Ayla let out a nervous giggle.
—Mark is very busy in the last days, we hardly see each other, just the
night—I nodded. And I need to be distracted by something else,
I’m about to go crazy.
Maybe I made a mistake asking, but I couldn’t keep
my mouth shut.
—Jack seemed nervous about something when Mark came to call him by
morning—I changed the weight of my body to the other leg. —You know
anything?
Ayla looked away, felt her nervousness and tensed in it
moment in concluding that she knew something but didn’t want me
say. I watched the other females and they also avoided my gaze.
—Apparently I’m the one who doesn’t know what’s going on—
I crossed my arms.
Nothing irritated me more than lies or secrets, enraged me
when they hid the truth from me, leaving me completely in
dark, vulnerable. I lifted my chin as I faced the wolves, I could
use my mastery to get the truth out of them, but it wouldn’t come to this despicable point. They should trust me
truly, a loyalty won with courage and kindness,
not for power or dominance.
I let out a deep sigh, gesturing with my hand.
I won’t force anyone to tell me the truth, the choice is yours.
I turned my back on them and took a step away, but a voice
Smooth female made me stop.
—Why? —Vassa asked in a voice wire. —You have mastery of the
enough to force us to speak.
I swallowed hard before answering:
—I imagine you have suffered enough at the hands of males
who use their dominance to submit them to their desires, I do not
I can put them through that, it’s too dirty.
There was a tense moment of silence between us.
"Trust is hard to get."
—The world is not fair to us. I believe we females should
unite to survive in our midst, trust and protect each other,
like a real pack.
My words were sincere, there was no reason to lie or
invent things. I preserved truth and honesty, my parents me
taught to maintain a sincere relationship with wolves, always
offering the purest truth.
—Do you believe us? —The question escaped Lina, the hesitant tone. I turned and faced each of the wolves seriously and firmly.
—Why wouldn’t I believe you? —I answered your question with another. —You are so
strong and capable as the men of your Alpha, just believe and
fight for it.
Ayla moistened her lips, exchanging glances with the other females, a
silent conversation by the pack link they shared.
I hid a smile to notice that it was Ayla who had the loyalty of those
wolves, not Mark or Jack, but Ayla.
—Our pack has been suffering attacks in recent months—started
Ayla, low voice, cautious. —Many females were kidnapped and few
but something happened to them.
My heart beat hard in my chest, a chill went up through
my spine.
—What do you mean? —My voice wavered when I asked.
—They come back empty, dead inside—Raya answered. —No
talk about what happened, or about the kidnappings, they can’t
return to the life of before.
I closed my hands in fists, feeling the irritation boil inside me.
Jack had hidden that suit for me, about the female abductions
in Mark’s pack. But why? He had promised me never again
lie to me or keep secrets, he owed me an explanation for
your ridiculous attitude to keep me off that subject, especially
after all I fought to conquer.
"It’s good he’s not reluctant to talk, he’d hate to get away from my little boy
savage."
I let out the heavy air I was holding.
—The Supreme and Mark are working to find out about the
abductions—continued Ayla. —They increased the security of the pack and
They put more men they trusted to guard the perimeter.
Knowing that Jack was working to keep the females in
security did not completely lessen the anger he felt for him
hidden that from me, he wasn’t fair in keeping me out, and
we would need to talk seriously about your behavior. But
my heart pounded hard to know how he was determined
to keep the promise he made to me, end the kidnappings and bring
security for our people.
—We’ll end it—I promised those females. —I swear it will
finish.
—We trusted you, Hayley—said Ayla, eyes shone
intensely in the sun. —And we are grateful to the moon for bringing it to us
help.
Blinked to wipe the tears of emotion from my eyes, my chest
overflowing in gratitude, for being able to fulfill the promise
that I did to myself when I found out the real situation of my
people, of the females. They would return to live freely, without fear.
"A safer world for all of us"
—Thank you for the trust you have placed in me, I will not fail with
you—assured with the hoarse voice and they smiled in response.
Ayla opened her mouth to speak, but quickly stopped when she saw something
behind me, pressed her lips in a hard line, her gaze hardened.
—What happened? —I asked, wondering his behavior.
—That’s Victoria—said almost in a whisper. —She’s one of
survivors of the abductions, but never said anything about the kidnapping to
nobody.
I turned to watch the wolf before the lake that cut the city, she
wore a long, flowing white dress. The female was thin, her
small and fragile stature. Black hair flew in the wind, she was
from behind and could not see her face. I approached Victoria in steps
slow not to scare her and I stopped by her, she arched when I
saw and quickly bowed his head in a reverence.
