Chapter Eight
While Alphonse’s people had intended to break into the park with Evan’s help the night he arrived, Evan had been able to convince them that would be too soon. They’d agreed to give him twenty-four hours to settle in and make sure the patrols were the same as they’d been when he left.
He’d slept like shit the night before. Auden had given his phone back at the end of his shift, and he’d seen several missed calls from Alphonse. When Evan had called him, the first thing he’d heard was Tris’s pain-filled scream.
The sound had been chilling. And it still rang in his mind.
Her pain had been payback for Evan convincing them to wait a day.
Evan sat across from Joss at his office desk. He was antsy and exhausted. Alphonse’s males were going to try to break in tonight, and Evan was to be a party to it. Unlock the gate, shut off the security system, and watch Stavrik and the seven other males try to capture Joss and the high-ranked males.
Alphonse was waiting for a call from his people once they were inside and had taken control of the park. Then he would join them and complete the coup, which would involve Joss dying. Even though Alphonse said he was only going to oust Joss, Evan had no doubt that his plans really included killing everyone who was loyal to Joss, including the alpha male himself.
Except Joss was not going to let that happen, and neither would any of the other alphas in the park.
“You’re going to be a tour guide today,” Joss said.
Evan blinked and realized he’d been very lost in his thoughts. “I’m sorry?”
“You’re going to be a tour guide. Keep your bugged phone on you so Alphonse will believe you’re going about your day and none of our people are any wiser to his plan. Right now, they believe the park only contains our pack, and we’re going to use that to our advantage. When they come for me tonight, they’re going to find themselves facing off with a very large group of pissed-off shifters.”
Evan nodded in agreement, although he wanted to protest that he was hardly in the frame of mind to play tour guide for human VIPs. But he knew better than to argue with Joss. About anything.
Joss handed him a cell phone. “Here’s a phone to use to communicate with us via text and email that Alphonse won’t know about.”
Evan took it. “Thanks. So, who’s driving for the tours?” The VIP tours were run by two wolves—a guide and a driver. The guide was responsible for engaging with the VIP and taking his or her picture at each animal paddock and sharing facts about the animals. The park had paddocks for each shifter group, as well as two paddocks with normal, non-shifting animals. The guide would check to see if any of the VIPs were soulmates for any of the shifters, and if they were, he’d bring the human to the security office and the security team would take it from there.
While there weren’t a lot of soulmates who had come from the tour, it had happened. Adrianna had met Zane, a gorilla, on the tour. Celeste had met lion Jupiter on one. And Rhapsody, a panther shifter, had bought a ticket online and met elephant Kelley.
“Silvanus will drive. He knows to keep the conversation light and focused on the VIPs. Just act normal.”
“I’ll try.” Evan tried to smile, but it failed.
“It’ll be okay, Evan,” Joss said.
He rubbed his temple where a headache was blooming either from stress or a lack of sleep. “I want to believe you, but I can’t shake the worry that something is going to go wrong.”
“You were put in an impossible situation. You want to keep Aletris safe, but you also don’t want to betray your people. The good thing is that you didn’t try to handle this on your own. You involved me from the beginning, so you get all my years of experience dealing with asshole alphas who want to take what isn’t theirs.”
“I just want Tris to be safe. Even if she’s not my mate, she doesn’t deserve to be hurt like she is.”
“Agreed.” Joss leaned forward and rested his forearms on the desk. “I dispatched a handful of males to rescue her.”
“You did?”
The alpha nodded. “Very early this morning. They’ll let me know when they’ve gotten Tris out of the alpha’s home. I’ll give her sanctuary here, and she can join our pack or go somewhere else. Once Alphonse loses his leverage with you, it won’t matter what he does on his end because he won’t be able to try to force your hand.”
Some tension left Evan, and he felt like the weight on his chest was easing. “I hope they’re able to get her free.”
“They will, don’t worry.”
He hesitated for a moment and then said, “You don’t want to just have them take out Alphonse?”
