Ashley wasted no time once Nia was gone as she leaned in, whispering, "So, Mavis may be dramatic, but wedohave a plan. A plan to escape. None of the shifters can know."
"And go where?" Loral asked.
"Osmond."
Rem half rolled her eyes. "Why would we go serve a human when we are shifters? At least not if we don'thaveto.”
Ashley stared at Rem before smiling incredulously. "Youarea human."
"Not anymore," Rem countered.
Ashley’s fidgeting hands grew more restless. "I understand that you have your doubts," Ashley began with a shaky voice. "What of you, Loral?" Ashley asked, placing her attention on her. "Why don'tyoucome?"
"I don't like humans, I think,” Loral said apathetically.
Rem tried to stifle a chuckle.
"You're just going to surrender your body to these creatures?" Ashley pressed.
"Why are you pushing it, exactly?" Loral asked with a kind tone.
"Because I think you're becoming brainwashed," Ashley urged.
"What of the witches? They brainwashed me more than the shifters have ever tried. Hell, I have learned more than I ever knew while being here than being with the witches," Rem countered, thinking of Adam.
"Well, just consider it then—" Ashley said, her eyes widening as she straightened her back.
Around the corner, down the hall to their right, was Marcus, finally making his appearance. His one good eye looked over the females. Rem felt like a tiny, trapped animal.
He paused as he glanced over Rem, his demeanor entirely differently than from before, his eye moving to Loral with the same look. Then he smiled, rubbing the stubble on his face.
Ashley clenched her fists so tight her knuckles turned white, her leg bouncing.
Rem stood, leaving her supplies as she backpedaled to where Nia was when Marcus was close enough. Loral followed Rem, and Ashley remained in her seat.
Rem eyed the back of Ashley, uncertain what was going on. Marcus did not advance and rather looked down at Ashley, who glanced up at her Alpha. Marcus sneered with disproval. Even if it was true that he wasn't violating them, he was absolutely abusing Ashley. He had to be.
It reminded Rem of Jackson, and shehatedthat.
"Marcus!" a shifter shouted, the cry slightly muffled as it was on the other side of the glass in a distance, pulling Marcus's attention away. Giant wolves ran towards the home through the woods outside, one of them transforming into their human state as they approached the home.
The rest was a blur, but Rem made it back into Nia’s shadow, distancing herself as much as possible from Marcus. The Alpha followed her into the foyer with a slow pace, like he would find them, anyway.
To Rem’s confusion, Marcus didn’t look at any of the Silvers once in the foyer, only staring at the front doors.
"Back away from the doors! Back!" Jola shouted as she was among them again.
Loral ran over to Rem as everyone backed away while Marcus moved to be in front of it at a distance.More males coming, maybe?
Everyone in the room reacted to the sound of heavy wood smacking on tile as the front door fell to the floor. It was almost as bad as a gunshot. Rem’s arms shot up to cover her face.
Her ears began to ring as she peaked through her squinted eyes—chipped tile lay underneath the door.
Marcus didn't move as a giant white wolf with green eyes walked in over the broken doors, snarling as it approached him. It transformed to reveal it was Varga, the female Alpha. She spat at Marcus in Icelandic, her long straight hair swaying about as she spoke to him.
"Varga!" Shia shouted with joy.
Gooseflesh trailed Rem's skin as she looked at the space where the door had been.
