"Gone?" Kiera echoed. Her heart was racing, and she felt that she would pass out at any minute. The man looked at her with rage in his eyes but she ignored that for now. She had other concerns and Kane was with her. He would never let anyone hurt her. "He's been killed?" Kane asked in a low voice. Kiera didn't want to read too much into his words, because in her frantic heart, he sounded hopeful.The man flashed them a red smile. "Not yet. But he's been taken to a place where nobody can save him. Hugo Richardson isn’t one to play games.”Kane stiffened a little but all she could think about was how relieved she felt. Mikael wasn’t dead yet, and it didn’t matter what the man said. If he was still alive, there was a way. She would have to ask Kane who this Hugo was. He seemed to know who he was. Kiera met Kane’s eye, and then she understood that she couldn’t be there for what would happen next. She turned around and started walking away from the alleyway and back to the car. She heard
"I found another one," Kane said the second he walked through the door. He took off his jacket, and Kiera stood from the couch to meet him at the door. He hung the jacket and turned to her with his hands on his hips. "I might have found out something.""What?" she asked. "There's a clue about DarkWater," was his answer. "There's a pack mate who works at Bertmann & Co downtown. You know, the lawyer's office?""There's a werewolf lawyer?" she asked in wonder. "I don't know if he's a lawyer, but he works there. I'll stop by tomorrow right before the office closes and will follow him. Who knows, he might lead us straight to Hugo. It's highly likely that he lives with the pack.""Where did you get this information?" Kiera asked. "It didn't come cheap," he admitted. There is a wolf I know, one who's like Ma and me. He lives amongst humans peacefully, and chose not to interfere into their affairs. He's not a part of any pack, and as far as I know he never did. He told me about this werew
They had been parked in front of the office for the longest time. Kane wanted to catch a glimpse of him. He wouldn’t park beside the office for the whole day, that would make the werewolf suspicious, and if that happened, their plan would simply not work out. He wanted to see him, and hopefully smell him, and then he’d be sure that a werewolf worked in the building. He had to do so at a distance, and that made it somewhat difficult, but he would manage. It wasn’t his first time tracking a werewolf from a distance, especially because he couldn’t have the werewolf noticing him. That was what he told Kiera when she asked him why they couldn’t get closer. He said it wasn’t necessary. It was just a faint scent he wanted. They would be halfway there if he confirmed it.Kiera fidgeted as she stared out the window, waiting for the werewolf to show up. She paused to think about what would happen if they never saw the werewolf and it was all a big invention. She would be devastated. They woul
Kiera and Kane spotted the wolf coming out of the office building. This time was different; he didn’t look around suspiciously, and so they deduced that the morning had been a coincidence. Surely if he had suspected someone watching him in the morning, he would have looked around to ensure that there was nobody spying on him now. They looked at each other, and visibly relaxed. Kane started the car when the werewolf had crossed the street. He didn’t turn to look at them, and although Kiera found it suspicious, she didn’t say a word. He got into a black sedan and backed out from the parking space. After he did, Kane waited a beat and then started following him. There were two cars between them, but both of them had their eyes on the werewolf’s car so they wouldn’t lose sight of it. It was important to follow him to his destination, so that maybe then, they would have a clue of where Mikael was being kept. And if he didn’t go there, Kane had all the tools in his car. He would know ho
Kiera was shaking as she drove away.She could hardly see the road ahead of her because of the tears gathering in her eyes and streaming down her face. Her shoulders shook with her sobs, and she kept glancing at the rear view mirror to see if she was being followed. So far, she couldn’t see any suspicious activity, and the truth was that she was getting to a point where she didn’t care. She was thinking about Kane, and she was torn between going back to fetch him and following his orders. Whenever she looked at the bloody window, she sobbed harder. She felt horrible for simply leaving him; the severity of what happened was sinking in slowly, and she couldn’t believe her cowardice. How could she have sped away? Why didn’t she try to help him?Her fingers were shaking. Simone. She had to call Simone. Although how she would inform her about what happened to Kane was something she could not visualize yet. Was he dead? No, she couldn’t think that way. Kane was the strongest person she kne
The days after Kane’s funeral were endless. Kiera was deep into a pot of misery, and it was roasting her up until she burned to a crisp. She had been drained of everything significant, even the will to continue. She could not get over the guilt she felt. She knew she was responsible for what had happened, and nobody would convince her otherwise. Nobody tried to. Only she and Simone were at his funeral. The private life they lived prevented them from having friends, well, friends close enough that would attend their funerals. It was a sad and gloomy day, and the skies were a reflection of what was going on inside her head. Simone hadn’t said a word since she found Kane. Kiera didn’t know how to talk to her. She didn’t know how to encourage her. She didn’t think it would be the right thing to do. She was so guilty that she felt that if she tried to say a word to Simone, she would remember what she did and try to kill her on the spot. It was terrible to think like that, but that was
