Out of the Shadows (17 page)

“It still doesn’t involve Lark,” Devon hissed.

“On the contrary, it does. Humans aren’t supposed to know of
our existence. If we fail in our attempts, who is to stop Emmett and the Gulf
packs from harming the two Davies women? It is a crime for them to have
knowledge of us, and as volatile as the packs are I can see action being taken against
them.” Derek took a sip of his alcohol as he watched Devon.

Derek sighed, setting the glass on the cherry end table.

“I understand you have feelings for
the young woman, Devon. I admit, I would have a hard time asking my wife, or
daughter, to do this. It is dangerous. However, if we’re to get the upper hand
we need someone who can set the trap. None of us trust Daniel to plant the
letters, that means one of us needs to do it.”

“Emmett will kill her to get to me,” Devon glared back.

“No,” Derek shook his head. “He is a vindictive man; killing
her would be easy. You would get over it eventually. He will keep her alive and
send her to the Gulf Packs. That will eat you from the inside out, son.”

Devon slammed his tumbler down on the edge of the desk. “I’m
not discussing this any further, I vote no.”

Derek let out a long frustrated breath. “Very well, then. I
vote we ask her. Gene?”

Gene scrubbed a hand over his face and locked his hands
behind his back.

“I don’t like it, but I vote we ask
her also.”

“Fine!” Devon walked to the door throwing it open. It
collided against the wall, knocking a picture frame to the floor. Glass
shattered, scattering all over the floor.

“What exactly is their relationship?” Derek asked as Devon
stomped towards the front door.

“I don’t know,” Gene responded.

Devon threw the front door open stripping his shirt off. He
needed to go for a run.

***

Devon sucked in a deep breath as Lark’s green SUV pulled to
a stop in front of the house. His stomach knotted, rage brewed just beneath the
surface. He’d voted against this plan, and had been adamant about figuring
something else out. But they had come up short. Lark’s downfall was her
compassion, he had no doubt she would agree.

Gene stood on the front porch with him. They had arranged to
speak with her together. Both agreed that it might be more well received coming
from Gene. Gene did a better job of getting his point across. That was
something Devon would have to work on now that he was an alpha.

“Good evening,” Gene greeted with a smile. “You mind taking
a walk?” He held his arm out to Lark.

Lark looked between the two of them for a moment before
accepting Gene’s arm. A twinge of jealousy shot through Devon, Gene made it
look so easy, and Lark quickly accepted. With a grumble he walked beside them. They
took the trail leading down to the pond where they could have some privacy.

“So what’s going on?” Lark asked warily.

“I imagine Dev has told you we’ll be extricating Emily a
week from Thursday,” Gene started.

“Yes, he mentioned it,” Lark stated.

They rounded the bend and came upon the pond. Gene led them
to the bench and they both sat down, arms still looped together.

“We have a favor to ask of you, Lark. I understand
completely if you say no.” Gene turned to look at her. “We have a plan to
breech Emmett’s pack.”

“What does this have to do with me?” Lark’s blue eyes slid
up to Devon’s, confusion evident.

“Lark, I think of you and love you like a sister. I would
never put you in harm’s way,” Gene paused, causing Lark to pull her gaze from
Devon’s to Gene’s. “If you’re up for it, we would like you to consider going
with Vincent to the Guymon ranch.”

Devon had insisted that Vincent accompany Lark if she agreed
to go. He didn’t want her to walk into Emmett’s lair by herself. He would go,
but Emmett would slaughter him on sight. While there were issues between father
and son, Devon knew their mother wouldn’t let anything happen to her youngest
boy.

“I’m willing to help, but I’m not sure what you want me to
do,” Lark stammered, rolling her bottom lip between her teeth.

“Vincent and Derek will be under constant watch, where as
you should have slightly more freedom. We will give you official sealed letters
written in Emmett’s hand to plant throughout the manor,” Gene gripped Lark’s
arm tighter. “Only if you want to.”

“They won’t suspect me of doing something?” Lark frowned.

“It’s not likely. You’re human, and a woman no offense,”
Devon added quickly. He didn’t mean to be degrading. “This is how Emmett will
see you. Wo
men are a means of reproduction -
nothing more
-
in his
eyes.”

“He sounds real nice,” Lark muttered.

