Chapter 3
CHAPTER THREE
"I... I don't understand." My brain was still fuzzy, but that wasn't the problem. I scanned the road leading into the pack neighborhood—there wasn't a body in sight. From what I could see, each modest brick house looked untouched, as if the slaughter had been only a dream.
The image of that day blurred with today, and I shook my head, trying to keep a hold on reality.
Griffin clutched the steering wheel, his knuckles turning white as he slowed the car just outside the pack neighborhood. "What’s wrong?"
I bit the inside of my cheek so I wouldn't laugh. The question wasn't funny, but I was teetering on the edge of insanity, which unsettled me. "That day…there were so many bodies." They'd littered the ground every ten feet, if that. "Where did they all go?"
"Do you think there could be survivors?" Griffin pulled over to the side of the road under the shade of several large oak trees grouped together at the edge of the woods and stopped the car. "Maybe they were able to fight back after you left."
His words gave me foolish hope that I had to squash down. "No. I don't feel any pack connections. If there were survivors, I would know." I got out of the vehicle, leaving the door open. A cool spring breeze stirred around me, carrying the familiar scents of magnolias and redbuds of my home.
"Should we head back?" Griffin asked.
"No, going back to Shadow Ridge won't be safe." We'd already had that conversation, but I understood his instinct to go somewhere he knew. "This is the safest place to be." At least, for the moment.
"Okay." He sighed. "Let's check things out while we wait on Killian."
"How long until he gets here?"
He pulled his phone from his pocket and glanced at the text. "Probably ten to fifteen minutes."
That would give us enough time to run around and make sure there weren't any surprises before pulling Griffin’s Navigator into the neighborhood, alerting watchful eyes. "Sounds like a plan."
"I'll let him know what we're doing in case he gets here before we get back." He turned off the car and shot off a text before getting out.
As I waited on him, I inhaled and exhaled slowly, focusing on calming breaths to keep my racing heart from exploding. I didn't want to be here. In fact, this was the last place in the world I wanted to be. I’d figured seeing my pack’s home would be hard, but it was so much more than that. Everywhere I looked, memories of my childhood replayed in my mind.
We’d used the large circular grassy knoll for our training sessions that dad led, and the faint laughter of playing chase in the woods tickled my ears.
This safe haven had been turned into a place of anger, hatred, and so much remorse. What I wouldn't give to run in the woods with Zoe again, or for my dad to yell at me for flinching and giving away my next move. Or to experience, again, how Mom always listened when I felt like Dad—or anyone else—was being unfair, guiding me into considering the other person’s viewpoint, which had molded me into the person I was today.
"Hey," Griffin rasped, as he pulled me into his arms. "We can find a hotel room or something. We don't have to stay here."
"That would put us around people and other shifters, which could make it easier for them to locate us." I appreciated what he was trying to do, but this was where we needed to be. I could feel it, even if I didn't like it.
I kissed him, using our bond for comfort. I needed him in order to get through the next little bit. "Let's scout around before Killian gets here." I faced the neighborhood. Why don't you go right and I'll take the left?
You want us to split up? Griffin sounded less than thrilled. I figured we'd go together.
If we find something—or someone—it'll be better if they think we're alone. I didn't want something to happen to both of us. That way we'll have the element of surprise.
Do you not realize what I went through when you disappeared? What we all went through? he linked as his fingers tangled in my hair, making my body warm. I went insane looking for you. I don't think I can go through something like that again.
My fingers trailed over his chin, his scruff biting the tips. I couldn't imagine how it had felt, and I hated that he’d gone through that. I understand, but this is for the best. You won't be far, and we'll be linked the entire time.
Fine, but if there is any sort of sign that we aren't alone, you let me know immediately. Griffin stared into my eyes. I get that you're trained to fight and I'm not, but you're my mate. I need to know that you'll let me protect you, if it comes to that.
We're a team. I stared into his eyes and pushed my emotions hard toward him so he could feel my sincerity. We'd had a rocky start with me pretending to be Killian's girlfriend and both of us trying to fight our connection. But we were finally here and on the same page, and we had to start trusting one another. If even one thing seems out of sorts, I'll let you know. Also, we should stay in human form so we can talk with Killian when he gets here.
