Moon Bound

(21)Surprises |Scarlet's POV|

Mistrustful. Doubtful. Uncertain.

That was how I felt after the conversation with Jazmine. How could I have faith in the people I considered my family? How could I have faith in myself when every sign pointed in the opposite direction?

"He's been sending the footage to the Council," Adam said.

He was sitting on the sofa in the living room, Sam's laptop in front of him. Cole was right next to him looking at the screen. Micah was leaning against the wall. Jaz sat in Hunter's lap, both of them on one of the armchairs while I occupied the one opposite them.

Besides having dinner and watching movies together, we usually did our own things. Cole would cook while Adam kept him company. Jazmine and Hunter would be living the romance of their life when he was here, or she'd be drawing outside on her own if he was on one of his trips outside our land. Micah and I would go shopping or I'd be browsing the house library on my own.

Then, we would take turns in patrolling the territory and hunt when we felt like it.

Sometimes, they'd leave me alone and go to one of their special hunts that required more than changing into our animal forms and chasing after animals.

It was what our life together so far had amounted to.

"You know what this means, right?" Adam asked, diverting his eyes from the screen.

A strange quiet fell over the others, their faces suddenly paler than a moment ago. Whatever this statement meant I could see it was going to change things for us.

Several minutes later, unable to stand the unnatural silence anymore, I asked, "So what does this mean?"

All faces turned in my direction. I discovered they wore the same dumbfounded expression as my eyes traveled from one face to another.

"What? Did I say something wrong?" I questioned, wondering what I was missing.

I knew about the Council. There really wasn't a sup who didn't. After all, they were the ruling body of our world and as such, we would naturally be aware of their existence. However, I'd never seen such a reaction when people talked about them.

Micah removed herself from against the wall and came to stand next to me, or rather hover above me as she gave me a curious look.

"You're joking, right?" Cole asked, shooting me another strange look. "You know what they do to people like us, don't you?"

The expression on my face must have been as dumb as I felt just then. I shook my head. I really had no idea what he was talking about.

"OMG!" Micah gasped. Turning to look at her, I saw her nearly shove her hands into her hair. She ran it through her blond locks then inquired, "Have you lived under a rock all this time, girlfriend?"

I shrugged. By their reaction to my lack of knowledge, I might as well have lived as a hermit.

"But you are like us – a hybrid," she persisted. "It's impossible that one of our kind wouldn't know the Council is killing us."

My breath caught at the back of my throat. My eyes were probably wide as sausages when I looked at her. I should have gotten that memo if this was true. I'd been an alpha-in-training after all.

"Since when?" I asked.

"It's been going on for about ten years." Cole was the one to answer my question. "Or did you think we lived out there in the middle of nowhere because we liked the isolation or something?"

It wasn't so bad. We had all we needed to be comfortable and we had internet. It was all that I needed to live a laid-back and comfortable life but, come to think of it, I should have questioned that fact. However, since most packs tended to be pretty much isolated from the rest of the world, I'd just presumed it was something normal for every supernatural out there.

Presumed wrong, obviously.

"I don't freaking believe this!" Micah said and considering her outrage, there was probably a law against being antisocial and misinformed, both of which I was.

"You're not the only one, trust me," Adam commented, shaking his head at me.

I chuckled. "One would think she'd get some support from people who claim they are her family."

"Yeah, well, families are there to bug and annoy you so better get used to that," he said and turned to Micah. "Wanna take a look at the emails?" he asked her and a nod on her part later, turned the laptop so she could take a look.

I leaned closer as well. The message on the screen was addressed to one P. Payne – a name I hadn't heard before.

"Who's that guy?" I asked, taking my eyes off the screen.

"That's the Council secretary," Cole informed me. "He's been working for them for years."

I arched a brow at that.

"He's keeping a very low profile. Most people don't know him," Cole elaborated without me needing to ask.

"So how do you know him then?"

A somber look crossed his face. "Let's say our paths crossed a few times in the past. He and I have a very special kind of connection now." Not the good kind obviously, judging by the distaste in Cole's voice.

"Did you go through the rest of his correspondence?" Micah leaned over my shoulder.

"This was shocking enough to halt me in the middle of my work so no, I haven't gotten to it yet," Adam informed.

"Then, may I?"

He nodded. 

Micah took the mouse into her hand and navigated over the rest of the letters dear Samuel had sent. Scanning my eyes over the e-mails, one of them caught my attention.

"Micah, wait. Let's check this one." I pointed at the one that had attachments to it.

A second later, my heart stopped.

The message read, 'A gift,' and was addressed to one R. Greene. It was dated two days ago.

How much time did that leave me?

"Fuck!" I swore under my breath then, in answer to the questioning looks the others directed my way, I elaborated, "This one has been sent to my former alpha."

"I guess the honors should be yours then," Micah said, sliding the mouse in front of me. I placed my palm on top. "Let's see what kind of a gift the rogue sent to your mate, Scar."

I rolled my eyes at her but still clicked on the attachment.

A few seconds later, I could see myself running through the forest outside. I was starring as the main character in this video and, no doubt, I wasn't the only one who was watching it now.