Chapter 24 Shadows And Light
Shadows And Light
SHADOW
EIGHT YEARS AGO:
Emerald Guards Training Facility
Anders blows out a harsh breath and places a single fist in front of his mouth. He’s stressed, like the weight of the world rests on his shoulders.
“If you tell me what’s going on, I can offer some advice.” Not sure how great my advice will be, but if it’s guard related or legal counseling, that I can do.
He shakes his head. “A lot has happened since you last checked in. I didn’t want to involve you because there wasn’t much you could do, and I wanted you focus on school.”
“I see. Obviously, you’re experiencing some kind of internal war. Normally, you look more put together.”
He scoffs. “I take it that’s an idiom for you look like shit,” he deadpans.
I stare at him blankly.
He sighs and replaces that mask I’m accustomed to seeing him wear—the “head guard” mask. “Actually, there is something I wanted to run by you. A few weeks ago, there was another incident between Marcus, Dustin, and Boris.”
“Let me guess. Liam was their target?”
Anders grunts. I’m not surprised to hear this. From the moment Marcus Greystone stepped foot on training grounds, he has been gunning for Liam. I tried everything to prevent Greystone and his two cousins from the Northern A territory from becoming a part of the recruit program.
“Alpha Greystone got involved?” He most likely pulled a political card, which is how his son and his two nephews from his Luna’s side were able to get in.
“You know he did. He coddles that punk, even when he does something wrong. I also suspect that they’re here for other reasons. We’ve been keeping a close eye on those three and divulging very little guard information, which is a disadvantage to the rest of the recruits.”
“Sounds like you have everything taken care of.”
He pauses and shakes his head. The guard program has been threatened before.
He and the other two leads have this under control.
Unfortunately, with Alpha Greystone involved, this isn’t a legal issue.
This is more of a political problem, and once politics enter the arena, the situation is not always black and white.
But Anders knows this already. He doesn’t need my advice on this situation. I wait for him to continue.
“Marcus verbally threatened Jessica in a sexual manner. It was probably just a barb or a taunt. With Liam’s history with the Greystones, though, he responded to his threat physically. My concern is that, in retaliation, Marcus will make good on his threat.”
“Jessica?”
“She’s our VIP… case… for lack of a better word.” Before I can inquire further, Chris and Elias walk into the office.
“Shadow, been a while. How are you doing?” Chris asks as I stand from my chair and dip my chin in greeting.
Chris mirrors my gesture and sits on the edge of Anders’s desk.
He comes across as friendly and a little charming, but don’t let that fool you.
He is one hell of a guard and one hell of an interrogator.
I’ve seen him rip apart shifters who thought they were tough and make them cry.
“Doing well. Thank you for asking,” I reply. Took me years to respond to a simple question in less of a formal way. I dip my head to Elias as he takes the seat opposite my own. After everyone else is situated, I return to my seat.
“I hear you just wrapped up your bachelor’s degree. Heading into law school?”
“I am actually finishing up my last year in law school now.”
Chris frowns. “I thought you were Charlie’s age?”
“I am. I finished my bachelor’s degree early.” My lips twitch into a forced smile.
Chris nods. “Yes, now I remember. Must have heard the information wrong.” Chris rubs his hands together. “So, we are all here. What do you have for us, Shadow?”
“It took me a while to gain permission to enter Territory Two under the guise of a recruiting officer looking for potential recruits. Fortunately for me, Alpha Rhineheart’s PA was the one who responded to my most recent email.
Unfortunately, too much time passed, and my attempts at an investigation came up a little short. ”
Anders steeples his hands and rests his fingertips against his lips. “Well, let’s see what you discovered.”
Reaching down, I retrieve the items I brought with me and place them on the desk.
“There is no missing child reported throughout the entire territory. I didn’t even come across a fresh grave or a headstone in their pack’s cemetery.
I hacked into the school’s database, and there is no female child listed with a first or last name starting with ‘G’. ”
Anders frowns. Then, he asks, “The school uniform—was it a match?”
“Yes. All the students wore the same standard uniform as the one you gave me.” He doesn’t respond so I continue.
