Chapter 34

Classes continued as did the search. What was going on? No one knew. The council put out an area curfew and reminder that no one should go anywhere, including hunting, alone. King Omelette made the area off-limits to fae with one exception, Phoenix.

It seemed only vampires, lycans, and humans were going missing. But that was probably because the fae only lived in the cities and in an alternate realm. Those going missing were in the mountains or pack lands. The wanderers used distractions every time. Always something different. Patrols were tripled and I was hardly sleeping. I have to find her. It’s been almost a week. I was losing my mind not knowing where she was. And then I heard her. It was faint, but it was her.

“Strix! Can you hear me?”

“Barely, where are you?”

“I just got home. Do you know where you are?”

“Somewhere underground I think.”

“Do they know you are awake yet,” I asked.

“I don’t think so. Good news, I found the missing pups!”

“They are keeping all of you together?”

“Sort of. We are in cages, like a jail of some kind. I can’t break the bars. They’ve got the male and female wolves separated, there are more than went missing from your pack. It’s the same with vampires and humans. I think the humans are only here to feed the vampires though. Can you find me?”

“With some help. Keep talking to me but don’t let them know you are. The closer I get to you the louder we will be to each other. I just have to find where you are the loudest and we will find you.”

“Okay. I hear them coming.”

I listened for a while. Then I gathered the Barnettes and, with Alpha’s permission, my patrol team. Since everyone was going missing in the woods or mountains, that’s where we started our search. I was so glad that she was awake and okay.

*****Strix’s perspective*****

I woke up and Shawan spoke to me. I was glad he was alright. I didn’t know how long I had been here. There were a couple dozen wolves and vampires in cages all around me. Then I smelled them, I was so hungry, the humans in a cage not far from me. If I could just break these bars, but I had no luck. I started drooling, not my best moment. The humans smelled so delicious. I must have been down for a few days at least. I told Shawn about the cages and that I couldn’t break the bars, but I didn’t tell him how hungry I was. I was starving and instincts were kicking in. He said he could feel my emotions now, so I need to remain calm. I tried to talk to the others down here, but they were all too scared to talk, except one girl.

“My name is Kat. I’m a lycan from the Hyacintho Lunar Pack. Daughter of the beta. I can smell Shawn on you. I know you are a friend.” She said.

“I’m Strix Barnette, well I guess Henderson now.”

“You’re pack,” she asked. “Shh, they’re coming.”

I told Shawn that they were coming. Kat and I stopped talking.

Can you mindlink?

I can hear you, how is that possible? The corpse flower hasn’t completely warn off yet, so I can't use my gifts. I asked.

You are part of the pack now. The pack communicates through mindlink when we can’t speak out loud. We can do conference calls too.

Wow. Why haven’t you tried communicating with the pack?

I just shifted for the first time. It will take a while before I can mindlink a great distance and I have already tried, so have they.

What are the wanderers doing to you, to us?

Some kind of experiment. Don’t worry, they haven’t gotten to you, yet.

“Who’s up next?” A woman asked. “Oh! Wait a minute, I don’t think we need any of you anymore. Just you, Strix.” She said.

“What!? Why?”

“Never you mind, girl.” And she left.

I contacted Shawn and let him know what was going on. I told him Kat and I had mindlinked earlier and talked about the experiments or what little she knew about them. He sounded louder so I knew he was getting closer. We just had to wait and hope the cavalry arrives before they get to me or potentially kill the others that they apparently don’t need any longer.

*****Shawn’s perspective*****

Strix kept in contact with me so I knew I was getting closer. We were getting deeper into the mountains. Then I saw it. A small cave with a door. It would have been easy to miss at night. But it stood out in the daylight. I mindlinked my team and had Kyle coordinate with the Barnettes. I found them. Now we just needed a plan. As Kyle and the Barnettes arrived, the wanderers fled. I had my team follow after them while I and the Barnettes went inside. We walked into what appeared to be a living room. On the other side was a kitchen and a staircase. We went down the stairs and found a long hallway. We went down the hall checking rooms as we went. Some were completely empty. Some had beds. Some had medical setups. And the last room held all those who went missing. We found the keys and started unlocking the cages, humans first. I had Kyle and our team get them to safety, my team had returned after losing the trail. After getting the humans to safety, we unlocked the lycans and then the vampires. I could feel Strix’s hunger and It was only getting worse. I asked Ben to get her some animal to feed on and he left to get one. I then went and had Billy lock me in with her. That’s when I smelled it. She was pregnant. It made sense then why she was so hungry. I wasn’t just feeling hers, but his as well. I told her she was pregnant and of course she said that was not possible. She said our night together was her first time which surprised the hell out of me considering how long she has been alive. She asked me if we caught Michael and the others and I told her we lost them when they fled.

Ben finally came back with a deer. Billy unlocked the cage. Strix fed on the deer and we went home. When we got there, the pack doctor was waiting. He told us that the others were fine and then checked over Strix.

Ben stilled for a minute.

“What did you see, son?” Billy asked when Ben’s eyes returned to normal.

“They’re coming back. It’s the first time I have seen anything where the wanderers are concerned. I have been trying to see them for weeks. And now, I have. They are coming here.”

“When,” I asked.

“Tonight, midnight.”

“Then we’ll be waiting.”

I mindlinked my father and asked him to send some reinforcements. He said he would come as well. Taylor and Phoenix worked on some protection runes to keep Strix and our baby safe. We got everyone into position and waited.