CHAPTER TWENTY
Kyle
I was still running on empty as I reentered the room a couple of hours later. The sky was darkening into night when I got a frantic message from the guards patrolling the area around the compound.
The Keepers are on their way, one of the guards notified me.
How many? I asked, raking a hand through my hair. Our time had run out. They were here.
Five.
That didn't seem to be a group big enough to attack us.
Should we engage?
No, I commanded.
"You stay here," I instructed Crystal. She was about to argue with me but I put my hand up.
"You can't be seen."
She understood the risk. With a determined look from me, she clamped her mouth closed.
"Promise me you won't step a foot outside this room," I told her.
"What if they are attacking?" she argued.
"Let me find out what's going on first. But promise me you won't move out of this room without my permission."
She reluctantly nodded her head.
"I'm scared," she whispered, taking my hand into hers.
"It'll be all right," I told her, even though I could feel my heart pounding in my chest.
We had no idea why the Keepers were here. Maybe they were going to negotiate the release of Flynn. I pressed a brief kiss to her lips and savored the momentary peace it gave me.
"I'll be back soon," I told her before I left the room.
Do we know how far out they are? I asked James as I hurried through the house.
Five minutes, he answered.
Send someone to notify Cade and Blake, I instructed, making my way to the main gates at the back of the property.
Some of my fighters had started to surround the gate in a semi-circle as a precaution.
"How long?" Cade asked, appearing beside me.
"Minutes," I answered as I fixed my eyes on the gate.
"You think they're here for an attack?" Blake asked when he arrived a few moments later.
I shook my head.
"No, I think they are here to negotiate."
No matter what they demanded or offered, I couldn't allow Flynn to leave the compound alive.
"Negotiate might not be the right term to use. Demand would probably be a more fitting description," Cade said, sounding more laid back than I felt.
He was right. The Keepers weren't weak and they knew they had the upper hand. And until we could test the theory of the wolfsbane spray, we had no way to know if we could change that and even the playing field.
I hated the wait. Minutes felt much longer as we anticipated the arrival of our enemy.
It wasn't long before my guards announced the Keepers had arrived. Cade and Blake stood tall to the one side of me, and James and my Uncle Nate stood on the other side. Behind us, ready to fight, were thirty fighters just in case.
"I should have brought in some of my fighters," Cade said under his breath as the gates swung open on my command.
I shrugged. It wouldn't have made much of a difference. We needed to find a way to weaken them for there to be any chance of their defeat.
There would be no way to escape a fight with them. I couldn't let Flynn leave the compound knowing what he did about Crystal. He would have to die and that would ensure a retaliation from the Keepers. No matter which way we looked at it, there was only one outcome.
Two Keepers stepped forward from the darkness of the forest into the glow that illuminated from the lights on either side of the gates. Three followed behind them.
Five Keepers stood tall and confident, surrounded by werewolves. The sight of us usually was enough to intimidate any enemy, but they weren't.
I stepped forward as they walked into the compound.
The two in front seemed to be older than the others. The one Keeper was tall with dark brown hair with some gray. It was his eyes that revealed the most.
I didn't need to know him to see the evil evident in his look. This one I knew was the one that Crystal had told me about. The one who had scared her. I could see why.
The other was older. Even though he was as intimidating as the other, there was no evil in his eyes. Instead, there was curiosity. I had trained for years not to allow the enemy to see anything I didn't want them to. Seeing any weakness in me wouldn't do us any good at this stage. They needed to see me as a strong alpha ready to lead my pack to war.
I remained unfazed by them on the outside. The only alpha that was better at it than me was Cade. He had the best poker face, but all eyes were on me.
"We want Flynn back," the evil one spat, and I tightened my fist. I refused to allow anyone, Keeper or not, to disrespect me in front of the people who trusted me to lead them.
But before I could say anything, the older Keeper beside him whispered something to him and stepped forward. He was the oldest out of the five. Maybe he was the one in charge.
"Excuse Travis. His people skills aren't great," he said without any animosity, which took me a little by surprise. "We are here to ask for the return of our missing friend."
I think he lacked a lot more than just people skills—like a soul.
"Your friend was captured for killing rogues in the area," I responded, not revealing that we knew more about them than I was letting on.
"I understand your concern," he acknowledged. "My name's Harrison. We are Keepers and we are here to protect humans from rogues."
I folded my arms while I listened. Cade did the same beside me.
"So why now?" I asked. "Rogues have always been around. What's so different now?"
