We sat in the van as the rest of the team pulled in around us. I had started counting at first, but had since lost count as black van after black van filed in. It was like the entire Torch had come along for this hunt, and they very well could have, especially if they'd been after this pack all these years. Who knew how large it was, and there was strength in numbers.

With the addition of each van, my nerves climbed higher. There was a chance this would be a blood bath. I had no idea what the skill set of this pack was, but it was safe to assume they were more dangerous than anything I'd faced before. 

It was a war emotions under my calm exterior. Anxiety, fear, doubt, it was all roiling around inside. I kept my eyes straight forward, my breathing even, and my body still. I looked like the epitome of calm from the outside, but this was the first time I'd worried like this since my first hunts with my father. 

"Just relax, worrying isn't going to help at all."

I tilted my head, raising one eyebrow as I looked to Isaac. How in the world was he able to tell I was worrying. I wasn't giving off any signs.

"I'm not worried," I said, trying to dismiss his assumption. 

"Yes you are, I can tell. I can feel it."

"How can you feel it?"

Isaac gave me a blank stare as if I should know just how he knew. 

"Because I'm a Jaeger, and the Jaegers are sensitives."

"Sensitives?" I swallowed hard. What in the world did he mean. All the Jaegers?

"We are able to pick up on certain things such as emotions or lies. We're more aware of the people around us and what they're feeling or thinking."

My mouth went dry. This had to be some sort of joke. 

"So the Jaegers are supernaturals?" I tried to make my voice as even as possible, but I could hear the choked ending. I just hoped that no one else picked up on it as well. 

"Not supernatural. We don't have any gifts per se. We can pick up on the feelings and thoughts of others, but that's the extent of it. There aren't any special abilities. Some believe it's a sense left over from witches as if we were descended long ago from them. Others think it's just a trait some humans are born with. I'm not really explaining this right; it just happens to be something present throughout the entire Jaeger line." Isaac's voice sounded normal, as if he was explaining a math equation to a student. Even then he was making sure he didn't say anything, or say it in a way that would give me away. His expression was completely different though, he was confused that I didn't already know this. I was a Jaeger after all, yet I didn't know about this ability we supposedly had. Then I realized, my knowledge of what that expression meant within him must be tied in to that sensitive ability. 

Maybe what he said was true. He had seemed to answer my unspoken thoughts or worries after Klarke had left, and I'd had the knack for being able to tell what Jared was thinking and feeling. Our family was even exceptionally good at telling when others were lying. Maybe, just maybe, we were sensitives like Isaac said. He didn't really have a reason to lie. But why hadn't I known about it before? Why hadn't our father said anything to us?

"Jaeger, Jacobson, it's time to go. Get the wolf out, but keep the collar on him in case he tries anything," Klarke's voice came over the ear piece.

I checked to make sure all the weapons were in place before I got out and went to the back of the van, opening the door and unlocking the lock that kept Thomas firmly in place. 

"You know that if you've lied to us or if you've set us up, you're dead."

"That man made it perfectly clear in your ear," Thomas spat. 

"Just making sure."

"And what would he do to you if he found out?" The words were barely audible, and I knew no one else would have been able to hear it over the bluetooth.

"I don't know what you're talking about," I said back. 

"What was that, Jacobson?" Klarke asked. I could hear him both in my ear and a ways down. 

"Nothing, sir. Just talking to myself."

"Well get moving. We want to get this over with before nightfall. Too many wolves around for this to carry into the night."

"Yes, sir." 

I jerked the cuffs sharply, causing Thomas to trip out of the van, and he hissed as the metal burned his skin. 

"Let's get moving. Down there?"

Thomas nodded and I pulled him along, Isaac following beside. I looked behind us at the flood of people leaving their vehicles and following us. 

"You've survived this long," Isaac said. "Just do what you've always done."

"I've never gone against an entire pack, let alone one that's supposed to be responsible for so many deaths and so much destruction."

"You're test results show you're ready."

"And accidents always happen."

"I don't remember you being this doubtful when I first met you. Weren't you facing down a ghoul by yourself in an alley?"

"One ghoul is different than a pack of werewolves," I pointed out. 

"And you're not by yourself, you have The Torch backing you."

That didn't mean anything anymore. How could I be sure which members followed The Torch's ideals, and which ones were like Klarke? I couldn't very well say that though, not with Klarke listening in. I just had to hope they would back me, and I would have to do everything Klarke said. I needed to show him that I was on his side. 

I think he knew what I was thinking. He could sense my nervousness about Klarke and the rest of the people. If what he had said was true, then he knew. 

It was hardly fair to doubt an entire group of people on the basis of one person within. One person that didn't even interact with the people on a daily basis. They'd given me no reason to doubt where they stood, especially if they were like Steele. She had made it clear she didn't mark a supernatural for death unless they gave her a reason to. I just had to have faith that they were like her and that Klarke was the black sheep of the bunch. 

