Seven.

Lana’s POV

I had heard him. He knew we were there. That same voice from before. It had made my body vibrate as he screamed into my head. We may have taken it too far this time. I think we have pissed off the wrong wolf.

How did he know it was me and why did he choose that moment to shout at me?

“Here!” Abby hands a glass of wine to me. The twins had been young, probably the youngest I had ever killed. I still hadn’t told her about the voice. I needed more information before I told her.

“Why don’t you stay here tonight? There are no wolves and we can plan the next step. Plus you seem a little bothered.” She tilts her head as she watches me.

“They were so young.” I mutter

“It’s another step closer to the Alpha!”

“It doesn’t bother you that they were practically children?”

She takes a huge swig of wine and doesn’t answer my question. So I decide not to push it. Abby was older than me and she quite often knew better.

“Can I at least shower?”  I ask

“You know where it is.” She knocks back another glass of wine, topping it up before I even leave the room.

I place my glass down without even taking a sip and head towards the bathroom. Abby still kept some of my clothes here for occasions like this. Stripping off, I stare into the mirror. The mark on my neck had been playing up recently. Irritating in a way that I couldn’t explain.

Stepping into the hot water, I watch as the remnants of blood disappear down the plug hole. 

The cries were always something that touched a nerve. They pleaded for their lives in a way that pulled on my heart but as Abby took their heads off, it had been different. Pain had spread from my mark towards my heart and I had felt something that I had never felt before. Guilt.

Turning the water off, I’m sure I hear Abby calling me and stick my head out the bathroom door.

“Did you call me?”

There was no answer. Grabbing a towel, I pull it tightly around me as I move into the living room. Abby was passed out on the sofa, her glass shattered on the floor, the red wine in a small puddle.

I roll my eyes, this was something that was happening more and more. Clearing up the mess, I pull a blanket over her, but as I stand I see something in the window.

It was late, she had said there was no one around here. Abby’s house was at least a mile away from her neighbour, but I could have sworn that purple eyes were staring back at me.

Sliding the window open, I was ready to stop whoever it was, but there was no one and again there is a twinge in my mark.

“You will pay for this!” His voice is low, a growl rumbles through his words as I wince. I hated how he could get in my head so easily. Was that an Alpha thing?

“You don’t understand!” I half mumble, not knowing if he would even hear me.

“That you are a murderer! Wait until I find you Lana. You will feel as much pain as my sisters!” 

“No!” I shout back, but I am met with silence. He was so angry and I was shit scared.

My own reflection stares back at me, the purple eyes gone. He blamed me, it made sense, I was there but I didn’t do the killing, that was all on my sister.

I hardly slept. My body tossed and turned all night. His voice was on repeat in my head. He knew exactly who I was but we still didn’t know him. I had no idea what he looked like, or even if those purple eyes were true. Purple was not a normal colour for anyone!

“Hey, you getting up?”

For someone who drinks as much as Abby does, I was always surprised when she didn’t have a hangover.

Reluctantly pulling myself from the bed. I make my way to the kitchen. I had to tell her. She was my best friend, she had to know the truth.

“Abby, I heard him!”

She spins around to look at me, almost spilling her coffee.

“Him! As in your mate? I didn’t think it worked like that?”

“I don’t know how it works!” I snap at her. I didn’t mean to, I was stressed. We were supposed to be hunting the Alpha, not the other way around.

“What did he say?”

“He’s coming to find me!” I try to hide my face behind the mug. She could read me like a book.

“What else?”

“It’s not the first time I have heard him!”

“When?” she stares at me, her face almost emotionless.

“When you killed Dad!”

“Why the hell didn’t you tell me Lana?”

“I thought it was in my head. Abby I almost died, brains do weird shit when you are close to death.”

“But your mate. That means…”

“I know. He is a wolf too!” There was no way I was mentioning the twins or the likelihood that my mate was an Alpha.

Abby dropped me home. We had hardly spoken since my announcement. It was a lot for both of us to wrap our heads around.

As we pulled up in front of my building, I ask her if she has a plan for tonight but she just shakes her head at me.

“I will ring you if anything changes!”

Making my way inside, I groan, their scent was everywhere. Hurrying up to my apartment, I throw myself in through the door and slam it shut. Dropping to the floor, tears run down my face. I had been trying to hold it together in front of Abby, but now I was alone, all the emotions come at once.

It takes me a few minutes to pull myself together, suddenly realising something wasn’t right. The door to my closet was open and I could hear the television. Both things that I knew I would have turned off and closed.

Had I been burgled?

I couldn’t scent a wolf, and creep forward, pulling my blade from my bag. I’m not a killer, but I will defend myself!

“I have been looking for you!”