Inhumane

031

PAIGE

Arlo was eager to help and his pack was beyond loyal to their leader. My father had stolen one of their Alphas, the impact affected every single member. Beyond that, my father was one of the biggest menaces to the wolf-shifting communities. He had murdered and destroyed countless packs. Arlo's tribe knew they couldn't stand by and watch forever either, awaiting their turn.

Offense was our greatest advantage. It was the only way.

When Arlo and I emerged from his office, I felt closer to my mother than I had in years. It was as if I was still completing the puzzle that was her. She was as complex as a jigsaw, made of a million pieces, but without any picture to follow. My chest ached with the constant thoughts of her, things I had buried inside of me so long ago. It was unbearably exhausting to think about what was to come. To think about life beyond that without her there to see me... I had never felt such loss as I did at that moment.

Arlo, as if sensing my disquiet, placed a hand on my shoulder and guided me to Faith's side. The female Alpha looked exhausted but beautiful as she hunched over a cup of black coffee. As we approached, she instantly straightened up and looked to Arlo, then me. I could see the question in her eyes; well, what is the plan? I turned my gaze onto the male Alpha, waiting for his lead.

"My pack will help you, Alpha. But I ask for one favor." His voice was deep and serious as he looked down on Faith. I felt my brows furrow in confusion.

"A favor?" I asked, perturbed for some reason, but also unsurprised.

Faith stood from her chair, "What is the favor?" She was entirely unfazed by his request, which I supposed was reasonable.

"I would like access to your territory after this is all over, so I can visit Paige and her mate without interruption."

"Granted," Faith smiled.

I looked back up to the Alpha and smiled, my eyes misting up. Again, I was hit with the feeling that I wished my mother were here, safe, with him. The feeling of being wrapped in Damon's arms came to my mind. The sanctity and love that flowed between us in our embrace was something that I wished so severely for my mother.

"You mean that?" I asked him, feeling like I did when I was a small girl. Powerless and hopeful.

"Absolutely," he squeezed my shoulder with his giant hand and then turned back to Faith.

"We should go now. It won't take my people long to mobilize. But the more time we have to acclimate with your pack, the better."

It took merely ten minutes to gather up his pack outside of the longhouse and prepare for the run back to our territory. Faith, Paul, and I huddled together at the treeline, watching Arlo and his Beta assemble their tribe. A ball of nervous energy had begun to grow in my gut, prohibiting me from staying still. I had a nasty feeling about something, but I didn't know quite what was bothering me at that moment.

"Something is wrong, Faith," I murmured to her, rocking back and forth on my feet. I glanced around, catching Paul's eyes on my face as I scanned the trees behind us.

"What makes you say that?" She responded, her dark brows furrowing together. The crease between them was deep and her light eyes were concerned.

"I can just... Feel it. I guess." The pit was growing in my stomach, putting me more and more on edge as the time ticked by. Faith's mouth twisted, contemplating my words and weighing their worth.

After another moment, Arlo nodded to us and shifted into his massive wolf.

Faith looked to me, giving me the signal to shift. "Can you do it?" She asked seriously.