Page 85 of Hayden's Haven
Kate hadn’t known who Drake was at the time, but Hayden would bet his life that Drake sure knew who Kate was. His brother was good at getting information on people. He’d taken the Novak family business—spying on humans—and built it into something their grandfather Jacob would praise if the bastard were alive to see it.
Drake had a network of shifters hidden in all levels of human society. In some ways, Drake was a real asset to shifters. He wasn’t wrong in his belief that the HEV virus would keep the WSSO from spreading the SEV. But using the HEV, killing thousands of innocent humans in those two towns, was too heinous to forgive. Drake had gone too far.
“That’s why you’re here? To take Kate’s place?” Hayden asked.
“It was the only way I could convince her to remain with our pack. She wasn’t listening to me or Damien. Your cousin wasn’t raised in a pack. She doesn’t exactly know how to listen to an alpha.”
“You mean she’s stubborn,” Hayden said, not even bothering to hide his laugh.
“You think it’s funny? I love your cousin to death, Hayden, but she’s got that Novak gene.”
“She’s not crazy,” shot back fast.
“Not that one. The one where she’s attracted to danger. She lives on the edge and—”
“And you find yourself having to pull her back too often.”
“Exactly. You’re lucky you don’t have to worry about that with Mila.”
Mila? No, his Mila wasn’t a risk taker, not like Kate. Mila simply wanted to be seen for who she was, not seen as a weak shifter. The more Hayden learned about her life, the more he understood why she had lied.
Sorrow, devastation, pain. The emotions he had seen in her had been genuine. She had never used him, had never intended to, and he had let her walk away. No, he had thrown her away instead of trying to understand why she had lied. Worse, he had sensed trouble, and he’d still let her return to Aloe’s house alone. It didn’t matter that Lars hadn’t been a threat or that she’s had a bodyguard shadowing her. Hayden hadn’t trusted his wolf or his own instincts.
She’d been stolen by a shifter who’d beat her, maybe even kill her, all because Hayden couldn’t forgive her when she had needed it. Yet Hayden forgave Drake over and over again. Unlike Mila, Drake chose to hurt people, and yet Hayden had fought for Drake. He should have fought for Mila. God, he hoped Damien would find her in time.
“I wasn’t talking about your breakup,” Callen added. Hayden had been too silent. Callen had always been the quiet one, and here he was trying to engage Hayden in conversation. When had their lives flipped?
“She’ll be fine. Damien will see to it,” Callen added.
“I should have been the one to go after her.”
“You’re doing what’s needed, for everyone’s future, including Mila’s. Damien is sending Blade in first to locate and assess. If Blade has the chance, he’ll pull her out. If not, he’ll give Damien the intel he needs. Either way, Damien has plenty of guards with him to fight. Several weak shifters volunteered to go too. He’s placed some of them on patrol.
Hayden stopped and turned to Callen. “On patrol?”
“They’re in groups of three, armed with knives, tools, anything to even the playing field.”
“Not the same. They’ll be cut down.” A sinking pit formed in Hayden’s stomach. It didn’t matter that many of those shifters didn’t care for him, they were still his responsibility and placing them on patrol it was a bold and dangerous move.
“Maybe, but there’s one thing I’ve learned is not to underestimate shifters who are determined. They may not have our strength or speed, but they can be quite resourceful. Kate proved that to me, long before she ever shifted.”
“You’re right. Mila’s wicked smart and respected because no one sees her as a weak shifter.” And she didn’t see that. Maybe if she had, she wouldn’t have lied to him. Maybe if he’d been more pro-active in changing the culture, she never would have felt the need to lie.
“Things are changing.”
“I want her safe, Callen. Even if she won’t come back to me, I need her to be safe.”
Callen placed a hand on Hayden’s shoulder but said nothing. There was nothing more to say. Damien would fight for Mila, just as Hayden would—by handing Drake over to Agent Sloan and securing peace between humans and shifters. Nothing would end the terror in Hayden’s soul though until he knew Mila was safe.
The moment they crossed the border into Drake’s territory they were met by two patrols. Hayden glanced at Callen. His enforcer’s face was placid as ever; he would betray nothing. The presence of two patrols was not a coincidence. Hayden didn’t know how, but Drake knew he was coming.
“How’s that sexy thing you fucked when you were here last, Ford?” Chitman said.
“That’s one,” Callen said, his tone ice-cold.
“One what?” Chitman asked.
“When you get to three, you die.”
