Peace and Quiet - 6. Chapter 6

Our training was like all of boot camp rolled into one week. One thing Gene had us do was split up into teams, and we had to find each other without making any noise. It was me and Zeke with Dyl and Colt on the other team. Zeke and I had to go hide while Gene dosed the guys with something to deaden their noses. No fair sniffing. We ran off into the woods and back towards town.

“Isn't this cheating?” Zeke asked as we hitched a ride in the back of a pickup that happened to be driving by the country road.

“Nope. Let's see them follow our trail now.”

When we got to town, the old man gave us a wave and continued on. We slipped into the cafe to wait, getting free lemonades simply because Lilly said I looked thirsty. “You're amazing, Lilly. You really are.”

“Little Quintin, you are such a charmer. You know that I got a granddaughter near your age. You remember Samantha...” and off she went extolling the virtues of her single granddaughter. Zeke even marveled on how clueless she was, and I think she could give him a run for his money in the nattering department.

Zeke and I looked out the window with a grin. “They found us,” I said to him.

“I know. How, I don't know, but I know Colt's out there.” It was getting to be late, so we gave Lilly a couple of big hugs and went out to met up with the fellas.

After leading them on a merry chase.

We were fresh, rested, hydrated, and having fun. It would be to their annoyance when they caught up. I could almost hear Dylan raging in his head when he felt us running from the cafe towards my folks house.

What are you doing? I could hear him ask in my head. I actually heard him.

Having fun at your expense, Creep. I said back and felt him startle enough to trip up a bit. Yes...this rapport thing was getting creepier, but I could see its uses. I would always know where Dylan was, at least it looked that way. Maybe the range was limited, because I could only feel him, and I knew he was just getting to the town's northern most part. That was about two miles out.

Well, stop having fun. It's getting late.

I knew that, hence why we were hoofing it out of town to my house to change. We still had at least an hour until fur time, but this way we could relax into the change. I knew I preferred it, and from the way Colt changed, he may need all the relaxation he could get. When it looked that painful...it made me glad I eased into my lunar form so effortlessly now.

When we got to the house, my father was just coming out looking pissed. “Where is your mother?”

I stopped. “She left a note. She didn't feel safe here by herself since I'm going to be moving out soon.” This place wasn't safe to change. I had hoped he would be gone at least tonight.

“What's this about HIM being here?”

“He came by looking for me, scared Mama a fair bit. She's staying with friends for the rest of the week. Probably eating cherry pie right now.” The Wolf always had cherry pie on Mondays, regular as clockwork.

“Why aren't you at work?” Like always, my father was a sour piece of work.

“I had the day off, and I have been spending it with some friends. Papa, this is Zeke Whitebear. Mama is staying with his folks.”

Zeke offered his hand, but my father just ignored him. “I don't want you bringing your friends over here. The last time you did that, you ran off with the most unsavory person I had ever met.”

“Well, Dylan and Colton will be here soon to help me move some things. We were just on our way back to Dylan's house to grab the truck.”

Papa nodded. “Good. What's the number where I can reach her?”

“Papa, it's in the note.”

His eyes narrowed. “That number is out of state.”

“Yeah. The Whitebears live in another state. I thought you were going to be gone until tomorrow morning.”

“I needed something the contractors didn't ask me for. Why is my wife out of state?”

Durned single minded. “She didn't feel safe. The Whitebears put me up for almost a month in exchange for working around the house. They're good people, Papa. I know Zeke's mama is probably picking her brain for recipes.” I was getting edgy because I could feel the moon starting to pull at my senses. “Now, you get back to work, I'll get packing.”

“Why is she scared?”

“Fine. You want to know the answer?” Zeke placed his hand on my shoulder calmly and let out a nearly silent wuff. It calmed me down a bit. “He came by here looking for me, and it made Mama scared. Since then, she's been out of state and out of reach. Once I move out, he won't have reason to come calling.”

