Page 47 of Run Free

My ears pricked up, and I lay low to the ground in a dark, shadowed area.

“I’m telling you, Jedidiah, you can’t trust him. Luke’s the one that tipped off the Colliers about our last attack. I know he is.”

“We have no proof of that,” the old man said. “Oliver, go find Luke.”

“Yes, Alpha,” the man responded, and I could hear him leave. As he passed by I caught a glimpse. He looked no different than me: mostly clean-cut, wearing jeans and a leather jacket. His hair was a little long and he had a light scruff of a beard, but overall, he looked just like any average guy, not the sort I would stereotype for a place like this.

“You sent Ollie?” one of the men said when the guy was out of earshot. “He’s almost as bad as Luke.”

“Which is why I sent him,” Jedidiah said. “I hear your speculation against Luke. I’m not sure I believe it, but I’m not taking any chances this time. With Cole Anderson out of the territory, it’s the perfect time to strike. Take out Thomas and claim Collier territory for Larkens. We’ll reunite the packs under my leadership.” He stopped to wheeze. “And Tamir, my beloved, you will take my place as heir.”

There were some shocks and whispers at his announcement, but it left me with a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach.

“What’s the plan?” Tamir asked.

“Poison. We have an insider at Kate’s Diner. I’m told Thomas eats there at least three nights a week. It will look innocent and it won’t kill him, but weaken him enough for us to attack. Remember, it is imperative that I be the one to kill him.”

I shivered at his tone.

“But they’ll take him to their little hospital, and it will be hard to get close to him then,” Tamir said.

“My sister’s daughter is a nurse there. That’s exactly where we want him to go.”

“What will you tell Luke?”

“My nephew will be given a different scenario. One we will be watching closely. If I suspect he has betrayed me in any way, he will die.”

I had heard enough. Fighting back the urge not to throw up, I slowly backed away and headed in the direction I came. When I reached the railroad tracks, I checked the area thoroughly, but certain no one had noticed me. Then I ran as fast as I could, following my own scent back the way I’d come.

My heart was pounding in my chest. Clara’s brother was in trouble. I couldn’t keep it to myself, yet memories of seeing Mark die before my eyes kept surfacing on replay through my mind. If I told someone bad things could happen to someone I loved. Bad things could happen to Clara.

I couldn’t let that happen. I had to protect her. We could leave and she’d never have to know, but if something happened to Thomas and she ever found out I could stop it, she’d never forgive me. I had to find a way to warn him and protect my mate.

Clara was waiting by my pile of discarded clothes when I got back to the Alpha house. I shifted as she handed me my boxers. I dressed without saying a word.

“Are you okay?” she finally asked.

I wasn’t sure how to respond to that. She worried about how I was handling news of my mother, but that was so far removed from my thoughts after everything I’d learned that it was filed away to deal with later. First I had to protect her. That was the only thing that mattered to me.

“Is Thomas home?” I asked without answering her question.

“Yeah, he’s in his office.”

“Could I speak with him, please? Alone.”

I saw the hurt cross her face, but I pushed that aside, too. I would warn Thomas, and then I would tell Clara we were leaving.

I followed her back into the house and she stayed quiet as she led me down a hall, stopping to knock on a door. A young man opened it.

“Clara,” he said affectionately, pulling her into a hug.

“Hey, baby brother. This is Gage. He needs to speak with you,” she said, looking concerned. I knew she was worried about me and my strange behavior, but I was singly focused at the moment.

“May I come in?” I asked, and Thomas nodded. He was so young it was hard to remember he was the Alpha.

Thomas gave us both a questioning look when Clara turned to leave but didn’t say anything.

“Come on in.”

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