Mrs.Thompson

Bethany 

The women, children, and elderly are still in here... but they're dead. HOW? How did anyone get in here? How could anyone kill these defenseless people? those poor babies! What have they been through? What did they see before they were murdered?

I can't hold back my tears; I start looking around praying there's someone still alive but the longer I'm here the less hope I have. I call out quietly begging someone to answer me and someone does, I can't believe it. I move quickly to where the sound is coming from to find Mrs Thompson my best friend Carly's mom.

"Mrs Thompson, are you ok?"

"Beth dear hi, no sweetheart I'm bleeding pretty bad!"

"Oh Mrs Thompson we need to get you help now; do you know where Carly is?"

"No, it's too late for me Beth, as soon as I stand, I'll bleed out, I don't have much longer left. Beth sweetheart Carly... she's... gone... She's dead!"

I knew in my heart that she was gone but hearing it out loud still feels like a knife tearing my heart apart, we've been best friends since we were 3 years old.

"Beth is there anyone else out there?"

"No... I've not found anyone alive yet. I don't understand how the Rogues got in here, it's never happened before." My voice is barely above a whisper as I try not to break down again.

"Beth... I need you to listen to me, I don't have long and you need to hear this." I nod my head "Beth this was an inside job. One of our own was working with the Rogues. He showed a group of them this place, he let them in." I'm floored, I sit back on my bum in complete shock.

"I don't understand, who would do that? Why?" Mrs Thompson suddenly breaks down sobbing her heart out and I move in to cuddle her while she continues.

"Beth it was... Marcus who brought the Rogues in here he was a part of it, he doesn't want to have an Alpha anymore he wants to be one so he made a deal with a group of Rogues, they help him wipe out the pack, he'll be the new Alpha and he'll take them in."

"Marcus... as in your SON Marcus?"

"Sadly yes, Beth he killed Carly himself. I don't know who he is but he's not the son I raised!"

I'm so stunned I can't move, can barely form any words. He killed his own sister, he destroyed our pack, FUCK!

"Bethany... I need you to listen to me, he said for his plan to work everyone must die. He must be the only survivor to claim the lands. Beth, take Bella and run now sweetheart, and don't look back!"

"I won't leave you alone Joan, I can't!"

"Sweetheart there's nothing that can be done for me. You know I've always loved you like my own, I couldn't save Carly please let me save you and that sweet baby girl!" She's begging me and my heart is torn.

"But... I can't, how do I live without everyone?"

"Beth you are so much stronger than you know. You need to get off the pack lands before they come back, get into town amongst the humans. Have you got a phone on you?"

"Yes, I do bu-"

"Beth get you and Bella into town and call Brooke, she'll help you both, please promise me you'll get away from here before they come back?"

Brooke, how hadn't I thought of that? I've been so consumed by anger and grief that I didn't think about my sister, she's still alive and she'll help us.

"Ok, Joan I promise I will but I can't leave you to die alone!"

"You can and you will sweetie. Don't worry about me I'm ok with dying, my family is waiting for me, please go now Beth let this be my dying wish!"

This woman has just blackmailed me with a dying wish how the hell am I supposed to say no to that? I want to stay with her but I also know she's right, the Rogues have taken down an entire pack so they'll have no trouble dealing with a teenage girl with a baby.

"Ok Beth it's time for you to leave now, promise me you'll phone Brooke, promise me you'll live life to the very most and you'll find happiness!"

I don't know if I'll be able to do all she wants but I'm not going to tell her that, she doesn't need to hear different when she's minutes from dying so instead I promise her that I'll do it all, I kiss her on the forehead and my heart breaks as I run from her and out of the packhouse.

I make my way off of the pack lands finally accepting that there are no other survivors and head for town. I stick to the roads as I need to avoid the woods, they could be anywhere in there. I can't run at my normal speed because of Bella but I jog as fast as I can, making sure to stay in the shadows as much as possible.

20 minutes later and I'm Finally in town not that I feel any safer. Bella woke up about 5 minutes ago and is whiny so I walk to the local baby shop they have a baby room, it's public and safe. Once she's all fed, burped, and changed I make my way outside to a quiet corner, and with a lump in my throat, I call Brooke.

*Ring ring* ring ring* ring ring* ring...

No answer ugh! she always answers her phone. I try her again and again but still no answer, Shit! I shoot her a text to phone me ASAP and head for the local Diner I know; I'll hide out there until she calls. I head into Danny's Diner and take a seat in a booth at the back out of the way and order a BLT and coffee. I'm really not hungry but I have to keep my strength up for Bella who's fallen back to sleep again snuggled into my chest.

4 hours later and still no call from Brooke and I've lost count of the number of times I've called her. Why is she not answering? It's 8 pm and I know I need to find somewhere to spend the night, somewhere for Bella to safely sleep. I ask the waitress for a local hotel and she sends me in the right direction.

It's only a 5-minute walk and thankfully they have a room for me. I request a travel cot to be sent to the room and make my way up to the 7th floor in the elevator. I arrive at the door at the same time as a guy arrives with the travel cot, he sets it up for me and I thank him before he leaves.

It's a small room, there's a double bed on one wall with the cot on one side and a bedside table on the other side. A unit on the wall at the bottom of the bed with a tv, kettle, and water bottles on it, a built-in wardrobe is on the left-hand side and the bathroom is on the right. Sink toilet and shower nothing special but all we need.

