You?

“Do you smell that?” I ask Lila. She sniffs the air and walks a few steps, “Yes, and look!” she points. The smoke is filling the air above us and my heart begins to race, “Leave the bags!” I shout as I grab her hand and we run toward the farm.

“Maddie, slow down! I can’t see anything!” Lila stumbles behind me.

I have perfect vision no matter what the conditions are, it’s a perk of being a wolf.

“And what about the store items?” she stops, looking back, “Mrs. Stevenson is going to kill us!” she says, breathing deeply.

“Lila,” I say, trying to remain calm, “I think the orphanage is on fire.” I blurt out.

She stares at me confused and now she begins running as she grabs my hand again, “What makes you think that?!” I get in the lead and guide her through the night, “The smoke is coming from that direction. I hope I am wrong. If we have to go back and get the bags, we will. I would rather be late and wrong than right.” I admit. Though, I fear my vision has come true and I won’t be able to help. I hope this time it’s wrong.

We get close enough to the orphanage to see that it is indeed on fire. Flames cascade on the roof and through the windows but as we get closer, I notice we are not alone. Black SUVs are parked in front of the farmhouse and my heart stops; they have found me.

My past has come back to haunt me. Those are definitely the lab people’s vehicles.

Lila goes to scream but I cover her mouth quickly and we move behind the barn for cover. The house is on fire and anyone inside is definitely dead. I look up with tears in my eyes, Joshua and the rest of them; this is my fault.

We hear a scream and look toward the sound. There’s a man and he has Mrs. Stevenson by the throat. She wrestles against him, and he backhands her across the face, “Now where is she?!” he demands. His voice is rough and almost familiar.

It’s the shadow I saw.

“I told you; I don’t know whom you are talking about!” she spats at him. He hits her again, “I have burned your precious home for orphans with all of them inside and you still won’t tell me what I want to know?! I know she was here! I can smell her!”

Mrs. Stevenson wipes her face again but shakes her head. Why is she covering for me? She knows he is talking about me. This man is evil. Maybe she knows she has already lost?

“If that’s the way you want, then fine.” He says, pointing to the orphanage door. Another man opens the door, not even flinching at the hot door handle. The man picks up Mrs. Stevenson once more and she shrieks as he throws her into the house, shutting the door. The house is already engulfed in flames, and she is next.

The screams I heard in my vision come true as she pounds against the wood and cries, “Let me out! Let me out!”

Lila has tears streaming down her face, but I hold her mouth tighter. If they do find me, they will only kill her or worse.

The man who threw Mrs. Stevenson in the house reaches into his pocket and pulls out a phone. The banging on the door has now stopped and I look at Lila; Mrs. Stevenson is dead along with everyone else we know.

“Sir, 1001 isn’t here but she was. I can smell her.” He speaks into the phone, and I can’t breathe. After 9 years, I am in danger once again.

He walks to the car, “Yes sir, we will keep looking. No, I know my orders. I will bring her home alive. Yes, she is the key to the others. I won’t come home without her.”

My eyes have tears streaming out of them and he turns around, looking toward the barn. My eyes now deceive me, there is no way. WHY!? My vision is blurry; this can’t be so!

The man hunting me is Colt.

My head feels fuzzy. I am so happy he is alive, but I am so angry at myself. Why wouldn’t the others let me go back?! Andy was sure he was dead. He had said if didn’t make it out, he was dead for sure. Staying there only increased his chances with the poison from the experiments they were giving him.

But yet, here he stands. He was stronger than any of us ever knew.

I want to run to Colt; I want to hug him and tell him how much I have missed him. I want to inhale his scent and lay in the grass and watch the clouds with him. I want him to be my best friend again, but he is my enemy. He is hunting me, and he wants to take me back to hell.

He is no longer the sick child that tried to escape with us. He is strong. I can see his male physique from here and my heart races. I have never felt like this toward a male before. My whole being is longing to be with him. I don’t understand these feelings and my wolf is howling inside.

Colt and the other men get back into their SUVs and drive down the driveway. I push Lila down into the grass further for camouflage as they drive by. Once their headlights are out of sight, I let go of Lila.

She stands up immediately, running toward the house, “Maddie, help me! We have to help them!” she screams.

My vision is blurred. I can’t even see as I walk toward her and pull her into my grip, holding her tight, “They’re gone,” I whisper.

She cries harder into my arms as I look at the place that was never really my home but it was familiar. It was safe for a long time. Safer than the lab at least.

I let Lila cry until she heaves, and her breath is heavy, “Lila, we have to go,” I sigh.

She stares at me, “Go where Maddie?! We have to tell the police what happened! We can’t go!”

I look at her and my heart knows what to do, “Lila, those men they were looking for me, I can’t stay here. You can but I need to get away from here. I need to find Andy.”

She looks at the house and then back at me, “They want you?”

I nod and I wipe my eyes; it was foolish to think I was safe. 9 years was a long time, but I let my guard down. I have become too human.

“I want to go with you.” Her voice is soft and unsure.

“Lila, it’s dangerous. They won’t stop looking for me. You’re better off here when the police come.” I sigh, turning to walk away but she runs toward me, and spins me around.

“You said we were sisters! I don’t care about the danger! I want to go with you! That was the plan before. This place isn’t my home or yours! Let me come!”

I look at the house behind her, ash flies through the night sky and the smoke is thick, I don’t want to leave her behind. The truth is, I don’t want to be alone.

“Fine but you have to listen to everything I say,” I tell her sternly.

She sighs as she wraps her arms around me tightly hugging me, “I promise.”

I nod and grab her hand, “We have to go.” She holds my hand tightly and we both look at what used to be the farmhouse, but I know what to do.

It’s time I used my training and wolf again. I need to find Andy and the others. I need to warn them they are after all of us. The big man said we were stronger together, but we didn’t hang around long enough to find out what they meant.

Not only am I being hunted, but now I have my little adoptive sister with me, and I will do whatever it takes to keep her safe

I have no idea where we are going or what this journey holds, but I know it will be hard. Colt won’t give up until he has me in his claws.