Chapter 68: Chapter 6

HALEY

We tour the territory and meet pack members. Kenneth and his mate Audrey invite us for dinner with their two pups.

Uncle Ryan treats us like princesses. On Saturday morning, we’re brought to the training facility and begin learning how to throw a punch and how to get out of a choke hold.

Kenneth tells us to start running every day to build up our endurance. Glory grunts, but I’m all for getting stronger. By Monday morning, we’re used to our new home and our new life.

Glory and I decide to wear matching clothes on the first day of school. It’s our way of being a team. Although Glory is more girly, I don’t mind a skirt, so we dress in red and black skirts with black vests and boots.

Uncle Ryan cocks his brow when we sit down for breakfast. “Nope! Go change right now. Where did you even get those skirts? They’re way too short.”

“From Cambry,” Glory answers, and Uncle Ryan growls. Cambry is a she-wolf who runs a small bar in no-man’s-land. She’s Audrey’s sister and is really nice.

I’m pretty sure she has a thing for Uncle Ryan. Not that I blame her—Uncle Ryan is very attractive. “Yeah, go change. I don’t ever want to see those again. Hurry up or you’ll be late for school.”

I grab Glory’s hand and we race back up the stairs. “I guess we’re stuck with jeans,” Glory pouts. “Didn’t you pick out any skirts? I have a denim one.”

“I guess that’ll work. Dark wash?” I nod and we both go to our rooms to change. We look each other over then switch our shoes to leather sandals.

Blaine is eating when we make it back down. “So what grade are you in?” I bite my lip and look to Glory. She just shrugs.

“They’re in the ninth grade. That’s only because of their age. School is going to be hard for them since they’ve missed so many years,” Uncle Ryan confirms.

He’s talking directly to us, but answering Blaine’s question. ~Dad, are they going to be okay?~ I hear Blaine ask, but I don’t hear Uncle Ryan’s response. Judging by his smile, I think he has faith in us.

“I wonder if we’ll know anyone,” Glory practically whispers. “There are a few pack members in your grade. You’re already signed up for a lunch tab, so you can get whatever you want. Your teachers will have the supplies that you need for your classes.”

“Hey, girls. I thought you could use these,” Louisa enters the kitchen with a navy blue and a light purple backpack. “I filled them with the essentials. Hurry up and eat, you need to get going.”

We receive our backpacks then finish eating. Uncle Ryan has a meeting so he gives us all a kiss then we ride the bus to school with Blaine.

“Is that Virgil?” Glory asks as we walk through the doors of the high school. I look where she’s pointing. “It is. I wonder who else is here?”

Virgil spots us and heads over to say hello. “Hey. We were wondering what happened to you two.”

“Same here,” Glory tells him. “What happened to Johnny?” Glory nods his direction. He’s sporting a cast on his leg and using crutches.

“Johnny’s dad showed up at the camp. He killed his mom so Johnny came to the Redd Pack trying to get away, but he got caught up between some guards that were already fighting. He’s good now. Anna and D are here too. Anna is in the sixth grade and D is in kindergarten. She tried to come looking for me. You wouldn’t happen to know anything about that, would you Haley?”

I shake my head, but the look on Virgil’s face says he knows better. I had no idea everything would happen so fast and that all of the orphans would end up at the Redd Pack.

Glory is completely shocked by all the information. “This is all so crazy,” she comments just as the bell rings. We say goodbye then look for our class.

I spot Alpha Roberts’s son Owen and my mind goes blank as a vision catches me off guard. Owen Roberts has the copper-haired girl that slapped Alpha Redd pinned against a rock wall and he forces his hand down the front of her pants.

I shake my head and try to clear that horrible image. I think she’s Alpha Redd’s mate. After all the visions I’ve seen of her, it would make sense.

Glory shakes my shoulder causing me to bump into some stragglers. “Ugh. I hate it when you do that. What are you staring at?” She looks toward the classroom door that I saw him walk into.

“Nothing. Let’s go, we’re going to be late.” Just as the words leave my mouth, the tardy bell rings. Damn it!

Our teacher cocks his brow when we walk into the room. He points out our seats, not even bothering to separate us. “There’s no point since you’re going to share answers anyway. Just don’t interrupt the class.”

Glory and I both nod and take our seats. The principal, Mr. Newman, walks in to talk to the teacher. He gives us a nod and a smile then leaves the classroom.

Our teacher begins the lesson and I follow along as best I can, but I can tell Glory is struggling. Our teacher pulls us and the strays in our class aside to help go over anything we don’t understand.

The strays is what everyone started calling us from the camp. I guess it’s better than being called rogues.

We run into the rest of the strays after school. Hannah and Natalie give us hugs. “You guys are safe. We were so worried,” Natalie says.

