Sanctum (Blackwater Pack Book 1)

by Hannah McBride

  Mom exhaled a shaky breath, looking from the dead wolf to me. "Go upstairs. You need to get cleaned off."

  I looked down at the wolf, the realization that I had killed a member of the pack sinking in. Not only had I killed a fellow wolf, but now I could see the wolf in question was Dane Loomis, Preston's older half-brother and Allan's oldest son.

  Fuck.

  I had killed a council member's son.

  "Skye!" My mom snapped. "Shower. Now."

  My mouth opened but no sound came out. I looked at Maisie. "But-"

  Footsteps thudded on the stairs and the male omega, Shane, came downstairs. His eyes widened, so big I would probably find it funny if the situation weren't so grave. His eyes moved to me. "Shit, Skye. What did you do?"

  "He was hurting Maisie," I tried to explain weakly, standing up. God, blood was all over me. I could feel it matting the ends of my hair, drying on my skin.

  "Christ." He ran a hand over his jaw and looked at my mom. "What do we do?"

  "Skye needs to go take a shower," she said, her eyes still on me. "We'll clean this up."

  "We?" Shane echoed weakly.

  "We," she replied. Maybe it was residual from when she used to be higher up in the pack, but the omegas deferred to her. My mother was the alpha of the omega house, and ignoring her wasn't something they would, or could, do.

  She looked at me again, her face softening slightly. "Go clean up, honey. Hurry."

  I took the stairs two at a time until I hit the bathroom. I didn't wait for the water to heat up, a process that usually took several minutes on a good day. I stepped into the cold spray, letting the water start to wash away the blood. I kept my eyes shut tight, scouring my nails across my face. I could feel the blood caking under my nails as I tried to clean my face.

  I shampooed my hair no less than three times, standing under the spray long after the water ran from pink to clear. The water went from scalding back to frigid as I emptied the tank of all hot water. Finally, I twisted the knobs. They squeaked in protest, the pipes rattling on the other side of the chipped tile as the water turned off.

  I was still shaking and it took several tries to secure the towel with a knot around my chest. Stepping to the small mirror over the sink, I barely recognized the girl standing in front of it. My already brown hair was practically black from the water, my green eyes were huge on my face. My usual tanned complexion was pale. I bit my lower lip between my teeth, worrying the skin until I tasted my own blood.

  All I wanted was to crawl into bed and forget today happened.

  I had just finished brushing through my wet tangles when the bathroom door opened and my mom appeared. She set a pair of jeans and a black shirt on the counter before closing the door and leaning against it, her eyes blazing with intensity.

  "I need you to listen to me," she said quietly, so softly I had to strain to hear her. "We're leaving."

  My heart thudded in my chest, my breath catching.

  "Get dressed. Be as quiet as possible."

  "Mom, what the hell is going on?" I whispered, already reaching for my underwear.

  "I already packed a bag for you. We need to get to the other side of the compound in the next ten minutes. Hurry."

  I started pulling on my jeans, the heavy material sticking to my damp legs. I struggled to pull them on. "We can't leave. The wall, the guards-"

  She held up a hand, cutting me off. Moving forward, she framed my face in her hands, touching her forehead to mine. "Trust me, baby. We have to go now if we're getting out, and we have to leave tonight. Before they find the body … before tomorrow."

  Before I became an omega.

  That was assuming the pack let me live for killing another member.

  I nodded and stepped back before pulling my shirt over my head. If we ran, we might make it across the mile and a half to the other side of the compound, but even that would be pushing it. I started braiding my hair quickly as my mom opened the door. She glanced around, lifting a backpack before handing me my school one.

  Judging by the weight, it no longer contained the textbooks I brought home from school hours earlier.

  I went to the nightstand and grabbed the book I had been reading, shoving it into the front pocket before I pulled the pack onto my shoulders. I held my breath as she eased the door open, looking around the hallway. She reached back, threading our fingers and tugging me behind her.

  I pulled her to a stop outside the door. “What about Maisie and Shane?”

