door wasn’t locked when I got there. “Honey, I’m home,” I called as I stuck my head in. I was assaulted by so many new scents, and immediately, a swarm of people came running at me. Every instinct I had went code red, and if I’d brought a weapon, I probably would’ve pulled it out. My wolf told me to calm my ass down, heavy on the eyeroll.

“I can’t believe he’s been hiding you from us!” a woman cried, yanking me into the apartment with a firm grip on my wrist. She pulled me into a hug tight enough that I couldn’t draw a full breath.

My arms hung stiffly at my sides, unsure how to handle this turn of events. I sought out Kedi over her shoulder, his hair now neon pink, and he gave me a guilty shrug, like what can you do?

When she finally pulled back, it was only so she could grab my face with both hands. “You haven’t changed a bit. Still the same eyes, the same nose.” It was then I realized who she was—who they all were. Kedi’s pack, my former packmates from years ago.

I searched her face, trying desperately to make some connection in my brain, but too much time had passed, with the Order doing whatever they could to bury those memories. Guilt rushed through me, heating my cheeks. “I’m sorry…” I began, shaking my head.

“Sierra,” she supplied with a wide smile, not even fazed that I couldn’t remember her name. “It’s good to have you back.”