—My lady—her voice was low, hoarse, as if she didn’t use it
for a long time.
I watched her under the eyelashes, her skin was pale, her eyes dark
like night and there was something deep and empty reflected in them. His
appearance was delicate and fragile, like a maiden broken by life.
—Hello, Victoria—said softly. —How are you feeling?
She turned her attention to the lake in front of us.
—Dead—replied coldly to her.
Rubbed my shivering arms, my heart was gripping with pain
that radiated from that female so wounded and bruised.
My only wish at that time was to find the wretches who did it so badly and to put an end to their existence. I held my fury and hatred to
don’t scare her anymore.
And you don’t want to end up with the one who made you feel dead?
Victoria pressed her lips dry and colorless, shrugging.
—Many have tried to find them, but no one has.
I dared to hold your cold little hand. Your body arch with mine
touch, sending me a pleading and frightened look.
Tell me who did this to you, I promise to finish him and everyone.
Victoria just kept staring at me, the dark eyes were shining
tears. She squeezed her thin fingers around the
my hand.
—Please—beg. —End my pain.
My throat closed, breathing properly was difficult.
—How can I do that? —I asked in a whisper.
Put me out of my life.
I refused, outraged and nauseous to understand what she asked.
—You can’t ask me that—I said nervous.
—Please—ask one more time. —I can’t take it anymore.
My eyes burned, felt like a hand closed around the
my neck, taking out the air.
—Who did this to you? Tell me something so I can
help,
She denied it with her head, squeezing her lips. —I can’t—whispered.
—Yes, you can—replied. —You can save other innocent werewolves,
Victoria, if you please.
Victoria continued with her gaze fixed on the lake, on the horizon to our
front. The wind shook her dark hair, clinging to her face
delicate. I closed my hands with his silence.
—I made a promise to end these abductions, help me fulfill
that oath—I asked the wolf. —Be brave, Victoria.
I needed to find the people responsible for the female abductions and attacks,
only feel peace when I fulfilled my promise. Still had much
what to fight and work for, and that subject was my priority in
momentum.
I felt Victoria’s slender hand hold mine, tears streaming by
your delicate face.
—There’s one among us—she whispered.
Is there a kidnapper among us?
She blinked.
—You’re the main target, Hayley, be careful. They’re after you.
My heart missed a beat with its revelation. A bad feeling
rolled my stomach and my knees almost failed.
—What?
—They want you because you know it would completely destroy the
Supreme. I would destroy everything they are struggling to build. I moistened my dry lips, the grip on my chest began to me
bother. I stepped away from Victoria’s touch and closed my hands in fists.
They were after me, not just to finish me, but to
hit and destroy Jack. I choked the monstrous roar that climbed through
my throat. First they went after my family and now I had
become the target.
A hand touched my shoulder. I turned quickly and grabbed my hand
unknown, digging my claws into the skin.
—Ai.
I moved away quickly to recognize Nick, he rubbed his wrist
bruised and wiped the blood fillets that ran from the scratches
caused by my claws.
I’m sorry I rubbed my sore forehead.
—Is everything okay? —raised an eyebrow when facing me.
I swallowed hard and pushed that discovery to the bottom of mine
mind, needed to talk to Jack as soon as possible. I raised the
shoulders and kept my spine straight.
—You scared me—I crossed my arms. —You’re lucky you didn’t get a punch
in the nose.
The male opened a sideways smile, denying with his head.
I didn’t mean to scare you.
I felt Victoria tense beside me, probably the presence of a
male bothered her. I stared at Nick. —Want something?
He turned his attention to the wolf next to me.
—I came to talk to Vic—smiled with his lips closed.
I frown at it.
—Do you know each other?
Nick put his hands in the pockets of the jacket he was wearing, his hair
dark swaying in the wind.
We’ve been friends for years, haven’t we, dear?
I looked at the wolf, waiting for an answer from her. She just waved
the head, embracing itself.
—Are you sure? —I asked Victoria, she avoided looking at me, but
agreed again, sighed exhausted.
I ran my hand through my hair, untangling the messy strands.
I don’t want to disturb you, excuse me.
Nick held my hand before I walked away, and kissed the back of
my hand, something shone in your eyes.
—This beautiful as always, lady—winked at me.
Thank you—I pulled my hand quickly.
I turned my back on them and walked back towards the house, with a
strange sensation squeezing my heart inside the chest. I turned my
head to see Nick and Victoria, he was close to her, almost
touching, but Victoria did not sketch any reaction, only indifference.
I bit my lower lip, tense.
I had become a target of the strays, they were after
me, and when I could find them... I’d finish them off one by
One, until I killed everyone in that stray pack.