Theo relaxed in the back seat of Duke's Jeep as they drove down the bumpy dirt road. Rosalind was fast asleep in his lap. She had shifted back into her human form during the night.
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡviSsvYhG7F
"Do you have any idea how much trouble we're in?" Theo whispered in her ear. "Now we're on the run thanks to you." He tried to be angry with her, but she looked so cute with her head resting on his shoulder. "Also, your brother almost got himself shot last night, but he saved us all in the end. I've never seen anything so stupid yet brave."
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMX3PXfuXbS
Chandler took a large gulp of his energy drink in an attempt to relieve his hangover. "I should have left you to be devoured by the alphas."
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE0m3j52syQ
Theo crossed his arms. "But you didn't."
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpYQbkBFJoS
After a few moments of silence, Heath spoke up. "You know, Chandler, I think you're jealous because Theo is smarter than you."
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡILbNMrSsVq
"Shut up, Heath."
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxoStaF4lRQ
Duke gripped the steering wheel and clenched his teeth. "I'm going to need all of you to stop bickering, or I'm going to drive this car into the river!"
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhwxbHoSdeO
"Hey, there's no reason to be so upset," Heath said.
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmjpHnUICAe
"No reason? Have you forgotten the fact we're wanted dead or alive by the Silver Huntsmen? They're most likely tracking us right now and there's no way we can hold them off alone. I'd say that's a valid reason to be upset.
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2GLTRCUAnL
"What if we weren't alone?" Rosalind asked.
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKyusT9OLR
Theo leaned back, startled. "How long have you been awake?"
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDvBSYDMhcx
"Long enough."
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWmpNdFon1u
Duke let out a sigh. "I don't know anyone outside the Silver Huntsmen who'd be willing to help us,"
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTupCj9luG3
"But Theo and I do."
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPzlJNaThF1
Theo raised an eyebrow. "We do?"
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgfPbjiiTtV
"My Gran only lives about half a mile from here. I'll ask her if we can stay, and I bet your stepdad has plenty of spare hunting traps we can set around the perimeter. "
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiHiSBBPURP
Theo fidgeted in his seat. "I haven't spoken to my stepfather since he found out I'm a werewolf. I don't know how he'll react to seeing me again."
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcrr2uNL33G
"Don't worry, Duke and I will go with you," Heath said.
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOSe5ULAf7n
Chandler almost spat out his drink. "Are you guys serious? You're gonna leave me alone with the crazy old lady?"
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYH19unxfD2
"Gran isn't crazy!" Rosalind frowned. "And you won't be alone, I'm going with you."
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgyYUqJHgAX
Chandler rolled his eyes. "Great."
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOAbI0pYa82
Duke let out a small chuckle under his breath.
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFygAXl4hhs
"What are you laughing at?" Chandler hissed.
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuF7Fy1Rrxh
"I spent all these years thinking you weren't afraid of anything, but now I see you're afraid of your grandma."
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTsjO3skGUF
Chandler crossed his arms. "She's scary when she's angry, and I forgot to get her birthday last year and the year before that..." he trailed off.
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtYkWuYQO6o
"You're unbelievable," Rosalind scoffed.
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSqQVo98Pwr
Duke dropped her and Chandler off in front of Gran's cabin.
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwlq26q0JNx
When Rosalind stepped out of the Jeep, Theo stopped her. "I have something for you."
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5CthYs6YNf
He opened the trunk and revealed the bow and quiver from the Sightless Caverns. "I found these in your room, and I figured you'd want me to bring them."
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrMFdMl6PFR
She threw her arms around him. "Thank you."
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtAFp7uHGdL
He returned her embrace. "Stay safe."
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsbZsTnAiNt
Heath honked the horn.
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgn9YJX8bJ0
Theo squeezed her hand. "I have to go." He climbed into the back seat of the car, and they drove away, leaving Rosalind and Chandler alone on the forest path.
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkwZ2iAl3u6
The pair stood in silence, staring at the log cabin for an uncomfortably long time.
