Chapter 2

Chapter II

Freya

“Did anyone see?” I asked, my voice low.

“No,” Miss Elara replied, then she continued, “infact, no one noticed and they were all… distracted. They thought I took him out to chastise him.”

A bit of relief washed over me. Theo was quiet and calm now, the energy around had settled. The teacher was still staring at me. There was just something off about her.

I swallowed and asked the question that was sitting at the back of my mind, “How did you know?”

Something changed in her expression and she had a glint in her eyes.

She opened her hand, and her fingers slowly grew longer and sharper into a claw. My heart slammed against my ribs. She was one of us. That explained the strange scent I had picked up earlier.

Before I could say anything, the classroom door flung open. We all turned in fear, but it was only Scarlet.

“Finally, found you, Is he okay?”

“Aunty Scarlet!” Theo pulled away from me and ran into her arms. I looked up at Miss Elara who looked confused now with her brows lifted up. Her claws had already vanished, replaced by normal fingers.

I stood up straight and faced her, “You’ll keep quiet about this, won’t you?”

Her eyebrows lifted slightly. “Of course… you have nothing to worry about.”

I turned to Scarlet. “Let’s go.”

We had only taken a few steps toward the door when Miss Elara’s voice stopped me

“The child is not meant to be here, send him back to where he belongs.”

I turned and glared at her, “that’s not in your position to decide.”

She gave a small, knowing smile. “Of course.”

We left her standing alone in the classroom.

As we were walking out of the building, Theo squeezed my hand so tight. “Mom… I’m feeling sleepy.”

“Really?” I looked down at him.

He tilted his head up, his eyes still somewhat gold had overshadowed his normal blue eyes and his eyelids were already drooping. His body was stressed out and the marks were probably spreading again.

Scarlet was a few steps ahead of us. Suddenly I got a quick wicked scent like someone dangerous was close by… really close by. “Scarlet!”

She didn’t hear me. She unlocked the car and went in. Theo was growing weaker by the second. I quickly scooped him up and held him close to my chest. I sniffed the air, turning my head in every direction but I couldn’t place where the scent was coming from.

Just opposite our car, a sleek black vehicle sat waiting. My instincts screamed at me to run. I paused and reached for my phone to call Scarlet but her line rang only twice before cutting off. I sniffed again, she was definitely in the car.

Heart pounding, I braced myself and walked towards the car, letting my paws slide out just enough to be ready. I reached the passenger side and opened the door.

Scarlet was sitting there, visibly shaking with fear.

I quietly slid in, holding Theo gently. He was already fast asleep on my shoulder. The scent inside the car felt controlled like trained wolves trying not to be noticed.

I shut the door.

“Who the fuck are you people?!” I demanded.

My eyes moved to the rearview mirror. Two males and a female sat in the back, all dressed in matching black outfit. They look like warriors… like guards…

“If I may?” The male on the right spoke first, “We are from the Blackmoon Kingdom.”

“Blackmoon?” Scarlet whispered, her voice shaky. I glanced at her with pity, she still looked terrified.

My own heart raced so fast, I feared it would wake Theo. Blackmoon Kingdom? I had heard that name before… yeah… the place I had worked as a server years ago, the night my life changed forever. These people didn’t even smell like common wolves, their power was obvious.

“You belong to royalty?” I asked.

“Yes.”

What in the world?! Am I in trouble?… How did they even find me and what do they want with me?

I looked down at my son, asleep peacefully in my arms. Last I remembered, I was a commoner and not in relation to any royal member.

“What do you want?” I asked, trying to steady my voice.

“Thé Alpha King has summoned his son.”

The words hit me like a slap. Alpha King? His Son? Perhaps they were joking. I let out a small bitter laugh but their faces remained deadly serious.

My expression shifted from confusion to pure fear. No… It can’t be.

“Why should I believe you?” I challenged.

“You already know we aren’t normal,” The female spoke this time, her tone cold. “We shouldn’t waste time, chitchatting here.”

It was as if I had fallen into a deep pit. I stared at Theo… I remembered that night at the Blackmoon Kingdom… The night I had drunk too much and found the courage to… So the stranger slept with… Years ago… The man whose face I couldn’t clearly remember… Was the Alpha King?

Fuck.

“I’m not going anywhere with you.” I said firmly. “ And I’m definitely not handling my son over to your Alpha King.” Besides, he chose to abandon me after the night we were together. He made his choice, he should stick with it.

“You—“ The female started talking but male who spoke first tapped her, letting her relax.

Then he nodded once. “We await your response. You are to decide whether to follow us with the child. Reach us before dawn tomorrow.”

He dropped a small white card on the car handle. Then they unlocked the doors and stepped out without another world.

I rested my head in my palm, eyes closed. How did I let this happen? How did they find me?

We sat quietly for a few minutes. Scarlet finally adjusted herself in the driver’s seat.

“I’m sorry, Scarlet.” I whispered. The trouble I kept dragging her into…

“It’s okay.” She said softly and started the engine. The black car had already driven away.

We drove home in complete silence. I was supposed to be at work at the clinic today, but Theo mattered more than a job that barely pays enough.

Now, I had so much more to worry about. I caught myself biting my lip hard.

There had to be a way out… Out of this mess… Out of this horrific reality. I couldn’t go back there and risk exposing my son to anyone especially with the powers he carried.