Chapter 5

Jaime leapt unsteadily from the train as it roared past her small, cramped neighborhood. She hit the soft dirt using her good leg and winced, stumbling to the ground and rolling to a stop next to a low brick wall, cushioned by thick weeds and moss. It didn't hurt too badly since she'd been able to recover some strength during the twenty-minute ride to her house. If it hadn't been for that brief rest, she never would have been able to climb to her feet, staggering as the pain from her leg almost sent her back to her knees. How was she ever going to get to the bus station in this condition? She could barely walk. And she had finally noticed that she was bleeding. Her left pant-leg was beginning to show a large, dark stain towards the bottom.

Moving as swiftly as possible, she hopped over the low brick wall into a cluttered backyard, then ducked between a row of bushes along the drive. The bushes emptied out into a narrow alleyway that led between the rows of houses. This was the shortcut she usually took home; it allowed her to walk in her wolf form and not be seen. Too bad she couldn't transform now; she needed to be human to get into her house.

The alley ran for about two hundred feet and Jaime finally reached the rear of her property, coming up to the wooden fence that bordered her back yard. A lemon tree poked over the far side, spreading its aroma on the early evening air; everything was deceptively peaceful. Jaime perked her ears, crouching in the shadows near the gate, listening carefully and trying to detect any kind of movement in the house. It was a large, white monstrosity, newly remodeled since her step-father had received a promotion at his law firm. Sad to say, she spent little time in it.

After she assured herself of no unusual noises, Jaime crept forward and undid the latch on the gate. Doubtlessly her foster-parents knew of her break-out at the police station; they were probably worried sick. A small part of her wanted to leave a note to reassure them, to at least let them know that she was alive and well, but she knew that would be impossible -- she couldn't let anyone know she had been home, and even then, it wasn't like they were her real parents. Most likely they'd forget about her in a few weeks, anyway.

Sneaking through the back yard, Jaime made her way around the stiffly manicured lawn and the tightly trimmed rose bushes, approaching the back door. She tried the knob, moving as quietly as possible. Inch by careful inch, she opened the back door and slipped her head inside, glancing around.

Everything was quiet -- if her parents were home, they were nowhere in the immediate vicinity. The staircase to her room was on the other side of the rear hallway and kitchen. She tested the air, breathing deeply... nothing, only the familiar smells of home, except....

Cops? It wasn't strong, and yet.... She shook her head. If the police had been here, they had already left... unless her senses really were that weak. She would need to be careful.

She ducked into the hallway and shut the door, then made her way carefully through the dark kitchen, heading for the broad flight of stairs on the opposite side. Jaime was about to exit the room when suddenly a sound reached her ears, alerting her that she wasn't alone. She quickly ducked into a shadow next to the doorway, and she paused, the murmur of voices becoming more clear. She winced; her hearing had been reduced to almost human quality, she was so exhausted.

“...haven't seen or heard anything....”

“...chance that she's hurt?”

Jaime crept forward, hugging the shadows, pausing at the entrance of the kitchen and glancing around the corner. A light was on in the den, spilling out into the darkened hallway, just short of the staircase.

A deep voice, one she didn't recognize, was speaking. “... yes, there are search warrants out from here to Rochester, I'm sure we will find her. The man she was with is as of yet unidentified, but we're sure it's a local gang member, most likely from Davenport. You know, a lot of times when these kids get involved with gangs, they just keep going right back to 'em.”

Jaime rolled her eyes, realizing the man talking was a cop. Damn, so they thought this whole thing boiled down to gang activity... she wished that were true. She wished she could shout and run into the brightly lit room, and tell them all that she had a crazy, murdering psychopath on her tail... but that was impossible. They would arrest her for sure, and she would be no better off. Werewolves? Who would believe her?

But she couldn't leave now, no matter how badly she wanted to just turn and run. She needed her supplies; she wouldn't survive without them... a week's worth of provisions, change of clothes, blanket, and two-hundred dollars. Enough to get her somewhere, at least.

