FINN
Alister took off his shirt, revealing the tattoo on his strong, tanned back, right between his shoulder blades: a head of a wolf with canines sticking out of its wide-open mouth.
“I could get you and Spencer a room, you know,” he said, hanging the shirt on the back of the chair. As he turned, I saw the mark on his arm just like mine: a ring with an arrow shot through.
“I could get us a room myself,” I barked back. “I just didn’t want Clare to be alone.” Since when does he care about me? “Wait a minute,” I chortled. “That’s exactly what you wanted, didn’t you? You wanted her to be alone.”
“Don’t be stupid. I’m only saying it was her decision to stay with Spencer, and not because I didn’t wish to pay for an extra room, that’s all. You know money means nothing to me.”
“I swear to God, Alister. If you show any disrespect to that woman . . .” I gazed at him.
“First of all,” he raised his index finger, “don’t threaten me. And second, you don’t know me at all, do you?” he smirked. “I would never force myself on any woman. I take it as a challenge to win their interest. Especially someone like Clare, who doesn’t seem to consider me a match for a young, interesting, sexy-as-hell woman like herself.”
“I can smell your lust for her, Alister,” I scoffed. “You know I’m a wolf too, right? So please, shut your dirty thoughts—”
“My thoughts are not dirty. Like I said, I respect her. It’s been a long while since a woman refused my charm, and I’m intrigued.” With a sly smile spread across his face, he headed to the bathroom.
He was right, I didn’t know him that well, and I didn’t know much about his private life. We were never close, never shared our relationship stories, or had a fun time together. We mostly met to discuss some business and had a drink a few times.
Yet we had this inexplicable connection, some kind of bond. It was like when brothers hated each other, but they were still brothers, and he was as an asshole of a big brother as one could be. But I was so fucking grateful to him for showing up at the last minute to save Spencer’s life that night.
After we both took a shower, we tried to get some sleep. But every time I closed my eyes, Eric’s face with his vicious glare popped in front of me. Was I jealous that he was Spencer’s mate instead of me? Of course I was. But that wasn’t my biggest concern. What worried me the most was the fact that he wouldn’t rest until he got her. Who knew what he was planning right now? If he managed to catch up with us before we get the scroll, he could put Spencer in grave danger.
It was nearly 2 a.m., and I was still awake, watching the headlights of cars passing by from time to time, illuminating the ceiling.
I glanced at Alister. He lay on his back, his eyes closed and breathing deep and even.
“At least you don’t snore,” I muttered, “you old piece of—”
“Gold?” Alister smirked.
“Oh, look, he’s awake,” I grumbled.
“It’s hard to fall asleep when someone is constantly shifting next to you. And I could literally feel your brain buzzing.”
I assumed that to someone who lived alone for that long, even my breathing would sound like thunder in the night’s silence.
“You know, I like that simile. Like gold. Eternal, cold, a piece of unfeeling metal.”
“Now, now.” He gave me a sideways look. “It can still melt under the right temperature.” He slid his legs down from the bed and sat up. “Finn,” he sighed, “you have trust issues. Why do you think I’m here?”
“You’re here because you want your freedom.” I sat up too. “Isn’t it obvious?”
“That’s one reason, yes. But I’m also here because I want justice. They did the same to me as they did to you. And just like you, I want vengeance. Also,” his eyes met mine as I gazed at him, “you and Spencer kinda look good together, and believe it or not, I want you to be happy.”
“Okay, stop it. Stop pretending that you give a shit about what happens to me.”
“Like I said,” Alister sighed again. “Trust issues.”
My phone buzzed on the nightstand. I picked it up and saw Liam’s name on the screen.
“This can’t be good,” I answered the call and put it on speaker. “What is it?”
“Well, I’m not sure,” said Liam. “We followed the cars, and when they reached Nashville, we thought that they were heading home. So we stopped in town to get something to eat, then after another hour's drive, we decided to stop at the closest motel to get some sleep. Then I thought if they were back in their pack, Eric would probably turn his phone on, and I thought I better check to make sure they stay put. A few minutes ago, I turned Spencer’s phone on, and guess what? They’re at a motel too. In Birmingham.”
Alister and I stared at each other.
“That’s not good,” I finally said. “That’s exactly what I was afraid of. He won’t stop looking.”
“There are two packs near Alabama. Marcus’s in Tallahassee and a small one in Georgia, which borders with South Carolina,” said Alister. “If they’re in Birmingham, then I doubt they’re going to Georgia.”
“This is so screwed up,” I stared at Alister. “Maybe it would be better if we waited a day or two before heading to Tallahassee.”
“I don’t know, man,” came James’s voice. “When Eric and his father visited Russell’s pack, the whole pack started searching their territory. We backed off and used Clare’s oil when we saw them sniffing their borders.”