I place Bella in the travel cot, going in my backpack I take out her blanket and bunny teddy and place them in with her. I've not showered since before bed last night so that's next on my list and thankfully this hotel provides travel-size bathroom accessories or I'd be screwed.

I lock the door and go turn on the shower leaving the bathroom door open so I can hear Bella. I strip off and step under the hot running water, it may be doing a great job of soothing my muscles but my mind is anywhere but here. I can't stop reliving everything that's happened in the last 24 hours.

The tears I've been holding back since leaving the pack lands come to the surface only this time, I don't stop them in fact I welcome them. I slide down the shower wall, pull my knees up to my chest and I break down. I cry for losing my family and my pack. I cry for Bella losing her parents. I cry for Mrs Thompson and having to leave her to die alone and I cry out the anger and frustration that just makes me want to tear apart everything in my view.

It feels like I'll never stop crying but then my mind wonders to Bella and the fact that right now I'm all she has. I have to be strong for her. I made a promise to Josh and Harley that I'd look after her, and protect her and that's exactly what I'll do.

I Wash up, brush my teeth and get into my pj's before crawling into bed. I try calling Brooke again but no answer ugh! The day slowly catches up with me and I fall into a nightmare-filled sleep...

*Ring ring* *ring ring* ring ring*

I'm dragged out of another nightmare by my phone ringing, I dive out of bed, it's Brooke Oh, thank moon goddess.

"Brooke, where have you been? I've called you about 30 times, why didn't you answer?" I'm speaking so fast I'm struggling to breathe in between.

"Whoa whoa, calm down sweetheart, I'm sorry I didn't answer we had a BBQ last night and I left my phone in my bedroom, what's wrong? Are you ok?"

"No Brooke I'm not, nothing's going to be ok again, I can't do this!" I'm back to holding the tears in.

"I need you to take a deep breath, ok sweetheart? And tell me what's wrong?"

"Tuesday night Rogues attacked the pack lands... the... they killed everyone, Brooke... Mom, Dad, Josh, Harley, Carly... everyone's gone!" My sobs are back and I feel so broken.

"Oh, goddess no!" I can hear the sheer terror in Brooke's voice as she realizes what's happened.

"How did you... what about Isabella?"

"Bella's fine I've got her but it's just us two now."

The phone goes quiet before I hear shuffling from the other end of the phone.

"Bethany, this is Alpha Calvin, are you safe? Where are you?"

"I'm safe, I have my niece Bella with me. We're at a hotel in the human town called the tree line in room 319."

"Ok Beth, don't worry you won't be on your own much longer I am sending my Gamma and a few warriors to come and get you both straight away, they will bring you here to Brooke, to us, ok?"

"Thank you so much, Alpha... but how will I know they are your warriors?"

"Smart girl. Gamma Jack will be there with my warriors John, Callum, Jake, Scott, and David. I will give them the password of Brooke how's that work for you?"

"That sounds ok." I quickly write down the names he gave me.

"Good now it will take them roughly 6 hours to get there, they will be driving straight through to get you both so they should be with you around twelve, ok? In the meantime, I'd prefer it if you didn't leave the room so anything you need order through room service and Gamma Jack will settle the bill when he arrives, please don't worry about the cost!"

"Thank you, Alpha Calvin thank you so much, I don't want to be alone anymore!" My voice breaks as the tears keep falling.

"There's no need to thank me, Beth we are family and you won't be alone for much longer, ok? I know you've lost your home and nothing can replace that but there's a place here with me and Brooke waiting for you both ok?"

"Ok thank you Alpha that means more than you'll ever know, how's Brooke doing?" Bella starts waking up as I'm waiting for his reply.

"She's not doing great but I imagine you are the same?"

"I am, Bella's waking up so I need to make her bottle, please look after Brooke Alpha Calvin."

He assures me he will and that he'll call back soon to check on me. I pop my phone on charge and make a start on Bella’s morning routine... six more hours on our own... we can do this.

*Knock knock knock knock*

My heart picks up pace at the sound of someone knocking on the door.

"Bethany, it's Gamma Jack, we're here to take you and little Isabella home."

"Gamma Jack... who else is with you?" I have to be sure.

"Bethany, I have 5 warriors with me John, Callum, Jake, Scott, and David." As he says the names, they all say hi to me one by one.

"Ok, and what's the password?" Better to be safe than sorry.

"It's Brooke."

I decide I'm happy to believe it's them and I slowly open the door to a huge guy standing there he's at least 6ft3 short jet black hair, bright blue eyes, and very muscular, the power coming off him tells me he's of a high rank. The other 5 guys are also incredibly tall and muscular and I know Bella and I will be safe with them.

He gives me a kind smile as I open the door more so they can come inside. Bella is babbling away in her travel cot while sucking on one of her teddy bunny ears and I swear I see every single one of the guys soften looking at her.

We make quick work of gathering mine and Bella's stuff and leave the room. Gamma Jack offers to carry Bella but I want her with me. I'm not saying he's a bad guy but I don't know him well enough yet and until I get to Brooke, she's all I have.

I go to pay the bill for our room and room service but Gamma Jack stops me and insists he pays and I'm too lost in myself to argue it. We make our way to the SUV they brought, strap Bella in the car seat and all pile in ready to leave this place behind, to leave my family behind.