  Her mouth flattened. “I wish they could come with us, but there isn’t time.”

  “But, Mom-”

  She pressed a shaking hand to my lips. “Skye, you are my priority. Now be as quiet as possible. Maisie and Shane can’t know we’re leaving. It’s safer for them to be in the dark if Linden asks questions.”

  Years spent in the omega house had its benefits. We knew every floorboard that creaked, every nail that protested under our weight. Moving swiftly, we avoided them, going down the staircase and heading for the back exit in the kitchen. The concrete stairs leading out to the backyard had long since crumbled so we jumped the two feet to the ground. Without speaking, we broke into a dead sprint.

  My heart pounded, muscles burning as I worked them harder than ever before. We raced across the hard dirt, keeping to the shadows, avoiding the glare of the floodlights stationed around the compound. Everything was quiet and muted, the air hummed with the sounds of cicadas. The swollen full moon hung low in the sky, casting a soft silver light across the ground at our feet.

  After nearly ten minutes of running, being sure to stay off the roads and paths of the compound, we came to a set of boulders and rocks near the western gate entrance. Staying downwind of the wolves on patrol, my mother pulled me down into a crouch.

  "Come on," she murmured under her breath, her eyes sweeping the area. A few agonizing seconds later, headlights turned around the bend of the road leading to the compound. The car stopped several yards in front of the gate and the driver got out.

  Zara.

  "Run," my mom ordered, pulling me with her. We circled around behind the rocks, running silently across the ground to the back of the SUV. She lifted the hatch, only allowing us a small amount of room to slip into the empty back.

  The SUV reeked. Something strong and floral that almost made me sneeze as my mom covered us with a blanket. She gingerly pulled the hatch closed, locking it. I held my breath, waiting for the guards to notice, but Zara had them under control.

  "Alpha Linden didn't mention you would be leaving the compound tonight," the first guard argued.

  "My husband," she snapped, her voice firm and level, "is planning the funeral of his father. I'm heading into town to pick up a few things I thought might comfort him and our daughter. And last time I checked, I was the Alpha's mate. Don't forget who you're speaking to."

  I could practically feel both guards submitting.

  "Yes, ma'am," the second voice whispered, contrite. "May we do anything to assist you?"

  "Get out of my way," she retorted coldly, turning back to the car. Her feet crunched across the gravel of the road and she got in the car, slamming the door. The perfumed scent was even stronger now. She must have bathed in the most potent fragrance she could find, but it definitely did the trick - no way would they be able to scent us under the haze of that stench.

  A minute later, we were driving through the gates of the compound for the first time in my life. I held my breath until I was dizzy, and my mom reminded me to breathe.

  "You two okay?" Zara called over her shoulder, maneuvering a turn that had us both sliding into the left side of the car.

  "Is anyone following us?" Mom asked, her voice muffled under the flannel blanket.

  "No," Zara answered. I heard the engine rev as she stepped on the gas. She took another sharp turn, drove for a few minutes and then stopped the car.

  Mom threw the blanket off us as Zara got out to open the hatch. Once we climbed out, I realized we were standing
in a parking lot. There were four cars on the lot and two light posts, only one of which wasn't working. The yellow light cast a sickly pallor across our skin.

  Mom threw her arms around Zara. "Come with us."

  Zara hugged her back for a moment before shaking her head and pulling away. "I can't leave Bella. You remember what I told you? Where you're going?"

  Mom nodded, reaching for me and pulling me under her arm.

  "How did you know?" I asked in a rush, my mind still reeling that I was outside the compound for the first time in my life. "How did you know what happened?"

  Zara sighed. "I came by to see how your mother was after meeting with Linden. I saw Maisie and ... Your mom explained what happened. We agreed the safest thing for both of you is to get you out of the compound. This was our only shot, while Linden was still meeting with the council and planning the funeral." She looked at me, reaching up to cradle my cheek in her hand. "I'm so sorry, Skye. I'm sorry for so much."

