The Challenge (The Pack 2)

Leah nodded in acknowledgement and then jerked her head toward Dylan. “Maybe someone can take him out of here.”

“I can do that,” Trent volunteered eagerly, hand raised as he swallowed hard. “Come on, Dylan, let’s go see what they’ve got planned.”

Dylan shook his head violently, rocking harder. “I lost Monster. I let them take him,” he cried over and over and I almost burst into tears right there.

“Dylan, go with Trent. Now,” Wren snapped, making all of us jump. I’d never heard Wren use that tone before but it worked as Dylan stood up and shuffled toward the door. Trent followed him as I hovered by the bed.

“Go,” Leah said softly. “We’ve got this. Really, there’s not a lot I can do for him. I’m not a doctor,” she hesitated, glancing down at the furry, four-legged wolf, “Or a veterinarian.”

“You’re his best chance at the moment,” I told her, moving to leave. “No pressure,” I added and she smiled wryly.

“No pressure,” she echoed.

When I walked outside it was chaos. Most of the Navarre Pack were milling around the parking lot, waiting for orders. My Dad stood to the side, his face a hard mask as he listened to them argue.

“We need to go now. They have my son. You don’t know what they’re like,” Sam cried passionately, glancing between the men desperately. “He’s a little boy.”

“Sam,” Dom spoke, his voice unusually calm considering the circumstances. “Do you think Nicholas Hanley is going to hurt his only grandson?” She stared at him resentfully, but finally shook her head no. “Then we have time to come up with a plan.”

“Direct attack. Wipe them out, once and for all,” Caleb concluded and there were more than a few nods of agreement. My Dad wasn’t one of them.

“And if innocents get caught in the crossfire?” Dad asked, his face drawn and looking older than I’d ever seen. “Like my son,” he bit out angrily. “I’m not willing to take that chance.”

“We need to end this,” Dom replied, his voice weary. “We can’t keep doing this back and forth dance with them anymore.”

“What if I challenge Hanley? For Alpha?” Caleb offered resolutely.

“That won’t get my son back,” Sam interjected. “It’ll only give him time to hide him away.”

“He’ll avoid the fight,” Sheriff Navarre said knowingly. “Sam’s right in this instance. We can’t afford to wait too long. If they initiate those boys into the pack,” he broke off, shaking his head.

“What does that mean?” I asked, interrupting them. “Initiating?”

“Basically, it’s how you become part of the Pack. Its when the mental bond is formed with your pack mates. Normally, it’s done when the shifter is old enough to decide and agrees they want to be part of the pack,” Sheriff Navarre answered.

“But what exactly does it entail?” I pushed, needing facts. “And why would they do it to the boys?” No one answered at first, and I didn’t know if it was because they didn’t want to upset me, but I wasn’t having it. “Tell me,” I snapped.

“The bond is formed through a blood exchange,” Dom answered. “It’s not painful,” he paused and then added, “Usually.”

“Its easier to control them when they’re young, easier to indoctrinate them,” Sam finished flatly. “It’s why I ran with Nicky when I did. They started talking about initiating the Pack bond on him. Breaking that bond –” she stopped, her lips clamped shut as she blinked rapidly. Payne wrapped his arm around her and she allowed it, pressing her head into his shoulder.

“It’s bad,” I concluded and Dom nodded. “Monster, they’ll do this to him?” I asked, already knowing the answer but needing to hear it.

“Yes,” Dom answered. “They will.”

“But Dylan,” I pointed to the tall man with the childlike expression. “He’s okay. He’s not part of the Hanley pack anymore.”

Trent shifted, drawing my attention, “What is it, Trent?”

“Dylan, from what I understand, was never compelled to obey the Alpha’s orders,” he said carefully. “Which means the bond wasn’t fully there and I don’t know why. Maybe it’s because he has Down syndrome and his brain is wired differently. But I have lived through having the bond forcibly removed.” His expression was enough to send a chill through me. “I was a teenager when it happened. It was like ripping my brain to shreds.” He shook his head. “I’m not sure a child could survive that.”

“We need to do something,” I choked out, reeling around, my eyes pleading with Dom. “I can’t lose…not Monster.”

“If we go now, surprise them,” Payne suggested, his body supporting Sam as she sagged against him. “It may be enough. The shifters can fight while we send other guys to retrieve the boys.”

“We have enough guys here. We know where they’re at,” Caleb declared and Dom nodded slowly.

“No,” the single word was sharp and concise, freezing everyone in their tracks as they stared at the girl who’d spoken. Anna’s eyes burned as she stepped forward, spinning in a slow circle to make sure everyone was listening. “That’s exactly what they want. What they expect. We’ll be playing into their hands. Reacting instead of working for the best possible outcome.”