6

Gabriel and the others quickly made their way through the caves that the pups traveled through. They were easily able to follow their scents to see which route the pups had taken that morning. Gabriel had Marcus stopping and checking that various shields and spells were still in place as they traveled through the caves. Thankfully, with everyone focused on their mission and alert to possible attacks, Marcus and Sarah were not wanting to engage in idle chatter. Normally the two of them would never miss a chance to try to get under his skin about something. They had all grown up together. They knew that he was the Alpha King and they respected his position, but they were also not afraid of him like so many others. 

Gabriel was focused on the mission of getting Sebastian back, but his mind was also filled with other thoughts and worries. Gabriel had to make sure that he was not leaving the valley and town vulnerable to attack. It had not escaped his notice that his nephew was the only one captured. Could it have been that they grabbed Sebastian since he was the only one that could shift and call for help? Yes. However, Gabriel was somewhat puzzled by the fact that none of the other pups, none of which have their wolves yet, were not caught since they would have been slower than Sebastian. He was still wondering if there was more to Sebastian being taken. Why him? Why now? Had the hunters heard the rumors that he and Conri were starting to show signs of going feral? Were they trying to draw him out thinking that he was weak, or was all of the timing just coincidence? 

These were just some of the things that he was pondering when they reached the end of the cave system. Pausing Gabriel and Conri sniffed the air to see which way the pups had gone. Catching their scent traveling to the right, Gabriel motions for the others to follow him. Be alert. I do not smell the hunters here, but this could be a trap he sent through their mental link. Sarah and Marcus nodded that they had heard. 

Once they left the cave system Gabriel and the others began to work their way through the boulders that are at the base of the mountain. The scents showed them that the pups had spent time going in and out of the boulders playing this morning. I swear I am going to beat his tail when I get him back Sarah sent out. He knows better than to play in and around rocks like this because they could easily shift and crush him!

You will have plenty of time to scold him once we get him back, Marcus replied.

Sarah nodded in agreement as they continued picking their way following the pups trail. 

Once they passed the boulders at the base of the mountain, the pups trail led them toward a stream that is fed by melting snow from the tops of the mountains. Down by the stream it was easy to see where the ambush had taken place. There were marks along the bank and in the mud where a struggle had taken place. Conri began sniffing at the shoe prints that were in the mud and in the vegetation where the hunters had most likely hidden. He had found two used syringes that smelled of wolfbane when Sarah called out. 

Gabriel! 

Gabriel turned to see Sarah holding a piece of blue cloth in her mouth. 

It is part of Sebastian’s shirt. There is blood on it! Sarah cried through the link.

Gabriel could hear the panic in her voice. He trotted over and looked at the fabric that she reluctantly sat on the ground in front of him. Her wolf Lupe was making soft whining noises scared that their pup might be really hurt. Sarah has been worried all of this time, but there was also the hope that they wouldn’t hurt Sebastian since he could be used as leverage to bring Gabriel and herself to the hunters. Seeing even the small abount of blood on the torn fabric was making all of her fears return. She knew that Sebastian needed her to not fall apart right now, but it was so hard. 

Looking at the fabric Gabriel and Conri could smell Sebastian, and see the small amount of blood. He is okay. They would have wanted him alive. I’m sure this is just from a small scratch. I know he is alive. Feel your connection with him. It is still there. If they had killed him the connection would have been severed. Gabriel tried to comfort his sister. Looking around he looked to see if they could gather any other information form the area. 

I think I found their tracks out. I also see signs that they had a cage sitting. Marcus called out in the mind link. 

On the way Gabriel linked back to Marcus. 

Are you going to be okay? Do you want to continue with us? Gabriel asked Sarah. 

Taking a deep breath and taking one last deep breath of the fabric Sarah nodded her head and turned toward where Marcus was a little further down the creek. 

When Gabriel and Sarah arrived they could see the imprints in the mud from where it looked like a cage had been. 

I wonder if they used a silver cage think that it would keep him weak? Gabriel thought through the link. 

Nodding his head Marcus replied  That could be good for Sebastian. Maybe they think the silver will keep him weak and they will not dose him with wolfsbane again. They do not know that the royal line and alphas are not affected by silver. 

It looks like they headed back to the highway. The highway would be the quickest way for them to get to Rotterford’s. I have not found specific scents that I recognize, but I know that he is the closest and one of the largest hunter groups in the area. Gabriel linked the others. 

Nodding Marcus replied, Should we meet up with Axle and Megan or do we want to continue as our wolves and go through the forest? They are probably still on the road since they cannot move as quickly as we do.

I feel we need to stay in the forest, Sarah said. I can’t explain it, but something is telling me to stay in the forest.

I agree. Gabriel replied. I think that they will set up the cage for a trap somewhere in the forest surrounding Rotterford’s. He is too cowardly to want to chance a direct attack at his beloved estate. Hopefully, if  we stay in the forest we have a better chance of finding Sebastian quicker. I am hoping to surprise them since they really do not know how quickly we can travel as wolves and since we are coming as a small team. They will hopefully be looking for an army to leave the valley, not a single SUV. If we leave now we should be able to reach the outskirts of his property by morning. If we can find Sebastian tomorrow that will not give them a lot of time to plan for us. They could not have known that they boys would come here this morning so I am thinking that they are planning this as they go. 

Let’s get my son back Sarah said. 

In agreement they all turned away from the tracks leading to the highway and traveling deeper into the forest. 

Meet us at the old witch clearing tomorrow morning by 8:00. We are continuing on as planned. Gabriel sent to Axel and Megan. 

We’ll be there they replied.