Chapter 21 ∣  Tactics

-Evicka

After everything that had happened since the moment Lucca refused to execute Maverick at the request of the Alpha King, I wasn't about to let us slip further down in this war.

We ran, heading into the forest once we'd received a tip from a neighboring coven's assassin at where the whereabouts were of Alpha Hendrix. My eyes narrowed, gritting my teeth together at the mere memory of Rainier betraying us all.

For what?

His mate.

A werewolf at that.

I couldn't imagine what would have happened if someone in our family had been mated to one of those disgusting creatures. He manipulated Rainier into turning his back on everything...

I saved his life. I protected him when no one else would.

The shift in my eyes reflected the moonlight off the black rose irises, knowing Killian was around us, Zak, and his twin rangers right behind me.

What pissed me off more, was that Lucca thought so little of me. That I wasn't as strong as I used to be, Maverick having siphoned my blood magic long ago. I didn't need it to be strong or to protect my family and the vampire species, along with the hunters that remained aligned with us.

The problem is...

...Lucca hadn't shown me the vast number of letters that had come in within the past few months. Covens were torn apart, hunted down by packs leaving their lands and territories. They were carrying out orders by this mysterious wolf that led them all. Four covens were slaughtered in Washington and the trend seemed to be working its way south. Maverick had told us of where Alpha Hendrix resided, learning of how he came to lead that pack was rather intriguing. They were no longer there when we went searching, though they didn't stray far after all.

I glanced back over my shoulder, my long white hair whipping to the side as I eyed Clover. She had her Oneida strapped to her back, but after Zak had outfitted her with silenced pistols, she'd be able to shoot any of the wolves we came across from afar. Murdering them would just draw unwanted attention, drawing out the whole pack would put our position at risk, and I was just here for their Alpha.

I could smell them, which meant that any Thetas who were out scouring the perimeter of this area would surely catch our scent. Halting on a nearby tree branch, I sighed, kneeling down on my right knee, and glancing out through the trees. Ryker and Clover had stopped on either side of me, their silence is eerie as they waited for a command.

It took a lot...to trust them. With what happened with Enock and Kadessa, I wasn't so quick to trust hunters of their abilities. It could turn deadly in a split second. They never showed any ill-will toward my family and for that, I was grateful. Rainier flashed to my mind, knowing I couldn't predict the reasons why someone would betray another.

Out of the corner of my eye, Zak rested on the tree opposite where we were stationed, his white irises seeing what I had noticed. About a mile out, there was a large bonfire. What looked to be games, a feast, and a celebration taking place.

Celebrating what, exactly...I had no idea. What bothered me, was the three young teenagers who couldn't have been much older than thirteen or fourteen who had strayed away from the merriment and ventured off on their own.

"Which one of you are going to follow me?" I asked cautiously and low, observing the teenagers pushing and shoving each other. Their laughter carried out, their senses dulled and not picking upon us.

Ryker and Clover eyed one another before his sister stated, "I'll go up close."

"Killian," I whispered, knowing full well even though I couldn't sense him, he could hear and see everything that was playing out, "Loop around and track down Alpha Hendrix and Rainier," Zak tensed at his friend's name being spoken, "Lure the target away."

"And Rainier?" Zak followed up.

I turned to him and said carefully, "He stays here."

Zak hissed at me, "You can't be serious...Evie..."

Pushing off the tree branch and landing right beside him I shrugged my shoulders, "Someone needs to deliver a message...why not the Alpha's mate? Word needs to spread so we can draw out the Alpha King...unless Alpha Hendrix has loose lips, which I'm not counting on, we'll need the word to travel to him that he's been taken."

"Careful which hornet's nest you poke," Zak warned me.

"I'm not afraid of this King..." I turned away from Zak, watching as the three teens started a contest of truth or dare.

"Come on, you're acting like a pussy," one of the boys taunted what looked to be the youngest of the three, "just go out to the far tree there and then come back."

