Chapter 38

Zara

“So, how are you going to get me out of here?” I asked.

Chloe smirked. “It just so happens that I am in charge of one of the trading groups. I'm invaluable to our pack's relationship with our neighbors, you know.”

“That's nice,” I said. “What does it have to do with me escaping?”

“Are you dense?” Chloe sneered. “I handle deliveries. I sign for incoming trade goods, and I pack and send off outgoing supplies, too.”

“So you're going to ship me to the human lands?” I asked. “Seriously?”

“No, that wouldn't work. We don't trade directly with any humans,” Chloe said. “But. We do trade with a pack closer to the border, the Winstone pack. And a shipment is meant to go out today. No one would be surprised if I decided to drive it myself. I’m very hands on, you know.”

I was fairly certain she went on deliveries herself so she’d have an opportunity to flirt with Alphas from the other packs. I didn’t say anything, though. I didn’t really understand Chloe’s near obsession with becoming an Alpha’s mate.

“We’ll have to sneak you down to the warehouse,” Chloe said. “It shouldn’t be too hard. Just wear one of my coats and take the short path. I’ll take the other route and meet you there. We look enough alike that as long as you don’t talk to anyone, people will think you’re me.”

I nodded. That made sense. Up close, it was easy to tell Chloe and me apart. At a distance and wearing her coat, I’d pass as her. I’d just have to avoid meeting anyone on the way. With the pack distracted by the full moon that shouldn’t be too hard.

Chloe tossed me an old coat.

“You won’t be able to pack anything,” she said, frowning. “It’d be suspicious if you had a suitcase or a backpack. You could stuff a couple things in the coat pocket, I guess.”

I shook my head. “I don’t have time to take anything. I can’t risk going by my cabin, anyway.”

“Right,” Chloe said. “Well, I hope the humans are as nice as you think they are, since you’re gonna be showing up with nothing but the clothes on your back.”

“I’ll survive,” I said.

It wasn’t like I had any choice.

Chloe was right. Which was not a sentence I ever thought I’d use. I didn’t meet anyone on the way to the warehouse, and the few people I saw at a distance just waved and went about their business.

I reached the warehouse, and Chloe ran up and grabbed me by the shoulder.

“In there,” she pointed to a door on the side of the building.

“It’s a small delivery,” Chloe said, “so I’m taking one of the pack cars, not a truck. You’ll fit in the trunk, you’re scrawny enough.”

I curled in a ball as Chloe closed the trunk over my head. It was probably not my imagination that she slammed it harder than she needed to. I wondered what she’d do if someone stopped us to inspect the car.

But then, why would they do that? I hadn’t heard any alarm raised, so maybe the Alphas hadn’t noticed I was missing yet.

The ride was long and bumpy. I’d have a lot of bruises in interesting places when it was over. But it was worth it just for the chance to get out.

I didn’t know what I’d say to the Winstone pack when I got there. Maybe Chloe had a plan for that, too. If not, I’d just have to convince them to let me pass through their territory.

Even though the Winstone pack still traded with us, I was pretty sure if I told them I was running from Kieran and Lucian, they would help. The other Alphas hated the twins.

As to what I would do once I reached the human lands, I honestly had no idea. I had no clues about my mother’s identity, or even whether she was alive or dead. Maybe I could find the human equivalent to our healers house, and see if my blood matched anyone they knew.

The car drove for what must have been hours. Chloe paused at one point, presumably to take care of her personal needs, but she didn’t open the trunk. I wasn’t sure whether that was because we were still inside the twin Alphas’ territory, or because she didn’t care if I was uncomfortable.

Finally, the car rolled to a stop. I heard the crunch of gravel and snapping twigs. Then the front car door slammed. I expected Chloe to come right back and open the trunk, so she could leave me to explain myself to the Winstone pack.

Instead, her footsteps faded slightly and I heard the murmur of voices. That continued for a few minutes, and then inexplicably, Chloe got back in the car and the engine turned over.

What was going on? She was supposed to just drop me at the edge of their territory, wasn’t she? What, did she mean to sneak me in with whatever she was delivering?

And the road under the car was really rough. At some point the gravel gave way to what could only be a dirt road. The car bounced and jostled for a few more minutes, and then rolled to a stop.

This time, when Chloe slammed the car door, she walked towards the trunk. I heard more voices, and then the click of the trunk latch opening.

“Well, here you go,” Chloe said.

I blinked up into bright sunlight. I saw several silhouettes, one of which was Chloe but I had no idea who the rest were.

“This is the one the Alphas keep so close?” a strange voice scoffed.

“Yeah, I don’t get it either,” Chloe answered, “but this is her.”

I sat up and shaded my eyes.

“What’s going on?” I asked.

“She’s not bound. She came willingly?” asked another stranger.

Why would I be bound?

“Yeah, she’s an idiot. She thought I’d actually take her out of our territory and let her go free,” Chloe said, sounding smug. “Don’t worry, she’s half human, so she’s pretty weak. You’ll be able to handle her.”

I don’t know why I actually felt betrayed. Chloe had always hated me. I knew that. Still, hearing her say that, knowing she’d planned this all along and never for a second meant to help me, stung.

I had one chance. I had to move while they thought I was weak and disoriented.

I knew which one of the shadowy figures was Chloe, and I knew I could take her in a fight. So I coiled my legs under myself and launched myself in her direction.

I collided with her and we both crashed to the ground. I punched her hard in the jaw and rolled out of her reach. I counted three other people around us, standing in a loose circle.

I dove in between two of them and took off for the nearby tree line. I made it halfway there before someone tackled me to the ground.

I twisted under my attacker and planted my elbow into their gut. I heard a familiar voice huff and curse.

Hands pinned my arms to the ground and a face I knew far too well leaned close.

“Hello, there, Zara,” he said.

“Adrian?” I squeaked.

“I’ve missed you,” he said.

“No you haven’t,” I denied. “Let me up.”

“No, you’ll just run again,” Adrian replied.

Footsteps crunched nearby and I twisted to see Chloe approach.

“You sold me out to the Rogues?” I gasped.

Chloe shrugged. “Well, yeah. What, did you actually think I’d ever help you, half blood? This way I get the Rogues to owe me a favor and I get rid of you. Win win.”

I slumped under Adrian’s weight. There were too many of them, and they knew the territory. I’d never escape like this.

“Bring her,” another Rogue ordered.

Chloe waved and gave me a mocking smirk as I was dragged to my feet and led away.

I can’t believe I trusted her.