Simone started on the broth, and Kiera helped her with everything that she could. Cooking alongside her helped her clear her mind. She didn’t cry at all during the two hours that they spent in the kitchen, then again, not much was said apart from instructions on how to do the broth. She was thinking about Kane since she was in the kitchen, but she tried her best not to cry. It was hard; there were a lot of things that reminded her of him. The holes on the wall from the boards he had put up, his favorite yogurt in the refrigerator, the stool that he always occupied at the counter. She could tell that Simone felt the same but they were being strong for each other. There was nothing more effective than that. The broth was delicious, and Kiera had more than two bowls. She was hungry, hungrier than she had been in a while. For the most part, Simone watched her eat. She had one bowl of broth and then put her hands together over it. Her expression changed, and she looked more solemn. Kier
Kiera was preparing herself to go out. Simone believed that she was ready to get it all started, and after a few days of reinforced training, they decided to start. Kiera wore protective pads on the delicate area of her body because she didn’t want to get unnecessarily injured. Although she had agreed to go with Simone, she was still terrified. But if she believed in her, that was all that she had to hold onto. She tied her hair into a sleek ponytail and wore heavy boots. She had to protect her body from the werewolf’s attack, particularly her neck. She didn’t know how many they would have to fight, Simone hadn’t given her all the details. They would find out when they got to the place, and Simone wanted to get there before sundown. They met each other downstairs. Kiera was astonished at the sight of her. She wore all black, and looked slimmer in her clothing. She was testing the sharpness of a few knives, then looked up at her. She said, “I haven’t worn these clothes in a long tim
Kiera sat back in her chair and sighed. The sun was warm, a little too warm, but the one thing she loved about the sun was how it had the capacity of making her forget the cold days. It was almost as if the horrors she endured never even happened. The only reminder that they did was the empty space in her heart that belonged to Kane, and that would forever remain vacant. It took her a long time to feel normal again, even after finding out that Simone and Mikael hadn’t died that day. It was all a big shock to her, and although she had every reason to feel normal, she didn’t. She couldn’t get the image of Celia’s body out of her mind, and it was strange that that was the scene that haunted her the most, apart from the two of them cutting her neck with a knife and leaving behind a scar that she would bear forever. With Simone and Mikael’s help, though, she began feeling better. Leaving town helped. In fact, the change of atmosphere and the drastic improvement of the weather was enough
The hours passed. Kiera was growing more uncomfortable than ever. She didn't know what they wanted from her, not anymore. At first, she thought that they were going to kill her. Now, it felt like they wanted to torture her with the sight of Celia. He kept insisting that it was her fault that the whole thing happened. He didn't do much apart from repeating the same words over and over again. It was torturous. They sky was getting much darker, and soon, she wouldn't be able to see. The sky was moonless and heavy with clouds. The rain stopped, but the night was cool. She knew it would rain again. She could smell it in the air. What were they waiting for?What did they want from her? It was harder not knowing what would happen, she realized that now. If they had told her what the intended to do with her—explicitly—she would know what to expect. But it seemed like they were all crazy. She was surprised that two men managed to cause so much damage. Celia hadn't lifted a finger. She cou
Kiera was in the dark for a long time.Her eyes were hot and heavy with tears. It was bizarre how much things had changed in the space of five minutes. One minute, they were all there; alive and well. The other, they were gone. Simone was gone. She didn't know what happened to her, or where they took the car. She should have acted quicker when she found the man in the shop suspicious. Her own inability to act condemned her. She should have checked Mikael to see if he was alive. She shouldn't have panicked the way she did. Now, it was too late. She didn't know what to think anymore. She was being driven to a place far away without anyone around her that could possibly save her. She thought about it, but her thoughts were as hollow as her. She couldn't hold onto them and attach importance to them. They were just flowing through her like water. She would be at their mercy, and she didn't even know who they were. She suspected that it had to do with the pack Simone destroyed, the DarkWa
It was time to go. They left the next day. Simone was far from recovered, but she insisted that they didn’t have much time left. They had to go. Kiera packed what she could with Mikael’s help, and it was harder to say goodbye to the house she grew up in. She didn’t know how long she would be gone for, but it was unlikely that she would be back anytime soon. The house had traces of Kane wherever she looked, and that was the hardest part. It felt like she was leaving a part of him behind. She didn’t know if Simone felt the same way. If she did, she didn’t show. Her determination to leave overpowered everything else. She looked around, at the pictures and paintings on the wall, and the holes that he made the other night when he put the boards up that were never filled. Her father’s office was impossible to look at. It was no longer her father’s, not in her heart. It belonged to Kane. There was nothing that she could bring with her that would fill the hole of leaving everything behind.
