Fox Ensnared

Part 9

Chapter 13

I sleep the day away. Burrowed down in my blankets, listening to the rain pelt the window trying not to think about him or how good his lips felt against mine. It's the middle of the week. I only have a few more days till I have to face Owen. I will have to look him in the eye, knowing what I did last night. Maybe I just don't tell him. I already keep my past and my extra activities from him. What's a secret mate bond added to all that? I have a choice not like with same species mate bonds. Ours isn't formed immediately. It needs time to grow and become stronger. I can always kill it. I am good at killing things.

I dose off until Uncle Jaspers comes in carrying a pizza. "Thank god, I am so sick of rabbits." I sit up, licking my lips. The pepperoni smells divine. He sets the box down, and on top is an envelope.

"What's this?" I ask, holding my breath.

"Something I have been working on, something I debated on giving you." I arch my perfectly sculpted brow and exhale.

"Just know I will always support you, but I have to caution you against this one. Maybe it's enough, Payton. Maybe it's time to move on." He runs his hands through his hair. It's getting long. Too long.

"It's only enough when I have killed every last one of them, even if that means I don't have a future." I move the envelope off the pizza box and set it aside.

"They would want you to have a future PayPay." I open the box and take out a slice.

"Let's eat." My way of avoiding the subject. He knows I won't stop. I can't. It's who I am.

We eat in silence when the last piece is gone. Jasper stands and pulls me up into a hug. "This one we do together. Promise me." I don't know what I will find when I open that envelope, but whatever it is has Jasper spooked.

"Okay." I don't know if it's a lie or not.

"Tomorrow morning, let's go for a run." I smile, hoping he agrees.

"Sure thing PayPay."

The door closes, and I wait until I can't hear his footsteps any longer before I open the nefarious envelope.

Jason and Val Smith. Brothers with a notorious past. The list of sinister deeds is long and still growing.

Kidnapping.

Trafficking.

Murder.

Rape.

You name it, and they have done it. They even have their own gang made of shifters and vamps and some humans.

Uncle Jasper was right about this one. Getting close enough to take them out will be extremely trying. Taking them out and not dying also extremely trying. This will take time to plot and execute.

Best get started.....

I lingered on the outskirts of the hideout. It's daytime, so I won't have to worry about vampires, and the few humans who are here haven't the advanced senses to sniff me out. The shifters are my only worry right now, but with the scent blocker, I should be ok as long as I stay hidden.

So far, I haven't gained any useful info. But something tells me that's about to change when a panel van comes speeding down the dirt road. Nothing good ever happened in the back of a van like that. I imagine lots of tears and blood have been shed inside.

The van comes to a halt in a slew of dust. A male human goes to meet whoever is driving. They never get out, and I can't see their face from here. The human walks around to the back of the van, where two shifters are waiting. The back door swings open, and my heart hits the floor. Children, all look to be under the age of fifteen and all human. I can smell their fear permeating the air from here. What dreadful, revolting things do they have planned for those babies? I need a plan and fast.

I shift and run back to the academy only stopping once for a quick drink from a stream. My paws are raw and bleeding by the time I limp up the steps to the double doors. I will have to shift to open them, but I don't know if I have the strength.

The shift takes longer than it should. It's painful and leaves me feeling nauseated and dizzy. I collapse on the steps, the bricks scratching my exposed skin. My eyesight becomes blurry as I fight to stay conscience.

I feel him before I see him. My chest aches, and the fresh rain scent washes over me. RIVEN.

I am aware of being lifted in his arms and carried inside. I meet those pale blue eyes and smile.

"You came." My words are slurred, but I know he understands them.

"I will always come for you, little fox." My soul fills full for the first time ever. I close my eyes and let the darkness claim me, knowing I will be safe.