“You must be Selena’s friends,” said the man, smiling. “Tyler directed me here to bring you guys in.”
“I am Selena’s sister,” Jade stated from the car. She peeked her head and said, “It was really difficult getting here. I doubt that I will even be able to find my way out.”
“My name is Grayson. We have already met once.” Trisha tried to recall what he had said, “On the night of the full moon.”
Dalett said, “You were the one who took Titus home, immediately. My name is Dalett.” She tucked hair strands behind her ear.
Trisha sneered and whispered. “Now is not the time to flirt. Do I need to tell you again that he is a werewolf?” She turned to face Grayson again. “We appreciate you taking the time to meet with us.”
“Please follow me.”
They got into the car and Trisha drove closer to the building. Suddenly, they noticed a gate they had not seen before. It opened, and the car drove inside.
“That was magic, right?” Jade enquired.
“Yes. This place is secured with magic. The hunters will never find this place.” Grayson gestured to one of the corners. Trisha could see different buildings as she drove in that direction.
Everybody gasped. “Oh my god. This place is so...”
“Beautiful?” stated Grayson.
Jade gave a nod. “My sister will want to rule over this place now.” They saw children playing and running around. “They looked exactly like us.”
“Yes, they are. For the time being. Some of them have yet to find their wolf.”
“Oh. So that is how it is.”
“They were wolves at birth and turned. Sometimes their wolves do not show up until they are teenagers. The fortunate ones receive it as a pup. Titus received his earlier. That was how they knew he would be an excellent leader.”
Jade muttered, “And now he is in a coma, thanks to my sister.”
“Here we are,” Trisha halted upon hearing Grayson’s words. They paused in front of a big building. “This is the hospital for wolves.”
“The people who work there are also werewolves?” Dalett asked.
“Yes. They are.” Grayson got down, and they both did.
As they went inside the building. Jade saw a girl who was pale, seated on a bench. She turned and grinned the moment she saw Jade. “Looks like another one of Selena’s is here,” she said.
“You must be Max,” Jade greeted warmly. Right now. Whether Selena despises Max or vice versa is irrelevant to her. Even if it means being friendly with the enemy, all she wants is to find her sister.
“Hello, Max. Long time no see.” Trisha gave Jade a quick eye gesture as she moved away and sat down next to Max.
Max let out a sigh. She was embarrassed because she had been keeping so much from Trisha. She called Trisha a friend but did not act like one. She rubbed her hands nervously. “I...”
“You don’t need to say anything.” Trisha interrupted. Then she looked at Max after taking a long breath. “I understand everything. I have known for a long time.”
“That I am not like you?” Trisha gave a nod. “I truly apologize. I called you my friend but I keep so many secrets from you.” Max stated.
Trisha grinned. “I know what it’s like to keep secrets. We all have our reasons for them. Let us put this werewolf conversation aside. I am not mad at you. My top priority right now is to find Selena.”
“I understand, Trisha. I am also here to help.” She returned her attention to her nervous palm. “I am not sure how I could because I have lost my wolf, but I will do my best.”
Trisha could detect emotions in Max’s voice. “You have lost your wolf?”
Of course, Trisha witnessed Estry and Tarika’s fight but had no idea she was the beta who attacked Selena alongside her brother. That was a secret she would not share. At least for now. She refused to let Trisha hate her. I guess she was not prepared to face the world right now. There was more pressure on her now that Selena had gone.
“Does your wolf care about Selena?” Trisha scoffed. “That is new.”
“I know you are aware of my hatred for your friend, but I mean well. I will never consider hurting any of them. I think I do care about finding Selena after all. I heard the story of what happened and why she did it.”
“What is the story?”
“She locked Titus in a room full of Monkshood. I resented her for that, but I also despised Titus for what he did to her on the night of the Mating Ceremony.” She chuckled nervously. “I could not believe Selena would actually follow my request.” When Trisha spoke, she raised her brow. She was inquisitive. “Oh. She did not tell you that.”
“Tell me what?”
“I told her to leave the pack and never return. I told her never to come close to Titus again.”
“Well, you are not the reason she did it.” Max gave her a look that said, “Really?” Trisha gave a nod. “Selena was infatuated with Titus when they first met, but as time passed, she realized how she felt. She does not love your brother, or rather, he is not biological. Now I know why you were so angry at her every now and then.”
“How did you come to know?”
“Is it about your love for him, or about discovering that you are not Titus’s real sister?”
“Both.”
Trisha took a breath. “I had suspicions. You were so protective of him, and I was curious why a sister would be so protective of her brother. You are not this way with Alexander, so I did some research and learned. I understand you despise Selena, but are you certain the pack will accept you as their Luna? They recognize you as Titus’s sister.”
"They are also aware that we are not related by blood.” As Max said. Tyler rushed into Titus’s room. Trisha and Max both exchanged glances at each other before following suit. When they walked in, they saw Titus. His body moved as if he was in shock.
“What exactly is going on with him?” Trisha enquired.
Tyler stated, “He is experiencing the episodes again. Selena is in pain.”
* * * *
“I can not believe they know nothing about her whereabouts.” Aunt Patricia spoke the moment they stepped out of the car. As they stood in front of the police station, she turned to face her father. “I believe there is something the children know that we do not. They know more.”
“They are not telling us the whole truth, but now is not the time to be upset or angry. We need to find Selena before Isabel arrives. You know how she is.”
“Dad. Have you ever thought about it?”
“What?”
“The Alpha. Despite the fact that we had killed one of his kind, he did not show up. Now that I think about it, have you seen what we shot?”
He gave a shake of his head. “It was dark out there, but he had golden eyes. I assume it is a beta who has not killed anyone before. Maybe the Alpha is trying to reach us in his own unique way. Ambush.” Ferdinand walked towards the door. He knew people in higher positions at the police department. They would begin their work with a snap of his fingers.