Another flash of light and roll of thunder.
She jumped.
We need to get inside. His deep voice moved through her mind.
I agree. I’ll follow you in. Right on your heels.
Once inside the station, she watched Warren wave to Helena, the wolf working dispatch. She shot him a broad, come-and-get-me smile. Kiara’s fists balled up and an odd, un-witch-like growl formed in her throat.
Warren shifted his attention to a group of fellow officers who called to him from the corner, off to the right. They’d just cuffed an unsteady, word-slurring wolf to a nearby railing meant for that purpose. The wolf wasn’t going anywhere.
Hold up, Kiara. He then addressed the officers. “Do me a favor and take him back to the drunk tank.”
The wolves grew very quiet and turned to stare at him. Each dipped his chin slowly. It was a wolf deference move, a sign of Warren’s pack status. None of them argued. But it was something more as well. Each noticed the unusual lifting of his hair. Warren made no explanation and none of them asked.
While Warren waited, they uncuffed the drunk and hauled him away.
Warren then turned toward the staff behind the counter.
Kiara realized the five remaining personnel had all stopped what they were doing. They were staring at Warren as well, mouths agape.
She glanced at him and wasn’t surprised to find that his hair moved rapidly now. Even through her shield, she could feel his storm growing stronger.
“Helena, I want the silent alarm that will trigger a lockdown, but no overt signals. Can you do that?” Kiara knew the drill, the shutters would start to descend, even over the front doors. But they were only meant to block the sunlight, not to withstand gunfire. They could only delay a full-on assault.
“Yes, Sir.”
He gestured to the rest with a toss of his hand. “Each of you, slowly gather whatever you’re working on then head to the hall. I’m going to Roberts now.” Roberts was the station chief.
Kiara moved to the window. What came to her caused her heart to leap into her throat. She called to Warren telepathically. Julio is here. I can feel him out there now.
Me, too. You’d better get into the hall as well, since you’re not safe in your shield. Go now.
The sharpness of his command had her moving swiftly. He shifted sideways to let her pass. She switched to levitation and bumped his arm as she slipped by him.
I felt that, he said.
Exactly. Her heart beat so hard it was drumming in her ears.
She reached for Warren’s arm. He turned in her direction, but of course he couldn’t see her. He clamped his hand over hers.
He started to speak, but there was something she understood now, something he needed to know. She telepathed quickly, They’re after you, Warren. You’re the target. You’re the key to taking over Savage and Julio won’t rest until you’re dead.
~ ~ ~
As soon as Kiara’s words ran through his head, he knew it was true. He’d become a target and it made sense. If he was eliminated, Julio would have a much easier time taking over the entire territory. The Caldion Pack would be thrown into chaos. Without an alpha, his wolves would be unable to mount a counter-offensive.
Julio Mendez had risen in rank in the Viento cartel during the past five years. Viento was currently the prime source of illegal trafficking in Savage and Julio the man in charge. He’d kept a low profile until recent months when his ambitions prompted him to go after the two lowest packs. He was the kind of wolf Warren despised above all others because he treated his pack members like slaves. He was an alpha who only cared about himself.
Warren had also seen for himself that a large portion of Julio’s combined pack, El Lobo Grande, was now addicted to emerald flame. Keeping wolves addicted made them easier to control.
Hearing Kiara give voice to Julio’s intentions solidified something within Warren’s spirit. He’d been appalled by Julio’s takeover, but until this moment he hadn’t made it his mission to go after Julio with everything he had. He’d been biding his time, waiting for the right moment. He’d somehow thought the El Lobo Grande pack would be enough for the man. Instead, he was convinced there was no limit to Julio’s ambitions.
The first order of business, however, was much more immediate. He needed to get everyone out of the station in one piece.
As the steel shutters came down, he headed to Roberts’s office. The chief was already on his feet and moving toward the door. Warren wasn’t sure where Kiara was, but he stepped away from Roberts to let him pass. “I saw some of Julio’s men moving in from the woods opposite.” Julio’s force wore black tanks with silver bands and emblems. They were hard to miss.
Once in the hall, Roberts called out. “We’re under attack. Everyone in the locker room. Now. Warren, search the rooms.”