Free Into the Unknown (Werewolf Wars, #2) by Bethany Shaw Page B

Everyone except Lark seemed to be on edge around her. Afraid of saying or doing the wrong thing. It was infuriating. Their unease around her made her more uncomfortable. She just wanted to be a normal person, but she doubted she would ever be a carefree woman again.
    “Thank you,” she said quietly as he struggled to gather all the bags in his hands.
    “I don’t think you could bring anything else if you tried. The room’s been stripped down to the furniture. Guess you can’t travel light with a baby, though,” Marcus said. He grabbed the last suitcase, juggling it between his hands before exiting the room.
    Bending down, Natalia double-checked the straps of the infant carrier one last time. Apprehension rolled through her belly, causing it to knot. She’d never been on a plane before. Footsteps thumped up the stairs, and someone tapped lightly on the open door.
    “I have some things for you. I thought it best to give them to you now to avoid questions at the airport,” Gene announced, entering the room while he pulled a yellow envelope from his back pocket. “I had an ID and paperwork made for you and Adrian. I assumed you didn’t have anything.”
    Natalia took the envelope to stare at her fake ID. The ID had her birth name on it. Natalia Maria Alvarez. Clearly, he’d done his research on her.
    “No, I do not. Actually, I am not even a U.S. citizen, but I am guessing you already figured that out.”
    Gene nodded. “This will do for now. I’ll see what we can do about making you more permanent paperwork later.”
    “Until I go home?”
    Gene opened his mouth, her question clearly catching him off guard. “Until you go home. There is no guarantee how long it is going to be. I can’t promise you anything, Talia.”
    Natalia licked her lips as she picked up the infant carrier. Swallowing, she met his eyes. “I know. When it is safe.”
    “You have my word, Talia. I won’t go back on it.”
    “Let’s do this,” Natalia whispered.
    ***
    G ene leaned back onto the headrest as the plane jumped along the runway. Natalia gripped her armrests tightly, her eyes squeezed shut. Her long eyelashes nearly touched her honeyed cheek bones. Her coffee hair fell around her round face, and her pink lips twitched down into a tiny pout. Fear rolled off her in waves, filling the air with a putrid curdled milk smell, overpowering her natural floral and sea salt scent. Adrian sat between them, sleeping contently in his car seat.
    “You don’t like planes?” Gene asked, trying to distract her.
    Natalia pursed her lips. “I have never flown before.”
    She ground her teeth together as the plane jerked and the wheels lifted off the runway.
    “It will be smooth once we reach the correct altitude,” Gene assured.
    “And how is the landing?”
    Gene chuckled under his breath. “You’ll be fine. We’ll be fine.”
    “Is this your first time flying?” she asked. She peered over at him through her thick lashes, meeting his gaze.
    Gene whispered, “No, I’ve visited this pack before. Like I told you, my father knew the alpha, and I have family there. That is part of how my uncle ended up as the alpha’s second in command. Packs with familiar relations are loyal to each other. If needed, we can and will move to another pack for the greater good. I’ve been to Binghamton many times. You should like it there. There are lots of places to run; it is far enough from the city to be secluded. The pack is large, but there is more than enough space for everyone to stretch their legs. They are very friendly. I know them quite well, and I believe we will have several wolves come back to the ranch with us.”
    “A few will not stand a chance against Fernando Juarez,” Natalia warned.
    “I’m aware. That is why we are branching out to many packs. Even if we only recruit one or two from each pack we visit—”
    “It will not be enough. He has eyes and ears everywhere. An army of men. The only chance we have is to create our own