TRACE DIMAGIBA (Wild Men Series #1)

Wendy

Everything was great. The graduation ceremony was awesome. My brother’s friend Zach met his mate, who just happens to be my sister-in-law Cyra’s cousin Sadique. That was fun to watch.

Then, I got to watch my brother Yorick, Cyra, and their friends graduate. And if that wasn’t enough, Yorick earned his place on the C-Squad, an elite fighting squad, while his friends earned their place on the Alpha and Beta squads. Just as exciting was seeing the creation of the newest squad, the squad suggested by Henry’s mate, Piper. It’s a rotating squad for those who can’t be full-time elite fighters, now called the Delta Squad.

Everything was perfect. We cheered, we congratulated our family, and we were making plans to go have lunch when Alpha Michael called the elite squads back to the stage.

“Jude, what’s going on?” I ask.

Jude and I have been dating for months. I definitely feel a pull to him that I haven’t felt, well, ever. I used to hope that I’d be mated to Henry, but I’m glad he found Piper. They are perfect together and I hope that when I turn eighteen, I’ll find out that Jude and I will also be perfect for each other.

“I don’t know. Let’s wait and see if they call us up,” he says, watching the stage.

“Hacker, Sphinx, come on. The Council is requesting our presence,” Hijack says, waving us over.

While there are three members of the tech team, not including me, Hijack has always come across as the non-official leader of the group. Maybe it’s because his skills are above that of Tracker's and Hacker’s, or maybe it’s because he’s so intense, but whatever the reason, all of us follow his lead.

While I spend the majority of my time with Hacker, I also spend time with Tracker and Hijack. Their skills are different than Jude’s and I’m learning a lot by watching all three of them. But, if I’m honest, I prefer working with Jude. Not only is his work more interesting to me, but he’s my boyfriend and up until a week ago, I was still in high school and could only see him on the weekends at Yorick and Cyra’s pack. Now that school is over and I’m about to graduate, I’m hoping to spend more time with him. Everyone knows I’m going to the Academy next year,  Jude and I have also planned a trip to his pack so he can introduce me to his family. I’m equally nervous and excited about that trip which is coming up next week.

Jude puts his hand on the small of my back, gently leading me to the stage. When we get there, Alpha Michael and Alpha Nevaeh are there to address us.

Alpha Michael says that there is a problem that directly affects Cyra and her Gamma Lila.

“I just received a call from Councilman Edward. Stellan McDonald has escaped from prison. He’s on the loose and we haven’t been able to find him. Alpha Squad leaves immediately to begin the hunt. Beta Squad, you’re on alert in case there’s a sighting of him anywhere. Delta Squad, you’re on alert in case anyone gets injured and we need a stand in. C-Squad, you will assign rotating squad members as guards for Alpha Cyra and Gamma Lila, effective immediately.”

I gasp and I feel Jude go rigid beside me.

“Why do we need guards in our pack, especially if I’m there?” Yorick asks.

“Since Stellan has been in jail, he has consistently threatened two things if he ever got out. To kill Alpha Cyra and to force Gamma Lila into a mate bond with him.”

I look at Jude, then at Hijack. I can tell they already knew about this.

“How did he get out?” Yorick snarls.

“We’re still looking into that,” Alpha Michael says, looking over at our team. “Tech team, we need you to look at the cameras inside the prison to find out how he escaped and if anyone helped him.”

“On it,” Hijack says.

“We’ll also need someone working with Alpha Squad in case they find Stellan. I don’t want to lose any of our elite squad members because we weren’t careful,” he says.

“My mate is out. She’s pregnant and I’m not putting her or my pup in danger,” Raptor says.

I smile at Tracker. She’d told our team that she was pregnant because it impacts all of us.

“Hacker?” Alpha Michael says.

“I have vacation planned next week, Alpha. I’m happy to go with the Alpha Squad until then. I’d also like to request that Sphinx join me. This would be a good learning opportunity for her,” he says.

Alpha Michael looks at me. “Sphinx is still underage. She’ll need parental permission to go with you,” he says, looking at Raptor. “You’ll also need to approve it, Raptor, as her lack of training could put your operation at risk.”

