Chapter 14 #3
Heat surged unwillingly into my cheeks, embarrassment mingling keenly with irritation. I reached quickly for the clothes, refusing to meet his eyes. “Thanks,” I muttered, the word feeling rough and awkward on my tongue.
His voice was gentler now. “The back room’s private enough if you want to change there.”
I nodded once, quickly moving past him without another word.
Once inside the cramped, softly lit space, I stripped out of my oversized jacket, pulling on the clean clothes Jamie had given me.
There were plain jeans, worn but comfortable, and a faded, loose-fitting shirt.
The soft, familiar feel of clothing against my skin calmed me slightly, reinforcing the mental wall I desperately needed.
I was an assassin, an operative of the Watch, not a helpless, blushing naked girl.
From the other side of the thin wall, I heard Magnus’s voice, calm and composed. “All right, then. What exactly are we dealing with here? An Elder Lycan isn’t exactly something you find in your average beastie compendium.”
Edward answered with confidence. “According to Sera, the Elder Lycan is stronger, faster, smarter, and capable of turning humans and wolves alike into lycans with a single bite. The ones he turns don’t live long—three to five years at most. Apparently, that’s the only reason he hasn’t amassed a permanent army just yet. ”
There was a heavy silence as the rest of the pack absorbed the grim information. Callum spoke up quietly, concern clear in his voice. “And Declan might’ve been bitten?”
Aidan answered, the pain in his voice unmistakable. “It’s possible. The bastard grabbed him and dragged him away before I could get close enough to stop him.”
Killian swore under his breath, the soft clink of metal indicating he was already gearing up. “Then we better move quick. Sera said we have less than twenty-four hours, right? Bloody tight window if Declan’s bitten.”
Thorne’s calm detached voice cut through sharply. “And this Elder Lycan—he retains his intelligence?”
“Yes,” Logan confirmed. “That makes him exponentially more dangerous. He’s not just a mindless beast.”
Magnus hummed thoughtfully, the quiet sound of his customary Irish melody briefly filling the silence. “An intelligent, mutant lycan capable of creating more of his own kind. Can’t say I love our odds here, lads.”
“We’ve faced worse,” Tobias muttered darkly, clearly not intimidated.
“Aye,” Jamie agreed dryly, “but have we?”
Finished changing, I stepped out into the main room, immediately drawing the attention of every wolf present. Their eyes lingered, curious, wary, and watchful, but I refused to show discomfort, lifting my chin as boldly as I dared.
Logan broke the awkward silence first, clearing his throat. “So this Elder Lycan—anything else we need to know, Sera? Weaknesses, patterns, anything you’ve held back?”
I hesitated, wary of divulging too much information, but ultimately resigned myself. If we were going to have any chance at stopping this thing, I couldn’t afford half-measures. “He’s highly intelligent, as I already told you. He learns and adapts.”
Magnus nodded slowly, clearly processing. “We have to be careful. A cornered predator fights hardest.”
Edward stepped forward. “Then let’s move quickly. Gather weapons, gear, everything we’ll need to take this thing down.”
Jamie flashed me a small, reassuring smile. “You ready for this, lass? Might get messy.”
I crossed my arms tightly, glaring back at him. “I’m always ready. Just keep up.” With my body still aching and sore from what these wolves had done to me, I secretly hoped I could back up my brash words with my forthcoming actions. A surge of resentment raised bile into my throat. The bastards.
Killian laughed softly, eyes glittering with mischief. “Feisty. I like her already.”
Logan sighed, shooting Killian an exasperated look before turning back to me, concern evident behind his steely gaze. “Stay close to us, Sera. Whatever happens out there—you’re one of ours now, whether you admit it or not. We’ll keep you safe.”
I met his intense stare head-on, refusing to show even a hint of weakness. “I don’t need your protection.”
Even as I said the words, a faint, traitorous whisper stirred within me, silently acknowledging the fragile bond I’d unwittingly formed with these wolves. It was dangerous, maybe even deadly, to feel anything but cold, detached calculation toward them.
The wolves moved efficiently as they armed themselves.
Blades and weapons exchanged hands in quiet movements; knives, pistols, even crossbows, as well as plenty of flashlights.
I watched warily, noting each subtle shift of posture and expression.
They operated like a well-oiled machine, each member fully aware of their role, and ultimately, their place within this strange, tight-knit family.
“Take this,” Edward murmured, handing me a sleek knife with a perfectly balanced handle. His eyes met mine briefly, as calm and collected as ever. “You’ll need it.”
I hesitated, feeling the cool weight settle into my palm. Part of me was grateful to hold a weapon again; part of me bristled at accepting anything from these wolves. Still, practicality won out. “Thanks,” I muttered tersely. I wanted my own weapons back in my hands and strapped to my body.
Edward nodded slightly, returning to his preparations without further comment. Around me, quiet banter passed between them, lighthearted on the surface, but masking deeper trepidation.
