Chapter 20
The vehicles took their time making their way down the mountain.
Almost halfway down, Rance, who’d taken the lead, slowed to a stop when he saw Alison, Maeve and her son walking down the mountain road.
He rolled down his passenger side window and looked across Slade who was riding shotgun, at Alison who was walking on that side of the truck. “Where y’all going?” he asked.
“To the bus stop across from the bar. We’re going into town to do a little shopping,” Alison said.
“Why didn’t you get somebody to take you?” Rance asked.
“Didn’t want to bother anybody with having to follow us around while we enjoyed our day,” Alison said.
“You mind if somebody wants to tag along?” Rance asked.
“Not at all, just didn’t want to be a bother. I go all the time by myself.”
“Yeah, but since the attack on the Gamieyon Pride, I’d feel better about it if you took somebody with you.”
“Okay, should we wait at home?” Alison asked.
“No, hop in the back and I’ll take you the rest of the way down, then get Paxton to go with you.”
“You sure?” Alison asked.
“Yep.”
Alison went over to the tailgate of Rance’s truck and let it down, then climbed up and sat on the edge, her legs dangling. Maeve lifted Griffin up to sit beside Alison, then climbed up herself.
“This is gonna be so much fun!” Griffin exclaimed.
Alison and Maeve both laughed, then Alison knocked on the side of the bed of the truck and Rance, double checking in the rear view to be sure they were settled, took his foot off the brake and began easing down the mountain.
Alison and Maeve both laughed and completely enjoyed Griffin having a ball doing something as simple as riding in the back of a truck.
“You forget how much fun the simple things were when you were a child,” Maeve said.
“Yeah, you really do,” Alison agreed. She looked out over the landscape, then her gaze wandered to the Suburban behind them, staying a safe distance away.
She couldn’t tell who was sitting in it because all the windows were so tinted, but smiled anyway.
There was no reason she couldn’t be nice to whoever was in it.
A few minutes later the truck was easing to a stop and they all three hopped down, then walked around to the driver’s side of Rance’s truck.
“I don’t want them, or any female, leaving here without at least one male escort. Things are just off kilter for now,” Rance was saying to Paxton.
“No problem at all. I’ll take them,” Paxton answered.
“You sure you don’t mind? We can wait until later if you have plans,” Alison said.
“Girl, please! You know I love every opportunity to go to town,” Paxton teased.
Alison laughed. “You do seem to,” she agreed.
A car door slammed, and footsteps could be heard coming toward them, but Alison didn’t bother turning around.
“Are you going off premise without a guard?” Feral demanded.
Alison’s smile fell slowly as she turned to look at Feral. “What?” she asked.
“Are you leaving here without a guard?”
“No, Paxton is escorting us.”
Feral’s gaze shot to the auburn haired male who was currently sizing him up, before looking back at Alison. “You were walking down the mountain until Rance stopped you. It’s not safe, Alison.”
“First, you’re not my Alpha. Second, I’m not mated, nor even engaged or promised.
Even if I was, I can walk down this mountain, and back up, and down again if I choose to.
I’ve lived here all my life and pretty much did everything alone here and in town.
I don’t need permission from you or anyone else to do so.
Rance asked if I’d mind taking someone with us, and under the circumstances I understand the need and will agree to it.
Plus, it’s Paxton, and I like Paxton. He’s nice and friendly, instead of lording it over someone he thinks is incapable of taking care of themselves. ”
“That’s not what I was doing,” Feral said.
“Isn’t it, though? You need to understand something, Feral. Quiet, alone… neither of those words means weak.”
Feral opened his mouth, to answer, but Alison turned her back on him and walked over to Paxton’s truck which was parked a few feet up the mountain to the side of the road, opened the door, climbed up into the truck and slammed the door behind herself.
Feral shook his head as he looked at Maeve. “I didn’t mean it that way.”
“I don’t know you, so I don’t know if this is a habit of yours or not.
But despite the fact that Alison is quiet, and sweet, and kind, she is still a Lion shifter.
She will never take well to be bossed around, or told what to do.
You need to find a way to protect her without telling her what she can and can’t do.
Or maybe a little faith in her would help, too,” Maeve said.
