Becoming Were

Chapter 25

~Allison's POV~

"Carson?" I ask, astounded.

A figure comes out from the shadows, the lighting in here reeking havoc on my imagination. Although he is my mate's identical twin, he has never looked so different. His hair is smudged with a redness and brown that I can only assume is blood and dirt. His clothes have rips and are a deep brown color, though if I squint I can tell the sleeve was once blue. He appears to have multiple wounds covering his legs and arms, with a split lip. He seems to be mere skin and bones, he hobbles the best he can towards me, through the cell Charlie rushes to unlock for him. He collapses on the ground in front of me, I bury him to my face in a bone-crushing hug. When I pull back I feel the slickness of my tears sliding down my cheek. 

"We thought you were dead," I whisper over and over.

Carson rubs my back, getting his breathing under control. "How is Ashton doing? Is he OK?"

I laugh softly, "Ash would be the first thing I hear you ask about. Yes, he's fine, but he's been doing awful thinking you were dead." I pull away to look him in the eye. I brush a piece of overgrown hair out of his brown eyes that so closely resemble his mother's. "Why aren't you healing?"

"They've lined the walls of the cells with wolfsbane to prolong the healing. They don't give us much to eat, down here. But thanks to Charlie and the crew here, I have managed to keep myself healthy enough to survive." He nods to the scarred boy and the small group of young men surrounding our encounter. I almost forgot they were here.

"Everyone is going to be so glad you're alive." I try to think back to eventful days that I may need to tell him. Brad.

"My father?" Carson asks.

I furrow my eyebrows, but feel foolish when I remember I didn't control my thoughts. 

"It's OK, Ally." Carson whispers, "They came down to let me know. I wouldn't have believed it but I could smell it on them." He gulps, "His blood. There was too much of it to doubt."

"A little while after you were taken, the rogues set fire to the packhouse." I murmur, "May died. Dylan tried to save her but she was wedged in, it was a murder. Someone in the packhouse is a traitor working with Dux." 

Carson's eyes glisten with tears. "They've killed so many Weres. But why the younger ones, I will never know."

"We need to get out of here." I say, gaining the groups attention. "We need to find the traitor and kill Dux before he kills anyone else."

"He?" Charlie asks. 

I frown, "Yes, 'he' didn't you mention he was a-"

"Throw this one in with the bunch!" A gruff voice calls down. The sound of a body rolling off stairs catches my attention. A body is sprawled at the side of our cell, the head framed with short blonde hair and the body splotched with bruises.

"Emily!" I exclaim.

She lifts her head up slowly, eyes unfocused. "Alice? Carson? CARSON? You're alive?"

I run over to her, lifting her up slowly to sit beside me. I hug her tightly. "Are you alright? What happened why are you here?"

"They grabbed me when I was trying to save Dylan." She whispers. "I'm so sorry, Alice."

"Wha-what do you mean you're sorry?" I ask. "He's alright, isn't he? Emily, Dylan is alright! I saw him only hours ago, he was fine! He said he would find me!"

Emily shakes her head slowly. "I don't know, there was so much blood." I let out a strangled cry. Carson shakes, his face turning red. 

"Is everyone else OK?" I ask, needing to know.