Colt POVThe town is old and small. There is only one grocery store, and my handler pulls up to the front of the building, “If this guy doesn’t want to help, we make him. You understand?” he asks me, holding up the cattle prod. I nod and we get out of the car. My shoes crunch into the gravel and look down, wondering if Maddie’s did the sameWe walk into the store and the bell dings as an older man comes out from a door behind the counter. I can already smell Maddie and my wolf howls inside, “How can I help you gentleman?” he asks, “We are about to close in 10 minutes.” I stand still and let my handler do the talking.My handler flashes his perfect smile, “Yes, we found groceries in a red wagon down the road.” He says, fishing the receipt out of his pocket. The store owner puts his glasses on and looks at the items on the paper, “Oh, the wagon was alone? It should have had two girls with it. They had done shopping for the orphanage keeper down the road.”My handler gasps, “Is that so?!
Maddie POVLila Shakes me awake and I gasp for air, sitting up. Tears stream down my face and she hugs me. These nightmares are nothing new to me, but I didn’t share a room with anyone; this is the first time Lila has seen this happen to me.She holds me tight and coos to me, “Shhh, Maddie. It’s okay. You’re safe.” The bedroom door swings open and Lila and I both jump as Caleb stands there like a ninja, “What happened? Are you two, ok?” he asks, turning on the light and searching the room.I wipe my eyes and try to catch my breath, but the words don’t come. Lila pets my hair and looks at Caleb, “She had a nightmare.” Caleb sighs, “I get those too. The worst ones are the stuck ones.”My teary eyes peer up at him, and I whimper, “The worst...”He nods, “I know. Take a few minutes. Compose yourself. It’s time to get up anyway. Meet me downstairs.”I nod and he walks out of the room, closing the door. I look at Lila, “I was stuck…” I whisper. Lila holds me tighter and sighs, “It was just
The same wolves that were with Alpha Caleb last night when he found Lila and I come running toward Caleb and me now. One of them must be his Beta, Lucas. They get to me and shift, staring at the dead Zobs, “Caleb, can you hear me!?” one of his men says leaning down next to him.“There was a hole in the fence when we got here. They were waiting…”“Fuck! These wounds are bad! Caleb, can you shift back?” Caleb whines and I realize he is stuck in wolf form, “Why can’t he shift back?” I ask.“He’s hurt too badly; his wolf is trying to save his life. Who helped him kill them? Zobs are strong. I haven’t met a wolf yet who could take down even two by themselves.”I speak shyly, “I was going to run but I heard him cry out, so I came back. He had killed one, but I killed the other 7.” The three men look at me like I just spoke a foreign language, “You killed 7 of them?” I nod and he scoffs, “There’s no way.”I take a step back as he picks Caleb up off the ground, “Come on, let’s get him to the
Colt POVMy handler finds a hotel two towns away. He had told me he wanted to make sure he hadn’t left a trail pointing toward us. The thing is, they ride in a caravan of black SUVs- that alone shouts suspicious. Like, who do these guys think they are? They have high-security clearance but not brains.I pretend to be a good boy and leave my window down so I can “smell” and look for Maddie but even if I did smell her, I wouldn’t say anything.“1005,” When we get there, I will prepare your kennel and you will sleep. I nod and we pull into a shitty town with dim lights. My handler looks at his phone GPS and turns left to the hotel. When we pull in front of the building my handler scoffs and grabs his hand radio, “Make sure you bring in sheets and the issued blankets. The big boss will be mad if we bring home bed bugs again. This place gives me Norman Bare vibes.”The radio squeaks and there’s a reply, “Yes, I bet the grim reaper visits this place regularly.” They both laugh and I watch
Maddie POVI gasp as I see it- 2001.HOLY SHIT, these are lab wolves. These came from the place I escaped from but what are they doing out here in the wilderness? Why are they torturing packs?! What made them into Zobs?I check each of the 8 and they all have numbers. My heart beats fast and I feel dizzy. Did they unleash them into the population on purpose or is it our fault? Did they escape when we did?The day the test happened- we didn’t know what they were. I thought they were just an experiment gone wrong but now I see it’s more than that.I hear voices and duck out of the room quietly, following until I find them. Lucas is back and he’s talking to Dr. Wayne, “Has he doing?” he asks. Dr. Wayne wipes his brow and sighs, “Not good, Beta. His vitals are already dropping.”Lucas’s voice is shaky “The antidote?” he asks hopeful. “Can we try to make it again.? There are 8 this time. There has to be a way to run more tests.”Dr. Wayne sighs, placing his hand on his shoulder, “Lucas, n
Colt POVI’m awoken by Z kicking my cage, “1005, wake up!” he screams at me. I quickly try to forget my nightmare and I look around in a haze, “Shift. We need to get moving!” he commands. I look at the window and it’s still dark- what the hell is going on?A appears in the doorway as Z opens my cage door, “Z, the lead is only 2 days from here, but we need to move quickly.” He states. Z smiles evilly and I crawl out of my cage and shift as he throws clothes at me, “Hurry up! I won’t say it again!” he says, holding up the cattle prod. I hurry up and get dressed, “1001 made it that far?” I ask.Z and A look at each other and laugh, “No, 1005 we have coordinates on 1003.”I stand there in shock and Z smiles, “Yes, Ryan is what you called him, right? He was picked up on security footage near a forest a state away. Now that 1001 eludes us, we can at least bring home 1003.”My heart beats faster but I say nothing. I can’t stop them from hunting any of them. Maddie is the key to his puzzle b
