The Kill Order

Chapter 13

"I don't see a single werewolf," I said in frustration, swiveling the scope on my rifle around the forest. It was the second night of the full moon, and after hours of sitting in the forest, we hadn't come across any of our enemy. Dread weighed heavy in my stomach like a pile of rocks with the knowledge that if we didn't wipe out the wolves this month, we'd be here for another whole lunar cycle.

"I don't like it," Johnson's voice crackled in my ear. From my perch, I could see him shift anxiously in his hiding spot. "Where the hell are they?"

The guys argued with each other about our next step. Johnson was in favor of going out of formation to track them down, instead of waiting for them to come to us. Kwan wanted to be patient, trust the plan. Troyan was bored.

After a few more minutes of arguing, I tuned them out and shifted my weight to try and get more comfortable in my eagle's nest. I had to wonder if this was Mason's plan all along.

Mason. Of course, as soon as I thought his name, I imagined Mason's face the last time we were together. The sun had just begun to rise, and I knew I had to get back to base before anyone woke up. I didn't want to explain to any of my squad where I was, or why I'd left. Mason had followed me down the structure, and for just a moment, I had considered keeping his jacket.

It was a stupid idea.

How exactly was that going to help me in my plan of putting my feelings for Mason firmly in the past? We had that one night, but it was never going to happen again. It couldn't. I was being dumb, and I knew it.

Mason had looked like he wanted to kiss me again, but I had hastily backed away and locked myself in the Mustang.

"Goodbye," I had told him from the safety of the car, knowing he couldn't hear a word I was saying.

The expression on his face wasn't what I expected. He had looked almost determined, as if by sheer force of will he could overcome the distance between us.

He had stood, unmoving, until I couldn't even make out his form in my rearview mirror.

I had a text waiting for me when I returned to my room.

See you in a few days sunshine. Be safe.

It was an unexpected familiar voice buzzing over the com that broke me out of my reverie. "Squad 17, come in! Squad 17, acknowledge. The base is under attack, requesting immediate backup and firepower. I repeat: the base is under attack!"

The Hammer was calling us home for the worst possible reason.

There was barely a pause before Kwan was on his feet. "17, move out! Shep, get the hell down as fast as you can. Troyan, stay back and cover Shep, then the two of you meet us back at base. Everyone else, move out."

Troyan was not one to defy orders, but he balked at this one. "Hell fucking no, Kwan! Jennifer's back there! Put someone else on Shep duty, I'm going with you."