91 | EXODUS

I feel like I’m leading a mass exodus. Okay, maybe not that large - but it still feels weird having thirty Wolven following me en-mass as we walk out of my territory. It’s now a new year, and I’ve finally gotten the majority of my Pack on board with check on the Berner territory. My new territory. First we need to stick together through the woodsy areas of the Azure and Coven lands, though.

For the younger Wolven, this is a terrifying adventure, and they’re in the very center of the group. Really, everyone’s in that rotating ring with the weakest members, the kids, in the middle, their guardians and protectors around them, then the Enforcers circling the rest. My Betas, Khadija and Lee are walking on either side of me a the very front.

Even though there’s are thirty of us, we’re moving pretty quickly and quietly. The Pack is more in-tune with their wolves than most, and I can feel their auras pressing in on me like a cloud of shadow at my back. Not worrying, but there, always there.

We clear Azure land without any issues, like I knew we would, but the second we enter Coven territory, we’re greeted by two vampires. Zoe and Hale.

“Morning, Sunshine.” Hale nods to me, but keeps back several feet. Around me, the hackles of my Pack have risen and I can hear the barely restrain snarls of my Enforcers.

“Hey, *dad*.” I make sure to state what Hale is to me so my Pack will chill out. A few do, their stiffening limbs the only hint of surprise as I feel thirty curious eyes go between me and my father. “What’s up?”

“We sensed a disturbance…” Zoe says softly, her eyes flitting between my Betas cautiously. I think about things from their point of view, mentally picturing how our stances are and how that could look since these two haven’t spoken to me in a while. With my Betas right next to me like this, it probably looked like I was being escorted out of Kiwina rather than the other way around.

“Huh,” I hum and gesture to my group sheepishly. “I probably should have let you know we’d be passing through…”

“It’s good to see you. I’d heard you had…taken over the Berner Pack. Congratulations, by the way.” Hale offers me a stiff smile. “Your mother and I would have visited to congratulate you in person, but…” He trails off and I feel a mini tsunami of guilt smack into me through the Pack bond.

“They’re…skittish.” I wave a hand to encompass my Pack, trying not to wince as another wave of their guilt slams into me. “Anyway, these are my Betas, Khadija and Lee,” I introduce my seconds to Zoe and Hale. “Guys, this is Zoe and my father, Hale.”

“Pleasure to meet you,” Hale nods to them politely. Zoe hums something that sounds like a *hi*, but she’s still a little tense.

“Would have thought Ms. Jin would be with you.” I tell Hale, but really, I’m fishing for information. I still haven’t seen hide nor hair of a particular vampire and am starting to wonder if they’ve locked him in a psych ward or something.

“Ritska is still attending Mikyle.” Hale confirms with a smaller, more wary look. “He is getting better.”

“Of course,” I nod, a little relieved, even if it aches a little to hear my ex-shadow’s still got some screws loose. I may not know Mikyle well, but we’re trauma-bonded. He helped me get through the worse of my pre-Blooming shit and now his mind’s been tampered with. “We’re just heading back to Berner territory. Gonna see what’s left of it and try to get the Pack settled before school starts back up.”

“Is Zane aware that you’re leaving Kiwina?” Hale asks slowly, eyebrows raised.

“Are you going to snitch on me?” I ask back sweetly, flashing him my teeth. Hale chuckles and shakes his head. I didn’t decide to do this until an hour ago, and by then I was too worried to think much more of my plan through…including telling Blue I’d be leaving for a few hours. It should be fine, though. It’s not like I’m going to Colton or something.

“No, I just assumed you would tell your mate you’d be leaving the only warded town in the state.” Hale’s word make the smile on my face slip off.

“Right, the wards…” I’d completely forgotten about them. *Fuck. The Revenant’s still out there*. What with the issues with the Berner Pack, I really haven’t thought about the dangers outside of Kiwina.

“I can come with you if you’d like.” Zoe offers, finally looking at me directly. Her dark red eyes flash a little with the kindness I’d grown accustomed to seeing from her. I know she’s a good and fast fighter. On the off chance we run into the Revenant, I’m sure she’d be helpful. I look from her to Hale - who nods.

