Chapter 16 LEENA
LEENA
The sort of rage that builds up in me isn't the type I'm used to. I look around desperately for something to let out my anger.
The only thing that's in my vicinity is the desk, so I smash my fist against it. Thankfully, the sturdy wood doesn't get obliterated by the force. This almost makes me want to smash my fist into the desk again.
“They're pure evil,” I growl. I feel terrible because it seems like I'm angry now that I've been personally affected.
“If they're close enough to Tom, they're close enough to us,” Grant says, keeping his eyes on the desk. “We need to do something.”
“Let's find them and rip their throats out.”
He lifts an eyebrow. “What about murder?”
“I've always seen people as people,” I reply, “but these hunters, they're not even people anymore. Three calls in such a short time because they don't want to leave our kind alone. Tom showed me the sort of kindness I can't repay, and they attacked him?”
Grant gives me a soft look. “I'm sorry,” he says. “Tom should not have been in harm's way. No one should be, and I'm going to do something about it.”
He gets up and picks up the phone, quickly typing on it. I hear the sound of his fingers on the screen and wait for some sort of info.
Once he's done with the message, he sends it and places the text in front of me.
“You want to have a meeting?” I inquire. “Who did you send this to?”
“There are some shifters I let live on this land,” Grant explains. I vaguely remember him talking about some other shifters around. “They need to know that hunters are very close, and we'll need to form some sort of strategy.”
I slowly nod. “Okay. When is the meeting going to happen?”
“Tonight.”
I've been angry all day, and this night is really no different. As Grant's car pulls up to the meeting spot, I stare at the numerous people waiting for us.
In total, there are seven shifters—three guys and four girls. They all stand close to a couple of vehicles with their lights on.
It feels like we're in the middle of nowhere, but Grant and I only drove about twenty minutes from the pack house. “Is this a good idea?” I ask, almost wearily.
“What do you mean?”
“Meeting these people like this,” I respond. “Isn't it dangerous? It's just the two of us, and there's seven of them.”
“We're on the same side,” he explains. “Besides, if they wanted to take us on, they're still a couple of men short.”
The alpha's words give me the reassurance I need to step out of the vehicle, while he does the same thing. Grant moves slowly and with purpose, so I match his steps.
The shifters get up as well, walking to meet us. This feels like an old Western where we're supposed to confront a bunch of outlaws.
“Thank you for coming, Luther,” Grant says when we're close enough. He offers a hand, and the man takes it without hesitancy.
“Of course,” Luther responds. “I could see the urgency in your message. Are these threats as close as you say?”
“You're on IronFang's land right now because you know just how dangerous the hunters can be. We can't sit around and wait to be attacked.”
I listen to the interaction closely, knowing it's not my place to talk yet as the two alphas discuss. While they talk, I feel eyes on me from one of the other shifters. When I turn to face him, he doesn't back down one bit, smiling at me instead.
Grant seems to notice this and snakes his arm around me, pulling me close to him. The sense of safety I feel at this moment cannot be measured.
Grant's hand against the skin of my back, just under my shirt almost drives me crazy. I have to force myself to focus while he keeps talking.
Still, I get mixed feelings from him being so close to me. Is Grant trying to be possessive because of jealousy? Everything I've seen is supposed to assure me that he may feel more, but can I truly trust that?
The last thing I want to do is overstep and think that I'm more important than I actually am. That would be the end for me. I keep my eyes locked on the floor while the discussion continues.
Luther suddenly stops. “Would you like to eat with us?”
One of the female shifters goes into the car and appears with a small animal that has been skewered and roasted.
The sight of it makes my mouth water already and I can tell that this is a great offering to give to Grant. It almost makes me feel bad that we didn't bring anything.
“This is such a great gift,” Grant says, echoing my thoughts. “We didn't prepare for this or bring you anything.”
“You don't need to,” the female shifter says. The way she smiles annoys me too much. Her eyes don't even look in my direction while they lock on Grant. “You've given us a new home and that's worth more than any gift we can offer you.”
She gets even closer, offering the animal to Grant. He moves his hand away from me and I instantly feel like I've been hit with a jolt of cold air.
Grant picks up the animal, but the rich aroma is the last of my problems. I watch in horror as the shifter's hands graze my alpha's.
“Get away from him,” I snarl, turning my eyes—ready to attack.
The shifter hisses as well at the sudden aggression. Luther and Grant step forward, cutting both of us off. “Easy,” Grant says, turning my way. “Look at me.”
I obey the instructions, finding myself lost in his eyes. My senses slowly begin to come back within reach. “I'm sorry,” I apologize. “I don't know what came over me.”
“It's fine.”
“No, it's not,” I sigh. “You don't have to pretend it is. I can't control myself, even after all the help you've offered. I think I'm just going to take a walk so I can clear my head.”
