*waves* it's been a while, but I have a few chapters done, actually the story is almost done, I just need to do some editing and posting, today has sucked, so I am cheering myself up by posting this. Hope you all enjoy

John's POV
When they arrive wherever they are going, he watches as the viper and cobra share a rather loud glance. Both serpents are Trackers, though he gets the feeling of being active from Eric, and not Nathan.

Still, neither says anything, and he listens with the rest of the squad as their mission is outlined by the commanding officers. For a training mission it seems a bit off. For one thing, only the shifters are being sent, not the humans. For another, the cobra is focused on the upper ranks and not the ones giving the actual order to them. There almost doesn't seem like there is enough supplies for their squad, which makes him curious as to why.

When they are dismissed so they can head to where they are being sent, Eric tips his head to the side and glares, black eyes turning silver. From what he saw in the other shifter's memories, that's a sure sign that he is being called to hunt someone as a Tracker. The question is who and why?

This is a trap. The one wants us to fail, want us to get injured. He's gifted and hates all shifters. Eric comments as they climb into the vehicles to go. He will not directly attack, because of his rank and he doesn't want anything tied to him, but he is still a problem.

He frowns, anger boiling just below the surface. The Shadow Mistress is the creator of all races of the clans. What right does this gifted man have to wish them dead merely for existing, to put them in intentionally overly risky positions for the same reason?

I hope he steps out of line, even the slightest, Nathan remarks along the pack link. I don't think he realizes we're Trackers. If he did, he wouldn't be so stupid.

Agreed. Eric hisses, cold fury filling his empathy. Instead of going where they are sending us immediately, I suggest we make his life hell by going after the captive he is insisting can't be saved.

I like that plan, Elspeth pipes up, eyes gleaming brightly with suppressed excitement.

The rest of their group just shrugs, only Thomas seems a bit excited by the prospect.

Well then, how shall we go about this? Any suggestions? He inquires as he takes his seat.

Steal the two helicopters. Fly them where we need to go. Take care of any guards. Find the prisoner. Release the prisoner, return to where we are supposed to be going. Eric outlines in rapid succession. We can either fly them ourselves or I can compel the pilots to fly them.

To keep from drawing attention, they continue on as if they are planning to follow the original orders. They are on the road and traveling towards their initial destination when he finishes processing the information shared, both from the conversation and the straight memories shared by the Tracker.

Let's do it, he declares.

Mind if I embed the shielding in their minds? Eric inquires politely, on a private link that he has felt growing since he healed the shot cobra during training.

The request startles him, his immediate reaction is to say no, it's only for pack members, but they're all pack so that's plain foolish.

Alright, he agrees hesitantly, not sure he likes the idea but willing to try to make sure as many of them live and are uninjured as is possible.

Then I will do that as soon as we reach the air base. We will not have to veer off too much, and I am already hacking the GPS to make it think we are still on route when we're not. The cobra comments as he continues to drive.

He nods, relaying the plan to the others in their squad.

When they get to the choppers, he shakes his head, chuckling humorlessly. He's the one who told them they will act like humans since they are in the human military and is the one who agreed to not act like humans because of the actions of a single gifted person. It's definitely something he will have to think about later.

He'll also have to think about the fact he has noticed his empathy and telepathy growing over the last few weeks, making him wonder why. He'd like to ask his granddame but is sure he's not going to have the chance any time soon. So instead he'll ponder it and think it through. For now, he has a mission to keep in track of and help run.

Some reason he's sure they have just set their little pack on an unexpected path that will have wide reaching consequences.

I've updated my publishing schedule, I will try and update one or two stories on Saturday, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The stories that will be updated depend on the day:
Saturday: Gift for John, Choices, Right Decision, Clandesitne, Changes, All the Powers That Be
Monday: Patron, Lost and Found, Baker Street Polyamory, Kingsman Academy, Oral Fixation, Daughter
Wednesday: Seeking, Trial & Error, Healing, Distraction, Learning to Live, Fae Born
Friday: Stillness in Silence, Recruited, Changes Continue, Unexplained, Unusual Relationship, Blessed

Not all my stories can be found on FF, some are on AO3 only

Tumblr about mine & other peoples stories: JaimiStoryTeller

I write do commissions for those who are interested, the info can be found on my tumblr under Donations, Commissions, and Cosmos

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