Chapter 89 Homeward Bound

*Diana*

Everyone was a means to an end. Although Captain Hathaway could be considered an ally, he also had ulterior motives and not everyone on his team was trustworthy.

Those who were awake had a purpose. Like this Wolf Troop escorting Second to Andrew's RV. I would have done it myself, but all these wolves think they know more than me or think they are better than me. Fine. Let them think that I am weak.

After the Wolf Troop chained Second to a seat, it was time for Second and the Wolf Troop to fall asleep.

"He has served his purpose," Onyx said while we watched the Wolf Troop settle into a chair and close his eyes, hugging a throw pillow in a tight embrace. "Throw him out of the RV."

I grabbed his legs and pulled him off of his seat. Otis kept the door open for me as I dragged him out into the parking lot, his head hitting the steps.

"That's nice. Now he's knocked out cold," Otis exclaimed as I rested him on a post making sure he wouldn't get runned over by any cars.

"Better him than us," I said.

"Another Wolf Troop we can't trust?" Otis asked.

"No, but he has already served his purpose," I answered. "Now, I have to make a short stop at One's building." I climbed back into the RV and settled into a chair near Harley and Didi while Otis closed the door behind me. "Aunt Athena, Broadway please, 48th and 7th."

"You got it. Otis sit here next to me," Aunt Athena said. Otis climbed into the passenger seat beside Aunt Athena. After Otis put on his seatbelt, Aunt Athena backed out of the parking space and drove out of the parking lot into the streets of New York.

I took out a burner phone my dad had given me and dialled the number Captain Hathaway wrote down for me. Sixth should answer. He was one of the wolves who was awake.

"Hello?" A man's husky voice greeted me. I guess I woke him up.

"It is he, Diana," Onyx said, confirming. Good.

"I am so sorry to have awaken you. Sixth, this is Diana Lockwood. I received word you wanted to talk to me. I am headed to your location on 48th and 7th," I told him. "I'll be there shortly."

"You are coming here? Now?" He asked.

"Yes, we will be there in ten minutes."

"B-but the wolves, they are in the casino. Someone might see us," he said.

"The wolves are fast asleep and will not see anything unless your employer has human spies who keep watch. Even then, I will know," I replied. "The CCTV cameras in your vicinity will be turned off upon my arrival. I can assure you, no one will know you and I spoke except for my family."

"Alright then I will wait for you in the alleyway next to the building. The darkness will provide a cover," he said.

"Okay, Sixth. I will meet you there," I said and hung up.

"Do you need back up, Diana?" Didi asked.

"No, I'll be fine. I'm just going to talk to him for bit. You guys stay here in the RV where it's safe," I answered.

"You can bring Otis if you want," Didi said.

"No, I'll do this alone," I said. Didi looked at me doubtfully. "I'm fine. This is just a business transaction and Sixth is an ally, not an enemy."

"Okay then. Your Dad will tan my hide if anything were to happen to you. I just want to make sure," she replied.

I instructed Aunt Athena to park infront of the building beside One's building and told her wait for ten minutes.

"I'm coming with you," Otis said, taking off his seatbelt. I shook my head.

"I need you here to keep guard. Lock the door and let no one in except for me," I ordered. I opened the side door of the RV and let myself out.

The alleyway was filled with dumpsters overflowing with trash. Good thing I had my scarf covering my face. The trash stank. My eyes adjusted to the dark and I saw a tall man with black hair and ebony skin, his face turned up toward the night sky standing in the middle of the alleyway. He had a nice suit on with an expensive overcoat laying on his shoulders. His head turned to me when he heard my footsteps. He bowed low in greeting.

"I can already tell by your glowing green eyes you are the one I seek," he said. "The black wolf has told me to wait for you."

"You asked to speak with me. What is it that you need?" I asked him.