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7eRoiGRgD
"Are you ready to go?" Rosalind asked.
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdIZZpjK6io
"No."
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqDcCZI0J1g
She sighed. "Why did you let me believe you were dead?"
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡecNPsENNfr
He looked away. "I don't know. I wanted to reach out to you but then, I thought maybe you were better off without me. I'm such a mess, Rosalind. I'm not the same person I was when we were kids. You deserve to keep those happy memories without knowing the kind of person I've become."
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0Jz0A6sWD
She gave him a tight hug. "I've missed you so much."
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrk6vJUfbnx
He awkwardly patted her on the back. "I missed you too, kiddo."
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkVUnHVnQfP
"I'm sorry I shot you in the hand."
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4UJ7xBGBET
I'm sorry I ruined your sweatshirt that was technically my sweatshirt."
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw2dBadQwKA
"Gee thanks."
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhHYnUO1UYJ
After the hug became uncomfortable, Rosalind said. "Let's go inside."
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaoHjIjDf8m
Rosalind knocked on the front door.
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAGGLurJC4k
"Go away!"
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVm3yalwSLz
"C'mon Gran, it's me." She peered through the crack in the door. "Let me in."
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ56PQI8Twez
"No."
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH92ALHtoU6
"I don't have time for this," Chandler murmured. He pounded his fists on the door. "Open up, old lady, or I'll tear the door down!"
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqIDLftfkW7
Rosalind grabbed his shoulder. "Knock it off, Chandler! She won't let us in if you threaten her!"
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLAtNijZB0U
Gran opened the door a few inches. "Chandler?"
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzmGsPHOLgm
He ran his fingers through his hair. "Hey, Gran."
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBB87lypYRV
"Is it really you?"
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWim7Kud23K
He let out a deep sigh. "Yeah, it's me."
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDrxCTNeUKY
She pulled them both inside, then slammed the door behind them.
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxdBo0G3IQH
Gran stood on her tiptoes, so she could get a better look at Chandler's face. Her eyes filled up with tears. "You've grown up so much." She slapped him across the face with her slipper. "Why did it take you so long to come home?"
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC2oe6eMaPQ
He shrugged off his leather jacket. "Listen, I'm sorry I didn't come back sooner, but I'm going through some personal stuff and I needed time to figure myself out."
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJslk0Ul5wV
"We're your family, Chandler. We've been waiting for you to come home for so long and whatever you're going through we'll understand."
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhG4PJ0JBJw
He turned away.
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHFthAX0uh1
"Wait!" Rosalind turned to Gran. "You knew he was alive this whole time?"
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoTuFkerlA0
Gran placed a hand on her shoulder. "I intended to tell you eventually."
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwKLKTcAi5S
"I can't believe this!" She broke herself free from her grandmother's grasp. "Were you eventually going to tell me I'm a werewolf?"
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡahBYynbAgW
Everything went silent.
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhXpr6k4b5Z
"I was going to tell you when you were older."
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbI6IlsVSzN
"When?"
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM1GdI8z4kP
"When you were ready to handle the news."
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRc9aUkWDqT
"When?"
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTYvFhFt6Ln
"I don't know!" Gran snapped. She let out a quick sigh. then regained her composure. "I was afraid if you knew about your brother, your Lycanthropy, and the Silver Huntsmen, you'd leave me to join them. I've been so lonely since Luna left me to join them, and I've enjoyed your company."
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8UyjASPljI
She balled her hands into fists. "I had a right to know the truth."
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ200wuH48Zm
Her expression turned somber. "I know."
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQntqdBQTt3
Chandler frowned. "I didn't come here to deal with family drama. We're here because we need your help."
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM7oQPPabr5
Gran placed a finger on his lips, silencing him. "You want to know if you and your friends can stay here? Right?"
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr5aRQ8cN28
"How'd you know that's what we were going to ask you?"
