Chapter 24

-Kieran-

A mass of wolves faced me with their teeth bared. I stared back at them dumb founded. Had none of them heard Wyatt’s confession? Was I the only one who cared?

He betrayed us. He was working with the underground pack the entire time and pretended to be one of us. He was a traitor.

Wyatt didn’t waste a second shifting into his wolf or jumping out of the way when I lunged. I wanted him. I wanted to sink my teeth into his flesh and show just how much I respected traitors.

Kieran, wait! Leland said into my mind. It’s not what it seems. You need to hear him out.

I drug my attention away from Wyatt to briefly glance at Leland. So I take it you knew then? I looked around the room at each of them. They were all protecting him. Wyatt. All of you know, don’t you?

I was only greeted with silence as a reply. No one dared to move or speak.

Well…tell me! There’s no need to hide it now.

I didn’t betray you, Wyatt said once he found his voice. When I agreed to stand with the underground pack, you weren’t exactly available to consult. You were a shell of a wolf of left the pack up to me.

And now I see my mistake. My voice came out low and threatening, just as I had intended it to.

You don’t get it. I didn’t do it to hurt you or the pack. I did it to protect us. It’s no secret that Axel is planning something big. It’s better to be on the inside and look like a traitor then to be on the outside and allow our world to be taken down around us.

I looked around the room at all the wolves standing by his side. None of them moved an inch. It was obvious who side they were on.

I don’t believe you.

He seemed to understand that because he said, I know and I’m not asking you to. All I’m asking is for you to trust me. You did once, and I know that deep down you feel like you can again. Am I wrong?

I couldn’t allow myself to go there right now. I had much bigger question that needed to be answered first.

Say I did trust you and let you go after her. What makes you think they’ll let you just waltz out of there with her? Axel is anything but stupid. He won’t be fooled by you false loyalty. He didn’t get to be in his position by getting played. So tell me, how will you outplay him?

Because I’ve been on the inside and I know the ins and outs of that place. And when I show up with Tobias at my side, that will seal the circle of trust and he’ll have no choice except to trust me. He’ll hold up his end of the bargain and we’ll all be safe.

There only seemed to be a few problems with his plan. It wasn’t well thought out.

And when you do get her out and you run, what’s to stop him from coming after you and leaving both of you for dead? He won’t take your betrayal lightly.

He nodded. I know. That’s where the pack comes in. We lead him into the woods and ambush him. Once underground’s leader is dead, they’ll be weak and vulnerable they won’t know where to go or what to do next. It’s the ideal opportunity.

I carefully considered his words, debating with my wolf whether we trusted him enough to carry out such an insane plan. He could turn on us the second he’s in there and I’ll have lost everything; Claire and my chance to make him pay. 

Then I looked at him. Really looked at him. In his eyes, he was genuine. He was looking at me the same way he always had, like a friend. He was my friend. It never added up that he’d betray us. What would he have gained?

No. He was right. He wouldn’t intentionally hurt us. Not any of us. I knew him to well. Finally, I relented.

Okay, Wyatt. I’ll give you your one chance. But just know this, if anything happens to her I hunt you down kill you myself. Keep her safe.

He bowed his head to me, allowing me to see the respect he had hadn’t vanished. He was still the Wyatt I’d always known. My friend.

I will, Alpha. I will.

****

-Claire-

I hummed as we came to a stop just outside the cell building. My heart was still racing from the run and my wolf was howling. A thrill ran though us. It had been so long since we were free, we reveled in it. Again, I threw my head back and howled in delight.

The night was always more from a wolf’s point of view. It was like looking at the world with so much clarity. Every noise was heightened. Every breath seemed to last forever. And every sight was so crystal clear it was like looking through a giant magnifying glass. I was exhilarated.

“I think that has to be some kind of record. There aren’t many wolves that can move with your speed. At least not that I’ve seen.” I turned in just enough time to see Daniel coming up behind me, slipping on his shirt.

I walked around the back side of the tree, away from him and slipped on some clothes that I’d left in the branches just in case I was ever allowed and opportunity to run.

I was back around the tree in minutes. Daniel was there waiting on me.

