Flight 118: A Woman’s Future
Chapter Nineteen

I hated being away from Emilia; especially at a time like this.

After I left her in the house, despite everything inside of me snarling against the idea, I ran out to see what was going on. Frankly, it was simply more of a chaotic situation than a deadly one from what I could see.

Not that it did not have the potential to be deadly. Fires had been set on trees around the clearing which surrounded Eric’s pack in what looked like an attempt to stop anyone from running. As of now, the fires had not spread to anywhere they couldn’t be stopped or cause serious damage to. So, I did not think anyone could have been seriously burnt despite us hearing screams earlier. Though the darkness of the night added such a contrast to the brightness of the burning lights and the chill of the night air, a difference to the wall of blazing heat which was sure to conjure terrifying images in the minds of those who had been suddenly surrounded by it.

Screams and snarls were ringing out through the air even now, but I could tell the definitive difference from those I had heard early. Both had been screams of shock and fear, but these screams now were of pure, unadulterated terror. The sounds so chilling they brought goosebumps to my skin even though I knew none of the shifters would be doing anything to cause harm to the town’s humans unless absolutely necessary, despite everything currently happening. In my opinion, despite their supposed good standing with this pack, the terror in those screams was a testament to how they really felt about the shifters.

Running, I assessed everything around me. I made sure no one needed help before turning to search for Eric.

There were humans from both the plane crash and the town sitting around; some scattered throughout the clearing in front of the packhouse while others were sitting near each other and talking. Some shifters were standing guard near the town’s humans and clearing, clearly not willing to leave them alone. Some shifters were helping the human doctor from the plane crash as he made rounds to help people. I could see some people had burns, probably from getting too close to the fire. I was not an expert on fires or burns but I did not see any which looked deadly, but for sure would leave scarring. Still, there were many other shifters out in the darkness, tracking and capturing people, and helping others.

I looked around trying to see how many of the plane survivors were still missing but I did not know them well enough to know who was missing. A thought which made me feel ashamed. I could not have helped it, though. Not really. I was a shifter who had found a mate when I had genuinely not thought it would happen. I was an alpha whose unclaimed mate was surrounded by shifters; and not even those of my own pack.

As I was leaving to find Eric, my mind went back to Emilia. She was basically the only constant on my mind since meeting her.

I could not recount the number of times I had looked for my mate before, only to be disappointed. Or the night’s I ran my pack territory as a wolf, seeing all which my ancestors and I had built, and just knowing that I would have no one to share it with. The fear I faced daily about my future and that of the pack. We had all traveled so many times from place to place, just hoping that just one of us would find our mate. The only two times it had happened before, we knew each of us was simultaneously relieved and disappointed. Then the decision, despite the absolute disgust towards The Gathering and what it stood for, that we needed to expand our searches there. Even knowing that to do so would mean paying for our mate like she was an object if we were lucky enough to find her. Then I did.

That moment was one I would never forget.

The shifters who had been traveling with me and I walked into yet another auction. Having decided that we would visit just one more before heading back home for a break. Each of us is exhausted from endless running and mentally drained from endless let-downs. Then, amazingly, through the heavy stench of testosterone, sweat, and grime I smelled it. The natural scent was unique to everyone. Specifically, for a shifter, the scent was life, acceptance, and happening all rolled into one. My life had ceased to exist that day only to be immediately remade into a happier, better, and actual one. When I finally saw her, my whole world narrowed to where there was nothing but her and me. I felt happy, yes. But I also felt a peace and a purpose I had never felt before. At least, until the rage towards her treatment kicked in.

She became my life, my reason for living, that day. So, I really could not be faulted for wanting as much time as possible with her while we were here and I did not have the responsibility which would fall on me when I finally took her home.

When I finally tracked Eric down I saw him pacing in front of another group of humans, who I assumed were from town because they were surrounded by other shifters.

One thing’s for sure, I thought to myself. Whoever it is that caused all this didn’t seem to mention to the town humans just how many shifters are currently visiting Alpha Eric’s territory because they brought nowhere near enough people.

