**Back to the woods**
As we stepped back, Alpha Derrick’s eyes shot open.
His bloodshot eyes were terrifying, glowing red as they flashed across the room. He was in a strange state, not fully awake, not reacting to anything around him. Yet, somehow, he was focused on something-something we couldn’t see.
This didn’t happen often. Even as werewolves, we lived pretty normal lives, blending in with humans. Every pack had a business to keep under the radar.
But what Alpha Derrick was showing me now? That was rare. Very few alphas could see the future. Only two, to be exact. We knew one was Alpha Derrick. The other, a mystery.
Suddenly, Alpha Derrick’s mouth opened, and I knew he was about to speak from his trance. I held my breath, waiting.
“I… I see a tall skyscraper… people… a man holding Louis and Hannah… hostage… He’s the one!”
He stopped, his face twisted in pain, as if fighting against something.
“Where? Who is he?” I blurted out, unable to control my worry.
“Kimberly, be quiet!” my father snapped in a low, angry voice. “You’ll break his concentration! He can’t snap out now!”
I shut my mouth, feeling guilty. I only asked because I was scared. I knew Alpha Derrick couldn’t hear me.
“I see them… led into a dark place… and I will-”
A gunshot echoed from the basement, cutting him off.
“What was that?” I gasped, turning to my father in shock.
“A gunshot? Who fired it?” Mona’s voice trembled with fear.
Only three guards had come upstairs with us. The others were downstairs, guarding the entrance.
“Both of you, calm down! Let the guards handle it,” my father said firmly.
Two of the guards with us left the room quickly, heading downstairs to investigate.
Alpha Derrick hadn’t moved. His eyes were shut tight, and his body was shivering slightly.
“Dad, what’s wrong with him? He’s shaking!” Mona placed a hand on his head.
“The trance was broken too suddenly. He’ll be fine in about twenty minutes,” my father assured her.
“I need all of you to leave now!” One of the guards who had gone downstairs came rushing back up, panic written all over his face.
“What happened?!” I asked, fear creeping into my voice.
“Some strange people have attacked! Most of our men are dead… a few escaped,” he said, gasping for breath.
“But how do we get out of here?” Mona asked, her hand still on Alpha Derrick.
“Lock the door!” my father ordered, looking for a way out of the room.
I helped him because survival was all that mattered now. We didn’t know who attacked us or what kind of weapons they had. We couldn’t risk facing them, not knowing if they had silver bullets or something worse.
Alpha Derrick was in no condition to fight. Running was our only option.
“Dad, here!” I pointed to a door with a padlock. The guards rushed over and began pounding on it.
After a few hard hits, the door gave way. I bolted out first, with Mona and the guards carrying Alpha Derrick behind me. My father was the last to leave, shutting the door behind us.
We moved quickly, not knowing where we were headed, only that we had to get far away from the house.
“Where are we? There’s no way to the highway from here!” Mona stopped walking, looking around frantically.
“Mona, keep it together! We’ll find a way out!” my father snapped, but she didn’t budge.
“No, Dad. Alpha Derrick can’t go on like this. He needs rest, or he won’t recover!” Mona argued, standing firm.
“Mona, now is not the time to stop!” my father insisted. “We still have a long way to go.”
Mona’s whining irritated me, but I kept my mouth shut. Alpha Derrick might need care, but we weren’t getting it here in the woods. I didn’t know what she was thinking.
“Hey, put him down! He needs to rest!” Mona told the guards, but I quickly interrupted.
“Don’t you dare!” I snapped at the guards before turning to Mona. “What is wrong with you? Do you really think letting him sleep here will help him snap out of it?”
“Kimberly, stay out of this! It’s your fault he’s like this in the first place!” Mona screamed back.
“My fault? Did I shoot a gun? Did I break his trance? Answer me!”
“You pressured him into doing this! You knew the risks, but you didn’t care! Don’t act like you don’t know what this is costing him!” Mona’s voice rose, frustration bubbling over.
“He didn’t have to do it if he didn’t want to! He did it because he chose to help!” I shouted, unable to control my anger.
“You’re so ungrateful, Kimberly! He’s helping you and your pathetic friends, and you act like it’s no big deal. You’re awful!” Mona shook her head in disgust.
“That’s enough!” my father roared, stepping between us. “We’re leaving now, and we won’t stop until we’re safe!”
We all fell silent, following my father as he led the way through the forest.
***
“Open the door,” Shane ordered, and two men unlocked the door to the room.
It was empty, except for the surveillance tapes. Shane grabbed them, scanning the room before turning to his men.
“Thomas, burn the house down. Get rid of the bodies. Don’t leave any evidence,” Shane said as he walked out.
“Got it, boss,” Thomas replied, smashing the monitor and telling the others to start pouring gasoline.
As Shane stepped outside, he pulled out his phone and dialed Steve.
After a few rings, Steve picked up. “Shane, what is it?”
“I’ve got news,” Shane said, his voice calm.
“Oh? Tell me.” Steve sounded intrigued.
“I know what’s going on with you now. After speaking with some people, I’ve uncovered a few secrets. It’s not what you think.”
“Are you serious?” Steve’s excitement was clear. “What have you found out?”
“Your condition isn’t a disease. It’s actually-”
Suddenly, Shane was hit hard from behind. He let out a scream before collapsing.
“Shane! Shane! Hello? Can you hear me?!”
Steve’s voice rang out from the phone, but there was no answer. He slammed his phone down in frustration.