A Breath Away from Discovery

FABIAN

I crawled through the dark metal tunnel, trying to be as quiet as a mouse. The sharp edges of the air duct scraped against my elbows and knees, but I bit my lip to keep from making noise. Mom always said I was brave like her, but right now my heart was beating so fast it felt like it might jump out of my chest.

The smell of chlorine filled my nose—like the swimming pool at Uncle Leo's pack house. Following it helped me know which way to go in this maze of metal tunnels. Mom taught me how to use my wolf senses, even though I'm still too young to shift. She said it might save my life someday.

She was right.

I froze when I heard voices below me. Through a small slotted opening in the bottom of the duct, I could see three men in a room. They were rogues—I could tell by their wild scents and the way they talked. Mean and loud and scary.

"Vaughn wants the security sweep done by morning," one of them growled. "Says the Alpha's coming to inspect everything personally."