by Lola Gabriel
“Wren,” Liya said, breaking the silence, “I’m sorry I didn't tell you about Miles.”
Wren’s jaw clenched slightly and he shifted the gear lever into the next gear. “Why didn’t you?”
“Well, as I said, I didn't feel ready to talk about him. It was hard for me when it happened, and it’s still hard for me sometimes. Whenever I think about it, I get sick to my stomach, and...” Her voice trailed off. “I guess I was just afraid to talk about it with you because we imprinted.”
“I didn't know it was possible to imprint again,” Wren said.
“If one dies, then it is possible. I think that Mother Nature doesn't want us to be alone, or something like that,” she said.
“Did you love him?” Wren asked.
“I don’t know how to answer that without hurting you,” Liya answered and glanced out the window.
“Anything but the truth will hurt me.”
She straightened her spine and wrung her hands together. “I did. He was really sweet and wonderful.”
“How old were you?”
“It was a few days after my three-hundred-and-eleventh birthday,” she answered.
“Wow, that is a long time ago,” Wren said simply.
“It was. My mother was convinced it was just puppy love,” Liya smiled.
“How did he die?” Wren asked. “I know you said that a Crescent killed him, but how?”
When Liya took too long to answer, Wren briefly glanced over at her and said, “If you don’t feel like talking about it, it’s okay.”
“No, I’ve been keeping this inside me for long enough. I deserve to put this to rest,” she said with a smile. “We were taking a walk in the meadow behind his parents’ house. It was a beautiful August morning, the sky was clear and blue, and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. I remember it like it was yesterday. I can still smell the wildflowers and the heat of the sun on my skin. My mother told me that I needed to come back home, but of course, I didn't listen. Miles and I walked along the stream, and three wolves approached us from out of the woods. We didn't know who they were, and we were quite surprised to see them, too. We lived in a small town where there weren't that many wolves around that we knew of. The wolves we had met were friendly, but not these three. They were hostile; they bared their teeth at us. Miles and I tried to talk to them, but they weren't interested in what we had to say. It was Miles who noticed the crescent-shaped medallions around their necks.”
“They were all Gammas,” Wren said suddenly.
“You know the Crescents really well,” Liya said and glanced at him.
“They killed my parents, and a whole lot of others, so I am kind of obligated to know,” Wren said and looked briefly at her.
Liya took a deep breath. “They started to circle around us and two of them pounced onto Miles. I just heard his screams while the other wolf stared at me.”
“They didn't hurt you?” Wren asked.
“They didn't even touch me,” Liya said.
“That’s strange. The Crescents are relentless and cruel. They don't usually spare anyone,” Wren pointed out.
“I know.”
“What if...” Wren’s voice trailed off and he shook his head, the idea that lingered in his mind too ridiculous to repeat.
“What, Wren?”
“This is going to sound crazy—”
“As opposed to everything else that has been going on?” she asked.
“Good point,” he muttered. “You know how there are Seers in a pack?”
Liya glanced at him and nodded.
“Well, I think that they know what’s going to happen in the future, and they try to manipulate the present to bend the future into what they want it to be,” Wren said.
Liya shook her head, saying, “You’re right. It does sound crazy.”
“Think about it. That wolf would have normally killed anything in its path, but it didn't, because you were too important to kill,” Wren said and paused for a second as Liya processed his words. “Each one of my brothers, myself included, has an ability relating to the five senses. Kodiak had the sense of touch, or feeling, and could feel everything everyone else felt. Of course, he could easily switch it on or off whenever he wanted to.”
“Dealing with other people’s emotions seems like a curse more than a special ability,” Liya cringed.
“It was. Kodiak suffered from terrible mood swings and headaches because of it,” Wren answered. “Anyway, a few months before the fire, he encouraged me to teach myself to turn my sense of smell on and off at will. I didn't understand why exactly, but that night it came in handy. No one wants to smell their parents being burnt alive,” Wren shuddered.
