Devoted : Enemies and Heirs

Chapter 7

Damien's POV

Where is she?!

I walk outside towards the trees with Garrison and Edwards.

POP!

My heckles raise at the sound of a gunshot. We don't keep guns on the premises, we have no need for them with how powerful we are.

We race off towards the gunshot, shifting to get there faster. On our way I pick up a scent that I don't recognize, but it's in the opposite direction of where the gunshot came from so I'll deal with it later.

I get to Aiyana's favourite watering hole and blanch. Blood. And a lot of it. I sniff around and the only scent I'm able to pick up is Aiyana's.

I growl as I follow the scent. Someone took what was mine.

When I find a puddle of her blood behind a tree, I let out a howl. I don't care if it takes all week. We will find her.

I tell Garrison and Edwards to stay and wait for our troops before going to follow the scent.

I walk back to where I last caught the scent and picked it back up. I follow it and am not happy when I find it's a man. And if I'm interpreting his scent correctly, he's a wolf too.

He's obviously alone so that means only one thing. Rogue.

I watch him as he paces. We aren't that far from the pack house. We're also not that far from the watering hole. Which means he must have heard the shot.

Why wouldn't he have come running to investigate?

The man stops when I get to the edge of the clearing, looking straight at me.

I walk out, growling lowly.

"Damien..."

I stop short. How does he know me? I mean I know I'm legendary. I took my pack away from the scourge of wolf-kind. But not many know me on sight.

I shift.

"You have me at a disadvantage."

"My name is Dakota. I grew up on stories of you and your assent to Alpha."

"That doesn't explain why you are camped less than a mile from my pack house."

I stare him down, stalking closer to him.

"I'm here because I've heard through the grapevine, that you don't have a Beta. Not a proper one anyway. I came to offer my services. I'm a younger son to an Alpha so I know the rules and etiquette. I've been Beta to one of the biggest packs in the US for the past 5 years."

I stare at him. "Why didn't you come straight to me then? Why camp out a mile away for what looks like several days?"

He seems uncomfortable with the answer for only a second before regaining composure.

"I haven't been truly alone in a long time. I was enjoying the silence before coming to you. I know my skills and I know with my credentials you would be crazy not to accept my offer. It was a vacation of sorts."

"We'll see about your credentials. For now, I need to know if you've seen anything strange since you've been here."

He frowns, "You mean besides the gunshot an hour or so ago?"

I smirk, "Yes. Besides the gunshot."

"I've had animals scatter more than I'm used to, but besides that... oh yeah... how could I forget? I've seen a wolf. One of us, not a pure wolf."

This piques my interest. Has little Aiyana been breaking the rules?

"How do you know she's one of us? Has she shifted in front of you?"

He shakes his head, "I was also my pack's tracker. I could smell her. She never got close, I don't think she thought I could sense her. I actually figured she was one of your scouts so I didn't bother her. Figured I'd let you see for yourself I wasn't a threat to you."

I rub my chin, "The tracker you say? Would you be able to find this wolf again just by that or would you need a new scent?"

"A new scent would be better, why? Was she not part of your pack?"

"Quite the opposite, actually. She's my Luna. I'm afraid for her safety, especially after the gunshot."

He nods, "Of course I will help you find her. Lead me to where I can get a fresher scent."

I shift once more, turning to watch as he follows my lead. He might be of some use after all.

I lead him to the watering hole where my warriors start to growl. I growl from my chest, using my alpha voice to calm them.

I lead Dakota over to the larger puddle of Aiyana's blood and if I'm not mistaken, I hear him whimper. It's quickly covered up by a snort before he changes into his human form.

"There's silver mixed with wolfsbane in her blood. It was a Hunter. There's no doubt in my mind."

"Dakota, if you can assist me in killing this Hunter and bring home our Luna alive and in one piece then you'll have yourself a deal."