And this, they said, was only the beginning. This wasn’t a for-the-fuck-of-it mission so they didn’t climb the walls of the compound.

Callum and Lucien had planned beyond this mission.

No more sitting on their hands.

Thank fuck.

This was something else Gregor wasn’t fired up about, and Abel knew, when they found out, all three of their women were going to lose their minds.

But again, it was doing something and he’d take Delilah’s sass just to breathe different air. He also had a feeling she’d get that. He’d just have to put up with her bitching before she got to that place.

Callum followed Lucien off the road to a narrower one, and not long after, they all turned onto a dirt lane. They drove into the forest and the trip wasn’t short. Eventually, they stopped, parked, got out, and hiked a short distance where they found the ATVs.

They loaded up and trekked deeper into the forest.

They were at it for five minutes before some of the ATVs pulled off, their security detail riding through the trees to set up watch.

They were at it another five minutes before, out of nowhere, the wolves joined them, running at the sides of the ATVs.

Callum, ahead of Abel, looked back and jerked up his chin.

The wolves were good.

By the time they hit the small clearing, all that was left were those close to The Three, the rest of the detail having moved to their positions. The remainder of their party drove their ATVs around it, circling it before they stopped, all the ATVs facing in, their lights illuminating the clearing.

In the clearing was a big, blond vampire, his only company being the wolves that had followed them, patrolling beyond the ATVs.

Hook, Wei, Xun, Calder, and Caleb took positions outside the SUVs, keeping watch.

Lucien, Callum, Ryon, and Abel approached the vampire.

“Cosmo,” Lucien murmured, offering his hand which Cosmo took.

Greetings were given, as well as an introduction for Abel, who Cosmo took in head to toe in a sharp way that gave the impression he missed nothing. This was something that made Abel feel more at ease. The vampire was obviously not a moron. Then again, he had yet to meet one who was.

“Were you followed?” Lucien asked once the preliminaries were done.

“No,” Cosmo answered, shaking his head. “Nothing. Not a hint.”

“We’ve had men in these woods for two days. They’ve seen nothing either,” Lucien shared.

“They either have human allies, which I can credit, your father’s skilled with charming his victims before he goes in for the kill,” Cosmo replied. “Or they’re concentrating their efforts elsewhere. Planning something that will draw you out.”

“We’re getting nothing,” Lucien told him.

“The calm before the storm,” Cosmo muttered.