The one who was being ganged up on shook his head and stuttered, "N-No, i-it's t-too d-dark!"

"Omegas are so weak," the first one rolled his eyes.

"Scared? Nothing's out there," the other chimed in and they started laughing.

Well then, maybe if you'd all pay attention...

The youngest glanced around him and piped up, "F-Fine! I'll go."

They cheered him on.

My eyes met with Clover's and I nodded. Withdrawing the duel pistols, she dropped down from the tree branch, landing gracefully and quickly leaning her back against the tree trunk. Ryker had his silver scythe drawn as a last resort if this liquid wolfsbane failed and we needed a rescue. Zak's hands rested on the hilt of his blades, breathing in sharply while his heart skipped a beat.

The youngest walked timidly through the forest, weaving through the trees, and rubbing his upper arms that were covered in a gray sweater. The leaves crunched beneath of his feet, the sounds of his friends' voices dying out behind him as he went further into the thicket of trees. When he heard a twig snap, he gasped and jumped, looking around frantically.

"Wh-Who's th-there?" He asked nervously, the fear rolling off his skin. He wasn't using his senses, and with that advantage, we remained unseen.

"Stay up here with Ryker," I whispered into Zak's ear, not allowing him to argue with me before I too descend to the forest floor. Hiding behind the opposite tree trunk, Clover's eyes met with mine, both of us waiting for the teenager to walk past the trees.

"Yo!" I froze, one of the teenagers calling to this one, "Celebration is about to start, let's go!"

"C-Com-Coming!" The youngest was all too relieved to hear those words.

He had all but taken one step too close to me though before realization hit him when I threw my arm out and encased his upper right arm. My other hand quickly slapped over his mouth, pulling him close to me while I heard his frantic heart beating in his chest. He struggled and I knew he'd mind-link with the rest of his pack if given a chance. Instead, Clover aimed one of the pistols at him, shooting the silenced weapon at his thigh. He grunted into my hand that had clapped over his mouth, the struggle not lasting more than five or ten seconds before he slumped against me.

The new liquid wolfsbane worked. It had been tested, but not in a field trial.

I gently leaned him down against the forest floor, standing to my feet as Clover walked over to me quietly. "Would you have killed him if we weren't trying to be not noticed?" She asked me gently, her long black hair tied back behind her shoulders.

An exceptionally good question.

I don't kill children.

Shaking my head, I returned, "No."

"If he were to strike at yo-?"

I cut her off as I said, "I will always kill the ones who attack or challenge me, but this young one is no threat. He's a scapegoat as almost every Omega has been made out to be for their packs." Clover just looked me over skeptically, wondering exactly what type of moral code I lived by, choosing when to kill and when to save a life. I think her brother and her have learned a great deal though, from living within our coven and she never questioned me again after I answered.

"Yo! Come On!" They had no idea what was about to happen. The two teenagers appeared bored, standing around and kicking at the ground beneath their feet. I signaled for Clover and she rushed out from behind the trees, running toward where these two were waiting. Perfectly, she raised the pistols in unison, the teenagers barely having a split second to register what was happening before she pulled the triggers.

They both collapsed to the ground, yelping in pain as they clutched their legs. In the far-off distance, there was a moment of uncertainty coming from the rest of the pack. They must have felt something, but apparently not enough to show a great deal of concern. The boys quickly dozed off, their breathing uneven as they caught a glimpse of me walking with Clover past their bodies.

Evie, get back.

Killian...you're not in the shadows?

There was a pause.

I have Alpha Hendrix.

A smile spread across my face and a relieved sigh escaped my lips.

But Rainier is headed your way.

Fuck.

**

-Maverick

Shit.

Kneeling down to the tile floor, I picked up the hand soap that I'd knocked off the counter when I was washing my hands. Trying to cool myself off, a nice cold shower is exactly what I wanted, but I didn't want to leave Eris by herself for too long. Though she won't tell me, she must have had a horrible nightmare or actually seen something.

