Dusk&Dawn

-6-

<Side's POV>

"Now Side, I want you to be a hundred percent honest with us. Okay?" Speedy looked at me.

He had that no bullshit face there. I was a bit intimidated.

"Yeah. Okay." I agreed, silently praying that nothing fucked up is gonna happen.

"Alright. Do you know what that keychain is and why you have that keychain?" Speedy asked, his eyes trained on me.

"It's a family heirloom and I'm supposed to have it?" I raise my eyebrow.

Speedy looked at Sammi.

"He's not lying." Sammi held what seemed to be a T-shirt from my luggage, draped over her palm.

"Maybe I was a bit too vague...?" Speedy trailed off.

"Okay. My turn." Sammi turned to look at me.

I gulp another nervous mouthful of saliva. What is going on?

"Do you know the significance of the keychain?"

Remembering G18's talk about me coming of age...and the danger of not being released..I guess it was the only option I could think of.

"It's for my coming of age." I clutch the keychain tighter, afraid that they might try and do something with it.

Sammi gestured to Speedy and they turned away from me, keeping a conversation to themselves, I suppose.

But the issue was, I could hear them quite clearly, despite whispering to each other in the opposite direction.

"..coming of age? When do weres come of age?.."

"....well, I heard royals have their coronation at the age of 21...I don't know if it applies to Side.."

"....do you think he can hear us?"

"..maybe...Side?"

"Hm?" I look up from swinging my keychain around.

"Oh. Nothing, but I think the pizza guy is at the door." Sammi tried to hide their folly.

"He's not. There's Phoenix at the door." I gestured.

"She doesn't bark at people. She only noses and nibbles." Speedy pointed out.

"Well...Someone is outside..but it's not pizza delivery." I declare, getting up from the stool to check the door.

As I unlocked the door, the figure sprinted off, leaving only a note with a parcel on the ground.

Picking up the note and hefting the parcel in the house, I called Speedy and Sammi over.

"Guys. You may want to take a look at this." I waved the note.

I handed the note to Sammi as I shut and locked the door.

"It reads:
There's nowhere to run, there's nowhere to hide.

I can track you for miles, and you'll always be in sight.

I've got my eyes on you,
The Hunter. " Sammi read it out loud.

"And there's something written on the bottom.." She narrowed her eyes.

"Enjoy my little gift, you pups." She finished.

"Pups?" I feel my father's presence crawl all over my back.

"Yeah, figured that your heirloom is something more than just a family keepsake. Lucas, it's a tracker. It sends out signals to other Wolven. And...Hunters." Sammi gasped, ripping open the parcel and spilling its contents all over the floor.