One Second (Seven Series Book 7) (35 page)

“Reno, put down the gun,” Austin said, rising to his feet.

Reno lowered his rifle only marginally.

The horse had no rider, no saddle, and no bridle.

The impressive animal approached the center of the group and dipped his head twice, throwing back a thick mane of ebony hair. Within seconds, the black stallion shifted into a robust man with dark hair. Maizy averted her eyes, a grin lurking on her face.

“I’m Titan.”

Austin stepped forward. “I’m Austin Cole, Packmaster of the Weston pack. What’s your business?”

“Enzo sent me to offer a hand.”

“To fight with us?”

Titan shook his head. “I’m here to collect the weak and infirm.”

“No one’s infirm here,” Reno said, his voice tight.

Titan bowed. “Forgive my rudeness. I was merely repeating what he said.”

Austin shifted his stance. “Yeah, that sounds like Church.” Austin hadn’t met many horse Shifters, and Titan was every bit as built as his animal. It made him wonder why he wouldn’t offer to fight, given his physical brawn.

Titan lifted his chin. “Do you have children or injured packmates?” His eyes settled on Izzy, who was still snoozing against the oak tree.

“That one’s not injured,” Austin said.

“Shame. I would very much like a woman like that astride my back.”

“I just bet you would,” Denver snapped.

Austin flicked a glance at Lynn. The boys needed to go, but not everyone would be able to fit on the horse. “Hendrix!”

Hendrix scurried down the tree and jumped to the ground.

“I want you to go with Titan.”

“But Lennon—”

“Lynn’s going, and I need someone brave to protect her.” And that wasn’t a line of bullshit.

Lennon peered over the wall of the hideout. “What about me?”

“I need you to keep watch. Both are important jobs.”

“I’m fine,” Lynn said. “There’s no need to fuss over me.”

Maddox helped her up. “Well, I’m fussing. We’ve got everything under control, and you’ll be of better use taking care of Church’s pack than running around in the woods.”

“True,” Titan agreed. “Church’s packmates have suffered casualties, and there doesn’t seem to be enough free hands to care for them. Some of them have extensive injuries and are unable to shift. The Packmaster cannot be in all places at once.”

Lynn lifted her pack. “Well then, it sounds like they need me.”

Austin closed the distance between them, and she gripped his hand.

Her eyes glittered with tears. “You take care of my baby girl. I’ll make sure Lorenzo sends you some help, and that’s something you can count on.”

Yeah, maybe Lynn would be more use there after all.

Austin patted Titan’s shoulder. “I appreciate your service. We’re fortunate you owed Church a favor.”

Titan smirked. “I’m not doing this because I owe him. Don’t you know?”

“Know what?” Denver asked, closing in.

Titan turned to address the men. “When the other Shifters in the community got wind of what the wolves were battling against, we had a choice. We could either be apathetic and watch our community fall apart, or we could choose to fight. If we allow the Northerners to rule the pack territories, what’s to stop them from coming after mine? And I don’t have as much to lose as you do. Maybe we all have our differences, but everyone knows what the wolves have done to create social order. That’s why many of us have chosen to live in your cities. We stand shoulder to shoulder with you.”

Austin was honored to know there were men with integrity who would do what was right and not what was easiest. “Is there any news from the rest of the state?”

Titan pinched his chin pensively. “Dallas regained control, but it seems the units are concentrated around Austin. I suppose the land and weather are more desirable, but I also have my suspicions their leader is still in the area. That’s the rumor.”

Austin bristled. “Why don’t you spread the rumor that Austin Cole wants the honor of driving a knife into his black heart?”

Titan arched a black brow. “That’s a bold statement.”

“I’m a bold alpha. Spread the word.” Austin bowed his head. “Please make sure my packmates arrive safely.”

Titan nodded. “You have my word.” He transformed back into an impressive stallion and knelt down as if he were genuflecting.

Maddox helped Lynn mount, giving her a handful of mane to hold on to. He locked his fingers together and made a step for Hendrix to put his foot in and get a boost onto the horse’s broad back.

Most of the pack avoided waking up Izzy since she sometimes lashed out violently, but during Austin’s conversation with Titan, Maizy had gently coaxed her awake so that she could say good-bye to her son. Izzy had a look of relief on her face as she rushed to Hendrix’s side.

She took his hand, giving him motherly kisses that would make any boy his age blush with embarrassment.

“I love you,” she said. “Don’t worry about us; just keep yourself safe. Stay alert during the ride, and watch over Lynn. This’ll all be over soon.”

“I know, Mom. We’ll be fine.” Hendrix looked toward Austin with shame in his eyes—shame that he wasn’t old enough to fight or to lead like the others in the pack. “Tell my dad…”

He patted Hendrix on the leg and nodded. “Don’t worry, son. He knows you’ve fought bravely, and I’ll be sure to let him know you’ve put your life on the line to escort Lynn home. Everyone here plays an important role; don’t you forget that. Now hold on tight. I have a feeling he’s going to keep a quick pace.”

