Page 137 of Wolf's Mark

And one of them was hurt.

“What the fuck happened?” My question was a demand as I headed for my brother.

While the slashes covering his body would heal, it was taking much longer than normal. Although I couldn’t remember the last time I’d paid any attention to healing time.

“We were ambushed. This isn’t just about werewolves, Jax,” Eliza said. He was out of breath as if they’d been running, not driving.

“Go on.”

“We were checking a site we’d gotten a tip on,” Riker said, grabbing the glass from my hand. He polished off the remainder of the whiskey, wiping his mouth with his arm. “We’d veered off from the others just to take a quick look. Suddenly, there were six of the bastards surrounding us. They trashed the truck and almost killed us.”

“Wolves or worse?”

“Humans,” Eliza said. “I heard Jeremiah hired some humans to clear the way.”

“Where was this?” I took a deep whiff, trying to ascertain any other odors. All I could gather was the stench of humans.

“Five miles back. The old Warton estate that’s been abandoned for a couple years,” Riker told me. “Only we didn’t get that far before we were ambushed.”

I looked away. “Jeremiah is close.”

“Maybe,” Eliza said, chortling afterward. “Or he could be in the next county or the next state. Maybe he doesn’t give a shit about Cartersville.”

“Yeah, he does,” I said definitively. My mother had said a few other things about my mate and the reason she’d been born and bred to be mine.

“What does that mean?” Now Eliza was demanding.

“It means our bloodline will eventually die because pure pups haven’t been born in a long time.”

“Yes, they have.”

“Not primal pups.”

It took Eliza a little while to understand what I was saying. “First families.”

“Yes.”

Riker glanced from one to the other. “How the fuck is Sedona first family?”

“Her birth was manufactured, her father from one of the first two families created.” In my mind, the devil must be laughing his ass off.

“Well, fuck,” he said. “That must piss her off.”

I had to chuckle although every muscle was tense. “You have no idea how much. Birth rates are down. You’ve already been told that.”

“Not with humans and wolves. They’re flourishing.” Eliza was putting the dots together.

“Exactly. We’re the ones now facing extinction. At least of our attributes and ability to shift. As well as our ability to stave off human diseases. They are increasing exponentially.” That much I’d learned from Marla. Her data was some of the most complete I’d ever seen.

“We can’t allow that to happen, brother.” Riker gave me a nod, a concerned look on his face.

“Jeremiah is close. I can feel him. I can smell him.” And I could. My senses had gotten stronger even over the last twenty-four hours. It had to do with being in close proximity to my mate. I was certain of it. That was another reason my wolf would not be denied for much longer. “Riker, rally the packs that have come into the area. We’re going hunting.”

“What do you need me to do?” Eliza asked.

“Have the Warton place surrounded but keep a slight distance. The entire area could be a lure and we’re not going to lose any men.” I was determined to end this tonight. The prequel to battle couldn’t go on any longer. Jeremiah was biding his time to continue building his army, sending us in different directions for small skirmishes. I headed to the back door, throwing it open. I needed to smell the night air.

The moment I did, my wolf reared to the surface and there was little I could do to contain him.

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