Chapter Sixteen
They said their goodbyes just before dawn the next day, Dara handing Skye over to Ollie and promising he’d see him soon. They took two cars, just in case something happened to one of them. Hunter and Axel drove in one. Seth and Dara the other.
Seth had asked him not to say anything to the others about what they’d done, insisting they needed to keep a surprise or two up their sleeves. Dara had readily agreed.
“How do you feel?” Dara asked the alpha.
Seth’s hands had a tight grip on the steering wheel.
“Shouldn’t I be asking you that question?”
Dara gave him a look.
“Okay, fine. Truth be told, I’m a little nervous.”
“Yeah, I can tell.”
“How?”
“The steering wheel.”
Seth lifted his hands for a moment, wincing when he saw the finger-shaped indents.
“Oh. Right. Sorry.”
Dara held up his own hand, showing the wolf how hard he was shaking. “You’re in good company.”
“Good company is the best company. And you know what they say about misery and fear…”
“They… love company?”
“Exactly.”
Dara sat back in his seat, watching the world out the window. It looked so calm and peaceful out there. He could almost forget they were going into battle. Almost.
“Tell me about the Cove?”
Seth glanced at him before returning his attention to the road. “Sure, what do you want to know?”
“What’s it like there? What makes it special?”
“Well, that’s easy—”
Dara sat back and listened as Seth described his home, from the close-knit houses of the families to the Cove that gave them their name, and how beautiful it all looked on the night of the full moon.
It was early afternoon when they got to their location.
Hunter and Axel in the car ahead of them pulled off the road, Seth following suit.
“I guess we’re walking from here,” Seth said, climbing out. Dara got out too, walking around the car to join the others. As Seth had suggested, he’d worn loose-fitting clothing to hide any change in his shape since Skye’s birth.
“Ready?” Seth asked.
“Ready,” they echoed.
Seth took the lead, Dara by his side with Hunter and Axel behind them.
“We’ve got company,” Hunter said in an undertone minutes later. “Two guys on our left and two on our right.”
“An escort. That was kind of them. We wouldn’t want to get lost.” Seth didn’t turn to look but spoke to Dara instead. “Would you mind walking behind me, let’s make it look like we’re escorting you properly and not just out for a stroll.”
“Okay,” Dara said, slowing to follow Seth instead of keeping pace with him. Hunter and Axel now behind and either side of him.
“I feel like we need a marching song,” Seth said over his shoulder. “Anybody got any suggestions?”
“Shut up and let me listen, Seth,” Hunter replied.
“I don’t know that one,” Seth said, falling silent.
The midday sun was hot in the sky, and Dara wished he wasn’t wearing so many layers. He couldn’t take them off either, not without spoiling the surprise of his no longer pregnant-ness.
“Still just the four,” Hunter said after a while. “And they’re keeping their distance.”
“Good,” Seth said. “I know how these exchanges work. It’s totally not fair if they ambush you before you get to have a witty exchange of words with the hostage taker.”
The path ahead of them took a sharp turn and from behind a hill, the arena came into view.
Dara shuddered at the sight as Seth slowed to a stop in front of him.
“You weren’t exaggerating. It’s a fortress.”
“But we’ll be inside, remember,” Dara said softly, stepping closer to Seth and trying to offer comfort. “We’ll be breaking out not in.”
Seth turned and gave him a smile. “Exactly. And if we do this right, we won’t be alone.”
This was the last place Dara wanted to be going but also the only place he wanted to go. Max was there. He hoped Max was there.
They continued walking.
“We’ve got more company incoming,” Seth warned. Dara glanced back to see Hunter give Seth a sharp look before turning his gaze outward. For Dara’s part, he couldn’t hear or see the wolves following them or the ones ahead of them. But he trusted Seth and Hunter’s senses.
“Let’s pick up the pace,” Seth decided. “Otherwise we’ll spend all day marching slowly to our deaths. Are you able to keep up okay?”
It took a minute for Dara to realize Seth meant him.
“Yeah, I’m doing okay.”
“If you need to slow down or want a break, just yell. Maybe don’t yell. Whisper. Murmur. Quietly.”
“Got it, Seth.”
He shook his head. Was the talking a nervous habit or was it just Seth? Either way, he found he didn’t mind so much. After being locked in a lighthouse for weeks on end, it was nice to hear another person’s voice. And Seth’s voice was pleasant.
They reached the arena an hour later, the door opening as they approached.
“A pity. I was hoping we’d get to knock and they’d say, ‘who goes there’ and I’d say, ‘it is I’ and we’d have this cool back and forth. But never mind, the moment is ruined.”
“Seth, let’s put on our serious hats now,” Hunter said.
