“Hello, Sophia. If you’re getting this message, it means I am dead.”
Every muscle in my body locked up at his words. His face remained plastered on the screen, while Delia’s played in my mind. My stomach churned at the thought of something happening to that little girl, of Maverick getting his hands on her. Her strange teleportation abilities would certainly pique his interest, which was why Carlos kept her hidden from the world.
“Your current location is safe, for now. I have prepared evacuation plans for you and your crew. Three days after you receive this message, a man and woman will knock on the front door. Trust these people with your lives, go where they take you, and for the sake of the future–stay alive.”
The television clicked off, plunging the room into darkness. After a moment of stunned silence, I scrambled for the remote. Ethan beat me to it, grabbing it from the table and flicking on the news. I had no idea which channels were human news and which were werewolf, but the twins knew.
“Mere hours ago, a battle to the death took place when Maverick Billford, head of the High Table, sent his troops into the territory of former High Table member, Carlos Caddel. What began as a routine encounter quickly escalated when Mr. Caddel unleashed his warriors on the troops. Multiple rumors depicted Mr. Caddel’s pack as a haven for white wolves, forcing the High Table’s hand. As it stands, no evidence of white wolves has been found on Mr. Caddel’s land,” the somber news anchor reported, her expression sympathetic. “I’ll pass this on to Kris Jade, who is currently at the scene of what marks the end of Mr. Caddel’s reign.”
The screen shifted to a man in a casual suit standing in front of a charred house. Its wooden frame was blackened and barely holding together. Kris Jade brushed back his golden hair and began speaking.
“I’m here at the Caddel family estate, where a tragic accident has claimed the lives of Carlos Caddel, his mate Katherine Caddel, and their daughter Delia Caddel. Paramedics on the scene have confirmed that three sets of remains were found. The origin of the fire is currently under investigation, led by Carlos Caddel’s eldest son. When we return in an hour, I hope to glean more information from Maverick Billford, head of the High Table.”
The screen switched back to the anchor with sad eyes.
“Until the High Table’s investigation of Carlos Caddel concludes, he is assumed innocent of all accused crimes. Our team, along with High Table agents, interviewed many of Carlos Caddel’s pack members, who all expressed their Alpha’s innocence. Just an hour before Maverick Billford entered their land, Mr. Caddel transferred all power and titles to his eldest son,” she explained. “He made his son Alpha and a member of the High Table.”
“He knew this was going to end in a fight; the man was prepared for it. Question is, do we think he’s still alive?” Ethan scoffed, swiping a hand across his jaw.
“Would he really go through all that trouble to fake his family’s death?” Kat questioned, picking at her pants. “They would have had to acquire three bodies and burn them, which is unsettling.”
“Not nearly as unsettling as what Maverick would do to them if caught,” Kieran grunted, leaning forward with elbows on his knees. The woman continued speaking, and our attention was drawn back to the screen.
“The entirety of Mr. Caddel’s land has been searched. In the coming days, the High Table will send warriors to scour neighboring packs. Cooperation with the High Table is advised to uncover the truth. As the largest broadcasting company for our kind, we will provide hourly updates on the progress of this investigation and the search for the soul-eater and her companions, which has thus far been fruitless. We will return with more information in precisely one hour,” the anchor concluded, her gaze unwavering. A croak left my lips when three pictures of me flashed on the screen. “I’m Lane Ford, and thank you for tuning in.”
The television switched to a commercial, which Ethan silenced immediately. We were all at a loss for words. The reality that we were wanted by the most powerful man in our world was a hard pill to swallow. Every pack would be on the lookout for us, and we were far from home.
We sat in silence for the entire hour, having nothing better to do than watch updates on our own manhunt. The world wondered where we were, but they didn’t realize we were watching too.
Unsurprisingly, after an hour, no further evidence had been found on either case. The High Table still couldn’t locate us, but they detailed nearly every aspect of my life starting from when I moved in with Lauren and Darren. Sebastian and Williams were only mentioned in relation to my inheritance.
The twins could feel my mood souring as Lane Ford recounted the worst years of my life. She even gave some information on the twins and a small segment about Kat. I felt utterly drained afterward, and Ethan’s voice cut through the silence.
“We’ve been reduced to companions, Kieran,” Ethan scoffed. “Can you believe it? They could’ve at least included a picture of us.”
“I was comatose for nearly a week and missed the entire meeting,” Ethan added sourly. “They could have mentioned our kidnapping.”
“I do have a name other than soul-eater,” I pointed out, frowning at Kieran. “I think they only used my actual name once.”
“Soul-eater sounds kind of badass though. Makes people think twice about messing with you,” Kat shrugged.
Ethan gave her an exasperated look. “You seem awfully calm considering they did you worse than Kieran and me.”
“It’s just the news,” Kat replied. “The details depend on the person telling the story.”
“They called you Sophia’s assistant,” Ethan deadpanned, jumping when my unrestrained laughter startled him.
Maybe it was the stress finally making me crack, or how truly dumbfounded Ethan felt, but my sides ached and my eyes watered as I laughed. Ethan joined in, followed by Kat. Even Kieran chuckled.
“Three days,” I sighed after catching my breath. “Three more days of waiting. I think I hate the waiting more than anything else.”
For three days, we spent as much time together as possible. Rummaging through Carlos’s overstocked pantry, I grew tired of all things in shiny packages. The heinous workout sessions in the morning helped maintain some semblance of self-defense, other than my ability to tear the soul from someone’s body.
On the third day, at ten in the morning, heavy thuds sounded on the door. The security camera tablet beeped, showing an image of a man and woman.
