“I need you on this one. It’s time to let bygones be bygones.”
“That’s not up to me, Silas. The Alpha hates me. I was excommunicated from the Clan or have you forgotten that? Trust me, I’m the last person on Earth you want by your side assisting with this one.”
“Why does he hate you so much?” Painter asked.
“Because, his son was my best friend growing up and I made a promise that I'd help protect his little sister with my life and I did from anything and everything, but me.”
“You took her virginity, didn't you?”
I flinched. It wasn't exactly something I wanted to talk about.
“How about we place some bets on this,” Tarron teased.
I growled. “Leave it,” I warned, though the irony wasn't entirely lost on me.
“That was a long time ago, Baine,” Silas reminded me.
“Let’s just say the Alpha sided with Killian on this one. I wasn’t even given a trial let alone a fair one. It’s a life sentence. That’s not going to be forgotten or forgiven,” I said sadly.
He huffed in frustration, “Well, plane’s about to leave. We’ve wasted enough time talking, pack up and get your ass on that plane, Baine. That’s an order. Maybe bring some of those new grenade things you’re so fond of in case this truly does backfire and we need a quick exodus.”
The boys snickered.
I was screwed. I didn’t know how to get out of this mess without losing my job or my life. Without a job I didn’t have much of a life anyway. I resigned myself to my fate. There was a tiny spark of hope though. At least I’d get to see Olivia one last time before I died.
“We’ve got your back, brother. Stop worrying so much,” Ben said. “Painter won’t leave your side and I’ll have eyes in the air ready to take out anyone who threatens you. This is a peaceful mission and Silas will make damn sure they know it.”
*****
After some minimal delays and further stalling on my part, the wheels of the plane touched down four hours later. I stepped out in trepidation. The small airfield was within running distance of Clan territory. I breathed in the familiar Colorado air. It felt like home, causing more physical pain than I imagined.
“Your lack of sarcasm, positivity, and desire to blow stuff up is freaking me out a little,” Tarron confessed as he outfitted me with a small hidden camera that I knew the bears wouldn’t even think to look for. Then he shoved my earpiece in.
“Ow.”
“Well at least you’re feeling something.”
“Too much,” I admitted. “This is a terrible plan.”
“It’s the best option we have. Look, I don’t know what happened in the past. I don’t really care. We need your head in the game. When one of us spaces out we’re all compromised, man. You know this. Silas has faith this will work or at least get us a meeting with the Alpha. Was it so bad that you want to see the Raglan break them down? Because that’s a very real possibility. You’ve heard Emma’s accounts of what they are doing to shifters and bears are amongst the strongest of all.”
I growled, something I hadn’t done in a very long time.
Tarron took a small step back in surprise.
“I don’t want anything bad to happen to them. That’s my family.”
“Then do what needs to be done to ensure their safety.”
“This isn’t going to go well.”
“But we have to try, right?”
“Is he ready?” Silas asked.
Tarron nodded with confidence neither of us felt. “We have eyes and ears on him.”
“Great, let’s get this over with,” Silas barked.
Painter and Silas flanked me on either side. Taylor and Grant hovered just behind us. Tarron was set up in the plane running surveillance while Ben was holed up somewhere in a tree spotting us all from his eagle view.
“According to the territory maps Archie found, you should be stepping into Clan territory now. No signs of sentinels.”
I scoffed. “They wouldn’t even think it necessary out here.” It was true. They were like sitting ducks about to be hunted. It made me sick to think about it.
“Activity about twenty yards ahead,” Ben called out. With so many trees I had no idea how he was managing it, but that’s why they paid him the big bucks. Benjamin Shay was the best of the best when it came to snipers.
We were all the best of the best in our fields. That’s what made Bravo company of Westin Force such a valuable asset.
Curiosity was always an issue with my kind so when a group of three wandered towards us to check out the strangers, I wasn’t really surprised. I wanted to yell and knock some sense into them. They could all fight but they’d be blindsided and the battle over before they even got the chance.
I groaned in frustration.
Killian stepped out of the brush into the clearing we’d reached. He was older, definitely bigger, buffer, but otherwise he still looked the same. I’d have recognized him anywhere.
“If you’re bringing him back for trade, you’re wasting your time. Leave this territory immediately or you can all face his punishment.” He gave me a sly look.
Clearly, he’d recognized me too, but I’d spent much of the last decade learning to read people. He wasn’t angry. He wasn’t upset that I was there. He was terrified. Why?
I was surprised by his response.
“Killian, this isn’t about me. We need to talk to your father.”
“Finally ready to die then, you coward?”
“Coward? You turned your back on me, remember? You gave me no choice. He gave me no choice.” I was yelling and more curious faces started popping up around us. I recognized just about every single one of them.
My hands were shaking. Taylor stepped up and placed a hand on my shoulder in warning. It was clear Killian misinterpreted the gesture for something it wasn’t.
His jaw set firmly and I knew we weren’t going to get anywhere with him now. The stubborn righteous anger I’d faced at my sentencing was showing through. This was the Killian I was expecting.
“We mean no disrespect here,” Silas stepped up and said, “We have a situation and we’d like very much to discuss it in private with your Alpha.”
“I’ll take you to him,” Felix stepped up and said. He was one of Killian’s cousins.
Killian started to protest, but Resa, another of the cousins, stepped in to back Felix up. “Let them speak to the Alpha. He wouldn’t have returned if it wasn’t important.”
“A shame he has no sense of propriety. Why would you even entertain this idea now?”
“Ignore him,” Felix said. “Follow me.”
As we walked, Silas fell into step beside Felix with Painter trailing them. I was left in the middle, the most easily defended position if something went wrong. Resa sidled up next to me while Grant and Taylor took the rear.
“Who are these guys? I can sense they aren’t bear, some other kind of shifter maybe.”
I snorted. Resa was always more aware of others.
“It’s a mix of shifters. We’re an elite team serving the largest wolf pack in the world and protecting shifters of all kinds.”