I frown, making a mental note to send some spies to Timmins and see if they can locate this Hunters Association while I wait for her to compose herself.
“After the wedding night, I was put in charge of intake. Steven wasn’t just killing werewolves and vampires but also capturing them and selling them to the highest bidder. That’s how I met Nelson. He was a rogue who was captured while trying to find a pack. The bond hit instantly, and I didn’t know until then that a human could be fated to a wolf.” Her voice quivers, and the hunter tries her best to wipe away her tears with the casts on her arms but winces from the pain. Without thinking, I take out the handkerchief in my pocket and gently wipe her tears, which seems to shock her.
“Thank… thank you,” she stutters, looking embarrassed. “He was one of the rogues on the semi-truck that caused the accident yesterday. I told him I would create a situation so he could run away and find help. I didn’t think a pack would be so close to where the accident happened.”
I sigh, looking to Theta Aidan, who nods, understanding my thoughts.
“All of the rogues are in our pack infirmary under strict watch. I can see if your Nelson is there,” he says, the hunter instantly brightening.
“Could you? If he is there and healing, then I will tell you everything I know about Steven’s operation and where to find it,” she says, hope filling her voice.
The room goes quiet as Theta Aidan’s eyes glaze over, mind-linking a member of his pack. After a few minutes, his lips spread into a smile and his eyes refocus.
“Nelson is there. He has been asking about a ‘female hunter,’ and I guess that’s you,” he says, the woman crumbling into her seat with relief.
“He is safe,” she mutters with a sigh. “We will help you and Nelson as long as you tell us everything you know about the Hunters Association that this Steven ran,” I state, taking a deep breath.
Without hesitation, the female hunter begins to describe where we can find the headquarters for their association, explaining the security protocols in detail. I look at Theta Aidan, wondering if he is going to write anything down, but he points to the ceiling, and I notice a camera aimed directly at the chair the woman is sitting in. Grinning, I proceed to ask specific questions, like how many people were in their association, what their prison was like, and if there were any traps we should be aware of.
It took about two hours, but by the time the woman provided us with all the information she could, Theta Aidan had heard that Nelson was asking if he could see his mate. Conflicted by this request, I pulled Theta Aidan aside where the woman couldn’t hear us and asked what he thought. For a moment, he hesitated but then agreed that he could take the woman to the infirmary with another warrior if I wanted to go eat lunch upstairs in the dining hall.
Looking back at the woman, I tell him to be careful before leaving the interrogation room and climbing the steps. I can hear the male hunter in his cell demanding to be fed, but I ignore him. After being told he was this Steven’s right-hand man who took pleasure in torturing and raping she-wolves, I figured it would be best to let him rot in his cell.
Right now, I want to see Hannah and Saben and make sure my son is okay after yesterday’s ordeal.
42
Julian
Hey, want to grab some food?Fabian links me as I exit Haven Trail’s pack house.
I frown, noticing the unsteady tone of his voice, and quickly walk toward Hannah’s cottage.
No, I am not hungry,I answer, keeping my tone steady. I feel him probing our link, wondering what my friend is doing as I quickly duck behind some trees. Something is up with him. Hell, something was up with Theta Aidan when he suggested I head up to the dining hall instead of to the guest house to join my wolves.
Oh, well, we could meet up at the guest house. I know a few of our wolves want to discuss what they learned from the Haven Trail wolves,he adds, seeming nonchalant aboutour conversation. But I know Fabian better than he thinks. My friend is trying to keep me from going somewhere.
I plan on talking to each of them tomorrow morning, one by one,I state, feeling the link flicker with frustration and anxiety. Yep, Fabian is hiding something from me.Spill it,I demand, letting my annoyance seep through the link.
Spill what?Fabian asks, a tremor in his voice.
I growl in frustration, not happy with how my beta is avoiding the conversation.
You are hiding something from me. You’re trying to keep an eye on me. So what is going on?I state, trekking angrily toward Hannah’s cottage. I can sense wolves watching me, aware of my annoyance and anger seeping out from me.
I can’t tell you anything because I promised her, but you need to stay away from Hannah for a few days,Fabian finally states, stopping me dead in my tracks.
Hannah asked him to keep me away from her. Why? I thought our talk last night had gone well. I thought we had come to an understanding with each other. Yes, she did demand that I leave her house last night and sounded off, but I thought maybe it was because she was exhausted from the day we had. I left, not wanting to cut off any progress I had made with her yesterday. Now, I know that something was wrong with Hannah, something she did not want me to know.
Is Hannah okay?I ask Fabian, trying not to take off in a sprint and scare the wolves watching me.
As okay as she can be,he reluctantly answers.
I breathe a sigh of relief, happy to know that Hannah isn’t in any danger. Deciding I need to see Hannah no matter what, I tell Fabian I am just going for a walk to clear my head after talking to the female hunter. He doesn’t seem convinced but thankfully doesn’t say anything other than insisting I stay away from Hannah for now. Fat chance that is going to happen. I need to make sure my mate is okay.
It doesn’t take long for me to reach her cottage door. From outside, I can see Saben playing in the yard while Aileen watches him from the small patio swing.
“Afternoon,” I call out, slowly opening the gate of the white picket fence. I grin at Saben, who watches me with a friendly smile.