“Yes, very twenty first century,” Devon joked, causing Lark
to smile and gaze down at her feet.

“It will fall on you to make sure the letters are planted
where the leader of the Gulf packs, Fernando Juarez, can find them,” Gene
murmured.

Devon sighed. Gene disliked the idea as much as he did. They
were left with no other options. Vincent would be questioned, even beaten, and
in their worst scenarios possibly killed. Lark would be a prisoner, she would
have some freedom to roam.

“How do you know they won’t suspect me? They kidnapped Sarah
and attacked me.” Lark brought up her eyes shifting nervously between the two
men.

“We don’t know, but you’ll be going as a prisoner. Derek
Stiles will escort you and Vincent as a faux means of making a deal for himself
and his pack,” Gene told Lark.

“How can you be sure I’ll be able to wander around?”

“From what Daniel tells us, Emily and another woman they’re
holding are able to move freely about the estate. The two teenage girls who
live there, Maddie and Amelia also have free reign,” Devon assured her.

Lark took in a shaky breath and Devon watched her closely.
She used her pointer finger to dab tears from her eyes.

“I’ll do it, but what is in the
letters that is so important? How can you be certain it will make a
difference?”

“Evidence that Emmett is plotting to try and take control of
the Gulf packs. He made the mistake of contacting the wrong person. They made
contact with someone who is close friends with Derek Stiles.” Gene squeezed
Lark’s shoulder and she fell into him. They wrapped each other in a tight hug.
“This is going to work,” Gene assured her, with a confidence Devon wished he
had.

Lungs screaming, Lark jogged
alongside Devon. Her legs burned with each stride, but she pushed forward. The
past two days had been brutal. She had less than a week to train before Derek
escorted her and Vincent to Guymon on Monday. Needless to say, she wanted to be
ready for anything Emmett might throw at her.

Anxiety pitted in her stomach
thinking about it. It would be dangerous, but she had to protect Sarah.

Lark had been leaving the bakery
everyday at two to train with Devon, leaving Sarah to close the shop for her.
If they kept up this pace, she might keel over and die.

“Stop,” she cried out breathlessly.
Her body refused to move another inch. “I have to stop,” she choked out through
long gulps of air. She collapsed to the ground landing on her butt and lay back
on the soft grass. She closed her eyes blocking out the scorching white of the
sun. Her breath coming out in ragged pants.

“We did about three miles,” Devon
stated, the grass ruffled beside her, she assumed he had sat down.

“Wonderful,” she huffed.

He didn’t seem fazed at all by
their run. Lark breathed in through her nose and out of her mouth trying to get
her lungs to function normally.

“I usually run about twenty miles a
day.”

Lark turned her head, placing her
hand on her forehead to shield her eyes from the sun, and fixed a death glare
on him. No wonder he wasn’t winded.

“You did well though. I was
wondering when you were going to stop,” Devon smirked at her.

“Do you run as a human or a wolf?”
Lark asked, her chest heaving and heart racing.

“Either. I have an unfair advantage
though. You should probably stretch or you’ll be sore.”

“Humph, you should have been a
personal trainer instead of a paramedic.” Lark sat up, stretching her legs out
in front of her. She wasn’t out of shape, but she wouldn’t exactly call herself
fit.

“Nah, too many people, too much
talking,” Devon joked, taking the bag off his shoulder and pulling out a
water.

“Don’t you ever talk to your
patients?”

“Sometimes, it depends on the
severity of their injuries. Keeping someone calm on the short ride to the
hospital is a lot different than being personable and conversational in a gym.”

Lark bent over and reached for her
toes, her breathing finally returning to normal. Sweat beaded on her brow and
the back of her neck, rolling across her forehead to her eye. Disgusted, she
wiped her head against her cotton tee.

“Do you trust this Derek guy?” Lark
asked suddenly. It had occurred to her numerous times they were putting an
awful lot of trust in a man she barely knew.
Did Gene and
Devon know him?

“Gene does, I’m not sure I’m the
right person to ask. I don’t really trust anyone. Derek was close to my father
and Rick. Gene has had a lot more interaction with him then I ever have. Emmett
either ‘befriends’ you through intimidation, invades your pack, or you make the
list of alphas he wants to conquer. I trust the fact Emmett dislikes Derek,”
Devon said, eyes on Lark.

