Chapter 12
CHAPTER TWELVE
MIKO
We arrived at Canary Wharf station, after having traveled east.
At least we’d gained a sense of direction.
The platforms were clear and zombie free. Too quiet, my senses on high alert for another attack. I sniffed for Lance’s stink, listened and watched for any irregularities to further fuck up our night.
“Pause here,” I decided. “Ten minutes. Then we move on.”
“Move on to where, sir?” James asked.
“Give me ten minutes.”
“Yes, sir.”
My pack inspected the rest of the area, Trev looking after Joseph. We didn’t really need flashlights, but I’d rather we did. Never rely on anything a hundred percent. Always have a backup.
Guilt dug its claws into me. I didn’t need ten minutes at all. I’d made a decision already, squeezing the shit out of Belle as I turned things over in my head.
I would get them somewhere safe. Demand they stay put and not come after me while I went after Orion. His scent remained traceable for the time being, lingering on the air, joined by Basil’s cookie aroma.
“Fuck,” I growled, leaning on the platform’s glass barrier. “Fuck, fuck, fuck.”
My pack would want to come with me, try to resist my order as much as they could. I didn’t want to leave them. I never wanted to leave them. Eventually, I’d have to say goodbye. They had to be okay, to be safe when the world changed.
And I would be that change for them. The good kind.
In the end, we were heading for an ending. Answers and an ending. No matter how many times I kissed Orion or dreamed of sunnier days for my pack, they couldn’t have a good life with me in the picture. They all deserved better than me.
He comes, this scarlet-haired man, bearing a golden gift in his hand. For you. It is for you. It is for hope. He is hope.
How was he my hope? What was the golden gift? Would he somehow stop me from losing everything? Because these wolves were more than blood, transcending friendship. They were my home, my everything. Including Trev as he assimilated into the fold, Orion the sweet glacé cherry on top.
Losing them wasn’t hopeful.
God, I missed Orion, every part of me pining for his face, for how he lit up the room with his sunshine energy.
How he called to all corners of my sexuality, my heart, everything.
I just wanted to hold him again and kiss this night away.
Let the sun rise on a new day and throw this bullshit on the fire.
I punched the glass, sick of it being there, sick of this reality. It was bullshit, nothing but a cage, this whole damn city an endless reminder of what we’d lost.
I held back a second punch, trying my best to hold it together. My people needed me to keep my shit on simmer.
But my God, did the pressure come down on me like too many tons of bricks.
Closing my eyes, I squeezed Belle tightly in my hand. Drew deep breaths, counted to ten, then twenty, hitting seventy before I reached the point of no return.
I faced my pack. “Okay. Here’s the plan.”
They gathered before me to listen.
“We’ll find you a safe place to hide out,” I said. “There’s plenty of office and residential spaces in this area.”
“Us?” James questioned. “Aren’t you including yourself in this?”
I shook my head, folding my arms. “I’m going after Orion.”
James shook his head in return.
Ah, here it came.
“Sir, with all due respect, you can’t do this alone. I need to go with you.”
“No.”
“But—”
“I said no. I’ve explained the plan, I expect you to follow it.”
He tensed, holding his breath.
Cate placed her hand on his shoulder. “Breathe, darling. Breathe.”
He did, releasing a long breath, lowering his head.
“Can we talk about this, sir?” Paige cut in.
“No.”
“But this is—”
“My mate is in the hands of blood magi. What else is there to talk about?”
Her freckled cheeks flared crimson. “Your safety. You’re important to us.”
“I appreciate it.” I sounded so hard, so unfeeling. But it was necessary. I couldn’t have them running into danger with me. “I can track him, get him and Basil back.”
“And then what?” Trev asked.
“I’ll meet you all at the safe place.”
“And then?” Cate added.
“And then we plot our next move.”
James looked up again. “Off to Dunstable so you can be a hero.”
I didn’t like his tone. “James. Stop.”
“Stop what? Telling a truth you don’t want to face?” His Yorkshire accent was thick and full of anger.
“Who said I’m not facing it?”
He took a step toward me, making the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. “You’ve made a decision to die without talking this through.”
“We haven’t had much of an opportunity.”
“When will we?”
“Once we leave London.”
He shook his head. “On our way to that fucking town.”
His aggressive tone started to become annoying. “You heard what Trev said—what the oracle said.”
“So what?”
“So, how am I supposed to react? My dad is…” I stopped. “Enough of this shit.”
“Shit, eh? It’s all shit. Great. I’m glad you think so much of us.”
“James, please,” Cate tried with her husband again.
“Let’s not do this here,” Paige chimed in.
But James moved closer to me, matching my body language. “You make the decisions, you expect us to follow. And we do. We respect you more than you’ll ever know. But not in this.”
“James…” Cate said again.
“I have to keep you safe,” I countered, keeping a lid on my temper. “That’s my job. And it’s also my job to offer the same to my mate.”
“The mate you never wanted.”
He tested the limits of that lid. “Don’t ever say that again.”
James suddenly shrank, his body language less aggressive.
“I didn’t mean it as an insult. I like Orion.
A lot. I’m just…” His eyes glistened. “I just want you to understand how much this is hurting us. We get you have a duty to see this stuff through. We share it. But we don’t want to lose you.
We want to discuss the details, maybe even find a solution to keep you alive.