  I looked from my mom to my aunt. "So, what happens now?" I looked around the dark parking lot, expecting to see headlights piercing the dark as my uncle came after us.

  Zara glanced at her watch. "I need to go before Linden realizes what happened. Here." She pressed a set of keys and a rolled wad of cash into my mom's hands. "This is all I could get without Linden noticing. The car is clean - I bought it a few years ago in case I needed to grab Bella and get out. It can't be traced. The cash should be enough to get you to Washington."

  "I'll pay you back," my mom promised, tucking the money into her pocket.

  Zara waved her off. "No, you won't. You're my best friend, Addie. I can't believe how long you stayed. It never should have gone this far. Linden is out of control." Her gaze shot to me, her mouth fixed in a grim line. "I can't believe he's doing this. The Long Mesa pack is falling apart. There's so much more going on you don't know about."

  "Then come with us," Mom urged, grabbing her hand.

  "Bella won't leave her father, and I can't leave her any more than you could leave Skye." She pulled a phone from her pocket, handing it to my mom. "The only number programmed in here is my sister's. When you get to her pack in Washington, Zoe will let me know. If you run into trouble, she can help. She's expecting you in a couple of days. If you stick to the back roads, you should make it in about two days. There are a few motels on the way you can stay at. Use the cash. There are wigs in the trunk of the car you can use for disguises."

  Disguises?

  The realization that we really were using the getaway meant for her and my cousin was sinking in. She was worried enough about my uncle to feel the need to go off the grid and hide their appearances to escape him.

  Mom took the phone, looking at it with uncertainty. "I don't want to start a pack war. Zoe is taking a big risk helping us."

  "Zoe loves you, and she hates Linden. She says the best thing she ever did was leave and marry into another pack. She says their Alpha, Gabriel, is a good man. He'll protect you." Zara smirked. "Besides, I think he hates Linden more than Zoe does. Apparently they had a major disagreement years ago."

  "I remember," Mom said softly. "They were teens. Linden was furious for months but wouldn't say what had happened."

  "Gabriel will protect you," Zara assured her. "Blackwater is a large pack, one of the biggest in the country. And we both know that Linden is in no position to launch a pack war. Truthfully, if things don't start turning around soon, I don't know how much longer the pack will last. We're losing members and gaining too many loners that don't want to follow the rules. Pack members aren't being held accountable - what happened tonight to Maisie is proof of that."

  Jesus, Maisie.

  "Mom, we left Maisie. And Shane!" Panic twisted in my gut all over. We left the other omegas completely unprotected.

  Mom sighed, stroking my hair. "I told you we couldn't get everyone out and save you," she said.

  I recoiled. My life wasn’t any more important than theirs. I opened my mouth to argue, but Mom stopped me.

  Her gaze caught mine and held. "You are my daughter, Skye. I never should have let it go this far with Linden. I should have figured out another way to get you away from that pack a long time ago."

  "You need to get on the road. Linden will know you're gone soon. You need to be firmly inside Blackwater territory before he catches up. He can't touch you once you're there." Zara moved back towards her car.

  "I love you, Z," my mom said, reaching out for one last hug.

  "I love you, too, Addie," Zara whispered, hugging her tightly. She let go and looked at me for a second before drawing me into her arms.

  "You did the right thing tonight, Skye," she told me quietly, her hands smoothing across my back. "You're stronger than you know. Long Mesa was never the pack for you. You're going to find your place. Promise me you'll take care of your mother."

  "I promise," I swore, looking over her shoulder at my mom. I hesitated for a second and looked at Zara. "You need to get Bella away from Cassian. He's ... he's a monster."

  Zara clenched her jaw and looked away. "I'm well aware of what Cassian is. But Bella thinks it's an honor to wed the future Alpha. She's so consumed with what her father wants and expects ... I've tried. She won't listen to me."

  I hugged Zara once more, wishing there was a way she could come with us.

  She let me go and got into her car, turning it around and heading back towards the compound.

