The Pack's Luna: The Pack Series Book 4 novel Chapter 405

Piper

Henry wasn’t happy that I was called out into the field so quickly, but this is the job, one that is the compromise that we made to maintain my dream of being an elite fighter while still being his Luna. I’m not thrilled that Zach is already so injured that he had to come in for recovery, but I am excited that I’m getting my first opportunity to get real-life experience with the Alpha Squad.

“Hellfire, let me get you caught up. The rest of you, get dinner going. We’re going to be sleeping outside for the foreseeable future.”

I glance at Wendy. Her father made a point to ask me to check on her and make sure she’s doing okay. From what I can tell, she’s doing great. I’m sure she’s feeling a little out of her comfort zone, but Hacker seems like he’s keeping a close eye on her.

I follow Raptor away from the group, giving them space to prepare dinner. I’m thankful I ate before coming, because the food doesn’t look appetizing. Not that it would stop me from wanting to do this, but I have a better understanding of why the elite squads power down real food when they get it.

Raptor fills me in on how their afternoon went and that they are no closer to finding Stellan.

“So, nothing?” I ask him.

“That river was a deathtrap that looks like a babbling brook. Believe me, it’s been a day.”

“I understand. What can I do?”

“You know Stellan’s scent, right? You were in court when he was on trial.”

“Yeah, I know his scent.”

“Good. I know it too. I’m going to send you with Venom and Intrigue tomorrow. I need you to be point for trying to find his scent. They are the experienced Alpha Squad members. You will follow their lead and their command, but if you catch his scent, I need you to let them and me know right away.”

“Got it, I can do that.”

“We’re going to stay on this side of the river. The current pulled us three miles downstream today and I didn’t catch his scent at all. Then we went two miles upstream before trying to make our way back and I didn’t catch his scent there either.”

“I didn’t get the impression that Stellan was overly strong. A current like what you’re talking about would have swept him away,” I say.

“That’s what Cipher said and I agree, which is why we’re staying on this side of the river. Hacker and Sphinx will be monitoring your progress and letting you know if they see anything on the infrared radars.”

“Awesome.”

We walk back to the fire and I introduce myself to Intrigue. I sot of met Venom in court, but I’ve never met Intrigue. She’s built like a body builder, shorter than I am, but all muscle. She’s not an Alpha, but I’m not sure I’d want to go against her in a fight. As of today, I’m not sure I could defeat her.

After saying hello to her, I nod at Venom.

“Nice to see you again, Hellfire.”

“You too,” I say, then turn to Megan. “Yo, Siren.”

“Yo yourself, Hellfire. Welcome to the party.” “I wouldn’t miss it,” I say, then turn to Wendy.

“Hey Sphinx.”

She looks at me and sighs. “How many of them asked you to check on me?”

I grin and shrug. “All of them.”

She sighs again.

“Hey, having a loving, caring family is nothing to be aggravated about. Some people don’t have anyone who cares about them, Sphinx. Having an abundance of people who care about you, especially since you’re still underage, is a privilege,” Hacker tells her.

She shrugs. “I guess.”

“Don’t guess, Sphinx. Trust me, if I died out here, the only people who would care are the people here. No one in my family would care. Actually, my father would probably think the Moon Goddess did him a favor by getting rid of me,” Megan tells her.

“Yeah, I still don’t get that,” she says.

“That’s because you were raised with people who love and respect you, Sphinx. And that’s why Hacker says you shouldn’t discount it. Look at what happened when Hacker reminded Cipher that he has a mate back home. He surged forward, pushing harder than he had before to make sure he made it home to her. That’s important,” Raptor says.

When she looks like she wishes the ground would open up and swallow her, I throw her a bone. “So, what’s this I hear about you being the eyes that saved Cipher?” I ask her.

She shrugs. “I didn’t really do anything.”

Everyone stops and looks at her. Then Raptor looks at Hacker. “Are you going to tell her, or am I?”

