SWNOVELS Chapter 274
Chapter 274
I’m sitting in the library, reading a book to Ethan, who is rolling around on the blanket I’ve spread in front of the hearth, when
James comes to find me.
“Leah, I think I’ve got something you should see.”
“Okay,” I reply, wondering if it’s something to do with tracking Karolina’s movements.
James has been in the office all day, along with one of the wolves who runs and maintains all the pack’s servers and various
online
activities.
Just as I’d hoped, Leo was able to hack the GPS in both Karolina’s car and phone, and we’ve been tracking her ever since.
I call Tara up to watch over Ethan, and then follow James down to the office where Leo has an impressive back of computers
newly set up and is somehow working off four different screens.
“This is about Karolina?” I ask as I stop next to James looking at all the information displayed, most of which I don’t understand.
“Yep,” James says with a nod. “Since we’ve started tracking her, she’s mostly been between her pack lands and the Council Hall,
but just now, she’s gone somewhere completely out of left field.”
“How so?” I ask, glancing between James and Leo where he’s tapping away at the computer.
“She’s gone outside of any pack territory at all,” Leo says, pointing to a map on one of the screens showing two flashing red dots.
“Like...into human territory?” I say in confusion.
Most of Montana is drawn up into pack lands that obviously overlap with human occupation, even though the humans don’t know
it. But there are some places not claimed by wolves, and where any wolf very rarely ventures because they’re known to be
violent or unfriendly places, even for the humans to live there.
Worse, some of those territories are where Vampires live, who hate wolves and will kill us, if given half a chance.
“Yes,” James says. “She stopped at some house. Leo looked up the records. The person who owned it died years ago and it was
left abandoned. Now it’s completely run down, and that’s saying something considering the neighborhood it’s in has seen better
days. Whatever she’s doing, she obviously wants it off the Council’s radar. She wants it off everyone’s radar.”
“What if that’s where she’s keeping the AI?” I ask excitedly.
James presses his lips into a line. “I knew you were going to say that.”
“Well, what else could it be?” I demand. “James, we have to go check this out.”
James huffs a resigned sigh. “I knew you were going to say that too.”
I cross my arms. “Then why are we even standing here having this conversation?”
“Because this is no joke, Leah. This neighborhood is dangerous. It’s not the sort of place wolves should venture. If Aaron was
here, there’s no way he’d let you go.”
I get that painful ache in my chest again, the one that’s become so familiar to my every waking moment.
The only thing that changes about it is the intensity.
“Aaron’s not here,” I say in an even voice, and it amazes me how quickly I’ve gotten used to talking about him being gone.
Doesn’t make it hurt any less.
And I know that really, Ethan is the only thing keeping me going through these nightmare days. I
“Karolina is clearly up to something,” I continue, putting a hint of Alpha in my voice that makes both James and Leo drop their
gazes in submission. “And I intend to find out what that is. With or without you, James.”
James raises his eyes again now, and they’re gleaming with
“I knew you’d say that too.”
I can’t help a small smile.
The two of us have come to know each other so well, James is honestly my best friend in the whole world right now. I don’t know
what I would have done without him.
“Good, that settles it then. Have someone bring the SUV around.”
James nods and goes to do my bidding, while I turn to Leo.
“Thanks for your work on this. I assume it’s not exactly legal, so I appreciate the risk you’re taking.”
“Anything for you, Luna Leah,” Leo says with a reverent nod. “With Aaron gone, you’ve been doing an admirable job at keeping
the pack safe and not feeling too lost without our Alpha. We couldn’t have asked for a better Luna.”
“Thank you,” I reply, blinking at the emotion those words rouse.
To think, a year ago, I never thought I would find my place here.
Now I can’t imagine being anywhere else, even with Aaron gone from this world.
I leave Leo to his work and go get ready, carefully arming myself just the way I know Aaron would expect.
By the time I walk out to meet Ja to go into battle...
A battle to avenge my mate’s deal