“Hats? Hunter, buddy, I’m putting on a helmet and some chain mail. Do you see the size of those walls?” Seth stopped then, turning around to look at Dara, Hunter, and Axel.
“We all know the plan, right? Each of us has a role to play or this won’t work.”
“I wish you’d let me do the fighting, Seth,” Hunter said.
Dara spoke up before Seth could. “No, Hunter. This is something Seth needs to do.”
Seth nodded, his face grim, though there was gratitude in his eyes for Dara’s words.
“He’s right. This is what I have to do. It’ll be okay, I promise, once we all stick to our roles.”
“Okay,” Hunter said. “Then let’s get this done.”
“Hey, that was my line,” Seth complained good-naturedly and, as one, they turned and walked toward the open door. The next time they passed this threshold, it would be with both their lost brothers.
The temperature dropped as they walked through the door but that wasn’t why Dara shivered. Being back here, in this place, scared him. And so did the thought of facing Zane again. He shuddered so hard Seth glanced back at him. Dara tried to smile, to let the wolf know he was okay, except that he wasn’t. The only thing keeping him moving was knowing that Seth was there, right beside him, and he’d get to see Max soon.
A wolf near the door greeted them. Not Zane but a face Dara recognized. They followed him and with a heavy heart, Dara realized they were heading right to the center of the arena. There was only one reason for that… Zane was already planning a fight of some sort.
The alpha in question was standing in the very middle of the arena, watching their approach.
“Seth, I’m so glad you could make it.” Zane’s eyes settled on Dara for a moment and he swallowed self-consciously under the alpha’s gaze. But Zane moved on quickly to the two alphas behind him.
“Hunter, I wasn’t expecting to see you. I heard there was a falling out, what with you being a bear and all.” There was an unmistakable smirk on Zane’s face.
“He’s still my cousin,” Seth said heatedly. “Bear or wolf doesn’t change that.”
“Doesn’t it? You know, there’s a lot we could offer you, Hunter. Land of your own, prestige, a fight to really test those skills of yours.”
“Not interested,” Hunter said flatly.
“We’re here to trade, Zane. Where’s Lucas?” Seth said.
“He’s nearby.”
“I want to see him, just like you can see Dara, not a hair harmed on his head.”
“There was blood at the lighthouse,” Zane said offhandedly.
“Minor injury. Nothing significant, as you can see.” He stepped sideways, giving Zane a clear path to Dara. The alpha took a step forward and Dara hurriedly moved back.
“Ah-ah.” Seth came between them. “Look, but don’t touch. Not until I get Lucas.”
“Fine,” Zane said, crossing his arms. “Bring the kid,” he called.
A few seconds later two wolves dragged in a squirming, fighting Lucas.
“Hey, kiddo,” Seth called.
“Seth!” He tried to break free from his captors, but they doubled down in their efforts to hold him.
“Cool your heels for a few minutes, okay, Luke?”
Lucas slowed and stopped, nodding and taking in the scene before him. “Hunter!”
“Hey, Lucas. Do what Seth tells you, okay?”
“Okay.”
Zane smiled. “What a touching reunion. So, a deal’s a deal. Let’s make the exchange.”
“I thought we should talk first, about what our future plans are. See if we can’t come to some understanding that avoids more bloodshed.”
Dara could see Zane wasn’t expecting that move. The alpha paused, looked around, then conceded. “I’m all ears.”
That was Dara’s cue.
“I want to see Max. Please, Zane. It’s been so long.”
Seth glanced back at him then looked to Zane. “Who’s Max?”
Zane waved it off. “No one you need to be concerned about. And something we can deal with later.”
“It’s fine with me if he wants to go see someone. So long as Hunter goes with him.”
He smirked at Zane, telling the alpha clearly that he believed Hunter alone more than capable of protecting their interests in Dara.
“Fine. Bryan, take them to Max. Five minutes, no more.”
Hunter stepped forward, taking Dara by the arm and shoving him, knocking him into Bryan and sending the two of them sprawling to the ground. Zane actually growled, stalking forward.
Hunter moved back, holding his hands up, palms out. “No harm intended. Don’t know my own strength sometimes.” He smirked over at Zane while Dara pretended to struggle to pick himself up, Bryan bodily lifting him to his feet and not noticing what Dara’s hands were doing.
“This way,” he said, looking to Hunter.
Hunter put himself between the two, making eye contact with Dara. “No sudden moves, no trying to run. You stay in arm’s reach at all times.”
The alpha’s deep voice and dark tone were pretty scary and, if Dara didn’t know him, he might have been frightened. But he knew Hunter was just acting and meekly nodded. “Yes, Hunter.”
He stole a glance at Zane as they passed, trying to keep a hopeful expression on his face. Let the alpha think that Dara wanted to be returned to him. Then they were out of the arena and on their way through the dark corridors to see Max.