“Did that make up for the lameness that was tonight?” he asked hopeful.

I shook my head. “I already told you, it wasn’t lame. I was tired.”

He smiled. “I note the tense. Does that imply that you’re not anymore?”

“Are you kidding? After a run like that, I’m still wired.”

With a chuckle he said, “I was hoping you’d say that” and pulled his phone from his jeans and glanced at it. “It’s only ten fifteen. The night’s still young. Wanna do something else? This time, you can choose.”

I was about to make another apology and refuse him, but then I realized that an opportunity like this might not present itself again. I should use it to my advantage. So I did.

“Actually, that sounds nice. I couldn’t sleep like this anyway.”

He grinned. “Okay. What did you have in mind?”

I felt a plan slowly forming in my head at his question. It was up to me this time and I had to think of something that would benefit me the most. With very little thought, I knew what I wanted to do.

“Actually, I was just thinking about how long it’s been since I’ve seen a movie. I hear they have them in color now,” I joked.

I took his laughter as a sign of victory and eternally cheered. One step closer to freedom.

“Could we go?” I continued.

“That sounds lovely. Celia and I haven’t been out since the birth of our last child. Mind if we double? We haven’t gotten the chance to get to know our newest guest yet.”

The hairs on the back of my neck stood up and I was suddenly very aware of his presence. I slowly turned to face him.

Had he really had the nerve to call me his guest, as if I chose to be here? This wasn’t some new choice of lifestyle for me. This wasn’t my choice at all.

“It’s a pleasure, Claire,” Axel said to me as I faced him. His hand was extended toward me, only inches separated us, our noses nearly touching. I stepped back quickly, a bit startled.

“I…” I grasped for words.

“I think you’ve startled her,” Daniel chuckled at Axel good naturedly.

He grinned. “I’ve been known to have that effect.”

I was able to breathe much better when I put more distance between us. Axel didn’t seem to mind. He only smiled at me in mild amusement.

“I couldn’t help overhearing your plans for the evening,” he continued, focusing his attention back on Daniel. “I hope you don’t mind my intrusion.”

Daniel shook his head quickly. “No, not at all. The more the merrier.”

Axel turned back on me with a wicked smile. “Then it’s a date. I’ll collect Celia and meet you at out front. Rixon will drive us.”

I stared at him utterly speechless, not sure how I was supposed to respond to him. Luckily I didn’t have to though. He turned on his heel and started back toward the mansion. I couldn’t keep the scowl off my face or the bitterness from my tone as I watched him retreat.

“I didn’t realize Axel was so self inviting.”

Daniel chuckled. “He’s not so bad once you get used to him.”

I don’t want to get used to him. I want to kill him.

“Besides,” Daniel continued. “We’ll have plenty of time to ourselves. He won’t interfere. He’s just trying to get of sense of who you are. He hasn’t gotten to get to know you yet. He’s been letting me talk to you and convince you of what we are.”

Monsters.

“I suppose I should change then,” I said, glancing down at my sweats.

“If you wish. Just don’t take too long, Axel doesn’t like to be kept waiting.”

I pushed back to anger I had been building up towards Axel and turned away from Daniel. “I’ll only be a minute,” I told him before finding my way toward the cells.

“I’ll see you to your room,” he quickly called after me.

The ride from the theater was awkward and quiet. Daniel sat in the fount seat next to Rixon and I sat in the back next to Celia and Axel. I was thankful that Celia separated me from her mate or else I might try to make a premature movement to attack him.

He held everyone in his pack under his thumb and radiated power. He ruled through intimidation and fear instead of respect. He wasn’t a true Alpha. He wasn’t legitimate. Not that it mattered to him. He knew exactly how he obtained his position and it didn’t shame him in the slightest. In fact, he was proud of it. He embraced nothing but death and destruction.

“Take us for drinks, Rixon. Tonight calls for a celebration.”

I glanced toward Axel in surprise.

“Celebration?” Celia asked in equal surprise.

He smiled down at her. “Yes my love, celebration.”

“What are we celebrating,” I couldn’t help but ask.

