A Matter of Convenience

Thirty-Nine

~Isis~

If you are suspicious, why are we helping them? I sigh in the mindlink. Miles has been asking me a million questions since we set out for the Darkfang pack.

I mean, I get it, don't get me wrong. It's a crazy plan on my part. I'm not stupid; I know this entire situation is iffy at best. This is the best way to figure out what the hell is going on, though. I'm most likely walking into a trap, but there are no alternatives.

Miles, you are really starting to be irritating, love. I need you to just go with it, and if things go sideways, get out of there.

You can't be serious! You expect me to leave you there, alone?!

I do, and that's an order. I cut the mindlink, not interested in hearing any more of his protests. I know what I'm asking him to do, but it's important. I have every faith that he and Lionel will have no trouble getting me back if it goes that far.

We pull up to the border of Darkfang. Some of us are in wolf form, and I had the others drive. We may get injured, and I want to make it back home in comfort.

We run through the woods right up to the side of the packhouse. The crazy thing is that I detected no rogues along the way. I would have thought I'd catch sight of someone if this were legit.

I shift, and Miles throws me a shirt. “I expected you by car.” I look to see Alpha Felix walking from the front door of the packhouse.

“Some will be arriving soon enough. I hope they have clearance to get through the gate.” He nods at me as he stops in front of me. “I didn't detect anyone on the way in.”

“I'm not surprised. They are at the opposite end of the property.” I look past him and focus on that area. I swear I see small yellow spots in the distance. Maybe he really does have a rogue problem.

“Is there a plan? Have they attacked?”

“So far there's been no attack. I was hoping you'd have some information sight as to what the next move should be.”

“I’ll go scout the area.” I turn to Miles. “Wait for our vehicles to arrive.” We had four wolves run with us and another dozen or so in three vans. “Two of you will go with me and the other two will wait with Miles.”

I don’t like this, Issy. Something doesn’t feel right. It would be better to have me with you, safer. Miles isn’t wrong. When we fight, we are completely in sync. If I’m in any kind of trouble, I’d prefer Miles to be by my side. While that’s the case, I know that Miles is the best one to go back home and report any foolishness if this ends up being the trap that I think it is.

Miles! Remember what I said. Remember my orders. I don’t wait for a response. I take off in the opposite direction of where I came in. I feel the presence of my men behind me. I pull my shirt off and shift when I get to the tree line.

Rona, be as alert as possible, though I’m sure it won’t matter.

Miles was right. We shouldn’t be doing this.

We have to nip this in the bud; the best way is to play the game. When it comes down to it, I have to focus on doing everything I can to secure my pack. Rona sighs but says nothing else.

I have a lead on the men with me. There is no sense in sacrificing pack members. I’d rather be taken without anyone being hurt if that’s the plan. I see yellow spots in the distance, and I’m sure I’m supposed to follow them. Rona moves forward as I help her assess our surroundings.

Everything happens faster than I thought it would. I have to give Alpha Felix credit. He found some really capable rogues to carry out his plan. I hear rustling to my right, causing Rona to turn her head that way. Almost immediately, I’m tackled from the left. I heard them come, but not until it was too late.

Rona hits the ground hard, and we tumble with the wolf who knocked us down. When our bodies finally settle, the wolf has Rona pinned to the forest floor. I feel a pain in my back and Rona howls. Before I know it, I’m in my human form, and darkness is taking over.

~Jovanni~

I know immediately when she crosses into our territory, our bond calling out to me. She may have rejected me, but I still have a strong bond on my end. I move through the woods, looking for the contact person for this mission. This isn’t the man I handed the money to; he’s the guy that leads out in the field. He’s standing off to the side, under a big tree. “Is everything ready?” He growls at me, but I don’t care.

“Everything is fine. We don’t need to be checked on constantly.”

“Do you have the vial? Do you have someone to administer it?” He pushes off the tree trunk and walks over to me. He’s a huge guy; his muscles have muscles. The veins in his neck and arms are visible, and if I were a lesser man, I’d be pissing my pants right now. “Well?” He flexes his muscles while staring me down. He’s a few inches taller than me and has a scar running down the side of his face.

“Everything is in place.” I nod and walk away, waiting for it all to take place. It doesn’t take long to hear from Alpha Felix. Not only has she arrived, but she’s taken the bait. She’s heading in this direction.

“Get ready.” I walk into the woods and wait at the extraction point. My job is to take her to the building we have secured before her people can find her. While we wait for the rest of the plan to unfold, I plan to convince her to take back her rejection.

We are signaled that she’s near, and the plan is in motion. I can’t see the takedown from where I am, but I can hear it. I hear when her body gets hit, and I hear her howl out when they inject her. I wait impatiently for her to come this way, and I don’t have to wait long.

One of the rogues has her in his arms, and Wolfgang bristles immediately, not liking someone touching our mate who isn’t him. I reach my arms out, ready to take her. He stops and looks down at her, lust swirling in his eyes. It doesn’t help that the rest of his body also responds to her. “Maybe we can have a little taste of her before locking her down. What do you think?” He looks up and past me to his leader. I’m sure he’d agree in a minute and I don’t have time for it.

In the blink of an eye, I’m standing behind the man with my knife in my hand. I lift it, letting the big guy see the blood dripping from it. Both bodies fall to the ground, and I hate that Isis had to be hurt that way, but there was no other choice. “I’m taking her as planned, and I don’t want to hear anything else about it. Understood?” Big guy’s jaw clenches, and his hands are fisted at his side. He nods at me but doesn’t move. I sheath my knife and pull the dead body from Isis. I will have to clean her up when we get to where we are going. I pick her up and carry her to a waiting vehicle.