Howl For It
Page 82
Two shifters. One blond and fair. One dark, dangerous.
Theyd been at the cabin. When Gage had first brought her to the desert, these wolves had been there. Like she would have forgotten them so soon.
Ive narrowed it down to two. Now she knew what Gage had meant.
Since you said there was no tracking device on you, Gage said as he crossed his arms and stared down at the wolves, that means the hunters found us in the desert by . . . another means.
A traitor.
I didnt sell you out! The blond wolf yelled as he jerked against his chains. More smoke plumed in the air. The guy should know, the more he struggled, the more hed burn. Dammit, trust me, Gage!
Thats the problem, Davis, Gage said quietly, I did trust you.
Kaylas gaze darted between the wolf shifters.
Just as I trusted you, Billy, Gage said and his gaze swung to the silent, glaring wolf. I trusted you both. With my life and the lives of the pack.
Only his pack members were under attack. Two had been taken.
Where were Shamus and Faye now?
Gage crossed his arms over his chest as he studied the two chained shifters. Only two wolves knew that Kayla and I took shelter at that cabin. Just you fucking two. Rage snapped through the words.
The dark wolf, Billy, still wasnt talking. He just sat there, the silver chaining him, and glared back up at Gage with narrowed eyes.
Ive been with you for five years, Davis shouted, spittle flying from his mouth. Do you really think Id betray you to a human?
No. Gage spoke so instantly that Davis relaxed. Started to look confident.
But Billy quickly shook his head, obviously thinking the blame was coming his way. No way, alpha, it wasnt
I think, Gage said, cutting through Billys words and still staring right at Davis, that youd betray me to a wolf.
Had Davis tensed at that? Yes, he had. His hands were straining against the cuffs. The guy was desperate to break free. Not that Kayla blamed him. If she were burning, shed be feeling pretty desperate right then, too.
But . . . just how strong were the bonds on him? If another one of his pack mates had chained him, would that person have felt some sympathy for the shifter? Maybe not tightened the silver chains enough?
A wolf? Billy asked, frowning. What the hell are you talking about?
Kayla stepped forward. Gage had brought her in there, so she figured it was time she did her part. The leader of the hunters, Lyle McKennis . . . Hes actually a wolf shifter.
Billy started to laugh. Youre shitting me.
No, Im not. Carefully, she studied thechained wolves. Davis had widened his eyes and the guy looked surprised. But his hands were still twisting within the bonds.
And you knew? Billy threw at her. You knew what he was and you were still
I didnt know. I thought he was human. Shed been blind. Only seeing what she wanted to see.
And was that why Gage had brought her in? Did he think he was blind where these two wolves were concerned?
She could understand the fear. When you trusted someone so much, it was easy for the person to mislead you. To lie right to your face.
But this time, things were different. It wasnt just about blind faith. Because this time, Kayla had a way to help Gage. After all, this really was her area of expertise. Lyles sent other folks undercover in packs before. He liked to do that. Divide and conquer, that was his strategy.
Like he sent you? Davis demanded. His hands stilled as he looked up at her. He just tossed you right at the big boss.
Ive been working with Lyle for years, so he didnt track me. No, when Gage had first asked her about a tracking device, shed immediately denied having one. But, actually, years before, Lyle had implanted one just under her right shoulder.
Shed dug it out. She wasnt a dog to be tracked. Not even by the man shed put up on a stupid pedestal.
And he sure did fall.
So Lyle checked in with her via regular calls. He didnt use the calls with his other hunters. That would have been too risky. Or so he said. Hed given her special privileges, because shed been his top hunter.
So hed said. Lying asshole.
They all have trackers, she whispered. All the other hunters. In case theyre ever captured or for when they find a target . . . The better to apprehend them. The better to send in the team.
Just like the team had come for her and Gage.
The chained men frowned at her. The silence in the room seemed heavy. Too thick.
And you dont have a tracker, Kayla? Gage asked, voice deep and rumbling as he broke through that silence.
She shook her head. But, hell, maybe that wasnt good enough. She pulled over the neck of her shirt, revealing the thin scar that sliced around her shoulder. I took it out two years ago.
Shed thought it would be hard to figure out which member of the pack was betraying Gage. Checking all the pack for trackers? Yeah, shed see that going over real well. Like theyd all be willing to strip for a hunter and let her search their bodies.
But with just two men . . . finding the tracking device would be a piece of cake.
