Friday, 9 pm
Inside the Brayshell Community Center building, Zina sat surrounded by her admirers and Betas. All of them fawned and sang her accolades. Any other time, she would have relished her power over this pathetic lot. This evening was different with much riding on tonight's hunt. The prey would not escape the trap. Mya had better be right.
Her private musings were interrupted by the shrill ring of her ear comm. "Scatter!" Her harsh order sent the other Weres scrambling for the two exits. She answered the call once the room was clear. "Speak."
Gerard's pleased growl filled the line. "My Alpha, we have the prey."
She sucked in an excited breath. "I trust there were no complications?"
A slight hesitation, and then Gerard's slow response. "Only a minor one that we handled."
"Gerard, you'd better hope that it is taken care of. You're not a cat with nine lives. I will kill you if your "minor one" becomes something major."
"Yes, my Alpha. We shall arrive at the rendezvous spot in three hours."
"I will be there waiting." She closed the connection and sat for a while in her chair, drumming her fingers on the arm rests.
Anticipation hummed in her veins. She would finally have Henry all to herself. He would beg for his whelp's life and, if it pleased her, she might let Laylah live. But first, she would get her mate and their power would be absolute. She laughed and rose gracefully from the chair.
She went outside into the night with a bounce in her step and was met by her anxious followers. They crowded around, careful not to touch her.
"Victory is near! The abomination has been caught! All lies will be bared in the darkness of the night! We will have our new order and shall reign supreme!"
The gathered Weres chanted, "Zina! Zina!" Their fervor added volume to her name.
She smirked. "Come, my family, we must go to our new holy ground."
The forty men and women flowed past her and outside to their vehicles. Zina moved at a more sedate pace to her el-cycle. She straddled the bike and revved the engine. She gave the signal to move and smoothly maneuvered into the lead. She was the Savior of her people. All Weres would praise her for this night. She flung back her head and howled. Her people answered with their own chorus of sound. Yes, destiny beckoned.