Someone.

Keegan?

If he's even alive after the anarchy that rose in the Dominion Plane those many years after I was thrown back into my own body. I never saw what transpired, only Eris caught a brief glimpse, but even she couldn't confirm if he were alive or not.

I tightened my grip on the soap bottle, rising to my feet and sighing as I placed it on the granite countertop. Gripping the edges, I narrowed my eyes and whispered under my breath, "Can't be."

If it is him, why now? Why try to torment her after I clearly made it clear I'd kill him if he weren't already dead.

Breathing out, I lifted my eyes to my reflection only to be startled when I saw Eris looming in the open doorway, peering at me with quizzical eyes. Her long black hair fell over the dark shirt I'd given her, the translucent green orbs of hers locking with my own hazel blue ones through our reflections.

She just stood there, quietly watching me.

Turning around from the mirror, I leaned back against the counter, our eyes meeting each other as I asked, "Are you, alright sweetheart?"

"Yes," she replied. Her hands were hanging loosely by her sides, my own arms crossed in front of my chest when she continued to stand like a statue. Inhaling and breathing out slowly, I was about to ask her what were really bothering her, when she beat me to it and stated, "I think I'd like to sleep in my own room now."

"Eris, I don-"

"I understand that you are afraid," her head tilted to the side, her eyes looking me up and down. Her bare feet stuck slightly to the tile as she made her way across the room, stopping only a foot away from me. Peering up at me she whispered, "I don't want to..." she appeared to be searching for the right words, her hands reaching out and touching my upper arms. I let them uncross and fall to my sides as she finally found her train of thought, "Tempt you."

The black shirt just came to her mid-thighs, my eyes dropping and then finding hers as she smirked at me.

"Or," her fingertips pressed into my flesh, running down my arms and sending a shiver down my spine, "have you reconsidered fucking me?"

"Eris-"

Her hands left my body and she scoffed, "That's what I thought."

A small amount of anger surged to the surface, not wanting to direct it at her, but it was increasingly irritating that even after I explained to her I need to figure out how to you know...not kill her...she was still taunting me.

She sighed, raising her hands, and lifting her hair away from her neck. She had a glint in her eyes as she stated, "Don't you want to bite me? Want to find out what happens?"

"Eris!" I growled, my temper flaring.

"Oh, come on, how else are we going to be together forever?" She rolled her eyes, gathering her hair to the left side of her shoulder, exposing the skin of her creamy neck on the right. I could smell her blood racing through her veins, my eyes narrowing on her.

"Whatever," she threw her hair back behind her and that's when I lashed out, taking hold of both her upper arms, and drawing her to my chest.

Her eyes searched mine, my faces inches from hers as I glowered back dangerously, "I don't know what the hell you are trying to pull right now, but you're playing a dangerous game. I don't want to hurt you, let alone kill you with my bite."

Eris hardly flinched when I grabbed her, those eyes of hers narrowing on me as she said, "Fuck me or kill me. One or the other."

"What's wrong with you?!" I wanted to shake her and knock some fucking sense into her thick skull. It was only when I noticed the slight grimace that crossed her face when my own hold tightened on her did, I realize I was being pushed too far and I really would hurt her. Instead, I let out a frustrated sigh and completely let her go. She stumbled back a few feet, a hurt filling her eyes and a few tears forming.

Just like that though, the emotions were wiped clean from her face. Instead, she brushed herself off and turned on her heels. Walking out of the bathroom, she sent me a smirk over her shoulder before nearing the bedroom door. I heard it open and close, bringing my hands to my face and digging my nails into the skin. Turning back to the mirror, I slowly let my hands slide away, shaking my head.

"What the fuck is going through that head of hers?" I ran my hands through my white hair, trying to calm myself from her tactics. I'm not letting her sleep alone though, not with whatever could possibly be seeking her out.

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To Seduce a Mortal by K. A. Young and Laisha C. Gardner

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