The Beta's Witch

Chapter 19: An Unlikely Ally

ADRIANA’S POV

We made it back in record time. I was more than a little relieved that our car ride was coming to an end. Carson had ignored all speed limits posted from the south side of Emberton back to the Midnight territory. Taylor and I had very little time to get our bearings before we sped past the wolves guarding the border. There were a lot more than when I’d left.

Luck was with me as Carson pulled the hummer sized SUV into the garage of the pack house. Before I escaped the metal death mobile, Carson told us that Lucas, Aiden and Elijah were all busy taking care of pack business. Although it was late, Taylor said she was going to check on the boys. I nodded my thanks, then followed Carson out of the garage and toward a peculiar walking path off the long road that I thought was just Lucas’s driveway.

Trees bowed over our heads, making it near impossible to see the night sky. In a way It was almost relaxing. I jogged a few paces to walk in step with Carson, who shot me a curious glance before continuing down the dirt path.

The idea of facing Aiden anytime soon made my stomach turn. After I had acknowledged the mate bond and being faced with a possibility of not making it long enough to enjoy a future with him, I wasn’t sure how to be around him. If I were no longer around, I knew my Uncle would take good care of Daniel, but I wasn’t sure about Aiden. Did wolves get a second chance at finding a mate?

There was also the whole Sofia issue, the Coven, and the few hours of my memories I was blocking. None of which I could reveal to anyone just yet. We didn’t know how strong the Coven had become since my Uncle separated from them. It was impossible to locate Sofia with my magic all wonky, and I wasn’t ready to know why my parents never came for us. Though deep down I suspected I knew why.  

Instead of facing my problems I hid behind Carson, the one person who had never pushed me to reveal anything. We walked the path for a few moments in complete silence, before it opened up to a beautiful little village full of wooden cottages and cabins. They were built into the forest, mindful of the trees and plant life around them. Some of the houses had trees inside of them, the rooms built around them like an impressive adult treehouse. Vibrant lawns and gardens were situated in little clumps around each property, stopping at the forest path that led through the village.

I couldn’t help but gasp, delighted by the way the wolves held on to their connection of nature. If witches had been allowed to form communities, I hoped it would look something like this.

“It’s incredible,” I whispered, watching in awe as we passed by rows of elegantly designed wooden cottages. They were both completely natural and somehow had electricity. Though it was late, some of the houses had a light or to that shone through their large glass pained windows. Fairy lights hung from the branches lighting the path as we walked under the clear night sky.

From the corner of my eye I saw Carson huff a silent laugh, amused by my ogling. Whatever. This place was amazing. I’d never seen anything like it.

We walked until we reached a simple cottage with a dark slanted roof. It wasn’t the smallest cottage I’d seen, though it wasn’t the biggest either. I followed Carson inside, surprised by the even simpler open concept floor plan. There were no decorations, no personal touched, not even a picture.

The living area boasted a small round coffee table, a matching couch set with two white cloth armchairs, and two end tables supporting plain looking lamps. They were placed in a neat rectangular formation around a sleek black flat screen that hung from the wall. The space looked barely used.

In the corner a sat a lone wooden table and chairs set. The kitchen was mostly hidden behind an island, but I could tell it was sparkling clean.

Carson veered right toward a hallway off the main area, opening a door to reveal a flight of stairs that descended into a dimly lit space. He didn’t spare me a glance as he continued on to what I assumed was the basement. After a moment, I followed him, mentally shrugging to myself. If he didn’t want me to see what was down there he would have told me to stay put.

The basement wasn’t really a basement at all. In fact, Carson and I were more similar than I thought. On one side, there was a large gym with a set up not unlike my own. To my left a door stood open, and I could hear voices. One was Carson, and the other. . .

I stopped short upon entering the room, realizing why Carson’s house looked so bare. He had spared no expenses on this tech-geek wonderland. Monitors filled an entire side of the room, where Carson and another man, who looked vaguely familiar, sat staring at a screen. In the middle of the space was a rectangular worktable, its shiny white surface glinting under that bright lights. The rest of the room stored modems, desktops, neatly stacked wires, and an area of shelves with strange looking gadgets I didn’t recognize.

“-haven’t locked in a location for her since she ditched the phone two weeks ago.” The man next to Carson reported briefly. “She didn’t stay in the area after we tracked the call this afternoon.”

“I don’t understand how she keeps slipping away.” Carson muttered, typing something into the keyboard, with one hand. “It doesn’t make sense. None of our other targets have ever been this hard to track.”

On the monitor was a detailed map of Emberton, Maine and it’s surrounding provinces. Numbers, letters and dashes rapidly flowed across the screen, a language or code that I didn’t attempt to make sense of.

I leaned closer to the screen as well, hover over the shoulder of the unfamiliar wolf, just barely. As was the theme among these male wolves, he was massive. Almost as equally intimidating as Carson, with more soldier vibes compared to Carson’s secret spy.

