Read Forever's Fight for Free Online

drug the government had developed. He combed his shoulder-length hair from his face with his fingers. “Did you get in touch with your contact?”
    “He’s going to get us some once it arrives on base. In exchange, he’ll be staying here with us. They’ve already warned that military personnel will be tested, so he has to get out of there. He’s made the arrangements so that he’ll be one of the workers unloading the cargo. Testing is to begin the following day, so he’ll get some samples and be gone before then. It’s set to arrive next week.”
    “Very well. Just give me these two days to find her. If we haven’t found her by then, I’ll come back, and you can take over the hunt with Blake or Chase. I think I can convince her to help us. She obviously didn’t want to test on shifters, or she’d have stayed instead of putting her life in danger.”
    Austin didn’t look convinced that Patrick would be back in two days, but instead of saying anything, he just glared at him. Patrick was their Alpha; he didn’t have to justify his actions to anyone. Instead of using that moment to show his dominance, he added, “You have my word. We need a counteractive measure, and I can’t find one to help us if I’m out hunting a woman we’re not even sure is alive.”
    “Fine.” Austin crossed his arms over his wide chest. “See what you can do for Jade before you have to leave. No matter how much I try, she just won’t talk to me.”
    “She finds comfort with Chase when he’s in lion form. That’s why I’m leaving him here. If she has a nightmare or a bad day, have him go to her and just lay beside her.”
    Austin glanced toward the table where Luke, Blake, and Chase were still eating. “What is it about you and Chase? She won’t open up to the rest of us.”
    “She doesn’t talk to Chase, either, just cuddles against his lion body. Each of them are running from something, maybe that’s why she relates to him.”
    “What about you? Why you?” Austin turned his gaze back to him. “She was always close to both of us, but ever since you rescued her, she clings to you.”
    “It’s only been a few weeks since we got her back.” Nine weeks and three days. He had been unable to forget the date, and even now that she was safe, he couldn’t stop keeping track. “She needs time.”
    “She might not have time. We need her at her best now .” Austin tipped his head toward the steps, letting Patrick know he wanted to put more distance between them and the other brothers. “With each passing day, things are getting worse. Nolan, my military contact who’s getting us samples of the new drug, mentioned there are plans to start doing sweeps door to door once the drug comes out, testing everyone . For the past few weeks, they’ve been rounding up anyone they suspect of being a shifter and imprisoning them. There’s terror in the streets. While normally the military and police work to control the chaos, they’re only adding to it. Terrorizing citizens, imprisoning anyone they want. There seems to be no law and order any longer.”
    “The world was going to Hell before the existence of shifters became known. Now it sounds like things have gotten worse.” None of them had left the castle since they rescued Jade so this adventure would be the first one in over nine weeks. They’d find out how bad things had really gotten. They’d have to stick to the shadows to make sure they weren’t caught up in any of the drama that was happening, and to be sure to stay away from anyone who might be in possession of the drug. “By the way, did Nolan mention a name for this drug?”
    “I didn’t even think to ask. Didn’t the article Jade find mention it by name?”
    “I was just double-checking the facts. I want to do some research online once I talk to her.” Patrick stopped at the landing on the fourth floor. “I think you should go back downstairs, see if you can help Luke or Blake, and let me handle her.”
    “I