Jaime started for the stairs, carefully walking across the hardwood floor, muffling the handcuffs that still clung stubbornly to her wrist. She wished she knew a way to get them off... she considered trying a bobby pin when she got to her room, but quickly dismissed the idea. Her hands were too damaged to handle something as tedious as picking a lock... and besides, she wasn't entirely sure how to do it. She couldn't waste time.

She climbed the stairs and entered the second floor hallway. The sky was now a dim twilight outside and the length of the hall and was pitch black, though she was thankful that at least it was quiet and carpeted. She padded swiftly to her room, the last door to the right, and slipped inside, closing it softly behind her. Whew, made it.

Immediately she dove for her closet, quickly shifting a chest on the floor and revealing a dusty yellow backpack tucked behind it, easily discernible in the darkness. Perfect, halfway there. As quietly as possible, she unzipped the jumpsuit and slipped it down, pulling on a pair of socks and underwear. Then she rummaged in her dresser for sweatpants and a loose shirt, covering it with a sweater and pulling up the hood. She reached for her sunglasses and spare sneakers, throwing the sunglasses in the backpack. At least that would help obscure her face.

Fully dressed, she glanced around her room, making sure she didn't need anything else. Her eyes lingered on the bare walls, on the utilitarian lamp and bedspread... she had arrived at this house two years ago, but hadn't bothered to make it her own. She had grown up moving around, being shunted from place to place... it wasn't worth getting attached when she would only end up leaving, and now she was leaving again.

Changing her mind last-minute, Jaime dove for her desk and pulled out a flashlight, then leaned over the green notepad that was sitting on the corner. Holding the flashlight to the paper, she quickly jotted down a note to her foster-parents. I haven't joined a gang. I need to hide out for a while, but I will contact you when safe. Thank you for everything. -- J

It was enough. Anything more would only make them more worried.

Clicking off the flashlight, Jaime headed for the door, knowing she had to move fast. She had an ominous feeling that her Alpha -- Sirus -- was hot on her trial... he had tracked her across the U.S., he would doubtlessly find her in Black River. She wondered if he knew where she lived. Probably.

Shouldering her backpack, she headed for the stairs.

- o - o - o -

Jones sat up suddenly, leaning forward in his seat. His chubby chin wobbling, he pushed the binoculars to his eyes and blinked.

“Stevie! Stevie, wake up! I see somethin'!”

His brother groaned in the seat next to him, half-covered by a blue jacket. “What?”

“Light! There's a light in her room!”

“Uhn,” he grunted, and turned away slightly. “It's probably just the cops investigating.”

“Naw, they're leavin' out the front door!”

Stevie sat up, blinking groggily and staring through the windshield. He squinted, seeing the girl's parents standing on the porch, watching the officers climb into their car. “Here, give me that!” he growled, yanking the binoculars from Jones' hands. He gazed through them intently, frowning, then his eyes widened. “Oh my god, it's her! I can see her through the window!”

“What's she doin'?”

“How the fuck should I know? All I can see is her sweet ass -- she's bendin' over or something. Quick, get down!”

Stevie reached over and shoved his brother's head down just as the police cruiser pulled away from the curb, driving silently down the narrow street, the lights shining over their car. The cops hadn't seen the faint yellow glow through the girl's bedroom window, but that wasn't surprising; it was a light so dim that most humans would probably pass over it, though it was obvious to sensitive wolf eyes.

“Alright... go! Go go!” Stevie shoved his brother towards the car door. “Get out and be ready to nab her when she leaves!”

“Uh... how do you know she's leaving?”

“Because she's not going to stay in her fucking house, dumbass!” Stevie bit out, then opened his brother's door for him. “Now get to it -- the back door, moron!”

“But what if she goes out the front door?”

“Her parents are in the front room -- of course she's going to use the back! I'm going to pull the car around into that alley.”

“Right....” Jones reached into his pocket and took out the small radio they had been using to communicate. “I'll contact you.”

“You better.”

Stevie watched his brother climb out of the car and shut the door, then he pulled away impatiently, driving the car silently and smoothly along the curb before making a quiet turn into the alley behind the house. He pulled up behind the girl's back fence and turned off the car, making sure that all the lights were off, then he sat back and watched, the visor down, cracking the window a little so he could smell the outside air. The alley was narrow and empty, overgrown by jasmine and trees, boxed in by other yards on either side. His breathing became shallow, tense. It had been a long time since he'd seen any action... he hoped there would be a struggle. He needed to release some pent-up frustration.