“That’s just terrible,” Liya cringed again, “and really graphic.”
“Sorry,” Wren said as he massaged his temples.
“So, you think Kodiak is a Seer, and he was trying to manipulate the present accordingly because he knew what would happen in the future?” she asked.
“Why else would he teach me how to reset my own dislocated shoulder,” he asked, “when a few months down the line I’d have to do that exact same thing to myself?”
“I don’t know, but this conversation is making me feel a bit unsettled,” she said and shifted around in the seat.
“Same here,” he said before an awkward silence filled the car.
Wren and Liya continued driving non-stop over the next twenty hours, following Hunter’s scent. They didn’t even stop to sleep, but just took turns driving.
Finally, Wren drove into Silver Bay and took the first left turn towards his old family home. Hunter and Illa’s scent grew stronger with every second that they came closer and when the old, still-abandoned home finally came into view, standing in the darkness, an eerie feeling filled Wren to the core. He had not been back in Silver Bay for some time now, but it looked exactly the same as it had when he left. The gravel road that led to their house was still as bumpy as it had been, and he remembered the headaches Kodiak would get because of it.
The house towered out from behind the trees, and even though it was still just a shell of its former self, Wren could practically see himself and his brothers outdoors enjoying their large yard. A wave of nostalgia hit him hard and his mouth was set in a grim line as he parked the car on the unkept grass and switched it off.
A shiver ran down his spine as he opened the door and climbed out of the car, Liya doing the same, neither of them saying a word. Wren slowly made his way across the field, and as he glanced back, he noticed Liya grabbing her machete from the trunk of the car.
The door of the house suddenly creaked open and Liya’s eyes widened.
As they stepped into the dark house, their eyes quickly adjusted to the darkness, and Wren tried to catch a whiff of Hunter’s scent. It was coming from upstairs, and Wren’s jaw clenched. He wasn’t sure how sturdy the upper level of the house was, but as he stepped onto the first step of the wooden staircase, he was surprised that it was rock stable. Even though the house still looked the same way it had when he had last been here, the inside looked like it was in the beginning phases of a renovation. He glanced back at Liya, who was ready to slice something in half with her machete at a moment’s notice, and he smiled slightly.
The floorboards creaked behind them, but when they whirled around, there was no one there.
They quietly went upstairs and split up in two different directions. The moonlight cast eerie shadows on the floor, which gave Wren the chills. He reached for the doorknob of the second door to the right, which used to open to his bedroom, but he paused. The memories of that night suddenly flashed before his eyes and he growled to himself, not wanting to allow it to have such an effect on him. He opened the door and stepped inside, but again, there was no one there. The window he had climbed out of, nearly dislocating his shoulder, was open, just like it had been that night, and he walked over to it. He gazed through the window at the backyard. The marsh was completely covered in snow, and he wasn't even sure if it was still there.
He heard a thumping sound coming from the other room and he turned around. “Liya? Did you hear that?”
Footsteps came down the hallway and Wren’s jaw clenched as he saw Hunter appear in the doorway.
“Welcome home, Wren,” Hunter said with a wicked smirk.
“Where’s Liya?”
“Oh, she’s...” his voice trailed off and he glanced down the hallway, “...taking a nap, I suppose.”
A deep growl escaped from Wren’s throat and he almost instantly transformed into a wolf, his brown fur shining in the moonlight and his dark brown eyes filled with anger and hatred.
Hunter took a step back in surprise. “Wow, you are a big one, aren't you?” he snickered before he himself transformed.
Wren narrowed his eyes at the big black wolf standing in front of him, his blue eyes shining like sapphires in the darkness, and growled again. Wren lunged forward, grabbing Hunter by the neck, and the two wolves rolled around the hallway, biting and tearing at one another. Wren thought he had a pretty good handle on things, even when they broke through the balustrades and plummeted down to the ground floor. He had to admit that Hunter was pretty strong and a rather impressive fighter, but fighting was the one thing Wren was good at.
