Finding Our Way (Werewolf Wars) (13 page)

“You know Devon was just blowing smoke last night. I’m sure you know what you are doing,” Lark said, zipping the bag up. She stood up and hoisted the bag on her shoulder.

“Not everyone shares your sentiment,” Daniel mentioned.

Nora frowned. Had something happened after they came back last night? Did Daniel get in trouble for their...date? She wondered.

“I’m aware. Speaking of,” she nodded toward Devon, who was approaching them. “I should get going. Nora, I’ll meet with you tomorrow afternoon same time as today if you want?” Lark offered.

“Sure. I’d like that,” Nora nodded.

“Nice talking to you,” Lark said as she started toward Devon.

Nora waited for Lark to get out of earshot. “Did you get in trouble because we went off the ranch yesterday?” Nora asked, guilt tugging at her.

“It’s nothing. Dev will find something to gripe about one way or another no matter what I do.”

“Have you ever tried to work it out?” Nora asked.

“I deserve it,” he said matter-of-factly. “When we were back in Guymon, I did a lot of bad things. Some of them to him,” Daniel explained.

“I don’t picture you doing anything too bad,” Nora smiled, peering up at him through her lashes. He was too nice to have done anything too horrible.

Daniel shifted on his feet and looked away. “You don’t really know me that well. I’ve done things that would appall you.”

“Did you want to do them?” Nora whispered. She held her breath waiting for his answer.

“No!” Daniel responded instantly, a disgusted tone to his voice.

“Then why did you?” Nora asked curiously.

“My dad. He wasn’t the type of man you said no to without repercussions.” Daniel licked his lips and looked around the meadow.

“Then it sounds like you were both victims,” Nora offered. She hesitated before taking a step forward and entwining her fingers with his. His hand was warm in hers and she smiled when he gave her a gentle squeeze.

“Why don’t we take a walk. There’s a well-worn path through the woods where a lot of the guys like to run. It’s quiet this time of day since most of the guys are working on the new house. We have practice tonight with the group, and I don’t want to wear you out too much.” Daniel gave a gentle tug on her arm and she followed after him.

Daniel led her into the thick foliage of the trees. Birds chirped above them and wildlife scurried across the dirt floor. The leaves were just beginning to change, some of them taking on a slight yellowish-red color.

“I cannot believe how big the property is here,” Nora admired, glancing around their surroundings.

“You grew up in the city?” he guessed.

“Yeah. Apartment complex. My parents moved me around a lot, usually whenever they couldn’t afford to make the rent. I got my first stable home when they left me with my grandma for good. I was ten. She had a little house in a small suburb of Oxford, Mississippi,” Nora sighed.

“I’ve always been a country boy.”

“There is definitely an allure to it,” Nora said, motioning with her free hand to the trees. “It’s so quiet and peaceful. I’m not sure I could go back to the hustle and bustle of the city life now.”

“So you don’t miss the city?”

Nora frowned as if she were thinking about it. “No, I guess I don’t. I mean, you kind of tune out the ambulances and fire trucks in the middle of the night when you’re used to hearing them. I’m not sure I’d still be able to do that.”

“It is quiet here. Come on, there is a stream up ahead. We can sit down and talk.” Her fingers squeezed his hand tighter as he led the way.

***

F
ernando Juarez leaned back in his armchair as his phone vibrated on top of the desk. He tapped his finger on the phone, contemplating whether to answer or not. The girl, Maddie, was compromised, but he wondered if there were still a chance he could get through to her on some level. Not to mention, the Harris’ didn’t know that he knew that she was compromised. Perhaps he could use their eavesdropping to his advantage.

“Maddie,” he crooned into the phone.
What could it hurt to speak to the girl?
He wasn’t stupid enough to give anything away—at least not anything he didn’t want to, he reasoned.

“Hi,” the girl answered, meekly.

“It’s always good to hear from you, Maddie,” he smiled into the phone, in hopes he would reassure the girl.

“When are you coming to get me?” the girl asked, her voice barely a whisper. “I think people are getting suspicious of me.”