Reno gave the horse a pat on the rear, and they disappeared into a blanket of mist. Austin had a strong pack—having just one of Reno was the equivalent of four Shifters. Lynn and the boys had proven their abilities, but things were only going to get more dangerous toward the end, so it was one less worry for him to shoulder.

But not his biggest worry.

Jericho and I had spent hours in the bunker together.
My life was reduced to eating cold beans out of a can and daydreaming about clean underwear and barbecue ribs. I managed a few winks of sleep before Izzy woke me up and encouraged me to bathe in the creek while she looked after Jericho’s wolf. When I returned, she was ready to go back to her post, so I spent the remainder of the time monitoring his wolf, keeping him calm and rested so when Jericho shifted back he’d have all the strength needed to continue with his duties.

When my back grew sore, I sat on the bench. It had been misting all afternoon, so the room was damp and stuffy—especially with a wolf panting. Reno had done a good job installing a ventilation tube in this one that ran above ground. It reminded me of one of those submarine periscopes—only it had a screen on each end to keep out the insects. It was affixed to a nearby tree and obscured with leaves. He would have constructed them all that way except he didn’t have time to fully test it to make sure it didn’t bring in water or mosquitoes.

I wasn’t sure what was keeping me from opening the hatch, but a feeling of dread swept over me.

“It’s quiet out there,” I whispered to Jericho’s wolf.

He trotted over and sniffed the seam along the door.

Thunder rumbled—the kind that got louder toward the end and vibrated the walls.

“I hope that was your stomach,” I said quietly.

I’d lost all sense of time, so I lifted the hatch to peer out.

Still daytime.

A light rain tapped against the canopy of leaves overhead, though not many drops had yet made it to the ground.

At first I thought everyone had returned to their posts, but we were on a set schedule, and that wasn’t the plan.

Jericho’s wolf pushed his nose farther through the opening. He wasn’t showing any signs of aggression, but the rain would make it impossible to detect anything farther than ten or twenty feet away.

I brushed my hair out of my eyes and searched the room for my gun belt. Moving around with a large belly in such a confined space proved challenging, and I’d scraped my knees more than once on the hard floor. I lowered the hatch door and strapped on the harness, butterflies circling in my stomach. I felt more protected with Jericho at my side than with a gun.

I stretched my black shirt back over my stomach, but it didn’t do well at covering the gun.

Jesus. I looked like I was concealing a black bowling ball.

I lifted the door all the way and climbed out while Jericho’s wolf sprang ahead of me and circled the campsite.

An empty can of beans lay on its side to my right; Austin had a strict rule about cleaning up. In the center of the site, there were deep tracks all around.

“Deer?” I murmured aloud. “No, those are too big to be a deer. Maybe a horse.”

Jericho’s wolf followed the trail with his nose pressed to the wet earth. He quickly lifted his head and looked north, a piece of mud clinging to his nostril. He sneezed, and I followed him to the creek. His wolf was light brown with cream and orange markings, and I thought how interesting it was that all the men in the pack were unique—except for the twins.

Relief washed over me when I saw Wheeler sleeping on his stomach across a stretch of clothes. He was pale, naked, and dewy from all the mist. The tattoos on his arms and back gave the illusion of a shirt.

I glanced around, but Naya’s panther was nowhere in sight.

Jericho’s wolf nipped at Wheeler’s arms, rousing him from sleep.

“Hey!” Wheeler grumbled, lifting his head and blinking awake.

I anchored my hands on my lower back and rubbed at the tense muscles. “I don’t know if Austin filled you in, but Hendrix and my mom are at Lorenzo’s house.”

He yanked on his camouflage pants and rubbed a little sand off his face. “Where’s Naya?”

My nerves rattled with that question. “You mean she’s not hunting? Everyone at the camp is gone.”

Wheeler scanned the woods while strapping on his shoulder harness. “If that’s the case, then they’re luring the enemy away.”

“Why? Because I’m the prize hog?”

He knelt by the creek, cupping his right hand in the water and taking a drink. “What woke you?”

“The quiet.”

“Yeah, I’m not a fan myself.” He stood up and scraped his teeth across his bottom lip. “If Austin didn’t wake me, then he either had to move fast or he wanted me to stay behind with you and Jericho. Without knowing where the danger is, we need to stay put.”

“I saw some tracks at the campsite. Maybe a horse, but I didn’t see the shape of horseshoes, so I can’t be sure.”

He smirked. “What’s the matter? Skip the homework assignment on animal tracks?”

“Yeah. I decided to do the oral presentation on
shut the fuck up
.”

Wheeler laughed and lightly took my arm. “Now I know why we get along so famously. Show me those tracks.”

When we reached the campsite, he knelt down and touched the circle of prints, pressing his fingers along the outer edges. “That’s definitely from a horse, but I’m willing to bet my left nut it’s from a Shifter.”

I patted his back. “One of these days, you’re going to lose that bet. Why don’t you put on a shirt? You don’t exactly blend in with the scenery.”

He rose to his feet. “You should talk.”

