“That should be them now.” Joyce called from the kitchen, hearing the garage door begin rolling up.

  Amari stepped out of the hall. A ring scraped across her palm as she waited for the door to open. Raising up on her toes, she tried to see past Benjamin’s frame filling up the doorway. Her heart sank as he flipped off the light and moved to close the door. “Where is Nova?”

  “I am going to pick her up in a little. Faith surprised us while we were planning your surprise. Nova wanted to take a moment to get to know her long lost aunt? Is it an aunt or great aunt? Anyway, I didn’t think you would mind.” Benjamin laid his briefcase on the countertop. Stepping across the room, he leaned down and kissed his mother on the cheek in greeting.

  Amari breathed deep. Her mind conjured all the reasons she was being ridiculous, she wanted Nova to know her biological family. Nothing Benjamin said was alarming. Yet, something disquieted her spirit. She could feel the wolf within pacing back and forth and the familiar itch of fur wanting to press out of her skin. Amari smiled and gave Benjamin a hug. His five o’clock shadow scratched her temple. “I am sure she is enjoying that. Maybe next time just send me a text.”

  “Absolutely. I am sorry, it is hard to think of you being a mother. But you are right, for all intents and purposes, Nova is your kid, not an adult. I will make sure one of us texts you next time.” Benjamin fought rolling his eyes, trying to keep his face neutral.

  “Thank you.” Amari felt the frustration squeeze her throat. Their history wrapped around her neck, she fought back. These were special circumstances, Benjamin had a right to be perturbed with her hovering. Nova was emancipated, she lived as an adult for a bit, but that didn’t remove Amari’s need to protect or mother her.

  “Did mom invite you to dinner?” Benjamin pressed forward, oblivious. Messing with his bag, he idly asked as if she was always here.

  “Yes. It smells delicious. I am going to go clean up.” Amari kept her tone light.

  “You remember where you are going?” Benjamin smiled over his shoulder.

  “Very well.” Amari side-eyed Joyce.

  “Yes, I know that Benji snuck you in. That hasn’t been a secret in years. You are always welcome in our home.” Joyce smiled over her shoulder from where she supervised the cook.

  “Yes, Ma’am.” Amari felt like a teen again, chastised by Joyce. “I will be right back.”

  Amari slipped out the door. The whispers of Benjamin and his mother fading into the background. She looked down the right hall that housed the half bath and back over her shoulder. Confidence in her solitude, she slipped down to the left. For a full year in her teens, she snuck into the house. Memories of which doors and floorboards squeaked flooded her mind. The third door on the right, contained the room she sought.

  Looking around once more, she gently turned the handle but it stopped and her palm slipped around the polished knob. Her knee pressed into the edge of the line of carpet covering the hard woods. Two bobby pins scraped against her scalp as she pulled them free. Guilt paused her movements. Visions of disappointment on Joyce and Benjamin’s faces at discovering her snooping nearly stopped her. The agreement would also suffer if she was caught, Nova’s chances would be blown to pieces. Yet, her instincts screamed that something waited to swallow her whole.

  Youthful indiscretions moved her fingers dextrously, a soft click. Slipping into the Alpha’s office she carefully closed the door behind her. Her eyes drifted closed as she focused on bringing forth just her enhanced eyes. She felt the switch like a burst of warm air behind her lids.

  The office hadn’t changed in the ten years. Her wolf near the surface breathed in an intense and familiar scent that brushed a memory. It coated everything like the shades of grey as she moved deliberately around the office.

  Not a speck of dust rested on any surface. A family portrait hung straight over the mantle. Amari looked curiously at the youthful face of Benjamin, standing tall next to his father. The textures of paint spoke of the quality of a high price tag. Shelves boasted community awards and photos of the Morningstars’ at ground breakings and ribbon cuttings all across the city.

  Rich red oak shone in the limited light from beneath the blinds. A golden lamp curled over the forest green leather mat. Amari pushed back the large leather desk chair. Discreetly she pulled on the center drawer. Neat and orderly office supplies. Each drawer held similar, cursory glances yielded nothing out of place or unsavory. Guilt grew with each unfruitful search.

  The last drawer clinked against a lock. Amari popped up over the desk, glancing at an unbroken line of light under the door. Meticulously she used her makeshift tools to feel the lock give under her rusty skills.

  Hanging tabbed folders hung. Fingers gently pressed back the tabs. Taxes, recent pack census, other pack documents, Amari sat back on her heels. Her head tilted to the side. Pressing her hand down the inside she measured the depth of the drawer. Her fingers tapped a hollow sound. Painstakingly, she lifted the folders into a pile to the side. Dragging her fingertips across the bottom, she felt the board lift.

  A thick leather bound book wrapped with leather lines. Hunkered behind the desk, she read the first page. Her heart skipped. A few clicks on her phone she lined the pages up on her screen. Page after page, she sent them to Diana without any preamble. The few words she caught as she sent image after image, tore at her heart. Prices paid to packless. Year after year. Notes on requests and extra sums paid to create chaos with attacks. Pages of pack sizes and calculations of the strength of the veil. The last page turned, she snapped the photo and sent it off as the door clicked.

  Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

  “Oh, my dear, this is awkward.” Mitchell’s smooth voice slickly filled the air like spoiled syrup.

  “Amari, what are you doing?” Benjamin pressed his ears back. His eyes darted between his father and her and the open drawer at her knee. A little whine of surprise and disappointment colored his words.

