Once we were all outside and the items were safely packed away in the truck, we tried to come up with a plan B, but the witches could have gone anywhere. We didn’t have time to scour the states. It would be impossible to find them without a connection.
“I’m going to call Dad,” Aiden said. “Fill him in on what we found and see what he thinks.”
“Good idea, bro.” Caleb turned toward Liam and me. “You two want to go for a run? I don’t know about you, but my wolf is itching to stretch his legs before we’re stuck in the truck again for six hours.”
I nodded eagerly. We hadn’t seen any homes for miles when we drove through, so as long as we didn’t go too far, I hadn’t seen any reason why we couldn’t. It had been too long since I connected with my wolf. I had wanted to last night, but I was too mentally exhausted to make it happen. I preferred to go on runs daily at home, but with everything that had been going on, it just hadn’t been doable.
Caleb started stripping down, and I froze. I’d never been shy about shifting in front of others. I was proud of my lean, muscular body. I had curves in all the right places, and I was damn happy with myself, but this hot and cold thing I had going on with Liam made me hesitate. I hated that.
At least in wolf form, I wouldn’t have to communicate with him. Wolves could only feel the emotions of those within their own pack, and the alpha could sense a deeper connection to each of the wolves. If a wolf within the pack was hurting, then the whole pack ached with them if we were in wolf form. On the plus side, when they were overly happy, the pack felt that as well. It kept the balance and made for tighter bonds within our ranks.
I peeked at Caleb and Liam as I began to pull up my shirt. If I acted like I wasn’t affected by any of it, then maybe I could survive the moment without internally combusting.
Caleb was down to his socks and briefs. He was just as sexy as his brother, but for some reason, I didn’t feel any attraction toward him. His warm, brotherly personality probably had a lot to do with it.
Liam seemed to be going just as slowly as me, and I stiffened when I caught his heated gaze on my body. I turned around and faced the opposite direction, going with the theory that if I couldn’t see them, then they couldn’t see me. Super adult-like, I know.
“See you two later!” Caleb called out as he shifted. I turned my head slightly right before I began my own shift, so I could check out his wolf before he took off. Caleb was charcoal grey with streaks of white weaving in an intricate contrast against the longer dark fur.
Finally deciding my ass had been on display long enough, I let my own shift start. My wolf was several inches shorter than Caleb and Liam’s wolves, but she was fast. I relished the sensation of the wind slapping against her coat whenever we ran.
Once my shift was complete, Caleb was nowhere to be found, but Liam was still there, waiting for me. His wolf was the same charcoal color as Caleb’s, but instead of white, he had silver intertwined through his thick coat. Both of their wolves were almost fluffy, and I wondered if that was because their climate was more severe than the one I was used to.
His piercing green eyes stared back at my lilac ones, making my wolf yip excitedly. I attempted to calm her down before she made an even bigger fool of us than I already had, but Liam’s wolf seemed to be just as eager to run with us, so I went with it for the time being.
“Don’t make me regret this,” I chastised my wolf. She was running on animal instincts, and I knew I wouldn’t get many words back from her, but her feelings were clear. She wanted the wolf, and there wasn’t anything I could do about it.
Liam’s wolf nipped at my sides, then took off. We took the bait and chased after him. Our wolves raced after one another for a good thirty minutes before I was able to reign mine in. I couldn’t deny it had been fun, but I needed to stay on track. I had a father to save and a brother to avenge. I didn’t need the distraction of a man stopping me from accomplishing either of those things.
Caleb was already back and deep in conversation with Aiden when we arrived back. I shifted next to my pile of clothes and dressed, so I could find out if Aiden had learned anything from their father. Liam finished dressing at the same time, and we walked over to the other two together without a word. I wondered how he felt about our wolves getting along so well and if it caused him distress as it did for me.
“What did Dad say?” Liam asked his brother.
“He recommended Davis call an emergency alpha meeting. It’s time fill everyone in and get more help.”
I did a double-take. That made no sense. If a meeting like that was called, then Declan would be invited. He wouldn’t miss a chance to be welcomed into our pack. No way in hell would I let that happen.
I opened my mouth to interject, but Aiden held up his hand for me to wait.
“He was already considering doing it himself, but he wanted to wait until he heard from us. He sent scouts to Declan’s pack. They’ve cleaned house. The women and children are still there along with about half of their men, but Declan and his closest wolves are all gone. He won’t be present at the meeting.”
“What does that mean for us?” I asked.
Alphas couldn’t go off-grid like that without informing the rest of the council. Declan had basically just admitted he was guilty without us having to do anything.
“My dad thinks that when Declan got back and realized two of his girls were missing, he freaked out and left. He probably wanted time to regroup, and now he’ll be trying to form a backup plan if he didn’t already have one. Cocky bastard probably didn’t, which is good for us. We’re assuming his first plan had been to make his pack appear the strongest, challenge your dad, then take over the council.” Aiden paused, glancing at each of us.
“I think when you beat Rafe in the games, it made Declan change his plans. He wanted someone to pay for his son looking like a loser. Now, he’s reckless, and he still has the sorceress. We need to be careful.”
Shit, shit, shit. I didn’t like this. If Declan was MIA, then he could be going after my family again. We needed to get back and call the alpha meeting. Now.
