Chapter Fourteen
Joanna
It was the early hours of the morning. The sun had yet to rise, and the Moon was still a beacon of light in the sky. We were in the forest surrounding Cedar Grove—me, Grace, Robert, and the rest of their pack.
Marcus, Maya, and Jerome had left to scout ahead as planned. So, the rest of us stayed back and waited for their signal.
“Do you think your friends will show up?” Grace asked, stretching against the trunk of a tree.
“They’ll be here,” I replied, as I made sure my GPS tracker was still on. “James can be a hard ass, but he’s reliable. And the others will follow if he tells them to.”
Robert checked his pocket watch, his pale face ghostly in the moonlight. “Sunrise is in two hours. We need to be in position by then.”
There wasn’t much we could do but wait for Marcus’s signal. I nodded, surveying the surrounding forest. The trees stood thick, their leaves whispering in the gentle breeze. The rich scent of wet earth calmed me.
“Marcus won’t send for us until he knows for sure that it’s safe.” Grace pushed herself off the tree and gestured to the shapeshifters. “Especially since a quarter of them are not fighters.”
As we waited, tension seeped from the shapeshifters’ pores. This wasn’t just another mission for them; they were fighting for their home. As long as Thomas was alive, they weren’t safe.
Grace must have sensed my thoughts, because she turned to me with her eyes steady. “You know, none of us agree with what Thomas and the others are saying? We believe in coexisting with humans, not ruling over them.”
Robert nodded in agreement, crossing his arms over his chest. “Marcus is a fair alpha. He listens to us and respects our opinions. He’s not the type to want power for the sake of power.
Every decision he’s made is what’s best for the pack.
That has to be why he hasn’t found a mate yet. He hasn’t had the time.”
A young werewolf with blond hair and nervous eyes stepped forward, wringing his hands together.
“Thomas and the others… they were wrong. Marcus promised us you were an ally. And while one of us—an elder I respected… killed his friends… you protected me, my little sister, and everyone we care about in the Den.”
Grace placed a reassuring hand on the blond’s shoulder. “This is Peter,” she introduced, her breath visible in the crisp morning air. “He and his sister are two of our newer members.”
Peter’s hands clenched into fists. “I know I’m young, but I’m here to prove myself to you, my sister… and to our alpha. I’ll fight for what’s right.”
I nodded at Peter, offering him a small smile. “You’ve already proven yourself by being here… And I agree with you guys. Marcus is a good leader. He cares about the pack, but the fact that he teamed up with me proves he cares about doing what’s right.”
Grace smiled, looking out into the forest. “He cares about you too, Joanna. I’ve never seen him like this with anyone.”
I felt a blush rise to my cheeks.
Before I could downplay Grace’s comment, she and Robert froze as if listening to a silent command.
Robert confirmed my suspicions. “We move out now. Everyone, stay close. We can’t afford to lose Alpha’s wolf bond, so we don’t stop until the next checkpoint.”
We were shadows slipping through the trees, moving silently in the forest. Our senses were at their peak. And as we neared the checkpoint, the werewolves grew tense.
I soon realized why.
I let out a breath of relief at the sight of the hunters. James, Rebecca, Jeffrey, Malik, and a large group of others I didn’t recognize. They were geared up, sharpening their blades. At the sight of the shapeshifters, they all seemed to hold their breaths.
James nodded at me as we approached. “Joey,” he greeted. “Any sign of them?”
“Marcus and the others are scouting ahead as planned,” I said. “We wait here for the final update.”
Malik smirked at me, his eyes raking over my body. “Looking good, Little Red.”
I ignored him, turning to the hunters who spread out across the clearing. “I can’t thank you enough for being here. With your help, I know we can end this quickly.”
“I know what I’m seeing, James, but I’m not sure yet if I believe it.” A man who looked to be around James’s age sauntered forward, spinning his silver chain whip with exceptional control. “Your favorite protégé, standing among the beasts as if she shovels their shit?”
A few of the werewolves growled from behind me, so I held out my hand to stop any of them from advancing.
“With all due respect, sir. You don’t know me or what I’m capable of. So, as James’s favorite protégé, I advise you to watch your fucking mouth.”
“Joanna—”
“I love you, old man, but unless you’re about to check your friend over there, choose your next words carefully.”
James lowered his head, disappointment blanketing his face. “Forgive her, Greg. It seems they’ve even corrupted her decency. She used to be respectful to her elders.”
“Only when they deserve it, James,” I corrected, staring dead at Greg. “The others can kiss my black ass.”
