Page 34 of A Hunter Cursed
Instead of the sweet sound of her wolf’s voice, she heard Destin’s booming baritone. “We need you down on Bourbon Street. We have a situation.”
“What kind of situation?” Keegan asked eagerly. “Are the wolves there too? Is Jeremiah Durand there?” If something was going on and the pack was assisting, that would explain why he wasn’t able to answer his phone.
“We have more breaches,” was Destin’s gruff reply. “Cracked pavement, bubbling tar, just like you saw in your vision. I need you here helping with containment.”
Nodding, despite Destin being unable to see the gesture, Keegan flicked on her turn signal. “I’ll be right there.”
It wasn’t hard to find the spot. The area was cordoned off with police barriers, witches Keegan recognized instantly standing near police officers as they kept curious onlookers away. Ah, that was why Destin needed all hands on deck. He couldn’t have people asking questions and would need a one to one ratio with the officers, keeping them in an almost trance-like state. The police would do as the witches commanded and keep the tourists at bay with whatever cover story they’d come up with, while Destin, and most likely the angel, attempted to close the breaches.
What Keegan didn’t see, as she quickly limped past one of the barriers with a nod to the witch stationed there, were any of Jeremiah’s pack. No, wait. About a block down, she thought she caught a glimpse of the pack alpha, Archer Langley, his arm extended as he said something to someone she couldn’t see. Jeremiah was surely here as well, she told herself with some relief. She just couldn’t see him at the moment, that was all. As soon as things were contained here, she’d find him.
Spotting Destin, she noted he’d shed his typical three-piece suit in favor of loose linen pants and a light-weight tunic, a sure sign that the leader of the Order of Witches was preparing for battle. Heading his way, Keegan saw his head pop up as if he had sensed her proximity and his eyes narrowed as he took in her uneven gait. “Are you injured?” he asked as soon as she was close enough so he didn’t have to yell.
“I fell out of the shower.”
She was about to elaborate, tell him of the vision she’d seen, but Cam interrupted just then. “Three more breaches just opened, I can feel them,” the angel said with a grimace and a shake of his head. “Every time I close one, more cracks appear.”
“What can I do?” Keegan asked.
Those vivid silver eyes met hers. “Keep people away. I haven’t sensed a Smudge coming through, but with each crack, a new opportunity arises.”
Destin pointed toward one of the busier barriers where curious tourists were rubbernecking and taking pictures with their phones. “Help Luis maintain the calm. He’ll fill you in.”
With a nod, Keegan headed over to the spot, her head on a swivel as she searched for any sign of Jeremiah.
Chapter Nineteen
It was another two and a half hours before the angel called the all-clear. Thanks to some magical mental manipulation, the officers as well as the tourists were under the impression that there had been a credible bomb threat to explain why the area had been evacuated. Apparently, such a dire circumstance didn’t scare the tourists, however. As soon as the barriers were removed, pedestrians once more flooded back in, chattering happily, seemingly unconcerned after learning the threat of an explosion was no longer an issue.
Personally, Keegan wanted to collapse. Her body ached so badly it was a chore just to stay upright, but she still had to find Jeremiah. Heading to where she’d last seen the pack alpha, she didn’t bother with pleasantries as she drew abreast of him. “Is Jeremiah here?”
Archer Langley shook his head. “I was already in the city when the shit-show started. As far as I know, Jeremiah’s home. Have you tried calling him?”
Oh, God,Keegan thought as she closed her eyes. He wasn’t here. She’d assumed, just because Archer was on-site that Jeremiah would be here as well. That horrific vision of him surged to the forefront of her brain once more. It had been hours. What if she was now too late?
“Hey, hey, hey,” Archer said, cutting into her frantic thoughts. “Are you okay? Do you need to sit down? You’re as white as a sheet.”
Was she? It didn’t matter. Nothing mattered but finding Jeremiah and stopping whatever was coming. Shaking her head, she began to back away. She needed to get to her car and get to pack territory in the bayou. “He’s in danger,” she told the alpha, her voice breaking on the words, her eyes pleading. “I need to get to him.”
Archer snapped to attention, his eyes lightening to the pale color of his wolf as he snarled, “Jeremiah’s in danger?”
“I saw it,” she said, her head still moving back and forth as she picked up the pace, the alpha easily keeping up with her painfully limping stride.
“What did you see?”
She didn’t have time to explain just continued to shake her head. “I need to get to him.”
Grimacing, Archer nodded sharply. “I’ll meet you there.”
They arrived on pack lands in what Keegan could only assume was record time. She’d followed Archer, and the pack alpha showed he had no tolerance for speed limits when it came to the health and well-being of his pack, a fact which she greatly appreciated.
They both jumped out of their vehicles as soon as they’d stopped, and Archer extended his arm, pointing with great relief. “His rig is here, so that’s a good sign.”
It was, but until Keegan saw Jeremiah with her own eyes, she couldn’t relax. As if he’d read her mind, or perhaps it had simply shown clearly on her face, Archer added, “We’ll check his place first.”
Keegan nodded and fell into step beside the alpha. Unfortunately, her bruised and injured body couldn’t keep up with his long-legged stride. Cursing the injury, and nearly breathless with the pain, she gasped out, “Go. Check on him, please. I’ll be right behind you.”
To her surprise, Archer turned with a grunt, and before she could protest, scooped her up into his arms. “Before you chew my ass out for acting like a Neanderthal,” Archer practically growled as he set off in a smooth jog, effortlessly supporting her weight. “The sooner we get there, the sooner you can get off that leg that’s bothering you.”
