Chapter 43: Making PlansAndrew*“Daddy, can you make my hair pretty like Mommy did?”My hand shook as I grabbed the brush from Flora’s outstretched hand. I fought the tears that brimmed in my eyes and gave Flora a shaky laugh. “I’ll do my best, baby. But no promises. I’m not magic like she is.”Delilah was still gone, kidnapped by rogue monsters. After talking to Conrad it was clear what their goal was in taking her from us. The rogues had been searching for a powerful shifter like Delilah to breed with, and they would stop at nothing to get her.The boys were already dressed, though they still didn’t look as put together as they did when their mother was there to take care of them.I’d been caring for them by myself since she was taken and every single day without her I marveled at all she’d been able to do without a fuss. Taking care of three children when they weren’t the same age was challenging enough, but triplets were a whole other matter. And she had done
Chapter 44: Biding My Time*Delilah*I knew I was awake but I didn’t want to open my eyes. I could feel the thin mattress beneath me, the chain around my foot. I tugged on it slightly, it still held me tightly. “Hello, hello,” a familiar voice said. I groaned and cracked my eyes open, looking around the dimly lit room. My make-shift jail cell. Jamie sat on a small stool, smiling like we were a couple waking up together. I sat up and moved to the edge of the mattress, pulling my knees up to my chest and hugging them.“We’re moving today, soon we’ll be out of this territory and we can keep you out in the light more. You know what it’s like to be a rogue, you’ll adapt again.” He walked to the wall my chain was attached to and unhooked me, holding the chain tightly. I didn’t even think about it, I got up and tried to run. He easily yanked the chain around my ankle and I was sent sprawling to the ground. The air whooshed out of my lungs and I cried out as my forea
*Andrew*After I dropped Cody, Kyle, and Flora off at school to give them some semblance of normality, I was finally able to get time alone to think about everything that had been going on. The drive to the packhouse was filled with my wild thoughts. I missed Delilah so much, my heart and soul ached for her. Her absence brought up many emotions. My respect for everything Delilah had done for the children had only grown and I knew when we found her and brought her back to safety, I would make sure she knew how much she was appreciated here. I couldn’t believe Delilah had done this alone for five years, I couldn’t even imagine handling everything the three needed without the help of my whole pack. Since Delilah was taken, Flora and Cody had begun opening up to me but Kyle seemed to have regressed. His bond with his mother was stronger than anything and I knew he felt the pain of her absence but Kyle had yet to speak to me about it. He kept a strong front to protect his siblings and
*Andrew*Kendra stepped into the room, her presence taking up the doorway and almost blocking me from my three children. Before I could question her further, she started to speak quickly and rambled on. She took up a tone that made her sound a bit frazzled like she just wanted to help. After all the stories I had heard from Delilah about Kendra, I knew she was a great actress and would put on a show. There was no way I could believe her actions were without reasoning.The image of Kendra with all three of my children standing behind her had shaken me. My children looked unharmed which was reassuring but they also seemed on edge. I knew they weren’t entirely informed of the events surrounding their mother’s kidnapping but they were bright children. Eventually, Kendra had moved out of the doorway and Kyle, Cody, and Flora filtered into the room like they were being released from a hidden gate. Kendra placed her hand on her hip and smiled a tight smile at the children then she turn
*Delilah* The guards in this pack aren’t stupid, but I’d picked up their pattern easily. They tried to make it confusing or thought they created a sophisticated routine but it was still a routine and the pattern returned. With my daily outings and involvement in the group, I was able to get a generic headcount of the rogue pack’s numbers and who was the most skilled. There were certain people that I needed to stay away from but others I could sense would be more sympathetic to my situation. “So, your dad liked to brag about how good of a hunter he taught you to be, is that true?” Nathan appeared in front of my cell with a shit-eating grin. His teeth were stained with yellow discoloration and a darker color that made me wonder if he had shifted recently, for a hunt. But if he had already hunted, why was he asking me about it now?“Stop talking to me about my father. At this point, nothing you say will surprise me.”“Oh? And what if I said some things about your little children
*Delilah*When I woke up from the prophetic dream, sweat covered my body. My heart was pounding and I thought the end was near. It might be if anything in my dream comes true. I sat up, wiped the sweat from my forehead, and tried calming my fast-beating heart. I noticed a jug of water on the floor and reached for it before trying to chug it all but I only succeeded in getting a few drops of water before it ran out. I tossed the jug back onto the floor and swung my legs over the side of the thin mattress, my chain rattling on the floor. I sat with my head in my hands and took a deep breath.The dream rattled my confidence but it was early in the morning so I decided to try out different plans to see if anything else might work. I ran through a few scenarios, acting them out like different simulations, but everything kept coming up badly.Many of the scenarios I thought about, ended with my injury or death. Although, in some of those, I sacrificed myself and brought down the
*Andrew*I sat on the end of the couch, away from Kendra with the kids playing between us. I didn’t want to be too close to her for any reason. I still didn’t trust her and I didn’t think I ever would.My phone buzzed and I looked to see a text from Conrad, he was on his way here. I furrowed my brow at that. He must have something important to share if he was coming here, he never did that. Kyle noticed my shift in emotion immediately. “What’s wrong, Dad?”I shook my head and tried to smile at him. “Nothing, buddy. I just got a text from Grandpa Conrad. He’s on his way here.”I knew I couldn’t lie to Kyle, he could read my emotions so I had no reason to try to keep them from him. But we hadn’t been showing any of that to Kendra. His powers, and his siblings' powers were kind of a family secret. I knew he wouldn’t say anything to call me out in front of her, but he’d still ask me later. Plus, I didn’t like lying to him, or any of them. Yes, they were children but they stil
*Delilah*I let out a whoosh of breath as Jamie tossed me roughly to the ground. My clothes were disgusting at this point and my hair hung in clumps around my face.I breathed in and out quickly as I tried to get control of myself again. I heard the door close behind us to the house and felt Jamie knelt beside me. He ran his hand softly over my cheek before he gripped my chin roughly and turned my face to look at him. “I don’t want any more trouble out of you. You’re going to do as I say, or I’m going to beat you until you do.” I tried to pull my face out of his grip but it was like iron and I was stuck. I grunted and pushed against him but the wolfbane around my wrist drained all the energy from my limbs and left me too weak to do much more than lift my hands to his chest. He chuckled darkly. “You like what you feel? Happy to finally have a real man?”He ran his free hands down my body and I whimpered. Then I moved my face quickly, biting his hand. He groaned a