Chapter 6 - A Plan of Action

Hunter's POV

Sitting alone in my office, deep in the thoughts of what happened yesterday. Dakota's recount of what she saw through her sisters eyes. Jeez, it sounded so unbelievable. If it had been anyone else bringing that recount to me I would have written them off as insane in a blink of an eye and posted them off somewhere far away from my pack. But this was Dakota. I've known her for years. I can't say we grew up together but she is one of my best friends mates. One of the softest people I know. And her reaction! Shit, no-one can fake that.

The horror. Who are these people who think that they can do things like this and get away with it? It's not normal, even within the supernatural community.

My thoughts take me to the girl Dakota described. I cringe as my chest tightens. How in the name of the Goddess can she still be alive after something like that? And for it to not be the first time..... Goddess! What does that do to a person? Whoever she is, she's damn strong. The constitution of a fucking mountain. The thought of her not uttering a scream or even a word haunts me. That's not normal either. It's like she's dead even though her heart is still beating.

I rub my face with my hands trying to shake the mental picture I have of the girl just laying there.

"I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy." I sigh.

"Drowning I see, bro?" Ryder says softly knowing exactly what I'm thinking about. His face just as sullen as mine.

"Yeah. Crazy shit." I let slide through my lips.

Ryder sits himself in the leather couch I have by the door and we just sit there, looking at each other like someone just told us our parents have been killed. It hurts. I don't know why it hurts, but it does. My wolf, Chase, is also unsettled by all of this. He's been pacing the inside of my head since Dakota opened her mouth. Maybe it's just the fact of how disturbing it all sounded. He hasn't mutter a single word to me, probably doesn't know what to say. All this seems way out of our league and that thought makes me glad my brother is here. He left his beta and his mate to take care of all his business, just so he can be here and help where he can.

We all know that the rogues are on the uprise. Hitting any and as many packs as they can. Not really trying to take over the packs they attack but just doing enough damage to weaken them significantly. They're organized. Which is unusual and unnerving.

"So what do we do bro?" I mutter the words defeatedly.

Ryder looks up at me. It can't be easy being him. Always having to make the worst decisions, not only for individuals but for the greater good too.

"Well... Let's see if this connection between Dakota and Andrea can pay off. We will need to put pressure on Dakota though. But being pregnant...." He shakes his head slightly "I don't know. All I know is that if Andrea was watching someone else being tortured, then there will be others there too. Plus, they don't seem to be the type of people that would just give up and get a new hobby. " We both think about what he's just said." 12 Years? How the fuck do you torture a person like that for 12 years? " he scowls as the disgust creeps up on him.

I look at him, feeling a stab in my soul," I don't know."

Logan my beta, Michael my gamma and Merrick my delta come into the office. Their expressions mimic ours. They walk in and fill the other couches and chairs scattered throughout my office. Silence ensues. None of us knows exactly what to say.

It was Merrick who broke the silence first. "She can do it you know. She's strong enough."

"We know Mer. But we need to think about your pup too. This isn't going to be an easy ride. We don't know how much time we have or how much time we need. Judging by the frustration of that guy..." I say trailing off not know exactly how to put it.

"We don't know how patient he is." Ryder says slightly rolling his eyes.

We all fall silent yet again.

"We need to try, soon." We hear Logan croak. The desperation thick in his voice. It's his mate that's stuck there with that psychopath.

I look at Merrick for his confirmation and he nods. I close my eyes and mind link Dakota.

"D. If you are feeling OK. Can you meet us in my office, please."

"Yes, Alpha. I'm good and I'll be there in a minute."

I close the mind link and look back at my brother and my best friends. They're all the strongest, most loyal people I know. We can do this. We can stop this.

"We've got this." I say.

They all nod.

The door opens and Dakota pops her head around the door and slowly makes her way in. Michael jumps out of his seat before I have the chance to growl at him which makes all of us smile. He bows and motions for Dakota to take a seat, greatful for his theatrics as it lightens the room's mood some what. That is something he is good at, and one day, when I finally find my mate, he would be the perfect person to attend to the Luna of this pack.

We all turn our attention to Dakota as she clears her throat.

"OK, should we start?" she asks quietly. Us not knowing how all of this works we look at her and nod.

"When you're ready D." I say.

We all watch her as she closes her eyes and slowly starts to knit her eyebrows together in concentration. For a good couple of hours all that happens is her eyes underneath her lids flick around like they're searching for something. So, we get her to move to the couch by the door where she can lay down comfortably. She does and then repeats her actions from before. Only this time after her eyebrows knit together she stiffens instantly. A tear forms at the corner of her eye and threatens to slide down her cheek. Just before it does, Merrick's thumb is there whiping it away before it falls. He leans down closer to her ear and whispers something none of us hear, even in the silence that thickens the air in the room.

We watch Dakota for what seems like forever. Each cringe she makes, each whimper she releases. Merrick, understanding and patiently whiping away tear after tear. She finally sits up with a jolt making all of us jump with her.

She spins her eyes to Logan and stares at him wide-eyed. "I know where she is!" she exclaims.

Logan instantly drops to his knees on the floor right next her and grabs her hands in his. Merrick doesn't growl this time, we can all see Logan's pain as plain as day.

"Where? " he whispers, his voice cracking from the pain. This time it's him who releases the tears.

I can only imagine what my friend is going through.