Chapter 63 Blind Rescue

~Gale~

“I’m sleepy,” said Jayme as he let out a loud yawn, the sleeve of his robe pulling back as he brought up a hand in the air. “Why do you need me, again?”

I rolled my eyes before answering, “We’re rescuing our brother. We need you, Jayme.”

Waking him up was difficult enough with the additional traps he set this time around that we almost lost one of ours from a blast of fire. Dealing with his attitude was more of a pain. We were almost close to the borders of the Blue Moon Pack and we needed him to focus.

“He’s rogue…,” he whined.

“He’s still our brother. Now shut up and follow along,” I replied, getting annoyed.

For a witch who lived across centuries, he was more of a child. Since the Red Point Unit didn’t exactly specialize in covert operations, Jayme and I, along with Flynn and a handful of his men, took on this mission. His warriors, as well as ours, were positioned about a mile away just in case we blow this up. Alpha always had a Plan B.

Speaking of the Alpha, he was trying to connect. I lowered the barrier, which I raised so I could best concentrate on the task.

“How did it go?” I asked, hoping to hear good news from their side.

“Change of plans,” he replied, the link weakening, and I knew something was up. “Delta to Luna. Target on his way.” He ended it with that, then I couldn’t link with him anymore.

Delta to Luna. They received an Order to protect Anna which meant something went wrong and he was in danger.

Target is on his way. Myron wasn’t in his pack. If I put two and two together, he was in the Black Mist Pack and was involved in the whole thing.

What were the new plans? We couldn’t go back now. My brothers were in danger. My mate was in danger. We weren’t exactly safe here either. If the three of us were together, we might have a fighting chance. Also, Jaymer was helping us out.

This changes nothing – the mission had to go on, only this time, we had to rescue Liam too. Knowing Rigel, he’d already gotten himself into deep shit by now.

How long before Liam gets here? We have to act fast and be in position…

I abruptly stopped and faced the party. “Alpha Liam’s been captured. He’s being transported here as we speak, with Myron.”

“And what of Anna?” Alpha Flynn asked immediately.

“She’s with our Delta Unit,” I replied, giving him a slight nod. “She’s safe with them.”

Jaymer narrowed his eyes at me. “Alpha Liam has the Delta Unit. How can he get captured when he’s with them?” he asked.

Good point. Unfortunately…

“I don’t know,” I muttered under my breath. “I can’t reach him now, so they must’ve knocked him out.”

If I had to guess, he did it for Anna.

“What do we do now?” asked Alpha Flynn as he scratched his chin. “If we stay here, we’re as good as dead. If we continue, there’s no guarantee your brother and his friend will help us save him. We have an army behind us, but the truth is told –“ he looked into my eyes sternly, then added,” – I’d rather avoid a full-blown war between packs.”

I nodded in understanding. A war would weaken his pack. Our pack was still recovering. With the alliance, we had a chance of taking down the Blue Moon Pack, but neither of us wanted to pay the price. The aftermath was just as problematic. A short-term win was nothing if rogues or enemy packs, whichever succeeded first, took over soon after.

“My brother will help us out. Also, Jaymer here may not look like it, but he’s more powerful than any witch Myron has,” I said, glancing at Jaymer.

“And if we fail?”

I clenched my jaw.

“It’s not an option.”

Alpha Flynn held my gaze for a few seconds.

“You’re either very brave or very stupid,” he said, sounding amused.

I smiled.

“Neither,” I replied. “But I know someone who is.”

I inhaled deeply to pick up his scent once more. It was all over the place like he’d been walking in circles as if he knew I’d be tracking him. I wasn’t the best tracker, but with our warriors divided, the trackers occupied in investigations, I’d offered to do it myself. There was no one more suited than me. I could accurately track him down because of the unique scent that only I could smell. They didn’t have to know.

It calmed me down, but my wolf was getting restless. If we didn’t find my mate soon who should be with my brother turned rogue, Gil would start pushing back. Relenting control to him was the last thing I needed right now. Unlike Rigel, I had more sense than barging into the Blue Moon Pack from the front door.

“Are you sure we’re going in the right direction?” asked Alpha Flynn, raising a brow at me.

We were now heading southwest, which was to our left, instead of going straight ahead. It led us to an obviously unexplored section of the land. It raised my suspicions, but the scent was our best bet.

He reminded me of Christmas, a human tradition. The aroma of a steaming cup of hot chocolate is both intoxicating and undoubtedly delicious.

Quit it.

Gil was trying every method to manipulate my thoughts.

The scent grew stronger, and I could tell we were close. Anxiety grew in my chest at the thought of seeing him again, unbound. I liked him the way he was for months – chained, sedated, roughed up. The next time we meet, he was in full control and while I didn’t like it one bit, it was exciting. How would he react – would he show fury and unleash it all on me, or maybe aim to kill me? It’d be entertaining, taunting him until he decided. My wolf wagged his tail at the idea of us in a “normal setting”.

We continued our path until the scent suddenly ended. I inhaled deeply, trying to pick up where it continued but it ended in the middle of nowhere.

A wild goose chase?

Impossible. I followed the scent perfectly and there was nothing in sight that might have led us here.

