I watched as Dinsel delivered a message to Brian via walkie-talkie over the hum of the jet engines. Because I was in a rush to take-off before anyone had discovered my plans, I opened a single black leather suitcase and began strapping my guns and ammo to my waist and chest. A single black blazer lay on the seat to the left of me.

“Are you ready, Alpha?” Dinsel asked, throwing a duffle bag inside the jet and sliding into a seat adjacent to me.

“Yes. Let’s take off before someone tries to stop me. The third jet with our crew members? Are they still on the ground?” I asked Dinsel.

“The third pilot is on the tarmac near the warehouse. They’ll take off as soon as we lift off here.”

I nodded. ”And what about the crews on the ground? Have they been informed of their missions?”

Dinsel nodded. “They were informed this morning. As you asked, Alpha.”

“Good,” I said, re-adjusting my tie and grabbing my blazer. “Let’s head out. The ranch is fifty miles west of Texas. It should take us right under three hours to get there.”

I retrieved a map from my suitcase and handed it to Dinsel. On the sheet were blood stains from the Osborne girl that led a trail to a ranch just outside of Texas secluded by dense woods.

“X marks the spot,” I said.

After Dinsel handed the map off to the pilot, he asked, “What should I tell the pilot waiting here?”

I looked across the tarmac at the other pilot who was currently on standby. Initially, Devin and I planned to take two crews out to the ranch at the same time to get to Jack Osborne and bring him back dead or alive. That had been before Elisa caught wind of our plans and decided at the last minute that she wanted to be there for me. Devin and I agreed to keep the women out of this. They had done enough by bonding the circle and nearly depleting all of their energy to track down an entire coven. I couldn’t have her on the front lines physically fighting our enemies.

“Tell the other pilot to follow Devin’s orders,” I replied. Because of the swift change in our plans, I had no idea what those orders would be. One of us needed to survive. If I didn’t come out, I was content knowing that Devin would continue in my stead.

”Yes, Alpha,” Dinsel nodded and then paged the other pilot on his walkie.

I finished suiting up, cringing as I stretched my arms into both sleeves. Elisa’s spell from last night had given me loads of energy, but deep down inside I was still feeling the effects of the venom. The pain only angered me, but when I was angry, I was determined.

When I finished buttoning my blazer, I glanced up to see Pacorro Ceasar staring at me intently. Paco was an Enforcer in one of my human tactical units. I’d met the man on numerous occasions and even had dinner with him several times before officially naming him the leader of his crew.

I’d chosen him and a few of his men personally to join me on this particular mission. I didn’t know what the Osbornes had up their sleeves, but I concluded that taking a few good human men along to mitigate the risks would prove to be beneficial. Osbornes had a reputation for controlling shifters with their magic and I needed my human men there to take over in the event a hex like that did occur.

For the most part, I was confident with my plans. Apparently, Jack enjoyed parading around with powers he didn’t deserve to have, but I was sick of it. Enough of the parades—I was going straight to the threat. And this time, he wouldn’t get away. I knew exactly where he was.

There was no way I could agree to Elisa's initial agreement where she insisted on assisting me on the hunt. I couldn't have my mate in that kind of danger. Yet, I did not doubt that she'd be right behind me when she found out I had taken off ahead of them. By that time, I will have put an end to it all.

I had no other choice but to treat Jack Osborne in the same manner that I treated the rats who stole from me, betrayed me, and threatened the people I loved, my livelihood, and my businesses.

Jack was disposable. And I would dispose of him like yesterday’s trash.

This time when Paco stole a glance at me, I read the curiosity in his eyes. He was dressed in all black. Leather. Black leather for everything from his gloves down to his boots. His attire was suitable for the occasion. Before the day’s end, someone would be getting a funeral.

Like my other men who swore an oath, Paco wore The Belt. He had earned many badges with the most notable being the one he received directly from me when he took the oath to join COBRA.

When I called Paco out on this mission with only one hour to appear at my estate, he had immediately stepped up without spoken excuses, doubts, or questions. But I knew he had questions. There was no doubt about it. Paco had been around long enough and had seen enough to make many conclusions.

“Do you know what I am?” I asked outright.

Paco shifted in his seat, and then replied, “Yes, I’ve always known what you were. Doesn’t make any difference. I knew what I signed up for.”

“Good. Then you’re not afraid?”

Paco sat in silence for a few seconds, and then looked me right in the eyes. “No.”

There wasn’t any indication that he was lying. No skips in his heartbeats. No escalation of his pulse. No smell of a fib. He was telling the sincere, honest truth. I’d given Paco and his crew many missions before. The man was thorough, efficient, and always cleaned up after himself. I never expected much from my COBRA crews that consisted mostly of humans, but Paco had impressed me.

“How long have you known of our existence?” I asked.

“Of shapeshifters? Ever since I could read. Of witches? Well…mi mater always told me stories about them.”

“Fear isn’t a sign of weakness, Paco. It’s an indication that you are sane. Do you believe you and your men are untouchable?” I asked.

Pack snorted. “Untouchable? No man is untouchable. Not even the ones who shape-shift.”

“Then why are you not afraid?” I asked. “You’re a human. I’m a wolf. You’re about to walk into a den of witches.”

“I’m not afraid of those things,” Paco replied.

“Čega se plašiš?”

“What am I afraid of?” Paco repeated my question.

I wasn’t surprised that he understood me. Over the years, I’d learned that the men who were most loyal to me made it a point to understand me—even my language.

“Da.” I nodded and waited in anticipation for his reply.

“Death.”

I sat back in my chair, content with his answer and pleased with my decision about recruiting Paco for this mission. I closed my eyes and cleared my head to prepare myself mentally for the anger I was about to unleash.