Two Halves A Whole

Chapter 21

*~ Chapter 21 ~*

Emma! I dug my claws into the earth, pushing myself to go faster. How was she here? She was alive!

I was almost there, just a few more feet and we would be reunited at last! A weight was suddenly pressing down on my shoulders and claws dug into the fur of my back. My paw caught on the uneven ground and my legs tangled. We went down hard, rolling once before landing in a tangled heap on the ground. I glared up at Derek as he pinned me down. He bared his teeth in a silent snarl.

"What were you thinking? Are you insane?! You can't just go running into the compound! The hunters will shoot you without a second thought!" his eyes bore into my own.

"But...Emma. She's alive Derek! We can get her!" He didn't understand. This was what I have been waiting for my entire life, my sole purpose ever since my escape so long ago. Save Emma, destroy hunters. That has always been my two-fold mission. How could he stop me?

He growled and lowered his snout closer to me. "We will get her. But not like this, we are not running in blindly. Look around you Kezia, there are armed guards just waiting for a wolf to be stupid enough to storm their gates. Think!" 

My body sagged and I nodded in defeat. He was right. Running in blindly is not the way to achieve victory. I had allowed my emotions to control my actions. Noting my concession he moved back, the weight disappearing. I stood up and shook to dislodge the leaves and dirt from my fur.

Derek walked over and lightly nudged me with his nose, a silent apology. I returned the gesture before jerking my head towards the compound. "Why is she not fighting to get away from them? It's almost as if she's...happy with them, like she is there willingly."

Derek stepped forward to stand beside me. "There is something else going on. Something we are missing. Come." He turned and began to walk away. "The patrol will follow the car and alert us of its destination. We need to talk to your brother."

We sprinted back to the pack house and found Jake on the front porch, brow furrowed. In unison we shifted back, quickly changing and then walking towards Jake. We stopped just in front of him.

"And she got in the car willingly?" Jake narrowed his eyes in disbelief. Not of the report, but of the actions that had taken place. Apparently the patrol group had linked ahead of us and told him what was happening.

Derek nodded and the two alphas stood in silence for a moment. Derek spoke, "I think we should make contact. Confront her somehow with someone she would recognize. If she is under duress it could give her opportunity to get us a message."

"I agree." Jake said. "We cannot let this opportunity go to waste." He hummed to himself and began to slowly pace across the yard. I leaned back against the railing, letting out a sigh and trying to squash the feeling of betrayal. How could Emma be so comfortable with the people who murdered our parents?

"Alpha Jake," one of the patrol wolves reached out to Jake and I mentally connected, eavesdropping on the conversation. Jake shot me a small smile, a knowing glint in his eye, but did nothing to prevent my listening.