The Shadow Wolf - Part 7

Vito was shocked into indecision and inaction as he stared off down the tunnel. Every ounce of reason within him told him to run after Sani, but before he could chase her, he heard Alpha Luka link with the pack.

'Everyone, meet in the training center immediately.'

Beads of sweat started to form on his brow. How would he protect his mate when, deep down, he knew that Alpha Luka would be hunting her? First, he'd need to block his thoughts and not think about her and their interaction in the tunnel, knowing he'd find her anywhere within the underground tunnel system. Her scent, her wonderful rose and jasmine scent, would lead him to her, wherever she was. If his alpha knew this, he would force him to find her.

Slowly, he walked toward the training center and stood at the back of the gathering crowd. Between his height and status in the pack, it didn't take long for Alpha Luka to search him out.

"Sentinels, please come forward. I'd like Vito, Finnus, and Elisabet to lead the search parties for Kaju. I’ll lead a group into the abandoned tunnels. I want you to split up into teams and systematically search every known tunnel until we find where they have hidden my bastard son."

Stepping forward, Vito decided it was best to volunteer first. If he took the tunnels that Sani escaped down, he could run the team in circles, avoiding her location. Her scent would give away her location and warn her of his proximity.

Vito suggested, "Sir, I can lead my team down the eastern tunnels. I know that area well."

"Very well. Finnus, take the southern tunnels, and Elisabet, you can lead the team towards the west. My group will take the remaining tunnels. Oh, Aani and Rusa, head straight to your rooms and stay there while your brother is on the loose. I don't need another distraction if he should decide to kidnap you."

Aani protested, "But father, we should search for him too! He would never harm us."

"No! You shall not. In fact, Ifan take several sentinels and stand guard outside their rooms. Don't let them out until after Kaj is captured and the resistance is defeated. Girls, don’t try anything foolish. Your brother is a dangerous man, and he’d stop at nothing to take control of the pack."

Vito heard the girls protest all the way down the hall, trying to plead with their father to no avail. Forgetting about their dilemma, he turned to the team he gathered and started to give directions for their misleading search. "Let's take the tunnels to the right and follow them toward the summer training grounds. I don't think they would have taken him out into the open, but it is possible."

Someone in the back asked, "Why would you think that?"

Trying to think of an excuse quickly, he said, "We don't know who is behind this. What if it's outside forces? They would need a way to sneak in and out, and those tunnels are hardly used nine months out of the year."

The lone voice said, "That's true."

Taking the lead, Vito gave way to his wolf, Draco, and the rest of the team shifted. Once all the wolves were ready, they swiftly ran down the tunnels toward where he had last seen Sani. He instantly felt her presence and smelled her sweet rose and jasmine scent in the tunnel they were racing down. Linking with his group, he said, 'Take the next right. It should lead us to the summer training grounds.'

Without questioning his motives, they followed him down the path, bringing them further from her hiding spot. He hoped she was smart enough to follow his path and hide where he had already searched, but would she?