“They did?”
“Yeah. Aaron must’ve alerted them. What if they do the same in Tallahassee? Then who knows how long you’ll have to wait until they get off the guard so you could sneak in.”
“We need to think this through. I’ll call you later.” I hung up and stared at Alister. “We only have until the next full moon. If the compass starts glowing, we’ll never be able to get close to the scroll. And even if we did, all those packs will start looking for Spencer and it would be a miracle if we get her to that Temple before they catch her.”
“Not just the packs.” Alister’s face darkened. “The covens too. The scroll is sealed with a spell and witches can remove it. That’s why witches weren’t allowed to have the scroll, and wolves were the ones to keep it safe.”
“Why haven’t they destroyed it if they didn’t want anyone to find the Temple?”
“The wolves and the witches fear that the heir can find her way to the Temple without the map. They need that map. The moment they find out that the heir exists, it would give them permission to open the scroll. Then together they will find the Temple and guard it day and night.”
“But Spencer tried to find the Temple and she couldn’t because they put a spell around that too. And what about the scroll? How are we going to break the spell?”
“Spencer and Clare are witches.” Alister shrugged. “I was hoping they’d figure it out. And you know what? Let’s get the scroll first.” He heaved a breath and laid down. “We need to get some sleep. In the morning we’ll fill them in, and together we’ll come up with something.”
He was right, there was nothing we could do right now.
**************
SPENCER
I was in my wolf form, in the dark woods, standing in the middle of a clearing. I could hear husky breathing coming from everywhere around me, then suddenly a dozen wolves came at me from behind the trees. I ran for what seemed like forever, and they kept chasing me. I kept running until I saw a cliff ahead of me, and there was another one across about thirty feet away. I didn’t stop, and when I reached the edge of the cliff, I leaped.
And that’s when I woke up. When I was still in mid-air.
I sat up and looked down at my sweaty chest, then I glanced at Mom. She was still asleep. Stripes of daylight fell into the room through the gaps between the curtains. I checked the time on my phone, it was only 6:33 a.m., but I decided to check on Finn just in case. Are you awake?
Yeah,I heard his reply in my head. And I’m glad you are too. Spencer, Liam called. We need to talk. I mean all of us.
Okay. I looked down at my sweaty tank top. But I have to take shower first. I’ll be quick.
* * *
“What is it?” I asked twenty minutes later when Finn and Alister walked into the room. “What did Liam say?”
“That Eric guy . . . It seems he figured out that we played him.”
“If he knows, he’ll probably go back to your house,” said Mom.
“That’s the thing, he didn’t.”
“He probably just gave up,” I suggested.
“Spencer, I’ve told you already. No wolf would give up on his mate until he is rejected,” said Alister. “The thing is, after Eric and his father left Chicago, they didn’t go to Finn’s house, or back home. We think they’re on their way to Tallahassee.”
Mom and I stared at each other.
“There’s no way they could know what we were planning,” I finally said.
“I agree,” Finn nodded. “At first, we thought that we could wait a couple of days to see what happens next, but Liam said whatever Aaron and Russell talked about alarmed Russell, and his pack started searching the borders. If the same thing happens at Tallahassee—”
“I don’t think we can waste more time,” Mom got up from where she sat on the bed. “We should take off so we can get there before them.”
“I would say the same,” Alister pushed his hands in his pockets. “But we never agreed on any of our plans. Clare, yesterday you said you have an idea.”
“I do. And it’s very simple. Spencer and I will go in alone.”
“Too simple I would say, and not a very good one.”
“Don’t worry. We’ll use a cloaking spell. I would go alone if I knew I could find the scroll by myself. But I doubt that. That’s why I need Spencer. She’ll be drawn to the scroll and it would be much faster to find the place where it’s hidden.”
“If I’m the one who can find it then maybe I should go al—”
“Don’t even think about it,” Finn interrupted me.
“I won’t let you go there alone, Spencer. Trust me, I know what I’m doing,” Mom said decidedly, not giving us a chance to argue. “We should leave now.”
“Can I at least get something to eat?” I asked, pressing my hands to my empty stomach. “I’m starving.”
“I’ll go grab something from downstairs.” Finn headed to the door. “Wait for me next to the car.”
I was already in the car when Finn came out of the inn. As I watched him walk, I remembered the day I met him. It brought a smile to my face. The handsome stranger who came to my rescueand then told me I was a werewolf.
It wasn’t that long ago, but I was already missing those days. The days when no one was after me. I wished me and him could have had more of those. We could’ve had so much fun.
It’s okay. Just get that damn scroll, find the Temple, collect your powers, and you can have all the time with him you want. I sighed. If you’re still alive.
