Bel needed to get free. He’d promised Wyatt that if something happened to him, he’d get River safely out of pack territory no matter what it took, and he meant to keep that promise. He wouldn’t leave Wyatt behind if he could help it, but Bel knew he couldn’t accomplish a damn thing if he remained locked up.
“You know, you’re going to look like a fucking torch when the midday sun hits you.” Winter’s voice was low and just behind Bel. He started to twist around to look at his younger brother, but Winter pressed a hand to the middle of his spine, holding him in place. “Don’t. Rather not be noticed.”
“I need out of these damn things,” Bel snarled in a whisper.
Fingers touched his and carefully pried them open before pressing a long metal sliver against his palm. “I didn’t see either of your jailors use a key. This is the best I can do. Assuming you can still pick a lock.”
“I’ll manage.”
Bel hadn’t picked a lock in nearly a century. Had they changed? It was something Rafe had learned because the man was born to be an utter miscreant. Bel had learned it simply out of curiosity and to keep up with his twin. He’d never imagined it would actually come in handy.
Shifting the metal piece in his hand, he started to work it around in the lock while everyone’s attention was on the fight as it continued to progress. Bel looked up at the field and wished he hadn’t. Albert had Wyatt on his back, teeth digging into his flank.
“Winter,” Bel whispered.
“What?”
It was on the tip of his tongue to tell his brother to grab River and drag him to where the rest of the Variks waited. But he couldn’t; it wasn’t right. They were a family, and they stood together. They had faith in each other’s abilities. Bel believed that River could defend himself and help Wyatt if necessary. He also believed in Wyatt’s plan.
“Get to our brothers. Give them an update,” Bel finally said.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, vampires can’t be more involved in this than we already are. Get out of here.”
There was a long silence. Bel wasn’t entirely sure if his brother had left or if he had simply decided to ignore Bel.
“I don’t like it,” Winter muttered. “But I’ll go along with it. Be careful.”
“You too.”
With at least his youngest brother safely away from the danger, Bel turned his attention to the damn locks on the manacles. He was rustier than he cared to admit. Closing his eyes, he blocked out all the sounds around him and tamped down the emotions trying to crush him from both of his wolves and his twin. There were only the inner mechanics of the lock.
He didn’t know how much time passed. Seconds probably, but he managed to finally get the first manacle off and hurried with the second.
Pain rushed through his shoulders and his arms followed by sharp pins and needles. He lowered his arms and shook them out, turning his attention to the field of battle. No one was paying any attention to him. All eyes were locked on the two wolves in the center of the clearing.
Wyatt was hurt and bleeding heavily, but so was Albert. The older wolf had a more pronounced limp, while Wyatt seemed to be breathing heavier. From where Bel stood at the back of the crowd, he couldn’t tell if River was still healing from the stab wound or if they’d inflicted more injuries on him.
Something else suddenly twitched across his brain. Bel turned away from the field of battle, looking toward the woods where they’d first entered the town. Sinking inside of himself, he reached for his power and set it fully free, allowing him to read all the animals close by.
The two wolves fighting in the center of the field were easy to pick out. Ozzie was sitting overhead in a tree, full of worry and irritation. There were a couple of owls and a hawk nearby as well. River sharpened in his mind. The wound in his stomach had mostly healed and the pain he felt now was fear for Wyatt.
Power trickled out of the town, crawling toward the woods until it finally pinged on six wolves racing toward the town. The same six they’d encountered as guards and knocked out with his tranquilizer.
Dammit!
Apparently, the wolves had a much faster metabolism than he’d estimated. They couldn’t have been unconscious for more than thirty minutes. His brothers would never have seen them rise because they were to retreat to Bel’s property as soon as the guards were subdued.
Striding away from the whipping post and the clearing, Bel walked along the middle of the main street. He unbuttoned his cuffs and carefully rolled up each sleeve past his elbows. The intent of the wolves was clear in their minds. They planned to tear Wyatt, River, and Bel apart. They didn’t care about the rules of a challenge. Didn’t care about fairness. They had to protect Albert and the comfortable way of life he promised them.