“I'm sure,” Julia said, sounding annoyed. “Can you make this quick? I'm tired of this already.”
“Where are the boys?”
“They are both upstairs and asleep. Shouldn’t be a problem.”
“Good, we need to be quick about this. We need to get them far into the woods where everyone else is waiting. If we don't, this could get messy.”
“I did my job. I married the man, for God's sake. I did my part in this plan; now you do yours. I want my money.”
“You get paid after the Alpha is dead.” The man's voice was sharp, and it sent a shiver down my spine.
My eyes widened, and I stepped further down the hallway and peered down the stairs. I could see into the living room and found Julia sitting in the rocking chair with four other men around her. They were all bulky and wearing leather clothes. I could see the knives and the guns strapped to them, instantly realizing that they were hunters.
I was moving quickly, instantly hurrying into Kerr's room. He was fast asleep in his crib, so I quickly pulled him up, careful not to wake him. He was heavy as I tried moving him, trying to think of where I could put him.
I hurried into the hallway and heard someone coming up the stairs. I was running out of time. So, I rushed into the bathroom and opened the linen closet. I placed him down on some sheets and tossed some more around him. I shut the closet and slipped back into the hallway. The man came down the hallway and ran right into me. My entire body clenched up, and I wanted to scream, but I didn't.
He yanked me up, and I tried to kick myself free, but nothing worked. He pulled me down the stairs where the rest of them were waiting. Julia spotted me, but the smile she gave me was evil. It was nothing like the smile she had given me all this time.
“Where is the other one?” one of the guys asked.
“He's not in his bedroom.” The guy holding me said.
Julia frowned, her eyes narrowing on me. “Where is he, Frank?”
I remained quiet, refusing to tell them. I knew one of us had to be safe. One of us had to live.
The other one curled his hand into fists. “We don't have time to look for him. Is this one going to be enough?”
Julia crossed her arms, her red hair falling over her shoulder as she leaned down to my level. She stared at me, and I swallowed, holding my ground. As terrified as I was, I wasn't going to show it.
She smirked, though, her ruby lips pulling up. “Yeah, he's enough. His dad will come running.”
I was yanked up, and I continued to kick, trying to break myself free. They pulled me outside and threw me into a car. I remembered holding back tears, trying to free myself. I kicked at the door, pulling at the handle, but nothing worked.
I remember us driving to the woods and being thrown onto the ground. I screamed this time, thrashing at the guy who held me. I planned to fight until the very end.
Everything happened so quickly after that. I hardly got a look at the camp or the other people before roars filled the space. Eyes circled the camp, and they didn't even know how many wolves were surrounding them until they unleashed themselves.
My father scooped me up, his eyes filled with worry as he patted me down, screams erupting around us. “Are you hurt?” he asked, his hands holding my face to look at him.
I shook my head.
“Where is Kerr?” he asked, blocking my view from what was happening behind us. I didn't need to see if they were all being killed. Their screams filled the darkness.
I swallowed, hoping they didn't go back for him. “He's at home. I put him in the linen closet.”
My father nodded, looking relieved.
I then hear Julia. “Dustin, you can't do this. Come on. I had nothing to do with this.”
My father didn't turn as her screams filled the air next. He pulled me up, covering my eyes as he walked. I knew I was shaking at this point. All my courage was gone.
Our father changed after that, speaking with no sweetness towards humans. They couldn't be trusted. They would turn their backs on us, and it was proven. We never spoke of our mother or our stepmother. We never spoke of that day, but my father and I remembered it. He ran his pack with an iron fist and always reminded me I needed to do the same.
“The moment you let your guard down is when things will start to fall apart,” he preached. “Humans are never to be trusted. Don't forget that.”
I shook the memory off, grinding my teeth together. Anger built up as I watched Nina continue to talk with the gardener. I knew she was planning something, and I wasn't letting my guard down while it happened. I didn't know her plan, but I knew it was something.
