“Amon is playing a dangerous game,” I muttered. “Not just with me. That’s pretty close to moose shifter territory. We generally get along with them, but we also tend to stay in our own areas and respect each other’s boundaries.”
Jacob agreed with me.
Liam, another one of our clan’s soldiers, picked up some of the debris that had fallen from the young bear’s fur when he had changed. He looked at the leaves and twigs and nodded at me.
“These plants are consistent with those found in the areas he pointed out.”
The bear shifter put his shaky hand on my arm. “Be careful. He’s got George and Frank with him. Frank is already angry because your woman threw boiling hot water on him. He is the one who tore apart your house. Amon wants to destroy both you and Luka.”
Score one for Luka. I didn’t think she would go without a fight, even up against four bears.
“Thank you for the warning,” I said to him. “I appreciate it.”
I liked this young man. I thought he might be a good addition to our security force when he was a bit older. He was someone who seemed as though he was ready to do what he thought was right, even if it meant going against his friends. That took courage, which I honored and respected.
Six of us were assembled and ready to go. It was going to be a long, hard run, although we were all in a lot better shape than this young man who came to tell us where to find my brother and my wife.
Before we started out, I focused on Luka’s beautiful face. “I’m coming, my love. Hold on for just a little bit longer.”
I could feel in my soul that she was still alive and still okay. That was a very good thing for my brother.
As we began our trek through the now dark forest, I could feel my hatred and my anger rise inside of me. I could not believe that my own flesh and blood would be so greedy for power that he would dare do something like this. Although the punishment for his crime would be banishment, I wanted to tear him limb from limb instead.
Jacob and the others felt the negativity rising inside of me.
“Control your rage,” Jacob said. “You must put your emotions aside. Your emotions will only get in the way of your good judgment. If you are to save Luka, you must be level headed, or Amon will win. If you are to survive, and if the clan is to survive Amon, you must be a hunter and a leader first.”
I heard his words. It took a great deal of inner strength, but I visualized in my mind the abolition of the negative emotions. I began to focus on a strategy for our attack. I pictured the area where the cave was. There was a marsh on the left side of it. We could easily get stuck if we stepped in it. There were a bunch of brambles on the other side. I would also guess he would have some kind of alarm system to let him know when we came near.
Jacob and Liam were thinking the same thing.
I said, “It looks like our best bet is a direct approach. I’ll go in first, as he will be expecting me. He may think I’m stupid enough to come alone. Then, while he is distracted with me, you guys can come in behind me.”
“Sounds like a plan, Boss,” Jacob said.
“What was that kid’s name?” I asked.
“Alarik. It means noble,” Liam answered.
“It fits. He should be trained when this is all over. He was courageous.”
“Sounds like a plan, Boss,” Liam said, trying to lighten the mood just a bit.
It didn’t work.
19
Luka
As I clung to Amon’s back, the twigs from the trees tore at my hair, my arms, and my clothes. Once again, the thorns from bushes and tiny branches cut into my skin. I could feel the blood from a couple of cuts on my face, but I didn’t dare let go of Amon’s fur to wipe it off.
I hunched over him the best I could to try to protect my belly and my face. However, I still felt as though I were constantly being whipped by the tree branches.
Trying to maintain my balance as we raced through the forest, I couldn’t formulate a message to send to Gage. All I could do was picture his face in my mind and call out to him. I prayed that he heard me.
We seemed like we had traveled for hours when we finally reached a cave. Amon and his friends slowed their pace as we got close to our destination.
“Watch for the marsh,” Amon ordered. “If you get stuck in there, you’re gone for good. We will never be able to get you out.”