We were closing in on the property Thomas said the pack resided. The tension in him had grown with each step toward the land. He wanted to be anywhere but there. If this went south, and the werewolves escaped, he was surely a dead man. 

"Hold back," Klarke said. 

Isaac and I stopped where we were. The others slowed to a stop as well. Klarke made his way over to us. 

"What do you smell wolf?"

"I smell a bunch of hunters," Thomas growled. 

"Other than that." Klarke wasn't having any of Thomas' attitude. 

"The scent of the pack is here."

I still felt goosebumps along my arms and neck when werewolves demonstrated just how much they could do while looking so human. The idea of a person knowing the scent that's personal to you, and not just the scent you use to cover up with, was a more than a little unsettling. 

Klarke seemed doubtful, I on the other hand, had no reason to doubt this man. He didn't want to be subject to us any longer. If he could be free, then he would do whatever necessary to be free. 

"Get your designated groups to circle up. No doubt they already hear us. My team will go in with the wolf; you all stand by as back up. We'll call you when we know the situation."

I looked from Klarke to Thomas, and then to Isaac. We had been the only ones with "the wolf" from the beginning. Did that mean we were the team Klarke had been talking about. Isaac nodded. The goosebumps ran across my skin again. He seemed to be pushing the boundaries of comfortability for not being a supernatural ability. A shiver ran down my spine when I realized that I more than likely harbored that same ability within. 

"Let's move," Klarke said, motioning for us to step forward. 

There were a few different buildings on the land; a giant barn, a couple smaller barns or sheds, and a large house. It didn't seem like an appealing place to live, and I wondered how they decided who stayed where. I had a hunch their leader was in the house. Living in complete comfortability. 

"We need to be careful going in. We don't know the situation behind those doors."

The three of us remained silent, it was just like the talks my father gave before going in for a job. It was best to just let him talk. 

"It's time to see what your real worth is, Jacobson."

A flash of anger went through me. As if my worth hindered on my ability to handle myself once stepping through those doors. The fact that he even doubted my ability. It was stupid to feel that way though; if I couldn't handle myself once going into that barn, then what would I really be able to contribute to The Torch? I would just be their interrogator. It was simple hunter logic, and yet it still irritated me. 

"Yes, sir." I felt for the weapons I had on me. The feel of them tucked away helped calm the nerves running through. I couldn't afford to be anxious, or to let my emotions and thoughts get in the way. I was walking into a pack of werewolves. All doubts needed to be shut out. 

I shook my hands and Isaac's hand landed on my shoulder. I knew he was trying to help calm the nerves. Not like it was actually working. It was something I could only do on my own. 

We'd stepped up to the door. A voice came over the ear piece letting us know there were two entrances to the barn. They had the other entrance covered in case anything tried to escape. It was time for the moment of truth, once Klarke opened that door, there would be no going back. 

His fingers snaked around the handle and he pulled. The creak that came from the hinges made me cringe. It wasn't like they wouldn't already know we were there, but nevertheless, I preferred silence. 

Klarke stepped through, gun ready. I pulled mine out as well and ducked through the doorway. My back to the wall, the other two hunters doing much the same, and Thomas hiding next to a wooden panel. 

The space was empty. It was evident people had been living there, but there was no one around. It looked like whoever had been there, had left in a rush. 

"Where are they?" The anger was evident in Klarke's voice. We'd been expecting a room full of werewolves, and the only one there was Thomas. 

Klarke marched straight up to Thomas, the werwolf tense with fear. "You lied to us!" 

"No I didn't! I wouldn't have!" Thomas quickly interjected. 

"Then why isn't there anyone here?"

"I don't know," Thomas' voice was shaky. 

"You two stay here with it. I'm going to check the rest of the property." Klarke stormed out of the barn.

Thomas shook slightly. 

"He told you not to lie," Isaac said. 

"I didn't lie. It would have been against my best interest to lie."

I crossed my arms, staring at him. There was more there than he was saying. He wasn't just referring to the fact that Klarke had threatened his life if he'd lied. 

"What do you mean?" I asked. 

"If I led you to them, then there was a chance you could have killed them all. If you killed them, then there would be no reason for me to worry. They aren't here. If they aren't here, then they knew you were coming. That means they know I told them. If they're out there, and they know I gave them away, then they'll come after me. 

"They were here. I know they were. I can still smell them, and the scent is still fresh. They didn't leave that long ago."

"It doesn't matter how long ago they left," Isaac said. "They're werewolves. Who knows where they could be by now."

"The place is completely empty." 

I locked eyes with Isaac, and Thomas' shoulders slumped in defeat. 

"Jacobson. You're up. The wolf was warned, and it didn't listen. It's you're job to take care of it," Klarke said. 

Isaac's brows wrinkled and I could tell he didn't like what he'd heard. I hadn't liked it either. Klarke had just given me the order to kill. 

***********

There's the chapter. Let me know what you think below. What do you think is going to happen? Leave your comments for me. 

I love reading through the comments and seeing what you all come up with. Thank you for keeping with me and this story, I really appreciate it. You're all awesome.

~Red