"I need you to be the beneficiary of One's wealth when the time comes, Miss Diana," Sixth answered, his eyes begging. "Captain Hathaway prefers it to be me, but if that will be the case, I will no longer be eligible to become the Wolf Troop I have always wanted to be, what my father would have wanted me to be. I will take care of the paperwork and I will make One sign the documents when he least expects it."

"And why me? One's wealth is dirty money."

"I know the money is obtained unlawfully and immorally, however you can do good with the money. Give it to the families of the kidnapped she-wolves, build a wolf hospital, an orphanage maybe, shelters for rogue wolves," Sixth replied. "You are the only one I know who will do good with the money given. I can not trust the High Lord Wolf. He may use the money to benefit himself rather those who are truly in need." He took my hand and knelt down on one knee. "I beg of you, Miss Diana. Please. For my sake and the sake of the wolves. I will be forever in your debt."

I smiled at him. "Stand up. I have a better proposition for you. You will have your beneficiary. Someone I know who will use that money to help wolves and rogues all over the country."

"Yes? Do I know who this wolf is?" Sixth asked, smiling at me. He was a handsome man with brown eyes and pearly white teeth. I tugged on his arm so I could whisper the name of the wolf in his ear. "I know him. Alright, Miss Diana. I will do as you say. Thank you."

"I will be heading to New Jersey after our meeting. If you need me, you may call my personal number." I handed him a small sheet of paper. "I need to go now. Take care, Sixth. The black wolf will aid you in your quest."

"Thank you, Miss Diana. A thorn has been lifted from my chest. If you need me, I will come to your aid. I promise."

I waved goodbye and quickly left the alleyway towards the RV. I sniffed myself, hoping the scent of all the trash didn't stick on my person. Otis had the door opened for me so I quickly climbed into the RV.

"Diana, we saw all the trash in the alleyway, but you still smell like pancakes and maple syrup. I hate you," Didi said, chuckling.

"Otis, seat please and  Diana, buckle up. We'll be speeding to the rendezvous point. Lucas just messaged. We need to get to Jersey before the wolves wake up."

I sat down and put on my seatbelt. It was time to go home. To MY territory.

_________________

*Lucas*

Usually when I'm speeding through traffic, I have to swerve from lane to lane to avoid the slow-driving cars, but since I was in an ambulance with the sirens blazing, all the cars in my way swerved to give me a clear path to wherever I was going. It was good since time was not on our side.

We needed to get to New Jersey before the wolves woke up, preferably in Lotus Pack or Night Forest Walker Pack territory. No one, not even the High Lord Wolf nor the Wolf Troop army could come in without permission and Alpha Connor nor Diana will not give their permission unless it would benefit our territories.

The rendezvous point was twenty minutes away, but since we were speeding through the streets of New York City, the time was cut in half. Athena had messaged me telling me they had made a quick pit stop at One's building to talk to the undercover agent of Captain Hathaway.

"Michael, the brick building is up ahead," I told him through mind link. "Follow me into the alleyway. There's an opening that will take us to basement parking."

"Copy, Lucas. I still remember this building of yours," he replied through mind link.

I switched off the sirens of the ambulance and turned into the alleyway of the brick building, drove through the entrance to the basement and parked the ambulance at the far end of the parking lot away from the entrance. Michael parked Athena's car beside us.

We all jumped out of the ambulance, the men happy, stretching their long legs. I took a peek inside checking on my mother and her friend. I was relieved to see they were still asleep.

"Lucas, what happened at the hospital?" Alpha Connor said, walking towards me.

"I found a wolf seated in their hospital room. He had the elixir on." I showed Alpha Connor the picture I took with my phone of the wolf I was talking about. Alpha Connor took my phone and then gave it to Michael who also took a good look at it. "And...I took his phone." I pulled the wolf's phone out of my pocket. "I disabled biometrics. Take a look at his recent messages."

Alpha Connor took the phone and he and Michael huddled together to take a look at his messages.