My eyes slowly open and my vision happens all over again.When I wake up, Caleb is holding one hand and Lila is holding the other. My eyes try to focus on them, and I can hear Lila sniffle, “Oh, Maddie. I thought you were going to die!” she says, throwing her body on mine and hugging the air out of my lungs.I wrap my arms around her and shake my head, “No, I am fine. See.” I smile at her. Lila smiles back and Caleb squeezes my hand, drawing my attention to him, “Thank you.” He whispers. I smile and Dr. Wayne walks into the room.“Maddie, you almost died but your blood did cure the Alpha. I would like to try to use your blood to make an antidote.”I nod and he smiles, “Good but you need to get better and stronger first.”Nurse Brenda walks into the room with a sandwich and water, “Eat Hun, you need your strength.” I smile and take it, looking nervously around. This time there is no vision and I sigh in relief, but Ryan is in danger, and I have to find him.I slowly sit up and Caleb l
Colt POVThe SUV hasn’t stopped for hours but it finally does. A opens the back gate and he smiles at us both, “Anyone need a potty break?” He asks in baby talk. I stop my eyes from rolling and 2010 nods, “I do, sir.” A nods and 2010 comes closer to him and he unlocks his collar.“1005?” he asks. I nod and do the same and he unlocks mine too, “Hurry up. We are close to where we saw him on the cameras.” I nod and walk into trees behind 2010. I relieve myself and walk back to the SUV. A stands there waiting and hands us each a bag of beef jerky, “Get back in and eat up. We are going to need your tracking skills.”I look at 2010 and he climbs into the vehicle. A looks at me and motions, I nod and climb back in, and he locks us both back in tightly, “And 1005,” he grins, “You better not disappoint us. They left you to die. Remember that.”I nod and he closes the back gate. The SUV begins to move, and I eat my jerky, “They really escaped…” 2010 sighs. I nod, “They really did.”“But they le
Maddie I hug Lila goodbye as she has tears in her eyes, “We will be back, you know that,” I whisper into her ear. She wipes her eyes as she sighs. “I know, and I understand why I can’t come, but I will miss all of you. Even Ian,” she says, and I chuckle as I wipe the tears that fall from my eyes. Then, finally, I release her so Ryan can hug her next. “It’s only for a few days,” Andy reminds us both. We are going to kill the Norms and be home by Saturday.” He says with confidence. We both nod, and Lila sighs, kissing and hugging Ryan. I watch them as Colt grabs my hand, “She is safest here, you know.” He reminds me. I nod, “I know. I am glad she won’t be alone here but still.” I say, looking at the staff that will stay with her. She is my sister, and I will miss her dearly. “Is everyone ready?” Andy asks, and we all nod. Even though we have to leave Lila and I can’t see into the future like him, I know I am ready. This has been a long time coming, and I am prepared for it to end
ColtIt’s been three days since Andy showed us the basement where we would be training, and we have been down here every day ever since. There is so much equipment down here that it’s insane. When he said he had unlimited resources, he wasn’t kidding.“Duck!” Ryan shouts to me, and I do, avoiding Andy’s fist. We have been down here not only learning to control our powers but also learning to fight at the same time.“GO, Ryan!” Andy shouts, and Ryan closes his eyes, twisting into a twister. Everything in the basement gets windy, and Andy claps his hands, “See! You got it,” he says, and Ryan twists back into himself.“I still can’t believe I can do that,” he admits, and I nod, agreeing. Yep. None of us ever imagined he could become a twister. Even though he can do the things that Andy does, he is still not as powerful as him; none of us are.Ian walks down the stairs carrying a dead bunny, and I know it’s my turn. He grins evilly, and I roll my eyes. Andy’s sense of humor is sick. He
RyanI have never seen anything like this in my entire life. This house is massive, and there are so many rooms. My entire pack could live here. As we walk inside, we are greeted with a grand staircase, but there are two more entryways in either direction to explore the house.“This way first,” Andy says, pointing up the stairs. “I’ll give you the grand tour after dinner.” Lila smiles as she grabs my hand, and we begin to climb the stairs. I can hear her heart beating and feel her excitement through the bond. I know this must be exciting for her. By becoming Maddie’s friend, she was thrown into an extraordinary life.When we reach the top, there’s a long hallway and a vast living area. Complete with a traditional kitchen and a living room. It looks as big as Caleb’s packhouse. “Each of you will have a room up here on this floor. Mates, of course, share,” he says, winking at Colt and Maddie, and I mind-link her, “He’s weird, right?” Maddie chuckles and covers her mouth as he shows us
