Chapter 167
RYDEN
We reached the perimeter in the south. The boys had been sniffing rogues for the last two days, but tonight they hadn’t spotted one.
I ignored Zeph’s eyes on me on our way there. I knew he had something to say but held it back. I scanned the woods ahead, and there were no movements, on the trees, too.
“The scents are gone. Did they move to the west?”
“Or they’re done with their job and left. Maybe this area is a weak spot. Is the camera on that tree working?” I pointed at the old tree to my left.
“Yeah. Every camera works just fine.”
“Or it plays in a loop, and Jeong Lee and Seven didn’t notice it.”
He looked at me for a moment before he spoke. “Let’s check it out.”
“No. I have a bad feeling about this. We have to scan for the bear traps. Just call Jeong Lee or Seven to recheck the footage.”
“No. I’ll do it. I’ll be very careful.”
“Fine, but if you get injured, you’ll explain to Amelia that I didn’t coerce you to get your foot stuck in the bear traps.”
A smile lifted his lips. “You scared of my sister?”
“Not scared. I just don’t want to upset her.”
“I’m glad she’s in good hands, man. Really. I may not say it out loud, but I’m really happy you’re his mate.”
“Yeah.” I looked away, didn’t want to see him my bitter disappointment.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Just watch your steps.”
“Is something going on between you two that I should be aware of?” he still insisted, pinning me with an intense stare.
“We’ll talk about it later. Go and check it, but be careful.”
He nodded, but I felt the heaviness in his sigh as he walked towards the tree to check the camera. He was cautious, watching each step he made.
“It’s recording. I can see the red flashing.” He used the flashlight to reflect to the live feeds if the camera worked. “I’m calling Jeong Lee.”
“What did you see?”
“Normal.” He inspected the angle of the camera and moved it towards the left. “Hey, Jeong Lee. Can you see me now?”
“Put it on speaker.”
He did, and I heard Jeong Lee talking.
“It definitely frozen. Now I can see you,” Jeong Lee said.
“Come back, Zeph,” I told him as I caught scents in the air. “Something’s going on out here.”
Zeph ran in my direction, inside the shield. “Why can I get inside without hurting me?”
“Because you’re a member of this pack.”
“Zarah’s power is remarkable. Did you smell something?” he asked as he stood beside me.
“Yeah.” I closed my eyes and focused on the movements, even a tiny crunching of dried leaves or twigs. I still adjusting to the power inside me. Sometimes, I forgot who I was and still used to be a normal alpha werewolf.
“What are you doing?”
“Shush. Put to good use what you’re sister has given me.” Damn. My wolf was ecstatic with this new gift. “Show yourself now, rogues, or I will burn you alive!”
“Wait. Can you see them?” He sounded amazed.
“No, but I could hear their heartbeats, and they move slowly.”
“Why she didn’t give it to me? It’s unfair.”
I chuckled. “I guess she loves me more than you.”
“Fuck you.” He scoffed. “Considering she’s been having a crush on you since she was in diapers, I would understand. I still wish I had the same power as yours. So what are you going to talk about earlier?”
He didn’t know about Amelia’s past with Lucius. I was hoping it would come from Amelia because it was not my secret to tell even if Amelia was my mate. It should come from her.
“Not now. Rogues! One last call or I will come and burn you.” I formed fireballs and started throwing at where the heartbeats were stronger. Then I let my eyes glow so I could see in night vision. “Damn, man. That’s impressive.”
“One has a very fast heartbeat.”
“Scared? A kid, maybe?”
I looked at Zeph. “I think so.”
Vigilant Zeph aimed the hunting rifle towards the crunches of leaves.
“Help us!”
“What the fuck? A woman?” Zeph said, still aiming the gun.
“Come out now.”
A woman in her thirties and a kid around seven years old showed up. They looked like they had been in the woods for days. The kid had a backpack and the woman was carrying a tote bag. The kid looked like he’d been through hell, eyes filled with horror. The clothes were dirty, and they smelled like they’d been homeless for days.
