The Scent in the Forest

Chapter 12

The Scent in the Forest

The moment Jade's expression changed, Devin knew she remembered something.

The room went silent.

Every eye fixed on her.

Jade looked startled by the attention.

As though she wasn't used to having a room full of ranked wolves waiting for her answer.

Which, Devin realized, she probably wasn't.

Rowan took a step forward.

"What is it?"

Jade swallowed.

"Three mornings ago, during training."

Garrett immediately straightened.

"You saw someone?"

"No."

She shook her head.

"I caught a scent."

The room grew even quieter.

"A wolf scent?" Knox asked.

Jade nodded.

"At the time I thought it was a traveler passing near the territory line."

Devin frowned.

Travelers rarely wandered that close.

Not without being noticed.

"Why didn't you report it?" Marcus asked.

The question carried more judgment than curiosity.

Jade's shoulders stiffened instantly.

The reaction irritated Devin more than it should have.

Before she could answer, Eleanor spoke.

"Let's focus on what she remembers."

Marcus fell silent.

Gratefully.

Jade looked toward Rowan.

"It wasn't Silverwood."

Everyone remained still.

"It wasn't Blackthorn either."

That got Gideon's attention.

"What did it smell like?" Knox asked.

Jade closed her eyes briefly.

Thinking.

Trying to remember.

"It was old."

Several confused looks appeared.

"Old?" Garrett repeated.

She nodded.

"Not age."

Jade frowned.

"More like... a scent that had traveled a long distance."

The distinction made sense.

To wolves, scents told stories.

Distance.

Emotions.

Health.

Identity.

"I caught it near the eastern trails."

Those words immediately brought every conversation back to the border.

"The scent lingered for hours."

Jade looked uncertain.

"Longer than it should have."

Rowan exchanged a look with Gideon.

Then Garrett.

The kind of look leaders shared when information suddenly fit together.

Devin hated being left out of those looks.

"We need to check the area," Garrett said.

"Tonight."

Knox immediately nodded.

"I'm bringing my patrol captains."

"We'll bring ours," Rowan agreed.

The decision was made almost instantly.

A search party.

An investigation.

Something had entered their territories.

And now there was a body involved.

The atmosphere inside the Alpha House shifted.

The festival was over.

This was pack business now.

Dangerous business.

Jade looked relieved her part was done.

She was wrong.

"Can you show us exactly where you found the scent?" Garrett asked.

Her eyes widened.

"Me?"

"You know the area."

Knox folded his arms.

"You may notice details the rest of us miss."

Jade looked uncomfortable.

For some reason, that bothered Devin.

She clearly expected someone to dismiss her.

Not ask for her help.

Before she could answer, Ryker stepped closer.

"I'll go with her."

The protective note in his voice was subtle.

Yet Devin caught it immediately.

Apparently so did Gideon.

The Blackthorn Alpha's eyebrow rose.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

For reasons Devin couldn't explain, his wolf disliked the development.

A low unease stirred beneath his skin.

Annoying.

Unwelcome.

And completely irrational.

Jade was free to spend time with whoever she wanted.

Free to choose her friends.

Free to walk through the forest with Ryker.

The thought settled uncomfortably.

His wolf growled.

Devin ignored it.

Mostly.

Then another realization hit him.

A different one.

A more practical one.

Jade knew those woods well.

Far better than he did.

The fact bothered him immediately.

Not because she knew the trails.

Because he didn't.

How long had she been training out there?

Weeks?

Months?

Years?

The answer was obvious.

Years.

She'd mentioned training.

Rowan apparently knew.

Gideon knew.

Ryker knew.

Meanwhile Devin had somehow managed to remain completely unaware.

The knowledge left an unpleasant feeling in his chest.

Because Rowan was right.

A leader couldn't protect wolves he failed to see.

And lately Devin was beginning to realize there were entire pieces of Jade Sullivan's life he'd never noticed.

"Alpha?"

Garrett's voice broke through the thought.

Devin looked up.

The Beta was waiting.

Along with everyone else.

Apparently he'd missed part of the conversation.

"I said we're taking several patrols."

Garrett looked mildly amused.

"Try to keep up."

A few smiles appeared around the room.

Devin ignored them.

"I'm coming."

Silence.

Then Rowan sighed.

"No."

"I'm coming."

The response came automatically.

Firm.

Unyielding.

Several wolves exchanged looks.

Gideon looked entertained.

Todd looked excited.

Which was never a good sign.

"This is an investigation," Rowan said.

"And I'm the Alpha heir."

His father stared at him.

Devin didn't back down.

"If something is happening on our border, I should see it myself."

Garrett immediately looked supportive.

Knox nodded once.

Approval.

Rowan noticed both reactions.

Naturally.

The Alpha rubbed his forehead.

"You're impossible."

"I learned from the best."

That earned a snort from Gideon.

Even Eleanor looked amused.

Finally Rowan relented.

One long suffering sigh.

"Fine."

Victory.

Mostly.

"Todd."

The gamma's son immediately perked up.

"Yes?"

"You're going too."

Todd's enthusiasm vanished.

"Damn."

Laughter briefly eased the tension.

Only briefly.

Because everyone knew what waited beyond the territory.

Questions.

Unknown scents.

A dead wolf.

And possibly something much worse.

The patrols began assembling immediately.

Warriors poured from the Alpha House.

Orders were issued.

Horses prepared.

Lanterns gathered.

Knox organized Blackthorn wolves with practiced efficiency while Garrett coordinated Silverwood's response.

Through it all, Devin found himself watching Jade.

She stood slightly apart from the activity.

Quiet.

Thoughtful.

As though replaying those memories in her mind.

Trying to remember every detail.

Every scent.

Every clue.

Then, unexpectedly, she glanced up.

Their eyes met.

For just a second.

Long enough for Devin to see uncertainty there.

Not fear.

Concern.

As if she suspected whatever was waiting on the eastern border was bigger than a lone dead wolf.

A moment later Ryker stepped beside her.

The connection between them was obvious now.

Easy conversation.

Comfortable familiarity.

The sight woke that same restless sensation inside his wolf.

Strange.

Unwelcome.

Persistent.

Devin pushed it aside.

There were more important things to worry about.

Because less than an hour later, a heavily armed search party disappeared into the darkness beyond Silverwood's borders.

And somewhere ahead of them, an unknown wolf lay dead beneath the trees.

Waiting to tell a story none of them were prepared to hear.