Chapter 38 Mission
Rex
Werewolf speed was twice as high as human speed; that’s why they had been able to reach me—if at all they were behind me. When I stepped onto the main road, I saw a loaded truck going in the opposite direction. I didn't hesitate to follow after seeing the logo. It was the same as the truck that had left this place moments ago. It drove past me, and since I needed every bit of information there was, I didn't hesitate to follow it, trailing behind at almost the same speed.
I was running directly behind it, keeping away from the mirrors. I couldn't afford to be suspected. The truck took a turn to the left. It was going faster this time, and I didn't think I would be able to keep up. As fast as I could run, I couldn't keep going at that pace.
This part of the road was dark, with just a few streetlights. Some were standing as if they had been out for ages, and no one had bothered to check on them. Dark areas like these were good for dangerous business. I guessed that was exactly what these guys were doing.
I glanced back at a cab coming toward me and flagged it down. The man stopped and peeked his head out of the window.
"I want you to take me this way," I said, pointing in the direction of the truck. "I want you to follow that vehicle." It was already getting lost in the distance, and I couldn't afford to miss it.
He gave me a skeptical look, as if that was a "no-go" area. "How much are you paying?"
"Whatever amount." I was going to give him whatever he wanted, as long as he took me to that area.
I got inside, and we drove along. The road was a bit bumpy, causing a slight delay. "Don't lose sight of the truck," I urged. He sped up, but we were nowhere close to it.
"I will drop you off at the junction down there. I won't be able to go further up. It's dangerous," the driver said. He hadn't even wanted to come in the first place.
Just as he said, he dropped me off. I started jogging. The truck was a bit slow due to the traffic, which actually bought me some time. It turned out that there was a town on this side, busier than all the places I had been to in Teran. Looking at the crowd, I knew I couldn't keep up with this mission alone. I had to leave and come back another time when I was better prepared to get every bit of information I needed.
"I saw everything. Something has to be done and done quickly; if not, we are doomed."
I canceled every plan I had with Naomi. I had to sort this out first. I knew she must have gone to our usual location to check for me, but I had more important things to do.
"He is right. We have to do something," one of the council elders said, standing up to air his opinion. "From what he explained earlier, if they get that thing down here, we will not live to tell the story." The rest of the elders nodded in agreement. Those people could even put that liquid into our waters.
"We will mobilize the strongest warriors. Zeev will go back with them and destroy the place."
My father selected fifteen of our best warriors to take along. The plan was to destroy the laboratory first before setting fire to the entire building.
"I will go with them! You can't keep sending him on missions and leaving me behind. That's not fair," Laken whined like usual from where he was sitting next to his mother.
I had actually come inside to get the final word from my father when Laken entered as if he wanted to fight someone. I had no idea when he was going to understand that this was not for him, but he was not willing to let it go.
"Just let him go this time." His mother leaned into my father, her hand running down his arm in that charming, ladylike way. When my father let out a breath of relief, I knew he was going to give in to that corny woman.
"Just this one time. And if you mess up, know that you will never leave this place again."
Laken let out a squeal as he jumped up, looking like he had just been gifted a pair of his favorite red hand-gloves. He loved gloves. I had no idea what they were for, except that he favored cotton gloves—those that covered just part of your fingers, down to your palms and a bit of your wrist. He went to thank father for letting him come along, but the gaze father gave him made him step back with his hands up in surrender.
He should have known by now that he was not Father’s favorite; Fenrir had always been. But the little boy was hardly ever present for any pack problems; he distanced himself from it all. From all indications, Father would have loved for Fenrir to take things seriously so he could learn and eventually become the Alpha of Aetheria. Laken was not diligent enough; he caused trouble wherever he went, and Father didn't like that.
As for me, I was diligent, focused, and knew exactly what to do at any time, even in an emergency. But here was the problem: I was cursed. A rotten hole behind my back—a hole that had been prophesied to be healed by my mate, if I ever found one. If not, I was going to die. That was Father's fear. He didn't want someone to leave his kingdom in the middle of an ocean without a leader. But then, he didn't have any choice but to put me in charge.
I couldn't tell them about Naomi yet, since I didn't know exactly where she belonged. She could be entirely different from the human she thought she was. I had to put my facts together before moving forward with whatever mate bond I had with her. I couldn't risk putting her life in danger by telling anyone about her.
"We need to be careful as we get in there. Listen to my instructions," I said as we hid in a dark spot close to the factory, near the area by the sea. "We have people inside working and cameras to spot us. The cameras will be a big problem, but I know just how we can navigate without being seen."
"Of course, everyone has to take instructions from you," Laken grumbled, but I had no time for him.
I waved my hand for them to follow me. "If the situation gets worse, we leave immediately. No fighting back."
Then, we entered the building.