Hacker sighs. “Wendy, I couldn’t see. I was focused on swimming. You were my eyes. You were the one who told me where to go, how far away Cipher was, and you made sure that our paths connected. Without you doing that, Cipher would have been swept downstream and in the state he was in, it’s very likely that he would have drowned. Stop discounting what you do and your role in this mission. Own it, become confident with it, and accept that we are a team. Every one of us brings something valuable to this squad. That includes you, regardless of you being underage and lacking training. You played a key role in saving Cipher today.”

Wendy blushes and nods.

“Now that we have that settled, what do you all do at night when you’re sleeping out in the wilderness?” I ask.

“We tell ghost stories,” Venom says, with a mischievous grin.

“Yeah, except yours are stupid,” Intrigue says, grinning at me.

“Mine aren’t stupid,” he growls.

“Yeah, they are,” Raptor says.

“Fine, we’ll let Hellfire tell us a ghost story.”

“I don’t know any ghost stories,” I say.

“What about you, Siren?” Venom asks her. “Nope.” “Well, then, it’s time the two of you become good at making up stories,” Intrigue says.

For the next couple of hours, while Hacker and Sphinx work in the van, the rest of us make up ghost stories. I have to admit, Raptor is really good at making up scary stories and Intrigue is as well. Megan’s aren’t terrible, but Venom’s are, as they said, pretty stupid. I’m not sure mine are any better, but I made up one about the ghost that lives in the river, and it made everyone glance at the river we’re sleeping beside more than once.

“Alright, we’re set,” Hacker says as he and Wendy step out of the van.

“I’m still going to set up watches,” Raptor says, looking at his watch. “Two-hour increments so everyone gets six hours of sleep.”

“You guys had a rough day. I’m happy to take first shift so you can go down,” I say.

“Rise and shine. Time to get some coffee, some fire-grilled eggs and bacon, and then it’s time to hunt,” Intrigue says. She must have been the last person to have a shift because she’s wide awake.

“Ugh, I need a bathroom,” Wendy says.

“There are trees over there,” Hacker tells her.

“Come on, I’ll go with you,” I tell her.

When we’re done, we come back and eat, using boiled water to brush our teeth and wash our hands and faces, then we pack up.

“Venom, Intrigue, and Hellfire, you’re going south. Siren, you’re with me and we’re going north. If you find the scent, let the team know and we’ll do the same.”

“Will do.”

The three of us take off at a jog, following the river. I take point, since I know Stellan’s scent. Fallon pushes forward, sniffing the air around us.

After several miles of not finding anything, I turn to the others. “I’m going to shift and let Fallon take control. If Raptor and Siren haven’t found anything and we know Stellan entered the river, it’s only a matter of time before one of us catches his scent.

I strip and hand my clothes to Intrigue before shifting and letting Falon take the lead. She begins jogging at a fast pace, sniffing the air and the plants around us as we pass. We’ve gone about another mile up the river when we catch his scent. 1

She lifts her head to the sky and howls the howl of the hunt.

“Follow it, Fallon,” Venom says as Intrigue tells the others on the communicator that I’ve caught his scent. I hear Raptor say that they’re turning around.

“There’s nothing in your area that indicates that he’s hiding,” Hacker says.

As we run, I realize that Fallon is pulling away from the river and as we follow his trail, it begins to loop back around.

Suddenly, I pull her to a stop and shift.

“Where are we in relation to Yorick and Cyra’s pack?” I ask. “Fuck!” Venom says, grabbing a map and quickly laying it out.

“Hacker!” Intrigue says.

“I’m looking now. Hellfire, is it a straight shot in the direction you were going?” he asks.

I turn, lifting my nose in the air.

“Yes.”

“Shit! I’m calling Yorick now,” Hacker says.

Stellan is headed straight to his old pack, the pack that is now part of Yorick and Cyra’s pack.