I didn’t move as Greg stormed toward me, but as his chain shot out, a body jumped in front of me.
Robert cursed as the silver chain wrapped around his pale arm. He pulled with all his strength, the whip flying from Greg’s hand. I watched in horror as Robert’s skin sizzled.
“Stay back,” he ordered his pack. “Do not attack the humans.”
That certainly didn’t apply to me.
I’d already aimed my knife at Greg’s balls. I was about to throw it when Grace’s panicked voice snapped me back to my senses.
The werewolves couldn’t help Robert.
I worked quickly, my hands freeing Robert from the chain. As the whip slid to the ground, Robert dropped to his knees in pain, his pale arm now a disturbing red. Angry blisters bulged from his charred skin.
“What the hell, Robert?” I whispered lowly as I crouched down to his level. “Why the hell would you do that? I would’ve never asked you to do that.”
Robert looked up with a small smile. “I’m a warrior who serves Marcus Blackwood, Miss Joanna. And any woman claimed by my alpha is under my protection, unless he says otherwise.”
Shit.
I instantly regretted asking him the question. For as soon as those words left his lips, a few of the hunters gasped.
“What did he just say?” Malik questioned with amusement in his eyes.
“Joanna?” James said with a forced calmness. I rose and met his gaze with the same unyielding conviction. But I didn’t say a word.
“Oh. My. God.” Malik threw his head back with laughter. “I knew it.” He stopped laughing and gave three slow, deliberate claps. “Joanna Sullivan, everyone. The hunter who’s fucking the alpha.”
The words hung in the air. Hunters stared at me, shock etched onto their faces. I could feel the weight of their gaze, their judgment burning into my skin. Behind me, the werewolves stiffened, ready to defend me if needed.
I stood my ground, refusing to cower or shy away from the truth. I was a hunter, sworn to protect humanity from the very creatures I now stood beside—that I now cared for. And I was not ashamed… I couldn’t be…
James stepped forward. “Joey, tell me it’s not true. Or if it is true… tell me you’re using him. That you haven’t developed feelings for these… these things.”
I met his gaze, my expression steady. “I’ve never lied to you, James. I won’t start now.”
Malik scoffed, crossing his arms. “You’ve really lost your fucking mind. Next, we’ll be hearing that he offered her the Bite.”
I spun around to face him, my eyes flashing with anger. “Don’t you ever shut the hell up?”
Malik sneered. “They’re monsters, Joey. They always have been, and they always will be. So, please know that if you ever show up with yellow eyes and fur down your back—”
James held up a hand, silencing him before he could finish his threat. “I don’t even know who you are right now, Joanna. You’re different… And your sister would be so disappointed in you.”
I staggered back as if James had physically struck me. His words cut deep, the mention of Latoya sending a wave of pain that crashed over me. I could almost see her face, her eyes filled with betrayal. The thought made my stomach churn, my breath hitching in my throat.
“James,” I pleaded. I brushed away a tear with the back of my hand. “That’s the second time you’ve bastardized my sister’s memory. There won’t be a third.”
James looked at me, his nostrils flaring. “And that’s the second time you’ve threatened me, Joanna. Your friend.” He shook his head. “And there will not be a third.”
He looked around at the hunters before his piercing gaze landed back on me. “I can’t fight alongside creatures I don’t trust. Werewolves… or humans.” He faced the hunters once again. “You all are welcome to stay and fight if you are compelled to… But God be with you if you do.”
With that, James walked past me without so much as a nod of goodbye. Hunters in the clearing followed behind him, their hands on their weapons. But the werewolves stood still and let them pass, Robert’s command still ringing in their ears.
When the shuffling finally stopped, I looked up to see what damage had been done. Glancing around, I realized only a third of the hunters had stayed. I nodded at them, grateful for their support, but when my eyes landed on Malik, I gasped.
He stepped forward. “Yes, I’m staying. Someone’s got to make sure you don’t fuck this up even more.”
A few more hunters approached, their expressions resolute. Rebecca was among them, her eyes meeting mine with a nod of support. Jeffery had left with James.
Just as I was about to express my gratitude, Robert rushed to my side, cradling his arm. “Thomas isn’t alone.”
Grace stood beside us. “So, it’s not a capture mission. It’s a mission to end this shit once and for all.”
Adrenaline surged through me, making my heart pound. “That’s it, then. We move now.”
Grace and Robert sprang into action, rallying the werewolves with quick, efficient orders. The remaining hunters readied their weapons, their faces set with courage.
Malik stepped up beside me, a wicked sword in each hand. “Let’s do this, Little Red.”