Chapter 6


    Scarlet''s POV


    I go back to the closet and grab a leather jacket off a hanger and put it on before zipping it up. With


    how cold it is, I would love to put on a scarf and gloves too, but I''m worried that would hinder my ability


    to scale across the exterior of the very tall building I''m in. Goddess, I must be crazy. I inhale slow and


    deep before nodding with determination. I lock my bedroom door just in case and head to the small


    balcony. "Okay... okay.... You can do this." I mumble as I try to psych myself up.


    Holding onto the railing, I hoist one leg over and then the other. I take another deep breath and force


    myself to not look down. Werewolves heal fast, but a fall like this would crush me beyond repair. "This


    is ridiculous. Go back inside before you kill yourself," my wolf scolds.


    "Shut up. Don''t distract me."


    "Don''t be stupid and then you don''t have to worry about it. You should just tell our mate what you


    know."


    "No way! He''ll go in there guns zing likest time," I argue.


    "You mean ws drawn?"


    "Shut up! You know what I mean! What if next time Jo or Will are the ones that get in the way? Then


    what?" I insist. My wolf finally quiets. She cares about Jo and Will too and has finally realized there is


    no talking me out of my decision.


    Before taking the first step onto the ledge, I reach up and make sure my grip on the ridge above me is


    secure. After that, I move my feet one at a time and get myself positioned so that my nose is practically


    touching the exterior stone wall. The wind is strong this high up, stronger than I had originally


    anticipated. My grip tightens as I think of what would happen if a random gust of air was the cause of


    my demise. Slowly, I inhale deeply before blowing it softly from my lips. Once I''ve calmed my nerves, I


    begin to inch my way toward the fire escape cautiously. I can feel my palms getting sweaty and my


    heart rate elerating. My anxiety is through the roof right now... well, figuratively speaking.


    When I finally reach the fire escape, I hastily mor over the rail and sink into a crouching position in


    the corner as I try to catch my breath. Oh my Goddess. That was terrifying. Once I''ve managed to get


    my bearings, I begin the long trek down the stairs. Despite being in pretty good shape, I have to stop


    multiple times. Meanwhile, I keep looking over my shoulder and keep my head on a swivel. I don''t want


    anyone to see me. I''m not sure who all knows who I am so being caught in the city could be potentially


    dangerous. Not to mention, Ethan is going to be furious about this. Luckily, the escape isn''t close to the


    windows and is somewhat hidden from the other buildings around it. Hopefully, my luck will hold up and


    I''ll make it pass the borders and back to packless territory.


    I try my best to remain hidden in shadows and dark alleys as I make my way toward The Scourge.


    Whenever another wolf gets too close I quickly hide and wait until they are gone. It seems to take


    forever, but eventually I make it back and enter the familiar path to the shelter. Blood stains the stone


    walls of the buildings on either side of me and the same goes for the gravel path. "Scarlet! Oh my


    Goddess! You''re alive!" Reba, Annie''s mom, says as she runs up to me and throws her arms


    around my neck, pulling me in for a tight embrace.


    I pat her back soothingly. "Yeah, I am. How is everyone?"


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    She lets me go and links an arm around mine as she leads me towards the entrance. "They''ll be much


    better when they see you. We heard from one of the others that they saw you get stabbed! But when


    we were collecting our lost members you weren''t there. We didn''t know what to think."


    "To be honest, I''m not sure either. I''m still trying to wrap my head around it all." She quirks an eyebrow


    at me, clearly trying to figure out exactly what I mean. Luckily, she can tell that it''s not a topic currently


    up for discussion and she chooses not to pry. "Who all did we lose?"


    Reba sighs sadly and casts her gaze down. "Old Sam, Cody, Mr. Luckett, Bernie, and Mr. Garber."


    Tears prickle my eyes. I knew all of them. Cody was my age and was always making peopleugh. Old


    Sam was a grandfatherly figure to all of us packless. Bernie had a mate and two pups to take care of.


    Mr. Luckett and Mr. Garber had both been warriors when they had been part of a pack and were


    always teaching some of the younger wolves. I hurry to wipe away a loose tear before anyone can


    notice and Reba continues. "I''m afraid you already missed their send off." I nod sadly. I guess I''ll


    have to find my own way to say goodbye to them. Werewolves do a ceremony, much like a human


    funeral except we do ours under the moon and ask the Moon Goddess to bless their souls and return


    them as wolves so that they may guide the next generation.


