Chapter 8

As I looked around, I realized any plan of escaping was futile. I abandoned the idea already, but seeing how densely packed into the mountains we were in made me realize I had no idea what I would have gotten myself into had I set out on foot.

I imagined jumping out of the car and tearing the tracker from my arm, only to get so miserably lost in the woods I’d be hoping Adrian would find me.

“How are we going to know where we’re going?” I could read a map in theory but I grew up in the age of cell phones. If I lost the map or couldn’t find my location on it…what was I going to do?

“From our reports, we know the general line of their boundary, Tessa lost communication at a certain point and we’ll be using her last ping as a rough drop point.” Adrian said.

“You’ve mentioned a few times there are spies in the area…who are they?” I asked.

“For their protection they’ll stay anonymous.” He replied.

Translation: I don’t trust you enough with that information. Got it. I nodded and didn’t press him. But who could be so bold as to linger in Lycan territory and risk being caught by them?

My mind went to werewolves, as they were the only ones I thought Adrian would trust. I imagined them living in the forest surrounding the territory, camping in tents and constantly moving.

That would be a difficult way to learn anything new. Any important information about the Lycan’s would be found inside their camp. Then it hit me.

Maybe Lycan’s had traitors in their midst? After all, my own parents had been spies living as wolves.

Why couldn’t there be wolves living as Lycans? Did Adrian take a page from their playbook after my parents betray? Had he somehow set up wolves on the inside?

Imagining wolves growing up as Lycan’s, parallel to my own life was interesting. And dangerous. I didn’t want to imagine too much, I knew first hand the result of them being discovered.

If Adrian had been brutal that night…the Lycan’s would likely be even more devastating.

It was harder to believe Lycan’s would turn on their own kind, but it wasn’t totally impossible. Disagreements could turn nasty. Not everyone always agreed on who should be in charge.

Coups happened all throughout history, it’s theoretical to presume Lycan’s were no different. I didn’t remember a time in our packs recent history where anyone tried to over throw the Alpha.

I recalled a story growing up where the long standing Alpha was challenged by a much younger wolf of no rank or nobility.

Many many generations before mine, a young wolf challenged the Alpha to a duel, and won. Power changed and a new family carried the title.

I couldn’t remember why exactly the young wolf made such a move, but it had something to do with a decision his Alpha made that resulted in the death of his lover.

They battled for two days before the reigning Alpha finally fell. They were both ragged and barely clinging to life by the end of it.

Many wolves were unhappy but accepted the outcome. Rules were rules. Some were not so accepting.

The change in power caused such an uproar that the family of the slain Alpha left the pack altogether. They moved far away and created their own new territory.

I don’t recall what happened to their bloodline. Perhaps they were somewhere in the world thriving. That was a happy thought. The best case scenario. Worst case was that they lost their Alpha, their pack and their identity.

Since then, that family’s bloodline has provided our pack with its Alpha’s. It was Adrian’s bloodline.

We passed a sign on the side of the road that read ‘gas’ and food next exit’.

“We’re going to stop, need to fill up the tank. We’ll grab something to eat too.” Adrian informed me.

“Sounds good.” I replied. I hadn’t eaten since we left, neither had Adrian and we’d been traveling for a while. He pulled off at the exit and an old fashion gas station came into a view.

Next door was a small diner. They looked like the original structures. Nothing out here was was spruced up, not like in cities where everything was seemingly redesigned after a few years.

We pulled into the gas station and Adrian got out. The numbers ticked by slowly as he filled the tank. When he was done he got back in and pulled up to the diner.

We got out and walked inside. The smell of eggs and bacon wrapped around me warmly. As I looked around I noticed we were the only patrons.

There was a long counter with stools and some booths living the walls of the diner. I could hear the noise of someone cooking in the back.

Suddenly a woman pushed open the door to the kitchen from behind the counter. “Hi there! Welcome. Long day?” She said, greeting us with a smile

She was about forty years old, with curly hair piled up on her head and bright red lipstick. Her uniform was pristine.

I imagined she was the sort of woman who took pride in her appearance for work daily, even if she didn’t get many customers.

I nodded politely to her question about our long day. Adrian was on his phone, likely sending updates to Gideon.

“Sit anywhere you like.” The waitress told us. Without looking up from his phone, Adrian guided us to a booth in the far corner.

Our waitress came over and dropped off menu’s. “Be right back with some coffee.” She said cheerfully. I caught her name tag with ‘Flo’ on it.

She came back and poured us a hot cup of coffee each. “Take your time looking over the menu. Let me know if you have any questions.” She said and went back into the kitchen.

Adrian didn’t glance at the menu. His expression was hard.

“Is everything okay?” I asked in a low voice to him. “There haven’t been any updates on Tessa inside the compound. Gideon is worried about your ability to find her.” He said.

I had no idea what I was going to do once I got inside. If I was welcomed in, I wouldn’t exactly be able to snoop around without arousing suspicion.

If they don’t kill me on the spot, and I’m brought in as a prisoner, I’d be in the same boat as Tessa.

If we were together then maybe we could form a plan to break out and escape. That was a huge maybe. No wonder Adrian looked so worried.

I picked up the menu and felt my stomach growl. Finally Adrian set his phone down, just as Flo came back out.

“Y’all in the area for hiking?” She said as she came over. “Yes, we’re going bird watching.” Adrian replied.

I almost choked on laughter as I took a sip of my coffee.

“Oh you’re gonna have a wonderful time! So many species in this area!” She said. “What’s looking good to eat?” She asked.

She flipped open her note pad and clicked her pen. Adrian glanced at the small menu.

“Let’s do one of everything. We’ll need our strength if we’re going to see as many species as possible.” He said. He smiled at me as me as said it and I couldn’t help but smile back.

“Oh wow, big order! It’ll take some time but coming right up!” Flo spun and practically pranced into the kitchen.

“Bird watching?” I said, raising my eyebrows. “We could be bird watchers.” He joked.

Plate by Plate our food came out. We ate absolutely everything. Adrian was right. We needed our strength. I didn’t know when my next meal would come, and I savored every bite.