  “I am following my instincts.” Amari struggled to swallow her anxiety. Tossing the leather bound book onto the desk with a hard thump, she stared between the two men. She risked a quick glance at her phone, the messages sent. Even if she didn't get out the evidence would be in the hands of her family. Slyly, she triggered the automatic brick function on her phone. Anything she could to give her family the element of surprise. WIth nothing but basic contacts and benign photos, she could give her family the head start by keeping the Morningstars in the dark. Her siblings could work wonders if she just gave them time. “How do you explain this?”

  “That is unfortunate.” Mitchell pressed out his aura. The odor grew, nearly distracting her with its power. It was Mitchell’s scent but it was not like she remembered. There was how Diana described fear, a little tang of pine mixed with the air before lightening but there was more.

  Amari felt her wolf cringe and shrink a little. She could only imagine what it would have been like if she was part of his pack. Resisting the pressure, she dead-eyed Mitchell. Relief washed over her, Nova would not be stuck in this pack, if it was the last thing that she did. The look in Mitchell’s eye sank her heart. “What are you going to do?” Amari settled her daggers on Mitchell, keeping as much steel in her gaze as she could despite the growing fear.

  “What I must to protect my pack.” Mitchell stepped over to the mantle. Pressing a spot on the underside of the mantle, he leaned back. “I am sorry Benjamin. She has obviously seen too much.”

  “Well. What if?” Benjamin searched the air as if it held some revelation that would get them out of this without choosing. His eyes settled on her phone. “If she didn’t send anything, we are still good. We can still implement the plan. Given time, they will understand why we did this. That we are doing the right thing.”

  “Fine.” Mitchell’s voice was disturbingly placating. “If she hasn’t sent anything she will be contained. If not…”

  Amari felt the threat and saw death in his eyes. Certainty settled over her, this would suck. Mitchell had no plans of letting her go. Her eyes jolted away from the darkness she saw deep in him to his son. The naive hope as he held out his hand. She almost felt bad as she dropped her phone in his palm. “He is not going to let me go. Ever.”

  “He will, eventually, if you don't spill the beans. He knows what you mean to me.” Benjamin's voice oozed confidence. Phone faced to her, he waited for her to press her thumb to the screen. He nodded as he went through messages, albums, and other data. “See Dad, nothing. She is clean, the plan is safe. We can get her on board.”

  Amari locked eyes with the steely gaze as Mitchell didn’t glance at the phone.

  “Alright son. We still need to take her someplace secure, until this is finished. Then we will see what she chooses.” The corner of his lips twitched, as Mitchell raised his brow minutely.

  “Promise me something.” Amari dragged her eyes off the gloating emptiness in Mitchell’s gaze. Benjamin smiled leaning in. “Nova knows nothing. Please do whatever you want with me. Just let her go back to Diana. Clearly Faith isn’t her real family. Right Mitchell.”

  “Smart girl. I needed her to want to stay.” Mitchell went to his decanter. Amber liquid poured into a crystal glass.

  “Why?” Amari squinted. Two large men filled the doorframe with two more behind them. “Clearly I am not going to get the chance to tell anyone.”

  “Ha.” Mitchell looked back at the stone faces of his men. “I guess you're right. I don’t need to tell you everything but this much. Perhaps. I have suspected for a while that you and your siblings would be the thorn in my side. The ones that might stop me. Keeping you close was just good strategy.”

  “Ah.” Amari huffed in understanding. “You were always a deviously clever man. Seizing opportunity. Hedging your bets.”

  “Thank you my dear, it is nice to be noticed.” Mitchell tipped his glass in cheers to her.

  “Benjamin did you know you were being used?” Amari’s heart did funny things in her chest.

  “I would have anyway.” Benjamin rubbed the back of his neck. “I always liked you.”

  “Funny way of showing it.” Amari mumbled under her breath. Her fingers danced on the smooth desk surface. “Too bad this is how it turned out.”

  “Just listen to what we have to say.” Benjamin stepped forward, hands outstretched, her phone forgotten. “I swear we mean well.”

  “Benjamin.” His name was full of soft dismay. Amari looked at him. Really looked. He was gone. Hook, line, and sinker. Nothing she would say would shatter the confidence he had in his father. Perhaps what he needed to believe. “You are not on the right side of this.”

  “With that, I am afraid it is time you took your leave my dear.” Mitchell smiled in cold satisfaction. “Send a message from her phone. Let her family know she desires to stay with us a while. Perhaps she will change her mind after a few trials.”

  “What?” Benjamin’s face whipped to his father’s.

  Amari watched fear and guilt fill his face. Two men step further into the room, circling around behind her. Their faces were familiar but names unknown. The swoosh of a successful message sent, her shoulders slumped like Benjamin’s. A little shake of her head, she lifted her chin. She would not cower.

  Large fists closed around her upper arms. She stepped forward sparing neither Morningstar with another glance. Guided down the hall, her eyes drifted closed. Alone in her forest, she reached out. “Ruac. I am sorry. I let our relationship fall away. I was wrong. Please. I need you.”

  “I always said I would never leave you, little one.” Ruac’s familiar deep grey rippled in absent wind. Understanding shone in the depth of green. “And I haven't, I am right here.”

  “I don’t know what is in store for me.” Amari sat cross legged in her forest. The pressure of strong fingers distracted her with bites of pain. “I am scared.”

  “I know. But I am with you. You are a part of my pack, I lend you my power.” Ruac pressed his forehead to hers.

  Fear ebbed away. Twisting her fingers in his fur, she felt the tear tickle her face as peace filled her. “Thank you.”