Chapter 35 - Real Family

**Lily**

"I *hate* guns."

That voice...

I open my eyes slowly and see the figure fumbling with the pocket of the hoodie. A chuck of hair hangs from the hood, the clothing looks unfamiliar but the figure is familiar. My heart beat turns faster.

"Alexis?" Chase asks slowly, walking closer to the metal bars where the figure is standing. My heart clenches at the thought of him getting shot but I stay silent. If it is Alexis, I am confident she wouldn't shoot her own brother. I don't know her as well as he does but I know how protective she's been of Chase so please, let that be Alexis.

"What?" The figure says while looking up. My heart slows down when the familiar face of Alexis pops from the inside of the hoodie. Alexis smirks while she continues to fumble with the gun in her pocket.

Chase gulps, "Here to finish?" I can feel the pain in his heart. How disheartened he feels over her betrayal and how lost he feels at the moment without her at his side. My wolf scratches my heart, a little jealous but I ignore it. It sounds weird but it's pretty normal for wolves.

Alexis pauses, placing her hand over her mouth to cough before talking, "What - of course. Thats what sisters are for." Alexis smirks once again, a glint in her eye.

I can't help but disagree just as my heart starts to beat faster. My arms and legs yearn to pull him into my arms, to protect him from the hurt he's currently feeling. To make sure he's out of harms way and away from Alexis.

Brandon shouts from the side, taking a step away from his sister. "I thought you loved us, Alexis!" He gulps. "I can't even comprehend this." He runs a hand through his hair, turning his back to her.

"You are." She pauses to roll her eyes. "Just let me take this out and then we can finish this."

"You whore!" Megan growls and tries to reach for her but quickly retracts when she accidently touches a bar. She hisses, "Freakin' hell." Her face turns a dark red.

"Excuse me?" Alexis looks at Megan in shock. "Whore? I'm here trying to set you free and you call me a "Whore"? I'm offended." Alexis places a hand over her heart, faking a look of hurt.

"What? But you got a gun?!" Victor waves his arms around frantically.

"You're... what?" Chase's heart is fast and hard. I can tell he isn't sure what to believe.

Alexis giggles. "I told them I needed to use the bathroom, they gave me a gun to "protect" myself. And I don't know how to use it." Alexis goes into hysterics, clutching her stomach.

"I don't know if she's serious anymore." Keely whispers into my ear. I nod in agreement.

She straightens up and wipes away a tear. "Oh my gosh, I can't wait to see their faces when they see I'm *actually* on your side." She goes into hysterics again.

Keely sighs from beside me, a hand on her chin and concern swimming in her eyes. "Is she okay? I can always check on her, I took a nurse course for a week." Her offer only amuses me.

I grin and place a hand on her shoulder. "I took a nurse aide course for two days." A laugh bubbles out our lips. It's amazing how alike and different we are. Though we have different personalities, our differences have similarities that can't be ignored.

"I hate to be a bother in this." Jesse pauses, a look of annoyance clear on his face. "I don't know what this is, I don't trust you, but I'm starting to get claustrophobic in this *silver* cell. I feel all my strength being taken from me and I have a huge headache." Jesse closes his eyes, as if practicing breathing exercises. "Let me out." His face seems pale. Alexis' eyes turn hard. "Just a suggestion." Jesse raises his hands up in a surrender pose.

She rolls her eyes and takes out a golden key out her pocket. "I was looking for the key but I just realized it's in my front pocket." Alexis shows us the key with a giggle. When she notices our blank looks, she huffs. "Tough crowd." Her hand carefully places the key inside the keyhole and turns the key. With a click, the silver bars go down and disappear inside the ground. She walks to the guy's cell and unlocks it as well.

A big smile makes it's way to my face when Chase runs up to Alexis and grabs her into a hug. His heart beat is normal now.

"Are you okay?" Jeremy's hands grab my shoulders tightly, forcing my body to face him. His eyes stare into my eyes, asking me if I'm okay. I nod and gulp even though I want to speak. He sighs. "I don't think the question is hard. We are still going out... right?" His eyes are hooded. Which aren't doing me any flavors as I can't read or even guess what he's thinking.

"I'm not hesitiating, I'm just panicking." I chuckle nervously.

"Not sure that's a good answer either." Jeremy leans away, his arms going to his side. "Let me know when you're ready but you shoud know, I wouldn't be here if I didn't know my answer." Jeremy turns his heel and goes to where Jesse and Megan are.

"You have weird friends." Exel smiles, placing his hands inside his front pockets.

I roll my eyes in his direction. "Do you not understand how dire this situation is?" The thought of what might happen next scares me shirtless.

His smile turns wider. "I do. I thought it would help me stay calm." He hums.

"Is it working?" I roll up the sleeve of my sweater.

He shakes his head. "I'm panicking." He guffaws.

"Me too."

"They don't know Alexis is on our side." Victor says with a snap of his fingers. "If we play our cards right, we can use that to our advantage." He claps his hands in excitement, lips turning upwards.

"She can let us know of the plan." I nod in agreement. "And we could make a plan ahead of time before they find out about Alexis."

"I don't think that'll work."

"Why? You scared?" Megan crosses her arms, eyebrow quirked.

"I think they know I'm not on their side." Alexis grabs on to Chase's forearm. "I may or may not have left a note."