He must have seen whatever he was looking for in my eyes because he nodded. All right. Let's get this over with.
I pecked him one last time and took off toward the tree line on the left.
His footsteps grew farther away as he followed my lead, heading in the opposite direction.
The neighborhood is one huge circle. I ran into the trees, trying to push away the memories that hung at the forefront of my mind. We'll meet up on the other side.
Got it, he responded.
Silence descended as I ran through trees that I knew like the back of my hand. Woodland animals fluttered and rustled around me like they hadn’t a care in the world, which seemed unjustly cruel. Life had moved on. It shouldn't have been possible.
It wasn't fair.
The stain of my pack's murder should have had some sort of impact on the world.
Each silver wolf who’d died had vowed to protect the entire supernatural world—not just the wolves—so their loss should've been mourned by everyone. And yet, it was as if they had never existed.
It was as if the silver wolves had been erased from history. Atticus had known about us, but he hadn't shared the information with Griffin. So…who else knew?
Something wasn't adding up, and unfortunately, neither Griffin's dad nor my own were here to answer questions.
I tapped into my wolf, trying to keep my emotions in check. I ran a little faster than normal, afraid that if I slowed, the memories would catch up to me and crash all around.
However, when I turned toward the alpha’s home— my home—there was no saving me.
Even though it wasn't possible, I was back in time, reliving that horrible day.
Dad stood in the center of the yard, grimacing as he clutched his side. Blood stained his white shirt, and his silver eyes—so similar to my own—stared at me. I could hear his voice clearly. "You need to go now ." His irises had darkened to steel, and his silver hair had become a tarnished gray. The handsome alpha I grew up knowing had looked so damn old.
"Daddy?" I whispered, rushing toward the mirage. A part of me knew that he wasn't here—that it was a figment of my imagination—but I couldn't see past it. All I wanted to do was hug at least one of my parents, at least one person I missed more than life itself, and have him tell me everything would be okay.
But when I reached him and tried to hug him, all I touched was air.
His image vanished right before my eyes, and the overwhelming sense of loss coursed through me again.
I didn't know what to do or how to proceed. How I wished I could go back in time and cherish our moments together. I'd thought I still had so much time left with him—that he'd be here to teach me so much more—but I'd been so damn wrong. Instead of being annoyed with every new lesson for the day, I should've worked harder.
When he’d told me I needed to push through, I should've listened.
At the end of the day, he and Mom were the two people who always made me feel safe, and those gunmen had taken them away from not only me, but the entire world.
They couldn't get away with that. I refused to let the pack’s sacrifice be in vain. If there was one thing I could do right by for all of my pack, it would be to become the very person Dad had hoped for, and the alpha Mom had known I could be.
A kickass alpha who every man would submit to.
Babe? Griffin linked. Did you find something?
The concern in his voice forced me to center. I sucked in a breath, trying to push back the raging emotions inside. I needed to calm down. I'm fine. I'm sorry.
Why are you sorry? he asked, almost frantically. Did something happen?
I could hear his footsteps now, rushing toward me. There was no telling how long I'd been standing here. I... I just... My inner voice cracked, and his concern wafted through our bond.
No matter how hard I tried to center myself, it was like I couldn't stay above water. My emotions flowed underneath, trying to drown me. I'm home and...
Griffin stepped into the yard and raced toward me. He pulled me into his arms, holding me tight as he pressed his face to the top of my head. I'm here, he whispered. You're not alone.
Tears fell like a waterfall as I mourned the deaths of my parents and pack. I'd thought I had grieved for them, but I'd been wrong. I'd been pushing it off to stay in survival mode. Focusing on the threat and surviving day to day. But being here and having to face what had happened… their deaths were catching up.
But Griffin's words stuck with me.
I wasn't alone.
Somehow, in this harsh new reality, I'd found not only my fated mate, but a brother, too. And even though neither one of them could replace my pack or parents, they were so damn important. With them by my side, I would be able to continue on and become the daughter my parents always wanted me to be.
Returning Griffin's embrace, I filled my nose with his comforting scent. There was no place I'd rather be than in his arms. It just kind of snuck up on me.
I know that feeling all too well. Griffin leaned back and smiled sadly. So, this was your home?
