by Aileen Erin
I cleared my throat. “Nothing. But we have a situation.”
That got everyone’s attention. “What’s going on?” Donovan asked.
“Have any of you been to see Raphael?” Only Chris had the decency to look sheepish. “He’s not doing well. I’ve been trying to come up with a way to help, only I’ve got nothing.”
“I thought Dr. Gonzales had him stabilized,” Donovan said.
“Not even close.” The eerie, cackling laugh of that thing inside Raphael echoed in my mind. “It’s The Exorcist over there. She shot him up with enough sedatives to knock out an alpha, and it only pissed off whatever’s possessing him. Best she could do was strap him down.”
Adrian leaned back in his chair. “So, what now?”
“That’s where you come in.”
He pointed to himself. “Me? Specifically?”
“Yup.” Adrian was pretty easy going, and of all my friends he showed the most interest in getting closer with the brujos. He was also the only one in the pack that had brujo blood in him, even if it was a few generations removed. “I’ve been reading everything I can get my hands on, and so far there’s nothing that would help Raphael. Claudia’s his best shot, but she’s more than a day of travel away. So, what do you think about going with Shane, Beth, and I dunno—someone else—to Peru.”
“He can’t get on a plane,” Adrian said. “Not if he’s that bad.”
No kidding. “I figured that—”
“Yeah, if he’s really bad off, I wouldn’t chance putting him on a plane,” Chris said. “It’s too risky. What if something happens mid-flight?”
I rolled my eyes. “I know. That’s what I’m trying to say. So, back to my original idea, you drive down.”
“We’ll get an RV. If they drive in shifts, they could be down there in a day or two,” Dastien said.
“It’ll take her at least that long to find a cure. That should be perfect.” I tried to keep any hope off my face as I turned back to Adrian. “So, you game?”
Meredith snorted. “For some nearly alone time with Shane, I’d say he’s in.”
What? Why does he want alone time with Shane?
Probably because he has a crush on him.
Wait. Adrian’s gay? How did I not know that? I tried to keep the surprise off my face, but Adrian narrowed his gaze, and I looked away.
Dastien shrugged. Why do you think we train together every morning at five? He’s not pairing up with any girls. He thinks his only shot at making a difference is being a Cazador. And it gives him cover from his parents—who are a couple of complete assholes.
My world had just been rocked. I’d been so caught up in my own shit that I didn’t really know the only friends I’d ever had.
Don’t do that. His romantic life is between him and whoever he ends up with. Just like it’s none of anyone else’s business what you and I do or don’t do.
That made sense, but I still felt like a moron. But you all knew?
That’s because we’ve known each other a long time. This isn’t about you.
Fine. I just feel selfish. Like a bad friend.
You’re not a bad friend.
Meredith cleared her throat. “You about done?” She turned to Donovan. “We’re not that annoying, are we?”
“Worse.” Adrian groaned. “You’re way worse. And being around the four of you is—”
“Nauseating.” Chris chimed in. “It’s nauseating. When I finally find my True Mate, I’m not doing any of this shit.”
Meredith threw a pen at him. “Big words, dork. You’re going to be the worst of the bunch.”
“So true,” I said. “You’re all into art and feelings. Which means you’ll be even more romantic than the rest of us.”
“Yeah, well, payback’s gonna be a bitch.” His voice had a hint of rasp to it as he laughed.
My smile faded as my mind wandered back to Raphael. “Okay. So, who else can we get to go on the trip? No offense, but I can only spare one of you. I figured Adrian was good to go since he’d get more time with the brujos.”
“Good call,” Adrian said. “I’ve been wanting to pick their brains. I feel like I could really get better at spells with their help, but there’s been no time.”
“Well, here’s your chance.”
“I’ll find someone to go. Someone not too alpha, but a good fighter,” Donovan said.
“Maybe Stephen? Or Kaden?” Meredith said.
I had no idea who they were. It was easy to forget that I’d only been at St. Ailbe’s for a couple months, but then things like this happened and I remembered that I really was just the new kid in school.