“Do you remember much of your dad?
From what I hear he sounded like a
remarkable
guy.”

“I was three when he passed. I
don’t really remember anything,” Devon turned his eyes to the ground his
fingers going to his shoe string, retying the loose laces.

Lark switched to her other leg
bending until the dull pain encompassed her entire thigh.

“I’m sorry. It must have been
hard.”

“It was. I wasn’t Emmett’s son and
he made sure I knew it,” Devon said bitterly.

“What about your mom?” Lark asked
quietly.

Devon got up and walked along the
path, his hand trailing through the tall grass.

“She didn’t do anything to stop it.
I think she is afraid of him, I don’t know. Emmett and my mom grew up together.
They’re from the same pack. My dad was from here, the home I am fixing up was
supposed to be for his pack. The ranch has always been Rick’s. Normally, the
alpha gene is passed to the first born son and daughter only, but Rick and my
dad were twins. They both had the gene and had the desire to run their own
packs.”

“How did he become the alpha in
Guymon then?” Lark asked, curiosity getting the better of her.

“It’s usually up to the alpha
female as to where they reside. Claire, my mother, didn’t want to leave her
home. Her father, the alpha, left the pack in their hands when he passed. After
my father died, I was much too young to assume the role of alpha. My mother’s
eldest brother lives in Oregon and he had his own pack that he was in charge
of. Her other brother attempted to take over the role, but Emmett challenged
him and my uncle lost,” Devon pulled a fistful of grass from the ground and
threw it out into the field.

“When you say challenged…“Lark
trailed off unsure she really wanted the answer.

“To the death.”

“Oh,” Lark whispered. That must
have been awful for his mother and for him.

“Come on, enough resting. We have
training to do.”

***

Devon lunged, grabbing Lark and tossing her toward the
ground. His arms wrapped around her waist, catching her against him before she
hit the grassy earth. He clutched her close, inches from the ground. Her
sporadic breath hitting his face, eyes wide with surprise.

“Follow my eyes,” he said, pulling
her back upright, hands holding her tightly, her body pressed into his. “Most
people avert their eyes to the direction they plan to go seconds before they do
it.”

Lark nodded, blue eyes glued to
his. “Okay.”

“You have to watch, it’s what will
make the difference for you. No matter what you do, I will always be faster and
stronger than you.” He tightened his grip to emphasis his point. Her soft perky
breasts crushed against his chest as she inhaled sharply. He needed to focus,
what he taught her could mean life or death.

“Most men will underestimate you.
That’s where you have the element of surprise. Use their stupidity to your
advantage,” Devon explained. He released his hold and took a step back, needing
some space from her heated skin.

Devon gave her a moment to adjust
her shirt and get a drink of water. She was an attentive student, never once
complaining. Lark listened to all of his advice and tried her best to follow
through. He couldn’t ask for a better training partner. He just hoped what he
was teaching her was enough.

Lark set her bottle down, squaring
her feet and shoulders. “Alright.”

Devon stared for a long moment, her
blue irises locked on his. They’d gone over the technique, but she’d yet to
execute it correctly. He wanted her to get this, to know that she could protect
herself.

She flinched, but steeled herself
as he came at her again. With a quick sidestep, she grabbed his arm and
wrenched it like he’d taught. Her elbow jarred against his chest, not quite to
the point of pain. She was always afraid of hurting him. She spun and stopped
her fist inches from his face.

“How was that?” She beamed
excitedly.

“Good!” A smile slipped across his
face. “Just make sure you don’t take it easy on a real attacker.”

“Trust me, I won’t.”

“Let’s try a couple more times,
then we’ll be done for the night.” Devon looked out at the setting sun. They’d
stayed out late tonight. Getting back to the ranch could be tricky for her in
the dark. They had several miles to hike through the woods.

“Where did you learn all this? Did
you take a class?” Lark resumed her stance, feet locked into place.

Devon wiped his arm across his
forehead. “No, I taught myself mostly and learned a little from Rick.”

“Oh, because of your stepfather?”
she asked hesitantly.

“Not directly, no. He never laid a
hand on me, that job was left to his lackeys. That way he could honestly look
my mother in the face and tell her he didn’t know what had happened.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t pity me,” Devon growled, he
hated when people babied him because he had a troubled past.