“Stay right there. Where are you from?” I asked as they got closer. “What are you doing in my territory?”
“We came from Tahoma. Our small pack was attacked by vampires. I didn’t believe it at first, but then a sheriff said, those dead bodies were drained out of blood.”
“So you survived? You and a kid survived? How’s it even possible?” Zeph asked, not buying her story. I wouldn’t believe it, too, if I didn’t encounter vampires two nights ago.
“I picked up Romy from school and then we went to his grandpa in town. We got home around 8 PM, and there were sheriffs and three college boys who went to a frat party. We’re the only what were left in our pack. Our alpha was killed, too.” It was either they were lucky that the vampires attacked while they were away or she was involved.
“They left the frat party at eight? Lady, you better tell us the truth or I will call the cops for trespassing.”
“I swear to the Goddess I am telling the truth. I came here because there’s been a talk in the pack about a young werewolf who helped people. I wouldn’t have come here if I could get killed.” Horror dawned on her face.
I’d been listening to her heartbeat, and it was consistent. Either she was a good liar or she was telling the truth.
“Why didn’t you just go to the pack house?”
“I’m scared. That’s why we stayed here for a while, hoping you would notice us. Something is blocking us from going through this line.” She scanned the space between us. “But we couldn’t go back until a few days, and no one will run the pack anymore.”
“Can you walk to the gate? This is protected with a spell. You can’t come through. We’ll talk there.”
“That’s what I thought. Really, Alpha?” She looked relieved for a split second, then worried again. “Um, we don’t have money anymore. I can’t afford a room.”
“A room for what?” I frowned.
“A lodge.”
“Don’t worry about that. Just head north. You’ll find the pack house.”
“Are you sure this is a good idea?” I agreed with Zeph, but this kid could use a good sleep and he needed food, too.
“I’ll check if they’re possessed or drugged,” I told Zeph through our pack link.
We went back to the pack house. Twenty minutes later, they emerged. The boy could barely walk. He was exhausted and looked dehydrated, too.
“We can’t thank you enough.” The woman started crying, and the boy couldn’t look me in the eye anymore.
“It’s over now. Zeph will take you to the infirmary for a check-up. He’s my beta. And I’m Ryden, the alpha of this pack.
“Thank you so much, Alpha.”
I nodded while Zeph was glaring at me all the time but left him no choice but to follow my order.
“Can I help, Alpha?” Eliza came, watching the woman and the boy cautiously.
“Yeah. If you can find them clean clothes and a meal for two. That would be great.”
“Of course. I’ll see what I can find.”
Once she left, I went close to our guests. “I don’t take strays, so if you’re lying to me, I will put you in a cell. Right now, I’ll check if you’re cleaned.” I didn’t explain further. I took off my ring and grabbed her hand. When I put the ring in her palm, she didn’t react other than confused.
“What are you doing, if I may ask?”
I ignored to answer her. “Zeph turned on all the lights.”
When the lights were on, she and the boy just squinted. I watched their pupils react to the lights.
“They’re clean. Find an empty bedroom for them, Zeph.” I turned off some lights and walked to the door. Then I looked at him. “Don’t let them wander outside. Assign someone to watch them until I check for their story.”
“So are you gonna tell me what’s been bothering you?”
“I’m going home. My mate is waiting.”
I arrived home an hour later. Amelia was in the bathroom. After I removed my clothes, I went to bed.
“I’m so exhausted.” She stripped off her clothes, leaving just her shirt and panties, and then she crawled up in bed, straddling me.
I cradled her face and kissed her. “We all are, ladybug.”
“You should be resting. What did you do in the middle of the night?”
“We found strays, but I’ll tell you about it later after I’m buried deep inside you.” I wrapped my arms around her and rolled us over. She giggled and kissed me right away.