I watched his eyes narrow and his fist clench. “He didn't get the hint that you wanted nothing to do with him?” I shook my head. “Well, good reason for her to be gone. Zeke, right?” Papa turned to him. He gave Zeke the once over and nodded. “Well, if your folks are as big as you, then she'll be fine.”

“Yes sir. Both Mom and Dad are six feet huge, and I know for a fact that Mom would go after someone like a mother bear if they tried anything at the house.”

Papa nodded. “Good. I have to get back to work. Get your stuff out as soon as you can. That way we can get some peace around here.” With that, he got in his truck and left.

“That's my father.”

“Ouch.” I nodded, and we went inside. We stripped out of our clothes, and I plopped into his lap, pulling his arms around me as I lay against his massive chest. There was a momentary stirring beneath me, but it subsided when Zeke smelled I was not in the mood for anything other than being held.

“Want me to talk to him?” asked Dylan as they strolled into the house a moment later. Colton looked at us and nodded like he liked what he saw, while Gene locked the doors and windows.

“He won't change. At least he doesn't really blame me for all of this, which is a step away from his normal.” He nodded. “We're staying in?” I asked.

“Yes. I know you and Zeke can stay inside without too much problem, but Colton needs to get out, and I'm not fond of being cooped up even though I can stand it. Dyl, if Colt gets out of hand, you know what to do.”

Dylan nodded as Colton and Gene stripped. I looked at the coyote. He was such an enigma to me. Well, no time like the present. “So, Colton, care to share a bit about you?”

“Not really,” he said and then looked over his shoulder with a cheeky grin. “What's on your mind?”

“Honestly, a lot. Some of it is the fact that I know next to nothing about you except you came from Ohio.”

“Ah. Well, I can tell you a bit about myself. Not much with the moon coming up, but enough to still some questions.” He sat in the chair and leaned back for a moment to gather his thoughts. “First thing is I wasn't born a Lycan. I've always had a fascination with them. Not like Dyl, who could spot them from across the world.” He grinned at Dylan who winked back. “I was a jock in school. Football, baseball, wrestling...I liked keeping fit. Which is probably why I am the way I am now.” He looked out of the window. “I guess...it comes down to me making one wrong choice.”

When he stopped talking, I realized he was just done sharing, which was frustrating as all hell. “Tell me something I couldn't figure out just by looking.”

“As much as I love being Lycan, I hate it as much.” That was something I didn't know. “So, if you ever want to talk about hating your furball, let me know.” His grin was the same one he always used when he was being insufferable.

I couldn't press because I felt the change happening, and after that, there was no sense in mewling like a kitten at a coyote. Still, when Gene came over, he kicked back against the sofa and set his hand on the coyote's head. I padded over, batted at Colt's muzzle, and then curled up next to Zeke.

“Ever feel like we're babysitting a bunch of animals, Gene?”

“All my life, Dyl.” They shared a laugh.

Morning came without incident, and Gene had us back out side and on the run. Today's hell was avoiding detection by a group. Namely the other Hunters the Homestead Pack had in residence. “It's a capture the flag style mission. Zeke is behind enemy lines and you have to get in, get him, and get out with as little stir as possible. The men will be acting as normal humans except for one unknown who will use his full senses to find you. You will have until sundown to rescue Zeke.” That would be harder. We didn't know which one was going to be the one not acting. Avoiding all of them would take too much time, and if we're seen, then it would be a failure.

“No going easy on us, guys,” said Dylan.

“Maybe a little easy,” said Colton with his cheeky grin. The eight of them smiled back.

I turned to Zeke, and he took my face in his hands, kissing me soundly in front of all of them. I forgot how to think right then, and my arms alternately wanted to wrap around him and fall limp at the same time. When speaking was possible, I stuttered out, “I'll find you and get you back.”

“You better,” he wuffed. They hopped into the truck and drove off.

When the appointed time for us to leave came, the three of us took off after them. Gene was ghosting us, meaning he could not interact with us or the guards in any way unless it was an emergency. Our plan was solid as all of us were pretty darn stealthy, me more than the others. The only thing we had to worry about now were the paint balls they were using as ammo and that one Lycan. Their trail was easy to follow really, but then, we knew roughly where they were headed. We had the wind at our backs, which was not ideal, but it would take too long to circle around to get into position, and by then, the wind could have changed directions.

