Chapter 0135

Alexander

Julian begins scaling the wooden fence.

I seize his shoulder. "Wait. We have no idea what's inside."

"Does it matter? She needs help. I can track her."

"Alexander is right." Brianna whispers. "You don't know what else is in there."

'What is she talking about?' Titan questions.

"Rogue Lycans?" Julian laughs. "I've killed plenty. A few more won't change anything."

Brianna meets my gaze. "I wasn't completely honest earlier. When you asked how many, I said a few."

"Is this about that Zachary guy you keep bringing up?"

"No." Her eyes scan the cornfield nervously.

"They hide here, is that what you're saying?"

"It's worse than that! Look around, Alexander. There aren't many places to hide out here. But you should know some stay in Lycan form permanently. Like they've lost their humanity." She glances around. "How many humans have you seen since coming to this town? And no police anywhere."

"They killed the humans?"

"They feast on them."

'Disgusting!' Titan gags.

"That's why Zachary tried to eliminate us?"

She nods, her dirty blonde hair framing her face. "Zachary contains the Rogues here. He brings them bad people. Criminals. Child abusers. That sort."

"How many are there?" Julian asks, still staring into the corn.

"A dozen."

"Zachary's the only one like you?" I ask. "The only one who can still shift forms?"

She confirms with a nod.

"Screw this!" Julian charges into the cornfield.

"Don't!" Brianna grabs my arm. "You have a mate to return to. I can't be responsible for her getting hurt again."

"Julian is my brother!" I pull my arm free. "And Sophia is her family."

Rushing into the corn, I realize I'm practically blind. The tall stalks block everything. Wherever Julian went, the corn has already sprung back. I'll have to rely entirely on my nose. And that's the problem. Lycans don't have a scent when they shift.

Brianna appears beside me. "I'll help."

We move forward slowly, following Julian's scent.

After minutes, Brianna stops me. A new scent hits me. One I've never encountered before.

"Zachary, I know you're watching! Show yourself." Brianna demands.

The corn moves nearby. Dark eyes appear, though the stalks hide most of his face. He was taller than me.

"You shouldn't be here, Brianna." His deep voice rumbles.

Brianna crosses her arms, rolling her eyes. "Have you seen a red-haired girl? She's being chased by a Wolf."

"You know I see everything."

"She's one of us, Zachary. Victoria turned her."

He steps through the corn toward us. I understand why he was chosen to be turned. He's enormous.

'Enormous is putting it mildly.' Titan observes.

"Then why are Wolves after her?" Zachary demands.

"It's complicated." I mutter.

His dark eyes lock on mine, his lip twitching. "Interesting eye color for a Wolf."

I ignore his comment. "One Wolf kidnapped her as a favor. The other is her mate trying to save her."

"Right. A Wolf mated to a turned Lycan. Now I've heard everything." He shakes his head dismissively.

"It's true." Brianna says. She frowns. "Remember why I ended up here?"

Zachary nods but keeps eye contact with me. "What does that have to do with anything?"

"She's alive and sees the redhead as a sister."

"You told me you killed her, Brianna."

"I thought I did, but she... survived. Helping her sister is the least I can do to make amends."

I glance at Brianna and see more emotion than ever. The guilt. The sadness over her actions. The years of living with what she'd done.

"Why isn't she here herself?" Zachary asks.

"She's on bed rest." I stop myself from saying more.

Zachary narrows his eyes but doesn't press further. "You're lucky. The Rogues are sleeping a few fields over."

He leads us through the corn to where Nathan and Julian lie bound, gagged, and unconscious.

"Where's Sophia?" I ask.

"Sophia, you can come out." Zachary calls, standing over the unconscious men.

Seconds later, she bursts through the corn and locks her arms around my waist. "I thought I'd never see you again!"

"Which one is the kidnapper?" Zachary asks me.