I chuckled to myself when I realized I was thinking of him as Alpha Eric even in my head. I could hear the equally exasperated and amused response Emilia would be sure to have.

“Who told you all this? What was bad enough that you would risk all of our lives and our relationship?”

Eric’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts. Looking at the group of humans I watched each of them closely.

A misconception many people had was that the person who answered was always the one in charge. Sometimes they were and sometimes they weren’t. Which was what made watching them all so important.

“I-I don’t know where the conversation came from. I swear.”

My gaze snapped to the owner of the voice briefly before moving on, watching the others. I had to remind myself this wasn’t my territory and not my job to ask the questions. Even if I wanted to snarl at the idiots who risked harm to my mate and the people she cared for.

Clearly, Eric felt the same way because the snarled growl which erupted from deep in his throat was enough that the surrounding shifters stumbled a few steps, and they weren’t even the ones being growled at. The only ones not physically freaked out by it were me and another visiting alpha who was standing with us. The humans had varying reactions but based on the quivering of some and the sudden stench of urine in the air I was pretty sure they were equally affected.

“You’re saying you put the entire relationship of my pack and your town, the lives of everyone here and there, and hurt so many people for a reason you don’t even know?!”

“N-n-no. We know the reason. Just not… who said it.” The guy winced as he stammered. Hopefully realizing how stupid he sounded since he was admitting anyone could have started a rumor and they acted on it.

I glanced over at Eric to see his response and if he realized what I had also.

“Listen, we were just informed of these rumors of missing and kidnapped women that have been going around town. True or not, I admit it is concerning. But you hear a rumor, make connections which don’t exist, and you decide to march on my territory and ruin my land and put my mate and my pack in danger?!” After Eric snarled that, the humans were basically curled on the ground in fear but the realization was beginning to seep into their eyes. “Nevertheless, I do understand your concerns. I am not ready to let this all go away with no repercussions but I won’t let your stupidity jeopardize what the town leaders and I have all worked towards. In case you are certain yet, I’ll allow you to talk to some of the human leaders amongst the group who live here. Just so we can settle this for all. They are not being held here against their will. After that, we will need to discuss this all and figure out just where this rumor came from. I won’t be having this happen again.”

Eric looked over at me, then the other alpha with us right now, and then nodded at the other shifters.

“Take them to the clearing and hold them all there. There are still some things which need to be done here. While you are all there, if you can ensure a smaller amount of shifters are able to keep watch on them, then those who aren’t needed should help the others with the fires.”

The shifters nodded, dipping their head in respect, then pulled the humans up from the ground to walk towards the packhouse.

I waited until they were gone before I said anything. “Are there more wandering around still?” Before he could answer me a couple more screams cut through the air.

I gave a dry, unamused chuckle. “I guess that answers that. What are we going to do with them? Trying to figure out who told them may not lead anywhere. This group, at least, really didn’t know who.”

Rubbing his temples and beginning to pace again, Eric nodded. “I agree those men didn’t know anything but someone else here is bound to. We can’t afford to not know who told them and the reason behind it. If there’s an enemy in my territory I need to know before something like this happens again.”

The other alpha finally spoke. I hadn’t had the chance to meet him yet since he had just arrived so I didn’t know his name. “I agree but it seemed like you were wanting to keep a decent standing with the town’s people, so how will you get the answers out of them?”

Eric growled. “They put my mate in danger. I will do whatever I have to do. If they have an issue with it I will make it clear it was necessary and that it wouldn’t have been had they not come here.”

I grunted in acknowledgment. “I’m right there with you. My mate’s here too and the fact something could have happened to her…” I closed my eyes and took a deep breath at the idea. “I’ve just found her. I can’t lose her. I’ll do anything I can to help you find out who’s betrayed her. Because that’s what this is.”

Eric nodded and walked over to clasp him on the shoulder in a silent gesture of comradery. “Thank you. We’ll make sure nothing happens to our women and none of the others.”