He sat back and waited, watching as the last vestiges of light left the sky. It looked like some cloud cover had moved in, and the air outside was growing increasingly colder and heavier... he could smell the moisture on the wind. It would probably rain within the hour -- even better, it would wash out any trail they might leave behind, throwing Sirus and the Seneca pack off the hunt. He wondered what had happened to the Seneca Alpha... he was sure that it had been that bastard who had helped the girl escape from the cops. But then how had the girl gotten home? Unless Sirus would allow her to run about on her own....

No, impossible. Whatever the Seneca Alpha had in mind, he would not lose so much control. He was well known for being a cold, hard strategist... someone willing to do anything to win. Anything. How he and Magnus the Grey had gotten caught in this struggle over the Paxton city girl, he had no idea, only that he had no choice but to follow his own Alpha. That was the way of the pack.

A sudden noise reached his ears. It was soft, but there was the click of a handle and the light creak of hinges. A door opening. Then the scuff of tennis shoes against brick. Perfect; a thin smile pulled across his face. He could already smell it was her.

Stevie waited, listening expectantly. A moment's silence... then sudden grunting, the sound of more scuffling, a few muttered curses and groans. Crackle-schhhhh! “Stevie, this is Jones, over?”

“I hear you, what's going on?”

“I-I... I think I've got her... I've got her...” ckshhhh “... but I can't hold her-” Chh-schhhhhh!

Stevie didn't need to hear any more. Leaving the car, he leapt out and headed for the back gate, opening it wide and dashing into the garden. The girl could not escape this time; they finally had their hands on her, and he wasn't about to let go.

- o - o - o -

Jamie fought like a wildcat, twisting and writhing, but she knew it was useless. It had been useless from the moment the man had jumped her from behind; the short, fat guy had crept up on her out of the darkness, taking her by surprise. She was too weak; her strength sapped, her limbs so fragile that they shook with each step, her senses no better than human. She had hoped to slip out and make her way towards the bus stop, sticking to alleys and backstreets, but she hadn't expected to be jumped in her own garden....

The short sweaty one grabbed her from behind. She fought and struggled, kicking and grunting, but her thrashing grew weaker and weaker until she couldn't even find enough breath to speak. Then the gate opened and a second figure dashed in, this one long and lanky. Within minutes her struggles became small and laughable, and she was barely able to move. The second wolf grabbed her tightly by the legs, helping his partner carry her past the gate, ignoring her pathetic protests. She groaned in pain, feeling her muscles cramp, but she didn't have the strength to cry out, not even when the wound stretched and split on her leg. Fuck, she was done for... she was so tired, she could barely stay conscious, let alone fight. She had been so close... somehow she had failed to consider that these two would be back.

Jaime winced and clung resolutely to her backpack, despite the two men that carried her; if she was going to be abducted, then she would at least bring her things with her... and who knew, maybe being captured by these two would be better than getting caught by her “future mate.” She had to stay conscious, though. No matter what happened, she couldn't pass out... she had to hold on to her senses, force herself to stay awake, not to succumb to her weary body. Suddenly an idea occurred to her... perhaps if she acted like she was unconscious, they would get lazy and give her an opening to escape.

Jaime allowed her body to go limp as they carried her, her head lulling back against the short man's chest. The one holding her by the legs laughed. “Look at her -- she's completely out of it!”

“Odd, ain't it? I thought ol' Sirus got a hold of her. Wonder how she got away?”

“Who cares? For all we know, she fucked her way out of it.” The tall man laughed again, this time a brief guffaw that left Jaime disgusted and outraged... but she had to conserve her strength. She concentrated on keeping her expression still.

“I dunno,” the short one started. “I feel kinda sorry for her... that leg looks pretty bad.”

“Shut up, Jones, and don't you dare start thinking of her as anything more than a package. We're here to make a delivery, got that? Now hold her while I open the door.”

