Page 93 of Crossed Fates
The others all exchanged a look, then Hardt knelt beside the set of tire tracks that I’d found, his expression thoughtful. “Definitely truck size, based on the treads. Want me to follow and see where these lead?” he offered in a calm voice, his gaze not meeting mine.
A show of submission.
Reverence.
Deferring to the one he considered alpha.
What the hell changed over the last day to earn that response from him?I dismissed the thought and instead nodded. It was a smart request, one worthy of a beta’s focus. “Yes. Report back what you find.”
He dipped his chin respectfully and shifted back into wolf form to take off through the woods.
Then two enforcers stepped forward, heads bowed. “Would you like us to do a thorough perimeter sweep, Alpha?”
I studied them, surprised by the address.Just like Hardt. Interesting.“Yes,” I said. “Take Colton with you, too.” I gestured to the third enforcer present, who had remained in wolf form near the trees. “Jinx, I want you to stay here.”
He was the fourth enforcer on-site, standing behind a large trunk and completely out of sight. Yet somehow I knew he was there, and it had nothing to do with my nose. He stepped out to acknowledge me with a subtle nod, his stance also reverent.
Had my agonized howl forced the entire pack into submission?
“What else?” my father asked, his expression expectant. “Where do you want the rest of us?”
I cleared my throat, thinking on my feet. “Jude’s still here, right?” I didn’t know why I asked because I sensed him on the property, too. An aura that didn’t quite fit yet wasn’t a threat.Something’s happening to me. Something… bizarre.
“He’s with Everly.”
I nodded. Because… again… I already knew that. I swore I could even hear her thinking about Jude and whatever he was saying to her. I shook my head again, this sensation insane, but not entirely unwelcome either.
Still, I needed to focus.
“All right. I want everyone back at the main camp. No wandering. No night runs. No leaving the central roads unless otherwise directed.” I met the gaze of each wolf nearby. “Make sure everyone knows.” It felt like a compulsion of sorts, like my command served as more than just words. I also swore my words traveled through the pack psyche, telling them all to congregate in the safety zone.
So damn weird.
“I need toys,” I continued, pushing the thoughts out of my mind. “Toys from Jude. Surveillance. All of it. There are security cameras on all the main roads near Silver Lake. That vehicle will be caught on one of those feeds, and we’ll track it.” Once we had that, I could use technology to pinpoint Makayla’s location until she woke up.
Pride colored my father’s expression. “Good. Anything else?”
I considered him for a moment, then decided to hell with it. I needed all the help I could get, and for that, I couldn’t hold myself back. Every detail was crucial, even ones that were hard to believe or potentially temporary.
“Yeah.” I cleared my throat again. “Makayla and I seem to have established a telepathic link via our mating. Once she wakes up, I’ll need to focus on whatever she has to say. So I need you to stay close and take charge when that happens.” It would leave me temporarily weak because I’d give her my complete attention, just as a mate should.
“Of course,” he agreed, not commenting on the telepathy. “Let’s get back to Jude.”
I nodded.
Shifted.
And ran back to his house.
All the while chanting,Wake up, Mak. Wake. Up.
Alaric
Mak?
I waited.
Silence.