    As we enter the dining hall, chatter seems to cease as everyone''s gazes turn towards me. Before I


    have the chance to do or say anything I''m plowed into and lifted from the ground in a tight embrace.


    The smell of mint and clover surround me and I wrap my arms around him tightly. "Will," I murmur into


    the crook of his neck as he continues to hug me as though his life depends on it.


    "Where the hell have you been baby girl? You had us worried sick!" he whispers next to my ear. He is


    holding me so close that I can feel his heart thudding against my chest. It feels so nice to see him


    again. I''ve missed him so much and my body seems to instantly rx as his familiar scent envelops


    me. Finally, I sigh and pull away from him. I can''t get distracted. I still have a job to do and I need to


    finish it sooner rather thanter.


    Will holds my arms as his gaze roams over me, checking for injuries. He purses his lips together and


    I''m sure he has noticed how worn I look after my stay in the Crescent Moon''s dungeons. When his


    eyes creep over my neck they suddenly widen. "Hey! Where''s your ne?"


    My eyes bug out as I ce a hand on my chest where the ne should be. "Shit! It must still be at


    the hospital!" I realize and grimace.


    "The hospital?..." he begins before I cut him off.


    "Yeah, I have a lot to catch you up on. But first, where''s Jo?"


    He gestures behind me and I turn to see Joing up to me as she wipes her flour-covered hands off


    on her apron. "Well look what the Goddess dragged in," she remarks with a mischievous smile before


    holding her arms out to me.


    I quickly rush up to her and give her a hug. "Oh Jo! It''s so good to be back!"


    "I''m sure it is. But where the hell did you go?"


    "I''ll exin everything. I promise. But is there somewhere that we can talk in private?" I ask her softly


    as I try to avoid prying ears. It''s hard to do in a room full of werewolves with enhanced senses, but the


    dining hall is once again loud so hopefully no one is paying attention to us. Jo looks around, seeming to


    be hoping the same thing before she jerks her head over to the door. Will and I immediately follow her


    as she leads us through the kitchen and into one of therge pantries. She instantly shuts and locks


    the door before turning to me. With a huge sigh, I tell them everything.


    *****


    "The asshole that stabbed you is your mate?!" Will asks with a wide-eyed expression of utter disbelief. I


    simply nod. "Alpha Ethan fucking Kane is your mate..." he continues, seemingly to himself.


    "Unfortunately," I agree with a shrug.


    "So, what now?" Jo asks with her arms folded across her chest sternly. She doesn''t seem too pleased,


    though I''m not sure if it''s because of who my mate is or the fact that I am nning on going after Ray


    on my own. Technically speaking, there are no rules in The Scourge. People tend to do whatever they


    want. As long as they aren''t hurting anyone, no one really cares. However, most of us tend to help out


    and take care of each other. Ray and his gang have never really included themselves in our little


    they don''t help out. They tend to cause more trouble than they are worth and this time it cost innocent


    lives. The Crescent Moon Pack will be seeking retribution against the wolves that killed some of their


    men. I can''t let anymore innocent wolves get killed in the crossfire. So, I need to find out if what my gut


    is telling me about Ray is right.


    "Well, I need to figure out what to do with Ray," I begin. "But before I confront him, I want to be sure it


    was him."


    "Oh, I think it is probably safe to say that it was. You said they were cleaning fresh blood off their knives


    when you saw them right before the attack. And sounds like his scent matches the one they had


    followed back to The Scourge," Will says.


    "I agree that it likely was him. But I want to find proof. I need it. Especially if I''m going to condemn him


    to death," I answer back sternly.


    "And how do you n on doing that?" Jo questions harshly.


    I shrug. "I was hoping I could look around his ce. See if there are any clues."


    "Yeah, because that''s safe..." Will groans sarcastically and rolls his eyes at me, causing me to re at


    him.


    "Well, when was thest time anyone has seen him?" I push, already sure of what their answer will be.


    "As far as I know, not since the Crescent Moon Pack stormed the area," Jo replies.


    I nod with a smile. "Exactly. He''s probably in hiding. I''ll just swing by his ce and take a quick look


    around. In and out."


    "It''s not as simple as that and you know it Lettie," Jo scolds.


    "Stop worrying. It will be fine."