Her weight shifted. She heard the sound of a lock clicking, the smell of exhaust, the low rumble of an engine. Slitting open one eye, she spotted a cream-colored Buick with smooth leather seats. The trunk was propped open along with the back doors, though it was too dark to see what was inside. They were going to put her in the trunk of a car. With a lurch to her gut, Jaime realized her kidnappers meant business... but how could she get away? She was so tired... every inch of her body ached....

But she had to try. It was life or death... and who knew where she would end up if she allowed these two to take her. Stone cold in a gutter somewhere, most likely.

“Ugh, dumbass!” The tall one grunted. “You left our suitcases in the trunk!”

“So?”

“So that's where we're putting her!”

The fat man carrying her didn't response. She chanced a look at the tall one and saw him staring agitatedly next to the car, looking at a massive black case that took up almost the entire space of the trunk. Two other leather cases were jammed in next to it. She doubted the giant suitcase weighed less than two-hundred pounds.

The tall one let out a noise of disgust and threw up his hands. “Put her down somewhere and help me with this, and be quick,” he snapped, reaching in to grab one of the smaller suitcases. “We gotta move this stuff into the backseat... hurry, and don't wake her up!”

Jaime made a point of being extra lifeless. Allowing her head to swing back limply, she struggled not to flinch and cry out as her leg was bumped and jostled. The fat man carried her a brief distance and then she felt her back touch rough asphalt, a strand of grass tickling her nose. The man turned and started away, his footsteps carrying him a good ten feet at least. “I figured she'd be more comfortable cushioned by those leaves,” her carrier said.

“She's unconscious, she's not gonna feel anything,” the other man bit out sarcastically. “Now hurry up and lift! Argh, no, grab it there...”

“The zipper's broken, our stuff'll spill out--”

“Then be careful!”

Jaime opened an eye and glanced around. She was laying in the shadows next to a large bush, surrounded by leaves and dry grass. The asphalt was grainy and rough beneath her cheek; she could smell the oil coming up from its surface. When she turned her head slightly, she could see the two men standing with their backs to her, trying to heave the giant suitcase out of the trunk. It appeared to be stuck.

There was no time to lose. Jaime counted herself as being the luckiest person in the world and softly maneuvered to her feet, standing as best she could on her wounded leg. All that mattered was being swift and silent -- and for that, she didn't need to be human. Biting her lip and breathing deeply, she crept along the side of the wall, farther and farther from the two bickering voices. Thankfully the shadows in the alley were deep and dense, and she wasn't far from the main street.

Half a minute of struggling and limping and she finally made it to the end of the alley. She threw herself around the corner and immediately started to undress, packing the clothes in her backpack and tying her sneakers to the top of it. She didn't have any time to waste.

Naked and exposed in the dark street, she didn't wait to see if anyone saw her. She reached deep inside of her, grasping everything that was wild and feral in her core, everything that was deep and powerful. The wolf answered her -- it responded to her call, rising to the surface, embracing her senses.

It took longer than it usually did because she was so tired, but the Change took her gradually, bending and splitting her bones, twisting her sinews, rippling over her skin in a rush of rusty gray fur and teeth. Her tail sprouted, her ears grew; the darkness of the night took on a lighter, more familiar hue, and suddenly she didn't need her eyes so badly. She could smell everything.

The voices of the two men reached her ears, still arguing and bickering, not having noticed her disappearance. She didn't bother to listen -- instead she picked up her backpack in her teeth and turned to the street, searching out the hidden trails between bushes and through the deep shadows of houses. In her wolf form, she couldn't allow herself to be seen... but it was the only way she could travel. She was too weak to go as a human... and that's what the cops would be looking for.

Taking off at a fast trot -- the fastest she could go -- she headed for the small bus station an hour's walk away. Hopefully there was a bus leaving soon -- a bus to anywhere, to Davenport, to Rochester, maybe even to New York. She just needed to get as far away as possible, and as soon as possible.

- o - o - o -

Sirus pulled up outside the house and leapt out of the car before it had even come to a halt. He could smell her everywhere, the air was alive with her potency... she had been here, if only ten minutes ago.

