Page 17 of Beckett's Fate

Irene couldn’t meet her eyes.

“What exactly do you want me to do, Irene?”

“Warn them,” Irene said, raising her eyes to meet Ruby’s, her voice fierce. “Warn Beck. Warn all of the alphas.”

Ruby leveled her with a look, her tone cold. “What makes you think we don’t already know? I don’t know who or what you are, but this isn’t our first rodeo with those bastards. This isn’t your fight. You don’t belong here. Go back to wherever it is you belong.”

“Not my fight? It is if they find me,” Irene snapped, her voice trembling with anger. “And it’s going to be your fight, too, whether you like it or not.”

For a moment, the two women stared at each other, the air between them crackling with angry energy. Finally, Ruby sighed, her gaze softening slightly.

“You’re not wrong to be concerned,” Ruby admitted, her voice quieter now. “The alphas do know and are taking precautions. I’m closing down the B&B. The last thing we need is for a bunch of innocents to get caught up in this. But you aren’t one of those innocents are you, Irene? Just who the hell are you?”

“Someone who knows how to take care of herself,” Irene interrupted, pushing up out of the chair. “But I’m not inclined to just sit around and wait for them to come knocking.”

Without waiting for Ruby’s reply, Irene grabbed her pack and headed for the door. The cold air hit her as she stepped outside, her boots crunching along the gravel path. She couldn’t stay here—not with Ruby’s attitude and the ever-present risk of Beck finding her.

She needed space. A place where she wouldn’t be overheard or cornered. Somewhere she could think clearly.

The sun was high above the trees as Irene slipped into the forest, the familiar rhythm of her steps calming her frayed nerves. The pain in her shoulder was a dull throb now, a reminder of just how close the hunters had come. She gritted her teeth, pushing the thought aside.

She couldn’t afford to dwell on the danger—not when there were so many questions left unanswered. Why were the hunters here? How long had they been watching? Were they hunting her? Someone in Silver Falls? Or just hunting in general? And most importantly, how was she going to stop them? Whatever answers she needed, she wasn’t going to find them hiding in the safety of the B&B.

She had to stay ahead of Beck. Stay ahead of everyone. Because if she didn’t, the hunters were going to find her, find him, find them. Those in Silver Falls had to have a plan, didn’t they? In any event, they weren’t her concern. Only her own safety and that of her pack was her concern, and she wasn’t sure she’d survive another encounter with the hunters.

The forest was quiet except for the faint rustle of leaves in the breeze. Irene stood on a small ridge, her phone pressed to her ear as she waited for Sophie to pick up. Her eyes darted around the shadowed trees, her muscles tense despite the apparent stillness of the wilderness around her.

Finally, Sophie’s voice came through, sharp and impatient. “Irene. What’s going on?”

“Hunters,” Irene said without preamble, her voice low but urgent. “There are hunters in the valley where Silver Falls is. They’re armed and organized.”

A beat of silence. Then, “What kind of hunters?”

“The kind that track shifters,” Irene replied, her grip tightening on the phone. “The kind we’ve heard about. The kind that sell us to the highest bidder—or worse.”

Sophie’s sharp intake of breath was audible even through the connection. “How many?”

“At least three, maybe more,” Irene said. “I’ve already run into them once. They’re experienced, Sophie. These aren’t amateurs.”

“And you didn’t think to call us sooner?” Sophie snapped, her tone edged with frustration.

“I’m calling you now,” Irene shot back, her voice rising. “I barely made it out alive. I didn’t have time to stop and chat.”

“You need to come home,” Sophie said firmly. “Now. We’ll send a group to escort you.”

“A group? There’s only five of us. With me gone, that leaves four.”

“It’s too dangerous for you to stay there.”

“No,” Irene said, shaking her head even though Sophie couldn’t see her. “You can’t. You must remain in the Superstitions. Make sure you have someone posted at the lookout. If you see anyone, fall back to the caves and try to get word to me. You’re in charge, Sophie. Your primary responsibility is to those in the pack.”

“We can handle a few hunters,” Sophie growled. “You’re the one out there alone, Irene. It’s not safe.”

“I’m safe for now,” Irene insisted, though the tension in her voice betrayed her unease. “I’ve masked my scent, and I knowhow to stay hidden. But if you come here, they’ll know exactly where to look.”

Sophie’s voice softened, but the worry in it was clear. “You’re playing with fire, Irene. If they find out what you are?—”

“Too late. I had to shift to get away from them,” Irene interrupted.

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