Page 20 of Knox's Fate

Knox brushed a stray lock of hair from her face, allowing himself the luxury of tenderness for a heartbeat longer, before turning on his heel and striding out to join his men.

With the encroaching light of the day, he opened his phone and called the sheriff. The hard-packed earth felt solid under his heavy boots as he moved with purpose toward the perimeter where his men were already positioned in a kind of silent vigil. The scent of pine and impending rain mingled in the air, nature herself tensing for what was to come.

"Beckett," he said, his voice low and even as the call connected, "this is Knox."

"Knox?" came the sheriff's cautious reply. "What's got you calling at this hour? Trouble brewing?"

"Could be," Knox answered, his gaze sweeping over the shadowed tree line, alert for any sign of movement. "We've spotted unfamiliar scouts on our land. They're not from around here."

"You think they're a threat?" Beckett's tone sharpened with concern.

"Can't say for sure yet," Knox replied, his eyes narrowing as he caught the faintest rustle in the underbrush. "But I wanted to give you a heads-up. If this escalates, it may not be contained just to the bears."

“Do you think it’s treasure hunters?”

“Could be. Could also be sniffing around looking for mates or a rogue group of males just looking to take over. Whatever it is, we’ll handle it."

"Damn," the sheriff muttered. "Anything you can tell me about them? These bears that are headed your way?"

"Nothing concrete." Knox paused, his instincts honing in on the quiet dissonance of the forest. "We’ve seen signs of scouts for months, but this time it’s a small unit. They’ve been secretive and have avoided engagement. They’ve just been watching. We're ready for them, though."

"Fine, but this needs to be brought before the town council," Beckett said. There was a tension in his tone, a blend of concern and formality.

"We can talk all we want," Knox snarked, his eyes scanning the dense tree line. He really didn’t have time for procedural debates. "All their talking won't turn the tide of what's coming."

Beckett paused for a moment, the silence stretching between them like a tightrope. "I’ve spoken to Mavis. What about Ruby? How much does she know?"

"Enough." Knox's answer was terse as his mind flickered back to Ruby and the way she had seemed to accept the reality of shifters. "She knows about Silver Falls... about all of us. She also suspects her aunt's death wasn't natural. She's not wrong."

"Damn," Beckett exhaled, "that complicates things. Are you sure she can handle...”

"Ruby's tough," Knox cut in, an unbidden sense of pride warming his chest despite the chill in the morning air. "She's part of this now. We’re going to have to figure it out. We owe Ruby, not to mention Lorraine, that much."

"Agreed,” Beckett said after a moment. “Keep me posted, Knox. I don’t need to remind you how quick these situations can go sideways. If you need, I can rally some of the others, and we can join you."

"We should be able to handle it on our own, but I appreciate the offer."

“Just remember you are a clan alpha now, not a lone sniper. Lord knows you and your clan have come to the aid of others…”

“Understood, but I think it’s only a small scout group. We’ll greet them and send them on their way.”

“Sure you will,” laughed Beckett, “because bears are so well known for their sunny dispositions.”

Knox snorted. “We’ve got this, but I do appreciate knowing you’ve got my back.”

“Always. I wouldn’t be standing here if it weren’t for you.”

Knox ended the call before Beckett could go further. During their time in the military, Knox had, on more than one occasion, saved Beckett’s ass and vice versa. He didn’t understand why the wolf-shifter made such a big deal of it. Knox had no more time for pointless conversation; the sun was shining its light on the threat of danger, and his every sense was attuned to the defense of his people and their territory.

He reached the first watch post where his men acknowledged him with curt nods, their postures rigid with anticipation. Their alpha had arrived, and with him, the unspoken promise of a leader who would protect his own until his last breath. Knox felt the familiar surge of adrenaline, the primal force of his bear at the edge of his consciousness, ready to rise and fight.

"Stay sharp," he commanded, his deep voice barely above a whisper but carrying the weight of a battle cry. With a final glance back at the compound, where Ruby and the others waited, a steely commitment to those he held dear settled over him.

By tonight, the enemy would come to understand the true danger in threatening his clan.

For most of the day, he moved through their territory, checking with patrols and outlooks alike. They’d lost sight of the scouting party, but Knox knew better than to think they had retreated. Coming as a group was a bold move, and it was not the act of someone who didn’t have ulterior motives.

One of the patrols spotted them at last and radioed Knox, who now stood watching them, his muscles tensed as the scent of the intruding bears grew stronger. They were pretty brazen asthey moved through one of the lower meadows. They might be feeling a little cocky, as no one had engaged them at this point, but being a sniper had taught Knox the value of observation and patience.

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