Page 34 of Wolf Crowned

Thirteen

Sawyer

Sloane’s emotions hit me like a sucker punch to the gut. I grabbed my side and sucked in a shallow breath through my nose and waited for the discomfort to pass.

I reached out to her with my mind. Sloane, is everything okay?

There wasn’t an immediate answer. Something happened? That I was sure of, but what.

Lincoln, was fine. I could feel him, alive and well. My dad was still here at our homestead. I knew that for a fact, but that didn’t mean something else couldn’t have occurred to cause her distress. I had to find out what.

I scanned the trees as I made my way further into the woods. This time of day most of the pack was off training or doing my dad‘s bidding. The woods were fairly empty, but I wanted to make sure that I went far enough back just in case.

I cocked my head to one side, listening as I weaved myself deeper into the tree line. I must’ve walked at least a mile with only the sounds of the wildlife skittering about before stopping. I did one last double take, ensuring I was alone.

I sat on a fallen tree log and closed my eyes, reaching out fully with our connection.

The air shimmered as we were brought together, and I found myself in an office.

Sloane sat on the floor against the door, tears misted her eyes as she stared vacantly at something only she could see. She wasn’t crying but she looked like she was on the verge of it.

I sank next to her and pulled her into my arms as I ran my hand up and down her back. “What’s wrong?”

I held my breath. She didn’t seem to be in a panic or injured.

She sniffled and grasped my arm so hard her nails dug into my skin. “Three days, Sawyer.” She blinked up at me. “That’s when we’re coming.”

Three days. It felt like an eternity even though it was so close. If everything went according to plan, we would all be together soon. I could hold her in my arms for real.

I gave her a little shake and then kissed her forehead. “What’s wrong? That’s good news, right?”

She put a hand on her chest as she drew in a shuddering breath. “Sawyer, this is it, it’s the final battle. I can feel it.”

I shook my head. “You don’t know that, sweetheart.”

As much as it pained me, this conflict could go on for a while.

Her face crumpled, and she dragged her hand under her nose. “How can it not be? Think about it. If your dad is there...this...this is it.”

The air whooshed out of my lungs. She was right. This could really be it.

She pursed her lips and a single tear trickled down that she quickly swiped away. “We either take down Alpha Dane or we don’t. It’s not just a rescue mission, it’s the mission. I’m tired of looking over my shoulder and being afraid.”

Understanding washed over me. She wasn’t planning to just come for the women. Had she told everyone else the plan? “Do you really think this is it? That we can stop him?”

She shrugged her shoulders and held her hands out to her sides. “I don’t see how it can’t be. These back and forth attacks have to stop. Too many innocents are at risk, and more people get drawn into the fight, which will only make the casualties grow with each conflict.”

The more I thought about it the more she was right. Dad wouldn’t let them just walk away with the women and any men. He would block off the exits and pursue them. It would be a battle to the death.

One way or another, this was going to stop. I was going to do everything that I could to make sure that we were successful. “What do you need me to do?”

I didn’t give her a chance to answer. “I can make sure that some of the pack away. There would be less people there for you to fight.”

Sloane nibbled on her bottom lip as she made a face like she was thinking. Her brows scrunched together and she let her head fall back against the door again. “No, I think the pack should be there, as many of them as can be. The more people who see your father go down the better. And the less we have to track down after the fighting.”

I sucked in a deep breath and let it out. I didn’t like this plan. “There will be more people there to fight. And my dad...”

Sloane couldn’t beat him in a fight. I couldn’t. And to make it worse. He would never fight fair.

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