“It’s not pity,” Lark defended.
“You’ve obviously overcome it and become a better person. Nobody should have to
go through that. It must have been hard.”

Devon shrugged. “It’s all I’ve
known.”

“So you taught yourself all this,
that’s impressive.”

“Well, it was this or the
alternative. I’ve never been one to sit back and do nothing,” Devon said his
eyes shifted to the tree line.

He chose that moment to attack,
hoping it would end the conversation. She executed the same move again her
elbow connecting with his ribs a little harder this time. Her whole face lit up
with a triumphant smile.

“Good job. It’s getting late; we
should get going,” Devon said, motioning toward the pinkish-orange streaks of
the setting sun.

Lark was silent for a long moment
as they both gathered their things.

“We should come out here again
tomorrow. I like it, it’s quiet and rustic,” Lark said looking around the
grassy terrain.

“No one comes out here. Most of us
prefer to run in the woods. I like the openness, the freedom,” Devon said
grabbing a fistful of grass and dropping it on the ground.

“Your house, is it like the ranch
here?”

“Yeah. The two properties are
almost identical. The stream runs through the back of it like it does here, and
it has equal parts open grassy terrain and woods. The real difference is the
houses. Mine needs a little work.”

“I’d love to see it sometime,” Lark
smiled. The last rays of sun shone brightly in her blonde hair. Loose strands
fell from her ponytail into her face. Her sun kissed cheeks glowed, she was
magnificent.

“We could go there, if you wanted.”
Devon offered quietly. He wanted to spend time with her, to claim her in every
possible way. His inner beast wanted to take her right now in the grass, but he
knew she deserved more than that. Still, he wasn’t sure how much longer he
could hold out. He wanted to keep her at an arm’s length to protect her. But he
swore vanilla still lingered on his lips from their last kiss, even if it had
been over two weeks ago.

Derek had been right when he said
she they smelled like each other, her cinnamon-vanilla essence was imbedded
into him. Granted this time it was from their close proximity during workouts
versus the more intimate encounter they’d shared. Still, his own woodsy scent
covered her making her all that more alluring.

“I would like that.” Lark’s blue
eyes shone as she fixed her gaze on his.

“Tomorrow, or would you rather come
here?”

“Tomorrow is fine,” Lark commented
smiling.

Devon inhaled sharply, a day in his
estate where they would truly be alone. He couldn’t pass that up either.

***

It was dark, the blackness spread
out indefinitely in front of Lark. The stars and sliver of the moon did little
to light the woods. Lark could barely see in front of her. They had to be
getting close to the manor, it seemed like they’d been walking forever.

Lark’s foot caught on a branch. She
gasped, crying out in surprise. Her body propelling forward, while the ground
rose up to meet her. Warm, strong arms wrapped around her waist, catching her
inches from the dirt.

Devon helped to right her by
pulling her up to him, his hard chest pressed against hers. His eyes glowed
yellow.

“Wow,” she whispered stunned by the
beauty, unable to tear her gaze away. “I didn’t realize your eyes did that.”

“It makes walking a little
easier,” Devon replied, his warm breath puffing against her cheek.

Devon looped his arm around her
forearm, pulling her close to him. “I’ll help you.”

“Thanks.”

Lark ignored the tingling that
trailed up and down her arm like an electric current. His muscular arm held her
firmly but was surprisingly gentle.

“I think we’re about ten minutes
out still,” Devon said.

“Good, I can’t see a thing. I hope
when we make our escape from Emmett’s its daylight. I’m not sure I could run
very far blind.”

“We’ll be there to help you off the
property
.
I
don’t know what Daniel will do when everything goes down, but we’ll be at the
edge of the property line, before the alarm sounds. Enough men will be there to
take out any guards Emmett or the Gulf packs might have.”

“Can I ask you something?” Lark bit
her lip. The question had been bugging her for a while. She should have asked
sooner, but had never found the right time.

“That depends.”

“Well, you keep referring to them
as the Gulf packs
. W
hat exactly does that mean?”

Devon’s grip tightened around her
arm as she stumbled yet again. Embarrassment flooded her, she felt like a
clumsy clod.

“The Gulf packs are a network of
individual packs that all fall in line under one alpha. Kind of like a business
in the corporate world if you will. You have the head honcho then his right
hand man, a few beneath him, and so on.”