Lycanthropy and Me: The First Semester(mlm)

Day 55, Thursday. Waxing Gibbous (Part Two)

Day 55, Thursday. Waxing Gibbous

Earlier that morning, while packing her bag to head west for her son yet again, Lena Reeds heard her phone going off in the next room. Nervous, she quickly ran to answer, only to find one notification.

Noah Hayes (NHayes12@newmail.com)

----Forwarded Message----

From: epass@fastrak.com

Subject: ePass Receipt and Confirmation for your upcoming trip to NEW YORK (PENN STATION)

━─┉┈◈◉◈┈┉─━

Abner slid into the chair across the table from Colton and took a nonchalant lean as if he were either really tired or really relaxed. It was most likely a mix of both. He knew he had his man, he had the proof, and he had unfortunately woken up at the crack of dawn to catch him.

For whatever reason; guilt, compassion, fear--Colton's older brother had forwarded that email for two train tickets to Hunter's mother, which prompted her to immediately check in with Abner, who grabbed Grayson and headed for the station.

Now just a few hours later, they sat in a local SPOIPA office, squashed between the floors of an office building.

"Do you understand why you're here today?"

Colton stared at him, mouth still numb from the dampening muscle. An alpha's influence might have a different range outside of their pack, but the possibility of their influence was never truly zero.

If permitted, he could articulate via other forms of communication, but considering the room had no computer, pen, or paper it was clear that this agent didn't really care about his response.

Abner scratched the stubble that stretched down towards his neck. "Yes or No nods will suffice Mr.Hayes." He repeated the question slower. "Do. You. Un-der-stand why you're here?"

Colton clenched and unclenched his hands with a haughty growl.

His display earned no response. Away from his parents on the other side of the country, it would seem that the best thing Colton could do was wait for a lawyer. Then again, things at SPOIPA operated differently than law enforcement. Ironically, Hunter was the one who had told him that.

My Dad said that they can hold you for days, and write it off as neutralizing a threat--

"Did you use your influence to persuade Hunter Reeds to leave campus?" Abner shook his head.

Colton didn't move.

"That's kinda selfish don't you think? I mean, he crossed the whole country to get away from you." He watched Colton's eye twitch.

"Or maybe the two of you just wanted to be alone to talk." He paused, receiving no confirmation. "Though I find that hard to believe considering we know that Hunter has a personal dorm room, but I'm sure that's the angle your legal counsel is gonna ride with. But there is something more concrete to suggest that Hunter Reeds was abducted." Abner pulled out his phone.

"Y'see a little while ago a kid signed into his shift at a pizza shop nearly two states over. Turns out the till was short last night because he forgot to hand over about $50 bucks from his deliveries." He watched as Colton's expression began to change. "And sitting in the middle of that clump of cash was a tiny note written by none other than Hunter Reeds himself."

There it was on the screen. Proof that Hunter didn't choose him.

He thought they just needed to be alone. He thought that if he just pretended things were the way they used to be, he could undo it all. But now he knew that it was too late.