Lost Heir

Chapter 3

The rest of the women and children of the pack slowly filed into the bunker. It didn't seem like there was enough space for how many people needed to be in there but we would make do. The lack of windows and cool concrete made the room seem smaller than it was. As more kids entered into the rows, I squeezed Faye and Harlow deeper into my arms. I was still confident that everything would be okay. We hadn't done anything to draw the attention of Blood Moon, or of any other pack. We minded our own business and stayed out of trouble.

As the last few people trickled into the bunker I watched as pack warriors looked inside to check on everyone. When they were satisfied that everyone was okay, they slammed the doors shut. Luna Sandra walked up to the door and grabbed gloves to lock the line of locks. You could hear the heavy bolts slam into place as she went down the row of locks.

Once she was done she turned to us and raised her hands to gather our attention. "Everyone! I know that many of you are frightened. Find you faith and pray for the safe return of our loved ones. We will be safe in here. We have silver doors that will harm any that come into contact with it" she said as she raised the gloves that had once been on her hands. "We are safe within these walls, but that doesn't mean we can't try and make sure that we aren't found. From here on out I am going to demand that there is silence in here. Mothers, find your children and soothe their fear. Children, hold onto one another and find comfort in the numbers that we have in here." With that she sat down right in front of the doors and looked out amongst the crowd.

I whispered into Harlow and Faye's ears "Everything is going to be okay. We need to listen to Luna Sandra and be quiet." Harlow gave a nod and Faye buried her face into her blanke that she had been holding on to.

I looked up at Felix and he opened his arms to me. We all scooted closer to the comfort that he offered to us. Felix was Harlow's hero and with the cool look that lined Felix's face, Harlow became stronger. He sat up a little straighter with a look of determination on his face.

We sat in the shallow light for around twenty minutes before anything happened. There had been no signs of activity outside of the bunker. Everyone was quiet and there were only the slight rustles of people adjusting themselves to a more comfortable position. I layed with me head leant against Felix's arm and my eyes closed. It was the middle of the night and I was tired. I didn't think that I could fall asleep with the situation we were in, but if I concentrated enough I could forget where we were and imagine myself in my warm bed.

All of a sudden a short shout pierced through the air. Soon multiple shouts and growls filled the air. The more time that passed the closer the sounds appeared to be getting. What could no longer be mistaken as a fight was occurring less than thirty feet away from us. My hands grew clammy and my body grew tense with anticipation. As soon as the sounds started, they stopped.

We all waited in apprehension for what was to come next. The loud hit on the doors seemed to come out of nowhere. At first, the hits didn't affect the structure of the door, but once we could visibly see the door being bent the fear in the room went sky high. Faye let out a soft whimper before I was able to cover her mouth with my hand. Felix got to his knees with a hand still on my shoulder, ready to pounce on anything that entered through the door. The women started to gather as quietly as they could in front of Luna Sandra as the door became more and more bent. We didn't have much time before the safety of the doors were no longer there.

Some women began to shift and stand territorially in front of the kids. Children began to cower in fear with seeing the wolf forms in front of them in such a threatening manner. The cries soon began. The beating on the door paused for a short second before a loud shot came from outside. "I can hear them in here! Get more men!" With the dead giveaway that our hiding place had been found, panic swept over the crowd.

Kids began to bawl in fright and women began shouting orders. I knew that we were in danger but I waited for orders to be thrown at us. I got to my feet next to Felix and stood in front of Harlow and Faye keeping a hand on both of them to make sure they didn't get lost in the turmoil.

Luna Sandra singled me out of the crowd of children huddled into the back of the bunker. She ran up to me and said "Athena you need to get out of here. Follow this tunnel and don't stop running. No matter what happens do not turn back do you hear me?" I was only able to stare in confusion at her before she turned away from me and spoke to Felix. "Felix, you know what you have to do. Remember what we talked about. They are your pack now. You protect Athena with your life. You do what you need to do to get them out of here okay?" Felix was barely able to respond before Luna Sandra was rushing us toward the tunnel.

We had neared a door that I had noticed before. It was camouflaged into the wall and would not have been noticed unless you knew exactly where to look for us. The door then concaved into the shelter. I could see a dark shadow of a person clawing into the barricade. The cries grew even louder from the children and the wolves started attacking the threat entering our shelter. With a quick look over her shoulder to see the progress of the enemy, she started shoving us harder. Confused on what was going on I started to dig my feet into the ground and pull away from her.

"What are you doing!? They are going to get us! Why are you trying to get us out of here!?" I shouted at her confused.

She gave me a short look and said "It doesn't matter why I am doing it. You will understand one day Athena. Now it is time for you to run and get as far away as you can from here. Remember the sacrifice that we made for you. Go now!" With that she threw the door open and shoved us into the tunnel.

Right before she shut the door to the tunnel we looked up at her and she stared me straight in the eye and said "Be safe Athena." With that she slammed the tunnel door closed and we were surrounded in darkness.