“The more the merrier.” I tell my old bodyguard. She nods and moves slowly to join the front of the line on the other side of Lee, making sure to keep far away from me and the vulnerable kids in the center of the group. I can hear the hum of the Pack as some of the Enforcers move into a more strategic formation, one constantly around Zoe now. I don’t have the heart to tell them that if she makes a move to kill anyone, they’d be dead long before any of these Bitten even noticed.

“Revenants prefer to hunt at night, but that’s not to say it couldn’t attempt something in the day.” Hale warns me, the ghostly flickers of worry making his jade eyes go a little nuclear-green.

“I’m sure we’ll be fine,” I insist, moving forward to give him a light hug. His arms squeeze me lightly, the scent of ripe apples and iron filling my nose briefly before I release him and step back to join my Pack and Zoe. “I’ll call you when we get there and when I’m coming back,” I reassure him as we walk past him.

“And don’t forget to tell your mate. He’ll sense the moment you leave the town,” Hale calls after us. “I don’t need a pissed Alpha breathing down my neck ‘cause I didn’t report that I knew his mate left without more guards.” I wince a little at that, but just wave in reply. He’s got a point…

*Blue?* I think internally, reaching through our bond to gently get his attention. The mark on my neck warms, sending a calming warmth through my body. *Don’t be mad, but I’m gonna step out of Kiwina for a bit to get some of my wolves home.*

*You know whenever you say ‘don’t be mad’*… Blue’s growling reply makes me cringe at first, then he lets out a mental sigh as the though trails off. Please be careful. *I know you’ve got your Pack to think about, but do try to make some time to take another person with you. I can send Cole or Yuri with you if you want*.

*I got Zoe.* I think back, relieved that I’d accepted the vampire’s help.

*Fine, but at the first sign of trouble*… He lets the thought trail off, not wanting to give me an order. Not that I’d follow it even if he gave one. He’s not my Alpha.

*Yes, dear.* I roll my eyes, but can’t help grinning at the mental growl that he sends back.

*Be safe*. Blue murmurs in my head and I relax, knowing he’s not happy with my sudden departure, but accepting it needs to be done. We both know how tense things have been while the Berner Wolven have been hanging around.

I feel a little better now that the issue’s been solved and continue the steady pace as we reach the boundary of marked trees that are the only indication that we’re leaving Kiwina. My steps slow as I look around the line of warded trees, warily scanning the surrounding area. I’m relieved that it’s the dead of winter, only evergreens keep their leaves, and there are enough of the bare branches of other kinds of trees that I can easily see nothing is waiting for us on the other side of the warded line.

“I’ll go first.” Zoe offers without me asking, stepping up fearlessly as the hum of my Pack’s thoughts rise in my head. I’ve already told them about the Revenant problem and how that’s played out over the last few months. None of them know exactly why a rogue vamp is a problem, but what they don’t seem to grasp is that nothing short of a fully-trained Guardian vampire has the skill to take one out.

Zoe crosses the invisible line and takes a few steps beyond, pausing long enough to survey the area and taking a deep inhale. Vampire senses are a lot like Wolven in the way I know Zoe can scent out other things in the immediate radius. It’s quiet. The sounds of the shuffling of the kids and breathing of my Pack the only things to be heard. Something about that bugs me, but Zoe catches my attention before I can wonder why.

“Come through slowly.” My old vamp-guard tells me. I wave at my Pack to stay back as I follow her instructions, walking through the line of trees and pausing beside her. A few of my Wolven shuffle closer after me, but no one dares to cross just yet. I hold still, waiting beside Zoe for a good ten minutes before breathing a sigh of relief. Nothing.

“Alright, guys, come on over.” I turn to my Pack, feeling a breeze against the back of my neck. Something burns against my skin, a horrible power slamming into me all at once. The air rushes from my lungs as I catch sight of the horrified, wide-eyed looks of my Pack as they stare at something behind me.

The chords of time vibrate around me as I reach, on instinct, for them a second before I turn to face the soulless creature behind me.