Magnus hummed absently as he holstered his weapon, the traditional melody oddly soothing even in its melancholy tones. “So, our assassin lass, she seems plenty dangerous,” he drawled casually, casting a glance my way. “How’d you lads manage to get close enough without losing a limb or two?”
Killian snorted softly, shooting me a wicked grin. “Pure luck, I’d wager.”
Jamie chuckled dryly, pulling his hair back with practiced ease, tying it neatly at his nape. “Luck and stubbornness. Aidan bears the bite of a bear trap she set, Declan took her blade to the belly, and she nearly took Logan’s head off with her knife before she finally surrendered.”
Zara smirked, tilting her head thoughtfully toward Logan. “You letting humans get the drop on you now, big brother? Slipping in your old age?”
Logan sighed, clearly accustomed to his sister’s teasing. “She’s not exactly your average human, Zara.”
Zara’s gaze flicked back to me, a mixture of curiosity and respect behind her thoughtful eyes.
I met her stare evenly, unwilling to show even the smallest hint of weakness.
She nodded briefly, a silent acknowledgment passing between us.
We weren’t friends, not by a long shot, but there was a faint trace of understanding there that unsettled me.
Thorne methodically sharpened his blade, his movements precise and almost meditative. “Interesting choice, aligning yourself with the very wolves you were tasked to eliminate. I suppose desperation makes strange bedfellows.”
I bristled instantly, my jaw tightening rigidly. “I’m not aligned with anyone. We’re temporarily cooperating, nothing more. The moment this Elder Lycan is dealt with, things will change.”
Thorne raised an eyebrow, studying me with quiet intensity. “We’ll see,” he murmured, returning his attention to the blade.
Logan shifted closer, his voice calm but firm. “We’re wasting time. Everyone set?”
Tobias stepped forward, his brooding presence intense and authoritative. “Ready. Let’s move.”
We filed swiftly from the pub, spilling out into the city streets in tense formation. I fell into step alongside Aidan and Jamie, my knife still held tightly at my side. My heart hammered with cautious anticipation, nerves wound tight beneath my carefully maintained mask.
“Tell me about Declan,” Magnus asked quietly as we moved. “You lads seem close.”
Aidan sighed heavily, clearly struggling beneath his stoic facade.
“Declan’s more than just a member of my pack to me.
He’s family. He was human first. He got turned in the worst possible way.
We lost people we loved deeply, our women.
We were… they were… everything.” His voice grew quieter, heavy with shared grief.
“We pulled each other back from the edge.”
Killian’s normally mischievous expression softened into something solemn. “Then we’ll get him back. No matter what.”
Callum spoke quietly, optimism clear in his voice. “We’re strongest together. Always have been, always will be.”
Tobias shot his younger brother a look, though the ghost of a smile flickered briefly across his tense features. “We’ll get him back.”
Thorne nodded silently, determination etched firmly into every serious line of his face.
Jamie glanced at me, lips curling slightly into his usual irreverent smirk. “Seems we’re growing on you a bit, lass. Admit it.”
I scowled back at him, schooling what must have been a sympathetic expression on my face. Irritation flared immediately beneath my skin. “Don’t flatter yourself. I’m here out of necessity, not choice.”
“Sure,” Jamie drawled, his voice full of teasing skepticism. “You keep telling yourself that.”
Edward glanced sideways at Jamie, amusement briefly flashing in his eyes before returning to quiet vigilance. Logan sighed, long-suffering patience evident. Zara laughed softly, shaking her head at her brother’s barely contained irritation.
“Careful, Jamie,” Zara said lightly. “She might decide to stab you in the back just to prove her point.”
Killian chuckled, clearly entertained. “Wouldn’t blame her a bit.”
My mouth twitched despite my best efforts to remain unaffected.
Damn them all for being so irritatingly likable.
“Quiet,” Tobias growled suddenly, his body stiffening warily. “We’re close.”
Instantly, the casual banter faded, tension snapping tight as we moved cautiously forward. Ahead, the dark silhouette of an old warehouse loomed against the moonlit sky, ominous and silent.
Aidan stepped carefully toward the place, clearly disturbed. “This is where he took him.” He spoke with sudden assurance.
Logan crouched down, studying tracks faintly visible in the dirt. “They moved fast. Dragged Declan south, toward the warehouses, just like you said.”
Edward stepped forward, eyes scanning carefully. “We move slowly from here. The Elder Lycan might have anticipated pursuit.”
My grip tightened involuntarily on the knife Edward had handed me, adrenaline surging through my veins.
We were closing in on a terrifying threat.
I reminded myself sternly who these wolves were, who I was.
Yet, as I watched Logan, Edward, Jamie, and Aidan prepare themselves for the danger facing us, I couldn’t quite silence the treacherous whisper that refused to fade away completely.
Maybe—just maybe—I didn’t want to lose them just yet.