“Are you kidding me? I could lie down and pretend to be a small hill.”

Wheeler grabbed a bottle of water and took a swig. “Get your pack in case we have to move,” he said quietly, eyeing the tree stand where Lennon was hiding out.

I grabbed my bag off the bench, and by the time I turned, Wheeler was halfway up the tree.

“He’s not here,” Wheeler said, sounding confused.

Which meant we had neither a lookout nor someone to cover us. “There must be a lot of them,” I said to myself.

Wheeler jumped down, a penetrating gaze in his eyes. “Let’s head back to the creek.”

“You don’t think I should hide in the bunker?”

He took my bag and slung it over his shoulder. “Mayhap I don’t believe women should hide from anything. Naya’s things are down there, and I want to see if she left any tracks.”

I rubbed the wet drizzle from my arms and followed behind him. Jericho’s wolf raced ahead, his nose in the air and his ears perking in different directions. Wolves were intelligent creatures who—unlike a domesticated dog—knew that barking would disclose the pack’s location to their enemy.

When we reached the bank, Jericho’s wolf growled, and his lips peeled back.

Wheeler knelt beside him and hooked his arm around the wolf’s neck. “What is it?”

Without warning, his wolf lunged, knocking Wheeler onto his back. Wheeler caught Jericho by the hind legs and flipped him over, but the wolf clawed and fought to run. He sank his teeth into Wheeler’s hand, and I sucked in a sharp breath.

Wheeler retracted his hand and grimaced. “Dammit! Just go!”

Jericho took off to the right like a streak of lightning.

“What’s gotten into him?” I asked, looking around at the empty woods. “Why would he bite you?”

Wheeler crawled to where his T-shirt and Naya’s things were and used a knife to tear away a strip of fabric. He wrapped it around his hand to stanch the bleeding. “Izzy’s in trouble. That’s the only explanation—the only reason he’d take off and leave us.”

“That means they must be up the creek.”

He lifted the bags. “Yeah. Shit creek.”

I marched in the direction Jericho had gone, leaving Wheeler behind.

“Hold up!” He ran to my side. “We don’t walk alone, and let’s move into the woods. We’re target practice out here.”

Jericho would have only reacted that way if Izzy was in danger, and staying behind would have been the cowardly thing to do. Aside from that, the camp was littered with trash, and the tracks were like breadcrumbs leading up to the bunker.

After a fifteen-minute hike, Wheeler forced me to rest. When I protested, his eyes flashed with irritation, and he threatened to rope me to a tree if I didn’t take it easy.

How could I take it easy? Austin was out there somewhere, and what if he needed me? What about my mom? My sister? My packmates?

We’d kept to the right side of the creek, periodically stopping to look for tracks and listen for any sounds.

Wheeler tossed a stick into the middle of the creek. “We need to cross to the other side.”

“Why didn’t you suggest this when we started? The water’s deeper and wider here.”

He stroked his beard. “Our territory is running out on this side of the creek. We’re not walking a straight line. If you remember the map, the creek moves to the right-hand corner of the territory, so we’re boxing ourselves in.”

I slicked my hands across my damp hair. “Maybe you should build a canoe.”

His smile withered, and he spun around. “There it is again. Did you hear that?”

“Squirrel?”

“A squirrel that’s been following us for the past ten minutes,” he said quietly. “Maybe they’re using them as scouts.”

The thought made me want to laugh hysterically.

My heart took off like a rocket when something long and black slithered through the trees. “Snake!”

Wheeler blocked my view and hustled toward the fallen tree. He bent over, and my mind raced with visions of black mambas and king cobras—neither of which were indigenous to the backwoods of Texas.

“That’s no snake,” he yelled in a flat voice. Wheeler turned, holding something under his arm.

“Spartacus?”

Wheeler stepped over thorny bushes, careful not to drop the cat. Sparty’s eyes were like golden rings around black holes. He was one of those animals who gave me the creeps, with no redeeming qualities that I could list. He lost out in the cuddly looks department, and he didn’t contribute to the house in any way unless you counted washing the floor by tipping over all the glasses. He also slept in unusual and inappropriate places. I once had the nightmare scared out of me when I opened up a kitchen cabinet and found him sleeping in a casserole dish.

“What are we going to do with him?” I asked.

Wheeler gave me an impassive look. “Toss him in the river?”

“Naya would skin you alive.”

He set the cat down. “I don’t think he’ll blow our cover. He’s been pretty stealthy up until now, and nobody’s going to pay attention to a cat.”

I touched my stomach and smiled.

Wheeler approached. “What is it?”

I took his hand and placed it on the left side. The baby was kicking hard enough that you could visibly see my skin moving.

His eyes widened. “Doesn’t that hurt?”

“Not unless I get kicked in the bladder.”

He shook his head and backed up a step. “Out of all the magic that exists in the Breed world, that’s the truest magic there is.”

“I’ve never heard you so profound.”

Wheeler had his moments sometimes, and this was one of them. He tried to hide his sensitive nature beneath all those tattoos and the tough attitude, but I got glimpses of it now and again.