The Plan

A knock on the door stirs me from a restless sleep and I sit up on my bed, glancing over at the clock by my bedside. I realize with a quiet groan that I have slept in past my work hours at the bar.

I should have been there a half hour ago to take over Jake's shift so he could go about his business but somehow I slept through the alarm I had set. I can already tell who is at the door and I wince visibly knowing Jake will not be impressed by my tardiness.

"Kyra?" Jake's voice calls from the other side. "You decent?"

Quickly getting off my bed, I throw on a shirt and wipe the sweat from my brow before I respond. "Yes, come in."

The door opens and Jake steps in. His gaze sweeps over the room, the messy bed, evidence that I only just woke up and then over me, taking in the traces of exhaustion lingering on my face.

"Kyra, you're hiding something." Jake accuses directly, catching me off guard. 

"I'm fine." I reply a little too quickly.

Jake folds his arms, his expression unreadable. "You're not." He states firmly. "There is something going on with you, and I need to know what it is."

My heart races. "I told you already, I'm just tired from the training..." I begin to defend but Jake interrupts me.

"Don't lie to me, Kyra." Jake warns, "I may not have known you for long, but I sure as hell know when I'm being lied to."

"I...there is nothing to tell." I insist,

Jake studies me in silence for a short time before he speaks again. "You have progressed faster than any other trainee I've had, you have the natural advantage of your rare element and in no distant time, you will be put to test in a real assignment."

"It is my duty to make sure you are ready for that kind of responsibility. But if you are hiding something, it is going to get someone killed. Maybe you, maybe someone else." Jake makes it clear.

I meet Jake's strict gaze, maintaining a calm expression. "I am not hiding anything."

Jake stares at me for a long moment, his eyes searches mine. Finally, he shakes his head and exhales sharply.

"Get some rest." He said, "I got someone else to stand in at the bar. Training commences as usual...if you are on time, you are late."

As he leaves, a flicker of guilt churns within me. Jake is not a bad man, he is gruff and demanding, but he is never cruel to me. He is only doing his job to look after me and make something out of me and I am getting in his way.

"Jake," I call before I could stop myself.

Jake pauses in the doorway and turns to look at me.

"Thank you." I murmur, "For...well, everything."

Jake lifts a brow curiously, but he nods. "Do not make me regret it, Kyra."

The door closes behind him, once more I am left to myself and I sink back into my bed, my hands gripping the blanket tightly.

My hand drifts to my abdomen, resting gently over it. I am yet to decide what to make of this life growing inside me, or how to feel about it. There is fear churning within me, yes. But there is also something else, something softer. I brush the thought aside, there is no room for sentiments now.

How long can my secret stay hidden? No one knows yet, not even Jake. But Jake is sharp and he has already begun asking questions, his eyes narrow suspiciously anytime I stumble or falter, much like how I have just slept in.

And then there is Rhett... Tracker. He comes to Red Ember every few weeks to check on me and I have managed to avoid triggering his suspicion but it is only a matter of time before one of them catches onto my scent. Werewolves are perceptive, their senses are too sharp to be fooled for long.

'This cannot go on for much longer.' I think to myself. I have to figure out a way to protect myself and my child. No one can know I am carrying Alaric's child, not Jake, not Rhett, not the Lycans and especially not Alaric.

The wheels spin in my mind and realization dawns on me. It seems Jake's words have only now settled. I have already been training for over a month now and Jake mentioned I will be tested on an assignment. Which means I will be on my own, away from Red Ember and Jake's watchful eyes during the assignment?

'What if...what if I leave and never come back?' I ponder.

The world is a vast place and there has to be somewhere far enough away from Everdale and Red Ember where I can have my baby in peace and begin a new life. Though I am grateful to Jake, I know I cannot burden him with my secret, the moment I begin to show, he will have to report back to the Lycans.

"I have to leave...go somewhere far away from everything. Far away from Mikos...far away from Alaric, it is my only chance to keep myself and this child safe. To a place where no one knows me..." The idea roots itself deeply in my mind and I know there is no turning back, this is what I am going to do.

My fingers curl around my abdomen again, this time with a quiet determination. Whatever it takes, I will keep my child safe.

And if Alaric ever finds out?

I shudder, my resolve hardening. I cannot think about that now, and even if he did, I will be too far gone for him or anyone to do anything about it.

"When I escaped Everdale, I did not intend to stop by at the silver tower, so close to Mikos's territory...if the Lycans did not take me captive, I would already be far far away from here." I remind myself.