Wren heard a howl in the distance and for the split second that he glanced up, Hunter grabbed him by the throat and Wren felt his teeth sink into his skin. Wren barked angrily and threw Hunter off him. Hunter landed across the room and scrambled to his feet, baring his teeth at Wren.
Another howl was heard in the distance, and Wren immediately recognized it, howling loudly in return. Hunter flattened his ears before lowering his neck again, assuming his attack stance.
Wren heard a noise coming from upstairs, and in his moment of distraction, Hunter pounced on him, repeatedly biting him in the neck. The howling grew louder and the world seemed to spin around Wren. He eventually fell to the floor and watched as Hunter stepped away from him.
Hunter transformed back into a human and he wiped the blood from his mouth. “Not so strong now, are you, Alpha?”
Where’s Illa, he silently screamed as he panted for air, trying to still the searing pain from Hunter’s bites.
“Looks like you couldn't cut it as an Alpha, little Wren,” Hunter snarled and took something from his pants pocket. Wren gazed up at Hunter as he walked out of the room and up the stairs.
Liya!
Within a few seconds, Hunter was back downstairs, no longer holding the small item in his hand. Hunter turned to Wren, who still didn't have the physical strength to get up off the floor, and crouched beside him.
“Thank you for making this much easier than I thought it would be, Wren. Really,” Hunter said and casually walked out of the house, slamming the door behind him.
Wren smelled smoke coming from somewhere in the house and his eyes widened. He slowly pushed himself up onto all fours and howled weakly before he collapsed again on the floor. As the smoke filled the air, he was once again reminded of that night.
11
Liya pushed herself up from the floor and touched the back of her head. She wasn't sure how long she had been passed out, or what exactly had happened, but she gathered that she had been struck from behind by something hard, judging by the pulsating pain in her head. She glanced around her and noticed the smoke coming from one side of the hallway.
“Oh, shit,” she muttered as she stood from the floor. She then realized that her machete was gone and her shoulders slumped. “Shit,” she hissed through her teeth. She left the room and her eyes widened as she saw the flames licking their way up the hallway. Luckily, she noticed that the fire had started from upstairs and there was a clear path downstairs, but she had to find Wren. He could be in any of these rooms. She carefully made her way down the hallway, calling his name, but she didn't hear him answer. Every upstairs room was empty, and it was starting to heat up from the flames.
“Wren? Where are you?” she yelled as she ran down the hallway back to the staircase.
As she stepped down onto the first step, she saw Wren lying on the ground below. She rushed downstairs, almost falling down herself, and slid up to him.
“Wren, are you okay? Can you hear me?” she asked desperately as she ran her fingers through his brown fur. She pressed her ear against his pelt and listened for a heartbeat. She let out a relieved breath when she heard a slow and weak heartbeat and she sat upright. A gasp escaped her throat when she saw the blood on the fur by his neck and she placed her hands on him. “Wren, please wake up,” she begged as tears ran down her cheeks.
The door suddenly flew open, which startled Liya, but as she glanced over her shoulder, she felt a wave of relief. Sutton, Luca and Shea stood in the doorway, and Liya called out, “Luca, Wren is hurt.”
Luca rushed over to them and felt for a pulse. “He’s alive, but just barely.”
“Can you help him?” Liya asked and Luca glanced at her.
“Of course,” he said and placed his hands where the blood pooled in his fur. “It’s just going to take a bit of time.”
“We don’t have time, Luca. Hunter is probably long gone with Illa,” Liya scowled.
“We’ll go find him,” Shea said and Liya glanced at her with a surprised look on her face. Shea shifted her weight and lifted her head high. “Well? Don’t you want to get your daughter back?”
“Of course, I just...” Liya’s voice trailed off and she glanced at Sutton.
“Go. We’ll catch up to you later,” Sutton said.
Liya nodded, stood from the floor and walked toward Shea, who was already halfway out the door. Liya stepped outside and looked around her. “Where’s your car?”