She was holding Griffin’s hand and tugged him a little to follow her as she went toward the truck that Alison was already in.
Feral stood there, watching Alison who was sitting in the front seat of Paxton’s truck, apparently.
“You need something?” Paxton asked.
Feral shook his head. He looked from Paxton toward the truck the women were sitting in. “I just want her safe.”
“I get it. There’s a better way to approach it, though,” Paxton said.
“You good?” Rance shouted from his truck.
“Yeah,” Feral answered.
“Then get in the damn vehicle. Let’s go,” Rance said, taking his foot off the brake and driving out onto the highway.
Feral got in the vehicle, but no matter how many times he glanced toward Paxton’s truck, Alison wasn’t looking his way.
“Got to relax, Feral. She isn’t a reward, and most likely doesn’t understand why you’re like you are, why we’re all like we are. You have to find a happy medium or she’s going to kick you to the curb. She’s not human, so she’s going to tolerate a whole lot less,” Frenzy said.
“Says you, who has practically stalked Tawny,” Feral said.
Frenzy smiled as he looked out of the window at the road going by.
“No more, my friend. I’m not forcing anything anywhere.
If it don’t want me, I don’t want it. No stress, no fuss, just breathing easy and come what may — unless I gotta kill something, which I’m not completely against at any given time should the need arise. ”
~~~
Four vehicles drove along a quiet strip of highway in the back roads of Missouri.
One by one they chose a place to turn off and stash their vehicles in heavily wooded areas.
As the last of them found a place to leave their vehicle, a single text was sent to everyone that made up their five multi-person teams. “Fifteen”
Every single member of their teams looked down at their watches and took note of the fifteen minute point from that moment. That was exactly how long they had to be in position on the perimeter of Gamieyon property, prepared to start their trek to the center of the carnage they expected to find.
They’d been given clear instructions — make yourself invisible, watch for any type of electronic device that could monitor the area and anyone coming or going.
If found, notify the other teams immediately.
Keep the Gamieyon males near the front of each team for quick identification of anyone they encountered and to lead the way.
They knew the locations of all their scouts and security so should be able to find them with no problem.
Look for any evidence that might identify those responsible, make note of any bodies, and don’t get killed.
Teams of four led by Frenzy, Savage, Rance, Rage, and Grim moved quickly to their entry points on the perimeter of the Gamieyon property.
The Variant had their own communication devices, but they’d also supplied Rance and his people with ear pieces so they could remain in contact with their team members, and be updated on anything pertinent as the mission progressed.
Frenzy personally handed out the ear pieces, beginning with the five Gamieyon Pride members that had accompanied them back to the scene of their destroyed Pride.
After they were all checked for functionality of their earpieces, they moved in.
Each team moved slowly, taking their time, making note of anything they found.
By the time they reached the center of the property and the main Pride house, or what was left of it, they’d pretty much determined that they were alone.
There was not a building on the property that hadn’t been touched by fire, only a small shed or two were standing though they’d been damaged as well.
The only things left behind were melted, or ashen.
An occasional scrap of burned paper that may or may not have been a photo at one time, charred clothing, traces of what was once furniture.
When Frenzy arrived at the Pride house, Rance was already poking through the remnants of it.
“Anything unusual to report?” Frenzy asked.
“Some boot prints on top of and beneath some paw prints, a lot of them headed in the same direction instead of running in different directions. They’re not messy and hard to read like I’d expect if they were fighting,” Savage said. “Makes me think they were working together.”
“Same,” Grim and Rage both said.
“Lot’s of prints everywhere, not just boots. Some lions, some smaller cats, too. Maybe a few panthers,” Slade said.
“Animal prints, I expected,” Feral said. “Same boots we were all issued, I did not.”
“Same you’re issued at Alliance, or same you were issued while in captivity?” Dane asked.
“In captivity,” Frenzy answered. “We got the good shit now that we’re free.”
“A lot of bodies, and they couldn’t even be bothered to bury or burn them. Intentional disrespect in leaving them to rot, knowing no one was coming to clean up after them. This wasn’t just an I want supremacy. This was I’m wiping you out and any trace that you ever existed,” Harsh said.