An Alpha's Choice (Talon Pack #2)(28)

Parker growled, as well. “I don’t f*cking know, and that’s what makes this so dangerous. We don’t know what the next step is. And I’m afraid we won’t know until something serious happens and people get hurt.”

That was what Finn was afraid of, as well. Because they didn’t know what the others were thinking. It didn’t matter that they’d done their best to protect their dens from the inevitable fallout. It didn’t matter that they’d put people in key positions for the worst.

They couldn’t get into the minds of the humans who hated them—or were merely uncertain of them. Their lives rested on the morals of a set of humans he couldn’t understand, and that didn’t sit well on his shoulders. The wolf in him wanted to howl, wanted to protect all in his care. Finn relished that, however, because it meant his wolf was actually listening.

That had to be something these days.

“I hate that most of us are hiding,” Parker mumbled.

“Is it bad out there?” Finn asked. He honestly didn’t know much about the other Packs. Most shifters were secretive for a reason.

“It’s not great,” Parker hedged. His cousin knew when to keep things close to the vest, especially since it was never safe for a wolf to be out in the open as he was within so many other Packs. “Listen, I have to go. I only wanted to call and make sure you were okay, really. I’ll come home soon to check in. Mom and Dad miss me.”

Finn grinned at that. “We all do, cousin. Be safe.”

“I will. And watch your back, Finn. I don’t have a good feeling.”

Finn sat up straighter at the echo of his earlier conversation with Brynn. There was something on the wind, something the moon goddess wanted to tell them. The moon goddess didn’t speak directly to most of them. In fact, Finn only knew of his aunt Lexi, Parker’s mother, and Lexi’s brother Logan who had heard the moon goddess in his lifetime. However, though the moon goddess didn’t speak to them directly, they still got feelings over time. With so many of them feeling it, Finn knew it wasn’t just happenstance.

Something was coming.

Only Finn was afraid they wouldn’t know what it was until it was too late.

He spoke to Parker for a few more minutes before hanging up. As soon as he did, Brynn walked toward the table and sat down. He raised a brow. “Were you waiting for me to finish my call?”

She shrugged, her attention on their surroundings. “I could hear most of it since, hello, wolf, but I tried to give you some semblance of privacy.”

He ran a hand over his face. “Thanks. Parker is making inroads, or at least I think so. He doesn’t talk about it much.”

Brynn met his gaze, a frown on her face. “I don’t know much about what he does because he’s not Pack. But I know he’s doing it for all Packs, not only the Redwoods. For that, I will help him whenever he needs it.”

Pride filled him at Brynn’s words. She was just so f*cking strong—and smart. And loyal. And just a phenomenal wolf.

Not that he could tell her that.

Brynn frowned over his shoulder and he turned to see what she was looking at. “Isn’t that Franklin? And, Seth. Right? He’s one of yours if I recall.”

Finn narrowed his eyes at the two wolves walking down the street talking and laughing as if they hadn’t a care in the world. It did his heart good to see it. Two wolves from different Packs, looking like they were actually enjoying themselves. And from the subtle touches, he had a feeling they were well into their own courting and mating dance. “Yeah, he’s one of mine. Franklin’s yours, right?”

“Yeah,” she answered, her voice tense. “I didn’t know they’d be outside the den today.”

He looked back at Brynn. “They aren’t locked inside, Brynn. They need some semblance of freedom wherever they can take it.”

She let out an audible breath. “I know, but—” She was up out of her chair before she’d finished her sentence, and Finn was right on her tail. He didn’t see what she had, but he followed, trusting her instincts implicitly.

A car sped toward Franklin and Seth, its window sliding down as it neared the two. The glint of sun on metal caught his eye and he growled. Finn lowered his head and put his wolf into his speed, trying to catch up to the two men before something bad happened.

“Franklin! Seth! Down!” Brynn called as she ran.

But it was too late.

The two wolves tried to move out of the way, but the bullets sprayed, hitting them over and over until they fell to their knees, blood pooling around their bodies. The car sped off, the screech of tires echoing in Finn’s ears. He howled as he went to follow the car, trying to look at who was in it, but it sped away, far too fast for him.

His wolf wanted to follow anyway. It needed blood. Needed vengeance.

“Finn! I need you.”

He froze at Brynn’s shaky words.

I need you.

Finn ran back to her, aware of people screaming, calling for ambulances, scared out of their minds.

Brynn knelt between the two men, her eyes wolf, her shoulders tense. She had one hand over Franklin’s chest, the other on Seth’s abdomen. “I need you, Finn.”

He knelt in front of her. “I’m here. What do you need me to do?”

She met his gaze, her jaw tight. “Help your wolf, I’ll help mine. Your bonds to him should keep him alive.” Her voice broke, but she did not cry. So f*cking strong. “I don’t have the same bonds as you, but I’ll do my best.” Both men were unconscious, their hands reaching out to one another as if they’d fallen and tried for each other, only to come up short.