Chapter 6

NATHANIEL

"He was also found dead. Murdered the way the other two had been. An injury to the head," Kai said as we made our way through the woods.

"Was there a human with its gut ripped out beside the werewolf just like the last time?"

"Yes. This one is more severe. All her limbs were separated from her body. Half of her head is crushed."

I go to the scene, and I had to agree with Kai. This was more brutal. Her limbs were separated from her body, and the body itself was mauled beyond recognizing. Worst of all, the girl looked young. She was no more than fifteen if my guess was correct.

"I found her when I was doing security checks with Kai," Logan said.

"I have a theory," Kai said. "I think these wolves are being tested."

***

"I got it," Kai said, bursting into my kitchen with a crazed look in his eyes. His chestnut brown hair flew in all directions while his gray eyes danced with accomplishment.

He was so committed to what he found out that he didn't say a word about Ayra who sat at the dining table, shoving food into her mouth.

That was exactly how I'd found her when I returned from my run/security check in the woods. She didn't say a word as I moved around the kitchen, going about making breakfast for myself.

She had a plate full of food, but of course, she didn't bother making anything for me. That would be too degrading for her.

Now she pretended to focus on her food, casting side glances at Kai.

"What did you find out, Kai?"

"The manufacturers. They don't stay too far away from here. I ran a search on the maps of the surrounding area, and guess what I found? An important ingredient used in making the poison grew just on the outskirts of the woods. Guess what's also there? An abandoned building rumored to be haunted by ghosts."

"So, you're saying they stay in that building?"

"It makes sense," Ayra mumbled to herself, but I picked it up with my enhanced hearing.

"What?" I asked.

"If you go looking for these people, the last places you'll check are the ones close to you. You'll broaden your search while they continue what they're doing right under your noses," she explained.

"Bingo," Kai said with a grin. "Finally someone who can keep up with me. Not that I'm saying you aren't smart," he added when I glared at him. "It makes sense too. The plant grows near them. All they have to do is pluck it, and start work on it."

I clamped my hand on his shoulder. "You did well. I'll get ready, and we can go check this place out."

"Can I have this?" Kai asked Ayra, gesturing at her plate.

She beamed at him. "Sure."

I could barely hold back my snort as I made my way to my bedroom. The door opened shortly after I locked it, and Ayra walked in.

"I want to come with you."

"No."

"Nathaniel. You are talking about that Wylim poison, right? The werewolves that attacked the couple had that poison in their bloodstream. If I go with you, I might be able to regain some of my memories. Exposure helps with regaining lost memory. I might recognize something on the way."

She had a good point, but I was still reluctant to let her follow. We didn't know what we were walking into, and it could very well be something that could cause great harm to her.

The Pack Enforcers were trained for situations like this. She wasn't. She had zero knowledge of what to do if it was a trap.

"This could be a right step in earning my forgiveness."

I shook my head at her. "Could be?"

"Marking is something intimate and precious between werewolves. To add insult to injury, you locked me in here like I'm some child."

"I did it to protect you. You were asleep, and I didn't want to wake you."

"I'm coming with you. Since you're trying to 'protect' me, surely it won't be too hard to look out for me out there.

She walked into the bathroom before I could reply. I followed shortly after, surprised to find her brushing her teeth with one of my spare toothbrushes.

"You locked me in your house. I had a lot of time on my hands with nothing to do," she explained.

"In other words, you're saying you snooped around."

She shrugged, spitting out the toothpaste. "Same difference."

I walked toward the shower, kicking off my clothes as I went, giving Ayra a full view of my back.

"What are you doing?" She snapped.

"Why? Are you bothered?"I asked, turning on the water.

"No. Why would I be?" She rushed out, turning away from me.

"That's what I thought," I said with a smirk, stepping into the shower.

I pretended not to notice her eyes were on me through the mirror, her gaze filled with desire. Our eyes locked as I brought my hand down to stroke my cock. I groaned, shutting my eyes as I pictured Ayra on the floor below me, taking every inch of my cock into her mouth.

"Fuck," I groaned, stroking harder.

I could hear her breaths coming out in short pants. I opened my eyes once again to find her still staring at me, this time facing me directly. She was no longer trying the fact that she was watching me.

I held her blue eyes with mine, stroking faster. It wasn't long before I could feel my orgasm creeping up on me. I threw my head back with a groan, letting my orgasm rake through my body.

When I opened my eyes, she was gone.

***

AYRA

What was wrong with me?

I'd stood in the bathroom, watching him bring himself to pleasure like some creep. Not only did I stare at him, but I'd also been turned on.

I left immediately he let his pleasure consume him, not trusting myself not to get into the shower with him, and beg for his touch.

I'd made sure to avoid him since then, but obviously, time was up for that. We were close to the abandoned building.

"Ayra," Nathaniel said, yanking on my shirt to hold me back in place. He held me against a tree while the others pretended not to listen to our conversation. "Stay behind me. Do you understand?"

I was distracted by a moving figure dashing past a tree in front of me.

Nathaniel grasped my chin roughly, forcing me to look at him. "Do you understand?"

"What?"

He glared at me. "I knew bringing you here was a bad idea. Stay behind me at all times. Are we clear?"

"Yes."

"Good." His gaze lingered on mine for a few more seconds before he pulled away from me. He addressed his men next. "Be on the lookout for anything suspicious. Just as we discussed earlier, Logan will stay here with five of you. The remaining five will come into the building with Kai and me."