We groan. Victor scratches his chin. "I don't see the big deal. She said she may have not." He moves his orange hair out his face.

"Shut it, Victor." We scold him.

"So... what do we do?" Brandon hugs himself, eyes red and puffy. Alexis sighs but wraps her arm around his neck and uses her other hand to pat his hands. Brandon's lips quirk up a fraction but go back to forming after a few seconds.

"Maybe," I wipe my brow. "Maybe we should leave." My hands shake at the look Keely gives me.

"What?!" Chase and Jeremy exclaim.

"My uncle's a scary man. Brandon's crying." I point a finger to Brandon's puffy eyes. "Debra and Joanne are gone. And I... I peed my pants a little bit." I sigh in fustration. "I didn't think we'd be closer to dying than finding the information I want." My wolf pinches my side. I pat my side in anger. My wolf was the first one who wanted me to stay, I don't know why she's disagreeing now of all times.

"You can't leave us here." Exel's face turns hard. "Want it or not, your father is outside fighting for our pack. If you leave, the only ones left will be the Queen, Keely and I. I'm not saying I won't kick butt, I'm saying I don't know what's coming next."

"Exactly. We don't know what's coming next. I can't lose my friends." I cross my arms, returning the hard glare. Exel turns around to kick the brick wall, causing the bricks to fly out and leave a hole in the wall. "I have what I need." I gulp. "I know what happened. I know who my parents are and I know what I have. I want to go... home." Goosebumps erupt on my skin.

I don't agree with the words that are coming out my mouth.

"I think you're scared." Exel spits, fisting his hands.

Keely gets inbetween Exel and I, glaring at the both of us. "You're *not* leaving." Keely angerly cries out. She turns her head to Exel. "You will calm down. We need someone to lead us when the time is right." She turns her head back to me. "We need you here. Not only my pack but our parents too. You don't owe us anything but we also don't deserve to be deserted." She crossed her arms, face twisted in anger.

Son of a -

"Fine." I cross my arms. "I know it's the correct thing to do."

Keely opens her mouth, eyes narrowed. Exel places a hand on her shoulder as to comfort her. Keely nods in return and places her hand on Exel's.

"Maybe we should go outside and fight. Make sure the King and other Royals are standing." Jesse suggests, cracking his neck.

Exel nods in his direction, glances at me, and speaks, "Let's go!"

We use our werewolf speed to run up and out the dungeon. Exel takes charge, running in front of us and leading us towards the door that leads to the outside. Beside me, Chase offers me a smile which I return with less enthusiasm. Megan halts in her step with a grunt.

"Megan, what the hell?" I push past everyone who seem to be frozen in place as well. A sudden impact hits my forehead that causes my vision to show a couple white spots. I rub my forehead and poke the wall, which is surprisingly a bit soft and squishy. Arms wrap around me and I'm pulled into Jeremy's chest.

I look up, gulping at the hulk of men lined up. Dark eyes staring at us in half wolf and half human features, rage in their eyes. I have never seen men this huge, its amazing and terrifying at the same time. It's also hardwork to keep both halves visible, it requires concentration and a strong mindset.

"Do you take steroids?" We all look at Victor with a "what the hell" look but he ignores us and keeps on staring at the hulk men in admiration. Does he not see they want to shred us to pieces?

"I think they want us to fight..." Chase trails off, taking a couple steps back. Alexis grips the pad of his shoulders, fingers shaking.

"Or flee..." Brandon mimicks Chase's actions but Jesse grabs his arm and shakes his head. Brandon sighs but proceeds to pull his shirt over his head.

"Well, hell - o Brandon." Megan flutters her eyelashes. Her hand reaches to touch his chest, eyes sparkling. I slap her hand away. Megan rolls her eyes but her eyes remain on his chest.

Well, he's surprisingly... buff.

Seeing my eyes on Brandon's chest, Jeremy and Chase proceed to take off their shirts. Megan nudges my side, winks and proceeds to stare at Chase a little too hard. I nudge her back, making sure the sharp joint hits the center of her stomache.

"This is serious guys!" Alexis slaps their chest, her hand patting Jeremy's upper chest. Jeremy blinks but winks at her. Alexis winks back. What? My hands turn into fists.

"I don't think we have much time." I squeak as the hulk men take a step closer. I don't know if it's me but I think the ground *shook*.

"Someone has to protect the Queen and Keely." Exel says, his arm held out protectively around her. "Find the Queen and protect her. Keep Keely safe, please." Exel's voice quivers. Keely grabs his arm, giving it a light squeeze.

"Don't mind us." Megan snaps.

"The Queen is next in command after the King and Keely is next in line. So, please. I will find the King and protect him. We need this, our world depends on it."

"Exel." Keely's bottom lip quivers.

"How important are they though? They don't make *all* the rules."

"Brandon!" We scold him. Brandon shrugs.

"I love you so much." Jeremy whispers against my lips, giving them a soft, gentle peck before turning around and turning into his wolf form.

My heart drops as those words sink in.

He says it as if it's the last time we will see each other.

Exel whispers something into Keely's ear before giving her forehead a peck and turning into a white wolf, leaving Keely with a pained look. Before any of us can interfere, Keely forces the girl's hands together.

A tear slides down my cheek just as wind begins to surround us, keeping us in the middle.

I cry out when I see a hulkish wolf pounce on Jeremy.