The door opened, and we all quieted as Mr. Dawson strode in. His gray-speckled hair was more messy than usual, which was a huge sign that he was stressed. He wore a pair of sweat pants and nothing else. Not even shoes. That meant one of two things: either he’d just been a wolf, or he was going to go wolf any second and didn’t want to destroy his favorite pair of jeans. “We’ve got a problem.”
My breath quickened. I only had a few vials on me. If Luciana were here, they wouldn’t be enough.
“The wolves we had issues with last night,” he said to Donovan. “They’re defecting.”
I took a moment to calm down. That wasn’t what I’d been expecting—which was good—but it still wasn’t fantastic. What did this mean for the pack?
Dastien started toward the door. “Where are they?”
“The parking lot, but I’m worried they’re part of a bigger problem. Some teenage Weres leaving the pack is one thing, but if Rupert did more damage…”
Even from beyond the grave, Rupert Hoel was being a pain in the ass. My patience was in the negatives and plummeting fast. There was no way I was letting those wolves get away. Not until Mr. Dawson made sure there was a clean break. We couldn’t risk Luciana using them to gain power over the pack.
We booked it from the library, racing for the parking lot. Alpha energy pumped through my blood as I prepared for a fight. It made me tingle and feel alive, as I ran. The sensation built with every step. Dastien kept pace beside me, but I was in the zone, focusing only on getting to the rogue Weres.
I spotted them piling into a white SUV and a little coupe. The same group from the table at breakfast.
“Stop,” I yelled the command at them, throwing a healthy dose of alpha energy into it. Imogene paused for a second, but then jumped into the passenger side of the coupe. Engines roared to life as they gunned it.
What the hell? That much power behind an order, and it just rolled over them?
How was that possible?
Good thing I wasn’t just an alpha. “Stop!” I put everything I had into that one word. The magic built within me—racing down my fingers—as I held my arms out, screaming the word, willing it to be possible.
Everything stopped.
Not just them. Everyone. Dastien had frozen mid-step. Chris and Adrian stood a few feet behind us, totally motionless. Even Mr. Dawson and Donovan had stopped. It was like someone had hit the pause button on the world. None of them even blinked.
It took me a second, but I remembered Claudia had done this. When I first went up against Mr. Hoel, she’d frozen a whole mall full of people.
I grabbed Dastien and shook him, but he didn’t unfreeze. “Wake up!”
He gasped, almost falling forward. “What the hell is going on?”
“No time. I don’t know how long the spell will hold. Let’s get them tied down.”
“One second.” He ran to the line of black SUVs parked in the front of the lot, and popped the trunk of the closest one. After pulling out a bag of gear, he headed straight for the white SUV. “I’ll do the grabbing. You zip tie their hands.”
“Will that hold them?” Weres were strong enough to flip cars. There was no way a flimsy bit of plastic was going to stop them if they wanted to be free.
“There’s some silver mixed in with the plastic, but even that won’t hold a pissed off Were for long. But it sh
ould be enough.”
“Enough for what?”
“To get them in the feral cages. Until we figure out what they’re up to, that’s where they’ll have to stay.”
We worked quickly, getting all eight Weres out of the cars and bound. Including Imogene and Shannon. I snuck a peek back at Meredith, still frozen. This was going to kill her.
“Okay, so how do you unfreeze everyone else?”
I chewed on my lip as I scanned their unmoving forms. I had no clue how to fix it. “I’m not even sure how I did it in the first place. I guess I’ll go touch them and yell at them to wake up like I did to you.” I stood up, brushing off my jeans.
“Do you think we should—”
His question became moot as everyone started moving, almost tripping as their momentum caught up with them. I jumped back from Shannon as she struggled. The rest of my friends gathered behind me.
“What happened?” Mr. Dawson’s voice was almost a growl. “What did you do?”
I wasn’t quite sure how to answer in a way that wouldn’t piss him off more, so instead I gave him a sheepish smile. “Caught them for you. What now?”