  Mom walked over and wrapped her arms around me. "Ready to go?"

  "Absolutely."

  5

  I was completely mesmerized by the scenery as we drove. Watching the landscape change from brown and dirt to green and lush was a crazy dichotomy. The further north we got, the cooler the air became and the more vivid the colors grew. By the time we crossed into the Washington state limits, I felt like a little kid. Every mile brought new wonders. My current favorite was the mountains looming in the distance, their snowy white peaks hiding amongst clouds.

  Mom hummed along to a song on the radio I had never heard, her fingers drumming on the steering wheel. Her blonde hair was pulled in a ponytail and bounced as she bobbed her head to the beat. She had smiled and laughed more the closer we drove to Washington.

  I was loving our road trip. If it were up to me, we would never make it to Blackwater and just drive around seeing all the places I never knew existed.

  "Are we staying in another motel tonight?" I asked, hoping the answer was yes. The first motel we came to, my mom had sighed and apologized to me as soon as we opened the door. I wasn't sure why she was apologizing - I launched myself at one of the two beds with a laugh.

  My entire life I had shared a tiny bed with her. For the first time, I had my own bed to sprawl out in.

  "No," she replied. "I called Zoe when you were in the bathroom at the diner. We should be in Blackwater territory in the next half hour or so. She's coming to meet us at the border to introduce us to Gabriel."

  I twisted my hands together in my lap, picking at a fraying hole in my jeans. "You think they'll let us stay?"

  She glanced over at me, reaching over to place a hand over mine and squeezing. "Yeah, baby. Gabriel is a good man from what Zara and Zoe say."

  I took a deep breath, steeling myself to ask the question that had been plaguing me since we left New Mexico. "Do you think we'll be omegas here, too?"

  She paused. "I don't know."

  I swallowed and nodded, looking out the window.

  "Hey." She waited until I turned back to look at her. "Skye, what happened in Long Mesa. You need to understand that I won't let that happen here. I wouldn't bring you to another pack to let you be turned into a..."

  "Whore?" I supplied softly after she had trailed off.

  Her jaw clenched. "Yeah."

  "I don't blame you for what happened," I told her gently. "It wasn't your fault, Mom."

  She blinked, tears sliding down her cheeks. "Actually, sweetheart, that was all on me. I never should have stayed. I should have taken you a
nd left. Shit, I should have left when I was still pregnant with you. I'll never forgive myself for letting you grow up the way you did. Seeing the things you did..." Her hands clenched hard around the steering wheel. "That's on me. I'm so sorry I failed you. I should have tried harder."

  "You didn't fail me. You got me out."

  "Not soon enough," she said bitterly.

  "Why did you stay?" I had always wondered why, but never asked her. I would always tell myself there was no other option, but I knew pack members sometimes left. Some, like Zoe, married into a new pack. Others left for different reasons. Rarely was a pack member forbidden from leaving.

  “After … After I moved into the omega house, I was constantly guarded. I think Alpha Warren knew I would try to run, and that would defeat his goal of punishing me. Keeping me present in the pack showed that no one was above his law.”

  “He was an asshole,” I muttered.

  A smirk twisted her lips. “He really was. Then after you were born, I was constantly afraid they would take you from me if I stepped out of line.”

  She sighed again, her shoulders slumping as she took the ramp to get off the highway. "Even still, I actually tried once to get us out. Right after we saw your grandmother. Do you remember that?"

  "Hard to forget when your grandmother tells your mom she should kill you," I replied tersely. "Even if I was only five."

  "Stupid, old bitch," Mom muttered, stopping at a red light. "I shifted and took off."

  "I remember. You didn't come back until the next day." I frowned, remembering how worried I was. That was the only night we had ever spent apart.

  "I knew there was a hole in the northern corner of the fence. A grate for drainage." She smiled wryly, her mind caught on a memory. "I used it a few times when I was a teenager. Zara, Zoe and I would leave and go into town. Go dancing."

  "And get knocked up?" I teased.