Chapter 40 — We’ve Got Company

I’m being hunted.

When I make it out of the Pack House, Dorian is nowhere to be found. The car is still there, one of the doors left half-open, but I can’t see him anywhere. The smell of several other pack members means he wasn’t alone when he left. He must have been chased away, but I don’t get the chance to track him. In a matter of minutes, I’m being chased too.

About seven of Anthony’s personal henchmen circle the mansion, searching the grounds. Marcel must have told his father everything, and now his men are coming for me. I can only pray that Dorian got away. I sneak off the property with fear and adrenaline fueling my every step.

On the bright side, I’m in my wolf form, and they’re still human. Anthony must have given orders to capture me without shifting. He can’t risk them hearing my thoughts, although I doubt they’d believe me. He’s sent his most loyal followers after me, and blind faith like that won’t answer to reason. They could say I just imagined things or that I’m masking my thoughts with lies and deceptions. I wouldn’t put it past Anthony to tell everyone I’d simply lost my mind.

I move as quickly as I dare, taking back roads and darting between hiding spots. They can still track me in their human form, but it’ll be more challenging. Meanwhile, I’m being guided by the instinct of predator and prey. Wolves are hunters, and I use that to my advantage. I don’t think and don’t analyze, just move and go where my gut tells me to go. My ears twitch at every noise, eyes darting around as I slip out of their grasp. My parents always told me I move more like a fox than a wolf, and for once, I’m grateful for that. With the strength of a wolf and the stealth of a fox, I might just make it out of this alive.

Without even realizing it, I make my way to Emily’s house. I don’t have a plan, but I trust my instincts to lead me to safety, and it seems to be working. Once I’m sure no one is around, I creep up to Emily’s bedroom window, standing on my hind legs to peek through.

My friend is not alone. When I realize Dorian is there with her, I want to cry with relief. Instead, I scratch at the window, eager to get indoors and out of sight.

“Holy shit, Val! Get in!”

Emily closes the window once I’ve crawled through, and Dorian rushes to my side.

“Valerie, I’m so sorry. Anthony called his men, and they came after me. I barely got away. I thought they’d captured you. I’m so sorry,” he keeps apologizing, and I can only shake my head, relieved that he escaped.

“Dude, this is crazy! Loverboy over here just caught me up on everything that’s been going on,” Emily says, pointing at Dorian. “He was getting ready to storm the Pack House to try and rescue you. What happened?”

Instead of answering, I drop my phone at Dorian’s feet. I know it’ll be safe in his hands while I shift back into my human form. Emily quickly grabs a dress out of her closet and tosses it at me. She taps her foot expectantly, and Dorian politely turns his back as I change.

“Em, listen to me. We don’t have much time. We were right. Anthony poisoned your mother. He’s been secretly growing a deadly flower called Wolf’s Bane and using it to drug anyone who opposes him. I know this is a lot to take in, but Anthony’s men will be here soon. They caught Marcel, and he betrayed us. He told his parents everything, so it won’t be long before they come to find us,” I explain as quickly as I can. I’m already out of breath, but this is no time to stop.

“I’m going to kill that guy,” Dorian curses, and I glare at him impatiently.

“You can beat up my cowardly ex-boyfriend later. Right now, we need to figure out the next step, and we need to move. I have a video of Nora Ernouf revealing Anthony’s plan. It’s enough proof to take down the Alpha and anyone who might be loyal to him, but we have to get it out there. We need to share the truth before anyone else gets hurt.”

Emily is shocked and speechless, but I can see the storm of emotions passing over her eyes as she processes everything I’ve just told her. My own head is spinning, and Dorian is standing at my side, supporting me before I know it.

“Valerie, sit down. This is too much. You need to rest,” he says gently, but I wave him away.

“No, I need to keep going. We’re so close, Dorian. We finally know the truth. The Wolf’s Bane, the full moon, the creepy basement… it’s all starting to make sense. It was all Anthony. He drugged and killed my father, then he murdered Angelica to cover it up. His schemes have already cost this pack two lives, and he’s coming after us next. Marcel wasn’t able to stand up to him, but we will. We have to,” I say shakily, and I can’t tell whether it’s fear, sadness, or anger anymore. All my overwhelming emotions have consolidated into a single drive. I have never felt so sure of my purpose nor so determined to see it through. One look at Dorian is all it takes to know he understands.

“Okay. I hear you. So what do you need? What do we do?”

Um…

Emily grabs one of the hair ties on her wrist and puts her hair up in a messy bun. It’s her own version of rolling up her sleeves, and I can’t help but smile.

“Let me think. You have video evidence of what the Ernoufs are doing, right? If the Alpha knows about that, he won’t stop coming after you until he has it. Your word against his is just an inconvenience to someone as powerful as he is, but actual proof is a real threat. So, you have to get it out of your hands.”

“Are you nuts? You want me to get rid of it?” I ask her with wide eyes.

“No, I want you to share it. Once the truth is out there for everyone to see, there’s nothing Anthony can do about it. The pack will have to see reason, and they’ll turn on him.”

“What if they don’t?” I say, doubt creeping into my voice as I flop onto Emily’s bed. I’m too young to feel this tired, and I’ve been disappointed one too many times.

“They will,” Dorian says. “You’ve been able to turn a hunch into a full-blown investigation of your pack’s Alpha. You got Marcel to see the truth, even if he wasn’t strong enough to do the right thing with it. You got Felix to hire you and become your friend. You got Emily to stand by your side—”

“Damn right she did,” Emily pipes in.

“And you got me. You made me believe that people can change. I’ve seen you fight for this pack even as they turned their back on you. You’ve been optimistic even as they abused and mistreated you. Now it’s their turn to change. I just need you to have hope a little longer.”

“Anthony killed my mother, Val,” Emily says, sounding uncharacteristically solemn. “He killed your father too, and then he lied about all of it. He’s been twisting the truth and deceiving everyone, but once people see that video, he won’t be able to do that anymore. You told me once that I would get through this and that I wouldn’t have to do it alone. Now I’m saying the same thing to you.”

“But how do we show them? Anthony’s men are hunting us as we speak, and we need more than a handful of the pack to see the video to turn the tide against him.”

Dorian nods thoughtfully, and I can almost see the lightbulb turning on over his head as his eyes light up.

“I have an idea.”