Chapter 326
I walked over to him, and he pressed himself harder against the wall. He reeked of fear.
“There were rogues here last night,” I said. “A group of them. They kidnapped someone. Where did they go?”
“I don’t know.”
I grabbed him by the front of his jacket and hauled him to his feet. “Don’t lie to me.’
“I’m not lying!” His voice cracked. “I didn’t see them ’cause I was hiding when they left. I swear, I didn’t see anything!” He pointed at an old locker off to the side, where one of the doors was hanging open. “I was hiding in there the whole time! I heard voices, but I never came out.”
I stared at him. He looked terrified, and his heartbeat was racing so fast I could feel it thundering in my fingertips. Either he was telling the truth, or he was a damn good actor.
“There was a rogue with an eyepatch,” my Beta said. “Big guy. One good eye, the other covered. You know him?”
The rogue’s face went pale. “You mean Gareth?”
I tightened my grip. “You know him.”
“Everyone knows him,” the rogue said. “But I’ve never met him. I stay as far away from his tribe as I can.”
“His tribe?”
“Yeah. He’s got a whole camp full of people. Maybe fifty or sixty rogues. They’re deep in the northern wilderness, way past pack territory. They don’t come out much, and when they do, it’s usually to recruit or steal supplies.”
“Where’s the camp?”
“I don’t know exactly,” he said quickly. “I’ve only heard stories. Somewhere north of here, past the river. There’s supposed to be a gorge or something. That’s all I know, I swear.”
I let go of his jacket and stepped back. He slumped against the wall, clutching his chest.
“Tell the others that we’re heading north,” I told my Beta. “Check the maps for a gorge.”
The rogue’s eyes widened further. “You’re gonna go out there?”
“I have to,” I said. “He took my mate.”
“B-But that guy’s fuckin’ crazy,” the rogue insisted. “H-He thinks Lycans are real. He’s obsessed with them. He’s always going on about bringing back the old ways, about how his tribe is going to rise up and take down all the packs. If you go out there, he’ll—”
“Lycans,” I cut him off.
I looked at my Beta. His expression mirrored mine-confusion and concern. The Lycans had died off centuries ago. There hadn’t been a single full-blooded Lycan in the territories in generations.
“Well,” I said, pulling my shoulders back, “I’m sure we can handle one zealot.”
The rogue shuddered and sank back down onto his pile of blankets. “Suit yourself. I wouldn’t go out there, though.”
As if I had a choice.
1/2
Thopter 320
+25 Bonus
By the time my Beta and I emerged from the warehouse, the two warriors I’d sent to track the trail had returned. They looked grim.
“Trail goes cold about a mile north,” one of them said. “They must have split up or covered their tracks better. We couldn’t follow it any further.”
I clenched my jaw. Of course they had.
“North of here, past the river,” I said. “That’s where we’re going.”
“Alpha,” my Beta said carefully. “That’s deep wilderness, far from any packs or allies. If we go in there, we’re on our own.”
“I know.”
“And if this Gareth guy really does have fifty or sixty rogues with him-”
“I don’t care,” I said. I looked at him, then at the rest of my warriors. “Ellie is out there. And I’m going to get her back. Anyone who doesn’t want to come can stay here.”
No one moved.
My Beta nodded. “Alright. Let’s go.”
We took off into the forest, heading north.
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