Chapter 732 Chapter 732
Calum called them about a half hour after they left that town and told them that the men following them were being picked up by Alliance Security. Zain had almost asked if they were still alive but didn’t. Once he got to the factory, he’d ask for more details. “I think we should take turns driving until we get to the factory.” He glanced over at Oaklyn.
“I agree. Stopping seems to create problems.” She gave him a brief smile. “I’m a little anxious.”
“About more following us?” He looked back at the road and rolled his shoulders. The tension would not ease.
“No. Well, that would be a problem, but it’s not what I’m talking about.” She blew out a breath. “Goin’ to the factory. I’m not part of the Alliance, and I’m assuming there will be many there that are.”
Zain shrugged. “Calum told us to come there. No one will question it.”
“What exactly is Calum? In the Alliance, what’s his standing?”
Zain grinned. “It’s complicated. Technically, he’s one of Prince Devin’s seconds, but he’s worked with Shepard for as long as I’ve been around, and he seems to know everyone, everywhere.”
“I’ve noticed that about him.”
Her voice was softer than normal. He glanced at her. “You don’t need to worry. Everyone is going to love you.” He smiled. “Amari will love you even more after I tell her about the knife in the doorframe.”
Her brows raised. “Really?”
He nodded and looked back at the road. “Yes.” His breath hitched. “We’re going to have to stop and get some gas, and I have some shopping to do.”
“Shopping?”
“Yeah. They’re—” He gave her a quick look. “My teammates, are going to be mad I took off, so I want to bring offerings with me.”
She chuckled. “What kind of offerings are you going to find at a gas station?”
Zain smiled. “Most of their favorite things. Amari loves gummy bears. Asher is all about Doritos. For Jesse, my team leader, it’s energy drinks.” He shook his head. “A shifter shouldn’t even drink those things, but he loves them.” He frowned at the road. “I don’t know what their mates like, so I can’t really cover that too.”
“I think it’s sweet that you know their favorite snacks and beverages.”
“They’re on the road a lot. I mean at least twenty-five days out of a month, so I like to do little things that make that easier for them.”
“What does your team do? I thought you looked after the safe houses and cars.”
“I do, but that part I do out of boredom and to help the king and the whole Alliance. My team is—or was before we started hitting all the places that Tomas has taken our kind, the clan coordination team.”
“What do they do?”
“Transport clan members from one location to another, coordinate between clans and it’s their job to call in anyone needed if there are issues. It got really busy when Shepard put all the clans on lockdown earlier this year.”
“Lockdown?”
Zain nodded. “Too many were vanishing, so he put a halt to long travel and vacations. The kids have even been pulled from the public schools and been doing online schooling.”
“I guess he was keeping everyone safe.” She sighed. “My clan needs to be part of the Alliance.”
“There’s no record of them.” He winced. He hadn’t meant to say that.
“What do you mean?”
He shifted in his seat, uncomfortable because he hadn’t meant to tell her. “When we were talking about our real names, I was curious if your clan was a part of the Alliance, in the past.” He looked at her to see she was solely focused on him, and he wasn’t sure if that was in a good or bad way. He turned back to watch where he was driving. “I don’t have access to the newest information. It’s on a secure server since the breach of our communications, but I have an older list.”
“There was no record of my clan?”
“I used your last name and the ones that came up—” He gave her a quick look. “They weren’t wolf clan.”
She was quiet for a few minutes, and even his wolf was tense now, waiting. “So, they’ve probably never been a part of it.” She said softly.
“That’s a possibility.”
“How does one go about getting them to be part of the Alliance?”
Zain checked the gas gauge. They needed to find fuel soon. “Before it was simple, now they’d have to be vetted.” He looked at her. “You know, check that they’re not working for Tomas.”
“And if they are?”
He looked over at her, did she know something? “The leaders are removed, and the rest of the clan is given a choice. Become a clan of the Alliance or be rogue.” He frowned. Being a rogue didn’t mean what it used to, but as far as he knew it was still the deal.
“I see.”
“What?”
She forced a smile. “I was just hoping if the Alliance was involved, then the young girls in my clan would have more choices.”
He nodded slowly. “You mean, so they don’t have to take off to avoid being stuck with someone they don’t like?”
“Yes.”
Zain spotted a gas station. “Well, once we get a few things resolved, I can talk to Devin about it. They can send someone to your clan’s alpha.”
“He’d do that?”
“Yes. A few months back we were out looking for clans that have vanished or haven’t been heard from in a long time. All of our kind can be part of the Alliance. With the changes the—Shepard and his mate have been discussing with Devin and Rayne—there are some big things coming and it’s going to be so much better.”
“I think I’m going to like the future.”
He looked over to see her looking out the passenger window. He didn’t know what that meant. Sure, the part about changes was good, but what was she talking about? His wolf stirred inside him. Zain slowed down to turn into the station, ignoring the animal inside him. To his animal, Oaklyn’s choice to have nothing to do with a mate was unacceptable, and Zain didn’t want to dwell on it too long or he’d drive himself crazy trying to decide where he stood on the matter. His wolf didn’t like his indecision at all, but as long as Zain was driving this body of duo man and animal, he made the final decisions. That was the first thing Shepard taught him when he started shifting. Do not let your animal lead.