Chapter Four

The sleek black car glides smoothly along the highway, eating up the miles between Anton's territory and my home in Cedar Grove. I stare out the window, but I'm not really seeing the landscape rushing by. My mind is still back in that room, replaying Anton's rejection over and over.

I want to scream, to demand answers. How can he just dismiss our mate bond like that? Doesn't he feel the pull, the inexplicable connection between us? But even if I could voice these questions, there's no one here to answer them. The driver, a stoic older man with graying hair at his temples, hasn't said a word since we left.

My hand moves to the notebook Anton gave me, now tucked safely in my bag. I'd considered writing him a note before I left, pouring out all my confusion and hurt onto the paper. In the end, though, I couldn't find the words. How do you explain to someone that they're throwing away something precious, something rare, when they refuse to even acknowledge its existence?

As we near Cedar Grove, a sense of unease begins to creep over me. At first, I can't put my finger on what's wrong. Then it hits me – the bond. The pack bond that usually hums in the background of my consciousness, a constant reminder of my connection to my family and community, feels... strained. Weak. As if it's been stretched too thin.

My unease grows as we turn onto the familiar streets of my hometown. The usually bustling sidewalks are eerily empty. Here and there, I catch glimpses of damage – a broken window, a toppled trash can, deep gouges in the trunk of an old oak tree that look disturbingly like claw marks.

By the time we reach the entrance to the pack lands, my heart is pounding so hard I'm sure the driver must be able to hear it. He pulls up to the gate and rolls down his window. The guard post is empty.

After a moment's hesitation, the driver turns to me. "This is as far as I go," he says, his voice gruff but not unkind. "Will you be alright from here?"

I nod, even though I'm far from sure. As I step out of the car, the scent hits me – blood, fear, and something else. Something wrong. The car pulls away as soon as the door shuts behind me, leaving me alone at the entrance to what suddenly feels like a war zone.

For a moment, I stand frozen, unsure what to do. Then instinct takes over, and I start to run.

As I race down the familiar paths towards the heart of pack territory, the signs of violence become more pronounced. Trees are splintered, the ground torn up as if by massive claws. And then I see them – the bodies.

Werewolves, some in human form, others partially shifted, lie scattered across the ground. Many are clearly injured, groaning in pain or being tended to by others. The scent of blood is overwhelming, making my stomach churn.

I skid to a stop, my mind reeling. What happened here? Was this why Anton was patrolling so far from his own territory last night? Did he know about this attack?

A low moan from nearby snaps me out of my thoughts. I turn to see Sarah, one of my aunt's friends, struggling to sit up. Without hesitation, I rush to her side, helping her into a more comfortable position.

Her eyes widen as she recognizes me. "Eveline? Oh, thank the moon you're safe!" She winces, clutching her side. "We thought... when you didn't come home... we feared the worst."

I shake my head, trying to convey that I'm okay. But my hands are shaking too badly to sign properly. Instead, I point at her, then around us, my face a question.

Sarah seems to understand. "We were attacked," she says grimly. "Last night. They came out of nowhere—a whole coven of vampires. Nothing like we’ve ever seen before. We... we weren’t prepared."

My blood runs cold. Vampires? Our natural enemies, yes, but there's been an uneasy peace between our species for years. For them to attack so boldly, so ruthlessly... this was something different. Something planned.

The thought sends a shiver down my spine. The stench I'd noticed earlier but couldn't quite place – now it makes sense. That sickly-sweet odor that clings to everything, almost masking the scent of blood. Vampire.

I push it aside for now, focusing on the more immediate concern. I mime writing, and Sarah understands, pulling a crumpled receipt and a pen from her pocket.

Where is my aunt? I scribble hastily.

Sarah's face falls as she reads the question. "I... I don't know, sweetie. I haven't seen her since the height of the battle. I'm sorry."

Panic begins to claw at my throat. I have to find her. I have to know she's safe. Without another glance at Sarah, I take off running again, this time towards our house.

The path to our home is eerily untouched compared to the devastation I've seen so far. For a moment, hope flares in my chest. Maybe she's here, safe and sound, wondering where I am.