"So the wolf is part of Chief's team," Alpha Connor said. "They really want that ten million dollar bounty."

"Thirty million. Ten million for each of you on One's list," Michael corrected him.

"Sorry, thirty million," Alpha Connor said, raising his hands in the air. "Question is...who told them?"

"It's either one of Captain Hathaway's men or One, that is if he found out about Rose being hospitalized," Michael said. "Or maybe the High Lord Wolf, but I highly doubt the High Lord Wolf would do such a thing. Onyx is already peeved at him."

"After reading those two message, I became skeptical on the loyalty of these Wolf Troops. I didn't want to risk it so I decided to hijack the ambulance. Good thing I had the men with me. It was easy to knock them unconscious," I told them. "Well, we'll get answers once Diana gets here. They should be here any minute unless they made another pit stop."

"Pit stop? Diana's group went somewhere else?" Ethan asked. "Don't tell me this is another prank."

"Prank?" I asked and noticed Michael laughing. "So the helicopter leaving was suppose to end up as a prank?"

"Well, I didn't know the Chief's men had connections with my friend. Unfortunately, I called him asking for a  favor while they had agreed to pay him," Michael said. "But if the Chief's men were already at Lockwood Towers, we would have noticed a bunch of wolves in tactical gear...sleeping."

"Didn't you guys notice that one elevator wasn't working? Could they have been inside waiting for us?" Ethan pointed out. It made sense.

"Valid point," I agreed. "If there weren't any signs saying the elevator was 'out of order' then maybe they were waiting for you guys in the elevator. All they have to do is press the emergency stop button and they elevator would stay on whatever floor they need to be on. Anyway, Ethan, Diana went to talk to the undercover Wolf Troop."

"That important, huh? Well, they better get here. New Jersey is an hour away and we only have approximately two hours left 'til sunrise," Alpha Connor said.

We suddenly heard the sound of tires squeaking on the floor of the parking lot area and turned our heads to see who just came it. Ethan heaved a sigh of relief at the sight of Andrew's RV. "They're here," he said.

Athena maneuvered the RV towards us and parked it beside her Mercedes. All of them jumped out except for Harley and Second.

"I remember this building. You used to rent this out to two elderly married couples," Athena said.

"Used to. Now the apartments are being rented out by young professionals," I told her.

"Athena, your kids are inside your car," Michael said. Athena turned to go to her car. "They're asleep. Don't wake them just yet." Athena stopped and hurriedly went to Michael and Alpha Connor instead to give them a hug.

"Thank you. I owe you guys big time," Athena said.

"Hey, Dad," Diana came over to give me a hug. Then she walked to Ethan's side and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Sorry, Ethan, I know the helicopter left without you on it. Chief got the intel via his team keeping watch at the hotel. They paid the pilot to leave then planned an entrapment operation. They just didn't plan on Onyx."

"Who told Chief, Diana?" I asked.

"One of Captain Hathaway's men who needs money. He was promised a portion of the bounty. He was supposed to tail me, but he fell asleep in his car," she answered. "Onyx is extracting payment for his actions as we speak."

"Good. Since everyone is here and we don't have much time, all of us need to leave now," I said.

"Pick a car. The car keys are in that metal box on the post," Michael said, pointing at the SUVs lined up at one side of the parking lot."

"Michael, I'll be driving my own car," Athena said while raising one of her hands. Michael placed the car key of the Mercedes-Benz in her hand.

"Didi, Harley and Otis are driving with us," Diana said.

"Second is mine," Alpha Connor said. "Athena, the keys to the RV." Athena tossed the car key at him. He caught it with one hand. "Matt, tell the men to hop in." He nods his head at me. "Lucas, my men will meet us at the border and escort you and Diana to Lotus Pack Territory." He extended his hand for a handshake.

I grabbed his hand and shook it vigorously. "The night is not over."

"Sure isn't," Alpha Connor smiled sinisterly.