Chapter 623 Chapter 623
Asher figured that Devin sat on the table at the front of the room to see everyone.
“I know most of you are anxious to get back out there, and I appreciate,” he glanced at Rayne, who had that understanding smile on her face, “that you’ve been here to help us get things set up here and in motion.” He looked around the room. “My dad will be here tomorrow, so I just wanted to get together to discuss a few things,” he looked at Rayne again.
“If you have any ideas or suggestions, now is the time to discuss them.” Rayne smiled and glanced around the room, “we understand that there are going to be a lot of changes from now on, and we’re hoping to make them as smooth as possible.” She nodded and then looked up at her mate.
“Yeah.” Devin nodded, “that.”
Calum came into the room and nodded to Devin.
“The gentleman from earlier,” Devin looked at Journee, “is studying some maps along with a few of the others that were traveling with him when you last met.” He paused, and his gaze flicked to Asher briefly before looking back at her, “he says he’ll be able to pinpoint the area you were moving through.”
“That’s good, right?” Wynter looked over at Journee and nodded. “We’ll find that island.” She nodded. Daigo jumped up from where he was getting a belly rub from Nichelle and came racing over to Wynter. She looked down at him. “Well, aren’t you the cutest thing ever.”
Asher blinked because her voice went from Wynter’s no bs voice to a baby-talk voice.
Wynter leaned down and scooped him up into her arms. “You’re a good boy, aren’t you?”
“Careful of the sharp teeth,” Nox mumbled while looking at his hand.
Wynter snorted, “did you take a bite out of him?” She rubbed the fur up and down his back. “Guess his little fox smelled like lunch, huh?”
Devin stood there with his hand over his mouth, watching this. He glanced at Raymond Hardy, whose expression was much the same.
“I have a suggestion.” McKenna stood up.
“Go ahead.” Devin nodded. He looked relieved he didn’t have to say anything.
McKenna looked around the room slowly, then zeroed in on where Blair and Noah were sitting, “I think we need to better prepare the younger generation for the new world we live in.”
“How do you mean?” Devin was giving her his undivided attention. Asher didn’t know how much longer his father planned to rule, but his gut said the prince and princess were going to look out for the Alliance clans when it was their time.
McKenna chuffed. “To be more aware, to be able to live watching over their shoulders,” she looked at Nichelle. “You can’t expect those of us in our teens and early twenties to just stay home all the time.”
Asher raised an eyebrow, wondering if she’d been butting heads with the leaders of the three tiger households that were close together. He wasn’t sure if the one Noah was with was a separate clan from Blair’s or if they had just outgrown that property.
“I agree.” Nichelle stood up and brushed off her jeans. “Most of my clan is gone because our leaders didn’t tell us what was going on outside of clan lands.” She looked at Mika for a long minute. “If we’d known, we would have been more diligent and exercised more caution when members were going outside the boundaries.”
Mika looked at her hands but was nodding slowly.
“We could set up some kind of internship or apprenticeship within the Alliance.” Nichelle looked at McKenna. “They can train to be guards, or medics, even mechanics.” She looked at Gage.
“Train them to be ready when they’re needed,” McKenna added.
Asher thought of his nephew and what he’d been through. He thought of all the kids they’d rescued so far, and what these girls were saying was really hitting the mark. Those who had returned would work hard to ensure this never happened again. The ones that had never been taken needed to know how to function without being at risk. He watched Journee for a moment and could see the pained expression in her eyes.
“My sisters would benefit from something like this,” Jesse said.
“Mine too.” Noah gave McKenna a nod, she smiled at him.
Devin glanced at Rayne and then looked around. “Is anyone willing to work with the girls to figure out what programs we could get started?”
“I can.” Fallan waved her hand. “I’m staying here, so they’ll have to stay here for a few weeks, and we can hammer out some details.”
Rayne smiled at her. “That would be perfect.”
“Okay. Done.” Devin looked around and then paused on Griffin. “You and Noah have been pouring over maps the last few days. Have you figured out where the boy’s camp is?”
Griffin straightened and sat taller, “the routes have changed, comparing what he remembers, what the rescued kids remember, and what I know, but it’s still in the mountains.” He turned in his seat and looked at Journee, “was there ever any mention of the boys? Do you think it’s close to the area the mountain is in?”