“I did meet with one of the school staff—I believe she was a music teacher. She was the only one willing to speak with me, not that I got much information from her. This is pure speculation, but there was something terribly off about the entire pack, especially at the school. If I had to guess, everyone was… well, mourning mixed with a sense of fear. Except for a bunch of punk-ass teenagers who could use a lesson in manners, especially the punk who leads that group.”
“Let me guess—the Alpha’s boy?” Elias theorizes.
“I didn’t sense he was an Alpha, just some punk with a mouth. He only caught my attention because he had a new scar on his left cheek.”
“Like from a fight?” Anders asks, studying the two bags I placed on his desk. One contained the uniform from the girl they call Little One. “What’s this?” He lifts up a backpack.
“After coming up empty-handed, I decided to walk through the forest, in case I could find anything on my way to the territory border, where she was found. I found that under some bushes.”
Anders opens the backpack and passes items to Chris, who flips through the pages of a notebook.
“I also discovered a shredded jacket with a hood. It’s in the bag with the uniform. Oddly enough, the tag is still intact, with the letter ‘G’ written on it. I found some markings on a tree not far from where I found the jacket. Several hundred yards away was the tree she was hung from.”
Anders looks to both Chris and Elias. “What grade do you think this textbook belongs to?” He tosses it to me.
A slip of paper falls out. It’s a photograph of a teenage girl with a heart-shaped face and platinum blonde hair tied in a long ponytail.
Her striking dark eyebrows and thick, dark lashes contrast with the paleness of the rest of her hair.
Full lips form a smile, showcasing straight white teeth.
But her smile doesn’t reach her eyes, clear and ice blue with a dark ring around them.
I’m mesmerized by her beauty. My heart rate increases, and I squirm in my seat. Huh, it’s not like me to respond this way to anyone, let alone a picture of a young woman. The deep rumble of a distinct voice tries to push forward in my mind, but I force it down. Not now. Don’t do this now.
Elias bends to look closer at the picture and then passes it to Chris.
Chris inspects it, and a sad smile crosses his lips.
He reads the words on the bottom of the picture.
“Ruby Falls High School, class of 2016.” He flips the photo over, but no inscription is written on the back.
Class of 2016 means that girl should have graduated this year.
She looks a bit young to graduate so soon.
Anders receives the photo, and I watch him intently. “Did you see a girl at the school who looks like this?” he prompts.
“If I saw a girl like that, she would have stood out.” All the pack members, including their children, shared the same characteristics—chestnut brown hair and brown eyes.
Like most packs, you can tell who belongs.
Nowadays, though, packs intermingle, leaving their territory for school or business.
The Ruby Falls Pack is a very traditional pack.
They keep to themselves, and people rarely leave.
A firm knock interrupts us. Ean ushers in a short student wearing a baseball cap, glasses that cover most of his face, a large t-shirt, long gym shorts, and a worn pair of chucks.
Suddenly, a deep emotional ache fills my chest. My vision tunnels. A burst of white light knocks me back into my chair and steals my breath.
His aura consumes the entire room, shedding the darkness and shadows that engulf me, realigning my soul.
The light calls to me. I want to leap out of my chair and embrace it, embrace him.
I grip the armrest, rooting firmly in place.
Mentally, I shake off the strangeness of this feeling that formed deep in my chest. But this ache runs deeper than anything I have experienced before.
The light curls around my heart and embeds itself in my soul.
“What did I tell you about your hat?” Anders teases.
What the fuck just happened? My head whips toward Ean, who hovers protectively. He nods at me in greeting and turns back to the student with a goofy grin. Confusion clouds the rational part of my brain.
The young man removes his hat, and Ean ruffles the already-disheveled hair—white-blonde hair. The student scrunches his face and brushes Ean’s hand away before hugging Chris.
“Hello, Little One. Did you enjoy your walk this morning?”
Little One? Little One… Wait. Is this…?
Elias’s booming voice fills the small office. “Why does he always get the first hug? What am I? Invisible?”
He, or rather she, nods at Chris, releases him, and walks toward Elias, who stands, dwarfing her already small stature. She hugs him, too.
“Did you get some sleep last night?” Elias asks. She nods. Elias gently touches her face, inspecting it like a doting father. His thumb trails the scarring along her left cheek. Satisfied, he drops his hand. “Good. Glad the boys are looking out for you.”