“DID YOU SEE that?” Billy said to the boys. They were bathed in the moonlight. “That wink… Did you? Did you?”
“You were seeing things, Billy.”
“She didn’t wink.”
“You imagined it.” Jeffery said in a bored tone.
“I did not!” Billy said hotly. “She did it.”
“Sit down, Billy.” Arthur said, dryly.
Billy sat down, mumbling and grumbling to himself. “I’m telling you guys, she planned it… that drink she gave us in the afternoon. It neutralized whatever was supposed to happen to us.”
“It might be true. She seemed truly nice in the afternoon.” Zach said in a small voice.
“I’m telling you, guys. The vampire’s expected us to give them a show tonight. But she planned it out. She is on our side.”
“If she’s on our side, she should break us out of here.” Arthur said.
“She probably doesn’t want to alarm the Vampires or she’s bidding her time.” Billy replied.
“You’re making excuses for her!” Arthur snapped.
“I am not. She’s not part of them.”
“She can easily break us out of here. Did you see what she did to the Vampires? She doesn’t take orders from them.” Mart said, quietly.
“Yes yes. Next time she comes in here, I’ll tear open her jugular.” Jeff said.
“I’m so tired, I just want to sleep and wait up tomorrow.” Zach said, he stretched out on the floor and yawned widely.
“They might just come for us in our sleep. The drink might be a deep sleeping potion that will paralyse us tonight while the come in and slice our throat.” Mart said, again.
“Sleep, Mart. Just sleep to keep your mind at rest to stop thinking horrific thoughts.” Jeff said quietly, patting Mart on the back.
The full moon shone bright and light. The wind blew softly in the dark woods, carrying dry leaves and making them to rustle against each other as they rub along the forest floor
And in their cell, the boys drifted off to sleep.
THE SOFT THUMP woke me up. At first I was lost, first thinking that we were still in the woods and sleeping on soft leaves and sticks. Then looking around I thought we were in our suite room in Brazil. Then I sat up and realized I was flying home to London. It was the airplane tires landing on the tarmac that had woken up.
Jake was seated beside me, his tongue was between his teeth, his face was all scrunched up in concentration as he battled a crossword puzzle.
I stretched and yawned.
Jake tossed the crossword puzzle aside and leaned over to look at me.
“We just landed in London.” He said, excited. “Come. Our ride is waiting.”
The ride was a long black limousine, it was shiny in the night anyway and reflecting light from the distant bulbs in the airport and wet with dew. I walked down the stairs from the airplane. The blanket that the air hostess gave me was still wrapped around me.
I recognized Gibson’s shadow, holding open the door Jake and I. It was hard not to see him, he was like a large unmoving mountain, as tall as 7 feet and weighed maybe 300 pounds, but he was friendly.
He smiled at me and Jake. “What’s up, Jake?.” He nodded to me. “How’s it going, Jason?”
Jake game him a high five but I was too weak, so I just nodded back and folded myself into the car. He closed the car behind us and went forward to seat in the fore front with the driver, who i did not see.
“Where’s Dad?” I asked Jake, looking around at the small cabin that we were seated it.
He gestured with his head to the back. “They’re in there.”
“The boot?” I asked.
He laughed, but didn’t say anything.
I leaned back into the sift leather chair and sighed. The car Air conditioner and heater were on at the same time. The windows were pitch black. They were tinted. One of the seats was lined up parallel to the driver’s seat. Another was lined up opposite that and on the inside of the car doors were drink holders. Two on each doors. And they each held different drinks. I picked one and drank from it. Warm milk. It relaxed me and I cuddled up in the seat behind the driver’s.
Jake sat opposite me and was staring out the window.
“Everywhere looks different.” He murmured. “How long do you reckon we were away?” He glanced at me.
“I don’t know. Two months, maybe.”
“Wicked.” He breathed. “I can’t wait to tell our classmates at school the adventure.”
“Yeah, me too.” I said dryly.
He scooted over to look at me closely. “You’re not happy about finally coming home?”
I shrugged. I was having mixed feelings about everything. I had missed mum wad I really wanted to see her. I wanted to hear the constant sound of Harry jumping down the stairs and hearing his annoying giggle at the dinner table. I missed the blonde hair of Lily and her dimpled smile too. I missed holding her hands even though I had never held it but I sure fantasised about holding it.
I missed the general ruckus of our school and classroom. I missed the boasting of the boys as they battles for a higher status quo. I missed my aunt Charlotte’s quick smile and warm cookies. I missed the cold misty air of London.
But still on the same note, I’ll miss the soul searching stares that Elsa gives me. I’ll miss the way she smiles and laughed when Jake was with her. I’ll miss the gentle but deep conversations I had with Alpha Andrés. I’ll miss the exotic cars that are stocked away in the garage. I’ll miss the toothless smile and giggle of little Santos. I’ll miss the early morning calls and breakfast table. I would miss the wet and cold air of Brazil.
I sighed at Jake. “Of course I’m happy. We’re finally going home.”
“You sure don’t look happy.”
I smiled sadly. “I’m having some kind of mixed feelings, Jake.”
He nodded solemnly. “I understand. But it’ll be okay. Trust me, okay?”
I nodded slowly as we turned into the familiar road leading into our estate. I eyed the archway that led into the estate. We hardly leave the estate here. We hardly leave our territory in our Pack. I found myself comparing with the Red moon Pack. They had integrated themselves into their society. They had a life outside their territory.
If I had a pack, I would want it to be just like that. Just like a big family. I didn’t say anyone these out but Jake must have known what I was thinking because he looked at me sadly and stared out of his window.
The limousine pulled up into our joint driveway. I saw Harry holding Mum’s hand. Waiting for us. Aunt Lydia, the Luna, was there too. She was smiling and talking with Mum happily.
As soon as I opened the door and stepped out, Harry let go of mother and bounded toward me. He threw his hand around my waist and I could not help but notice how big he had become since I last saw him.
I rushed to mum too and hugged her and then hugged Aunt Lydia.
Dad, Alpha Jamie and Uncle Jaja came behind us.
“You’d better get some sleep.” The Alpha said beside us. He had walked up and met his wife. “Jason, I will like to talk to you. Get well rested.”
I nodded and allowed myself to be led into our house.
I turned at the last moment just before I stepped inside, to the side, to look at Jake. He was looking at me. He winked and gave a silent laugh. I laughed silently too. Mum’s hand was on my shoulder and I held Harry’s in my own.
I heard the limousine drive away.