Page 25 of Chosen Destiny

What about me?Pearl exclaimed.

If they’re chasing you, I doubt you can get back there before the rest of the attackers do.Part of me was glad that her whole saving-herself plan had gone wrong, but even though she hated me, I still had to protect her.The best thing you can do is put as much distance between you and them as you can, and find water and swim. Let the water hide your scent. Go as far from your current location as you can.

Theo rejoined the conversation and brought Trevor into the loop.Lynerd is meeting with the Halfway and Joseph packs to send more people over. Halfway can get there in thirty minutes.

Good, we’ll need all the help we can get.I wished we were already there. I hated to think that another attack would happen and we wouldn’t be there to provide support.How many wolves are they sending?

Half their pack,Theo answered.They’re afraid to bring more in case someone attacks them at home. They’ll already be at a deficit.

I clenched my hands.Move the weaker pack members to the center of the neighborhood and grab all the guns we have.One good thing about living in such an isolated area—we had guns at our disposal. A few of the men liked to hunt in human form during hunting season.

“What’s going on?” Samuel glanced at me.

I rolled my head in his direction. Then I linked with him, the former advisors, Jack, Miles, Lucas, and Lynerd, and both Lynerd and I provided an update on the situation.

With everything settled the best possible way, we focused on getting there before Queen Kel hurt any more of our people.

Thirty minutes later, Trevor linked to Theo, Lynerd, and me,They’re here.

I swallowed hard and straightened. We had another forty-five minutes before we’d arrive. “Samuel, go faster.”

He nodded, his face flushed as he drove faster than any human could’ve safely done. I hoped no cops were out here to give us a ticket.

What’s going on?Lynerd asked.

They’ve circled the houses and are moving in.Trevor sounded stressed even through the mental link.They’re organizing an attack.

How many guns did you find?I knew there wouldn’t be a lot, but the enemy wouldn’t know how many if we were smart.

Five, he answered.

That wasn’t surprising. Only a few pack members enjoyed hunting that way, most preferring to stick to animal form.Did you distribute them among the houses?

I hated that we weren’t there. We’d left the pack in the hands of a sexist male who was just an older version of Charles.

Yes, but it won’t do much good. How far away are Halfway and Joseph?

Halfway is arriving now in wolf form,Lynerd linked.They should be there in five minutes.

Trusting Lynerd and Theo to handle this part of the conversation, I linked to Mom and Pearl. I hadn’t heard from either of them in the past few minutes, so I tried to keep calm.Where are you two?

The wolves are still on our heels,Pearl answered, her fear evident through the connection.No matter how fast we run, they’re gaining on us. Charles thinks we should split up.

Knowing him, he’d injure one of them to save his own ass.I’d stay together. If a fight happens, you’ll have people to fight alongside you.

Pearl, where are you?Mom asked, giving me pause.

Close to where I told you a few minutes ago,Pearl replied, and my blood ran cold.

Mom, please tell me that you and Dad aren’t—

She’s our daughter,Mom interrupted.We won’t hide in a house while the enemy is hunting Pearl.

I’d assumed they’d listen to me, but that was foolish. Now, not only was Pearl at risk, but also the two people who’d sheltered me for the past seventeen years. Worse, they were pretty much handing themselves over to Kel for her to use against me.

I gritted my teeth. That was the real reason none of them had continued to communicate with me.

Where are you and Dad?I asked.

---