We can’t just salute you and let you walk you into death without a proper deep dive. ”
Those ten minutes were almost up. “When we get the chance to, we will.”
“And what if we don’t agree?”
“This isn’t a democracy.”
“I’m well aware.”
“I’ve given you your orders, James. We’ll talk later.”
“Sir—”
“Don’t question me, beta.”
He launched himself at me, suddenly up in my face. “Stop it!” His volume stopped me dead in my tracks. “Stop this shit!”
I blinked at him, completely stunned. He’d never yelled at me like that before. We’d had debates, sometimes heated, but never like this.
“I’m not letting you go, Miko! I’m not letting you do this!”
I felt the unease in the rest of my pack, the tension thick between us.
James was too close, stepping out of line. My instincts told me to slam him into the ground, boot on his back to pin him in place. Make him feel painful consequences for his disrespect. He might be beta with some licenses, but that didn’t give him the right to be so bolshie.
I shoved him away. He staggered back, furious tears streaming down his face.
“Sir, I—”
“Don’t say a word.” My bite stopped him in his tracks.
I started to pace.
My pack watched on, keeping their distance, allowing me this moment to formulate my response.
Their fear hurt my insides. James was my best friend. I could never slam him into any floor. Not after all these years of loyalty. He might have broken protocol like a complete prick, but he had good reason to do so.
He wasn’t the prick. I was. He had every right to his emotions, to feel distraught over this twisted saga.
“Miko. I’m sorry. I love you. I just…I can’t fucking stand this. It’s so unfair. It’s so unfair.” He fell to his knees, Cate rushing to his side.
“Come on, darling,” she whispered, kissing his cheek.
James broke down into sobs that were painful to hear. “I… I… He’s like my brother… I can’t… We can’t… After everything… So much… So much fighting…”
Paige joined Cate to comfort my hurting beta.
Joseph moaned in pain. The poor vamp needed help, at least a dose of rat blood.
I stopped pacing, facing James. “I promise you a full, open discussion on this matter.” There I went with clinical energy again. “Come here, James.”
He sniffled, wiping his eyes. “Sir?”
“Come here. Now.”
“Please don’t hurt him,” Cate pleaded.
I scowled at her. “Who do you think I am?”
“An alpha.”
Fair point. “Come here, James.”
He got to his feet, gingerly inching closer. “Miko, I—”
When he reached grabbing range, I dragged him into a tight bear hug. That set him off again. He sobbed into me, soaking my shoulder with his tears. I let him cry it out, my anger crumbling. Fuck it. I deserved to be chewed out. These lot deserved better than arctic vibes and folded arms.
I patted his back. “It’s okay. It’s okay.”
He lifted his head. “I’m so sorry.”
I chucked him gently under the chin with a fist. “Don’t do it again.”
He took a deep breath, his nose snotty. “Got a tissue?”
I flicked the brim of his orange cap, now turned to the front. “I do.” I handed him a grubby tissue.
“Cheers.” He cleared the snot.
It would be better to have backup, not to dive into the rescue mission alone. I was running on emotions, not on leadership.
“You can join me,” I said.
He nodded.
“No,” Cate interjected. “Let me.”
“What—”
“No, James. It’s my turn. You ran to Camden. Let me run now.”
“But—”
“Are you seriously arguing with your wife?” I asked. “First me, then her. You’re one brave wolf.”
He laughed. “Go get our fae.” He kissed Cate on the lips.
“First, some shelter that isn’t a damn underground station,” I said.
“Allow me to lend a hand.”
Daria stepped out from behind a pillar.
“There you are,” I growled.
“Sorry for the horde. I had to do it to save you.”
“Thanks.” No point in arguing otherwise. We’d be Lance’s toys if she hadn’t.
“It’s too dangerous here.” She pulled a marshmallow from her pocket, striding over to Joseph. “And I wouldn’t bother going upstairs. Far too many zombies.”
“You were listening?” I responded.
“Yes, wolf.” She popped the marshmallow into Joseph’s mouth. “Let me take you to a safer place.” She scooped the other vamp into her arms. “And you need some blood, my poor friend.”
“Where’s this safer place?” I asked.
“Follow me.” She jumped onto the tracks. “These tunnels will be overrun soon.”
I looked to my beta.
He nodded.
“Did you see where Orion went?” I asked the vampire.
“I saw him take shelter in a shop with the other fae and the blood magi.”
Could he still be in that shop? “Where was this?”
“Outside Canada Water station. I went to help him, but the horde cut me off.”
If he’d been killed, I’d know it.
I’d definitely know it. Plus, his scent would be gone.
“I have to get out of here,” I said. “Back to Canada Water.”
“Yes, yes. But not here.”
“Where?” I had to trust her. She’d gotten us this far.
“North Greenwich. The next station.” She kept her voice low. “Be vigilant, hope for a lesser concentration of undead. I will help your pack.”
Then I’d circle back, follow Orion’s scent. “Cate? You ready?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Feel like I should go, mate,” the troll jumped in. “This is my fault.”
There was no time for this. “No. You stay here. Cate will be quicker. Focus on safety.”
“Mile end station,” Daria spoke softly. “We will await you there.”
“Take care,” James said.
With a nod, I took off into the tunnel at full speed, Cate right behind me.
They would be alright.
Orion would be alright.
You will be alive.
You will be back in my arms again.