Yeah. I steadied myself, almost expecting to see the broken memory of Dad again—but this time, when I looked at the house, the backyard remained empty of ghosts.
But not the memories.
I turned to the red and yellow hibiscus and purple hydrangeas that lined the entrance to my house. "Mom and I planted those flowers last year, and we were so excited to see them bloom." Yet another thing she and I wouldn’t ever do together.
Tears threatened my eyes, so I turned toward the woods. The healthy green leaves of ash, oak, and maple trees contrasted with the death I now associated with this place.
The sound of Killian's truck alerted me to his presence.
"We better go meet him before he gets concerned." I scanned the area, looking for any sort of sign that we might not be alone. Nothing stirred.
The two of us took off back toward the Navigator, quickly running the two miles to the vehicle. When we reached the Navigator, we found Killian leaning against his black truck, which he'd parked behind Griffin's SUV.
His warm, dark-chocolate eyes lit up when he saw me, and he pushed off his truck and hurried in my direction. His cappuccino-brown hair hung in his face, and with each step he took, it flopped to the side. He hugged me tight against his athletic body, and his musky sandalwood scent helped calm a part of my soul.
"Don't ever scare us like that again," Killian growled.
"Hey, it wasn't her fault," a familiar female said as she climbed down from the truck.
My body tensed as I stared at Sierra. Her sandy-blonde hair was pulled into a ponytail, and her gray eyes scanned me. She was a few inches shorter than me, but her big personality compensated for it.
"Wait...I thought you were alone." I didn't like the fact that Killian had brought someone with him. I got that Sierra had been his late sister's best friend, but the fewer people who knew about me and my pack, the safer we all would be. I scowled at Griffin, wondering why he hadn't told me this little fact.
"Hey, I didn't know." He lifted both hands. "When I tore out of the coffee shop, Killian was alone."
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to intrude, but when I heard about you being taken, I told Killian I wanted to help." Sierra put her hands in her pockets. "There have been so many attacks. The other day, my sister got injured in one of the outbreaks, and Killian told me about your pack being killed." She paused as her jaw clenched. "It's got to stop. The unrest is spreading farther and farther."
"I promise she's trustworthy—and worst case, I can command her not to share." Killian placed a hand on his heart. "I wouldn't have brought her here if I doubted she was trustworthy."
"Okay." It wasn't like I'd planned on shifting to my animal form anyway. I needed to stay human as much as possible so there weren't any other accidental sightings.
"Besides, I thought you might need a friend who doesn't have a penis." She pointed at Griffin and Killian. "Because even though they try to be good guys, they're kinda assholes."
I laughed, surprising myself. "We all have our moments." Maybe it wasn’t a bad thing for her to be here. If she could make me laugh like that, she could be a godsend.
"True that." She lifted a hand, but there was sadness in her eyes. "So what's the plan?"
That was the real question. "We need to find clues. Anything that might lead us to whoever killed my pack and attacked me in Shadow Ridge. The problem is someone came here and cleaned up the bodies."
"Which means they were making sure they didn't leave anything behind." Killian pursed his lips. "That means it's someone organized."
"Yes, but we already knew that," Griffin sighed, "between the attack outside our houses and them taking her from the coffee shop."
We could stand out here and speculate all day. "Our best bet is to look for answers. They have to be here somewhere." I hated to suggest it, but the first place to look would be the last place I wanted to go. "Let's start at my house. After all, my father was the alpha, and he had a study. A few days before we were attacked, he was going in there and locking the door a lot." I couldn’t believe that it had taken me until now to remember that little fact.
"I agree." Sierra waved to the vehicles. "That's the place to start. Let's go."
We got into the vehicles and Killian followed Griffin to the house. As we drove past the neighborhood houses, my pain somehow increased. And the closer we got to my house, the more hurt coursed through me. I didn’t know what kind of state I’d be when we arrived back at home.
House after house looked untouched. The only sign that no one was around was the overgrown grass that now covered the yards. Soon, the turn to the back of the neighborhood and my house appeared. I felt as if I couldn’t breathe again when we pulled into my driveway and got out.
I made my way to the side of the house where the air conditioner unit sat. I bent and picked up the key that was hidden under the rocks surrounding the unit. As I straightened, a branch snapped not ten feet away.