“Hannah’s talking again,” Malcolm said, changing the subject back to their reason for being in the diner.
They sat there for nearly an hour, chatting occasionally while their devices recorded every poisonous word that fell from Hannah’s lips.
By the time Hannah finally stood to leave, Malcolm’s coffee had gone cold, and his stomach roiled from the lies he’d been forced to listen to.
“That was…illuminating,” Larissa said, her voice tight with suppressed anger as they followed Hannah from the diner.
“Yeah,” Malcolm said, nodding grimly.“But at least now we have proof of what she’s doing.Let’s hope we have as much luck with Gregory.”
THEY SPENT THE RESTof the morning checking in with trusted pack members and setting up a network to counter Hannah and Gregory’s misinformation.
Late that afternoon, they tracked down some of the younger wolves at the rock quarry outside town.
“Listen up,” Malcolm began, his voice echoing off the sides of the quarry.“We’ve got a situation on our hands.Hannah and Gregory are trying to turn the pack against each other.I know some of you have heard things—rumors about our leadership, doubts about the direction of the pack.I’m here to tell you the pack needs all our support right now.”
A murmur of concern rippled through the group.Malcolm held up a hand for silence.
“We need your help,” Larissa said, stepping into that silence.
“What do you want us to do?”one of them asked suspiciously.
“Just keep an eye out for anything you think is off,” Malcolm said.
“Remember,” Larissa added, “subtlety is key here.We’re not starting a war.We’re protecting our home, our family.Be smart, be careful, and if you hear anything concerning, report back to Malcolm or me immediately.”
The teen shifters glanced at each other, and then another one—Una’s youngest brother, Dante—stepped forward.“I heard Gregory talking about a meeting he had planned today out by the Caledonia mine.It sounded…I dunno.Weird, maybe?”
These wolves were young, but they were loyal.They’d stand with their pack.
“Any idea what time?”Larissa asked.
“Maybe now?”
He and Larissa glanced at each other.
“Okay.Thanks,” Larissa said, already heading back toward Malcolm’s pickup truck parked outside the quarry.“You’ve been a huge help.”
The teens watched impassively as Malcolm and Larissa leaped into the truck.
They raced across town, the desert landscape blurring past the windows.Malcolm’s hands were tight on the steering wheel, his mind racing with possibilities.What if Gregory was meeting with other packs?What if he was planning some kind of attack?
As they neared the mine, Malcolm slowed the truck, pulling off onto a dirt road that led into a dense patch of scrubland.They got out quietly, searching for any signs of recent activity.
“This way,” Larissa whispered, pointing to a barely visible trail through the brush.
They moved silently, years of training allowing them to navigate the rough terrain without making a sound.As they approached a small clearing near the entrance to the mine, Malcolm caught Gregory’s scent on the breeze.He held up a hand, signaling Larissa to stop.
Crouching behind a large boulder, they peered into the clearing.Gregory stood there, talking in low tones with two men Malcolm didn’t recognize.They didn’t smell like wolves, which was concerning in itself.
Malcolm and Larissa exchanged a glance, no words needed between them.They activated their body-worn devices, recording every word of the conversation.
“…need to move quickly,” Gregory was saying, his voice urgent.“The longer we wait, the more time they have to solidify their position.”
One of the strangers nodded.“We’ll be ready.Just give the signal, and we’ll take care of the rest.”
The hair on the back of Malcolm’s neck prickled.What the hell were they planning?
As the meeting broke up, Malcolm and Larissa retreated silently, not daring to speak until they were safely back at the truck and back on the road.