Multiple red circles stood out on the screen, many of the places I recognized. Grey Enterprises, my street, and Berkley Elementary, along with a lot of others I wasn’t sure about. On another screens, views of streets, buildings and stores flashed, changing at regular intervals. They must have been public cameras all throughout the city. Or maybe not so public. I didn’t think too hard on it.

“You’re tracking Sofia,” I blurted, startling the wolf. He swung around on the office chair, forcing me to take a few steps back to avoid his long legs. To my annoyance, while sitting he was almost at eye level with me. His green eyes blinked repeatedly, as if not believing I was here.

“I thought they would have locked you up after that stunt you pulled,” he announced bluntly, looking me up and down as if to confirm I was really there. His eyed lingered in areas that made me want to punch him. Carson beat me to it, smacking him in the back of the head. The wolf ducked his head, throwing Carson a dirty look.

 “Hey!” he complained, rubbing the no doubt sore spot.

“That’s your Beta female, Marcus,” Carson said sternly, scolding him like a petulant teenager. “Show some respect.”

Marcus eyed me in a new interest, not as distasteful as before. I squinted at him, finding his shaggy brown hair and leaf green eyes familiar. Then I remembered.

“You’re the wolf that tackled me,” I accused, scowling at him. He smirked at me, irritating me all the more.

He saluted mockingly, “The very same. At your service.”

I imagined my face said it all, but I vowed retribution. The wolf hit like a tank and I had been dizzy for quite a while after that horrible encounter. His smirk turned more challenging, as if daring me to try something. I reached out my hand to zap him like I had the other wolves, who were no doubt running laps around the border, when Carson absently swatted my hand away. His eyes still tracking the screen.  

“Knock it off,” he warned. “I said no practicing on my men.”

“He started it,” I mumbled childishly, ignoring Marcus and focusing back on the screen. It was increasingly difficult to make sense of the codes Carson was putting into the system. Another monitor scanned every female with blond hair that crossed the cameras. I had to admit I was impressed.

“These circles are all the places that Sofia has been?” I asked, my gaze focusing on one little circle I wasn’t comfortable with. Carson slid me a look, knowing exactly what I was asking.

Sighing, he turned away from the screen and faced me. “Earlier today, before we realized you left, we attempted to call Sofia so we could track her phone. Unfortunately, it didn’t work. But she threatened to start killing pack members if you didn’t turn yourself over to her within the next twenty-four hours.” He checked his watch. “Eighteen hours now. That’s what the Alpha, Beta and Gamma are doing now.”

“That doesn’t explain why she was near my son’s school,” I prompted, my voice low and dangerous.

“She threatened Daniel,” he began, holding up a hand to stop me from going off. “Lucas already had a team surrounding the school for his protection. The moment she said it, we had him taken out of class and brought back to the house. He’s safe and seemed to think it was cool.”

I breathed harshly through my nose, taking measured breaths to remain calm. Both men watching me warily. The Sofia I remembered knew that Daniel was very important to me. His life was not a bargaining chip. There was something seriously wrong here and I wasn’t sure how much it really had to do with Aiden.

“Okay,” I said finally, leaning back against the table. “Is there any other way to track her?”  

Marcus whistled low, swinging back around to go back to work. Carson searched my face a few moments before doing the same. “Until she shows her face on the streets there isn’t much I can do from here. Her phone isn’t trackable.” He explained, then abruptly stopped typing, he looked back at me curiously. “Unless you can track her magically.”

I immediately shook my head. “You saw what I did to your wolves,” I reminded him. “My magic isn’t trustworthy at the moment. I need more practice.”

Marcus glared suspiciously at me. “What did you do?”

I paused, unsure what I could say about Carson’s mission to retrieve Taylor and I, or his team.

“You can speak freely,” Carson said. “He’s my second. And a good friend.”

“Good friend?” Marcus scoffed. “I’m your best friend.”

While Carson ignored him, I studied Marcus more intently. I wondered how close the two really were. Since Marcus hadn’t been with Carson tonight, it must mean that he was doing something equally as important.

“You said you hadn’t had a location on Sofia for two weeks,” I remembered suddenly, fitting the pieces together. “Sofia has only been a problem for a few days, why would you have been keeping tabs on her for longer?”

“Huh? What?” Marcus said airily, feigning innocence. “When did I say that?”

I rolled my eyes, then faced Carson, glaring at the side of his face for dramatic effect. He seemed determined not to answer, so I folded my arms, tapping my foot impatiently. I knew the noise would irritate him as much as it would have irritated me.

“Because Sofia has been my problem for much longer than a few days.” He admitted reluctantly, though he didn’t elaborate further.  

“That doesn’t make any sense. In what world does your brother’s girlfriend become your problem?”

Marcus’s eyes widened slightly. He focused intently on the screen with jumbled lettering.  

“I think I liked it better when we didn’t ask questions,” Carson said harshly. Silenced followed. The tension in the room was thick, but I stubbornly stayed put. Carson was one of the few safe places I had left, and I refused to lose that too.

In truth, I had thought a bit about why Carson and I didn’t ask questions and why we seemed so comfortable around each other. We both had things we weren’t comfortable discussing. Being around someone that didn’t force you to be open was like a vacation from reality. I was treading a fine line that broke the easy friendship we had created.

