Chapter 65: Chapter 3

HALEY

Castor encourages us to eat the rest of the food before we go, even though night has already fallen. It’s the most food we’ve had in years, so we accept it, then hide behind a tree to shift into our wolves.

Our clothes are torn and barely fit anyway, so we decide to leave them behind. Castor leads the way and we continue on in silence.

The night grows darker and the moon is only a crescent. The foliage begins to thin and the scent of the Redd territory caresses our senses. Glory and I stay two wolf lengths behind Castor as we come closer to the border.

We don’t know anything about the guards or their routine. We hope we can just sneak by them, but Castor has another idea. He follows the border purposefully to encounter the ever-alert guards.

He lunges with no hesitation and I rush to follow.

The tall, thin guard is incredibly fast and catches me before I can even yip a warning to my sister. His arm crushes my throat and I gasp for air, but there is none. ~Haley!~ My sister cries out to me, but my struggle becomes weaker and I fade away into darkness.

I wake up when my body is tossed onto some form of padding. A blanket is thrown over me and an alpha command tells me to shift. I shift even though his command holds no sway over me.

I look to my left to see Glory in a hospital bed covered with a blanket beside me.

“Let me guess. You were promised a place in a pack if you helped some jackass take me out.”

The guy is gigantic. His arms are pure muscle crossed over his thick chest that has to be the size of a boulder and just as solid. I would say he’s handsome except for the glare he’s giving us.

Clearly, this is Alpha Redd. I would know it even without my visions. Another guy almost as big is leaning against the wall with the same pose. I’m guessing beta.

~Glory, don’t say anything, it’s Alpha Redd.~

“You’re lucky my guards didn’t kill you,” he states matter-of-factly, then takes a step forward and stares us down.

Glory can’t handle it and cracks under the pressure.

“Yes, alpha. You’re right about all of it.”

“Glory. Hush.” Damn it. ~Glory, keep it together, he’s not even putting out his alpha vibes.~

He growls and stares me down, but I’m not afraid.

“I can kill you now, if you would prefer.” He could, but he won’t or he already would have.

“No, please don’t, alpha.”

Glory is scared, I get it, but come on. ~What part of shut up don’t you get?~ He raises one of his eyebrows as he looks Glory over.

She doesn’t even listen to me and continues to sing like a canary.

“Haley is just protective of me. We’re all each other has. Our dad went rogue after our mom died and the pack didn’t want responsibility of us. We’re kind of a handful.”

~Goddess, Glory. Just tell him our life story. Why don’t you just tell him every day of our lives while you’re at it.~

~This is all your fault.~

~What is? The fact that we are in a hospital bed instead of sleeping on old yoga mats we swiped from the dumpster of a gym? Yeah, you’re welcome.~

That tough façade of his softens and I know that even though he’s probably pissed, he’s not going to hurt us.

“What pack are you from?”

“Weston.” I call out before Glory can answer. They both look at me, Glory in confusion, Alpha Redd with contempt.

He turns back to stare Glory down knowing she’s more likely to talk since she already has. Finally, she shuts her damned mouth. He pushes further adding some alpha vibes and I know she’s fucked.

“Don’t make me ask again.”

“Roberts.” Glory collapses under the weight of the alpha vibes, not that I blame her there.

“How old were you?”

None of your damn business!

“We were ten. We’re fourteen now.” I roll my eyes. She really just can’t help herself.

A sweet-looking nurse with a soft smile walks into the room. Something about her makes me look at the beta and I wonder if there’s a family tie. Alpha Redd’s whole countenance changes and he smiles gently back to the nurse.

~Ha! I knew it. He is good and we’re completely safe.~

The nurse’s voice is so soft and sweet when she speaks.

“You two will stay here tonight. There’s a shower through that door. I’ll bring you both some food and clothes. Doctor’s orders.” She turns to the alpha and continues to speak.

“Alpha Redd will decide what to do with you tomorrow.”

“Get some rest.” Alpha Redd gives me a hard stare.

“You will not lie to me again. Your sister’s life depends on it.” If not for the fact that we’re being fed and clothed I might have believed him capable of killing us. I know he is capable of killing, just not two female pups. He is a good guy and I see right through him.

He and his beta leave the room and Glory finally relaxes.

“That was so scary.”

I roll my eyes, “I don’t know why you’re scared. I told you he wouldn’t kill us. Look, we get to take a shower, have food and they’re going to bring us clothes. I’d say it was a pretty productive night.”

“Except for the fact that the guard nearly choked you to death. I tried to get him off you, but the other one did the same thing to me. Do I have a bruise or anything?” She lifts her chin and there is slight discoloration, but it will be gone by morning.

“You’ll be fine. I’m going to take a hot shower and just stand under the spray. I wonder if there’s shampoo…” I get off the bed and walk into the bathroom. I look over the bottles and open every one, giving them each a small sniff.

“There’s conditioner! Ooh, it smells good too.”

Glory rushes into the bathroom and starts sniffing the bottles. I turn on the hot water and just stand under the spray. Eventually, Glory takes a turn under the water while I wash. We switch up and I rub conditioner into my hair.

I nearly hum at how smooth my hair feels.

Scrubs, hair and toothbrushes, and food are all waiting for us when we get out of the shower. I could get used to this. I take the time to brush my hair before eating the beef and potatoes.

After eating until I’m full, I rinse my mouth out and brush my teeth and lay out in the comfort of a bed and a warm blanket. I don’t even mind the slight chemical smell.

“You’re in my bed.”

“Like it matters, they’re exactly the same. Do you want me to brush your hair?”

She shakes her head. “I’m enjoying how soft it feels.”

“I’m going to sleep. Sweet dreams.”

“Yeah, you too.”

I sleep like a baby, and soon my dreams turn into visions. I see Jason, Virgil, and Abel swinging on a rope and splashing into the water. Glory is awkward at what appears to be a school.

I see Natalie and a tanned man kissing. Alpha Redd breaks Alpha Roberts’s neck again. He kisses the copper-haired girl I assume is his mate.

An older Owen Roberts fights the tanned guy. Wait, I think that’s Damon Ramirez. That can’t be, those two are friends.

A white-haired woman who looks quite old peers straight at me. I’ve never seen her before, but she emits a lot of power. Her skin is wrinkled like a scrunched-up brown paper bag.

“Seer. You’ve finally arrived,” her voice is crackly and rough. “Your arrival makes way for the return of the rogue alpha’s heir. It is your duty to restore him. Seek out the fallen star. She will help you.”

I wake with a start, holding my aching head. Glory continues to sleep peacefully, and the room is still bathed in darkness. I press the button that’s hanging from my bed.

The nurse from earlier pokes her head in, and I look up at her with my head still between my hands. The pain just doesn’t want to let up. I grunt out, “My head. It’s killing me.”

She nods and leaves the room. In no time at all, a man in a white coat walks into the room. “You’ve had quite the night. I’m Dr. Mason.”

He sits at the foot of the bed, then softly places his hands over mine. A comfortable warmth flows into my head, and the pain dissipates.

I relax and lay back into the pillow. “You’re a healer.”

His lip twitches up. “I am, but what are you?”

“Just an orphan.”

“An orphan with power stronger than I’ve ever felt. Don’t worry, I’m not going to say anything to anyone. Doctor-patient confidentiality.”

“That makes two of us. I’m not saying anything either.” Gosh, am I always so bitchy? He did make the pain go away, but I don’t know anything about this guy.

“Thank you for getting rid of the headache.” There, not so bitchy. He gives me a nod and a half smile, then leaves the room. I curl under the blanket and get back to sleep.