Just then a howl split the air and we all looked up, heads tilting as we listened.

“Someone’s found something. Let’s go.”

We all took off running, choosing not to shift since we knew we would be dealing with humans. Meaning, we would need our voices and humans tend to be distracted by the unavoidable nudity which accompanied shifting.

Arriving within 10 minutes, we found Silver and some other shifters surrounding the town’s humans. Half of the shifters were still in their wolf forms. A human man was standing by Silver who I vaguely recognized as being one of the plane crash survivors. He looked to be in his late 20’s or early 30’s, solidly built with muscles obvious even under his clothing, around 6’4”, and with a vicious look in his eye that seemed almost animalistic. The look a natural-born hunter and a warrior had; one a person normally had if he had seen and done a lot to protect himself and others. If he did not smell human I would believe he was a Shifter no questions asked. His power and authority radiated from him even as a human.

Looking at Silver, I nodded then darted a quick look to the human next to him and back. Asking Silver a silent question with the look which he seemed to pick up on.

Silver gave me a small nod and then cleared his throat. “Alphas. This is O’Conner of the plane humans. After realizing what was happening he helped save some people who had been on the other side or too close to the fire. When we noticed these men here running away, he came with us. Apparently, he’s an excellent tracker.” Silver threw a smirk in O’Connor’s direction and teased him just briefly. “For a human.”

Scoffing good naturally, O’Connor simply raised an eyebrow. “Not just a tracker but a fighter. I bet I could put you to the ground 30 seconds flat if you wanna spar later.” Many of the shifters around us shot them an amused look.

Silver laughed. “Sure. Name the time and place. I promise to go easy on you.”

Amused looks turned to small laughs. Their bantering offered a small sense of relaxation and humor before reality bled back in.

Getting serious, O’Connor turned to us. “Six months ago I was a soldier for our country’s military. Now I’m a soldier without, I guess, something to be a soldier for. This was the most excitement I’ve had in a while so I was glad to help. Anyway, while they were hunting for everyone I caught these two hiding in some brush whispering.”

He nodded towards the two he caught and then rolled his eyes.

“Idiots just laying there confessing all, completely unaware of their surroundings and like they weren’t on the territory of people with wolf hearing.”

The other humans with the group were shooting both confused and irritated looks at the two who knew more and had made it known they knew more.

Eric grunted, “What were they talking about?” His eyes narrowed on the two humans and slowly stalked towards them.

“Apparently they were the ones who were told this rumor directly and masterminded this wonderful example of misplaced stupidity.”

Kneeling to stare them in the eyes. Though he was still talking to us, he snarled in their faces. “And just who told them that we somehow decided to turn against everything we believe in and manage to kidnap an entire group of humans?”

Silver cleared his throat, shooting a glance first to O’Connor then Eric. “Apparently it was a woman. But the idiots over there can’t possibly tell you anything about how ‘hot’ she was.”

Just like that, there were a lot of angered responses from everyone. Which I thought was ironic because in normal circumstances they would have probably been in the same boat.

“If they know she was hot then they know something about what she looked like. Or would at least recognize her again if they saw her.” I cut in. “We know someone from here told them, right? So, if it comes down to it we can have them see women who may be the suspect.”

Eric nodded. “Good idea.” Then he talked directly to the men. “You’re going to help us. Whether you want to or not. So, make it easy on everyone and tell us what you know.”

The men nodded with wide, scared eyes. Both of them said yes at the same time.

Kneeling from a few feet away from where Eric and the men were, I looked at them. Trying to help encourage them I decided to try and help them remember. “Think about her. Was she taller than you? Or shorter? The same height? What was her hair like? Straight, curly, long, short? Was she a brunette or blond or something else? How about her build? You know what she looks like, you just have to remember and tell us.”

The men took turns talking. Half talking to each other as they tried to remember and the other half saying things once they seemed to have either remembered or agreed on it.

