The Wolves and the Vipers

Chapter 26 - Danny

Tyler met us outside the pack house. We had stopped there to let Jace out of the car. Somehow, I didn't think I would be invited to the next part of this trespasser hunt, but I was straining to listen, all the same. Jace hadn't closed his car door properly, so their voices were just about audible.

"He doesn't smell Riverside, no," Tyler was saying. "He's in his twenties. He didn't even fight us — put his hands up and everything. It was like he wanted to get caught..."

"So, what? He's a rogue, walking onto our territory alone and with his hands up. I don't like this," Jace replied in an undertone. I watched him walk back towards the car and wait for Zoe to roll down the window for him. "You two — take Emma home. Wait with her."

"Yes, Alpha."

"I think that's probably a good idea," Tyler said, "because the rogue asked for her specifically."

All of a sudden, he had my full and undivided attention. I felt my eyes widening, and I leant forwards in my seat, as if that would let me hear them better.

Jace turned his head sharply in Tyler's direction. "He asked for her? By name?"

"Yes."

"What does he look like?" I demanded. It had been easy to forget that Jace had used my name when he had demanded to speak with Rhodric Llewellyn. It could have been anyone, really. But there was one man in his twenties I would have loved to see. I hardly even dared to hope that it might be him.

Tyler gave me a funny look. "Like a rogue?"

I blinked at him and then looked helplessly at Jace, hoping he would offer something more than that. But the two of them were already walking away from the car. I tried to stay in my seat — really, I did. I tried to sit there and wait while Ashley started the engine. But if I did that, it would be hours before I knew for sure, and I couldn't wait that long.

I got out of the car and started after them both. I was careful to stay a little way behind, so they wouldn't notice me. But it wasn't long before I heard two car doors slam behind me in quick succession, followed by a burst of hurried footsteps.

"Luna!" Luke called. Zoe was hot on his heels, but she was keeping her mouth shut, sensibly enough. "We're supposed to take you—"

"I know. But I'm not going home just yet," I told him. "You two can wait here for me, if you like. I won't be too long."

I didn't wait for his reply. I just turned around and opened the door to the pack house. I knew the way to the prison well enough — it didn't matter that I had now lost sight of Jace and Tyler. Perhaps it was even better this way, because now there was no chance they would turn and see me.

Luke jogged to catch up with me. "Jace said—"

"I know what Jace said," I said without breaking stride. "You're my guard, not my jailer. If you don't want to wait outside, I'm happy for you and Zoe to come to the prison with me, as long as you're quiet."

I put my wolf behind the words. The kind of force I used was subtle, not at all like Jace's tidal waves. It seeped into their minds — bending their will, not breaking it. A glance over my shoulder showed me that it was working, to some extent. Luke's eyes had gone half-blank. He was still walking, but some of the purpose was gone from that stride. Zoe plodded along quietly behind him, head down.

I heard them murmuring to each other when I opened the door to the prison and started descending the steps. Luke said something too faint to catch, except perhaps for the words 'terrible' and 'idea.'

"The Alpha can't fault us for disobeying a direct order," Zoe said, a little louder. "What else can we do? Physically drag her home? You know that's not an option."