Without wasting any time he dashed up to the house, sniffing around the front door and the bushes, not caring if any neighbors were watching. He needed to know where she was, he needed to find her... damn, could she have left already? She was faster than he had anticipated.

The wind shifted and he raised his head, listening carefully. Were those voices? His ears twitched and he turned to run around the side of the house, holding up a hand to Aiden and Darren, ordering them to stay in the car.

The neighborhood was quaint and rustic, with small two-story houses, everything holding the slightly overgrown look of middle-class America. He reached the alley behind the house and paused at the corner of a wooden fence, listening carefully, hesitating to show himself until he knew exactly what was going on. He could smell Jaime stronger than ever now... and yet there was something else. Something disgustingly familiar, causing a snarl to twist on his lips....

“I told you to watch her! I told you! How could you do this, you imbecile? We were so close! Tabari will arrive in less than eight hours and you fucked it up!”

Sirus breathed deeply again, letting the smell linger around his nose, trying to place the familiar musky order. Underlying each wolf's individual scent was a deeper, heavier undertone that signified which pack they were from. But this specific tangible odor....

Magnus.

No wonder. They hailed from Magnus the Gray, his only rival for power on the East coast... and his animosity ran more than just skin deep. This was the bastard responsible for his time served in the Army, and for the hell he had had to go through when he got back. Sirus bristled in anger, barring his teeth, his eyes flashing gold. So Magnus was involved in this too... it made sense, seeing as he already occupied the Paxton territory.

“Alpha is going to be pissed,” the shorter one wailed.

“That's why we don't tell him!” the other snapped. “We'll just pretend nothing happened... when Tabari arrives tomorrow, it's a fresh start, got that? Magnus never needs to know that we let his mate get away... again....”

Sirus bit back a sharp growl. His eyes narrowed, anger and suspicion rushing to the surface, along with the primal hatred of one Alpha for another. Magnus the Gray had been in his way since Sirus had first began his climb to power. Their rivalry was more than personal. The old wolf couldn't just lay down and die, he had to cling to his territory and his pack like it was the last thing he owned... and it was.

But Jaime? His mate? That was inexcusable. His mind made up, Sirus rounded the corner at a casual stroll, deciding to let his presence speak for itself. The two wolves detected him immediately and turned, eyes wide, hair on end.

“Alpha,” the smaller one muttered, obviously stunned.

“Don't call him that!” the taller one spat. “He's not our Alpha! What do you want, shit face? You're off your territory now.”

Sirus stopped about five feet away and stared at them until they looked away, a natural sign of submission. Then he let a slow smile tug across his face.

“You boys were saying something about my good friend Magnus,” he said, his voice like ice. “And so I am wondering what business your Alpha has with my future mate?”

The two men shared a glance, then looked back at him nervously. Sirus raised a brow, waiting.

“N-none of your business!” the smaller one spoke up unexpectedly.

“Yeah, now get outta here, we're busy,” the other grunted, trying to look tough.

Sirus sighed. He'd been hoping to do this the easy way. With exaggerated slowness, he leaned down and reached into the side of his boot, pulling out a long, wicked knife. A soldier always came prepared.

“Now, you can tell me exactly what you're doing here,” he said softly, standing back up. The two men were staring at him warily. “Or I'm going to take your shoes, your wallets, and your skin.”

The two men shared another glance, this one long and meaningful. Sirus grinned, letting his lips pull back from his teeth; apparently they had heard of his reputation... a reputation well earned. He would get the information from them any way he had to and then follow the girl's trail. It was obvious to him now that she had escaped once again... though it was unsurprising, given the quality of these two kidnappers. Pathetic.

Sirus turned his face to the wind, taking in a deep breath, already catching the hints of her trail along the alley wall. She had changed into her wolf self, that much was certain... which meant she was desperate. He could already guess where she was headed. There was only one place she could go.

The men trembled before him, looking pale and uncertain; pack loyalty was a powerful thing. Ah well, making them speak would be a fun distraction. Sirus could remember the last time he had been forced to slice up an enemy -- cornered in a desert canyon, his crew members dying around him, his eyes cold and clear with purpose....

“Well?” he murmured. “Who wants to go first?”