“Now, we release them.” Waves of power rolled off Mr. Dawson so thick they were almost visible. “Anyone who wants to leave this pack, leave this land now.” His voice was half growl and laced with so much magic that my hair stood on end. I closed my eyes as his command tingled through my body, racing along the pack bonds.
“Those of you who have tampered with your bond are no longer welcome.” His words vibrated through the magical web of the pack. Everyone in it—even if they weren’t physically here—would hear him. “Any students who leave must go back to your native packs. You will be reported to your alphas, and expected home. If any who leave interfere in our fight against Luciana, you will be treated as an enemy of all packs. If you stay and harm the pack, there will be no tribunal. You will pay the ultimate price. You have five minutes to get off our land. Do not come back.” He grabbed Joseph’s zip-tied wrists. “Except you. You I want answers from.”
“You can’t hold me here.” His voice was full of whine. “My father’s the Alpha of the Canadian pack. I’m a student. I get to go home.”
“I know who your father is. That’s why I’m keeping you until he comes to pick you up.” Joseph’s face paled, and Mr. Dawson grinned. I never knew he could be scary, but I made a note to never do anything that would put me on the receiving end of one of those looks. “Yes. I’d be very afraid if I were you. Your father and I go way back. We’re going to have a long talk about what you’ve done with the pack bonds.”
“It was—”
A group of wolves approached the parking lot, and Mr. Dawson growled. “Keep your mouth shut until I say you can talk.”
“Any Cazador who is not with us in this fight, leave now,” Donovan added, and another wave of power rolled through the pack—even stronger than Mr. Dawson’s. It was like a countdown, warning dissenters to get out now. While they still could.
I kept my eyes closed, focusing on the bonds. They looked like a big spider web. Mr. Dawson was in the center and the ties spiraled out from him. Further out, a few strands were missing. And more of the distant, faint lines—the Cazadores who weren’t part of our pack specifically but tied to us through the Seven—were evaporating by the second. Then more. Ten. Twenty. Thirty. More.
I opened my eyes. “They’re all leaving.” I tried to swallow down the panic, but it wasn’t working. They couldn’t leave.
“No, not all of them,” Mr. Dawson said.
“But we need as many people as we can to fight Luciana.”
“No.” Donovan’s tone was clear and firm, leaving no room for question. “Better to have fewer people fighting honestly than more fighting half-heartedly. Or worse, working against us. Best be done with it now.”
Dastien took the zip ties off Joseph and the others one by one. I wasn’t sure letting Imogene go was smart, but I wasn’t about to argue with Mr. Dawson. But Shannon…
Meredith came to stand beside me. “You were right.”
I leaned against her shoulder. “I’m sorry. I know you were close.”
“If she’s leaving the pack, then we weren’t really all that close.”
By the end of it, almost forty people left.
Some Cazadores. Some students. It didn’t take more than a few minutes, but it felt much longer.
When the last of them were gone, Mr. Dawson raised his hands in the air. “The pack is now solid and closed. You will abide by my law or face the consequences. I am the alpha.” The command in his words knocked me back.
Donovan raised his hands in the air. “By the power of the Seven, the ranks of the Cazadores are now sealed. Any who left are to be treated as dead.” His command was stronger, and I nearly fell to the pavement as it slammed in to me.
I focused in on the pack bonds. The lines that linked us were thicker and clearer than they’d been before. “Are you going to follow them? The ones who aren’t going back to their home packs?” I asked Donovan.
“Yes and no,” Donovan said. “They’ll have to join another pack or stay lone wolves, but they’re subject to Were laws regardless. If they’re joining up with Ferdinand—”
“We’ll have a mess on our hands.”
“Aye. But it should keep for a while. I’ll send someone I trust to keep an eye on them. I’m not liking the fact that Rupert’s daughter is in this bunch.”
“Agreed,” Mr. Dawson said. “Who will you send?”
“Mal.”
Who’s Mal? I asked Dastien.
One of the best wolves I’ve ever known.
Coming from Dastien, that was high praise.
“Good choice.”