Joss’s brows went high. “Do you really think I’m the sort of male who would order a male killed when he’s not made a move against us?”
Evan swallowed hard. “I guess not, but we know he’s planning to try to kill you. Wouldn’t it be better if he were dead first?”
“I suppose. But that’s not our way. We’re going to make a show of force and encourage them to head back to their home and find something else more constructive to do with their time. If Alphonse attempts to come after me or the pack again, then I’ll deal with him.”
“Okay.”
“I’m alpha because I know what I’m doing, and I’m not someone to be messed with. It’s unfortunate that Bernard was killed the way he was, and Alphonse has some delusions about taking over the park, but it doesn’t mean I’m going to suddenly change my character and go killing a bunch of people who haven’t done anything to us. Once they cross the line, that’s different.”
“I get it. I hate it. I hate him.”
“It’s understandable. But you need to let go of all of that today. Just go about your day, do the tours, chat up the humans. It’ll be good for you to get back to normal.”
Evan wasn’t really sure what normal was anymore. “What will happen when Alphonse realizes Tris is gone?”
“If they’re able to free her before tonight, then I’m sure he’ll try to get in touch with you. If that happens, then you’re to find me immediately so I can hear the conversation. Then we’ll make a plan to counteract whatever he’s planning. If they’re not able to get her out before tonight, then they’re going to engage him so they can get her to safety as quickly as possible. It would be easier and best for everyone if they got her away from him before the males try to break in tonight.”
“Okay.”
“Go on, the tours have already started.”
“Thanks, Joss.”
“You’re welcome. Try to put everything else out of your mind and just enjoy the day.”
Evan nodded and stood. He wanted to say something more to Joss about how he wished he’d never gone to the other pack to try to find a mate, that he was sorry he couldn’t wait for fate to bring him his soulmate. But instead of saying anything, he simply walked out. He headed toward the stairs that would lead to the aboveground employee cafeteria. He didn’t really feel like talking to humans right now, but Joss was right; it would be good for him to do something. At least he wouldn’t be sitting around wondering if Tris was okay.
* * *
Lark found the entrance to the safari tours and walked toward the information desk. Rayanne skipped at her side, chattering excitedly about the animals on the tour.
“Hi,” she said as she approached the desk.
Three guys stood behind a wide desk that was decorated in a jungle theme with a thatched roof and bamboo. The three stopped talking and looked at her in surprise, their gazes pinging between her and Rayanne.
“Hello,” the one in the middle said. His nametag read Benjamin. “How can we help you?”
“I don’t have tickets for the tour. I was hoping I could buy them from you?”
Benjamin frowned. “I’m sorry, this is a VIP tour. It’s for individuals who have the VIP ticket, not for families.”
Rayanne went onto her toes and gripped the edge of the desk, peering at them. “I can’t see the animals?”
The guys looked uncomfortable as they exchanged looks with each other.
“I’m really sorry,” one named Jasper said. “We allot time for family and small group tours at other times. This time is reserved for the VIP tours.”
“Isn’t there a way to make an exception? We’ve had a crappy day. Rayanne loves birds, but the aviary is closed, and I’m feeling like a lousy aunt.”
Lark really hoped that a little bit of guilt would go a long way for them to cut her a break and let them go on the tour. She wasn’t one to ask for special treatment for herself, but she’d do anything for her only niece.
“Yeah, it’s really not up to us; it’s the rules,” one named Greg said. “We’re very sorry. But if you want to get tickets for the regular tour, you can go on the website and reserve them for next week.”
“All right, thanks anyway.” She took Rayanne’s hand and tugged it from the desk.
“I can’t see the animals?” Rayanne asked again, looking up at Lark with wide eyes.
“Sorry, kiddo.”
They walked away from the information desk. Lark thought Rayanne might cry as they left, but she didn’t; she just held her hand tightly and hugged her stuffed eagle.
It was freaking sad.
“Wait!” a masculine voice called from behind them. “Wait, come back!”