Part 9 (1/2)

An hour later, we arrived at Fort Stevens, an Army base just south of the city of Fort Worth. Even though Killian seemed perfectly at ease surrounded by hundreds of heavily armed soldiers, Travis and Garrett were not so calm. Their pulses were speeding up, and sweat beaded on their brows.

”We'll just stay here while you go chat,” Travis said, not moving from the driver's seat.

Garrett rolled down his window as I climbed out with Killian.

”Are you sure?” I asked, turning back to Garrett.

The Lycan nodded.

”Okay. Suit yourselves.” I wanted to meet the soldiers Killian said would help us. Seeing them face-to-face, hearing their tone of voice, listening to their heartbeat would allow me to trust their intentions. It would've been nice to have Garrett and Travis listening in to their thoughts, but I could understand their hesitation. Both of them had lost family members in the riots, and neither was fond of any type of authority - military or local law enforcement.

Garrett had actually been in the Army before the Instinct drug hit the market in 2046. They'd lived in a neighborhood filled with pack members. A couple of kids used the drug and ran home after transforming in public. No one had been hurt, but the police overreacted and ga.s.sed the entire block. Their parents died that night. Both of them left Chicago, splitting apart and going their separate ways for years.

Travis found his way to Sanctuary first, from what the Pixies had shared with me. And Garrett had arrived in town only in the last year. Both men helped organize the mishmash of Lycans that lived in Sanctuary, but both had refused to step into the shoes of alpha of the pack. It was customary to have a mate before taking on that role. Instead, an election had been held, and a strong alpha pair from Seattle had been given the alpha position for the wolves in town.

Raven said plenty of the single Lycan females had shown interest, but without a magickal connection, no babies. Tradition mandated that an alpha pair had to be able to have kids.

”Will they let us on base?” I asked Killian as the three men from the other SUV fell in step behind us. The gate was only a dozen yards away, but the sound of the guards racing heartbeats and heavy breathing were loud as we approached. They were nervous already, and we needed to be careful.

Killian and I were obviously armed. Each of us wore one of the dragon steel swords. I'd lost the samurai sword I'd carried for years during the skirmish at the bridge. The dragon steel blade was a little heavier and longer, but it didn't affect my ability to use it in the least. In fact, now I had a blade that would cut through almost anything.

”Yes, as long as Commander Martins is on base. If not, I'll ask for someone else.”

”You used to live on base?” Jared MacKay asked from behind me.

”Yes. This was home for a long time,” Killian answered.

”Why do they all look like they're going to wet their pants?” Alek asked, chuckling under his breath.

”Because you three are giants,” I hissed, trying to keep from grinning.

Killian was tall. Maybe six-foot-three-inches, but Mikjall was almost seven feet tall like Miles and Eli. Alek and Jared were only a few inches shorter, both easily measuring in at six-foot-ten or so. Put that kind of height together with the large amount of musculature they displayed and the three of them painted a rather intimidating picture.

Alek stepped up next to me and grinned. ”I like being the scary one.”

”I bet you do,” I answered, finally letting my mouth turn up into a smile.

”We're going to get your friends back,” Alek said.

”Thank you.”

”I know you think Rose is a hard-a.s.s,” Alek started. ”But she also treats everyone in the town as if they were family. She would fight to her dying breath to save each and every one of us if that's what it took.”

”She is a hard-a.s.s, though,” Jared spoke up from where he was walking with Mikjall, still behind Killian.

”She's worth fighting for,” Alek said as we came to a stop a few feet from the guards' gate.

Four armed soldiers in green fatigues with the TR emblem on their arms stood at attention, blocking our way. Killian motioned for us to stay where we stood, and he approached alone.

”I'm retired Master Sergeant North. I need to speak to Commander Martins.”

”The Master Sergeant North?” One of the soldiers relaxed his stance. ”The one that trained the twenty-third regiment?”

”Yes, sir. That would be me.”

”And they're all with you?” The soldier pointed to us.

”Yes. Please call the Commander.”

”Oh. Of course. Yes, Master Sergeant, sir.” He b.u.mbled through his response as he stepped into the guardhouse.

Chapter Sixteen.

EIRA.

I listened to the soldier's brief conversation with someone on the other line, who a.s.sured him that Killian was indeed who he claimed to be and to let all of us on base with him.

The young man stepped out of the booth and saluted Killian. ”The Commander is waiting for you at the field office. Private Tilman will escort you there if you will follow him in your vehicles.”

”Excellent. Thank you.”

The guard saluted again, and Killian turned around. We all walked back to the SUVs and climbed in. Travis and Garrett took the lead, stopping at the gate and rolling down all the windows so the guards could check the vehicles. They also used some sort of wand beneath the carriage of the vehicles, probably checking for explosives. Even though we'd been cleared, they were sticklers about their rules for entering the base.

”I hope this little detour is worth it,” Travis growled as he followed behind Private Tilman, who was barely doing fifteen miles per hour in his Jeep.

We rolled through the base, pa.s.sing houses, barracks, and other buildings neatly arranged in rows. Groups of soldiers jogged past us, wearing brightly colored belts. Each group wore a different color. It was strange to think Killian had lived here. It seemed so... controlled.

Finally, the Jeep ahead of us pulled to a stop in front of a one-story tan stucco building. Shots sounded from behind the building, varying from timed patterns to random fire.

”It's the gun range,” Killian whispered, laying a soothing hand on my tense shoulder.

”I guess we all should go in,” Garrett said, unbuckling his seat belt.

”It would be rude if you didn't. Plus, the better they know you, the easier and more helpful they will be if they come across any of you again.”

”Well, I guess introducing ourselves is a must then. A body never knows when it might need to haul a.s.s across a border,” Travis added, jumping down from his seat and closing the driver's side door. Alek had parked on our left, and he, Jared, and Mikjall were already standing with Tilman, waiting for us.

The seven of us followed Private Tilman through two gla.s.s double doors. An older soldier glanced our way. He left the two men he was talking to and headed straight toward Killian.

”North! It's been a long time. Wright said he b.u.mped into you a few days ago on patrol.” The soldier extended his hand, and Killian took it.

”It's good to see you, too, Commander. Thank you for allowing us to interrupt your day.”

”Lucky for us, it's been quiet lately.”

”Except for the SECR squads sneaking around.”