“Oh, we prefer the fresh air,” Shea said in a confident tone.
Liya frowned and looked at Shea as they made their way through the overgrown grass and Liya could understand how Wren and Shea could have ended up dating. Shea was tall, slender yet curvy and had long dark brown hair which sparkled in the moonlight, flowing like silk. She was curvy in all the right places and definitely had an abundance of sex appeal.
“Can I ask you a question?” Liya asked as she struggled to keep up with Shea’s long steps.
“Sure, but if it’s about why Wren and I broke up, I’m not at liberty to discuss it,” Shea answered dismissively.
“Oh, okay. No, I just wanted to know why you’re helping me find Illa,” Liya said, not taking her eyes from Shea.
Shea stopped in her tracks and turned to Liya. “You’re Wren’s mate, and he’s my Alpha. You’re practically family.”
“But you know nothing about me other than I’m Wren’s mate,” Liya said.
“You know nothing about me either, but you let me in your house,” Shea said.
“That’s different,” Liya muttered.
“Look, we’re wasting time, but if you must know, Wren and I weren't compatible. End of story. He saw you, he imprinted on you and now he’s with you. No bad vibes, no hard feelings, so I suggest you get used to my company and get over it,” Shea said. “You got the guy, so I don’t know why you’re still jealous.”
Liya raised both hands in submission as Shea carried on walking. Shea was right. She had nothing to be jealous about. She was with Wren, or at least she thought she was.
Liya walked over to Shea, who now had a considerable lead, but eventually caught up to her. “I’m sorry. I didn't mean to come across as snide and bitchy towards you.”
“That’s okay,” Shea answered. “You don’t look like the type to be a bitch anyway. You’re a nice girl, and that’s why Wren likes you.”
“Thanks,” Liya said simply.
Shea stopped and looked at Liya. “Okay, are you ready?”
“Ready for what?”
Shea scoffed. She took a step back and Liya watched in amazement as Shea transformed. Liya had seen many transformations, but never one quite as easy and alluring as Shea’s. It actually made her jealous for a moment, even though Shea told her she didn't need to be.
Shea,
a pitch-black wolf with the brightest green eyes she had ever seen in her life, gazed at her expectantly. She cocked her head and transformed as well, although it was not quite as alluring as Shea. Liya shook her white fur as a chill ran through her wolf blood. Shea nudged her with her front paw, motioning to the woods, and Liya nodded.
The two wolves made their way through the wooded area, running faster than the wind. Liya hadn't felt this free in a very long time, and as she glided through the air, her paws barely touched the icy snow. Even though the wind was as cold as ice and the temperature was below freezing, her blood was hot and the driving force inside her gave her the energy to keep on running.
Illa, baby girl, Mommy’s coming for you, she thought as she followed Shea through the mountains.
Liya noticed Shea’s pace slow down and she let out a small yelp, motioning to the front. Liya raised her eyes and tilted her head to the side as her ears flattened against her head.
In front of them stood an old house, even creepier than the old Wylde house in Silver Bay, and Liya shivered. Beside her, Shea transformed into her human form, even more seductively than when she had transformed into a wolf, and Liya shook her head, also transforming.
“Don’t thank me yet. We still have to get your little girl,” Shea said. “Are you ready?”
“Of course,” Liya answered.
“I like your confidence,” Shea said with a smile.
The two women crept through the wooded area towards the house and hid in the shadows. They kept an eye on the house, and noticed movement coming from one of the windows. The room was dimly lit with what appeared to be a candle and Liya could hear two different people there, one of them being Hunter. The other’s voice seemed familiar, but she couldn't place it.
“Okay, who do you want, Hunter, or the other guy?” Shea asked and looked at Liya. “Or is that a stupid question?”
“I’m going to rip that bastard apart.”
“Just be careful that your rage and need for vengeance don’t cloud your vision too much,” Shea said.