Chapter33 Charlie Ipickedthreeofourtopwarriors,takingthemtoYaraforapprovalthattheyarehealthyenoughtogoonthisrescuemission.Oncesheagreed,weallwenttotheroomofthiswarrior,Laney,togethersmell.Thewomansscentwasnice,spicybutabittoomuchonthepachoulisideforme.AtleastIhavethegirlsscentandconfirmedthatshelookslikehersister.Thatstheotherthing,thiswomanisattractive.Maybeitsbecausewedontseetoomanywomenoutsideourownpacks,butseeingher,smellinghernewscentismakingGregorantsy. Whatsupwithyou? Idontknow.Letsjustgofindthisgirl,hesays.Icanfeelhisownfrustrationatnotunderstandinghisreactiontothis woman. AndwhatswithyouandourLuna?Youregoingtogetuskilled,IsaytohimasIgetthewarriorsandwebeginrunningtowardThomaspack. Ilikeher.Alot.Shessmart,andfunny,and… AndNOTours,Isayfirmly.IrefusetofightWarrenforYara.Theyarefatedmatesandyoudontfuckaroundwiththat.Evenifitwasntnearlyimpossibletofindyourfatedmatethesedays,Iwouldntfighthimforher.Sheobviouslyfeelsthesamepulltohimthathedoestoher.So,yeah,Icanappreciateherintelligence,herkindness,andhersharpwit,withoutflirtingwithherinfrontofhermate,oratall.Especiallysinceshesunmarked. Fine,hesays,moping.Iknowhewantstofindourmate.IdidntalwaysagreewithWarrenabout waitingtofindhismate,buthewasadamant.Hedgrownupwithparentswhowerefatedmatesunlike mostofus,soheknewthelevelofpassionandcommitmentthatcouldcomewiththatkindofbond.Overtheyears,Idfrequentlytriedtoconvincehimtotake a chosenmate,someonefromourpack,butwhenwedgonethroughthelistofshewolves,noneofthemseemedlikethekindofwomaneitherofuswouldwanttobindourselvestofortherestofour lives. So,wedbothwaited.IthadworkedforhimandImacoupleofyearsyoungerthanheis.Now,seeingwhathehaswithYaraIunderstandalotbetteraboutwhyhewassoinsistentaboutwaiting.NochosenmatebondcouldevercompetewithwhhehaswithourLuna,andtheyhaventevenmarkedeachotheryet. AswegetclosertoThomaspack,Islowdown,openingmymindlinktothe otherwarriors. Keepyournosesup.Notonlydowehavetogetaroundthepatrols,butwealsoneedtofindthisgirl,gethertostayquietandagreetocomewithus,andthengetoutbeforetheyevenknowwevegottenin. Igetthemtospreadout,hopingthatsomeonewillcatchthisgirlsscent.Imoveclosertothepackhouse,ascloseasIcanwithoutcrossingtheborders.ImabitsurprisedthatIhaventseenorheardanypatrolsyet.Didtheysendeverywarriortofightourpack?Ifso,thenThomasisa foolandhispackisopentoattackfromanyone.HemaybeinanallianceofsomesortwithQuintonandBrady,butthatdoesntmeanthattheywouldnttake advantageofaweakerAlphatotakeoverhispack,especiallyQuinton.Themanisagreedypieceofshit,notcaringwhodiesinhisquestforpower.Itsanotherreasontha tIam loyaltoWarren. Hedoesntsendusouttofightfornoreason.Theresalwaysareasonifwego,butusually,wereonthereceivingendofbattles.Now,itseems,thatitwas astrategicmovebyQuinton. Iclosemyeyes,listeninahallway,crying. tothesoundscomingfromthepackhouse.Icanhearsnoring,fucking,andinaroomattheendof Ivegother,Iletmywarriorsknow.Hasanyoneseenanypatrols? No,Beta,thewarriorssays,headingbackinmydirection. Gregorstandsatattention,listeningintentlytothegirlcrying.ThatwillbeLaneyssister.Shellhavefelt thesnapofthepacklink,andshellthinkhersisterisdead. When my warriorsarrive,wesnifftheaironemoretime,beforeshiftingintoourhumanforms.Imstillamazedthatthere 1/3 64Sun, Chapter33 arentanypatrols.Butwestillcarefullymakeourwaytothepackhouse. 69% Herewefindsomepatrols,butitlookslikethesepoorbastardsgottherawendofthedeal,ormaybetheyweretheleastinjuredafterourbattletoday.Eitherway,mymenandImakequickworkofthembeforeheadinginside. Aswegetcloser,IcanfeelGregorgettingmoreexcited.Thescentof mullingspicesisgettingstrongerintheair.Ilovemullingspices.Itremindsmeoffallandwinterdays,ofchangingleavesandthefirstsnowoftheseason,allthingsthatIlove. Wequietlysneakintothepackhouse,climbingthestairsthattheomegaswouldusetobringfoodand laundryuptotherankedmembersrooms.IdidntgettheimpressionfromLaneythatsheandhersisterwereranked.Butmaybethatswhyshewantshersisteroutofthispack.Withlimitedoptions,aprettygirllikeLaneyandhersisterwouldbehotcommoditiestoanAlpha,especiallyifheonlycaredabouthavingheirs. ThethoughtmakesGregorsnarlinmyheadandhepushesmetomovefaster.WhenwegettotheAlphafloor,IcanseethatthisgirlhasbeenputintheroombesideAlphaThomas.Well,thatmakesthiseasier.Ifshewasinhisroom,itwouldbehardertogetheroutwithoutalertingthepack.Thisway,itshouldbefairlysimple. Guardthedoor.Illgether,Itellmywarriorswhoturnwiththeirbackstothedoor,readytoattackif someoneapproaches. IquietlyopenthedoorandwhenIdo,thescentofmullingspicesoverwhelmsme,nearlybringingmetomyknees. Mate!Gregorsaysexcitedlyinmyhead. Justthenthegirlsheadsnapsup,asImsureherwolfsmelledusenteringherroom. Iputmyfingertomylips,askinghertobequiet. Iunderstandyoulikedonuts,Isaysoftly. Shenods.Ilovethem. Ihaveacouplebackatmypackthatyoumaybeinterestedin. Acouple?sheasks,swipinghertearsaway. Oneinparticular,I say,thrilledthatIcantellherthathersisterisntdead. Shehuffsarelievedsobbeforestandingupfromthefloorwhereshewasquietlycrying. Willyoucomewithme?Iask,extendingmy hand. Shenods,placingherhandinmine.Warm,electrictingleslightupmyhandshootingupmyarm. She gasps andIknowshefeelsittoo. Letsgo,Mate,Isaytoher.Shesmilessoftlyandnods herhead Weswiftlyleavethepackhouse,havin tokillacouplemoreofThomasmenasweleave.ItsaysalotthatThomascansleepthroughhispackmembersdying.WhatamiserableAlphaheisandifhewasplanningtoforcemymateintoamatebond,thenIllbethrilledifAlphaWarrengivesusthe goaheadtotakeoutThomasandtherestofhispack. Butfornow,mymateis safeandImtakingherbacktohersisterandintothesafetyofourpack. 9/3 13:54Sun,Dec1Gx. After her grandfather's death, she unexpectedly discovers that both her sister and boyfriend betrayed her, taking away the family fortune left by her grandfather. Determined to seek revenge, she decid...