We enter into the study my memories of this room are limited as we were never really allowed in here the high leather back chair behind and wooden desk still holding the pictures of us for some reason this room didn't get covered in plastic so there is 4 plus years of dust sitting on everything.
"I’ll check the draws maybe you check the bookshelf?"
Calder nods in agreement and begins to pull books off the shelf opening them up to check inside then placing them back on the shelf .I focus my attention on the desk draws none of which come up with anything when I reach the bottom draw I lift out the papers and see that it has false bottom with a key hole.
"Hey Calder, look at this " I usher him over to look.
"We need to find the key to this " I look around the room trying to think like my parents where would they hide something like that.
"*Let’s check the rest of the books together and then we can check the more obvious places like under the lamps or something* " Calder gives me a nudge to lighten the mood sending tingles through my body I nod in agreement and start looking in the books on the shelf.
We don’t find the key in the shelf, so we move to picking up lamps and looking behind photo frames, Calder makes his way to the other side or the room to the mirror.
He stops about halfway and takes a step back doing it 3 of for more times.
"Calder what are you doing?"
He turns to look at me still walking backwards and forwards.
"*Sel, do you not hear that?*" He walks back and forwards again.
"I don’t hear anything "
He repeat the movement.
"*Selene the floorboards are creaking* " He steps away and pulls the rug back to reveal cuts in the floor and small hoop to pull the hatch up.
He leans down and does just that revealing a small wooden box with the same markings as the box my gift came in .
I crouch down in front of Calder not knowing what to think I lift the box out and running my hands along the symbols. I open it and inside is some picture cut outs and a small key .
"*Hand me the key Sel and I’ll try the draw* "
I hand it over and he heads to the draw I hear it click and I know that was the right key I heads back over to me with another one of the boxes in his hand .
"*Selene, I know you want to look at all of this now, but I think we should leave the longer we are here the more at risk we are*"
I nod my head and he helps me off the floor I place both boxes into my bag and we head out of the room . As we reach the kitchen, we hear voices outside and scent 3 or more rouges . I grab hold of Calder and focus on masking our scents disappear as we crouch behind the kitchen island .
"Calder what do we do " I look at him knowing he can sense the panic in my voice .
"*Selene, we leave through the back door and head to the forest when we get there we shift and we run , do you think you can mask our scents long enough while in your wolf form ?*"
I open my mind to Seleste .
"**I’ve got this Sel you focus on masking the scent and I’ll get us out of here** "
"Yes, we can do this " He squeezes my hand tight.
"*When we move you can’t look back you just have to keep going okay* "
I nod and we move towards the back door letting Calder lead the way while I focus, when we reach leave through the back door and the voices of the rogues seems to fade off. We make our way back through the tree line and head into the forest.
Calder nods at me signalling we need to shift and as we do I hear the voice of one of the rouges shouting at us and I know we have been seen I let Seleste take over Calder and Vidar besides me I focus on masking our scents as we give it our all to make it back to the silver moon pack we both know there is a line those rogues wont cross out of fear .
We’ve been running for 10 minutes and I can hear more paws pounding at the ground behind us more rouges have joined this chase in this moment I wish I could link Calder and ask him what to do there is now way we are going to outrun them .
"**Selene you have to stop and tell them to stop chasing you** "
"What are you talking about Seleste, I can tell them to do anything if I stop, they are going to rip me apart "
"**They won’t , you need to stop turn around and when they get close you need to tell them to shift and forget what they have seen , trust me on this I know you can do this** "
At this point I’m running out of options they are going to catch up or we are going to bring them to the border and people are going to get hurt . I agree with Seleste and we stop running Calder stops next to us looking confused I shift back and turn around waiting for them to catch up .
I feel Calder shift next to me is Alpha Aura is dominating but I don’t let it affect me .
"*Selene what the hell are you doing why did you stop there 8 of them and 2 of us we cannot win this without getting injured* "
I turn to him a little taken a back his nakedness .
"Calder, I need you to trust me , me and Seleste can do this we can get them to stop "
I grab the hoodie out of my bag and throw it on Calder throwing on some shorts and int he next instant 8 wild looking wolves are stood in front of us snarling ready to attack .
"Seleste , what do we do I’m panicking "
"**Focus Selene , focus all your energy and command them to shift back and forget what they have seen** "
I stand feet rooted on the spot take a deep breath in and focus letting the fear , rage and anger bring my gifts to the surface. I feel the power radiate through my body and rise to the surface.
"*Selene if you’re going to do something do it now *"
I open my eyes and all 8 wolves seem to take a step back when they look at me .
When I speak my voice doesn’t sound like my own its strong and domineering, I shout.
"SHIFT ALL OF YOU NOW "
To my surprise they all begin to shift back almost involuntary I can see some of them fighting with themselves to change.
"*Selene how did you do that* " Calder places his arm on mine and me towards him he looks in my eyes and takes a step back like .
I hear the wolves being to stand so I turn my attention back to them , some start shouting abuse at us telling us how they are still going to kill us even in their human forms .
"ENOUGH "
Again, they all fall silent and I take a few steps towards closer to them , some stay rooted to the spot but some back away all of them unable to take their eyes off me . I look between them searching their faces trying to see if I know any of them .
"All of you will forget that you have seen us , you will forget that we were ever here. " All of their eyes seem to glaze over so I continue having no idea if this works or not.
"You will turn around and leave us never speaking of this interaction to another "
They all turn on their heels and head back to where they came from.
I still feel all this energy and anxiety right at the tips of my fingers as I watch them disappear, I know I need to calm down I turn and look at Calder .
"**Selene , you need to touch him he will calm you down** "
I reach my hand out for his and he seems to hesitate before taking it, as soon as he does, I feel my mind go blank and my body start to limp I know I’m going to pass out .
When I wake up I’m back in my room in my own bed , my sister on each side both looking furious. I blink a few more times my eyes feeling dry and heavy still the visions of the wolves flashing through my mind I feel my body start to heat up from the inside out .
It is agony Cynthia and Artemis also pull a face as I look at them for answers, I know they are feeling this pain too they each grab one of my hands and I feel the pain subside a little . After a few minutes the pain has gone, and they let go of my hands .
I prop manage to prop myself up to see Calder ,Ryan and Sigi also sat in the corner Calder's eyes fixated on mine.
Something about this doesn't feel right.
I try to speak but my mouth is so dry I have a thousand questions , how did we get back , why you all are looking at me like that, but the words won’t come out .
"*Here Selene you need to drink , just take small sips* "
Cynthia hands me a glass of water and I do as instructed.
I look over at Calder his blue eyes on mine still .
"Calder what happened how did we get back here ? "