Intuition

Eve stood in the observation room above the interrogation suite. Flint stood below with his arms crossed across his broad chest. A few warriors escorted the captives in. Each of them were groggy, bloody, and nearly incapacitated.

Sarah was placed in the chair in the middle of the room. Her long, dark hair hung in her face. The three males were chained to a nearby wall and were left hanging by their wrists. Anna entered the observation room, drawing Eve’s attention.

“Luna.” The specialist stood at attention.

“Anna. You did very well.” She rose to her feet.

“Thank you, Luna.” Anna nodded.

“Thank you. All of StarLight owes you greatly. Please gather your team and relax in the conference room. As soon as we’re finished here, Flint and I will join you.” Eve answered.

“Yes, Luna.” The specialist smiled a bit as she exited the room.

She turned her attention back to the room through the thick glass. Eve turned the speaker on to hear what was being said. She retook her seat just when a warrior dumped a bucket of cold water on Sarah.

She startled awake and began to frantically try to free her wrists from the arms of the chair. Flint waited patiently for her gaze to search the room. When she lifted her eyes, they caught on the Alpha in front of her.

“Do you know who I am?” He asked calmly.

“Flint Dolan. I’ve heard a lot about you.” She cleared her throat so she could answer.

“That’s mutual, Sarah. Bastian mentioned you.” Flint smirked.

“You, too.” She shook her head. “I thought he would have ended you by now.”

“And I thought all the rogues who wanted to live, went with HillCreek. Looks like we were both wrong.” The Alpha stated mockingly.

“You established HillCreek to send them away. But at least that was something. A form of acknowledgment. Daniel acknowledges no one. He offers nothing but death to those he casts out. NorthWood doesn’t even place rogue children into homes! They throw them into the human system!”

As Sarah spoke, it struck Flint that she sounded like an angry crusader. One of her companions groaned as he slowly began to awaken.

“Enough. You’re quarrels with Daniel don’t interest me.” Flint sighed.

“Then what do you want?” She spit the question venomously.

“I want to know about your buddy Bastian.” He pulled up a metal chair and sat in front of her.

“And if I tell you?” Sarah was bargaining.

“Let me explain something else.” Flint’s voice dropped dangerously. “If you don’t tell me, I’ll skin your friends in front of you, and I’ll like it. Then I’ll just turn you over to Daniel.”

“If I tell you, you let them go.” She bared her teeth.

“I could agree to that, but it would be a lie. I don’t release rogues, especially ones in league with Bastian Anderson.” He stated. “However, if you talk I won’t give you to Daniel.”

“None of us?” Sarah growled.

“Sure.” Flint shrugged easily.

“What do you want to know?” She probed.

“Why didn’t you turn during the ambush? None of you did but you’re all full blooded.” He crossed his arms over his chest again.

“We grew up in the valley. Turning isn’t as fast or easy when you aren’t trained. It’s easier to fight or escape with human limbs.” Sarah explained.

“Good. You were honest.” Flint nodded before asking, “Where is Bastian?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t spoken to him in a week.” She responded tiredly.

Eve felt her mate get instantly more tense. No one had seen or spoken to Bastian in months. None except Sarah Becker.

“Tell me about your conversation with him.” The Alpha demanded.

“He wanted a page from my grandfather’s journal. He knew Bastian when he was a boy, apparently. I emailed him a copy in exchange for supplies for my people.” She replied.

“What was on the page?” Flint growled impatiently.

“It was about the power of the Alpha wolves. I barely read it myself. My grandpa was very traditional and strict. I just inherited all his stuff, before Daniel turned on us.” Sarah answered.

Flint’s heart began pounding in his chest.

“Why did he ask for it? How did he know you had this information?” He rose to his feet.

“He knew my grandfather from his childhood. He knew the old wolf wrote everything down.” She replied. “And Bastian isn’t big on explaining himself. He just said he’d had a dream about a little black wolf. He said she was more powerful than anything he’d ever felt.”

“A black wolf-” Flint cut himself off as he turned to face the large, mirrored window above him.

The wolf from the dream! His eyes! They were familiar because they were Bastian’s! The she-beast was as stunned as her human counterpart.

The Alpha could feel his mate’s surprise and panic. He quickly looked back at the prisoner.

“What else did he say about the dream wolf?” Flint probed.

“He asked if I knew someone with that much power. I don’t. So, he said he’d find her himself. He claimed to have some idea about who it was anyway.” Sarah replied.

He swallowed the defensive growl threatening to burst from his chest. The rogue looked to the wall where her cohorts were chained. They were all still unconscious.

“If you don’t know anything about Bastian’s plans, tell me about your own.” Flint grunted the statement.

“No.” Sarah began fighting her binds.

“Talk and I won’t have to hurt you.” He sighed.

“I would rather die than expose my people.” She spoke through gritted teeth.

Flint’s heavy hand crashed into Sarah’s face. Spit flew from her mouth as her chair rocked backward. The Alpha grabbed her chair just before she fell onto the floor. Sarah took a ragged breath before she turned her sharp eyes back to the man in front of her.

“Fuck you!” She backed loudly.

He hit her again. Twice as hard, splitting her lip open as a reddish purple bruise spread across her face. Sarah managed to wriggle her wrist free from the ropes constricting it. Flint didn’t notice, but Eve did.

Right hand! Her wolf reached into his mind.

Sarah grabbed a small piece of debris from the floor beside her chair. Flint reached for her wrist but the rogue moved too quickly. In a instant, she had shoved the small piece of metal into her own throat. Sarah gargled, choking on her breath until she stopped moving all together.

Flint stared at her in shock as blood gushed out of the wound. He could hear the moment her heart stopped beating. She had killed herself to preserve her plans for NorthWood. Eve was just as surprised. She covered her mouth with her hand, trying to calm her heartbeat.

Eventually, the Alpha turned his eyes toward the mirror window in front of his mate. Eve met his gaze. They were both sharing similar thoughts. The rouges were prepared to literally kill themselves to reach their goals. The group against NorthWood was very radical.

Then came the recollection of Bastian. He had seen Eve in a dream, just as she had seen him. Now, he wouldn’t be able to stay away. Selena’s distraction wouldn’t stop Bastian from coming back to the mountain any longer. This time, when he came to StarLight, he would be coming just for Eve.