He stopped next to Alister’s car and gave Mom one of the two paper bags in his hand.
“Here.” He said as he got in the car and handed me the second bag. “I got us some sandwiches.”
“I need an appetizer first.” I smiled, and looking at his lips, drew closer to his face. “I missed you,” I murmured.
“I missed you too.” He put his hand under my chin, nudged it up and sank his lips onto mine.
When I pulled back, my look lingered on his grey eyes, but the next moment, I jumped at the loud sound of a car horn behind us. I glared at Alister through the back windshield.
Finn chuckled and started the engine. I pulled out a sandwich from the bag and took a large bite.
“Do I even need to say how much I don’t like Clare’s plan?” He said as we took off.
“Eat.” I took another sandwich and held it out for him.
“Spencer, I’m serious.”
But I kept chewing, my hand still in the air holding his sandwich. He took it, and for a few minutes, we ate in silence.
“You don’t need to worry,” I said, as I swallowed the last piece. “We can do this. Believe me, when my mom puts her mind to something, you can’t stop her. Besides, you heard her, she knows what she’s doing.”
“So I have to sit in the car and do nothing? Just wait and see if you come out of there or not. What if you get caught? Huh?” He tilted his head to look at me. “What should I do then?”
“Can you be more specific, come up with more horrifying versions?” I said indifferently. “Be more creative, ’cause this doesn’t scare me enough to get cold feet.”
Finn clenched his teeth. “Fine. But if you don’t come out in half an hour, I’m coming after you.”
“Half an hour,” I chortled. “That wouldn’t be enough even if Marcus stood on the front porch with the scroll on the silver platter ready to hand it over to me.” I took his hand and pressed it to my lips. “I know you’re worried, but I promise I’ll be okay.”
* * *
We crossed Tallahassee and without stopping anywhere, took the route leading us to the green hills.
I sat staring at the map in my lap, the one Alister printed for us in case we lost reception and the GPS stopped working. He marked all the important exits and turns, but he still kept calling to give instructions.
“Why wouldn’t you just drive first and lead the way?” I finally lost my patience.
“Because Clare wanted to have you in her view, and I obliged.”
“Oh for the love of God, Alister.” I glanced at Finn. “Let them pass.”
Finn turned on the blinker, and I threw the map on the back seat.
The closer we got to the pack’s territories, the narrower the road became. Two cars showed up behind us and Alister slowed down. As the cars passed, he took a turn to an unpaved exit and stopped the car between the trees.
“What’s he doing?” I asked as Finn followed him.
This wasn’t where we were planning to stop, and Finn looked surprised too.
“Let’s find out.” We got out of the car. “Alister, what’s going on?” Finn asked as Alister and Mom headed toward us.
“Those two cars that just drove by,” Alister frowned, “that was the Alpha of Georgia’s pack with his escort. And as far as we know, Aaron is heading here as well.”
“This can’t be good.” Finn’s jaw tightened.
“The pack’s border is only a few miles up this road. We can’t be seen here.” Alister narrowed his eyes, listening to something. “More cars are approaching.”
“Yeah, I hear them too,” Finn nodded.
“It could be Aaron. I want to make sure it’s him. If they look with their wolf eyes, they’d be able to see us all the way up here, and since Eric knows what you two look like, you better hide.”
“There’s no need for that.” I turned my back on them and faced the main road. “I can put up a veil.”
I put my hands before me and started chanting. When the air became slightly dense behind my palms, I knew the veil was up and no one could see us from the road, so I dropped my hands.
“Spencer, this is not enough,” Finn said quickly. “He might still catch your scent.”
Mom dashed to the car and hurried back to us with the essential oil in her hand. She uncorked the vial, and as she turned it over my cupped hand, the cars drove by.
I rubbed the oil between my hands and up my arms.
“Is that them?” Mom asked. She was the only one who couldn’t see the faces from where we stood.
Staring with my wolf eyes at the man behind the wheel through the open car window, I nodded.
“Yeah, it’s Eric.” Finn’s jaw clenched.
The cars vanished behind the trees, and just when I was about to remove the veil, we heard them stop. Finn and I stared at each other.
“Did they see us?” Finn asked.
“No,” Alister replied. “He caught her scent.” Mom was about to say something, but Alister pressed his index finger to his lips. “It’s too quiet now,” he whispered. “They could hear us.”
Eric showed up from behind the trees. Sniffing the air, he moved up and down the road, scanning the area.
“Eric,” called a man’s voice. “We need to go.”
“She’s here. I’m sure of it, Father.”
“Maybe she was. But not anymore. If she’s from Marcus’s pack, we will find her.”
Two more cars arrived, and they stopped as they reached Eric. The passenger door of the first car opened and a girl my age with short pink hair came out.
