Page 92 of A Warrior's Fate

Screening those who crossed over pack borders like this wasn’t common practice. Especially not in the meticulous way Sol had been doing so. As he made his way down the line of warriors, examining and questioning the details of each of their files and confirming against a ledger held by the female guard, Isla had initially wanted to listen in to know each thing he would ask, but she couldn’t now. Not when she’d become so distracted by the male guard who was trying his damned hardest not to stare at her. Or to stare at her. Every flick of his eyes in her direction ended with him looking away. She was ready for him every time.

“Name?”

Isla snapped to attention finding the question wasn’t directed at her, but at Callan who stood beside her—notably a good foot away. She’d be next.

As her ex ran through all his answers, Isla forced her gaze to the ground and responded mentally with her own. Name, homeland, her parents, date of birth…mate.

“Welcome to the trenches,” Sol commented at Callan’s conclusion, handing him back his papers. The delta had spent just a little bit longer sizing him up before stepping over to Isla. She underwent the same scrutiny, though unlike Callan’s, which had been drawn from where Sol learned where he’d hailed from, the delta didn’t know who she was yet. “You’re a pretty little thing.”

At the delta’s words, the male guard behind him appeared to cringe.

Isla glared at the older man and handed him her documents.

Sol’s eyes had been set on the sheets for a few seconds before he jerked his head to Eli. “Two Imperial Pack members, and the Imperial Beta’s child.” His voice had been full of exasperated disbelief. “Are you here to aid us or investigate us?”

Investigate?

“Your alpha had the opportunity to object to anyone I’d proposed for my unit,” Eli countered. “If anything, the Beta’s daughter was endorsed. She and your alpha had gone into the Hunt together. She was his second. He knows what an asset she is.”

And there it was again.

“Isla of Io,” Isla said, drawing all attention back to her. She’d made sure to put emphasis on her name, and for her next pieces of information, she’d reeled her tone back. “Daughter of Imperial Beta Malakai and Apolla of Io. Born twelve days after the Autumn Equinox in the Imperial City of Io…and I don’t have a mate.” She cast her eyes to the male guard who’d been fixated on her again. When she’d returned to Sol, he was staring her down but silent, allowing her to go on. “I completed the Hunt two months ago, I killed two bak, I’m a new warrior recruit, and I’m here to help. We’re here to help. That’s it.”

The quiet that followed her words had persisted for far too long. Isla felt like she’d been under the inspection of even the trees. She waited for some type of remark, filled with something snarky or a hidden insult, but it never came. From anyone.

Sol handed back her papers before turning to Eli. “You’re to be escorted into the city the rest of the way.”

“I don’t think that’s necessary,” the general said.

“Alpha’s orders,” Sol said. “Rhydian and Thyra will guide you.”

Eli had paused as if prepared to protest, but then straightened. He turned to the warriors and ordered them all back onto the vehicle. As Isla moved to the back of the line, she overheard Sol speaking to the two guards.

“Trail them to Mavec then be back here by midnight roll call.”

“Is that even possible?” Thyra asked.

“That’s insane,” Rhydian commented.

“So is the alpha making me drag my ass out here to flag warriors,” Sol snapped. “Midnight. Run.”

Isla just managed to turn and catch a glimpse of the end of their shifts as they came down on all fours. Two massive wolves in their places, their thin uniforms left forgotten on the ground.

“Isn’t an escort a good thing?” Callan asked, falling back into his seat.

The rest of them made their way back to their spots, as Lavan geared the vehicle up again.

A pensive look had remained stagnant on Eli’s face. “Not when it’s out of distrust.”

And he said nothing else.

Something about the act of having been checked up on had really gotten to him, or maybe something had been said when she couldn’t quite hear through the closed window. Whatever it was, it had Eli keeping to himself. Throughout the rest of the trek through Ifera—which seemed to be endless throes of thick, lush forests and rolling green hills—he hadn’t turned to Isla once, not even bringing up his earlier proposal to get drinks when they arrived. Rather, he flipped through his endless maps and books on Deimos and the rogue lands beyond it.

Out her window, Isla continued catching sight of Rhydian. The guard had been tasked with flanking the car, or at least it seemed that way from how Thyra had speared the excursion. But he just kept ending up at her side. She was just about ready to shift in this cabin just to ask him what his deal was.

“Damn.” She heard someone in the vehicle say, and she faced forward to find what they were gaping at.

Mountains, much higher than those of Io, made of rock so dark that they’d be lost if not for the snowy caps and patches along their surface. From the angle the vehicle was driving in, they seemed to go on endlessly, acting as their own wall or barrier. Isla marveled at them for a few too-long moments before her face fell in horror.

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