Page 95 of Blood and Magic
“We’ll resume operations.” Kodiak sat and looked at Orion, giving him the go-ahead to read off the run schedule. The veep went through the upcoming trades and planned visits from our brother clubs.
“Lore went back to Virginia,” Orion said. “But he’ll be our envoy from the Steel Roses from here on out.”
“Do we think he’ll talk?” Larentia asked.
“No,” Orion said. “He knows what will happen if he does. He’s still processing everything he saw.”
“What about our friends from the other chapters?” Poe added.
“We’re good,” Orion continued. “Everyone runs a tight ship. And you know what they say about loose lips.”
“There’s one more thing,” Larentia added, leaning forward on the table to rest her elbows on the wood. “Before she left, Marta warned us about some strange reports the witches have been getting from the Canadian border.”
This piqued my interest.
“She says there’s a big pack moving closer to our territory,” Larentia explained.
“Is it Zion?” Kodiak asked.
“She wasn’t sure, and the Harlots risked enough by sending her out here. They’ve got their own shit to deal with and can’t spare the extra eyes.”
We weren’t the only shifter pack in North America, nor were we the only ones of our kind. There were others out there, ones that could change form at will, that weren’t enthralled to the moon. But we were the biggest, except for our neighbors to the north. In Calgary, Alberta, a pack of other moon shifters had been forming for years, led by a bear named Zion. He’d once been a member of the Helena pack, a patched and blooded Bastard. But after our former alpha, Kerrick, went rabid and died, Zion had disappeared. We later learned he’d started his own pack, one that only took in predator animals—wolves, wild cats, bears, and the like.
This, by itself, wasn’t unusual. It happened anytime a new alpha was born and grew strong enough to lead on its own. One day, it would happen with Kai, and as long as he remained amicable with Kodiak, there was no reason for us to treat him any differently than we did now. We could go on as allies and friends.
But Zion hadn’t been born an alpha, and he had no right to go MIA. It should have been enough for us to take off after him and deal our personal brand of justice. But Kodiak had forbidden it. We had our hands full with the Vanderbilts and the Scorpions, and chasing after a deserter hadn’t been high on our list of security risks.
Until now.
“Mill.” Kodiak said only my name, but I understood the assignment. Find him. Figure out what he’s doing. Report back.
“On it,” I replied.
“Thank you,” the alpha said, “and try to get a lead on Percy Vanderbilt. That little prick is well past his expiration date.”
“Agreed.” I could have Channing and my team expand our search area. With more eyes and some upgrades to our systems, we could keep track of every threat that got even a millimeter too close. What happened with my mate wouldn’t occur again. I’d swear to it if I had to.
“Anything else?” Kodiak asked.
“I think that’s enough for one day,” Orion said. Everyone else agreed, and Kodiak called an end to the meeting, but when I stood to leave, he raised a hand in my direction.
“Mill, a quick word.” He leaned back in his seat and crossed his arms.
I sat and waited until everyone else left before raising an eyebrow at the prez.
“Finally going to take my patch?”
He snorted and shook his head. “No, of course not. I wanted to check in.”
“Christ, here we go.” I sighed. “I take it Morwyn sent you her findings.”
“She did,” he said. “I’ll perform the mating at the next new moon. But that’s not what I was talking about.”
“I have a few ideas to upgrade our perimeter.” I laid out my plan, relieved at his appreciative look as he nodded.
“I like it,” he said. “Get Talon on board so you have the funds. I want weekly progress reports, and let me know if you need anything.”
“Thanks, Kodiak.” I eyed him with a more scrutinizing gaze. Bags hung under his eyes, and he rubbed his palm over his face like he needed the friction to stay awake. “How are you doing?”
