We walked down the street, Caleb leading the way towards his car. I glanced at Hunter, searching for any sign of trust in his expression. He remained serious, watching every move Caleb made. I asked Hunter what he thought about Caleb's sudden appearance.
“What do you think, Hunter?” I asked, my voice maintaining an unwavering caution. “Caleb showing up out of nowhere... doesn't that seem strange to you?”
Hunter cast a sharp look at Caleb, his face stern. “Nothing happens by chance. Let's take advantage of what he offers, but stay alert. Wolves like Caleb have their own interests.”
Caleb turned to us, realizing our exchange of words. “Maybe you don't remember, but I have excellent hearing. You don't need to whisper.”
I quickened my pace to walk alongside Hunter, looking at him with concern. Caleb seemed to know more than he was revealing, and I wasn't sure if I could trust his intentions. We followed Caleb to his car, and he opened the passenger door for me. Before getting in, I asked Caleb if he had any idea where to start the search.
“Do you have any idea where to start the search?” I asked, trying to understand what he knew.
“Of course, I do,” Caleb replied with an enigmatic smile. “Let's begin with the place where they kept your children.”
My eyes widened in surprise. “You know where they are?”
Caleb nodded. “I do, but don't get too excited. The situation there may not be what you expect.”
Hunter, who had been silent until then, added, “Let's go. The sooner we start, the better.”
I got into Caleb's car, nervous and anxious at the same time. What did Caleb know about the whereabouts of my children? Was it a real lead or just another play from Caleb in our desperate search?
Caleb started the car, and we began driving into the unknown. I tried to anticipate what we would find at the supposed location, but a sense of apprehension grew within me. The truth about my children's whereabouts was about to unfold.
***
The backseat of the car felt too small, my mind in constant conflict as Hunter and I followed Caleb toward Atlantic City. The city buildings faded away, giving way to a dark road leading to an abandoned neighborhood. My senses were on high alert, anxiety hanging in the air, and Hunter whispered a warning that something wasn't right.
We arrived at an isolated warehouse in the midst of the forest, and Caleb parked the car. We got out, my mind spinning with anticipation and fear. Hunter was by my side, his serious expression indicating that something was amiss.
“Take it easy, Fierce. I sense something strange,” Hunter warned, his golden eyes scanning the warehouse.
“What are you feeling?” I asked, trying to contain my anxiety.
“Blood. I smell blood,” Hunter murmured, looking around cautiously.
My eyes widened, and I instinctively touched my throat, as if I could sense the scent lingering in the air. Blood. Blood was the last thing I wanted to associate with my children.
Caleb, who was in front of us, turned towards us. “I should warn you.”
“Blood?” I repeated, my senses on high alert. “Whose blood is it?”
Hunter took a deep breath before answering. “It's not the boys', Fierce.”
A momentary relief spread through me, but the anguish still lingered. If it wasn't my children's blood, then whose was it? Caleb turned to us, interrupting our thoughts.
“There's something I need to warn you about,” Caleb began, his words echoing in the vast space outside the warehouse. “The boys are no longer here.”
I looked at him in disbelief. “What do you mean 'no longer here'? Where are my children, Caleb?”
Anger started to grow within me. Why didn't Caleb inform us earlier? Why did he bring Hunter and me here only to tell us that the boys were no longer present?
“Where are my children now?” I demanded, my voice trembling with a mix of fear and frustration.
Caleb nodded toward the warehouse entrance. “It's better if you go in. There are more things you need to know.”
Hunter remained alert by my side, his wolf eyes shining in the darkness. Caleb opened a rusty door, revealing a dark corridor. A chill ran down my spine, but the need to find my children outweighed any fear.
We followed Caleb through the shadowy corridor, the final destination still a mystery. Whatever lay ahead was expected to provide answers about the whereabouts of the triplets.
***
The gruesome sight before us, with blood painting the scene like a macabre canvas, was the harbinger of something terrible. Bodies lay with claw marks, the room impregnated with the metallic scent of death, shaking my composure.
Hunter, always wise, approached the bodies. His expression became more serious as he analyzed the details. “This smell... it's the same as I sensed in your house, Fierce.”
Cautiously, I approached, observing the wounds and the chaotic state of the room. “Were these wounds made by claws?” I asked, anticipating the answer.
Caleb confirmed with a nod. “Yes, exactly with little wolf claws.”
My mind spun as I tried to grasp the magnitude of what was happening. “Little wolves?” I asked, incredulous. “Are you suggesting that my children, my pups, did this?”
“I'm not suggesting, Fierce,” Caleb said, impassive. “They were responsible for this carnage.”
My gaze shifted between Hunter and Caleb, refusing to accept the terrible conclusion unfolding before me. “This can't be real. Cassian, Dorian, and Kane wouldn't do this. They don't even know how.”
Hunter, more pragmatic, raised a troubling hypothesis. “If they did this, it means the triplets may have shifted into wolves and run away somewhere.”
A chill ran down my spine, but the urgency to find my children was greater than any fear. “We need to find them. Whatever happened, we can't lose them.”
Hunter agreed. “Let's track their scent. Caleb, can you help us with that?”
Caleb nodded. “Of course, let's find these little wolves and discover what really happened.”