Oath of the Hunter

24 - A Roadtrip To Hell

Darius and Imogen stare at us from the sofa across the lounge, their features strained with grief, exhaustion, and shock. They've only just returned from patrolling the borders of their territory all night — and coming to terms with the fate of their daughter and loss of Milo, too — but I don't want to waste any more time than necessary before leaving. If I wait, I'll lose my nerve and change my mind, or the lycans will attack. Neither of those can happen.

So Rowan and I have told them our plan and await their permission. This is their land, after all, and if they decide not to let a bunch of Ferreus hunters stay, we can't change their mind. Lachlan, Matteo and Kay are silent as death on the sofa. Rowan is perched on the armrest, arms crossed, and I'm stood like a sentry at his side.

The room is an abyss of tension broken only by the ticking of distant clocks.

At last, Darius clears his throat, takes his fated's hand, and says, "I must admit, River, I didn't trust you at first. I'd heard rumours of your kind. The idea that someone like you would offer his aid, would align with werewolves against his very nature— I thought you were tricking us all. I wondered if your loyalty to Rowan was genuine or just another hunter tactic. And then you saved my pack from hunters, and you're helping us with these lycanthropes even though you owe us nothing. I trust you, but I... I cannot trust them. My pack won't survive if those hunters turn on us. Can you guarantee they won't?"

The intensity behind his gaze is blinding, but I hold it regardless. "No," I tell him honestly. "I... didn't exactly leave on good terms. They could just as easily kill me as hear me out, but I need to try. This is a gamble for both of us. If I don't ask for their help, these lycanthropes are going to take more lives. I can't stop them. If I manage to get the Ferreus hunters to help, they could snap. I'll do what I can to convince them to stick to the lycans, but in the heat of a fight, I can't make any promises that they won't turn. I need you to understand that."

Darius sighs softly, melting a little into his seat. "That's what I thought."

With a sharp breath, I add, "I also need you to know I didn't come here simply to help your pack. Not at first. I came here because I want the other Ferreus hunters dead, and I thought you'd offer your numbers to help. But now... well, now I need them alive more than ever."

He frowns at me, but his expression is surprisingly soft and understanding flickers in his eyes— as though, at long last, he has finally figured me out. "So the lycanthropes have ruined both our chances."

At his side, Imogen squares her shoulders and says firmly, "This is our only hope. I think you should go. If you don't ask, those lycans will try and kill us all, anyway. At least this way, we stand a chance. Besides, if a few of them fall instead of us, you get your wish, too. Whatever it takes to kill those monsters." Determination flickers like sparking embers in her eyes.

"One of them is our daughter," Darius tells her, his voice timid.

She glares at him; a snap of angry fire. "Not anymore."

Darius swallows thickly but doesn't answer her. Instead, his gaze retreats out the window towards the swaying woods. My brows pinch, but the luna forges on, capturing my attention once more.

"You need to come back to us, River," Imogen says. "With or without them. If they're not on board, do whatever you must to get out of there. We need you."

I nod, though my chances are abysmally low— to say nothing of Rowan and Lachlan's chances if I fail. "I'll do my best."

– ➶ –

The walk through the woods towards Matteo's car feels like a march towards my execution. With every step, I become more subdued, more uncertain, more hesitant. It reminds me of leading Rowan through the woods back in Crescent Valley towards Orion, Liliana and my mother— but this time, I know there's no pack lurking in the bushes to help should anything go wrong. If I mess up, I'll lose him and Lachlan. Our pack will lose their alpha and gamma and the lycanthropes will be free to rain terror on werewolves everywhere.