Unshift

328 Ava: Scouting Parties

Vester and Vanessa pore over a map unfurled on my dining table. Our ward stone of silence has gotten a lot of good use here, keeping everything private.

“This is the city they went to, right?” Vanessa asks, tapping her finger against the thick parchment.

“Yes. It’s not as large as this one,” and Vester taps at a city sixty miles away, “but it’s a little

arther, to throw off anyone searching for us.”

The healer nods thoughtfully. “There are three main interstate highways branching off here, so it’s a good choice. It’s likely that the others went down this highway. It’ll add another hour to their drive back, but should throw off anyone in pursuit, as well. If we send some scouts this way, they might be able to pick them up.”

“My thought as well,” her mate agrees. “But we will have to emphasize stealth. If there are groups searching for supernaturals, they would be able to pick up their scent.”

Awkwardly, I lean forward to interrupt their conversation. “What about scent blockers? Can’t we use those?”

“We can,” Vanessa says with a wry smile. “But we don’t have many, and have no way to replenish

our stock. It is better to conserve those for emergencies.”

“So, our scouts are also possibly leading any intruders straight to us?”

Vester’s eyes meet mine, a hint of amusement dancing in their depths. “Of course not.”

His words are reassuring, but a flicker of embarrassment flushes my cheeks. I never once questioned scouts in pack lands. They’ve been around all my life. Now that I’m here and worried about my people, I realize how little I understand.

There’s so much to learn.

But there’s too much at stake for me to wallow in self–doubt.

“Our scouts are highly trained,” Vester continues, his voice taking on a patient, instructional tone. “They don’t simply run straight lines from point A to point B. They employ a variety of techniques to muddy their tracks.”

Motioning me closer, he gestures to the map, using a finger to mimic what he’s talking about. “False starts, backtracking, twisting patterns–there are a variety of ways to confuse and misdirect any potential pursuers.”

Vanessa nods, adding, “It’s not just about physical movement either. They use natural elements to their advantage–streams, rocky outcroppings, dense foliage. Anything that can disrupt or mask their scent. In pack lands, our scent is everywhere, in a wide radius. It’s impossible to track down the den by scent alone. You’ll have to search every square inch of miles upon miles to find the heart of the pack, even if you knew we were in the general area.”

“Sometimes,” Vester continues, his finger tracing an intricate pattern on the map, “they’ll even split up. creating multiple false trails before reconvening at a predetermined location. It’s a

Ava Accuting Parties

wes

constant dance of deception. Now, here, where we are, we have limited our radius to avoid exposure. Once you catch our scent, we are easier to find. But you have to know that we are in this small of an area in order to find us. And this town isn’t even on any map. It’s just a private

commune, on private land.”

Their explanations make a lot of sense. “And we’re branching out. So, that makes us more likely

to be found”

Yes. But our scouts will work in anti–reconnaissance in order to confuse any potential pursuers.

the worst case scenario, when someone catches their scent, they will have to throw them farther off the trail in different directions. At that point, we cannot have a relay in order to remain in touch with our wolves. They’ll be on their own out there until they make it back

home.”

I try to picture it in my mind–wolves darting through the wilderness, weaving an invisible tapestry of misdirection. It’s both impressive and slightly dizzying.

“But doesn’t that slow them down?” I ask, genuinely curious. “All that extra movement?”

Vester nods, acknowledging my point. “It does. But the trade–off in security is worth it. Better to arrive a bit later than to lead enemies straight to our doorstep.”

“How long does it take to train a scout?” I ask, my mind already racing with possibilities. Could I learn these techniques? Would it help me protect the pack better?

Vanessa answers this time, her expression thoughtful. “It varies. Some wolves have a natural aptitude for it, while others take longer to master the intricacies. But generally, we’re looking at months, if not years, of intensive training.”

Years. So, that’s not feasible after all.

“Don’t look so discouraged,” Vester says, clearly reading the doubt on my face. “You learn quicker than you think. And you bring other strengths to the table.”

“Thanks.” But the weight of my inexperience is still frustrating. Glancing at Grimoire, who’s once again in his book form, I wish I could just take all his knowledge and shove it into my mind in a

usable format.

Technically, that’s what our bond is.

Yeah, but not really. The knowledge is in his head, not mine. He just relays it to me. And it doesn’t come with understanding.

You have yet to put our bond to work. We can work on some of your magic training later. I’ll show you how much help I can be.

Selene’s mental scoff is loud and clear.

Don’t doubt me, he warns her. I’m the most powerful item in Ava’s arsenal.

I can shred you with one bite. You’re not as powerful as you think you are, she retorts.

-Luna? Ava? Are you listening?”

“Sorry” Shaking my head and imagining I’m shoving their faces out of my head, I blink in

328 Ava. Scouting Parties

Vanessa’s direction. “They wouldn’t be quiet.

“Mm. Yes, I’m sure there’s a bit of dominance posturing going on between them. The healer glances at Grimoire with a curious frown. “Our wolves aren’t usually great at sharing.”

Thinking of Selene, I nod. “Yeah, that sounds about right.” But this isn’t the time to ponder the relationship between my bonded souls. “How many scout teams have been sent out?”

“Three.” Vester leans back in his chair, looking thoughtful. “Marcus and Delta Ryder are leading two. They are not specialized in scouting, but we have a lack of leaders right now. Thankfully, we do have Ethan Hawke, one of our best scouts. He leads the third.”

Vanessa sighs. “If Jericho ever shows up…”

“Yes. He would be the best option in these situations.”

My heart twists. I haven’t seen Jericho since arriving here, and I’ve avoided asking about him. That’s what we’ve all done. There are many missing faces, and no one mentions their names.

Too many are gone. Too many missing.

My vision blurs as I turn away, desperate to hide the tears threatening to spill over.

Jericho is strong, Selene says quietly. I have faith he has survived somewhere.

I focus on my breathing, willing myself to find composure. Footsteps approach, and a gentle

hand rests on my shoulder. Vanessa says nothing, just stands beside me as we both gaze out the window.

Surreptitiously wiping my tears, I ask, “How long before they get here?”

Vester clears his throat. “They should be here within the hour, depending on the back roads taken. Kellan won’t attempt a direct route here.”