Then again, I had done a lot of running and escaping my problems in the last few years. Maybe Carson and I could build a friendship that was stronger than mutual secrecy.

To everyone else, Sofia seemed like a bad memory, a topic no one wished to discuss. The only reason they were trying to find her was because they had to. I shuddered, thinking of what they would do if they caught her. Any threat to an Alpha’s pack was punishable by death, and Sofia had crossed a line.

Carson was different. He and Marcus had been keeping tabs on her for a while now. The way he spoke about her being his problem made it seem like he cared and he was frustrated about it. Carson didn’t want Sofia to face the pack’s justice.

I imagined not even Lucas, Aiden or Elijah knew the lengths he was going to find her. I made a mental note not to mention it either.

I eased myself onto the table, patiently waiting for Carson to finish what he was doing. A few minutes went by before they exchanged a look. Marcus got up, stretching until his back popped. He slid one last glance in my direction before leaving.

“It’s uncanny how you wolves silently communicate,” I thought aloud, amazed.

Carson shrugged. “Wolves can communicate telepathically with other members of their pack. It’s called mindlinking.” His words were clipped. Even thought he was talking to me, I knew it was only to be polite.

“You’re angry with me.” I noted.

He paused for a moment, as if surprised I had noticed. Or maybe because he hadn’t noticed himself. Carson very rarely let things get to him.

“Does it matter?”

“It does to me,” I said. “You’re the closest thing I have to a best friend at the moment. I can’t do any of this if I don’t have you on my side.”

“Best friends don’t keep secrets from each other.” He said bitterly, alluding as much to himself as he was to me.

“I can’t tell you what happened with my Uncle.” I said quietly, looking at my hands. “It’s too dangerous.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

I thought for a moment. Then realization dawned on me, stopping my breath. “You’re upset because I told Aiden my secret.”

He looked away, jaw tense.

“You didn’t trust me to help you. We’ve known each other for three years and you never said anything.”

“I imagine if it was your mate asking, you wouldn’t have the ability to keep your secrets either.” I shot back, frustrated. Though he was right, it didn’t make sense.

To be honest, I wasn’t quite sure why I had so easily given in to Aiden. Maybe it was because my feeble human mind had been overwhelmed by discovering the existence of supernaturals. Maybe because not hours before Sofia had tried to kill me. Or maybe it was neither. I didn’t want to admit there was something about Aiden that made me want to fight for happiness instead of run when things got hard. I was good at running, but it wouldn’t help me here.

“I wouldn’t know,” Carson said, interrupting my thoughts. “I’ve never gotten the chance to find out.”

There was something in the was Carson spoke that registered deep in my chest. The familiar ache of loneliness flared in recognition. Somehow, surrounded by family and friends, he was as familiar with that pain as I was. So I took a chance, doing the one thing I told myself I could never do, with Carson, or anyone. I trusted him.

I reached out, touching my fingertips to his temple. He looked startled for a moment, but didn’t draw back. I prayed the Moon Goddess that I was in control enough for this.

The image of a young face appeared in my mind and I pushed it towards Carson. I knew he’d received it when a faint gasp escaped his lips.

My magic fizzled, and I was no longer able to hold the grainy connection without risking harm. Although it only lasted a few seconds, I was proud of myself all the same. When Carson’s eyes refocused, he looked at me, confused and slightly wary.

“That was-” I hopped off the table and slapped a hand over his mouth, shaking my head. He got the message, grabbing my wrist to pull my hand away.  

Sofia. It was Sofia as a freshman in high school. One of my favorite memories of when we tried out for cheer-leading together. She had the biggest smile on her face, that day; so excited that we had both made the team. We stressed over out new uniforms, gushed over the football squad and reveled in our newfound popular status.

“I think we want the same thing.” I ventured, hoping he also wanted to protect Sofia in whatever way he could. He only nodded, his eyes alight with so many questions and frustrated he couldn’t ask any of them. Though he also looked relieved, making me feel hopeful that we could work together.

“You haven’t told anyone else?” he confirmed, leaning forward to stare at me hard. I shook my head.

“Why not?” he asked, still skeptical of my intentions. I couldn’t blame him. Sofia had threatened Daniel, tore my house apart, and tried to kill me. I had no reason to want her alive. Other than the fact that she was one of my best friends and very important to me.  

I sighed. “Attempting this could put the people I care about in danger,” I responded vaguely, hating that none of my words were safe. “I don’t want anyone getting hurt.”

“And me?”

“I find I don’t fear for you as much,” I told him honestly.

“I’ll take that as a compliment,” he said grinning easily, he relaxed back into his chair, releasing my wrist. I sat in the one Marcus had vacated, enjoying a companionable silence with Carson.

Although I still felt trapped with the knowledge I had gained, I didn’t feel as alone as before. Carson and I were two sides of a double printed coin. Some of our past experiences remained a mystery to one another, but we had a common goal. I knew he would have my back just as fiercely as I had his, and he knew the same.