Chapter 30

I was already up and dressed when Adrian knocked on my door at ten minutes to 4 in the morning.

I’d set an alarm for 3:45 so that I could quickly throw on some clothes and have a quick drink of water.

But I’d woken at 3am, bright eyed and feeling very ready for our mission.

I’d been taking solace in work for weeks. I felt best when I was doing a good job on something only I had the capacity to do. But it wasn’t the same—working on an event or paperwork—as it was to get out and actually do something about a problem.

Adrian nodded to me as he entered my room, nodding approvingly at my black tactical outfit.

We gathered our supplies in companionable silence. He paused to nod approvingly at what I’d selected from the Gamma camp, but we otherwise worked in a steady rhythm. I could tell he was also excited about the night. I wondered if he felt similar to how I did.

That much of his work was theoretical: taking place in board rooms rather than on the ground.

This felt like a rare and important chance for both of us to be doing something more tangible.

I could feel our excitement bouncing off each other as we finished packing our backpacks and moved toward the door.

We were ready.

I breathed deeply as we walked out into the cool air.

The season was changing gradually to autumn, the air holding onto some of its summer warmth during the day.

Tonight, though, I felt the first hint of true frost in the air.

I shivered, but smiled.

It made me feel alive.

And I knew I would soon not feel the cold.

Adrian and I glanced at each other as we reached the edge of the forest, and in tandem transformed into wolves.

I was pleased to be running with Adrian again.

Besides the fact that his wolf was something so powerful to behold, it had been years—since the brief period when I was training with his camp and pursuing him as a partner—that we’d been in our wolf forms together.

I watched his muscles ripple as he ran, and felt mine burn pleasantly.

The wind whipped past us. I bared my teeth in a wolfish smile.

My peripheral vision was so good that I could see Adrian do the same.

We set off in the direction Adrian had heard the camp had last been sighted. Up into the foothills, we ran toward a higher elevation. Though the gain was subtle, frost started to populate on the trail, and my lungs felt a slight increase in burn as the air got thinner.

I’m planning to search the area in a grid pattern, Adrian mindlinked me. Hearing his voice in my head felt warm and familiar. I know everything’s been leading up to this attempt, but it might take us a few nights to find them. If you’re up for another couple of all nighters.

I would have sworn I could hear his smirk through the mindlink.

I didn’t mind the thought of another few nights like this.

My body felt supple and strong.

Like it was doing what it was made to do.

In my human form, I was becoming increasingly aware of the ashiness in my pelvis; the increasing heaviness in my uterus.

As a wolf, there was an uncomplicated lightness in my body.

But even if I was enjoying this, I had a more efficient way to locate the rogues.

Do you not remember? Or had I not shown the ability yet when I was with your pack? My supersensory abilities are strong in wolf form. If we get into the vague vicinity of the camp, I’ll be able to hear or smell them.

He didn’t form any more words, but I could feel that he was impressed.

We continued running through the forest. There was a chorus of subtle sounds as we ran. The wind blowing in the pine needles. Our padded paws hitting the forest floor in tandem.

I think again at the feeling of freedom in my body. Though pregnant in this form too, it felt like the polar opposite of what I’d been feeling. I usually felt confined, constrained. Trying to house new life while pretending nothing was different.

Now, I felt free.

I was in a meditative rhythm of running, and almost didn’t hear it.

But it was voices.

I glanced over at Adrian as we ran. He seemed to be zoning out to the rhythm of our footsteps, and enjoying it, as well.

He clearly didn’t hear anything yet.

This way, I said through the mindlink.

I could hear his heartbeat increase.

We slowed at my signal and crept forward. More voices emerged, as well as the smell of campfires. We were getting close.

He gestured toward a large tree with a hollow patch at the bottom. We huddled against it, our fur brushing against each other’s shoulders.

“Want some more of the stew?” a voice asked.

“Who’s got first watch?” Another chimed in.

I sighed. After the exhilaration of the forest, I’d expected immediate excitement. But so far it was just the sounds of a camp preparing for bed.

I listened again.

There were quiter, tenser voices from the other side of the camp. I nodded in the direction they’d come from, and Adrian and I sneaked that way.

“It will all be different once we have the powers,” a deep voice said quietly.

“You’re right. When we finally capture her, I’m going to—”

Another group of rogues walked by the two we were watching. They quietened, then parted ways.

My ears pricked at a conversation still further away, from inside one of the tents.

Even with my super sensory abilities it was too far away, but I was sure I picked out the phrase “false mate bonds.”

False mate bonds? I’d never heard the phrase before. Had no idea such a thing could be fabricated. Or why it might be.

Everything went silent as a shadowy figure emerged from the largest tent to stand in the center of camp. Its voice was a harsh, raspy tenor—that could belong to a man or a woman—when it spoke. The figure was wearing a hooded cloak and keeping to the shadows.

“We leave at dawn,” it said harshly.

No one spoke or grumbled. I couldn’t believe the rogues had the discipline to have packed up and left before first light. It was a mark of this leader’s power over them that there were no questions or suggestions for alternate plans.

A crack off to my right. I spun around, thinking we’d certainly been caught.

I saw only Adrian looking sheepish, then glancing down at his feet. He’d just stepped on a twig.

“What was that?” someone said from the camp.

“Intruders?” Another questioned. “Could it be?”

“Search the perimeter,” the leader said quietly.

The rogues listened immediately, following the order they’d been given.

And we ran.