And so the long, peaceful hours of bliss became hours of utter panic. It was a quick snap, a u-turn no one, not even Brandon, had expected.
Albert’ pack invaded the golden castle only minutes before we returned.
He had invaded our home.
I knew once I saw the dead wolf at the entrance. His glassy eyes were staring back at us blankly. Once wolves died, they phased back into their human form. Which made it so much more real.
My heart jumped in fear.
I stepped back and tripped on the blanket I was clutching to my bare body. Brandon’s arms caught me quickly as he surveyed the front entrance.
“Fuck,” Brandon swore and took me to the back door. . . where Jason was fighting another wolf. Well, more like winning.
“Take Amy,” Brandon shoved me in the arms of Jason, “Now.” He used his Alpha command when he didn’t move.
“You marked her?” Jason demanded hostilely, staring at the red raw mark.
I didn’t regret the marking. Even though we solved almost none of our problems, mostly the war between our packs and the fact that I just betrayed my blood for someone I just met, it was too late to turn back now. Albert and everyone else would just have to deal.
I was one of them now.
“There’s no time. Take her and run!” Brandon yelled at his brother, his eyes blazing. He looked ready to fight, his claws extended.
Without another argument, Jason took me and dragged me up the stairs.
We ran in a hall I never knew existed and he locked me in a room without saying anything else.
“Wait-”
Jason shut the door in my face before I could speak.
“Let me out!” I screamed.
I let out a frustrated cry and banged on the door, but I couldn’t hear him anymore. I couldn’t believe he just locked me in a random room-
My eyes ran over the huge master bedroom. Everything was golden and glimmering. There was a king-sized bed in the center of the room, tons of expensive-looking statuettes on the dresser, and a huge bookcase in the corner.
Then my eyes saw the golden crown, protected in a glass case sitting on a gilded table. My eyes widened at its luxurious beauty.
This was Brandon’s room. His intoxicating scent was everywhere.
I rummaged through his drawers, trying to find other clothes so I wouldn’t have to drag this blanket everywhere.
I threw on a shirt and pants that were way too big for me.
I walked to the door, twisting the knob repeatedly. Then, on its own accord, the door unlocked and I was face to face with Brandon.
I sighed in relief.
“Good, you’re here. Tell Jason that I-”
“You’re staying here.”
“While our pack fights without me? I don’t think so.” I objected but he held me back again.
“You’d be fighting your own pack. Could you kill one of your friends?” He asked, serious for once. “If you had to choose between someone who raised you and someone you’ve never met before, could you kill your blood?”
“Yes.” Even though the answer was “I don’t know”.
“You always were unreasonable.” Brandon sighed in frustration and that’s when another scent hit me. One that was walking on thin ice right now.
Keith appeared behind Brandon.
“That’s why I’m here.”
I blinked, wondering if my mind was playing tricks on me.
How did they know each other?
“You know Keith, right?” Brandon asked.
“I- Of course I do, but I-” My thoughts were all over the place. “How do you two. . .?”
“How else did you think I knew where your school was?” Brandon asked. “How else did you think Keith knew about werewolves? Knew about where you lived?”
That never crossed my mind.
“Keith’s brother was my Beta.” A dark shadow crossed his eyes and the gold I loved so much faded to a muted brown.
“That’s what’s keeping you up at night.” I put two and two together.
“His name was West and he was killed by your brother.” He said bitterly.
“Brandon-” I was going to say that it wasn’t his fault or mine, West made his own choice.
But he spoke before I could get a chance to.
“They say before you start a war, you better know what you’re fighting for.” Brandon told me and I gave him a confused look. “I get it now.”
He didn’t clarify and shut the door in my face, the second time in the past ten minutes.
“Don’t kill Albert, please, don’t kill him!” I cried and pounded on the door, even though I knew I was too late. He couldn’t hear me.
My hands went limp against the door. Brandon was going to fight my brother. I was going to lose one of them.
Keith reached out for my hands but I shot away from him.
“Don’t touch me!” I hissed and he takes his hand away, curling it back like I was the one who hurt him.
“Was any of it real?”
“It was all real, Amy,”
“You liar!”
“I didn’t lie!” Keith defended hotly.
“You said you weren’t a werewolf!” I lashed out, remembering the words he promised me.
“Technically I am but I haven’t phased in years.”
“You still lied.” I countered. This is the second time he’s lied to my face, how could I be sure there wouldn’t be a third time?
“There are things people are still hiding from you. Things you need to know.” Keith told me in a serious tone.
“More and more secrets! God, I’m so sick of this!” I cried, turning my back to him.
Keith grabbed my elbow and forced me to listen.
“Listen, this is important!” He yelled over my objections.
“What the hell’s so important that you have to keep it from me?” I snapped. “Your best friend?” Or was he only here because he was told to?
“Your parents lied about your birth.” He revealed and I rolled my eyes.
Was this his way of telling the truth? It wasn’t working.
“Like anyone would believe that.”
“I knew you wouldn’t believe me,” He shook his head, accidentally letting out a small smile. He reached into his jeans pocket and produced something rectangular, “So I brought this,”
“What’s that?” I demanded.
“Your mom’s journal.” The binding was falling apart and several pages were ripped out. The journal was held together by a rubber band but it was obvious that it’s been used excessively.
“So you’re a thief now, too?”
He ignored me, “Page fifty-four. Read the entry.” He held out the flimsy journal but I was refused to take it. I didn’t want anything from him.
“No.” I didn’t believe anything he was saying. I mean, all he did was lie! He lied about his connections with the werewolf world and that he was a member of Brandon’s pack.
“Fine, I’ll read it.” Keith cleared his throat and I walked to the opposite side of the room, not wanting anything to do with him anymore.
Liar. Thief. Stupid stupid head! I yelled at him in my head.
“‘I couldn’t deny it any longer. I was in love with Griffin. But how could I possibly hide that from Marvin? He could read my mind, he knew my feelings. He was going to find out soon. And he was going to find out that this baby wasn’t his.’”
“Baby. . .” I whispered and it was so deathly quiet that I knew it was true.
“My dad’s name was Griffin, you know,”
I felt a tear slip away from the corner of my eye.
“I’m the daughter of the Beta. Brandon’s Beta.”