CHAPTER 11: FOUND

LOUISA

I follow Travis down the corridor even as my stomach is churning with anxiety and ny heart is racing faster with every step.

I am seriously trying to hold it together, but the desperation to see my children makes it feel like my chest might burst. What if they are hurt? What if he lied to me? I don’t trust him, not for a second.

“Are you sure they are okay?” I snap, breaking the tense silence between us.

“Yes, Louisa,” Travis says without turning to look at me and his calmness grates on my nerves.

“Don’t just say that to pacify me,” I growl, my voice rising. “If anything happened to them—”

He stops abruptly, turning to face me. “You think I would hurt them?” His voice is low, but there is a dangerous edge to it. “Kids? Is that how you think of me?”

“I think you would do whatever it takes to get what you want,” I fire back.

His jaw tightens as he stares at me with that blanket stare and I swear for a second I feel he is about to snap.

Instead, he turns and keeps walking, leaving me to stew in my anger.

“And what exactly is it that I want? Do you even know me well enough to guess?”

“You-”

“This is the second -well, third time if we are being literal - we have met and each time was not enough to get to know each other well.”

It was enough for me to get pregnant though.

“So,” he continues. “Instead of you being bias, why not try and get off your high horse and get to know me instead. It will save you a lot of future embarrassment.”

“You-!”

“Mom!”

The sound of my children’s voices makes my knees weak, a sob escapes my throat as they come running toward me.

My son and daughter, my entire world.

I drop to my knees, gathering them in my arms, holding them so tight I am sure it must hurt, but I can’t let go.

“Oh, my babies,” I whisper, my voice trembling. I pull back just enough to look at their faces, cupping each of their cheeks. “Are you okay? Did they hurt you? Did anyone do anything to you?”

They shake their heads quickly, their eyes wide and full of innocence. “No, Mom,” Leo, my son says, his voice steady. “They were nice to us.”

“Nice?” I repeat, the word foreign and ridiculous.

“They didn’t hurt us, I promise,” Lia adds. “They gave us food and beds. And the doctor lady was really gentle when she checked us.”

I glance between them, searching for any sign of a lie, but all I see is the truth. Relief crashes over me, but it is quickly followed by a simmering anger. None of this changes the fact that they were taken from me -kept from me-, even if they were treated well.

“I am going to get you out of here,” I say firmly, brushing a strand of hair from Lia's face.

Leo frowns at that. “Why do we have to leave?” he asks.

The question catches me off guard. “What do you mean, why? This isn’t our home.”

“But... it’s nice here,” Lia says softly, glancing around the room. “It’s safe.”

“Safe?” I repeat, incredulous. “This is a pack, remember? Packs aren’t safe for us.”

“This one is different,” Leo says. “They didn’t hurt us, Mom. They said if we stay, we can train to be pack warriors.”

“What?” My voice comes out sharper than I intend, and they both flinch. “Who told you that?”

“The Alpha,” Lia replies, looking up at me with wide eyes.

I whirl around, glaring at Travis, who stands silently by the door, watching us. My blood boils at the smug look on his face.

“You told my children they could stay here and train?” I demand.

“I told them the truth,” he says simply.

“You had no right!” I snap.

“They deserve to know their options,” he counters, crossing his arms.

I turn back to my kids, my heart sinking at the hopeful looks on their faces. “You don’t want this,” I say firmly. “We are better off on our own. We always have been.”

“But, Mom,” Lia whispers, “I am tired of running. Aren’t you?”

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut and I stare at her, speechless even as Leo nods in agreement.

“We could stay,” he says. “Just for a little while. Until it’s safe to leave.”

I close my eyes, trying to keep the tears at bay. I have spent years keeping us safe, keeping us together, and now they are asking me to stop.

To trust a pack, a pack led by the man we barely even know.

I feel my wolf stir, her presence soothing yet insistent. She likes the idea. She likes him. But I shove her thoughts aside. This isn’t about me or her. This is about my children.

Before I can say anything, an ear-piercing alarm blares through the building. My instincts kick in immediately, and I pull my children close, shielding them with my body.

“What’s happening?” I demand, my voice rising over the chaos.

Travis is already moving, his expression grim. “Stay here,” he orders.

“Like hell I will,” I snap, my ears straining to pick up the panicked voices echoing through the halls.

I catch snippets of conversations, fragments of fear and confusion.

“Intruders at the northern border.”

“No forewarning."

“Seems like a pack.”

Then, through the noise, one phrase cuts through like a knife.

“Alpha Gaines and his warriors, they are here.”

The words freeze me in place and my heart begins to pound as dread settles in my chest.

Gaines.

Of course, he’d come here

The bastard has been searching for me for years

It was ridiculous of me to think he would stop now.

“Mom?”

I tighten my grip on my children, my mind racing. If he is here, it’s not for anything good.

“Stay with me,” I whisper to my kids, my voice shaking. “No matter what happens, stay with me.”

AUTHOR NOTES: Hello, my wonderful readers. A huge and gigantic thank you for selecting my book to read. It really warms my werewolf heart. I would love to hear from you all, your thoughts, opinions, feelings. Who pisses you off? Who do you absolutely love? Where do you think this story is going? I want to hear it all. So, please do comment and support my book. Your dear Author, Adeline Valois.