Briar’s POV
I found myself caught between Asher and this stranger, studying the man who stood before us. A vampire, no question about it, but his na rang familiar in my mind. They had ntioned this particular bloodsucker recently during one of their briefings.
"You’re supposed to be dead," I stated flatly.
"That was the intention. We orchestrated the entire charade once we discovered the impending assault," Asher clarified.
"If you had advance warning of the attack, then why did Elena abandon at the house where I could be taken?" The question burned in my throat.
"Elena remained unaware initially. I maintained my concealnt for several years before approaching your mother. I anticipated her reaction would be explosive, and it was, though she eventually grasped our reasoning for the deception," Julian responded.
"They have Elena captive now. She’s locked in a cell at their base. Damien might be there too, though I cannot confirm his status," I inford them.
"Elena and Damien are not your concern right now. Our priority is extracting you from this situation. That’s precisely why Julian joined us," Asher stated firmly.
"Let’s move," Julian commanded.
We began our trek through the dense woodland, distancing ourselves from the Obsidian pack territory. I couldn’t resist glancing back toward the pack grounds as we departed.
Asher’s fingers interlaced with mine as we navigated the forest undergrowth, both of us praying Corbin wouldn’t discover our absence too soon.
"Stop letting anxiety consu you. They won’t track us down," Asher assured .
"Corbin will realize I’m missing," I protested.
"We have that situation handled," Julian said, gesturing skyward.
Following his direction, I peered upward through the canopy of branches and shadows. In the darkness above, I could barely distinguish figures positioned throughout the treetops.
"They’re maintaining surveillance. No one will pursue us or approach undetected," Asher explained.
I acknowledged with a nod, montarily stunned, before we resud our journey.
"The resemblance between you and Elena is remarkable," Julian observed.
"I never imagined I’d be trekking through wilderness with a werewolf and vampire as companions," I replied. Both n laughed softly at my comnt.
"She was conditioned to despise us. To eliminate us," Asher noted.
"So I’ve learned. She’s a Hunter. However, your natural instincts will erge soon enough. You’ve already experienced your first shift, so your wolf nature will dominate. You’ll find yourself more protective of your wolf family than the Hunters," Julian elaborated.
The duration of our walk remained unclear, but it felt endless before we finally reached a secluded cabin nestled deep in the woods.
My imdiate impression was that this place belonged in a slasher film.
Julian pushed open the door, and Asher and I followed him inside where several vampires waited with welcoming expressions.
Clearly, they had been expecting my arrival.
"I assu you’re all acquainted with my mother?" I inquired.
"Absolutely. She consistently treated us with respect. Since we don’t prey on humans, she regarded us as equals rather than monsters," one of them responded.
"She sounds incredible. How exactly are we going to liberate her from that facility?" I pressed. Asher regarded with a peculiar expression before exchanging glances with Julian.
"Did you honestly believe Elena and Damien would allow themselves to be captured without devising an escape strategy?" Julian questioned.
"They already have an exit plan?" I asked, incredulous.
"Never underestimate your mother’s capabilities," he warned.
Everyone present seed to hold Elena in extraordinary regard, placing her on an impossibly high pedestal. Their reverence bordered on worship.
Perhaps it stemd from genuine affection. They loved her for the dignity she had shown them throughout the years.
Whatever the source, their admiration was unmistakable.
I longed for people to view with such respect soday. But I remained a Hunter.
Even if my instincts did surface and I integrated with my wolf pack, would the pack mbers ever truly trust and accept as one of their own?
They would know about my Hunter background and might always suspect I would eventually betray them.
Honestly, I doubted I would see that level of acceptance. Asher had just extracted from that situation before Corbin could turn against .
Julian proceeded to introduce to the other residents, and Wren guided toward the kitchen.
There I discovered another woman seated at the table who carried a different scent than the others. She appeared older, though not ancient.
"Briar, et Tessa. She’s Julian’s mate," Wren announced.
"You’re a werewolf," I stated.
"I was. You can probably still detect traces of it. Julian transford into a vampire so I wouldn’t age and he wouldn’t have to witness my death," Tessa explained. I nodded, understanding the logic since she was mated to a vampire.
"How is Damien? Have you encountered him recently?" Tessa asked.
"Yes. He appeared fine. You know my parents as well?" I questioned. She turned toward the window, staring into the distance.
"Yes, I know him. Haven’t seen him in quite so ti," she murmured, her words seeming more directed at herself than .
Her distant deanor and visible distress as she gazed out the window into the forest concerned .
Wren began preparing food for , and we settled at the table for conversation.
I noticed Asher positioned near the doorway, maintaining visual contact with while conversing with the other vampires in the living area.
Before long, Tessa rose and exited through the back door.
Julian entered briefly, noticed Tessa’s absence, and shook his head as he returned to the living room.
"What’s her problem?" I demanded.
"It’s complicated history, predating your birth," Wren replied.
"I’m sure it is," I said dryly.
"Tessa rejected your father. Elena beca Damien’s second chance mate. Now that she’s chosen to beco a vampire, she’s discovering it’s not the fantasy she imagined," Wren revealed.
"So Elena and Damien are only together because she rejected him?" I asked.
"Exactly."
"Well, she needs to get over it. Those are my parents. If she hadn’t rejected Damien, I wouldn’t exist. She can live with the consequences of her decisions, just like everyone else," I snapped.
My outburst caught Wren off guard, and even Asher turned to stare at with surprise.
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