The problem was that they were describing a person none of us had recalled seeing. Granted, that did not mean much when most of us standing here had spent too much time with the plane humans. But, someone who matched their description? We would have noticed. If I was not one-hundred percent sure they were too terrified to lie then I would have thought they were.

None of us had seen too many female shifters, but it sounded like they were describing one based on the few there had been over the years. Which made zero sense for many different reasons. One, a shifter would not have messed with a ton of packs due to possible fallback on their own pack. Not that we even had issues between packs these days. Why would we? There are plenty of territories to go around, a woman is either our mate or not, and traveling to different packs is basically non-existent. At least, it used to be. Two, we would have scented a shifter who did not belong anywhere near the territory; especially a female one. So, that could not have possibly been who told what was going on around here to these men.

I looked up and noticed Silver and Eric exchanging a knowing glance before Silver met my eyes.

None of this was making sense to any of us. But it especially was not sitting right with me. If these men were both telling the truth and remembering right, and I believed they were, then the person who started all this was very careful in covering their tracks. I did not like knowing that whoever orchestrated all of this was still out there and no closer to being caught. I knew the men agreed with me.

Growling in frustration, I ran a hand through my hair as I stood. “So, all we have is a description of a woman, who is not staying on your territory, with the knowledge that only someone who is staying on your territory can have! We’re getting nowhere and whoever did all of this isn’t any closer to being found. I don’t like this. Isn’t anyone else getting a bad feeling?”

The churning in the pit of my stomach made me feel like I was going to be sick. The raised flesh of goosebumps racing up my spine, over my neck, and down my arms made me feel restless. I really did not have a good feeling.

O’Connor finally spoke up after being silent the entire time we had been questioning the humans.

“Not necessarily. If this woman is not part of the groups here on the pack grounds, then the only other option is it’s a town woman. Right? Otherwise, an unknown woman is walking around. I may be new here, but I kinda got the feeling that would be something someone would notice. Right?”

We all nodded.

“So, whoever did somehow manage to sneak out of here, into town, and back most likely told the woman these men are talking about. So, all we have to do is find the woman who told them, and then we can get her to help us find the person who told her.”

Nodding, Eric finally stood from his place in front of the line of humans.

“Yes, but do we really have time for all of that? I mean, look at all that’s happened here. By the time we get them all taken care of, get into town, and find her we may have lost our shot. Or maybe another attack is on the way.”

I shook my head. “Doubt it. These people who told them everything to get them to do all this were simply instigators. They weren’t doing any of it to plan attacks or attack themselves. But whatever we do, we need to do it fast. My wolf is getting really agitated and restless, and I really need to get back to Emilia.”

My head snapped to the left as I suddenly heard running headed in our direction and fast.

I turned to face the potential threat just as they cleared the trees and then relaxed a fraction once I realized it was one of the wolves sent to the house to check on Emilia, Ana, and the others.

The look on his face stopped me as tingles erupted over my skin, my heartbeat picking up in my chest, and adrenaline beginning to pump through my veins.

“What’s wrong?” I growled, scared something bad happened. I had been having a bad feeling for the past few minutes when we were trying to figure out the traitor amongst us, knowing they could be anyone. Now, I knew I was right. Something bad had happened and I had left Emilia alone.

With that thought, my eyes probably flashed gold as the anger coursing through my body began to weaken the handle I had on my wolf. Demanding to be set free, find our mate, and kill whoever had endangered her. I was already in the motion of running past him when his words stopped me cold.

“Luna Emilia and the woman Clarisse never made it to the basement safe room. By the time we went looking, no one had seen them or could find them.”

The pain, fear, and anger coursing through my body shredded my control and I shifted. My clothes practically disintegrated at the speed of my shift. I took off running as fast as I could towards the packhouse, knowing she wasn’t there but I could maybe catch her trail. As I did so, I threw my head back and howled, letting all of the pain and rage I felt bleed through into the night air.

Let them hear. Whoever there are, let them hear and know I am coming for them. They will regret taking what’s mine.

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