Chapter 103 Chapter 103
Standing at the back of the room, Gage looked around at all the leaders and members of other clans that were present. Things were finally coming together to shut Tomas down, and he couldn’t wait for the day it all came apart for the crime family that had wreaked havoc among the clans for close to four decades, maybe longer. They didn’t have the exact date it started or anything, just an idea when shifters started disappearing.
Turning, he smiled to see Kelsey and Rayne standing back observing all the alphas in the room. Honestly, if any of them knew those two women like he did, they’d be afraid. His phone vibrating in his pocket had him pausing to pull it out. He opened and read the text, then read it again. Glancing over at Devin, he saw he was frowning at his phone too. Waiting for him to look up, he motioned to the exit with his head. Devin nodded and started walking in that direction.
Stepping out into the hall, Devin turned and looked at him. “Did you…”
Gage nodded and looked at his phone again. “Yeah…” he scowled at the message again.
“What does it mean?”
“What’s wrong?” He looked up to see Kelsey and Rayne coming out the door.
“Message from Calum.”
Rayne looked relieved; Kelsey smiled. “So, he’s okay?”
Gage looked at Devin, then back to his lovely mate. “Uh… we don’t know…”
She frowned, “What does the message say?”
He glanced at his phone and read the message one more time. Pinging location. Directions in my car. Send females and backup! DON’T SHIFT! “He’s either in deep shit or…”
“…having a bachelor party.” Devin finished for him.
“What?” Rayne and Kelsey exchanged a look, then Rayne went over and pulled the phone out of her mate’s hand to look at it.
Gage stood there, his arms crossed and watched them both study the message. They didn’t understand…
“Calum doesn’t ask for backup… ever…” Devin said in a quiet tone.
Gage nodded. “He is the backup…”
“…the quarterback, wide receiver and fullback…” Devin stated in a matter of fact tone.
Rayne gave him a blank look. “In non-sports lingo, please.”
“Did you get the ping… or whatever?” Kelsey asked glancing at the phone over Rayne’s shoulder.
Devin sighed, “Yeah, at the same time as the text.”
She looked at the phone once more, “So… he’s sent you the location of his car and from there further directions to where he is.”
Nodding, Rayne continued, “He needs backup, but shifters are in danger of being discovered there so stay in two-leg form…”
“…and women are needed to either look less suspicious…” she glanced at Rayne.
Rayne grimaced, “or there are other women involved and a feminine presence is required…”
Devin gave Gage a wide-eyed look then threw up his hands. “How… the hell… did you get all that from his cryptic message?”
Rayne shrugged, a slight smile on her face.
Going over, Kelsey wrapped her arms around Gage’s waist and leaned against his chest. “So, when do we leave?”
Gage looked down at her. “Oh, no. You’re not going anywhere…”
She bit her bottom lip and looked up at him for a moment. “Are you going?”
He looked at her mouth then back to her eyes. “Yes.” He knew there was a trick in here somewhere, just by the expression on her face.
“Then I’m going.” She stated as she stepped back from him.
He shook his head. “No. Absolutely…”
“What if my cycle returns and you’re off on some mountain?” She raised both eyebrows at him and dared him to answer. “We don’t know how often it will for me, yet.”
Gage looked to Devin, who shook his head, he was on his own with this one.
“Should you be going into some unknown situation… with your social standing?” Rayne asked her mate.
Devin frowned at her. “It’s Calum. Period. End of discussion.”
She huffed out a breath. “Fine then. When do we leave, and who else are you bringing?”
“We?” He glowered.
Rayne went over and leaned into him, her voice soft. “Yes, Kelsey has a very valid point. I’ve never yet come into … whatever it is you call it with a wolf. What if that happens and I don’t know what to do or…”
He raised a hand to stop her from saying the next part. “Fine. But if one hair on your head so much as gets a split end, I’m taking it out on Calum’s… hide, once we find out what the hell is going on.”
Rayne turned to look at Kelsey. “We need good shoes this time.”
Kelsey nodded. “Yes. And food! No wildlife snacks.”
Devin looks at Gage, then snarled. “I’ll go fill Dad in and you,” he pointed to Gage, “find two more males to take with us.”
Gage nodded his head once. “Scary or stealthy?”
“Both.” Devin barked as he went back into the gathering.