“Alright,” he says. “It's been a crazy day, and with what you heard about Tom, I can't blame you for being on edge. I'll be right here with the pack so try not to stray too far. I'll find you once the meeting is done.”
I nod before turning around and walking back in the direction of the car. “We're sorry about that, Grant,” I hear Luther saying as I walk away. “There's no excuse to disrespect your mate like that.”
I'm not sure what he means by that since Grant isn't my mate, but it's nice to hear that I'm regarded pretty highly.
That means the female shifter that had tried to get a little too handsy is going to get some sort of punishment and that's fine by me.
I move towards the woods just across the road. The darkness that envelopes me on every side acts like a companion on my solo trip. I sigh, trying not to cringe from my embarrassing outburst.
There was really no need for it because it's not like Grant even noticed the shifter that was trying to flirt with him.
However, I noticed enough to get pissed. Now, I've embarrassed myself in front of other shifters. The fact that I'm new to this keeps showing and I'm honestly tired of it.
The cool wind of the night guides me through the forest as I continue this short excursion. I have no clue where I'm going, but I try not to stray too far.
We're still on IronFang's land, just not the area where we live. All of the woods around me are technically safe places that I can explore without fear.
The moon beams down, definitely not at its full strength. Still, I'm pretty sure Grant would urge me to turn if he was here right now. That's still something I'm afraid of and I've been trying to avoid.
The alpha isn't as pushy as he once was, but the need for me to transform still lingers unsaid in the air every time we're together.
Suddenly, I catch a faint whiff of something unpleasant in the air. It's distinct and feels very unnatural. It's also a scent I've smelled before, even though it's not often.
Gunpowder.
My senses go on high alert in an instant. I look around me for any signs of a person, but hear nothing other than the crickets trying to warm themselves on this cool night.
The smell lingers, though, like a strand of hair just at the top of my nose. It tickles me and pulls me further into the forest.
Is there a hunter close by?
Just the mere notion makes my blood boil again. I'm not going to let an attack happen in my new home. Definitely not on my watch.
I do my best to try to trace the smell. My senses aren't the most accurate, even though I'm trying my best to make sure I don't lose the scent.
The gunpowder seems to get stronger and then almost disappear. The alternating smell nearly drives me crazy, but I'm determined to stop this threat before it becomes a big problem.
I keep running, forgetting where I've come from and only focusing on the direction I'm going. Whatever this scent is, it's moving and it's fast. I keep rushing with all the speed that I'm able to muster.
Suddenly, I hear heavy steps behind me, traveling way faster than I am. They make me panic, but the closer they get, the more the scent of gunpowder becomes a memory.
Soon, I am consumed by Grant's scent as he closes the gap between us with lightning speed.
He appears in the woods right next to me, panting because of the distance he had to cover to find me just now.
“What were you thinking?” he growls, loudly. There's no trace of a good mood on Grant's face.
“I just—”
“Do you know how far you've run?” he asks. Grant isn't yelling at me, but his cool voice still carries enough weight to tell me I've fucked up. “I told you to stay close and not wander around like that. It isn't safe.”
“I'm sorry, but I caught a whiff of something,” I explain.
“What is it?”
“Gunpowder,” I reply.
His eyes widen. “Gunpowder?”
“Yes, but I can't smell it anymore.” I'm pretty sure it's because Grant is so close to me. When he sniffs the air, I can tell he doesn't smell it either.
“There's nothing here,” he tells me. “Even if there is, you've left the IronFang's land and entered unfamiliar territory. Anything or anyone could be here right now. This is far too dangerous, Leena.”
“I'm sorry,” I sigh. “I thought I picked up the scent of a hunter, so I wanted to actually do something about it.”
“And what is that exactly? Get yourself killed?”
His words bring a deep frown to my face. “Why do you think I wouldn't be able to fight?” I ask. “I could take on a hunter. In fact, I want to.”
“No, you can't,” he corrects with no room for argument. Grant sighs, rubbing the sides of his face. “Leena, you're a new shifter. I know your wolf side is wild and aggressive, but that's not enough to stop a hunter. These people know how to kill our kind. It's all they're trained to do.”
“So you think you have a better chance because you were born with your wolf side?” I ask, trying not to growl or let my anger show.
Surprisingly, Grant's expression turns soft.
“I know you're hurt because a hunter attacked Tom.
I would be too if the hunters attacked people close to me, and that's the exact thing I'm trying to avoid.
Running off on your own isn't going to help, especially when you sense danger.
That's when we should stick together the most, okay?”
I sigh, but eventually nod my head in response. “Okay. I'm sorry I ran off like that.”
“It's okay,” he responds.
“Looks like I've done a lot of apologizing tonight…”
Grant chuckles before reaching for my hand. All the bad feelings that have been swirling in my head evaporate as soon as our hands touch. I look at them, then at his face to see all his care for me on full display.
“Come on, it's time for us to head back. I think we've had enough excitement for the day, haven't we?”
I respond with a nod. “We definitely have.”