Shadows (Book 2 of the Zara's Wolf Trilogy) BWWM

13. Clash

Author's Note: This is a really intense chapter, guys. Just a head's up. Play the instrumental music I attached now and enjoy!

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I can barely fathom what Evan just said with everything happening around us. My eyes tear away from him to the houses surrounding the fire pit and the forest behind them. Men and women begin hurrying out the front doors and gathering around us.

I turn back to Evan, feeling the terror rise within. "What's going on?"

His eyes are wide open, his mouth slightly ajar, and his skin white.

"Evan?" The panic in my voice startles him out of his frozen state. "What's going on? What are you talking about?"

He grabs my shoulders and pulls me against him even though he's trembling as much as I am. "They're coming. He's with them."

"Who?"

"My older brother, Ryan." He curses as he pulls me tightly against him. "My parents picked up his scent. He's with the rogues."

I open my mouth, but nothing comes out. Since when did he have an older brother? And why in the world is he with the rogues and not with his family?

Clyde, Heidi, Owen, and Leah hurry to the fire pit and whistle for everyone's attention. Motioning for us to gather closely around them, Evan pulls away from me. With my hand in his, he pulls me towards the alphas.

"I'll explain everything later," he tells me over his shoulder.

"Later?"

He flinches at my demanding and hurt tone. He's been keeping a secret from me all this time about having an older brother, and now his brother is supposed to be involved with this attacking pack of rogues? How does he expect me to take this news?

My heart starts beating a mile a minute. I watch as Clyde's mouth moves, but the blood pounding through my head drowns out his words.

Alicia, Rick, and Keith appear next to them. Alicia's so pale, I worry that she's going to faint any moment if it weren't for Rick holding her steady. Rick is wearing a mask of stoicism. Maybe it's because of the gray light, but even his reddish skin appears paler than usual against his dark hair. Keith's matching the stern, emotionless look on Owen face, their jaws clenched tightly.

Emily! My eyes immediately scan around us as I look for the youngest member of our pack. Spotting her nearby with Evan's family, I breathe a sigh of relief

Tugging gently on Evan's arm, I jut my chin towards his family when I get his attention.

Giving me a nod, he pulls me through the growing crowd.

Clyde's voice wafts into my mind then, as I take in the grim expressions on the faces surrounding me. "We've been anticipating this since we first got sightings of the rogues coming near our border. This comes as no surprise given that there appears to be a group of them rather than a lone wolf simply passing through."

There's a murmur from the people around us as we reach Evan's family. Tamara has her arms wrapped around Joshua's shoulders as he leans back against her, his eyes staring ahead at the alphas. Brianna's standing next to her father, both of their faces blank as they take everything in. Paige is biting her nails next to Emily, chewing on her bottom lip. Paige catches sight of us and waves us over, drawing attention from her family as we approach.

"I know many of you are exhausted and have had very little sleep, but I ask you all to please pull yourselves together," Clyde continues as we pull up to Evan's family.