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SHANE
We drove to a regional airport, and got a chartered flight to Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. We slept through the six-hour flight, and when we arrived at the airport, we rented two cars and drove north, to the Whitecrest pack lands.
Eike agreed to meet us at the Nightshade’s main square. “No one goes that way anymore,” he said.
The sun was rising on the horizon as we entered the pack lands, shining a soft golden light over the forest. We drove down the main road, a pang cut through my chest. This had been my home and now it was—
“Stop the car,” I said.
Killian slammed the breaks. “What is it?”
I pushed the door open, hopping out of the car. Stunned, I stared at the forest flanking the road.
Killian, Dom, and Lucille stepped behind me. The other car also stopped and Tao lowered the window. “What’s going on?”
“Shane, talk to me,” Killian said.
Dom inhaled a sharp breath. “The land.”
I nodded and looked at him with huge eyes. “Right.”
“Oh,” Killian said. “The land was poisoned here, wasn’t it?”
But it wasn’t anymore. No, the forest was as green and abundant as I remembered. Thick and vibrant trees, full bushes, colorful flowers went on forever, and the sweet and woody scent floated in the air. I turned around, taking everything in. Perhaps when the crystal had been destroyed after the dragon woke up, the poison disappeared.
A sliver of hope snaked through my chest.
No, I couldn’t think like that. The town was destroyed by the fire. There was no way for us to fix that.
With a sigh, I returned to the car. “Let’s go.”
Silent, the others joined me inside the car, and we drove to the square. The buildings were a broken skeleton of what they used to be, and the entire town was black with soot and ash. Even if we wanted to come back, it would take us months, if not years, to rebuild it all.
We stopped the cars along Main Street as Eike appeared from the other end of the road, flanked by the two wolves who had been with him before.
We hopped out of the car and went to meet with him.
Right in front of the library, we stood and faced each other.
“Eike,” I said by way of greeting.
“Thank you for coming, Shane,” Eike said, his voice low. He averted his gaze.
I frowned. Last time I was here, Eike hadn’t cowered or seemed insecure. Something was wrong. “Eike, what is going on?”
Laughter filled the street.
Serge.
Rage filled my veins as he strolled closer, with a dozen of wolves behind him—two of his old buddies and the rest from Whitecrest.
I clenched my fists. “What’s going on?”
“Hello, Shane.” Serge halted beside Eike. “Isn’t this a happy surprise? Aren’t you glad to see me?”
I gritted my teeth. “Only if I can kill you.” I glared at Eike. “You tricked me!”
“It wasn’t his fault,” Serge said. He snapped his fingers. From behind his men, two wolves pushed a female forward. She stumbled on her feet and almost faceplanted. Eike flinched, but the two wolves caught her arm and pulled her back roughly. “I have his mate.”