The wind did change, and faster than I would have liked really. Because all we smelled was smoke and blood. It was subtle at first but then got worse. Cloyingly worse. We topped a rise and we could see the trucks used to transport the Hunters were totaled. One was stuck in a huge hole in the ground; the other was nearly cut in two. I could see bodies on the ground and my panic mode kicked in. I scanned the ground for one body. I didn't see him. “Zeke...” I whispered and then ran over the rise.

“Quint!” Dylan yelled after me, but I was no longer listening.

I was first to get down there, and I pulled the Hunters to safety. None of them were dead. Two were unconscious from the explosions that were probably caused by landmines. The others had been darted. Still no Zeke. “He's not here. Gene, is this part of the plan?”

“No.” I nodded. Gene sniffed one of the darts. “Yeah. This was no random job.”

“I know,” I growled. I got down on my hands and knees and began to find a scent.

“This way,” said Colton, pointing south by southeast.

Dylan, who had been calling the leaders, came up with a grim set to his face. “The alphas are on their way. How old is the trail?” he asked Colt.

“An hour at most. Zeke is not bleeding, which means they darted him.”

“They?” I asked.

“Yeah. Amos and ...one other.” I looked at Colton. He looked visibly shaken

“Talk later. Track now.”

“Don't need to track them.” He pointed. “Fifteen miles that way is the border of the Homestead Pack. The one that it shares with the East Coast Pack.”

Dylan growled. “Damn. Gene, can you scout ahead? You can come and go there without too much problems still, right?” He nodded. “Good. Find them.” Gene nodded and took off at a run.

Minutes later the Alphas came in via chopper. We had gathered the men together, easing their waking however we could. I say we. Colt and Dyl did it. I could do nothing but stare off in the direction I knew Zeke to be. Zeke was in Amos's hands. How could I let this happen? I knew what he was capable of. I knew he had been too quiet lately.

“It's not your fault.” I briefly looked over my shoulder at Dylan. “We'll get him back.”

“And don't contradict him,” Jon put in with a smirk. “I know that look.”

“How? Last I heard you and the Alpha of the ECP weren't on the best of terms.”

Jon nodded. “True. Still, I must follow procedure.” I couldn't believe what I was seeing. He dialed a number and then put it on speaker.

“Angus McLeod's office, whom may I ask is calling?”

“Molly, it's Jon from Homestead.” His voice was chipper, and I heard her small intake of breath. “Pleas put me through to Angus.”

There was hardly a pause at all. “Jon.” I heard the accent and the tones spoke volumes. Angus did not like Jon in the slightest.

“Angus, I'll save of the niceties. Some kidnappers have crossed over into your lands from mine and I am letting you know that I will be in pursuit. This is not a grab at territory, but I am bringing my Enforcer, Travis, Alan, and two others.”

“The three of you aren't enough?” Such bitterness in his tone.

“One of them is the mate of the one taken. You try and talk a former serviceman out of going after his mate. The other is one of my Hunters specialized in tracking. Better than Travis.” I looked out of the corner of my eye at Alpha Travis who nodded.

“I see. Knowing you, you would do it anyway. Still, you have followed our laws and you haven't bothered me in ten years or so. You have two weeks.” Angus cut the line.

Jon nodded. “I have everything we need in the chopper. The only problem is we need to be on the ground.”

“Gene is scouting ahead...or rather coming back this way.” We looked to see him coming over at a trot. “Anything?” I asked hopefully.

“They have taken a plane.” I felt my knees weaken. There was no tracking them now. “The flight control front desk there was nice enough to tell me when the next flight to Lancaster, Ohio departs.”

I smelled Colton start to get upset and wary. “Rickenbacker International is not too far from there.” His tone said he would have liked for the plane to be anywhere other than Ohio.

“Good. We can use the chopper once it refuels and we take our Hunters home.”