No one knew the answer to that. Harrison seemed to contemplate my question for a few moments before responding.
"The grouping and uprising of rogues recently is rare. It was concerning to say the least. It was the reason why we were sent to handle it."
It was starting to make sense.
"So you guys came in to clean it up," I murmured, understanding their presence in our territory. It was unbelievable that, even in death, Keri's father, Victor, could still cause us so much trouble.
"Yes," he said with a nod. Travis glared at me, but I ignored him. "We are here to minimize the number of rogues so it doesn't happen again."
"And what happens when you're done?" I asked.
"We leave."
And I wished it were that simple. My mate and what she really was wouldn't allow that to happen. Cade threw me a disbelieving look.
This would only work if Flynn didn't tell them about Crystal's existence, but I knew that wouldn't happen. There would be no releasing the Keeper and it would lead to war with them.
"What the hell is he doing here?" Travis barked, stepping forward. A couple of my fighters shifted into their werewolves and began to growl.
Stop, I warned them without looking back. Back down. I couldn't allow a mistake to lead to a premature fight with them.
Travis stopped but his eyes were fixed on someone behind me. I turned to see Dean.
"He is one of us," I told them when I turned back to face them.
"Is she here?" Travis asked, scanning my pack members. I was thankful I had told her to stay inside.
"Who?" I asked, knowing full well he was talking about Crystal.
Why was he so interested in a human girl? I felt a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. Did he somehow know what she was? But if he had known, he would have killed her already.
"The human girl." His eyes studied me for any indication of whether I was lying, but I was better than he was at this game.
"Our pack member was returned to us. We know nothing of a human girl," I lied effortlessly.
Travis' eyes narrowed. Despite the fact I lied so well, I could tell he didn't believe me.
"We are only here to request the release of the Keeper," Harrison said with determination, as he threw a look to Travis.
It was hard to determine which of them was in charge. One of the Keepers behind them stepped forward. He was tall and blond.
"Return him to us unharmed and we leave without harming anyone," he threatened.
I felt the alpha in me rise up with the challenge. Cade tensed beside him.
"You have twenty-four hours to return him to us," Travis said, issuing their final threat.
And with that, they left.
Crystal
I watched the entire interaction between the Keepers and the pack from my window. Hiding behind the curtain to ensure I wasn't seen, I clutched the fabric so hard my knuckles turned white.
Seeing Travis again ignited the fear I had experienced the first time I met him. I didn't know what to think of Harrison. He was a Keeper—one of them—yet he had helped me escape. Why? It made no sense.
I had waited anxiously, hoping and praying the Keepers would leave without incident. Kyle had refused to allow them to intimidate him and he had held his ground. I felt proud that he was mine.
Cade and Blake had stood beside him. This technically wasn't their fight but they would not turn their backs on Kyle. Kyle had saved them when Victor had attacked them, intent on crushing them.
And there was no guarantee that they would stop with just our pack.
When Travis spotted Dean standing in among the fighters, I had held my breath. Would they know I was still here?
It's not possible, I told myself. With every breath, I concentrated on the group I was watching. I studied each little movement, look.
Then, just when I couldn't take it anymore, the Keepers left. Feeling lightheaded like I had held my breath for the entire time they had been there, I leaned against the wall, taking in a deep breath before releasing it. Minutes later the door to the room opened suddenly and Kyle strode in.
"It's okay," he said, gathering me into his arms. Could he still feel my emotions through the wolfsbane I was being dosed with, or had he known that the Keepers visit would upset me so much?
"I'm sorry," I said, looking up at him, hating that it put more pressure on him.
"It's okay," he repeated.
I hugged him tighter and lay my head against his chest.
"What did I do to deserve you?" I whispered, feeling emotional.
"Nothing. Everything you are is perfect for me. I'm thankful for every day I have with you." He hugged me closer, and I felt guilty for every day I had taken from him. I released him and stepped back.
"I'm sorry," I told him again, swallowing hard.
"What are you sorry for?" he asked, looking puzzled.
"For running away from you, and this," I said. "I should have given you a chance to help me. I should have trusted you."
"You don't have anything to be sorry for. We can't live in the past," he said, reaching for my hand. "We need to let it go and live in the present."
I nodded. "Yes."
The fear of what would happen with the Keepers hung over us like a dark cloud. There was no guarantee of any future between us.
"What did they say?" I asked, needing to know how bad it was going to be.
"They've given us twenty-four hours to release Flynn."
The look in his eyes confirmed that letting Flynn go wasn't an option, like I had suspected already.
