Chapter 74: Theo

We followed Briggs' suggestion and spent the afternoon laying low. We were still hanging out in the living room when Jimmy mind linked me.

'Alpha, Hawkins managed to slip out ofthe house,' Jimmy informed me. 'Just as you expected. I'm on his tail. He's heading out of the city.'

'I'm on my way," I replied. 'Don't losehim.'

'Wasn't planning on it,' Jimmy confirmed.

“Everything okay?” Ayla asked.

“Hawkins is leaving the city,” I said.

"He's escaping?"

“No.”I kissed her temple and stood from

the couch.“I think he's meeting someone. Jimmy's following him. I have to catch up. Briggs, come with me.”

Briggs nodded and was right behind me. Mina was on her feet as well.

“Take the neural patches,” she told us.“I'lltell Alpha Harden and the others to wear them, too. Open the mind link when you catch them. Then we'll have plenty of witnesses."

The pride on Briggs' face was evident as he pulled her to him for a deep kiss.

“If only we had a way of recording it,”Ijoked, knowing her suggestion would be more than enough.

“I'm on my way to get that set up,” Minareplied as she grabbed her stuff.

Ayla laughed.“I told you she was brilliant. I'll be with her if you need anything else."

Briggs and I said goodbye to our mates and headed out of the packhouse.

'Jimmy, where are we headed?'

'He's shifted,'Jimmy replied.'We're abouttwo miles northeast of the packhouse. You'll catch up faster on foot.'

'Done.'

We attached the neural patches behind our ears and stripped down quickly, taking off at a run as we both shifted into our wolves. Kieran took over in an instant. It had been too long since I had let him loose. He was practically salivating at the thought of catching the traitor who was threatening our mate. We slowed as we closed in on the location.

'Stay back if you didn't cover your scent,'Jimmy reminded us. He could sense Kieran's excitement.

'Keep the link open,' I told him. I felt for

Mina, making sure we were still in range of the link. My connection to her was faint but there.'Mina, how close are you to being set up?’

'Five minutes,' she replied. 'But you're toofar out to get a clear recording. Ayla is going to edge of the packhouse property and see if that works to boost the connection.’

‘Maggie’s coming with me,’ Ayla camethrough the link.

‘Okay,’I replied.‘Jimmy, what’s ourstatus?’

'Hawkins has stopped,' he replied.'He's atthe edge of a clearing. He's definitely meeting someone, but they haven't shown up yet. I shouldn't have any trouble getting close enough to hear.’

Kieran was pacing in the shadows. I worked to calm him. We were still a safe

distance from the meeting spot, but we didn't know what direction this contact was coming from. Kai, Briggs' wolf, grunted from a nearby tree.

'Calm down,'Briggs urged.'We've gotthis.’

Kieran chuffed, but ultimately settled down, crouching low to the ground to keep out of sight, but remaining hyper-vigilant. It was another twenty minutes before Jimmy said he spotted someone approaching Hawkins.

The mind-link was open and, as the Alpha in my wolf form, I could see and hear what my pack members were experiencing. Almost like seeing through their eyes. But we had to be careful. If we widened the connection too far, Hawkins would sense our presence. It is possible for an Alpha to force this connect ion with their pack members, but I had never done so, and swore I never would. Now was

definitely not the time to break that oath. Luckily, Jimmy was exactly where I needed him to be.

“I thought I told you to lay low,”thecontact hissed.

Jimmy couldn't see any of his features, but I didn't think Hawkins could either. From what he said, it seemed that he was always shrouded or kept to the shadows. However, the voice was familiar. Very familiar.

“We need to talk,”Hawkins replied firmly.“We're running out of time, so we need tomake some decisions. I think you need to meet with Alpha Theo."

The mystery scoffed.“I knew you had been caught. You're no good to us now.”

“Just hold on,”Hawkins insisted.“Youknew this was always a possibility. I said from the start if I had the chance to bring

in the Alpha and his family, I would take it.”

“And I told you it was foolish,” the voicereplied.“She's his mate. He'll never see reason.”

“He might,”Hawkins said.“I've beentalking with him. He won't admit it to me, but he has his doubts in her.”

I had to stifle Kieran's growl. They wouldn't hear him, but if I didn't keep him under control he would certainly give us away as this conversation progressed. I was still trying to place that voice. I knew that voice. But who was it?

“Hmmm...” the stranger said.“I have ahard time believing that.”

“He did reject her originally,”Hawkinssaid, making my gut twist.“Not many people know that, but I have a reliable source. And the timeline adds up. He must

have had his doubts from the beginning. I think he'll listen to us."

Kieran was beginning to rage. At me as much as them. How could Hawkins have found out? How dare they use my rejection against Ayla when it was never her fault? Whoever told him had to have lied about the circumstances. We would rip them apart.

Kai growled low, stepping in front of Kieran who had stood.

'Don't,'Briggs echoed. 'Concentrate. Whois he talking to?'

Kieran shook himself to refocus.

“Well, that is interesting information,” theman cooed.“Perhaps he could be of value to us.”

“He just needs more evidence,” Hawkinssaid.“I can set up a meeting for you two.”

“No,”the voice replied.“I'll have to bringsomeone else in for this. It may take some time.”

“You said we don't have much more time,”Hawkins said with frustration.“Why can't you just do it?”

“Trust me, he won't listen to me.”

I finally recognized the voice.

‘Malcolm.’