Journee looked at Asher and then back to Griffin, “there was a boy taken,” she put her hand over her mouth, “I’d forgotten.” She frowned. “I don’t remember his name, but he was there on the plane,” her eyes widened, “but not taken to the island.”
“So, they loaded him up and took him somewhere else.” Griffin looked over at Noah. “Two-day drive is what you said?”
Noah nodded. “Some of those we’ve rescued said that,” he shook his head, “I don’t remember those details.”
“Okay.” Devin looked at Calum for a second, “sounds like we’re narrowing it down.” He zeroed in on Asher, “As soon as Shaelan clears Journee for travel, you and she are heading out and following the details in her notebook.”
Asher swallowed, but before he could speak, someone else did.
“I studied the sketches that were scanned,” Asher looked to see it was York talking. “I recognize a few.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a piece of paper. “It might be a good starting point.”
“I’ve seen some of them too.” Uri glanced at Illias. “I wrote them down for Illias.”
Devin got up, went over to York, and took the paper. He opened it and read what was on it. “This is nowhere near where we were guessing.” He glanced at Raymond, “but it sounds like we’ll be going for boat rides soon.” He turned around and looked at Noah, “and taking a ride up a mountain.”
“I’m going,” Journee blurted out, “to the island.”
Devin paused and studied her for a moment. “You’re the only one that knows what’s on it, so that makes you our expert.” He nodded and then sent Asher another quick look before he went over and handed the paper to Raymond.
“New kits for all the teams will be ready to load up by tomorrow.” Shaelan stood up, “there’s a lot more in them.” She glanced at Asher, “You should pack up a few to get you started.”
Asher nodded, now was not the time to object to his assigned task. He would have preferred to find out in private and not like this.
“I’m going to send you enough funds to buy Journee some clothes and things she needs.” Rayne smiled at him. “You will also be responsible for getting what those girls on the island will need when we get them.”
He nodded again, not even able to process what was happening.
“Asher, I know you’ve had weapon training,” Raymond crossed his arms over his chest, “but I’d like to go over some things with you,” he turned and looked at Pasha. “You should show Journee how to handle a sidearm, so she’s prepared.” Pasha nodded but made no comment.
Kenzo stood up and looked at Devin, who nodded. He smiled. “While the island is being located, the rest of us are going to bust down some doors and free our people.” There were several loud cheers. Asher looked at Amari, she was probably the loudest of all. Kenzo held up his hand. “Ten locations have been confirmed, and we’re going to have the new international team helping us out, because we have to hit these within a day or two of each other.”
Raymond stepped forward. “There are ten men on that team. They’re lethal. They’ve spent their lives staying under the wire and not getting caught.” He grinned at Kenzo. “So we thought it prudent to split them up and use their skills to help several groups at once.”
“All of you have heard Taggart, so I warn you now, English is not their first language,” Tate smirked, “so communication might be a bit choppy at times, but Konner has assured us that they’re all business and will get the job done.”
Konner glanced at Fallan who was nodding.
“We also have some more news,” Rayne stood up this time, “our King has made a new clan for the Alliance.” She looked at Blaise and smiled. “Blaise will be the Alpha of the mixed clan.” Blaise was smiling wide. “The one thing that became evident recently is that our kind out there is not one specific breed of clan.” Rayne looked around the room slowly. “So now we will have a home where they are welcome to be part of our world. You may have noticed that Deacon and Gia aren’t here now. They had to go back because four more have been brought across the ocean safely, thanks to Taggart’s team—Deacon’s maned wolf clan is growing.”
Asher glanced around; he was so inside his own head that he hadn’t noticed they were missing.
Blaise wiped her hand over her eyes, and then her expression hardened. “I’m hoping to get them—the—my new clan in on helping around here.” She glanced at her mate. “For when I’m out on ops, and Griffin needs a hand.”
The expression on Griffin’s face made Asher look down at his hands. He wasn’t an emotional man, not by any means, but the pride on the other man’s face was so evident it made Asher wonder if he’d ever had anyone think that of him, aside from his grandmother.
He could barely focus on anything anyone was saying after that point. His mind was all over the place. He kept looking at Journee, who was listening to every word being said. She was going to be his responsibility out there, and he hoped he was up to the task.