Chapter 572 Chapter 572
Blaise didn’t like any of it. The atmosphere was all wrong at this new clan. As far as she could tell, there were only a dozen members of it, and all had shady vibes. This was Sloane’s gig, so she let her take the lead, but she stayed alert and her hand didn’t stray far from the gun at her side. Griffin stayed back as she’d requested, and now she was second-guessing that maybe she should have told him to stay in the truck. It was a helluva spot to be in, keep him close and safe or out of sight and hope he was safe.
“I’m here on behalf of the Alliance and King, I need to speak to your Alpha.”
Bonus points for Sloane, she didn’t say Alpha with the sarcasm that Blaise was thinking as she looked around.
After the one she spoke to gave her a good up-and-down look, he pointed to the biggest house in the four that could be seen. They were run down, and she had to wonder who they belonged to before this clan took them over. Many out-of-province clans had small areas set up, for gatherings and meetings, but she didn’t see Maxine just handing clan property to them. Were they even here legally or were they squatters?
She moved over to see who came out the door and keep an eye on the others lurking around watching them with great intent. Glancing at Griffin, she motioned with her head for him to stand at her back so she knew he was close. Without hesitation, he did.
The door opened and a short man, she’d peg somewhere in his thirties came out. He gave Sloane a cold look and barely glanced at Blaise, but Griffin definitely caught his attention. That didn’t surprise her—all males would be seen as a possible challenger.
“The Alliance sent us to check in.” Sloane kept her tone polite and courteous. Blaise would never be a great ambassador or coordinator; she didn’t do the fake voice or intentions well at all.
“Check in for what?” The fake Alpha asked.
“Part of the agreement made with the Alliance was you would be in touch with names in your clan and other details once you were completely settled.” Sloane looked around, “you need to get in touch with a representative.”
“You’re here, you see we’re here, so that’s done.” He crossed his arms and stared at her.
“I believe you were given a number; you’ll need to call and speak with them.”
“I lost my phone.” He replied too quickly.
Blaise watched Sloane’s spin stiffen. Her first reaction was to rest her hand on her gun and be ready.
“You’re going to have to get a phone, get in touch, or you will be marked as rogues and the next Alliance reps that come to visit won’t be so friendly.”
Blaise saw the two that had been standing nearby, move to block the path they’d taken to the small building. Her cat was right there with her when the warning bells started to go off in her head. She didn’t want a confrontation, but she had no problem resolving one if it came to that.
“I don’t answer to anyone now,” he motioned his hand in the air, “around here I’m in charge.”
“Not with me.” Sloane’s tone wasn’t as polite and friendly now. “I only take orders from three people, my Alpha, my team leader, and the King.”
“Well have him come see me and I’ll report directly to him.”
Sloane looked over at Blaise, she gave a slight shrug, letting her know that she had her back, however, she wanted to play it. She saw Sloane take a deep breath and try to keep her composure. “That’s not how it works. We’re part of the Alliance teams and this visit is just a courtesy before you’re reported as a non-response and tagged as rogue.”
Blaise had to hand it to her, she was definitely trying to get through to the jerk.
Sloane glanced around at a few others, “if you’re not part of an official clan, you are rogue and not protected by the Alliance…”
“Protected?” One of them snarled. “Where was that protection when our clan was on lockdown and not allowed to do anything? If the Alliance were doing its job, none of that would have happened.”
“These guys are assholes,” Griffin whispered behind her. Blaise smirked but didn’t reply. It amazed her that some were so ignorant when it came to the battle everyone in the shifter community was fighting. If they lost, worst case, extinction, and sadly that was also the best outcome because anything between now and that happening was no way to live.
“Restrictions were for safety.” Sloane rested her hand on her gun, and Blaise hoped it was her good hand, because the way things were going, they would need it. “It wasn’t convenient for anyone, but it was necessary.”
“You seem to have the freedom to travel around.”
“I’m on official…”
“Look, lady,” the Alpha stepped off the step and got in her face, “we’ll contact the Alliance when we’re ready. They’re not out here helping us. We’re on our own and don’t have to follow all those rules.”
“You do if you want to…”
“Be protected by the Alliance, yeah, I caught that. Thanks, but no thanks.”
Sloane stood there, nodding her head slowly, and Blaise wasn’t sure which way she was going to go with this until she saw her pull out her phone. “I just have to report to my boss that I did my part.” She shrugged and held up her phone.
“Whatever, just do it somewhere else.” The Alpha turned and opened the door. Glancing over his shoulder, he jerked his chin to the males that were blocking the path.
Blaise glanced back at Griffin, “stay on my hip all the way to the truck.” He nodded his head once, letting her know he understood.
Sloane took a few steps back, then turned so her back was to Blaise and not the strangers. She saw her typing into her phone, holding it with her bad arm, and still keeping the other one free to do anything required. When she finished, she tucked the phone in her pocket, put her hand on her gun, and began walking. “Someone will be in touch.” Her voice was so pleasant you would have thought she was a customer service rep in a store instead of part of the Alliance’s incursion team.
Blaise wanted to walk backward and keep an eye on them, her cat wanted the same, but she decided it was better just to walk away and not incite anything by snarling at the people watching them leave. Griffin bumped into her; she’d have to explain later that ‘on her hip’ wasn’t meant to be literal.
By the time a gunshot registered in her head, she already had her gun pulled and spun around. The blood drops in the white snow took her a little longer to process. She felt no pain, so Blaise knew it wasn’t from her. Griffin was hunched forward, but still standing. The blood was landing at his feet. She wanted to look at him, but her sight was focused on the man behind them holding a gun.
Sloane stepped between them, her phone in the hand of the arm she shouldn’t be using and her gun in the other aimed at the man.
She knew Sloane was speaking, but no words registered in her ears. Blaise moved over to Griffin and placed her body in front of his, without taking her eyes off the man still stupid enough to be standing there aiming his gun at them. He had about three seconds to lower it before Blaise laid him to rest permanently.
The Alpha bolted out of his shack and went over to the man Sloane was facing off with. He grabbed the man’s gun and forced him to his knees.
When Sloane looked at her, she knew it was safe to look away. With her gun still up, Blaise turned to look at Griffin. From the placement of the blood spot expanding on his jacket, he’d take a bullet to his right shoulder. “Get the jacket off.” He’d been shot while his back was turned. She felt the color drain from her face when she realized he’d nudged her over and taken a shot meant for her.
He struggled with one arm, so she grabbed the material and jerked it down. “Did it go all the way through?” She tugged his shirt up and hissed when she saw the blood rolling down his back.
“Here.”
She turned to see a young woman holding out some white material. Grabbing it, she pressed it against his shoulder.
“Blood on the front,” Griffin grunted.
“Straight through.”
“Eddy didn’t mean it,” the woman said.
Blaise leaned on the clothe and glanced back to see the Alpha holding Eddy by the back of his neck. “Eddy,” Blaise looked at her, “will have to tell that to the security when they get here.” She didn’t like how fast the white clothe was turning red, “Sloane,” she waited for her to look at her, “I have to get him back to the truck. My med bag is there.”
Sloane nodded, “backup will be here in twenty.” She looked at the Alpha, “seems cooperation is going to happen now.”
Blaise wanted to shoot the Alpha in the head, and everyone else that watched them. “I’ll patch him up and be right back.”
Sloane put a comm piece in her ear and grimaced as she used her bad arm to put her phone in her pocket, “I’ve got Pasha on the line, she and Tait are closest.”
“Tell Illias to patch me in, my comm bud is in the truck.”
She nodded and turned back to the man, her gun ready if anyone else stepped out of line.