“Why are we stopping?” Alpha Flynn asked, now beside me. His men tensed and encircled him, drawing out their weapons while half-drawing their wolves.

I sighed. “The scent stops here.”

I paced around for a little, but it wasn’t in any direction. It ended here.

“If we wanted you dead, Jaymer could’ve easily done it since I introduced him to you.”

The Alphas had a temporary truce set up. Killing or much less, threatening the Beta of the Red Claw Pack and Jaymer would end up in their deaths and they knew it. No one challenged our pack, and the stupid ones – I’d forgotten their names. I sighed as his men gave Jaymer death glares as well.

“I sense magic,” said Jaymer. “It’s… close.”

What Jaymer can do – nobody knew but himself. I doubted he knew everything too. He walked past me then stared into… nothing. Between two young trees that were close to each other, his passive face beamed as if he could see something we couldn’t.

“I haven’t seen this for a long time,” he commented.

“Trees?” one of Alpha Flynn’s men asked, earning him a nudge from his companion.

Jaymer looked behind him, grinning. “An easier term would be ‘portals’, I guess, or ‘teleportation tunnel’ or something like that. They’re not exactly that but the result is just the same.”

Then in a low voice, as if fascinated, he said, “How many bodies did she use for this… ancient technique… dark magic…”

Before we could process what he just said, we heard claps from behind us followed by a hoarse voice that dripped with evil intentions.

“Well done, Phoenix. I expected nothing less.”

Alpha Flynn’s men directed their weapons at her – the witch who worked for Myron, the bitch who poisoned my brother.

Gil growled at her and so did Alpha Flynn’s men. Liam warned that she was powerful, but also said she was easy picking for Jaymer.

Let’s see what this sack of potatoes can do.

“It’s an honor to finally meet you, a descendant of the First One,” she said between creepy chuckles as she bowed to Jaymer.

He had a smug look on his face. That information was kept confidential among high-ranking pack members. Banishing Myron had countless disadvantages.

Alpha Flynn and his men had disbelief written all over their faces. The First One was nothing but a scary story told to discipline children. And yet here was - the First One’s flesh and blood, or perhaps Jaymer was the First One himself. We didn’t really know – his past was his business, and he kept it private if he even knew it himself.

“To whom do I owe the honor?” he asked with an almighty tone. He was enjoying this.

“Sister Katrina, previously of the Black Star Coven,” she replied curtly.

“So, Sister Katrina, surely you wouldn’t mind us using your little pocket here, do you?” he asked, raising his hands in front of his chest. Unlike typical witches, his fingers looked normal like he was a regular person. He was… a special case.

Her face was hidden by the shadow of her black robe’s oversized hood, but I could sense the smirk that played on her lips. Jaymer gestured with his chin that we get… behind him?

Where – to the two trees behind him?

We could fight her together.

The witch opened her palms, flexing her fingers, ready to cast a spell.

“Do you see it?” asked Jaymer. “Right between them.”

He moved to his side and the witch followed suit. I stared hard at the space between their trunks and then I saw it – a weird transparent-looking sheet that was easy to miss. It glistened at a certain angle and something about it made me sick.

“Where does it lead to?” Jaymer asked.

“Inside,” she answered with a snigger.

This was why I hated witches. They had this gift of getting under one’s skin, and this was coming from someone who managed the Fun House. Wherever this inside was sounded more inviting than staying here and dealing with her.

“What are you waiting for?”

He smiled playfully as he clasped and unclasped his hands. Then, black began to color his fingers. It started from the tips of his fingernails all the way down to the base, levels lower than that of the bitch’s.

“Cocky witch.”

I called Alpha Flynn and his men over. I pushed one of his men without warning and he passed through the weird film, suddenly disappearing. Without having to say another word, his companions followed suit. Alpha Flynn entered too.

A black cloud began to gather around Sister Katrina’s hands.

“Myron and Liam are already inside, aren’t they?”

She cackled. “Leave now, Beta!”

The cloud that gathered in her hand stretched out to me when she raised her hand, but it was immediately blown back by a gust of wind that she had to dodge, sliding to the side. Jaymer spun his pointer finger, creating a visible mini-tornado from the motions.

“I’m giving her a handicap,” he said, flicking the mini tornado to me. I didn’t expect it to have so much force that it practically blew me into the portal. It felt disgusting going through it. For a split second, I had the mental image of squirming under human skin. Well, now I know what that felt like. I might create a tool for it when we get back.

I got to the other side to find Alpha Flynn’s men lying on the floor unconscious in what appeared like a living room. He was the only one standing, staring at Salina. Both had surprised looks on their faces.

Alpha Flynn swallowed. His voice sounded dry.

“Mate,” they said at the same time.

For a second, I stood in silence processing their exchange before I turned my attention back to his men. A dart was on their necks. It looked familiar…

He took a step towards her and stopped when a dart hit his neck. In a split second, I received one too.

Salina watched with a frozen look of shock on her face. As much as this was interesting, we fucking wandered into a trap!

My mind began to fog, and I was quickly losing consciousness.

I had to rescue my brothers. I had to see my mate.

“Red,” I said in a mind-link to the open channel before I gave in to the pull.