Raptor looks at me, assessing. Thankfully, I’m an Alpha female who has three protective brothers, four if you include Henry, a very protective father, and an extremely protective brother-in-law. Because of that, I don’t flinch and I don’t look away. Instead, I lift my chin to show him that I won’t cower down, not now and not during his operation.

I see his lips twitch before he looks at Jude. “She’ll be under my operation, but you’ll have to take full responsibility for her and her actions.”

“Done,” Jude says without hesitation. I fight my smile and the cheer that wants to burst out of me.

“Then you just need parental permission,” Raptor says.

“My family is here. I can get that now,” I say.

“Good. Once you have that, Sphinx, you’re in. Hijack, you’ll be here, working to get us information while Hacker and Sphinx are boots on the ground. Tracker, do what you do. And congratulations,” Alpha Michael says.

“Thank you, sir.”

“Let’s get to it,” Alpha Michael says, dismissing us.

“Go talk to your family. I need to talk to Hijack,” Jude says.

I nod and turn to where my family is watching, waiting to hear what’s going on.

Rather than going to my father, I head straight to my mother.

“Mom …” before I can get any words out, my father, Quirin, and Connor are there.

“What’s going on?”

“Stellan escaped. He’s threatened to kill Cyra and force Lila into a mate bond,” I say. All three men, and my youngest brother Wade, growl loudly.

“We were about to move out now that Yorick and Cyra have graduated, but we may need to postpone that, Yara,” my father says.

“Of course, Warren. We’ll do whatever is necessary. Yorick and Cyra’s pack is close enough that I can make day trips here while the new medical center is being built,” she says.

“Good,” he says, already focused on Yorick and Cyra who are talking to their Gammas Landon and Lila. Even from here, it looks like Lila is shaking. I’m not surprised. Stellan lied to her and planned to keep her as his dirty little secret on the side, even after trying to force Cyra into a mate bond.

“I’ll be right back,” Dad says, absentmindedly kissing mom on the side of her head before heading over to talk to Yorick. Connor and Quirin are right behind him.

“Mom, I’ve been offered the opportunity to work with Alpha Squad on this. I really want to do it, but I need parental permission.”

She was watching the others approach Yorick and Cyra, but now she turns her attention to me.

“That sounds very dangerous, Wendy.”

“Mom, this is what I want to do.” I shrug. “If it turns out that I can’t do this job, isn’t it better for me to find out now, rather than five years from now. I know I’m not an adult yet, but I’m only a few months away from turning eighteen. Please, Mom. This is important. I helped them before when Stellan and Arden were trying to force Cyra into an alliance bond. I want to help them now.”

She looks at me and smiles, cupping my face in her hands. “You may look like me, but you have so much of your father in you.”

“Is that a yes?” I whisper.

She nods. “I’ll talk to your father. He won’t be happy about it, but I’ll help him understand that this is necessary for you. But what about your trip to Jude’s pack next week?”

“We’re still going, although I imagine we’ll be working while we’re there now. This is too important. I mean, unless we’re very lucky and catch him before we leave, but I’m not counting on that. Alpha Michael made it seem like Stellan has become obsessed with both Cyra and Lila.”

She nods. “Then it will be good for your father to stay on in their pack. He’s always been an amazing, powerful fighter.”

I know my mother well enough to know that she didn’t realize she was saying that last part out loud. It doesn’t matter, because I know she’s right. My father may be getting older, but no one comes after his family.

“Excuse me, Wendy, what’s going on?” I turn to see Cyra’s cousin.

“Oh, Alpha Arman. You probably want to talk to your cousin. Do you remember Stellan, the Alpha who tried to force her into an alliance bond?”

He growls. “Yes.”

“He escaped from prison. He’s threatened to kill Cyra.”

“Not going to happen,” he snarls.

“No, it won’t,” I say.

He walks off to join the others taking to Yorick, Cyra, Landon, and Lila.

“Mom, will you come let Alpha Michael and Raptor know that you’ve given your permission for me to join the Alpha Squad?”

“Of course,” she says, linking her arm with mine and walking up to the front with me.

As we pass Hacker and Hijack, Jude turns to look at me. I nod, letting him know my mother is going to give her approval. He smiles and winks at me.

I know this will be my first real assignment and I know it will probably be very scary, but I can’t help but be excited that I’ll get to spend even more time with Jude.

The more time we spend with him, the more my wolf, Dasha, and I are sure that he’s our mate.