Chapter 3

Taelin-

Arriving at the wall that surrounded my pack, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to continue. There was something eerie about the atmosphere that seemed to leak out past the walls. Standing just outside the gate, I got this sickening feeling when no one came out to see who had arrived.

Typically, one of the pack warriors, depending on who was on rotation at the time, would open the peek hole to see who was outside. Nothing happened though. When I looked up to the top of the wall, I didn’t see anyone walking around either.

The way the wall was built allowed others to walk on the metal platform that was just inside the border. I kept watching, hoping that I would see someone. I have even gone as far as calling out to alert them of my arrival.

“Mom?” I attempted to link with my mother, but I got no response.

“Theo?” I attempted, but still no response.

Why wasn’t anyone answering? Something was wrong, but I didn’t know what. The only way I was going to know, is if I entered the territory to see for myself. Technically I couldn’t get inside the gate without it being opened from the inside.

That is why I walked along the wall until I reached a small door that was just barely big enough for me to crawl through. Theo and I had made this when the wall had first been designed, hoping we could find a way to sneak out to not feel like caged animals all the time. The only difference now was I was a lot bigger than I had been.

My muscles were more defined, even my breasts and rear end were bigger than they had been at thirteen years old. Trying to squeeze through the opening was a lot more difficult than I imagined it would be. I couldn’t help but wonder if Theo had the same problems squeezing through it when we were younger.

I had been a small child, and he has always been more built than the others our age. I was going to have to ask him when I found him. Once I was inside the wall, I had to keep walking a little further to make it past the small forest that surrounded our small pack town.

I expected to hear something as I neared the edge of the tree line, but it was quiet, too quiet. Instead of just bursting out of the tree line to see what was going on, I felt this intense urge to be on alert. Even my wolf was on edge.

“What do you think is going on?” I asked my wolf, Samantha.

“I don’t know, but I don’t like it.” My wolf responded.

“You don’t think they were attacked, do you?” I asked, pausing to press my back against a tree at the edge of the tree line.

“I don’t smell any blood, but then again, we haven’t heard from anyone in months. I guess it could be possible that they are all dead, but we should still be able to smell a hint of iron in the air. Old blood still has a strong odor to it.” Samantha said, just as I peeked around the tree to see if I could see anything.

Something wasn’t sitting right with me when I noticed I didn’t see anyone out and about. I attempted to link with others in the pack, but still, I came up to nothing. Fear started to settle into the depth of my stomach, like a knife being twisted inside of me.

“Would it be better if we shifted?” Samantha asked.

“Not a good idea until we know what is going on. If we need to get out of here quickly, you won’t fit through the opening I just crawled through. Just be alert. Maybe they heard I was coming back and are trying to surprise us.” I said, trying to sound hopeful, even though I knew that I was wrong.

Taking a deep breath, I left the safety of the tree and made my way into the open field. My gaze moved around frantically as I tried to be aware of my surroundings. Nothing moved, but my heart started racing the closer I got to the school.

It was as if the hairs on the back of my neck were standing up, the closer I got to the school. With every step, I felt my feet getting heavier. Once I reached the entrance to the school, I had a feeling that I would find the answers I was looking for.

Before I could open the door, it crashed open, causing me to fall back on my butt. When I looked up, I was shocked at what I saw. Instantly I knew who it was, even past the grotesque features he had.

Now I knew the reason I hadn’t heard from Theo, he had been infected by the parasite. I was too stunned to move, to do anything really, besides look at him. I have seen what the parasite did to our kind, but this was the first time I knew them.

Even when his father had been taken over, I hadn’t been able to see his father. Instead of holding on to my training and attacking, I just felt the urge to run. Looking at him, I still saw the same Theo I cared deeply for, yet he was different at the same time.

His face was a mix between a wolf and a human, like he was stuck in between a shift to or from his wolf form. His limbs were elongated but they appeared more wolf than human. His eyes, however, were of the same mahogany brown eyes that Theo had.

Every other one I saw, had the eyes of their wolf, except for Theo. Was it possible that he was still in there and wasn’t entirely taken over by the parasite? Should I run, or should I try to reason with him and find out what was going on?

“Theo?” I asked, hoping he was still in there, based on the fact he hadn’t made a move to attack me yet.

Instead of a response, all I received was a deep animalist growl, which sounded like his wolf. He did, however, tilt his head to the side as if he were listening. Slowly I stood back up, careful not to spook him.

If I could reach him somehow, I was going to try. I know I was trained to kill our kind if they were like this, but I just couldn’t. If there was a way to save our kind, I didn’t want to kill him. I would find a way to save him.

“It is me, Taelin. Do you know who I am?” I asked, taking a step back while holding my hands out in front of me.

“Ta…” Theo attempted to speak, which gave me hope.

“Where is everyone?” I asked, holding onto the fact he still wasn’t making any move to attack me.

Unlike Theo, most that are affected by the parasite become mindless creatures and attack in a panicked rage. For some reason I do not understand, Theo seemed to be holding onto a sliver of his humanity. I just pray that everyone else was able to flee or something.

“Lef…” Theo tried talking again, his voice a mix between a growl and his voice.

The look in his eyes made me realize he was fighting for control. Every so often I would see his eyes flicker from his to that of his wolf. His wolf’s eyes were more golden brown, while his was a deep dark brown.

“I need you to try harder Theo. I want to help you, but I need to know what happened.” I spoke softly, much as I would to a child.

“Ran. Lef. Gone.” Theo managed.

It wasn’t much, but it was all I needed. I just prayed that I understood him correctly and everyone ran away. I don’t know why they didn’t do as they did to Theo’s father, but now wasn’t the time to figure it out.

“My mother?” I asked, hoping I would get a response.

I thought he was about to respond, but then his eyes flickered into his wolf eyes. This time instead of turning back into Theo’s eyes, they remained that light golden hue. He jerked forward, but then stopped.

As much as I wanted to get more answers, I knew I had to leave. Either that or I was going to have to kill him. If I left, maybe he would be able to stay here where he couldn’t get out. I could go on my mission and find a way to help him.

Tears formed in my eyes as I watched as he struggled to keep himself from attacking. I wasn’t sure, but I was wondering if it was the way he felt about me, that he could fight the parasite. I didn’t get the chance to think too much about it though.

Before I could even blink, he lunged at me with a deep growl that echoed around me. I quickly stepped to the side, dodging his attack. I watched as he tripped and fell on his face. I hesitated only for a second before I jumped over him and ran as fast as I could to the front gate.

Luckily, they weren’t as fast as they once were before they were infected, so I was able to get to the gateway before him. I had just opened it and stepped out when I saw him running towards me. As hard as I could, I pushed on the gate. When the gate shut, just before he reached it, I fell to the ground.

“I should have been here.” I whispered to myself.

Tears fell from my eyes as I thought about Theo and what had become of my pack. I wasn’t sure how much I could trust what Theo said, but I had to believe they managed to get free. There was nothing I could do about it now though.

Lifting my chin, I swiped away my tears as I looked at the vehicle I rented. Inside that vehicle was everything I needed to begin my mission. As much as I wanted to find my mother and the rest of my pack, I knew that I needed to begin the mission. If there was a way, I would find everyone.

Standing up, I made my way to the car. Before climbing in, I took one last look at the gate that led to my home. Silently I gave a vow that I would find a way to find everyone and save Theo.