“I wasn’t. You two always seem to come out on top of any situation,” Virgil strolls up behind us. He gives me a wink then gets distracted as he looks toward the parking lot.

I look just in time to see the copper-haired girl with a fresh mate mark climbing into a truck that’s way too big for her. I look back at him in question. “That’s Luna Kya.”

“Kya,” I grab Virgil’s arm. Everyone else has climbed on board the bus. “Would you believe me if I told you she’s in trouble?”

Virgil looks straight into my eyes. “If it were anyone else I would doubt, but you always seem to know things.”

“Owen Roberts is going to hurt her. You have to protect her. Keep him away from her.” I bite my lip and wait for a response of any kind.

“Haley. We’re going to miss our bus. Blaine is holding it for us. Come on,” Glory grabs my arm and drags me away.

“I’ll look out for her,” Virgil calls out then gets on his bus. I minutely relax then find the seat next to Glory.

I close my eyes and try to focus on the girl, Kya. I see her palm light up white as she works with Natalie. Kya waves goodbye to the doctor who soothed my head.

That’s her father, and she’s a healer, I quickly realize.

She’s standing in front of what appears to be a college. She’s wearing a doctor’s coat and her belly is pregnant. Alpha Redd kisses her cheek as he holds his little heir.

“Damn it, Haley, wake up!”

I open my eyes to see Glory glaring at me. “Stop doing that. We’re home.”

I grab my backpack and climb down from the bus. Goddess, I hope Kya is all right. She has such a perfect life ahead of her.

Uncle Ryan greets us as soon as we walk through the door. “How was your first day?” he asks, then kisses our heads.

“It was hard, but we knew the strays,” Glory answers.

“Strays?” Uncle Ryan looks between us.

“That’s what everyone calls the pups from the camp,” Glory answers, and I grab an apple to munch on.

“That’s…” Uncle Ryan starts.

“Fucked up in my opinion,” I mumble, but of course, he hears me.

“Language, Haley. But that is pretty messed up. Are there many?”

“Nine from the Redd Pack, and they include us even though we’re not packless anymore,” Glory finds a banana and grumbles.

“In all fairness, we were just as packless as them. Shit, we’ve grown up together for almost five years, you know,” I try to make a point, but Uncle Ryan growls at me.

“Oh, shit, sorry. Fuck, I mean, damn. Sorry. Sorry, Uncle Ryan. I’ll work on it, I promise.”

Blaine is sitting at the table laughing at my blubber of obscenities. Glory is staring between me and Uncle Ryan. I bite my lip and look down in submission.

Uncle Ryan clears his throat. “Go ahead and finish your snack, then start on your homework. This is to be your daily routine. Once homework is finished, you’re free to do what you want.

Dinner is still at six and bedtime is nine for school days.”

“No fair,” Blaine pouts. “Why is my bedtime eight?”

“Because you’re seven years old. And because you tend to be a pain in the butt when you’re tired.”

He turns back to me and Glory. “Understood?”

“Yes, Uncle Ryan,” we answer simultaneously. He looks at me once more then a smile cracks his face. He shakes his head then heads to his office.

I finish my homework then head downstairs. No one else is around so I sit and meditate. I think of no one in particular, but thoughts of the strays have been on my mind.

I see Jason working in a diner. An older, very attractive Virgil is studying a huge book. Natalie is making out with…Damon Ramirez?

The lucky bitch, he’s so hot. Martha pops in my head as she shoots at a group of wolves as they rush toward the camp.

I gasp and look around. Uncle Ryan has his arms folded across his thick chest as he silently watches me. I wait for him to speak.

“I don’t think you’re daydreaming. Your forehead changes color, did you know? It’s very subtle, but it’s there, like a little crescent moon. I’ve seen that before.”

My cheeks warm up and I have no answer. “Go change into your wolf. I want to see if my suspicions are correct. Use this bathroom so you don’t have to go up the stairs.”

“Yes, Uncle Ryan.”

I rush to remove my clothes then softly scratch at the door.

Uncle Ryan opens the door and squats down to look at my forehead. “It’s hard to see, but it’s there.”

~You’ve seen it before?~

“Yes. I knew a set of twins when I was a child, my babysitter. The girl was the older of the two and she had that mark. She met her mate then died the instant he marked her. Her brother killed himself having never found his mate.”

Uncle Ryan scratches my wolf head.

~So if I find my mate, we’ll die? I’m scared. I don’t want Glory to die. I don’t want to die.~

“I think you’re more special than you know, but how is the question. Don’t fret on it too much. We’ll figure it out before you ever meet your mate. We have time. Why not go for a run before dinner?”

~Only if you join me.~

“You got it.”