Page 57 of Mated in Darkness

“I know.”

Kaylee growled low. “You killed Spencer. You killed so many others. But we found your lab. We’ve killed your men, and you’re done now. You’re never going to hurt another person again.”

“You aren’t people, whore.”

My wolf raged, and I moved forward, bloody blade in hand. But Riaz held up a hand.

“No, I’ve got this.” And with a twitch of his hand, a snap echoing in the air, Kyle was no more.

Those who had attacked our people, had butchered them, leaving black and bloody claw marks and bite marks all over them, were gone.

I let out a breath and met Kaylee’s gaze, hoping this was truly the end.

By the time we cleaned everything up, more of Riaz’s wolves had checked out the compound where the soldiers had stayed.

They had indeed used up the last of their serum, and perhaps they had wanted me to help them. But I was a geneticist. There was only so much I could do. Not that I would’ve ever turned against the Packs.

They had been my family long before I turned wolf, and I was only just now realizing that.

I stood in a clearing with Riaz, Kaylee with her father a few yards beside us, going over the flight plans for when we can leave.

“They were here because they thought they could hide from us. Because our Pack isn’t as connected to the other Packs as the Pacific Northwest is, or even those on the East Coast. That’s going to have to change.” Riaz frowned.

“You’re already changing it. Parker’s here.”

Riaz nodded. “You’re right. It is.”

“Something I don’t get though. If these weren’t the rogues that we know keep popping up, then what else are we missing? What aren’t we getting?”

Riaz met my gaze and shook his head. “I don’t know. But something’s out there, and it’s not these soldiers. Something else had magic to keep us away before, when you were attacked. Something held enough magic to allow the mutant to get closer to the wards than he should have. The soldiers weren’t working alone. Or something was helping them. And I want to know what it was.”

I knew there was a worry spreading through the Packs, and not just the one in front of me. Rogues were a danger to everyone around them, and they were increasing in occurrence with each passing year.

Something was changing them, something pulling them towards their more animalistic and uncontrolled sides.

I didn’t know what it was, but we would have to find out.

“I’m sure you’ll keep looking,” Riaz began. “Up with the Redwoods.”

I winced. “Is that okay? That I’m Redwood and not Starlight?”

Riaz reached out and squeezed my shoulder, his wolf so strong I wanted to bow down just then. It was an odd feeling, and I wasn’t sure I liked it.

“Go. They will be your family. Maybe you’ll finally let yourself be with them, rather than on the outskirts that you were with us.”

I winced. “It was never anything about any of you.”

“I know.” Riaz looked over my shoulder at Kaylee. “You needed that push. And Kaylee’s it. But just know, when you go, you might be theirs, but your ours now, too. Just like Spencer was.”

He swallowed hard, and I knew he had said it loudly for Kaylee and Reed’s benefit.

I met the Alpha of the Starlight Pack’s gaze and knew this wouldn’t be the last I’d see of him.

My life was changing, I was a wolf now, but I was Redwood.

And as my mate wrapped her arm around my waist, I knew this was just the beginning. Even with the unknown coming, there was still so much to live for, to fight for.

I was Redwood, and I was just now learning what that meant.

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