Inner Predator: Unleashed

Chapter 15

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Chapter 15 

From across the room my father, no, Orrin Sokolov—because right now he is decidedly not my father, he is an intimidating vampire—notices our entry. With a stern look to communicate that we stay put, he begins to make his way toward us. It’s not something I’m familiar with. In the time I’ve known him my father has never looked so serious and angry, at least not in a way that’s been directed towards me. I don’t quite know what to think of it, but I want to turn and dart out of here.

Today was not the day to decide I should be social.

I take what I think is a sneaky step backwards, hoping I can just back my way right out of this room without daddy dearest noticing. Chase’s arm stiffens, holding us both in place.

“You haven’t done anything wrong,” Chase says and then pauses a second before adding, “Right?” It should bother me more that he has to question me, but it doesn’t.

“Right,” I say slowly as I think over what might qualify as wrong. I’ve given more than one person in this bunker a reason to really not like me. But this chaos is so not my fault.

“So then he’s not mad at you… just stressed probably,” Chase attempts to reassure me but doesn’t sound completely convinced by his words.

At the back of the room, no one notices us. The anger is still directed toward the other end where the majority of the council members sit. It doesn’t seem to be waning yet. In fact, I think it might be gaining power.

A strong hand wraps around my wrist and drags Chase and I out of the room. Once we are far enough from the screaming that we can have a conversation he starts in.

“What have you done?” He says training his cold eyes on me.

“I—I,” I start at a loss for words. I don’t even know what he’s talking about.

In a protective move, Chase steps in front of me and stares down my father with an equally cool gaze. If I weren’t so taken aback by the accusation that whatever is going on in the dining hall is my fault, I wouldn’t have let Chase put himself between my father and I. But right now I like him where he is, protecting me. Because I am so completely lost.

“I’ve had a pretty shitty day, Orrin,” Chase says in a quiet growl. “So unless you have a death wish, rethink your choice of words.”

The moment is tense as Chase lets his strength and power flow through the air in a true challenge to the vampire opposite him. The two men stare at each other, expressions of resentment evident on their faces, for what feels like an eternity before my dad breaks the gaze, deciding either that Chase was being very honest or that he didn’t have time for this sort of testosterone battle.

“They know about the lab,” my dad says.

Chase’s eyes widen in a panicked look and he starts to shake his head.

“It’s been found?” I ask. “The base where we were held?”

I can’t really understand why that would cause such disorder amongst the people staying here. Everyone was excited and hopefully about finding the base and possibly taking it down.

My dad’s anger is replaced by guilt and sadness as his face drops.

“You don’t know?” He asks sounding genuinely surprised. I’m not sure why though, Chase was under strict orders not to share any information with me until it was ok’d by the council. Slowly, I shake my head.