If Chad’s going to attack, he will do it after he gets his mitts on Lexi. There’s a damn good chance he’s already started the invasion.
Jason closed his eyes and shifted, running deep into the woods. He knew the region well, knew where the bounds for the Thundertooth pack started and ended. And he kept far away from the bounds, not wanting to risk his scent being picked up.
But the sight of three massive black bears far to his right let him know that he wouldn’t be so lucky. The Leafcutter territory was up ahead, and Jason put all the strength he had into his run, rushing through the woods and going faster and faster away from the bears.
He’d hoped the bears were from some other pack. But as they gained on him, closing the distance by the second, he realized he hadn’t been so lucky.
Finally, one of them was right on his heels, Jason still running, his muscles burning with each step. He glanced back over his shoulder just in time to see the bear reach forward and slash, cutting into Jason’s leg and causing him to lose his balance, stumbling forward and falling into a wild head-over-feet tumble.
Jason crashed into a tree, pain blasting through his body as the bark cracked and crunched under his sweat-drenched fur. He came to, putting himself upright and waiting for his vision to unblur, the three black shapes in front of him taking on more and more detail.
They were three bears, all of them snarling as they approached.
He was an alpha, but he knew in his state, he wouldn’t be able to put up much of a fight. But he didn’t care. He stood up on his hind legs and let out a roar, the booming noise carrying through the forest and fading into an echo in the distance.
Then, to his surprise, the bears stopped. The one in the center stepped forward and cocked his head to the side before sniffing the air.
He shifted. And Jason couldn’t believe the form he took.
It was Eric—his little brother.
“YOU’RE IN SOME SERIOUS fucking trouble, bro.”
Jason and Eric were seated by the tree, their knees propped up in front of them, the other betas who’d been out on the patrol with Eric posted a few dozen feet off, their eyes fixed on the forest for any sign of Chad’s other men.
“Yeah. I know.”
“Chad wants you dead or gone. And I’m pretty sure the first one is his top pick.”
“He tried.”
“But you’re still here. Jason, we all heard that you ran off to Seattle to work for Stone. You got away. And I bet you were making a ton of money out there. Why’d you come back? Isn’t that what you wanted?”
“It’s what I thought I wanted. But Uncle Stone...he’s dead.”
“What?” Eric’s eyes flashed with anger. “What happened?”
“What do you think happened?” asked Jason. “Chad hired some city shifters to send a message, and Stone went down fighting. He told me to come back here.”
“And that’s why you’re back? Because Uncle Stone said so?”
Jason shook his head. “No. Because I’m tired of running, tired of thinking my place is out there when I know it’s here.”
Eric nodded as if understanding. “Well, you came back too late. Chad’s the alpha now. He killed Rick to be on top, and everyone knows it. But he’s got his loyal betas, promising them the world if they stick to his side while he wages war on the rest of the forest. Anyone who stands up to him gets killed and strung up to be a warning.”
“Fucking psycho,” said Jason. “But not surprising. Makes sense a little prick like him would go from ‘shithead’ to ‘lunatic’ once he got a little bit of power.”
“Exactly what happened,” said Eric.
“And you just up and worked for him,” said Jason.
“I didn’t have a fucking choice, bro!” said Eric. “Once he took power, he went to the elders and demanded they all give up one of their kids to be in his private guard. That, or straight-up get killed. If I would’ve refused, Chad would’ve had our whole family wiped out.” He raised his finger at Jason. “And you’re fucking lucky I did. If one of those jackasses who’s actually loyal to him found you, they’d murder you on the spot. No, actually, they’d break your legs and bring you to Chad so he could torture you himself.”