Derek's POV
As I mind-linked Erika, I walked to my car. I was going to find out what Richard was doing these days!
Hugh was keeping track of Richard. A warrior was with Hugh and shared their location with Kent every five minutes. Hugh would make marks wherever he went with the pattern we had designed in advance. By following the marks he left, we could find out what Richard was doing without spooking Richard. I also informed Francis of this. He led a group of warriors to the border of the Fly Rock Pack on standby.
Erika didn't answer me right away. What was she doing now? She wouldn't be angry with me for standing her up, would she? But it was an emergency. She should understand me.
I mind-linked her again.
What are you doing now? Are you angry with me?
This time she answered me immediately.
Of course not. I'm just talking to Angel. Stay safe. Richard is very suspicious. Don't let him discover you. Angel can send me back. She mind-linked me.
Don't worry. I'll be very safe. I just want to see where he leads us. I won't get discovered. Have fun with Angel! I assured her that everything would be fine.
Then I got on the car. Gerald drove as fast as he could. To be precise, we were not heading for the forest. Kent gave Gerald directions based on the locations the warriors had given him. We took a short cut and met the car Hugh was in within an hour.
According to Hugh, Richard was dressed in black. He walked alone along the border for thirty minutes and then got into a white Benz. The warrior showed us the license plate of the Benz. For fear that we might spook Richard, our two cars took turns following him.
After about thirty minutes, the Benz came to a halt in the middle of nowhere, overgrown with weeds. Richard got out of the car and stood respectfully, as if waiting for someone important to get out. As expected, another middle-aged man stepped out of the car. He wore a black mask, hiding his face. But he must be somebody, because Richard showed him much respect. They walked along a path and soon they couldn't be seen, their bodies hidden in the bush.
Gerald and Kent both looked at me expectantly, waiting for my command. They both knew that only one man could follow Richard and see what they were doing.
"I'll go myself," I said without hesitation.
"No, Alpha. It's too risky. I'll go. I'm also good at..." Kent suggested.
"I'll go myself. That's settled. I'll let you know if anything happens," I interrupted, commanding him firmly. Kent was indeed good at stalking. But we didn't know who this mysterious man was. I was not sure if Kent could handle them on his own if they discovered him.
Seeing that I had made up my mind, they didn't dare question my decision.
Kent helped me put on the protective gear and mask that Steven had prepared for me. After all, Richard had access to rare poisons and we couldn't be more careful.
At the same time, Gerald got out of the car and crept over to the Benz. The driver looked at his mobile phone, unaware of the impending danger. The next second, Gerald was pounding on the driver, choking him with one hand and catching the falling phone with the other. The driver blacked out.
I got out of the car and made no noise. Richard and the unknown man couldn't be seen any more. But it didn't matter. I walked along the path, carefully distinguishing the footprints on the ground.
At the entrance to a small, shabby house, overgrown with weeds, the footprints disappeared. If anyone lived here, it must have been a rogue.
Suddenly the house lit up.
I crept to the back of the house and leaned against the wall. Even though I was wearing a mask, I managed to slow my breathing so that it was inaudible. The protective gear and mask were all black. As long as I didn't make a sound, I had made myself invisible.
The people in the house started to talk, I pricked my ears and listened carefully.
"Alpha Alex, can we fix the time tonight? He killed my pack members and I can't stand him anymore!" A male voice snarled. It was Richard. The man he said he couldn't stand must be me. There was no doubt about it. Richard was desperate to kill me.
The name Alpha Alex sounded familiar. He was the Alpha of the Lumiere Pack!
When the news came that Richard had left the pack, alone and unguarded, I was reading the information Francis and his intelligence had gathered about the Lumiere Pack. According to this information, Alex was actually the second oldest child in the family. He was not supposed to be the Alpha of their pack because only the eldest could be Alpha, regardless of gender. He had an older sister who died at twenty-three, while according to their pack traditions she could've be Alpha at twenty-four. This was interesting. I guessed Alex and Richard were birds of a feather, the kind of guys who could kill their families for power.
"For your information, I never said I'd help you kill him. I could sell you weapons, given your relationship with Baron. But I won't get involved," Alex said in a low voice. He sounded very rational.
But who was Baron? I searched for the name in my head, but it didn't ring a bell. With great confidence in my memory, I was quite sure that I had never heard of the name.