The air was thick with the scent of pine as Kiera and Martha hopped through the dense woods. Early morning sunlight trickled between trees, falling on long wavy shadows that could dance in every direction across the forest floor. By this time-a number of hours traveled with all senses high-each crackle of leaves or snap of a twig startled the heart into running some sort of race.
Structurally simple, it was nonetheless the blueprint of finding the hub, gathering intelligence, and striking when the time was right. Still, with every step in their plan to bring them closer to their destination, a layer was added between them. They could definitely feel it-that something was wrong, and they were walking into a trap.
Kiera beckoned to Martha down as they came out onto the top of a rise, over a small clearing. They hunched low, peering through scrawny undergrowth. Nestled between trees below, there was an old abandoned cabin. It looked like it was just left to rot, years ago, but Kiera knew better.
"That's it," Martha whispered, barely loud. "One of Silas's safehouses.".
Keira narrowed her eyes, glaring through the area. The cabin was silent, far too silent. No guards out, no movement, no indication even the place was in use. Still, something inside her screamed otherwise.
"It's too easy," Keira growled. "Something is wrong here."
Martha nodded in agreement. "I don't like it either. We need to circle, check for any activity before we go in.
Kiera nodded and they moved off into the trees, keeping low and out of sight. Moving in a circle around the clearing revealed a narrow track running away from the cabin deeper into the forest.
"Let's go down it," Kiera said. "It may take us to something useful."
They went down the track as quietly as possible, not wanting to be seen. It was as though the wood was closing over their head, the trees more solid and undergrowth more tangled, as they drew deeper into it. The path was barely discernible, and it might have been years since anyone had used it.
After an eternity, they broke into another clearing. This time, the thought hit her a little differently. It was larger, had a small stream running through the middle. And there opposite them on the other side of it stood a man.
Kiera's breath had caught in her throat as she recognised him: tall, broad-shouldered, with dark unruly hair and piercing blue eyes-there was no mistaking him. This was the rogue Alpha, the one who had been leading Silas's forces.
Martha tensed up beside her. "That's him," she whispered, her voice full of fear and anger. "That's the one who's been hunting us."
Kiera nodded. Her heart was pounding against her chest at the thought of him-the one responsible for all that pain and suffering. Now he stood close, a flicker of doubt assailed her. He was totally alone, standing by the stream as though he hadn't a care in the world.
"Why is he alone?" Martha whispered, voicing the question in Kiera's mind. "Where are his men?"
Kiera shook her head. "I don't know, but we have to tread carefully. This could very well be a trap."
They said nothing as the rogue Alpha went onto his knees at the side of the stream, his back to them. It was as if he didn't know they were there, all his attention on the water in front of him. A chance too good to be missed-the situation was also full of peril.
Shouldn't we take him now?" Martha asked, her voice barely above a whisper and tight.
For a time, Kiera uttered no word. "We need to know more. We attack now, and it could be a trap-most of them and few of us. Wait, and we may never have this opportunity to attack him off guard."
Martha bit her lip; the tugging of one voice that wanted vengeance, and the other speaking caution tore her apart. "We can't just let him walk away.
"We won't," Kiera reassured her. "But we do need to be smart about this. Let's see if we can get closer without being detected."
They moved slowly, carefully, each step calculated, each movement deliberate as they inched their way closer toward the rogue Alpha. The forest was eerily quiet except for the soft gurgling of the brook.
And those questions tumbled over in her mind: What was he doing here all on his own? Why wasn't he surrounded by his pack? Most importantly, how would they take this opportunity to their advantage?
As they drew closer-in striking distance-Kiera stopped and jerked her hand back for Martha to do the same. They crouched low behind a fallen log and kept the rogue Alpha under keen observation.
He didn't turn away from the stream, his gaze indolerant of the two women who watched him. Or so Kiera would like to think. Still, there was something about him that didn't set right. The way he was so still, composed-such serenity from a man in flight.
Kiera's instincts screamed caution, but the temptation to strike was far too great. She could end this here and now, take down the man that had caused them so much pain.
Before word or movement of an attack could escape, the rogue Alpha spoke, his voice carrying across the clearing.
"I know you're there," he said with the most informal tone. "There's no need to hide."
Kiera's heart stopped. How would he have? She gave Martha a quick side-glance, equally shocked.
"Come out," the rogue Alpha said now, turning to face them. "Let's talk."
It took a moment for Kiera to rise, her figure revealed, slow. Martha stood next, but her hand kept near her weapon.
The rogue Alpha smiled, colder than ice. "I was wondering when you'd find me. Took you long enough."
Kiera's eyes slitted. "What do you want?"
He shrugged, falling casually against a tree. "Isn't it obvious? I wanted to meet you."
Martha snorted. "Why? So you can kill us?
His smile broadened. "If I wanted you dead, you'd be dead by now. No, I'm here to talk. I've been watching you, following your movements. You're not like the others."
Kiera's heart was pounding. "What do you mean?"
He pushed off from the tree and took another step closer, eyes afire with the intensity of his gaze. "You're different. Smarter, more cautious. You don't just go around like some blind sheep, following orders like all the rest of them do.
Kiera's spine crawled. "What do you mean?"
He spread his arms as if inviting them to consider the big picture. "I want to make a deal."
Martha growled. "We don't make any deals with the enemy."
He chuckled low in his throat. "That is where you are mistaken. Sometimes, the enemy of your enemy is your friend."
Kiera's brain worked overtime. What was he playing at? "What kind of deal?
He stepped closer, his eyes not leaving hers. "I want Silas. I want to take him down, but I cannot do it alone. You help me, and in return, I'll help you."
Turning the sound of her accent, Kiera could hardly voice her thoughts. The rogue Alpha—the guy who'd been hunting them—wanted to work together? Something didn't add up.
"Why would we trust you?" she asked, her tone suspicious.
He almost sounded disappointed when she said this. "Because I am the best shot you have at taking him down. Silas is a tyrant, and he won't stop until he's got everything. But with me in your corner, we have a chance."
Martha shook her head. "It's a trap. He's trying to manipulate us.
The face of the rogue Alpha turned solemn. "I know you mightn't believe it, but I swear by the fact it is true. Silas is just preparing for something big, something that will change it all. You can either dance with me and try stopping him, or go alone and watch him destroy everything you hold dear.
A knot began coiling in Kiera's stomach. She didn't believe a word he was saying, yet something in his voice and something in his eyes had her hesitate.
"What's in it for you?" she asked.
He smiled again this time the expression tinged with bitterness. "Revenge. Silas betrayed me, turned my own pack against me. I want to see him fall just as much as you do.
When Kiera looked back at Martha, she was eyeing the rogue Alpha once again, suspicion in her gaze. Of course, that was a dangerous gamble but one they could hardly afford to miss if it were true.
"Fine," Kiera said finally. "We will hear you out. But if you betray us-"
He raised his hand. "I won't. You have my word."
His word counted for little; Kiera knew that, but for now, that was all they had. They were dancing with fire, and the stakes had never been higher. Out here in the open, tension crackling between them like electricity, Kiera just couldn't shake off the feeling-this was only the beginning.
The rogue Alpha was out, but how much more did he hide still? And for how long could they honestly trust him before it came tumbling down? The answers lay somewhere up in the treetops, but to find them would take every last bit of guile and might they possessed.
With the morning sun climbing ever higher overhead, she knew the battle had only just begun.