“Is there a problem, Eric?” she asked, moving toward him. “Did your car break down or something?”
“Skylar? What are you doing here? You’re not an heir.”
“You don’t ever miss a chance to remind me of that, do you?” She scowled at him. “Not that it’s your business, but I’m the head of the guard.”
“Since when?”
“Eric,” the man, who I now knew was his father, called again. “We’re late.”
“Still looking for her?” the girl scoffed. Then she turned on her heels and strode back to her car.
Eric glanced up the hill once again and hurried back too, looking disappointed.
None of us spoke until the cars drove away.
“Who the bloody hell was that?” Finn gazed at Alister.
“I assume that girl was Russell’s daughter. And Russell himself was right there, behind the wheel.”
“Russell? The Alpha of the Chicago pack?” I stopped my astonished look at Alister.
“That’s right.”
“What the hell is going on?” I glanced from one to another. “Why are they all here?”
“They’re gathering for a meeting,” Finn replied. “Alister, do you think they somehow found out about Spencer?”
“You think they’re here to figure out how to catch me?”
“They can’t know,” said Mom, nervously clutching the vial in her hands. “There’s no way they know that Spencer is . . . that the heir . . . exists.”
“No.” Deep in his thoughts, Alister shook his head. “I don’t think they know. This is something else.”
“We need to leave.” Mom looked at Alister. “Right? We can’t do it with all of them here. It’s too dangerous.”
“I’m sorry, Clare, but I have to disagree,” he replied.
He and Finn exchanged a meaningful glance.
“Are you thinking what I think you’re thinking?” said Finn.
Mom and I stared at them.
Alister’s lips twitched in a smile. “This is exactly what we needed.”
“The diversion,” Finn nodded. “Except we don’t have to set things on fire or blow something up. We just need to figure out where this meeting will take place.”
Alister went to his car and pulled out the map. He unfolded it on the hood, and we all gathered around.
“Let’s see.” His eyes moved from one roof to another. “This is the biggest roof.” He pointed his finger at the long red roof among the trees. “Which I think means this isn’t someone’s
house. This could be a school or a community building with libraries and meeting rooms for a big number of people. You know? Stuff like that.”
“What if this isn’t a large meeting like that?” I shrugged. “What if this meeting is for only alphas who are going to discuss something in a small room with drinks and cigars?”
“I don’t think so. First of all, they hate each other, and I doubt they do this cozy type of gathering. But even if it was an option, it doesn’t fit the circumstances. You heard what Eric said to that girl, didn’t you?”
“Yeah.” Finn narrowed his eyes. “He was surprised she was here because she wasn’t an heir. This means that the meeting isn’t only for alphas but also for the future alphas.”
“Exactly. And because of that small fact, I would bet it has something to do with some kind of rituals and some old traditions.”
“Let’s say you’re right,” I pursed my lips. “Four alphas and four heirs—”
“Three heirs,” corrected Alister. “Marcus’s son is too young for council meetings, or whatever it is.”
“Yeah.” Finn frowned. “He’s ten or twelve. Something like that. Which means he’s not of age yet.”
“How do you know about Marcus’s son?” Mom asked.
“I’ve been . . .” Finn's frown grew deeper. “His father killed my parents. Don’t you think I would . . . I’ve been keeping an eye on him and his pack, and I can tell he isn’t any better than Daryl.”
“Sorry,” Mom said quietly. “I was just curious.”
“And back to my question,” I cleared my throat, “let’s say those seven men will be doing . . . whatever they’re supposed to do in some building. What about the rest of the pack? They will all still be out there.”
“You saw how many wolves arrived with each alpha. And you heard that girl: they’re here for security reasons. And while those wolves will make sure their alphas are safe by watching every door and window of that building, Marcus’s pack’s guard would be watching them. Now, look at this.” Alister poked his finger into the roof with the letter A on it. “This is Marcus’s house. It stands aside from the center of the village, and it stands apart from nearby houses separated by trees.”
“You’re right,” I finally agreed. “Let’s do this. Though there is a chance that either his kid or his wife can still be home.”
“She wouldn’t be a problem,” said Mom. “We’ll be invisible. We’ll just need to be careful not to make too much noise. And even if we do, I’ll immobilize her before she could try—”
“That wouldn’t be enough, Clare,” Alister cut in. “Don’t forget, they can talk to each other through their minds.”
Mom looked at him with an ominous grin on her face. “Then I will gladly knock her out.”
Alister smirked. “Make it your first choice.”
I knew that look on Mom’s face too well. She wore it when we were in danger, and she needed to make hard decisions. It meant she would kill if she had to to keep me safe.
Alister folded the map. “We’ll drive you as close as we can, and you’ll go on foot from there.”