His smile didn’t falter as his eyes shifted to me. “Why, You of course. He’s convinced me you are worthy of our pack. We’ve accepted you. You’re one of us now. That calls for celebration.”

My spine tensed. So I was one of the underground pack now. That meant I could be trusted. Unfortunately, that also meant something far more fearsome. Something I dreaded and ultimately knew was coming.

I swallowed and forced myself to speak. “And my cell?”

He chuckled. It sounded dark and twisted, just like his soul. “Oh, it’s not your cell anymore. It belongs to someone else now. I admit we are running out of room to keep our adversaries. Now that you belong to the underground pack, you’ll stay with Daniel.”

My eyes immediately went to Daniel sitting in the front seat. He didn’t turn to meet my stare. I idly wondered how long he’s known about this. Was that the whole point of tonight, to tell me this? I pushed my anger and revulsion down, forcing my face to remain static.

This is a good thing, Clare. You are convincing them. You’ll be out of the underground pack before you know it.

“I expect you’re very pleased. This night is all about you,” Axel said.

I felt a warm hand being placed on mine and looked down to see it belonged to Celia. Her touch was gentle and soft. “We’ll go for drinks, it will be fun,” she reassured me.

I could see in her eyes she was pleading with me more than she was telling me. She was conveying a message. I picked up on it immediately.

I nodded and forced a bright smile. “It will,” I agreed. “Where will we go?”

I couldn’t explain why, but I trusted Celia. True she was one of the underground pack, but she wasn’t really like them. She happened to be there through circumstance. He was forcefully mated, and brought there against her will. Through time she’d managed to love Axel, though I’m not sure I understood how. He was the devil.

I guess what surprised me more, was that he seemed to love too. I didn’t think someone like him would be capable of that emotion. I felt sorry for Celia that he was. Perhaps if he wasn’t she wouldn’t be in her position. She wouldn’t return the love of a monster.

Jennifer had trusted Celia too. Maybe that meant my judgment wasn’t too far off. Celia was still Celia, no matter what she had been through.

“Rixon, take us to Jewel’s,” Axel said. “Only the best.”

The lot outside of Jewel’s was only about half-full. For a weekday, I suppose that wasn’t so bad for business. It was very rustic, and set back in the woods about two miles from town. Maybe that was the reason for the attendance too.

I didn’t recognize anything about it or whatever town we were in before. I had never been anywhere but home and with Kieran to identify anything new. Until Kieran I hadn’t even been out of my hometown.

His name sent a ripple of sadness through me. I knew I had to hold it together for him and for me, but just for a moment, I allowed myself to feel something besides hate and defeat. It had been to long since I saw him last. So long that I’d lost count of the days.

I missed him.

I couldn’t even imagine what I would do if I never got to see him again. Maybe I’d wind up like Celia, forced into a mating with someone and eventually learn to love them. Would I be able to do that?

Somewhere, deep down inside of me a voice rose up and spoke self-assuredly. No. No you wouldn’t.

Of course not. Because even though I’d felt defeat so many times, I knew I would never accept it. I would continue to fight and set thing right, even if it killed me.

“Clare, are you coming?” Celia’s soft voice asked me.

I snapped my attention to her and realized everyone was getting out of the vehicle. Daniel came to stand by my door and opened it to me.

“Absolutely,” I smiled assuredly.

Daniel grabbed my hand and helped me from the SUV as if I needed assistance, then wrapped an arm around me. I tried not to shutter and push him away from me.

The man at the door of the bar stood silently, staring off into space as we passed. He was dressed in a suit and built like a rock. He was tall and very large. He easily towered over any of us. It almost seemed as if he were protecting the place, standing guard.

He gave a curt nod as we continued inside the building. It was odd.

I turned to Daniel for answers and understood. “This place is sort of special. It isn’t open to the public. Only to us Lycans. It allows us to be ourselves and not have to hide.” Then he smiled. “And if a fight breaks out, we don’t have to worry about the humans reactions if one of us shifts.”

My eyebrows inched up on my head. “Does that happen often?”

“Not as much as you’d think, but we can’t take any chances.”

As soon as we walked in the door and pushed past the people standing around, I tall brunette girl that looked somewhere in her early twenties bound up to us and threw her arms around Axel. I stared back in shock.