MaddieSilence ensues in the limo, and I eye my pack as Andy scrolls on his phone. “Do you really think we can trust him?” Colt’s voice comes through the group mind link, and Ian and Ryan begin to talk over one another.“No, why, how, where, no,”“STOP!” I shout. “One at a time,” I say as I eye Ryan; he is our leader; he should go first.“I don’t know, and look at this- a freaking limo, what the hell?” he responds, and I notice Andy’s eyes dart between us all- he knows were mind-linking, but of course, he would; he has a pack.“If there is something you guys want to ask me, just ask. I promise, I am an open book,” he says, placing his hands in his lap. I look around the limo at our pack and clear my throat. We definitely have questions.“How do you have money?” I ask. This is valid. Most of us ended up barely getting by.Andy chuckles and lifts his hands up as he speaks, “I was found by a pack after we all split up. I am now the heir to the pack and future Alpha. My adoptive father is
AndyIt has been nine years since I have seen any of them, but they look the same as they do in my visions. I know where they have all been- I keep tabs on my OG pack. Pack.That’s a funny word. One I didn’t know until I was in the outside world. I often wonder if I made the right decision leaving them. I have seen some of the stuff they have all been through, and I know it’s horrendous.I have watched all of them closely over the years struggle, but I have gained money and power. My powers are all of theirs but mixed. I have visions of the future, much like Maddie, but mine are more in-depth, and I can control when they come.I can bring people back to life, like Colt, and even kill them like Ian, but not with a kiss but with the flick of my wrist.Like Ryan, I can control the weather, but the elements, too: Wind, Earth, Water, and even Fire.I can manipulate feelings like Julia and feel them, but I don’t allow them to eat me like she has. She has no idea what she is truly capable
ColtI watch as the wind blows through Maddie’s hair, and I smile. My mate is so beautiful and intelligent. I am so happy the fake bond is gone, but how can we ever trust my evil twin now? He almost had us all fooled. I want to kill him, but I know none of them will let me, but only because of Selene.Maddie’s body suddenly stiffens and begins convulsing. Shit, what is it now?“Pull over,” Ryan shouts through the truck window. Ken stops the truck, and I cradle her head in my lap to save her from banging it against the metal sides. The convulsing only lasts a few minutes, and then her eyes fly open.“They are coming!” she shouts.“The lab? They found us?!” Ian asks, and Maddie shakes her head, trying to sit up.“The Mafia, Drive!!!” she screams.Ryan bangs on the window, and Ken begins driving as she looks at Julia, “A man with dark hair and dark eyes wants you back. I saw a tattoo of a hawk.”“That’s Antonio,” Julia’s voice is almost a whisper, “But don’t they all think I’m dead?”“Y
MaddieThe pain is excruciating, and I grip Colt’s shoulder as it radiates through my entire being. Even my bones feel on fire. Ryan made it sound like it would be more painful for Ian, but this is the worst pain I have ever felt in my entire life. It feels like part of my soul is literally being ripped away from my body.My stomach churns, and I hear Ryan say he has told hold the melted metal for two minutes, but this is beginning to feel like hours. Ian’s bond is being pulled from me, and even though that’s what I want, it hurts so bad. He removes the spoon from Ian’s neck, and I throw up into the dirt. The physical pain is no longer there, but I am left with a hole in its place.So- this is what it feels like when your mate dies? I can’t imagine losing Colt now, like ever.I wipe my eyes as I hear Ken speak, “Once everyone is ready to go, we can head toward Denver. We are only twelve hours away,” the words roll off me, but I am too weak to respond.“Are you okay, love?” Colt whi
RyanIs it wrong that I want to physically hurt Ian? I don’t think so. He ruined Marge and Ken’s lives when they wanted to help me- to help us. He doesn’t care about any of us. The only reason he dug the tracker out was because of Julia. I’ve heard finding your mate will make you do crazy things, but that could have been all for show too! What if there’s another tracker or has another way of communicating with them?We have no idea what he is capable of! If it were up to me, I would rip out his heart right here, right now. I hate him. He tried to hurt all of us for better treatment when he could have just had a better life, but I suppose that’s why he’s not a part of our pack anymore, anyway. He has always played into their games.I mean, he tried to kill Colt when he was three. That’s a toddler! Fucking sociopath.I put the lighter’s flame on the spoon, and it begins to heat up, and I look up as Lila’s eyes catch mine. I wish she could feel what I feel. I wish she knew how much I lov
MaddieWe have been driving for hours now, and I know we are all exhausted. Ken says we should be able to make it to Denver by noon tomorrow, but we need to take back roads. Ryan says even back roads may have cameras, so we need to wear hooded sweaters and sunglasses the entire way to Denver; once we get there, we can find Andy as carefully as possible.I still don’t understand Julia’s gift or what Selene expects us to do. We knew there was more than one lab, but I didn’t realize there were over one hundred. I don’t understand how she expects us to take them down even though we desperately want to.How can six wolves with gifts like ours take out over one hundred labs? Especially when some are even out of the country.Colt snores into my ear, and I kiss his forehead gently. I can tell he feels somewhat relieved. He is happy Ian’s ions are gone, but the bond isn’t. It is still there because we are marked and mated. If Ian wants to burn his mark, he can. I will not stop him, but I am pr