Wayward Son by Heath Stallcup Read Free Book Online

they’re the good guys. They arrived here to help and they did. They helped to fight off the attackers and…”
    “And who were the attackers?”
    “They were, uh, wolves.” Jack pointed to the bodies of some of the fallen that were slowly shifting back to their human form. “Yes, we did lose a few Lycans in the battle, but we came out victorious in the end.”
    Nadia huffed and pushed past him. “The castle is in ruins. The outbuildings are destroyed. The stables have been demolished. The beaches are mutilated. Were you not able to save anything?”
    Jack looked around at the destruction and shrugged. “There were a lot of them.” She glared at him, as if he had just proven her point for her. “They had a helicopter gunship. It’s sort of hard to beat one of those.”
    “If you had listened to me in the first place—”
    Jack interrupted her, his tone suddenly a mixture of anger and bitterness. “Then I’d probably be dead. I invited my squad mates here and they had the experience and skill needed to turn the tide of this battle. If they hadn’t been here, we’d have lost a lot more Lycans, and more than likely Robert and I both would be dead.”
    She nearly staggered back from the tone of his voice, her eyes wide. “I never…I mean…I saw the attack and you were…”
    “Yes, we were under attack, Nadia, but my people weren’t the ones behind it. As you can see, they’re still standing and the only reason I am is because they were here.”
    “Ahem.” Kalen cleared his throat and leaned heavily on his bow.
    Jack blushed then stepped toward his warrior Elf friend. “And Kalen and Horith as well.” He paused and turned quietly to Kalen. “If you need to check on him, I totally understand. With Rufus AWOL, I’m betting the mission to Geneva is off.”
    Kalen shook his head. “They will send word one way or the other.”
    Jack nodded solemnly. “Words can’t express how bad I feel for what happened.”
    “What did happen?” Nadia asked from behind him.
    “Horith fell in battle.” Kalen stated plainly. “I sent him back to the Wyldwood.”
    “We counted nine leaving by boat,” Bartholomew stated as he approached the trio. “Considering the bodies scattered about, they had a force of over fifty. Heavily armed, too.” He tossed an assault rifle on the ground at Jack’s feet.
    “And you have no idea who sent them?” Nadia raised a brow at Jack, her hands planted firmly on her hips.
    Jack knelt and retrieved the assault rifle. “This is a Sig 552 Commando.” He wiped the sand from the receiver and pulled the spent magazine from the weapon. “Practically new, too.”
    Kalen reached for the weapon and examined it. Sniffing it he wrinkled his brow and handed it back. “All I smell is wolf. And gun powder.”
    Jack looked around the remains of the battlefield. Motioning to Robert, he held up the rifle. “Have you collected their weapons?”
    “All that we’ve found are being stacked near the entrance to the castle.” Robert hooked a thumb over his shoulder in the general direction of the pile.
    “Are they all Sigs?”
    “Yup, commandos and a few P226 Tacticals.” Robert turned to Jack and closed the distance to the small group. “Why? What’s up with the weaponry?”
    “It’s just that…these aren’t exactly common weapons for the U.S. These are SOG weapons for most European teams.”
    Robert nodded in agreement. “And some South American nations use them as well.”
    “As soon as the bodies finish shifting, get a collection of prints. We need to get them to Colonel Mitchell and see if he can run them for us.” Jack turned to Pedro. “Break out your coms, Popo. You need to fill the colonel in on what’s happened here.”
    “What exactly do you want me to tell him? Are we headed back to Tinker?”
    Jack rubbed at his chin and tried to avoid Nadia’s eyes boring a hole into his head. “Tell him the mission to Geneva is cancelled. I’m sending the Lycans back to the pack