He wrapped his arms around her for a moment then let her go. I glanced at Celia for answers, but she was she remained quiet and smiling. It was as if this sort of scene happened all the time.

“Jewel,” he smiled as she stood back to look us over.

“Celia, it’s been too long. How are you?” Jewel asked sweetly.

“I’m well, and you?” Celia asked her.

Jewels expression changed to curiosity when her eyes moved over me.

“Who’s your companion, Daniel?” She asked. “I’ll admit I’m a little disappointed you didn’t bring the others. Where are Tobias and Jennifer? Tobias always knew how to liven a place up.”

Axel was the one who spoke up. “Tobias is a little occupied at the moment. Though, I expect him back soon.”

Jewel clapped and cheered. “Good. It’s not nearly as entertaining around here without him.”

I swallowed the lump rising in my throat and felt a little sick with worry. They were talking about him as if he were never captured by another pack. As if he was away somewhere willingly and could return whenever he wished. Gone on business or something.

But we captured him. Kieran’s pack did. They locked him up for trespassing.

A voice in the back of my mind new better though. It knew what was really going on. It was a set up. Tobias wasn’t captured. He volunteered.

The nausea in my stomach grew increasingly fast. If I had a mirror I’m sure it would show how green I was at the very moment.

“You don’t look too well, Clare. Maybe you should it down.”

I looked up the person who’d suggested it and bawled my hands into fist at my side. If I jumped now, I could land on top of him and get a few good swings on him before Daniel pulled me off. But then what would happen when I got back to the pack?

I’d meet my death. Or worse, be tortured.

Axel waited for my response. I looked at him briefly and forced myself to a barstool at the far end of the bar. Daniel followed behind me.

“Water,” he said to the bar tender that quickly produced it.

I grabbed it and sipped it slowly welcoming the cool of the liquid down my throat.

“Where is Tobias?” I managed to finally ask Daniel. I didn’t meet his eyes.

“What?”

“Axel said he was expecting him soon. Where is he now?” My voice shook slightly.

Daniel shifted his weight and took the seat next to me. “I don’t know. But he’s close.”

I breathed slowly through my nose. I had to do some deep inner breathing to keep from soaking the bar with my afternoon lunch. It didn’t work.

I stood up quickly. “I-I have to…excuse me.”

I rushed toward the women’s bathroom and threw myself into the first stall I came to. It a matter of seconds I expelled everything that had been in my stomach. After a few dry heaves I settled myself on the tiled floor next to the toilet and caught my breath.

Okay, Claire. This isn’t as bad as it seems. So the capture was a set-up. Think, why.

It was clear he came back to retrieve Jennifer, but maybe Jennifer hadn’t really escaped. Maybe she was made to think she had which gave Tobias reason to be on Kieran’s territory. The pack wouldn’t believe one of the underground pack would be dumb enough to wonder onto enemy territory alone. That would look to suspicious.

But what as Tobias’s reason for being there? What was he retrieving if not only Jennifer?

I gulped. I think I already knew the answer. It was for me. He was getting me for Daniela until I stumbled upon him on my own and he took me first.

But one thing still doesn’t add up. How could Tobias possibly escape our pack and come back here? He couldn’t. Not unless someone helped him. Like someone from inside the pack.

Oh no.

Another wave of nausea hit me hard. Retched into the toilet again, but nothing came up. There was nothing left inside of me.

I breathed heavily again, trying to steady my breathing again when the bathroom door opened.

“Claire?” a voiced asked. “Are you okay?”

It was only Celia. I sent up a silent prayer. I’d half expected Daniel or Axel to come in after me, thinking I’d made an attempt to escape.  

“I’m fine,” I told her. “Just a little nauseous, I guess.”

Celia pushed the stall door open and stared at me in horror. I’d not had the time to lock it in my rush to find a toilet, not that it really mattered. There weren’t many females in the bar anyway.

“You look terrible.” She bent down next to me and threw an arm over my shoulders. “Here, let me help you. We’ll go to the sink and get you cleaned up.”

