Page 5 of Broken Forced Mate
“Copy,” Jay adds.
I take one last look through the binoculars. The Thornridge scouts continue their work, marking trees and documenting the terrain. They move like people who know exactly what they’re looking for.
I back away from my hiding spot, careful not to disturb the scrub brush that’s been concealing me. The desert terrain requires specific techniques to move silently, lessons learned through years of practice. Step placement matters. Weight distribution matters. Every sound could give away your position.
My boots find purchase on solid rock rather than loose sand. I test each step before committing my full weight and move in a crouch until I’m far enough away that normal conversation won’t carry to hostile ears.
Once I’m far enough from the scouts, I key the radio again. “Jay, Theo, rendezvous at checkpoint Alpha in thirty minutes.”
“Understood,” both voices respond.
Checkpoint Alpha is a cave system about two miles from here, hidden deep enough that we can speak without being overheard. It’s been our meeting point for the past month, ever since we started noticing unusual activity along the borders.
The cave system itself is a natural wonder, carved by centuries of water erosion through the limestone bedrock. Multiple chambers connect through narrow passages, creating a maze that would confuse anyone unfamiliar with its layout. We’ve mapped every tunnel, identified multiple escape routes, and established supply caches throughout the complex.
I make my way through the rocky terrain, following paths I’ve memorized over weeks of surveillance. The desert hides many secrets, but it also provides advantages for those who know how to use them. Natural camouflage. Multiple escape routes. Terrain that’s difficult for outsiders to navigate.
The landscape here tells stories if you know how to read them. Wind patterns carved into rock faces. Animal trails that reveal water sources. Plant growth that indicates seasonal weather changes. I’ve spent years learning these lessons, understanding how to use the environment as both shelter and a weapon.
My mind keeps returning to Raegan despite my efforts to stay focused. It’s been three years since she left for the Llewelyn territory. Three years since that night in the garden when she offered me everything, and I threw it back in her face.
I had to. She couldn’t understand the position she was putting me in. The impossible choice between my loyalty to Oren and my feelings for her.
But explaining that would have meant admitting those feelings existed in the first place. Admitting that every instinct I had screamed that she was mine, that we belonged together, despite every logical reason why it was impossible.
The memory of her scent still haunts me. Sweet jasmine mixed with something uniquely her, a combination that made my wolf restless with wanting. The way she looked up at me withthose hazel eyes, so trusting, so certain that what she felt was mutual.
It was mutual. That was the problem.
The cave comes into view, a dark opening in the rocky hillside that’s invisible unless you know where to look. Natural camouflage created by centuries of erosion and mineral deposits. I slip inside and wait for the others to arrive.
The temperature drops, cool stone providing relief from the building desert heat. I pull out a bottle of water and take a deep swig, using the time to organize my thoughts and plan our next moves.
Jay appears first; his dark hair is damp with sweat from the hike. He’s breathing hard but tries not to show it. Pride, probably. He, as the newest member of our team, feels like he has something to prove.
“Eight confirmed scouts,” he reports. “All carrying professional-grade equipment. GPS units, satellite phones, surveying tools.”
“This isn’t some ragtag group looking for a new place to settle,” I say.
Theo arrives a few minutes later with his usually cheerful demeanor replaced by concern.
“Western approach shows the same pattern,” he reports. “Systematic marking, professional equipment, coordinated movement. They’re planning something.”
“Question is what,” Jay adds. “And when.”
I consider the possibilities. The Thornridge pack could be planning a territorial takeover, trying to claim our lands through force. Or they might be after specific resources, likethe Amanzite deposits that have brought prosperity to both the Grayhide and Ambersky packs.
The Amanzite reserves discovered in Oren’s backyard changed everything for our region. What was once a struggle for basic survival became security and growth. Other packs would kill for access to those resources.
Either way, Oren needs to know.
“I’m reporting to the alpha,” I tell them. “Continue surveillance but maintain distance. We need more intelligence before we act.”
“What about the ones heading toward the mining road?” Jay asks.
“I’ll handle that myself after I brief Oren. You two focus on the border patrols.”
They nod and prepare to leave. Jay checks his radio batteries while Theo studies a hand-drawn map of the territory, marking the locations where we’ve spotted intruders.