I called Davis to explain everything we’d just learned, but he’d just gotten off the phone with Elijah and was already informed. The meeting had been called, and if I wanted to be part of it, then we needed to head back sooner rather than later.
We loaded back up in the truck without pause, and I didn’t mind one bit when Aiden drove recklessly. As long as he got me back to my pack in the fastest way possible, I didn’t care.
***
The drive back only took four-and-a-half hours. I was slightly carsick, but it was worth it. Elijah was due to fly in within two hours on a commercial flight since his plane was still here. The other alphas would arrive within an hour. When I walked into the pack house, it was a flurry of activity as the pack came together to get the house ready for our guests.
Even though things were insane right then, I couldn’t help the smile that formed on my face as I watched everyone working together like a well-oiled machine. I loved my pack, and I was damn proud of them. Having our alpha out of commission could have caused mass chaos, but instead, I saw how everyone banded together and kept moving forward, just how my dad would have wanted. I knew when he woke up, he was going to be just as proud as I was.
“Taya!” Augie’s strong arms wound tightly around my waist as he lifted me into the air.
“I’ve been gone one day. I know I’m awesome, but lighten up a little,” I teased.
He set me down but didn’t let go. “Deal with it for just a moment.”
I squeezed him just as tightly back. He had a point. We’d been through a lot lately, and I should have taken into account what being separated would do to him even if he had said he was okay with it. I had the distraction of hoping to find the witches, but he was left behind not knowing if I’d return. That was kind of an asshole move on my part, and I’d have to remember to communicate better with him while I was gone if we were separated again in the future.
“Love you, Augie,” I whispered.
“Love you, too.” He leaned back and smiled at me. “Now, go make yourself presentable as the alpha-in-training. You smell.”
After hours in the truck and a run with my wolf, I couldn’t take offense to the comment. He was absolutely right. I wanted the other alphas to take me seriously and know I could do whatever needed to be done to stop Declan. I didn’t need to look like a kid who had been out playing around all day.
Augie kissed me on the forehead, and I heard a growl from behind me. Augie tightened his grip on me and pulled me closer. I had forgotten Liam, Caleb, and Aiden followed me into the house.
I couldn’t tell who made the noise, but I had decided to ignore it. It was safer that way. “You guys can eat first or get ready. I’ll be back out here within the half-hour.”
I left the four of them standing there without another word. Men were odd. I didn’t have time to figure out what just happened. Whatever it was, it was weird and just another thing I could add to the growing list of things I didn’t like.
I went to my room to shower and change. When I came out of the bathroom, Augie was sitting on my bed waiting for me. I was still in my towel and, while it was just Augie, I preferred to be dressed for whatever he wanted to chat about.
“Be right back,” I said. He nodded, so I went to my walk-in closet and shut the door behind me.
I picked dark jeans and my favorite green blouse. It was simple enough that I still felt comfortable in it, but it was also made from silk and the nicest shirt I owned. I hurriedly got dressed and went to talk to my best friend.
“What’s going on?” I asked as I sat next to him brushing my hair. “Is everything okay with my dad? I was headed there next.”
“Your dad is the same. No changes that we can tell.”
“Then what is it?”
“Really?” He eyed me suspiciously as if I should already know. “What happened when you guys were gone?”
“Nothing. The coven was gone. We found a few small things, but I don’t know that they’ll be helpful unless we can track down the witches.”
“So, Liam growled for no reason when I kissed your forehead earlier? Nothing happened between you guys?”
I got up from the bed and headed back toward my bathroom. If he thought we were having that conversation right then, he was out of his mind. I focused on brushing my hair out and continued working out the knots while facing the mirror.
Augie followed me and sat on the counter. “I’m going to take your silence as a confirmation that something did happen. Deny it all you want, but I know you and something has changed.”
I finished brushing my wet hair, then pulled my blow dryer out. I wouldn’t have to answer him if I couldn’t hear him. Childish, I know, but I wasn’t ready to talk about Liam. Not now and not ever.
Augie’s shoulders shook with laughter. He knew exactly what I was doing, and he was enjoying it.
Once I was done, I turned for my bedroom door, but Augie grabbed my arm to stop me first. “I know this is weird for you. You don’t let people in. I’ve enjoyed being the only outsider allowed in all these years, but if you finally feel something for someone, don’t fight it. Just see what happens. If he turns out to be the arrogant asshole we assumed him to be, then I know a good place to bury the body.”
“I love you so hard, August James.” I hugged him tightly. “I’m the luckiest girl in the world to have you as my best friend.”
“Yes, you are. I’m quite the catch if I do say so myself.” He winked, and then his face went back to serious. “When you’re ready to talk about it, I’m here for you, okay?”
“You’re the first person I’ll find when there is something to tell, I promise. Now, let’s go see my dad and get ready for the other alphas.”
Augie nodded, seemingly satisfied with my answer. Maybe sometime soon I’d dissect what my wolf and heart were telling me, but for now, they were going to have to be patient a while longer. I had more important things to worry about, like my father’s impending death if we couldn’t find the witches and how to convince a room full of alphas that finding said witches was a good idea. Not a death sentence.