Page 32 of Stolen

Chapter 16

Ariana stared at Hawk in shock when he told her that all communications were down with the Ridge.

“Do you think my brother had something to do with that?”

Hawk gestured in frustration. “I don’t see how he could have. But something is going on up there. Gunn is heading there first, to find out what it is, and get them down here.”

Ariana said softly, “What happens if they don’t come?”

Hawk shook his head, but she didn’t need him to answer. The townspeople might put up a valiant fight, but without the wolves from the Ridge to back them up, Rico’s army would roll through the town, destroying everything before him, until he found her.

She’d heard the whispers among her brother’s men, back at home. She knew he’d done it before, to entire villages who tried to defy him and take their power back, to live outside of his rule.

Hawk said, “I’m going to go check in with Boomer and see how they’re doing on the defenses. Are you okay here for a bit?”

They were in the heart of town, in the hardware and feed store, which also sold guns and ammunition. It was one of their bases, with a handful of men assigned to guard the weapons. She was as safe here as anywhere.

She knew it killed Hawk to leave her, but he couldn’t concentrate on the defenses and watch over her as well. “Everything you do is protecting me,” she said, answering the words he didn’t say. “I’ll be fine.”

She went inside the store and sat on a chair behind the counter, feeling restless and jumpy. This waiting was so hard; she didn’t know how the men could stand it. They were in small knots at the front and rear entrances, and she could hear them talking—even a few bursts of laughter.

She felt like she was going to jump out of her skin, and the constant ‘what ifs’ chased themselves around and around in her mind.

The biggest one right now being, “What if the wolves didn’t come?”

She didn’t know how long she sat there, lost in thought, but finally she heard footsteps. “Hawk?” she called. But it was Gregor, the alpha from the Ridge.

She hadn’t heard any of the men outside greet or challenge him. How strange.

She jumped to her feet. “Thank goodness you’re here! Did you bring the rest of the wolves? Does Hawk know you’ve arrived?”

His eyes, blue and intense, pierced through her, looking slightly wild. She’d only met him that once, and though she knew Hawk trusted him, his words and his agitated visions had frightened her. She hoped he was capable of leading his men—or that he would let Hawk do it.

Gregor said softly, “The wolves are at the Ridge. Coming here would bring their destruction.” For a moment she couldn’t speak. What was he talking about?

Gregor looked past her, into somewhere far away. “I had a vision. What was to come if we did not turn from our path. The town will burn in fire and destruction. The wolves will die, in vain.”

He focused on her. “All of them. All my wolves, lying on the ground in blood and fire and death. Hawk, too.”

Ariana was shaking her head. It couldn’t be so. “But, the town,” she said, not believing what she was hearing. “The people. Aren’t you supposed to protect them?”

Gregor gave a low, vicious growl. Slowly, Ariana stepped back. “You dare to question me?” he said. “For over two hundred years, since this town began, the wolves of Outlaw Ridge have protected it. This is the pact we made; this is the promise we kept.”

He reached down inside the collar of his shirt and pulled out a golden amulet in the shape of a star. “The pact was sealed in blood and power—mine, and that of those who came before me. My legacy, and my responsibility.”

He dropped the amulet onto his chest. “Years ago, when there were no more cubs, when my wolves began to die, the pact was still kept. I took in soldiers: those who were broken; those whose souls were stained with what they had done, what they regretted. Lost wolves. I saved them all—for the town to be protected. And now, the town will be destroyed and they will all die.”

He impaled her with those eyes. “Because of you.”

“No,” she whispered, shaking her head. But she could feel his power; she could see in his eyes that he was telling her the truth. This was what he’s seen.

She said desperately, “There must be a way to stop it.”

He nodded slowly. “Yes. There is one way.” His eyes bored into hers. “You must go to him.”

For a moment she thought he meant Hawk—and then she realized he didn’t mean that at all.

His words pressed down on her. “You should never have come here—Hawk should never have brought you here. Females were the death of my pack—causing strife, causing destruction. You brought death and destruction with you, and you must stop it. You must go to your brother, your alpha. You must give yourself back to him. Surrender to him, so the others may live.”