“Hopefully, we’ll pick up a scent trail if he is.”
“I’ll check out the garage and backyard.”
“Sounds good. I’ll snoop around more.”
Cricket sat in front of a box of old books and DVDs. The aroma of rich tundra forest drove her mad with desire and distracted her from the task of finding clues. She gazed up at Slade as he entered. “Anything?”
“Nothing.”
Her phone buzzed. “Rylee.” She glanced at Slade and set it on speaker. Rylee came on the screen. “Yes, ma’am.”
“All packs are on lock down.”
Cricket frowned. “Why?”
“Things have moved to lycan DEFCON 1. Two unchanged packs have disappeared.”
Her heart stilled. Wolves before the change weren’t well guarded and given free range to roam and hunt as if they were real wolves. However, at least one changed beta or alpha chaperoned their movements. “And the guard if any?”
“Dead.”
Cricket flinched. “Which packs?”
“The Icelander pack and the Oregon pack,” answered Rylee.
“Oregon. That’s Randi’s girlfriend’s pack.”
“Was. Brenda is dead. She had guard duty, and her body was found next to three murdered unchanged omegas.”
Slade grimaced. “Randi must be insane with grief.”
“That is, if he’s still alive,” said Rylee.
“Why would they kill the omegas?” asked Cricket.
“The commonality between both lost packs is the lower ranked wolves were slaughtered.”
Slade’s fangs emerged, and his tone darkened. “They murdered the helpless.”
Cricket flinched at his helpless reference toward the lower ranks. Especially, since she was no longer so helpless. She had survived abuse from her evil sisters and probably stronger for it.
“I know, disgusting beyond belief. We don’t know if the alphas and betas taken are even alive. Alrik, the German king’s pack and European lycan intelligence is searching all of Europe.”
Slade shook his head. “So now the perpetrators are focused on our unchanged ones?”
Rylee normally remained in control, but not now. Her fangs too, extended to their full length. “And for that they will feel the wrath of our claws and fangs.” She took a long breath then continued. “There is more.”
Cricket’s fangs did not shoot out. Too human to go all-wolf. Yet, never had Cricket seen Rylee so livid. “More?”
“Dr. Warner and his omega assistants are dead.”
Cricket and Slade looked at one another.
“When?” asked Slade.
“Last night an alpha seeking help for one of his betas found him. Beheaded, just like the German psychiatrist. Two betas and one alpha female under treatment have disappeared.”
A chill coursed up Cricket’s spine. “This is bigger than I ever imagined.”