When we opened the door, we were dumbfounded. The woman, in her early thirties, was dressed like a tourist with an ‘I heart NY’ t-shirt, visor, and wide-framed sunglasses. Her cargo shorts and thick-soled shoes completed the outfit. The man at her side was dressed similarly, with cargo shorts and a black fanny pack.
Despite their outfits, I didn’t miss the alertness in their emotions or the muscles that protruded from every surface of their bodies.
“We are here to escort Ms. Sophia, her mates, and friend.” The man who spoke towered over Kat and me. His voice, light and carefree, was surprisingly cheerful given the circumstances. His positive attitude radiated in warm waves, contrasting with his gruff appearance of a shaved head and thick beard. The grin on his face transformed him from a threatening warrior into a gentle giant. “Looks like we found the right place. The name is Rex, and my cheerful partner here is Sia.”
“You won’t need to take anything with you,” Sia said in a harsher tone that urged us to move. Her demeanor was much sterner and more serious than Rex’s. “Let’s get going. We had to leave the van on an access road. These shoes aren’t meant for hiking through the forest.”
In the daylight, the house looked different. It wasn’t the first time we had stepped outside since arriving at the safehouse, but I still couldn’t get used to its sheer size. I felt both relieved and anxious as we walked down the steps towards the forest’s edge.
“What’s with the clothes, anyway?” Kat was brave enough to ask, cocking an eyebrow at Sia’s t-shirt.
“Your friend is the most important person in our world right now. Considering she doesn’t let it go to her head, she could really change things for all of us,” Sia replied without looking back. Her French braid swayed as she walked. “She needs protection, but we can’t drive down the highway with an armored vehicle and six escorts. Maverick Billford would be on us within minutes. A disguise might just buy us enough time to get you to the drop-off.”
“Are backroads not available?” I asked.
“Maverick will monitor those first, considering they’re smaller and more likely to be used by fugitives,” Rex said with a deep laugh, like boulders clashing. I couldn’t help but smile at his amusement.
“The highway is just as dangerous but will save us a good two hours,” Sia said from the front, increasing her pace. Ethan and Kieran had to help me navigate the uneven ground, and I nearly fell when my foot slid on a patch of mud. Ethan’s arms under my shoulders kept me from falling.
“What a dangerous soul-eater you are,” he smirked in my ear, sending a flood of emotions through me that were not appropriate for the time and place.
The access road was a thin dirt path stretching into the forest. The trees parted for the little road, allowing a sliver of the cloudless sky to shine overhead. The brisk, cool air was a welcome change from the humid climate of the twins’ pack.
I laughed when we came upon a navy-colored minivan. It wasn’t the floral seat covers that amused me but the array of bumper stickers on the back. One read, “My child made honor roll this year!” Another said, “Dog mom!” The back window featured a stick-man family, with a muscular father, mother, four children, and a dog.
“Just another family traveling for vacation,” Rex grinned, patting the hood of the van.
“Is this thing even safe?” Kat asked, lifting an eyebrow.
“Oh, you bet it is.” Rex’s smile widened. He led Kat to the side of the van and opened it. “This thing is full of reinforced steel and bulletproof glass. Doesn’t even weigh her down.”
Apart from the mix of country and rock music trickling through the speakers, there was silence and the whoosh of passing cars. I sat in the center between Ethan and Kieran, while Kat sat in the back.
“So, how do you know Carlos?” I finally found the courage to ask.
Rex and Sia exchanged a long look that screamed silent conversation.
“Mr. Caddel was a High Table member. He knows a lot of people, werewolves, and humans,” Sia replied in a tone that made it clear I would get no further information. Her emotions were not aggressive or angry, just fiercely protective and professional.
After an hour of driving through mountains and steep inclines, we had no choice but to stop at the smallest, most decrepit gas station. It was a tiny shack with an old-fashioned cash register on a fold-out table. A disinterested man stood at the table, picking at something beneath his nails.
Sia went inside to get us water and snacks. Kat and I headed around back to find a portable bathroom that looked as if it had been there for decades.
“At this point, it would be safer to use the woods,” Kat snorted, accurately.
“Were you not able to go?” Kieran asked when we returned.
Kat and I scrunched our noses. “No, that bathroom is a safety hazard. Haze should be called immediately.”
Sia was disgruntled about having to stop again, but it was quicker than venturing into the forest. The next gas station was slightly better but still questionable. Hidden behind the minivan’s tinted windows, we remained out of sight. After another half hour, I grew tired. Burrowed against Ethan, I was on the cusp of sleep when a surge of anger and determination from four of the passengers jolted me awake.
“Is something wrong?” I asked, pulling away from Ethan.
“We’re being followed,” Rex answered, his humor gone. Serious Rex was downright frightening, emphasizing his hulking physique.
Sia pulled a phone from her cargo shorts and placed it to her ear. “Coming up on exit 74. We’re being followed by a black Nissan. How is traffic from your standpoint?”
“There are others up ahead?” I asked, leaning forward.
“You didn’t think we came alone, did you?” Rex smirked in the rearview mirror. “It was too risky for the others to get close, so we have them stationed at different points. They’ll let us know if anything is up ahead.”
“Shit, they must have spotted us somehow,” Sia cursed, typing out a message. “Traffic is coming to a complete stop within the next fifty miles. We have twenty minutes to get off-”
“WATCH OUT!” Kat’s scream was perfectly timed. A Mack truck veered onto the median from the opposite side of the highway, heading straight into our lane.