Who has it? Kayla whispered as her gaze darted between Davis and Billy.
Theyd been at the cabin. When Gage had first brought her to the desert, these wolves had been there. Like she would have forgotten them so soon.
Ive narrowed it down to two. Now she knew what Gage had meant.
Since you said there was no tracking device on you, Gage said as he crossed his arms and stared down at the wolves, that means the hunters found us in the desert by . . . another means.
A traitor.
I didnt sell you out! The blond wolf yelled as he jerked against his chains. More smoke plumed in the air. The guy should know, the more he struggled, the more hed burn. Dammit, trust me, Gage!
Thats the problem, Davis, Gage said quietly, I did trust you.
Kaylas gaze darted between the wolf shifters.
Just as I trusted you, Billy, Gage said and his gaze swung to the silent, glaring wolf. I trusted you both. With my life and the lives of the pack.
Only his pack members were under attack. Two had been taken.
Where were Shamus and Faye now?
Gage crossed his arms over his chest as he studied the two chained shifters. Only two wolves knew that Kayla and I took shelter at that cabin. Just you fucking two. Rage snapped through the words.
The dark wolf, Billy, still wasnt talking. He just sat there, the silver chaining him, and glared back up at Gage with narrowed eyes.
Ive been with you for five years, Davis shouted, spittle flying from his mouth. Do you really think Id betray you to a human?
No. Gage spoke so instantly that Davis relaxed. Started to look confident.
But Billy quickly shook his head, obviously thinking the blame was coming his way. No way, alpha, it wasnt
I think, Gage said, cutting through Billys words and still staring right at Davis, that youd betray me to a wolf.
Had Davis tensed at that? Yes, he had. His hands were straining against the cuffs. The guy was desperate to break free. Not that Kayla blamed him. If she were burning, shed be feeling pretty desperate right then, too.
But . . . just how strong were the bonds on him? If another one of his pack mates had chained him, would that person have felt some sympathy for the shifter? Maybe not tightened the silver chains enough?
A wolf? Billy asked, frowning. What the hell are you talking about?
Kayla stepped forward. Gage had brought her in there, so she figured it was time she did her part. The leader of the hunters, Lyle McKennis . . . Hes actually a wolf shifter.
Billy started to laugh. Youre shitting me.
No, Im not. Carefully, she studied thechained wolves. Davis had widened his eyes and the guy looked surprised. But his hands were still twisting within the bonds.
And you knew? Billy threw at her. You knew what he was and you were still
I didnt know. I thought he was human. Shed been blind. Only seeing what she wanted to see.
And was that why Gage had brought her in? Did he think he was blind where these two wolves were concerned?
She could understand the fear. When you trusted someone so much, it was easy for the person to mislead you. To lie right to your face.
But this time, things were different. It wasnt just about blind faith. Because this time, Kayla had a way to help Gage. After all, this really was her area of expertise. Lyles sent other folks undercover in packs before. He liked to do that. Divide and conquer, that was his strategy.
Like he sent you? Davis demanded. His hands stilled as he looked up at her. He just tossed you right at the big boss.
Ive been working with Lyle for years, so he didnt track me. No, when Gage had first asked her about a tracking device, shed immediately denied having one. But, actually, years before, Lyle had implanted one just under her right shoulder.
Shed dug it out. She wasnt a dog to be tracked. Not even by the man shed put up on a stupid pedestal.
And he sure did fall.
So Lyle checked in with her via regular calls. He didnt use the calls with his other hunters. That would have been too risky. Or so he said. Hed given her special privileges, because shed been his top hunter.
So hed said. Lying asshole.
They all have trackers, she whispered. All the other hunters. In case theyre ever captured or for when they find a target . . . The better to apprehend them. The better to send in the team.
Just like the team had come for her and Gage.
The chained men frowned at her. The silence in the room seemed heavy. Too thick.
And you dont have a tracker, Kayla? Gage asked, voice deep and rumbling as he broke through that silence.
She shook her head. But, hell, maybe that wasnt good enough. She pulled over the neck of her shirt, revealing the thin scar that sliced around her shoulder. I took it out two years ago.
Shed thought it would be hard to figure out which member of the pack was betraying Gage. Checking all the pack for trackers? Yeah, shed see that going over real well. Like theyd all be willing to strip for a hunter and let her search their bodies.
But with just two men . . . finding the tracking device would be a piece of cake.
Who has it? Kayla whispered as her gaze darted between Davis and Billy.
