Colt

Colt POV

9 years ago the only friends I had in this entire world, left me. The plan was for all of us to escape but that’s not how it played out. I tripped and fell, and they didn’t come back for me.

I foolishly thought they would but when they got the keycard and ran outside, it was every wolf for himself and that broke my heart. I was already weak, but I thought my family had my back. I thought they would carry me to safety, and we would all get away together. I never could have imagined how wrong I was.

I called out for them. I called out for her-Maddie- as I lay bleeding on the ground.

Maddie not only was my best friend but my sister. The five of us were family but she and I were closer than the others. I took care of her, and she took care of me.

She snuck me food when I was starving due to experiments, and I always cleaned her wounds from the fights she fought.

Maddy was the perfect soldier and from the conversations I overheard; she was the one.

She was the one they wanted. The big man had told the men to throw everything they could at her, and Maddie passed every test. Only she didn’t know that. Everyone looked to Andy for advice and what to do, but Maddie was the strongest and bravest; she just didn’t realize it.

“1005, are you ready?” I look over at that man standing in front of the black SUV; he is my handler.

“Yes, sir,” I reply as I walk to the sleek door. I open it and climb inside, and he smirks at me, “You know the plan, right? We find her and bring her back. This is the best lead we have ever gotten, and I think this time, we will find her.”

I nod and he turns on the radio, “I know this may be hard for you, but remember. She left you. She looked back and saw your bloody body lying there and she left you behind. She stopped caring about you the day she left this compound, and you need to remember that.” He says coldly.

I sigh but straighten my back. As much as I don’t want to think Maddie would do that, they showed me the video. She looked back and saw me and ran. How could she run from me like that!? I would have come back for her! Even if they caught me again! I would have tried to save her. She meant the world to me, but I was obviously nothing to her.

Rage begins to fill me, and I breathe heavily until a shock of electricity enters my veins, “Calm down!” my handler yells at me, prodding me with a cattle prod. My body feels on fire, but he releases me, and I fall back into the seat.

After they left me, the lab threw everything at me they could to save my life and I now know it’s because I know how to find Maddie.  They don’t know exactly how but I am the key. We could all find one another with a few drops of blood but that’s a secret I will take to the grave. I may be forced to hunt her and to look for her; I may be mad they left me behind, but I am only hunting them because I am forced to.

I will bring Maddie, Andy, Ryan, and Julia back because that is what I have been trained to do. I am the human’s perfect solider and puppet, but I wouldn’t wish this life on anyone.

I am not weak or frail anymore. They found a new drug that turned me into a stronger and better model, and I have never felt more powerful.

After they left me, the lab not only saved my life, but they tortured me. I am submissive to my handlers; I have the scars to prove it. The big man has tried to put me into a new family wolf group, but I will never trust anyone again. Not like I trusted them.

Not like I trusted her- Maddie.

After hours, the SUV turns on a dirt road and my handler looks at me, “Do you sense her yet? The orphanage is about 30 minutes away now.”

I do but I won’t tell him that, “Yes and no but the feeling might get stronger when we get there.” He nods and I look out the window at the moon; how I wish I was free out there right now, running beneath it.

It’s dark when we reach the orphanage and the SUV parks in front of the old farmhouse. My handler gets out of the car, “Follow me. See if you can sense or smell her when we talk to the owner.” I nod and he walks to the front door. My handler knocks and a small child opens it, “Hi, we are looking for the owner.” My handler smiles at the little boy.

The little boy can’t be older than 5 and he nods turning around, “Mrs. Stevenson, a man is here for you.” He calls. I watch him turn and smile and my gut retches; this will not end well for him.

I can smell her; I can smell Maddie.

My handler looks at me as the little boy disappears and I nod. He smiles widely and Mrs. Stevenson comes to the door, “Hi, how can I help you?” she asks.  My handler pulls a photo from his pocket- one of Maddie, and he smiles at her, “Yes, we are looking for this girl. Have you seen her?” he says, handing it to her.

Mrs. Stevenson takes the photo and looks at it, her eyes scan and dart and I hear her heart rate increase. She looks at me and the 4 SUVs behind us and does something I don’t expect- she lies.

“No, I have never seen her before.”

My handler’s eyes go narrow, “You are sure? Never before?” he asks but looks at me. I nod again and he shakes his head, “Please, don’t lie. It won’t end well for you.”

Mrs. Stevenson’s heart now races, and she begins to shut the door, but it’s too late. My handler puts his boot in the door and forces his way inside.

My wolf howls as we smell Maddie, but I don’t understand what this is. It’s like he is longing for her.

My handler looks at Mrs. Stevenson again and an evil smile comes to his face, “Now, my dear woman. Let’s stop with the lies.” He says, lighting a cigarette.