“Aye. He’s been working on a problem for me in the area. Just going to have to expand his job a bit now. Pack is feeling better from my end. On yours?” He asked Mr. Dawson.
“Much better, but I wasn’t feeling much before.”
“And you?” Donovan asked me.
“Me?”
“Aye. What are you feeling?”
“It’s good. As soon as you closed the pack, it was like everything solidified. It felt calm again.”
“Good. We’ve had enough of that then. When this bit with Luciana is over with, I’ll meet up with Mal. See what’s what. Until then…” He turned back toward campus. A group of students and Cazadores were watching the flood of Weres leaving campus. “Show’s over. Everyone who’s not patrolling get to bed.”
Mr. Dawson and Donovan headed for the admin building, hauling a very unhappy looking Joseph between them.
I shook my head at the sight. I wouldn’t want to be in his shoes. Not in a million years.
Finally, everyone dispersed, with Adrian giving orders on getting their road trip to Peru underway. Dastien and I started walking toward his cabin, but he was even more quiet than usual. “Are you okay?”
“Sure.”
“Why don’t I believe you?”
He tucked a strand of curls behind his ear. “Some of the Cazadores that left—they were my friends. I trusted them. Fought with them. But they left? When we’re in the middle of a war with the witches?”
“I’m sorry.” I said the words even though I knew they probably wouldn’t help.
He was hurting now, but Donovan had a point. We were better off cutting loose the Weres who weren’t behind our cause. If we were going to beat Luciana, we had to be united.
If this was part of one of her schemes—to weaken the pack—it had definitely been a good one. Luckily, we’d caught it sooner rather than later.
I had a feeling it wasn’t the last we’d see of those wolves. Maybe they’d stay gone until Luciana was out of the way, but we hadn’t gotten rid of them for good. I just hoped this Mal guy—whoever he was—was as badass as Dastien thought.
For now, I was pushing away any thoughts of rogue Weres. That was one thing off my already full plate.
Now all I had to worry about were psychot
ic witches and night terrors that might be visions of the future.
Chapter Five
An echo boomed through the empty gym as my back slammed against the mat. Air wrenched from my lungs. “Fuck.” I moaned the word as soon as I could catch my breath. It was the third time in less than five minutes that I’d ended up on the floor. The pain receded almost as quickly as it came.
At least being a werewolf was good for some things.
“You okay?” Dastien’s voice had only a hint of concern.
Jerk. “No.” I squeezed my eyes shut. If I pretended really hard, I could nearly imagine I was snug in my bed. Then I caught the scent of the highly polished wood mixed with the plastic in the floor mats and even I couldn’t pretend I was anywhere but the gym.
After a few hours of fitful sleep, we’d seen Adrian, Shane, Beth, and Kaden off on their way to move Raphael, and Dastien had dragged me here.
It was half-past five in the morning, and he was convinced that getting me totally exhausted would loosen my mind enough that I’d finally see what I needed to see. “I’m dead. You killed me this time.”
“You’re breathing fine.” My mate’s voice lifted up at the end, and I knew he was smiling at me. He was closer now. Standing right above me even though I hadn’t heard him move. The scent of forest overpowered the plastic as he moved even closer.
“I wasn’t a second ago. Can we be done?”
He nudged my leg with his foot. “I told you I wasn’t going easy on you.”
I finally opened my eyes. I was right. He was smiling.
No. Not smiling. Smirking.
“I think we passed the ‘not going easy’ on me and went straight for ‘kicking my ass.’ Really. This is getting a bit ridiculous.”
“I have to go hard on you right now. You want to stop having nightmares, right?” I didn’t like the stress in his voice. I wasn’t the only one being affected by my dreams.
“Right.” I wiped the sweat off my face and onto my collar, but it didn’t help much. My T-shirt was already soaked through.
“Come on. I know you’re tired, but I think this is loosening you up. Just relax. Let your mind wander, and it’ll come.” Dastien reached down to me, muscles flexing under his gray T-shirt. His sweatpants hung low on his hips, and he was barefoot. The sight of him made me melt.
