I felt a twist in my belly at the mention of their name. There was a reason those men kept to themselves, the same reason why no one was crazy enough to go looking for them.
“I don’t think that’s such a good idea,” Austin said. “The Blackners are heartless beasts. They’re werewolves that don’t care for their own mates. What kinds of psychopaths do that? You know of the connection we have, what we feel for our mates. If they’re capable of ignoring such a strong connection, then they will not help us. They cannot be trusted.”
Austin did have a point. Besides that, the Blackners only helped others out of their clan when they could get something in return. But, getting involved with them was a risk I had to take in order to fight for my mate.
“I’ll go see them today.” I finally said.
Austin looked unhappy at my decision. “Are you sure you want to get mixed up with those people?” He asked. “They’re just as bad as the council and you know that.”
I turned to him with pleading eyes, “do you see another way brother?” I demanded. “I have no choice. I’m desperate to bring my mate safely to my side. If this is what I to have to do, I’m willing to make whatever sacrifices they ask of me.”
He sighed and held his head between his hands. “I have a baby on the way, I don’t want my unborn child exposed to these people.”
I understood that and I would never ask that of him. I would never expose my little niece or nephew to any danger.
“You don’t have to-,”
Austin nodded before I could say anything else, “we’re coming with you.”
I shook my head. “I can do this on my own,” I assured him. “I don’t want to get you mixed up in this. Like you said, the Blackners are cold and heartless. It’s best that I’m the one that visits them … Alone.”
“I can’t let you do this on your own James,” Austin disagreed. “We’ve never done business with these men before, you need back up while you’re there. Our packs will not be far from their territory. We need to do this together, like we’ve always done in the past. It’s what has gotten us this far.”
As much as I didn’t want to get my brothers involved in this, I knew that I needed them more than ever.
Lucas placed his hand on my shoulder to show his support. “We’re not letting you do this on your own. We’ve been each other’s rocks since we were babies, we will not fail you now.”
I was grateful for their support. If I didn’t have my family with me through this rough time, I wouldn’t have been able to go on. I would have already crumbled.
Lucy grabbed her bag of the table and walked up to us. “I’m coming with you.”
I hadn’t noticed my brother’s mate until now. When did she even come in?
Austin paled at her words, “Lucy,” he whispered. “We’re not having this argument here. You know that you’re pregnant, I will not let any harm come to you or our baby.”
Her forehead creased as she glared up at him. “How can I rest at home when you’re out there meeting those dangerous men… In their territory.” She cried. “I’ll be worried sick here, if I’m with you, I will at least know that you’re safe.”
“You know Sis-in-law,” Lucas cut in as he gave her shoulders a little squeeze. “I gotta agree with Austin on this one. It really is too dangerous this time, its best that you stay home and look after Eden. She needs you right now, just like James needs us.”
Lucy looked conflicted but like always, she eventually listened to Lucas’s words.
“Sometimes I feel like he’s the only one you listen to.” Austin growled, annoyed.
She laughed and kissed his cheek lightly. “Please be safe, we’re waiting home for you.”
He nodded. “We’ll have to inform our packs. I’ll go do that.” He said with determination in his eyes. “You can assemble your pack and meet me on the track.”
I followed him out of the room, Lucas right behind us. There was this heavy weight in my gut, something that warned me of trouble up ahead. We were walking into the devil’s lair; I could feel it deep in my bones.
We were playing with fire by choosing to meet with The Blackners.
I suddenly felt all the muscles in my body stiffen as a familiar scent hit my nose and knew that Eden was near.
I couldn’t stop myself from searching my surroundings for her. I found her at the bottom of the stairs looking at me. now that she’d lost her memories, she didn’t bother hiding her feelings for me. The look on her face tore at my heart. I desperately wanted to go to her and pull her into my arms.
She took a step forward and it was then that I realized I must go before she came to me. If she did, I wouldn’t be able to stop myself from grabbing her and never letting go.
“I’ll be in the Jeep.” I told Austin before rushing down the stairs with incredible speed.
As I walked past her, I could see the hurt in her eyes and it twisted my gut in a way impossible to describe.
I needed to stay focus, I had to do this, it was the only way to keep her safe.
The Blackners made it in such a way that they were completely separated from everyone else. It was like they had their own little kingdom, created by themselves. In order to reach, you had to be a supernatural. Humans wouldn’t be able to find this place and even if they did, they wouldn’t make it far. They didn’t like trespassers, and they didn’t care about anyone else but themselves.
“Damn, this grass is taller than we are.” Lucas grumbled as he helped clear through it with his blade.
He was right; I was beginning to think that we were lost. The Jeep had taken us as far as the track would let it, then we travelled on feet from there. We were advised to go in our human forms if we didn’t want to stir up trouble with the Blackners. I didn’t know how long we were walking for, but the further we went in, the taller the grass became. I knew that my wolf’s senses wouldn’t fail me however, there were people near, I could smell them. I was sure that my brothers could as well.
“I still think that we should have brought some of our pack members along with us.” Austin said as he pushed a branch away from his face.
“You heard what the advisors said, if we came with more men, they would see it as a threat,” I reminded him. “Besides, they’re near, if anything were to happen, they would come.”
“Guys,” Lucas said suddenly. “Are you seeing this?”
There was a massive stoned wall to the front of us that prevented us from entering. There wasn’t even a gate present, so the rumors were true.
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