Chapter 265: Rhys
In the hours that followed after Grace’s mindlink we got everything in order. The surveillance cameras seemed to be catching extra movement around our borders. So, Grace finding the Pyxis and this extra movement that we couldn’t see couldn’t be a coincidence. Which meant that Grace was in some serious danger. I didn’t know what Adrian and Kinsley were planning, but enough was enough. We had been pawns in their game for long enough. We had our own plan, and it was time that we took them out.
“Hey, the SUVs are packed.” Maizie popped her head in to tell me.
“Are you okay, Maiz?” I asked, noticing her pale face and tired eyes. “Do you need to stay behind?”
“No.” She snapped at me. “Everyone needs to stop asking me that!”
I raised my arms in surrender. “I’m sorry.” I told her. “I was just trying to care for you.”
Maizie rolled her eyes at me as I got up and grabbed the bag I had been keeping at my desk at the ready in case we had to leave at a moment's notice.
“Toughen up, Alpha King.” Maizie told me, there was a slight bit of teasing in her voice, but her warning was serious. “We’re going into enemy territory; there is no room for caring about others.”
“That’s dark, Maiz,” I said hesitantly.
“I don’t care.” She answered tiredly, holding the door open for me to follow her. “You can’t forget your mission while we’re there. Grace can handle herself. Just like all those hours we talked about it. Grace shuts down the Pyxis. We get those kids out. We kill their leaders. Anything else is a side quest that we can't afford. We can’t save that pack, Rhys. You can’t save me, or Sawyer or Caleb or Leon. And most definitely not Grace. If someone runs into a problem on their assigned mission, then we plan B it. Just like we talked about.”
“But-” I tried, but she cut me off, and I knew it was because she cared that she was giving me this little spiel.
“Trust us to all do our jobs, Rhys, the same way we are trusting you to do yours.”
“You aren’t really expecting me to stay behind, are you?” I demanded with a frown.
“You know that you are needed here.” Maizie replied simply. “Now, give me that bag, I’ll take it for Grace. But there is no other choice. This is your pack.”
“Sawyer, I’ve changed my mind, you stay back, and I’ll go.” I tried as soon as my brother came into my line of sight.
“No. We’ve been over this.” He answered with a sad smile.
My job was to stay out of sight for the foreseeable future. I could go as far as the outpost we had setup discreetly in the Wildlands, but that was it. I would be here to protect my people for the almost certain attack. Adrian would come here. It was only a matter of time. Everyone would assume that I went after my mate. But this was a game of chess, not checkers. I would be here. Keeping everyone connected. I was trusting Sawyer and Maizie to get the kids out. Leon and Caleb to help Grace with the Pyxis. And Heather and I would be here. Protecting our people. And as much as I hated the plan, I knew it was the right one.
I nodded at Caleb and Leon as they came out. Caleb put his hand on my shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. And I completely understood. I was asking him to take care of my Grace, but he was asking me to take care of his Sammy. Despite everything that had happened between us, we were both trusting the other to take care of the people who mattered most to us.
They all got in the car while Heather and I stood by helplessly, watching them drive away into the distance.
“Grace?” I reached out to her.
“Yes?” She answered, but the strain she seemed to be under, took me by surprise.
“The cavalry is on the way... Is everything okay?”
“A little busy right now.” She answered. Despite the fact that she wasn’t using her actual voice to talk, I could tell she was out of breath. Panic immediately shot through me.
“I made a mistake. I can’t be here.” I told Heather.
“Go inside and check the tracker.” Heather said calmly. “Let her do her job. We need to do ours, and we still have a lot to do.”
I let her lead me inside. I knew she was worried for her husband, and that fussing over my ‘obsession’ with my mate gave her something to focus on, but something was wrong with Grace, and I was sure of it. But Heather was right, the only way to get any more information was to go back upstairs to my laptop where I could listen in on her experience, and make sure she was as safe as possible.
I took the steps two at a time, not bothering to acknowledge anyone on my path. Grace might not be able to talk to me right now, but I could feel her building panic, and that was enough to keep me focused on my mission. How had I not felt it before? I should have noticed before I had even left the office with Maizie, but I had been so focused on what was about to happen, I hadn’t been paying enough attention to my Grace.
I threw open the office door and came to an immediate halt, causing Heather to run into me and stumble back. A shadow had moved from near my desk. For a split second, I thought it was Michael, but the man behind my desk was much older. The man looked up at me with wild eyes, and for the first time I had truly regretted ever helping someone. The anger I felt was insurmountable. I had trusted this man and proving that I never should have.
“You aren’t supposed to be here.” The familiar voice stuttered dropping everything he had in his hands.
“Neither are you, Arlo.”
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