“I will come for you soon, child,” he promised. He smoothed a hand over his chin. “Before we take the ranch, it is important that we amass the proper army to ensure our victory.” Juarez smiled, hoping the alpha on the other end was beginning to squirm. Numbers didn’t matter to him—he already had a large army. It was all about strategy. He wanted the Harris’ to know fear, for Natalia to know fear.

“Don’t you already have a large army?” Maddie’s soft voice asked.

“I do. But the Harris’ have particularly been a thorn in my side. They killed my son. Did you know that Maddie?” he asked, swallowing thickly. His son, his heir, was dead because of Natalia. They were going to pay for Luis’ death.

“No,” she gasped, her voice catching. “I’m so sorry.”

Fernando smiled, sighing heavily into the phone. If only there were a way to contact her without listening ears. “Me too. All I’ve ever wanted was to have my family and the Harris’ took it from me.”

Maddie remained silent. Her quiet breath the only indication that she remained on the line.

Fernando trailed his fingers along the wood grains of his desk. A plan formed in his mind. Perhaps he could figure out a way to get her alone. “I spoke with my grandson about you. He is very interested in meeting you.”

“He is?” she asked, surprise evident in her tone.

“Yes. He is here with me now. Perhaps we could set up a time for the two of you to meet.”

“I’m not allowed out by myself. No one is,” Maddie said.

“I imagine not. Don’t others leave the ranch, though? Maybe you could go to The Cookie Jar with Lark or to the store the next time?” If he could get a phone to the girl and talk to her in private, he could get a much better idea of where her allegiances lay. Perhaps even get insider information too.

“They do, but I’d have to see about going with them,” Maddie said after a long moment. “I’ve never asked before wouldn’t they be suspicious?”

“I understand, and I don’t want to put you in any danger, child” he assured. “But, haven’t you been stuck in close quarters for quite some time? Perhaps you’d like to get out and see your surroundings a little,” he suggested. When she didn’t reply, he continued, “See what you can do and call me tomorrow.”

“Okay.”

“Take care, Maddie. I hope to see you real soon,” he purred. The line went dead and he set his phone back on the desk. He needed someone on the inside—needed to know what they were planning.

***

G
ene looked around the room, meeting each person’s eyes before taking a seat at the front of the desk. He laced his fingers together and leaned forward.

“I appreciate everyone coming on such short notice,” he started. “As you all know, Maddie has been talking to Fernando Juarez with our consent. Talia, Dev, Lark, and myself have come up with a tentative plan to help take out some of his forces. During Maddie’s talk with Juarez this afternoon, a situation presented itself that I think we can use to our benefit.”

“What do you need me to do?” April asked, immediately.

“Dev and I want to make it clear that you are under no obligation to accept this job. It will be dangerous,” Gene warned.

“Juarez and his men murdered my family. I want justice,” April hissed.

Gene nodded at the Bayou packs alpha’s youngest daughter. He could understand the rage brewing inside of her. These men had taken his family too. His father and Preston both rested in the ground because of them.

“Lark and I will be heading up this task,” Devon spoke up. “We will be going to a pack in New Mexico. We have reason to believe that Juarez may be keeping reserves there until he is ready to attack us.”

“The Luna’s,” Claire interrupted.

“You know them?” Gene asked.

“Emmett was good friends with their alpha, Charles. Charles is the one who introduced Emmett to Juarez. I believe he is one of Juarez’s right hand men. It won't surprise me if he has men camped there. They have lots of land,” Claire replied.

“That is all the more reason to carry on with the strike then,” Natalia said.

“It also makes it that much more dangerous,” Jackson added, eyeing April. “We’ll have to think out our attack plan if it’s going to be a small group.”

“Wait,” Claire said, quickly. “There are women there. Charles’ wife Rosita, she is just as much a victim as I was, or Talia was. I believe his son has taken a wife, as well. I think her name is Emma.”

“Emma?” April’s voice broke.

“I’ve only met her on a few occasions. If I recall correctly her name was Emma,” Claire said, quietly. “Do you know her?”

“It might not be her,” Jackson said, placing a hand over April’s.

“But it could be,” April whispered, her breath quickening. “My sister, the alpha female of our pack, was kidnapped by Juarez’s men about six years ago. Her name was Emma. We never found out where she was taken to.”