"You can't," I said. I had to change his mind. I couldn't allow him to sacrifice Flynn. It would lead to a war with the Keepers. So much blood would be spilled. I just couldn't.
"I'm not going over this again with you." His tone changed suddenly. He turned away from me and ran a hand through his hair.
He had already made up his mind. Nothing I said was going to change it. Feeling defeated, I walked over to the bed and sat down.
"Let's not fight about it," he said when he sat down beside me. He took my hand into his and his long fingers brushed against mine. The sense of peace that eased into me was addictive.
I didn't want to fight. I wanted to just be with him and forget about everything else for just one night. Tomorrow I would figure a way out. I wrapped my fingers around his hand.
"Okay."
Our eyes connected and I felt a flutter inside my stomach.
"I love you." His words wrapped around me and warmed my heart.
"I love you too."
He leaned closer and kissed me. I wanted more, but he pulled away.
"I need to have a meeting with James," he said reluctantly. "We need to decide on a plan."
I nodded. He wasn't just my mate. He was the alpha of the pack and responsible for it.
"I need to find out how close Curtis is to being ready," he added as he stood up.
"Don't be too long," I told him, watching him walk away.
As soon as he exited the room, it felt like I was missing something.
I paced the length of the room, trying to shut out the thoughts of Flynn. I squeezed my eyes closed and the memory of him saving me replayed in my mind again and again. My conscience wouldn't allow me to ignore what they were going to do to him. I bit my nail as I thought about my options.
I wasn't even exactly sure why I couldn't allow Kyle to end Flynn's life. Maybe it was because I believed Flynn was good. Maybe to someone stronger it wouldn't be an issue, but for me it was.
While Kyle was distracted was the best time to do what I needed to. My heart sped up. I put my hand to my chest. I needed to calm down otherwise Kyle would worry. Did my mate know me well enough to be suspicious that I would try something? I took in a deep breath and released it.
Who could I trust to help me? There weren't many people who would help me free someone they considered the opposition.
Then it struck me. Bay. Kyle hadn't liked the connection she had made with Flynn. That was it. I knew she would help me.
Bay? I called out through the mind-link, hoping it would work. I had taken wolfsbane but hopefully not enough to block the mind-link.
Nothing. I tried again.
Yes, she answered almost straight away.
I need to see you, I told her.
Sure, she answered. I'll be there in a few minutes.
I continued to pace until she knocked on the door.
"What's up?" she asked. I put my finger to my mouth and indicated for her to keep still.
"I need you to help me." Feeling my heart start to race again, I took a breath and released it. "Kyle is planning on killing Flynn."
Her mouth opened with a gasp and she looked bewildered. "Why?" she asked.
"He knows what I am. If we let Flynn go, he will go back to the other Keepers and he will reveal what I am. They will come for me." She looked at me with big, wide eyes. "But if we kill him, they will come anyway."
"But you can't take him to the Keepers. They will kill you," she said.
There was no way around it. "I will take him to their property but I will leave him outside," I lied, and I hoped she bought it.
"Why don't I take him?"
I shook my head. "I can't risk your life," I told her. She didn't look entirely convinced.
"I'm stronger than you or any other werewolf." That tipped it over into the acceptable category.
"So how are we going to get him out of here without anyone finding out?" she asked in a hushed tone. "I can't go near the cell. Kyle ordered me to stay away from it."
"We need someone else to help us," I told Bay, understanding she couldn't fight the alpha command she had been given by Kyle. As long as she remained in the pack, she could not go against it even if she wanted to. Someone had to distract the guards and help Bay get Flynn out. Who could I trust not to tell Kyle?
It wasn't like many pack members would jump at the chance to betray their leader. Then I thought of Dean. He owed me; I had saved his life.
"Dean. We need to talk to Dean," I told her, feeling my plan come together.
"How do you know he will help us?" she asked, looking skeptical. "It's not like everyone is willing to go behind the alpha's back."
"He owes me." This was a small repayment in comparison.
I began to pace again. My gaze fell on the syringe filled with wolfsbane that Curtis had sent me to calm the hormonal changes. I had already taken the first dosage and it had seemed to help.
I reached for it and held it in my hand as I formulated a plan. I would keep Kyle distracted while Bay and Dean moved him into a car without anyone seeing anything. The wolfsbane would weaken him along with his scent, which should be enough to get him out without him being discovered. Besides, there was no way to know if he would quietly go along with the plan.
There was no reason for him to trust us.