I let her hoist me to my feet and take me to the sink. I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror and gasped. I could hardly believe I was looking at myself. To say I looked terrible was understatement. My eyes were heavy with bags under them, and my hair was stuck up in all directions and somehow I looked about five pounds lighter than I did an hour ago.

“I-I don’t…”

Celia ran a paper towel under the water and dabbed it on my head. “Shh. You’re alright. You gonna be fine.”

“It’s just…” I began. “I heard about Tobias and…he can’t be free. He can’t. If he is that can only mean one thing and I don’t want to face that right now.”

She shook her head. “I know it must be terrible for you, but you can’t let yourself think about it. You’re getting yourself too worked up and you’re gonna reveal yourself to early. You can’t convince them if you let yourself become worried over this.”

I stared at her mirror reflection in shock. “Y-you mean, you know?”

She nodded. “I have a sense about these things. I guess you could say I’m good at guessing human nature. Or werewolf nature I guess you could say.”

“And you’re not going to say anything?”

Her eye filled with sadness. “No. I can understand where you’re coming from. If I were in your position I’d hope someone would pay me the same courtesy. You’re here against your will while you’re mate is still out there somewhere. If my mate-if Logan were still alive, I’d be fighting tooth and nail to get back to him too.”

My expression quickly mimicked hers and I felt smaller than I ever had. I’d never considered her feeling before. I mean I knew her circumstance, but it never dawned on me that she might still be missing her mate. She may love Axel, but it was clear where he heart still belonged.

Werewolf emotions and matings are a weird thing. I’ll never fully understand it.

“I’m sorry,” I told her. “I’ve heard stories about you and what happened and I just want you to know that I don’t judge you for anything. I don’t know what I’d have done if I were in your shoes.”

She tore her eyes away from me and put on a cheerful smile again, as if switching off all the emotion of her loss. She dropped the paper towel back down into the sink and wet it again, before dampening my whole face with it.

“This should help you feel better. You really shouldn’t be so stressed in your condition. You have to find an outlet for your anger before it takes disastrous turn.”

I moved back from her and furrowed my brows. “I’m sorry, my condition? There’s nothing wrong with me. It was all the news of-”

“It’s okay, Claire. I know.”

I shook my head in confusion. “Know what?”

She sighed. “About the ba-” she quickly cut herself off and really looked at me then recognition hit her face. “Oh, you don’t know, do you?”

I was starting to get annoyed now. “Know what?”

Her eyes fell from my face to my stomach then back up to me again. “You’re pregnant.”

It felt as if the world had shifted under my feet and I started to fall back. My quick reflexes grabbed for the sink to steady myself.

“But I’m not,” I said. “I can’t be. I’ve not been with anyone in…” I trailed off to do the math. Almost three weeks.

Oh.

“How do you know? I haven’t even I had any symptoms,” I told her.

She smiled. “Some things I just know. It’s female intuition. And I’ve been pregnant twice.”

I stared at her. I had a feeling it was something more than that. She had a lot more insight than any she-wolf I’ve ever met. I didn’t want to pry, so I let it go. If she wanted to tell me anything she would.

“Now, come on or they boys are going to come in here after us.”

I followed after her then paused at the before she reached the door. “I can’t just go out there now. They’ll know.”

She quickly faced me. “No they won’t. You put on brave face and walk out there like nothing ever happened. If anyone asks, you’re not feeling well and that’s all. I’ll ask Axel to take you back to the pack. You’re staying with Daniel now, but since you’re “sick” he not going stay with you tonight. If he does it will only be to care for you. He does seem to love you despite how he shows it. You can do this.”

The look on her face told me I could and I straightened myself up and put a calm expression on my face. I would march out there to them like everything was fine despite Tobias being free and I would protect my secret with my life.

Now I had an even bigger reason to get back to Kieran and I would make sure that that happened no matter what.

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A/N

Hi! Here is your long awaited chapter, guys. It’s late and unedited so you don’t have to tell me. I feel bad enough already.

Anyway, things are heating up now. Some serious stuff is getting ready to go down. In the next chapter you will see Tobias and Wyatt and possibly a throw down. Claire is on a mission. :)

Comment and vote if you want, and thanks for reading!