Simone was discharged in the morning, as she expected. A large potion the forest had caught fire. It was all over the news, and all everyone talked about. Kiera felt bad. Of course, she did. They were responsible for the forest fire, which claimed a few innocent lives of the people trying to put it out. To know that they were the ones who caused the whole mess was disheartening, and her heart weighed with guilt. There was a small chance that Celia had escaped. They couldn’t be sure about the others. Mikael mentioned that there was no chance that she escaped, and that was a relief for Kiera. She was finally out of their lives, and the worst was behind them. Having Simone and Mikael in the same house was strange. They hadn’t talked to each other when Kiera first brought her, and that was the part that made her grind her teeth. She didn’t know what she thought would happen but the silence was unsettling. They didn’t have to talk, and even if they did, what would they say to each other
They got out safely. All three of them. Simone was hurt, though. Celia had managed to scratch her with her talons before they got out. She was bleeding heavily, so Kiera drove her to the nearest hospital as soon as they reached the car. Mikael was collapsed beside her, but he wasn’t hurt. He was so weak he could barely sit up. Behind them, the fire raged. Simone would be alright. She had been injured and needed stitches and bed rest. Mikael refused to go to the hospital. He insisted that all he needed was a decent meal and some sleep, far away from a hospital. He didn’t have documents, so he couldn’t even be admitted in one. So, once Kiera was sure that Simone would be safe, she drove him to their house. They didn’t speak to each other. There was nothing to say for the time being. Kiera had a lot on her mind. She wanted to fetch Simone as soon as she could. The next morning, preferably. The hospital was too close to the pack house. She wasn’t all that safe there. Once they reache
"Mikael, is that you?" Kiera said. He was silent for a few seconds, and then he answered, "It's me."The first thing she noticed was how weak he sounded, and then she concluded why. He was hanging from the roof. She suddenly remembered what she had been told about him. He would be killed for trying to protect her, and he was being kept as a prisoner and awaited execution in the home of some werewolves. These guys. She never thought about it. It slipped from her mind completely. Her first instinct was to rush to him to help him. He had to get down, that wasn't up for debate. In the dark, she was practically blind. Even if there was a light switch in the barn, they couldn't use it. They would grab unwanted attention. She would have to work in the dark. "What do I do?" she asked him. "Cut me loose.""Simone, I need a knife," she said, trying to reach the rope above his head. She couldn't reach for it even when she stood on the tips of her toes. It was making her desperate. "I'll do
The day went by slowly, too slowly. Kiera was stiff from having to sit in the car for so many hours. Simone was adamant. She didn't want to leave, and Kiera wouldn't waste her time in trying to convince her to leave the front of the building. They were running out of time, and they didn't have a better plan. So they were forced to stay. When the day was over, Kiera could hardly move. Her anxiety was making matters worse, but she managed to sit up when people started trickling out of the building. Their eyes were wide and searching every face that walked out. They were looking for the man responsible for Kane's death. They couldn't lose him, or all their efforts would have been for nothing. That was worse to Kiera than having to fight the man. "There," Simone said, breaking the silence. It was the first word that she said in hours. Her voice was surprisingly clear.He began crossing the street, and in a few steps, he would disappear around the bend. Where was he going? They had to k
Simone was thoughtful for the rest of the day. Kiera had no choice but to wait for what she was going to say. A decision had to be made, and quickly, or they'd lose their advantage. News about the dead werewolf would spread soon, and then they'd all know that Simone was after the wolves who had been involved in Kane's death. If that happened, they would go into hiding, and finding them would be a lot more difficult. Simone remained silent, so Kiera couldn't do anything else but wait. Long periods of silence made her think about Kane all of the time. She didn’t know what else to do. The current situation was impeding her from doing anything else, and it was hard to imagine that a few months prior, she was concerned about not finishing her work. She forgot all about being an editor. If they placed a manuscript in front of her, she wouldn’t know what to do. But she wasn’t the only one who changed drastically. She couldn’t recognize Simone on most days. The sweet but tough woman was r