“We will have to come up with a plan to get the women out,” Gene stated. “If we go around harming and killing innocent people, we’re no better than Juarez.”

“They’ll sense a wolf a mile away,” Devon commented. “We may have to devise a plan once we get there, and get the lay of the land.”

“Daniel is familiar with the area. He and Emmett visited quite frequently,” Claire spoke, her gaze drifting to her son.

“I’m not taking someone I can’t trust,” Devon declared.

“He is your brother, and my son. I trust him with my life and with yours,” Claire bit out sternly, rising to her feet.

Devon rose too, a steely gaze on his features. Gene cleared his throat, and slowly stood. He knew Devon and Claire would never come to blows, but they were both alphas and used to getting their own way.

“He is his father’s son,” Devon growled.

“He is also his mother’s son,” Claire shot back.

“I trust him,” Lark volunteered.

The three alphas turned to face her.

Lark bit her lip before leaning back in her chair. “If it weren’t for Daniel, I’m not sure how we would have made it out of the house in Guymon. Not to mention, he came through for Talia and Gene too.”

“It is true,” Natalia agreed after a long moment.

“He has proved himself a valuable member of my pack. If he knows the area, I think it would be unwise not to take him,” Gene added.

Devon growled low in his throat. He walked to the window and stared out into the yard. Gene sat back down. The conversation had gotten way off track. It was time to get it going in the right direction again.

“Anyway,” he continued. “Juarez has asked Maddie to find a way to meet him. Dev and I want to use this meeting as a distraction so that the group that goes to New Mexico can sneak off the ranch undetected.”

Devon’s footsteps thudded across the floor as he walked back to his chair. “There is an old gravel road near my home. Juarez’s men have not found it yet. Gene and I have a large van there. While Juarez is distracted, we will use that road and hop onto the main highway.”

“Are you sure so many should be leaving the ranch?” Claire questioned.

“It’s only going to be a small group,” Devon replied. “Lark, myself and the three of you. If you agree to go, that is.”

“I think you should consider sending Daniel,” Claire said quietly. “It’s your mission though—your choice.”

***

“L
ong time no see,” April smirked as Nora opened her bedroom door.

Nora motioned her friend in and shut the door behind her. She walked to the mirror on the back of the dresser, and worked to pull her hair up.

“What have you been up to?” Nora asked.

“Busy work. Nothing much. Jackson and I have spent some
alone
time together and I had a chat with Gene and Devon about my involvement during the incident the other night,” April shrugged.

“Did you get in trouble?” Nora asked concerned.

“They were worried about my safety. Said I made an easy target putting myself out there like that, but they also complimented me on not giving into fear either.” April paused and sat down on the bed, hugging a pillow against her chest. “They invited me to go on a mission.”

“Mission?” Nora asked tucking her hair up into a messy bun.

“I’ll be gone for a few days.”

“Is it safe? What are you doing?” Nora questioned taking a seat next to her friend. The bed dipped down, creaking with her movements. Nora held her breath waiting for her friend's answer.

“I can’t give you the details, but it could be risky,” April answered honestly.

“April.” Nora shook her head, pulling her friend into a hug. “Are you sure you want to do this?” she asked, her heart clenching painfully in her chest.

April inhaled sharply, wrapping her arms tightly around Nora. “I am. They killed my family, Nora. My grandparents, my mom and dad, my brother’s, and most of the members of my pack. My older sister was taken six years ago by Juarez’s men. This place I’m going, she might be there. He has taken my family from me. If there is something I can do to stop him—to save Emma, I’m going to do it.” April said with conviction. A sob escaped her mouth and she pulled back her hand covering her face.

“You told me your sister was dead,” Nora whispered staring at her friend. All these years she’d thought her sister was dead and April had been lying to her.

April shook her head. “What was I supposed to say? That she was kidnapped by a crazy werewolf alpha. I spoke with Gene and Devon in detail this earlier. Claire was there too. She remembers meeting a woman named Emma at the home we are going to. I have to find out if it’s her.” April wiped tears from her face with the back of her hands. “She’s the only family I have left.” Her bottom lip quivered and she sucked in a deep breath as more tears trickled down her face.