I nervously look at my closet.
I couldn’t wear something childish.
I could already seen Father’s disapproving glare if I wore my favorite yellow winter coat.
Instead I reach for dark blue pants, black winter boots, and a long black with pink dots trench coat.
Maybe father would approve of this.
I look down at my hands.
Covered in paint.
They would be the first thing he sees.
I stand by the closet door, silently debating before I sigh and grab a pair of pink winter gloves.
Maybe he wouldn’t say anything about them if I took them off while Francis was in the room.
The last completion to my outfit was the journal.
I carried it everywhere with me.
I still had not read it yet.
I knew Francis was anxious for my feedback. I knew it made him nervous for me to have it.
But something held me back.
Mainly because I was worried about what I would read.
If there was anything in there about me.
I glance at the door to Francis’s office. I could hear the faint sound of his and other voices coming through.
Still in their meeting.
Walking down the stairs, I’m met with unfamiliar faces.
A tall male, his hair a salt-pepper color and eyes a light brown, is standing before me. He looks to be in his fifties, but even with the signs of age, his features show that he is a skilled warrior.
The girl on his left is young. Maybe even younger than me. But she stands at attention, her eyes alert and bright blond hair sticking out in all places from her messy bun.
I nod silently to them as the male approaches me, “Luna. Alpha Francis assigned us to you for today. I’m Jackson,” he motions towards the girl, “this is Sara.”
I whisper a small hello, cringing at how soft my voice is. Jackson however smiles.
“The car is ready when you are Luna.”
I nod and move forward.
Sandra waves goodbye, “Should I have tea ready for when you get back Luna?”
I pause at the door, thinking what the best route would be to take in order to please dad.
“Um…yes…that’s a good idea Sandra.”
Sandra smiles and nods, turning back and cheerfully humming in her work.
I sigh and step out into the cold air, letting it soak into my face and slap away my fear.
“Over here Luna,” Jackson walks towards a black truck. I blush when he holds his hand out to help me into the back.
The drive is silent. I know it’s around a fifteen to twenty minute drive to the border.
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“Um…thank you for…coming.”
Sara gives a curt nod in my direction but Jackson just laughs.
“It’s our job to protect you Luna.”
I stay silent but he continues, “I remember when Francis was just a pup.”
Sara groans in the passenger seat, “Not this again.”
“Don’t you think his mate would want to hear this Sara?”
Her only response is stare silently out the window, letting Jackson continue.
“I use to be a warrior under Alpha Lori. I watched Francis grow to be a fine Wolf. I was even there when he challenged his father.”
I look at Jackson, his story peaking my curiosity.
“You were there when Lori met Serenity also?”
Jackson smiles, “That’s another story.”
I lean back in my seat and nod.
The rest of the short drive continues in silence until we stop at a fork in the road.
Jackson gets out, rushing over to open my door. I hear Sara sigh, but the male has me smiling as he helps me down.
“Your father said he would be here at noon?”
I nod, looking down the road to see if there was any sign of his incoming truck.
Suddenly I’m thrown to the ground.
I gasp at the impact, and look up to see Sara’s wide eyes.
Incoherent sounds come from the both of us, but soon small screams of terror are fleeing from my mouth as I realize something.
Red.
Sara is covered in red.
And is painting me in the color.
“S…s…sara?”
“Run Luna.”
She rises from the ground her body shaking and eyes glowing gold but before she can shift she is hit again, her form falling and crushing in on me once more.
I scream but her weight is thrown off me when I see Jackson’s frantic golden eyes.
“Ambush.”
He grabs me, tossing me with little thought into the truck as he himself climbs on top of me, slamming the door shut.
“Sara!”
Jackson ignores my words, his breath heavy. That’s when I realize his arm is covered in red.
“Jackson!”
He growls, his eyes gold as he reverses the truck.
He throws a phone my way.
I drop the slick item, my eyes widening when I realize it’s covered in red.
“Call the Alpha now!” Jackson roars.
I quickly open the phone, my fingers fumbling and shaking over the numbers. The phone starts to ring.
Pick up.
Suddenly though another vehicle appears out of nowhere, crashing in front of ours.
I scream as we slam to a halt.
A force impacts into my face.
Air bag.
The after thought leaves my mind.
The phone is still ringing.
Pick up.
Jackson is out and shifting before I can even blink- showing his dept of how skilled a warrior he truly is.
I hear the click as the phone connects but suddenly it’s gone.
I look up, frantic and freeze when I meet my father’s eyes.
He smiles down at me, closing the phone as I hear faintly in the background, “Alpha Francis. Have you reached the border yet Jackson?”
“Father?”
He throws the car door open, that same smile still on his face.
“He’s coming!” Dad shouts. I turn to see who he is talking to but realize there are two wolves.
Jackson and another.
I feel my world stop as my eyes land on the other wolf.
I knew that wolf.
Father grabs my arm, twisting it behind me. I scream in pain. The sound distracts Jackson, creating the opening he needs to sink his teeth into Jackson’s neck.
No.
I stand there, watching as father restrains me, a wordless scream unable to leave my mouth as the wolf stands over his kill. Until he shifts.
That red hair.
Those green eyes.
They stalk closer to me.
I knew them all to well.
I start to tremble, uncontrollably and unable to stop as his naked form stands in front of me, old horrors of the past now becoming fresh wounds.
He leans in and takes a deep, contented breath. 2
“Finally Maya.”