But as soon as I burst through the front door, that hope dies. The house is a mess, furniture overturned, pictures knocked from the walls. And my aunt is nowhere to be seen.

"Aunt Elena!" I try to call out, forgetting in my panic that no sound will come. I race from room to room, searching desperately for any sign of her. But there's nothing. No note, no clue, just the lingering scent of her fear.

Tears blur my vision as I stumble back outside. I have to find someone who knows what's going on. Someone has to know where she is.

My feet carry me towards the pack house almost without conscious thought. If anyone has answers, it'll be Alpha Marcus. As I approach, I can see a crowd gathered outside. Pack members, some injured, others looking shell-shocked, mill about in small groups.

I push my way through, ignoring the startled looks and whispered conversations that follow in my wake. Inside, the pack house is a hive of activity. People rush back and forth, carrying medical supplies or huddled in intense discussions.

I spot Beta Collins near the main staircase and make a beeline for him. He looks up as I approach, relief washing over his face.

"Eveline! Thank the moon. We've been worried sick about you." His expression turns serious as he takes in my frantic state. "What's wrong? Are you hurt?"

I shake my head vehemently, then start signing rapidly. Where is my aunt? Have you seen her? What happened?

Beta Collins holds up his hands, looking apologetic. "Slow down, Eveline. I'm sorry, but you know I'm not very good with sign language. Here, let me get Alpha Marcus. He'll want to know you're back safely anyway."

He disappears up the stairs before I can protest. I'm left standing in the foyer, my frustration and fear mounting with each passing second. Around me, pack members cast curious glances my way, but no one approaches. I've always been something of an outsider, even in my own pack, and now is no different.

After what feels like an eternity but is probably only a few minutes, Beta Collins returns with Alpha Marcus in tow. Our alpha is a tall, imposing man with salt-and-pepper hair and eyes that seem to see right through you. Right now, those eyes are filled with a mixture of relief and... is that guilt?

"Eveline," he says, his deep voice resonating through the suddenly quiet foyer. "I'm glad to see you safe. We feared... well, that doesn't matter now. You're home."

I nod impatiently, then start to sign. But Alpha Marcus holds up a hand, stopping me.

"I know what you're going to ask," he says heavily. "And I'm afraid I don't have good news."

My heart seems to stop in my chest. I stare at him, silently pleading for him to continue, to tell me that my aunt is okay, that she's just injured or helping somewhere I haven't looked yet.

But the words that come out of his mouth are far worse than anything I could have imagined.

"Your aunt, Elena... she's been kidnapped."

The world seems to tilt on its axis. Kidnapped? But why? How? Who would dare to kidnap a member of our pack, let alone my aunt?

I must have signed these questions without realizing it, because Alpha Marcus is nodding grimly.

"We don't know all the details yet," he says. "But from what we've pieced together, the vampires weren't just attacking randomly. They had a purpose. They were looking for something... or someone."

A chill runs down my spine. I shake my head, not wanting to believe what I'm hearing. But deep down, I already know. I think I've known since I first sensed something was wrong.

Alpha Marcus confirms my worst fears with his next words. "I'm so sorry, Eveline. But it seems... it seems they were after you."

The ground seems to drop out from under me. Me? They were after me? But why? I'm nobody special, just a mute werewolf who's never quite fit in anywhere.

As if from a great distance, I hear Alpha Marcus continuing to speak. "We don't know why they want you. Elena... your aunt refused to tell them where you were. She fought like a demon to protect you, to give you time to get away. We thought... we assumed you'd run when you sensed the attack coming."

But I hadn't run. I'd been in a park miles away, oblivious to my pack's plight, meeting my mate who didn't want me. And now my aunt, the woman who raised me, who protected me, who loved me unconditionally... she's gone. Taken. Because of me.

The realization hits me like a physical blow. My knees buckle, and I would have fallen if Beta Collins hadn't caught me. Around me, I can hear concerned voices, feel hands reaching out to steady me. But it all feels distant, unreal.

In this moment, as the full weight of what's happened crashes down on me, only one thought cuts through the chaos in my mind:

This is all my fault.