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhwvct6Ns0R
She stared out the window. "I could smell them outside. Listen, I don't trust the Silver Huntsmen one bit, but I trust my granddaughter if she trusts these boys, I suppose they can stay for a little while. "
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32Wn7xI9nB
"What happened between you and the Huntsmen?" Rosalind asked.
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmvxVIRWSHl
"They took me in when I was a cub. I was all alone and too naive to know any better. They trained me to kill, and I was good at it. The Council of Alphas was very impressed with my skills and I quickly climbed their ranks. I became the youngest Pack Mother in Silver Huntsman history. Several years later, I gave birth to twins."
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsH8nIxZvNA
"Twins?" Rosalind leaned forward in her chair. "I had no idea you had other kids besides my mom!"
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ1ZIlgJEhM
She let out a somber sigh. It's not something I like to talk about, but your mother had a twin sister."
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpiwpOuze8a
"What happened to her?"
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCteM1JoRqH
"She was a runt. When she was young, I kept her by my side at all times, but as she became more independent I couldn't keep track of her. She couldn't run as fast or fight as hard as the other wolves, which put the pack in danger. The Council ordered me to eliminate her."
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe49m4e8fn9
"I didn't know there were any other runts in our family." Chandler's expression went cold. "What did you do to her?"
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvPDDTLElnG
"Nothing." Gran refused to make eye contact. "She snuck out one night while she was in her wolf form, and she was captured by a group of hunters camping out near our den. They didn't know she was a werewolf they assumed she was an abnormally large wolf. They thought she'd make a nice trophy, so they shot her. I watched everything from a distance, but I did nothing. I told myself her death was necessary to the survival of our kind. Over the years, the guilt ripped me apart from the inside, and eventually, I couldn't bear it anymore. I resigned from the Silver Huntsmen and never looked back."
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5U5vdcIynD
"You let your own daughter die because she was a runt?" Chandler hissed. His voice was full of venom.
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtgmGQWErWE
"Believe me, not a single day goes by that I don't regret letting her go."
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuz6AxN5TXO
He clenched his fists. "How am I supposed to trust you now?"
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsxrNQu3CXR
Gran sighed, stood up, walked into her bedroom, and closed the door behind her. A few minutes later, she returned holding a toy wolf.
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkRT4EKrNKn
Rosalind examined the stuffed animal. A wave of childhood memories she'd nearly forgotten came rushing back to her. Hey! It's Mister Fluffy! You used to play with him all the time!"
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ70IsvngAdx
Chandler held the toy close to his chest. "Yeah, I did."
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBhAv8Exu9
"It was my daughter's favorite toy when she was alive. I gave it to you on the day you were born. I promised that I would love and protect my grandkids no matter what."
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡow1w9aWhHX
Chandler stood up and stuffed the toy into his pocket, hoping no one would notice. "I still don't trust you."
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ30LQg3HPXb
Rosalind's stomach churned with guilt. "Gran, I'm sorry, I gave away the enchanted locket, but someone else needed it more than I did."
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdp4gTap7Zw
Gran placed a hand on Rosalind's forehead to gauge her temperature. "Are you feeling alright?"
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb3w1sJef3P
"Umm... Yes, why?"
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFH5vb4Syk5
"Because you've been wearing your it this whole time.
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJGDk6pcUP
"What?" She glanced down and sure enough, the heart-shaped locket dangled around her neck.
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn5d5rSeUPO
"Your Mixedblood friend gave it back to you after your little incident at the banquet."
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO2mBYAukGF
"Why didn't he tell me?"
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFwshGBTuan
Chandler placed a hand on her shoulder. "He didn't want you to worry."
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡorXmxwH72V
"Why didn't you try to stop him?"
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwIrugCiOth
"Because it's none of my business."
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq5JtkvGwl3
Rosalind pushed his hand away.
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZs5HU6qLuS
The sound of a knock on the front door started them.
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL6TvaEN3Jo
None of them made a sound as the intruder scratched at the lock.
333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm50ZmSbJyi
The door flung open. Gregorio stood in the doorway. "I need to speak with you!"
ns3.145.116.193da2