Kai cleared his throat, nodding at me.

"And Ayra," Nathaniel added reluctantly.

We burst out of the woods, and the first thing I saw was a wooden gate. It was broken on its hinges, and wide-open, giving us a view of the front yard of the mansion.

Bones and skulls littered the floor, alongside some dried blood. The blood looked fresh too.

I couldn't help but wonder if these were the skeletons of the humans that had faced torture at the hands of whoever ran this poison-manufacturing business.

"I expected blood and pieces of humans laying around. Skeleton is way better," Kai whispered.

"Looks like there are four floors. We'll split, and take each floor in twos. Ayra, you're with me," Nathaniel said, kicking down the front door.

"Fuck me sideways. I take back what I said outside. This is horrendous," Kai said, his face twisted in disgust. "It's like a massacre in here."

This was more sickening than the dried blood and skeletons. Dead bodies littered the floor with their intestines torn out. Some had their face badly scratched up, while others were completely missing their heads.

"They were killed recently. Probably some hours ago. They're not decayed yet," Nathaniel mused. "Two of you stay downstairs and look out for anything. The rest of you, come with me."

We climbed up the stairs, splitting on the way until it was just me and Nathaniel on the top floor.

"You check one room, and I'll check the other," Nathaniel said, opening the door to a room.

"Uh, Nathaniel," I called, reluctant to go into the room alone. There was something about the house that gave me the creeps.

He turned to look at me over his shoulder. "Hm?"

"I don't think it's a good idea for us to split."

"We're just checking the rooms. You'll be fine. Go on."

I sucked in a huge breath, twisting the handle of the door. It turned in my palm, allowing me to step into the room.

It was dark, and the irrational fear of the demons entering my room last night had me backing out.

"Nathaniel, I can't," I said, my breaths coming out in short pants. "I- I can't."

Nathaniel walked out of the room, looking more confused than ever. He studied my face for a while, and after finding whatever he was looking for, his face softened.

"You don't have to go into the dark room if you don't want to. You can stay out here. I'll go in and look for a light switch. The electricity still works."

I nodded, backing up against the wall. "I'll wait until you find the light switch."

He nodded before walking into the room. I could hear him moving around in the room, but my focus was drawn away from that when I saw black smoke coming out of the room he just left.

I didn't get the chance to scream before I felt a hand grab my throat.

Not again.

I knew something was wrong with this place. I tried to scream, but the sound didn't come out. The black smoke had gathered around my feet.

Without thinking, I stomped on the smoke, a shocked gasp tearing out of me when the smoke changed into a woman.

"I knew you'd come," she said with a grin. "I just wanted to see you for myself."

"Get away from her," Nathaniel snarled, baring his fangs at the woman.

"Long time, no see, Nate. Or do I say Acheron?" She asked, cackling maniacs before morphing into black smoke and disappearing.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes. Who is she? She sounded like she knew you well."

"It's not important. You should go downstairs. Go stay with Logan. I'll check the rest of the rooms."

I nodded, eager to get out of the building.

"Where's the Alpha?" Logan asked when he saw me coming out of the building without Nathaniel.

"He's upstairs. He said to come meet you."

He nodded. "Very well, then. Sit."

He gestured at a boulder next to him. As I took my seat on the boulder, I couldn't help but wonder where the rest of the Enforcers were. None of them were in sight, so I guessed they were scattered around the woods, on the lookout for anyone.

I looked down at the grass below me, frowning when I caught sight of a tiny book covered with some sand like the person had been trying to hide it at the last minute.

I slid off the boulder, picking up the book. I wiped off the dust covering the book cover. Intricate lines joined together to form a tribal mark. A familiar one.

I knew the mark from somewhere. The memory of it was at the forefront of my mind, but it was clouded, leaving me unable to figure out where I'd seen it.

Flashbacks of a man's naked body gliding over a woman's filled my head. The woman's face was blurred in my memory, but the mark on the inside of her wrist was unmistakable as the man pinned her hands over her head.

I gasped, throwing the book to the floor.

"What's wrong?" Logan asked with a frown. He saw the book on the ground. "What is that?"

He bent over to pick up the book, but it flew out of his reach before he could grasp it. We both looked up simultaneously. A few feet away from us was a woman. She had a cloak covering her face, but her eyes glowed a bright golden color as she stared at us.

Logan planted himself in front of me, growling at the woman. She shook her head before turning on her heels, taking her sweet time walking into the woods. I could tell Logan was conflicted. He wanted to give chase, but he knew he couldn't because he had to stay with me.

"Do you know who that is?" I asked when the woman disappeared out of sight completely.

"Yes. She's a Nighthowler."

Before I could ask what he meant by that, Kai and the five Enforcers, strode outside.

"We have to leave here. Right fucking now. Where's Nathaniel?" Logan asked.

"He left. I think he has a lead on something. He said he was going to come meet us in the pack. What's going on?" Kai asked.

"We saw a Nighthowler."

All six of them tensed up. Whatever a Nighthowler was, it was bad since they reacted that way.

"Can you shift?" Kai asked me.

"Yes."

"Good. We're going to shift, and you're going to run like you've never before. Got it?"

"Got it."

"Now."

I shifted, my clothes ripping off as I allowed my wolf to take control. In a flash, we were sprinting through the woods.

A part of me couldn't help but wonder if Nathaniel could be in danger from this threat.