Chapter 30: Betrayal

Dex looked up to see Leyton shift into human form. Without Emma. He and Brutus were in a deep discussion about pack business in the Wolf Woods Meeting Hall. Emma had been on Dex’s s mind since he left her this morning.
“Leyton?” Dex asked.
She entered the room out of breath. “They. Took. Her.”
“Emma?”
What would he do if something happened to Emma?
“Yes. These wolves came out of the woods. I didn’t recognize them.”
“Did they shift at all?” Dex asked.
Lucien’s wolves had a distinct marking on them. He didn’t know if it was a tattoo done when they were in human form or a brand. It translated into their wolf form so Dex suspected it was something permanent on their human skin.
“Yes,” she said, her eyes wild.
Dex put a hand on her. “Leyton. It isn’t your fault.”
She looked at Brutus, who hadn’t said anything, then back to Dex. “But I couldn’t stop them.”
“Your job wasn’t to guard Emma, but to show her around, Leyton. You couldn't have done anything.”
She caught her breath then nodded. “Okay. They did shift.”
“Tell me everything you remember,” Dex said.
He wondered briefly why Brutus wasn’t comforting his mate. Leyton’s gaze darted around the room and she had trouble catching her breath.
“Okay. They came out of the woods. They didn’t say anything, just grabbed Emma. They slapped something on her wrist.
“Silver, probably, so she couldn’t shift,” Dex said, bitterness tinging his voice.
He wanted to race to where Emma had been abducted, but he had a pretty good idea who’d done it. He hoped Lucien wouldn’t hurt her, but that wolf was a wild card. His fragile ego had been insulted by Emma’s departure. Dex should have anticipated that, kept Emma closer to home.
“I shifted and attacked, but they fought me off.”
That’s when he noticed, she was holding her side. “You okay?”
“I’m healing. I’m fine. We have to get Emma back,” Leyton said.
“Tell me what else you saw.”
“They had a yellow streak on their heads.”
That was Lucien. He made his guards get that brand. Another reason to dislike Lucien. Dex turned to Brutus. “Take care of your mate.”
Dex burst into action. Emma was his Luna. It didn’t matter that she was still married to Lucien until the Elders made their decision. She’d made it clear to that Alpha that she was no longer his Luna. Dex clenched his fists, but he had no time to get angry. They had a head start on him. This also meant he was going to sneak onto another pack’s territory.
Brutus led away Leyton. He’d been quiet this whole time which Dex found curious. Usually, he jumped in to defend Dex’s position.
The invaders on their land must have followed Emma so they knew where she was. They’d been lying in wait for her. How had they gone undetected? A problem for another day. His priority was getting Emma back.
He called his troops together. They were handpicked by him and they’d all agreed they would be the first line of defense if necessary. They sat at the table in his chambers at the Meeting Hall. Brutus would join them when he was done dealing with Leyton.
“We’ve been breached.”
The wolves looked around at each other. Dex put up his hand. “No one is to blame. They probably were only in our territory for minutes.”
“We had patrols out.”
“I know and somehow they got Emma anyway.”
A murmur went through them.
“I know who has her, but this requires stealth and swiftness.” Dex looked at each wolf in front of him and they all nodded.
“We’re in.”
Dex rolled out a map of Fang City. “I’m guessing they aren’t going to keep her at Lucien’s house.”
One of them pointed at a row of warehouses on the edge of Fang City. “Maybe there?”
Dex had surrounded himself with smart and fierce warriors. He had the ultimate say as the Alpha, but he could turn to any of the wolves before him and they would give him advice. He didn’t always take it, but he liked that he could turn to them.
“That sounds about right,” Dex said.
Lucien would keep her secure. He had to know that Dex would come for her. Was it a trap? If Lucien got rid of Dex, then he could go ahead with his agenda of going back to the old ways. Some of the weaker packs would be defeated and would have to go along.
Dex formulated a plan in his head of how to get into and out of Fang City. “They get deliveries. Farmers in the Lake Pack provide items to Fang City.”
A kernel of an idea formed in DEx’s mind. He would sneak into Fang City and he knew who would help him. As much as the Lake Pack did business with Fang City, Dex had many a conversation with that Alpha at the Council about his dislike for Lucien. Dex could use that to his advantage. Blatantly entering the territory would be an act of war and Dex wanted to avoid that.
“Here’s how we’re going to sneak into Fang City.”
Dex outlined his plan. He finished and the wolves scattered to prepare. Brutus returned, not making eye contact with Dex. Something was up. “Is Leyton okay?”
“Healing nicely. She’ll be fine in a few hours.”
“You want to hear my plan.”
“Sure.”
Dex sat on the edge of his table. It was solid oak made out of the largest tree in the forest that had fallen during a storm. Dex had found it and dragged it back to his house. A craftsman had made it for him with a live edge. He thought it a befitting ending to a mighty tree. “You have anything to tell me?”
“Like what?”
Dex rose to his feet. Brutus always skirted the edge of what was acceptable for a Beta to say to Alpha. This was going too far. They’d been best friends forever, but this had crossed the line. “You let those men in my territory. Why?”
“Because I don’t want you to be distracted or have your heartbroken.”
“That’s for me to decide, Brutus. Not you.” Dex stepped into Brutus’ personal space. “I’m the Alpha in this pack. Did you forget that?”
Brutus had the good sense to look at the ground in submission. Anything less and Dex might have had to fight with him. He would. Even if it was Brutus. Dex would assert his dominance and maybe this confrontation had been long overdue.
“We’ve been friends for a long time, Brutus, but you’re my Beta. Maybe I’ve let you get away with far too much. This was wrong.”
“She might leave again.”
“That’s for me to deal with. I’m not a pup any longer. I’m a grown-*ss wolf and the Alpha of this pack. Your Alpha, I might remind you.”
Brutus stepped back and continued to look at the floor. If he’d looked into Dex’s eye, Dex would have had to take a swipe at him. He wouldn’t hesitate.
“You don’t make those decisions for me, Brutus.”
“Yes, sir.”
“I’m the leader here and I decide my own affairs. If Emma is hurt, if one hair on her head is gone, you will have some groveling to do to stay in this pack. Do you understand?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Emma is my Luna. I’m going to get her back and she is going to be your Luna. She’ll be it for this whole pack. If you have a problem with that, tell me now.”
“No, sir.”
Dex stared at Brutus for another minute. Brutus was sufficiently remorseful for Dex, so he stepped out of his space. “I’m not sure I can trust you right now so you’ll stay behind.”
Dex brushed past his Beta, not giving him another thought. His only goal was to get Emma back.