"What are we up to, Dad? We’ve been going in circles this whole ti!" Mona stopped abruptly, her chest heaving as sweat poured down her face. She was exhausted.
"There she goes again," I muttered, turning my eyes away from her. We’ve already stopped three tis because of her, and it’s starting to annoy .
It was past three in the afternoon, and we were still lost in the forest. I swear when we left the house this morning, sothing strange happened. It felt like we’d been transported to a new place entirely.
"Yes, we’re going in circles," I admitted to myself, though I didn’t say it out loud. We couldn’t give up now, no matter how much Mona complained. We had to keep trying to find a way out.
"Mona, dear," Dad said, his voice gentle but firm, "I know you’re frustrated, but please be patient. It’s almost sunset, and we need to get out of here before dark. Now isn’t the ti to give up."
Mona crossed her arms, glaring at him. "I’ve had enough of this, Dad! Why can’t we just shift into our wolf forms? We’re wasting ti!"
"No, Mona!" Dad snapped, his eyes narrowing. "Do you plan to run through the city as a wolf? Or do you have spare clothes to change into once you shift back?"
She scowled, but before she could argue more, her face softened into worry. "Alpha Derrick hasn’t moved this whole ti. Are you sure he’s okay?"
Dad rubbed his forehead, clearly frustrated. "I don’t know, Mona. He’s stuck in so kind of trance. It’s like he’s fighting sothing... sothing we can’t see."
Mona’s face crumpled, tears filling her eyes as she looked at Alpha Derrick, who was slumped against a tree, unmoving. "What’s he fighting?" she whispered. "Is there a chance he won’t co out of it?"
Dad sighed heavily. "I can’t say for sure. But Derrick is strong, Mona. I believe he’ll pull through."
I stayed quiet, watching them both. Seeing Alpha Derrick like this made my heart ache. He was only in this situation because he agreed to help find my friends. I felt a wave of guilt wash over .
Suddenly, the bushes behind us rustled.
"Who’s there?" Dad called out, instantly alert. We all stepped back as the guards gently laid Alpha Derrick on the ground and moved toward the noise.
"It’s ," a familiar voice said as Luna Catherine stepped through the bushes.
"Mom!" Mona cried, rushing to her side and throwing her arms around her. "I’ve missed you so much!"
Dad and I exchanged looks, stunned. How had Luna Catherine found us here? This part of the forest was hidden, off any known path. No one who wasn’t familiar with the area would know how to find this place.
"Why are you here?" Dad asked, his tone serious.
"When I didn’t see any of you at ho, I ca looking. You’ve been gone for hours," Luna Catherine said softly, gently pulling away from Mona’s hug.
"Okay, but how did you know where to find us?" Dad’s voice was sharp.
Luna Catherine hesitated, her eyes flickering with uncertainty. "I followed your trail. Kimberly told this morning that you were heading out, so I just... followed."
I didn’t buy her explanation. Sothing didn’t add up. If she’d followed us, she would have caught up with us long ago. She was hiding sothing.
"Let’s go," Luna Catherine said quickly, gesturing toward a narrow path. "There’s a road just up ahead. I parked my car there."
We all followed her, none of us saying a word. In less than ten minutes, we reached her car. The guards helped Alpha Derrick into the backseat, and Mona climbed in beside him. I was about to get in when sothing caught my eye—a spot of blood on Luna Catherine’s finger.
I froze, my mind racing. Why would she have blood on her hand?
"What is it?" Luna Catherine asked, her tone sharp as she noticed my stare.
"There’s blood on your finger," I murmured, pointing at it. Dad heard and imdiately stepped closer.
"There’s blood on your hand, Catherine," Dad said, his voice low. "Where did it co from?"
Luna Catherine glanced down at her hand, her expression shifting from surprise to sothing darker. "It must have happened when I found two of our soldiers... dead. I checked them for signs of life, but they were already gone."
Dad’s eyes narrowed. "Are you sure? Most of the blood seems to be wiped off, but there’s still so left on your hand."
Luna Catherine’s expression hardened. "Yes, I’m sure. What are you implying, huh? That I’m lying?"
Dad didn’t respond, but his silence spoke volus. He didn’t trust her, and neither did I.
"Let’s just go," Dad said, ending the conversation. We all got into the car, and the guard started driving back toward the city. The tension in the car was thick. No one spoke. Mona held Alpha Derrick’s hand, her face pale with worry.
Two and a half hours later, we finally arrived ho. The guards carried Alpha Derrick inside while the rest of us lingered outside. Luna Catherine was about to follow them in when Dad stopped her.
"I hope you’re not doing sothing that will hurt this family," he said quietly.
Luna Catherine froze, turning to face him. "What are you talking about?"
"The blood on your hand. And your presence at that house," Dad said, his voice tight with suspicion.
"I’ve told you everything," she said, her voice growing defensive. "You don’t trust , do you?"
"How can I?" Dad shot back. "You said you were leaving for a business trip yesterday, but you ca back this morning with no explanation."
"I’ve explained myself!" she snapped, turning away and walking into the house.
"Dad, let it go for now," I said softly, putting a hand on his shoulder.
"Alright, Kimberly," he sighed, motioning for us to follow her inside.
Just then, one of Dad’s guards rushed up to us, looking pale. "Sir, the company’s been set on fire."
Dad’s face went white. He staggered, then collapsed to the ground.
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