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ღ EASTONღ 

Another growl ripped out of me as one of the Were-Mercenaries swung at me; her claws barely missing my face. Her glowing eyes narrowed more when her elongated teeth gnashed in my direction. That God damn arm of hers swung at me again, so much closer than the first time and I was ready to grab onto her wrist to rip out her claws one by one. 

Which I was close to doing, by the way.

Scowling, I stepped back and leaned away when the she-wolf took another try at me. I could feel my lip curling, readying myself when she pushed off her feet and used her body weight against me. Her hands clutched onto my shoulders when I tried to brace myself from falling over and the bitch used her nails to dig into my skin. 

A painful cry escaped before I grit my teeth, my wolf peering through and now my glowing gaze matched hers. The damn she-wolf sneered with a half smirk, knowing what advantage she had and deepened her digging. Leaning my head back, I let out another grit-teethed groan. The she-wolf anticipated my own clawed hand coming at her and she lifted her knee to jab into my stomach. 

"Fuck!" I grunted, sucking in a breath from feeling her nails cutting into my muscle. 

Growling, I raised my hand between her arms and latched onto her throat. The she-wolf snarled, releasing one of my shoulders and used that hand to scratch at my face. Another growl rippled out of me, making me squeeze my grip on her throat more. The she-wolf snarled her teeth at me again like she was little affected. 

Another surprise on her part, she used her arm to swung upward and let her claws scrape up along under my chin. I threw her back from me, shaking my head and grit my teeth while the smell of my blood penetrated my nostrils. 

"How quaint," the she-wolf teased through a sneer. Her eyes looking me up and down as she continued, "Even as brutal as you and your pack members are highly spoken about, you still manage to treat lil' ol' me with decency." 

Her glowing eyes narrowed slightly, grinning, "Good to know you're such a gentleman, even when it means I'm kicking your ass." 

I sneered at her, lowering my chin as the she-wolf chuckled behind her lips and raised a brow to eye me once me. She raised her bloodied fingers by her face, her fingers slightly curled as she admired them. Her eyes glanced my way before licking the blood off the side of her finger. 

"Mmm... I can taste the fury in your blood. And even as I stare at you now, I can tell just how much you are holding back. Aw..." Her nose scrunched, giggling, "That's so sweet! " 

She clicked her tongue against the back of her teeth, feigning a pout. I raised a brow, lowering the other at this crazy bitch's smile. She wiggled her bloodied fingers at me.

"So sad that my about-to-be mercy is afraid to actually hurt a woman."

My lip curled, growling again and bracing myself for her to rush me again, but I blinked when the she-wolf cried out, falling forward and hitting the ground. She held a hand to the back of her head, lifting it to stare wide-eyed at the blood now on her hand from the attack behind her. 

I couldn't help the grin when seeing the she-wolf sneering with narrowed eyes up at Red standing over her with a bloodied brass knuckles. His fist was still held up, the hard punch he'd given to her head left the blood glistening on the large metal piece he held. 

My gorgeous, sexy platter sneered back at the pissed off she-wolf and huffed, "ButI'm not."

The she-wolf growled up at Red, pushing herself up to face off now with him. 

"Alright Hunter... Let's see what you got without sneaking up from behind." 

Red's brown eyes darkened, jaw tightening as his still-raised fist with the brass knuckles. It was much more clear now seeing that these brass knuckles weren't the normal kind. A black strap wrapped around Red's wrist that had a thin strap connecting vertically up the back of his hand. And for good reason when Red's fist made a quick flicking forward and a sharp-pointed dagger appeared out of the top with a clean 'shling!'.

My brows shot upward, grinning to myself at Red's Hunter Mode. And let me say---though I know it might not be the best time---it was so hot. 

The she-wolf narrowed her eyes, sniffing to Red that his little contraption wasn't going to help him before she rushed him. Taking one step back, Red anticipated her steps and when she was in arm's distance, his arm swung across and knicked the she-wolf's shoulder. She gasped, staring at her shoulder as she jumped out of the way. Her gaze rose back to Red still watching her with that scowl on his face. 

"I barely touched you," Red scoffed, waving her on again. 

Taking the challenge, she went after Red again whose shout was directed at me that his reason for interfering with my fight was because my former alpha needed assistance. I raised a brow, turning to quickly scan the land behind the house where our side was fighting off the Mercenaries. 

I could see that some of my friends' coats were bloody---whether that blood was theirs or not I was unsure---and while a few were in wolf form then there was my sister and Vi remaining in human form. 

I knew Langley was having difficulty shifting with the years of being unable to which made sense to why she was currently having her legs wrapped around the back of some guy's neck as she quickly cracked his head to the side. She came down with the limp body, kneeling to catch herself and looked up at me with a grin before scampering off for someone else. 

Violet, on the other hand, been better at fighting as a wolf which made me wonder why the hell she was fighting as a human... up until I just saw her use her claws to clutch around a woman's neck and haul her down. As the woman was falling to her knees and trying to catch herself, Vi's other clawed hand came down over the woman's head and latched her nails into the woman's eyes. 

The agonizing scream from the woman made me flinch a bit, watching her try to claw at Violet's hand but my friend's gold-hued eyes were thriving on the helplessness from the pained she-wolf. 

Well, damn, Violet...

While being cautious of anyone getting in my way, I kept scanning for Auric. I wasn't sure why Red was mentioning Auric needing help (I mean, have you seen the guy in wolf mode? He's fucking huge! And when he's pissed he's worse!) but he was one of my best friends and my former alpha. No matter if he wasn't anymore, he always would be to me. 

I owed him that much after those months back. 

With perfect timing, that familiar bellowing roar echoed my way; and I noticed that Violent had turned in its direction too. The rest of my friends had too. They halted where they were before we all watched Auric still in the middle of his roar, hunched forward as the upper torso of a wolf was clutched in one hand and its other half in the other. 

My brows shot up, not realizing that Auric had that in him. I mean, it's Auric. I know. But... still. 

Auric was snarling at someone I couldn't see until that person backed up a bit from behind the barn. I felt a growl rumbling out of me, seeing Trent with a few of his other companions. Narrowing my gaze, all I could think about was those months back when he'd attacked Red. How Red's face looked; bloody lip and bruised, and then remembering Trent's teasing directed at Red. 

My fists curled at my sides, but I knew I had to control myself. I couldn't lose my shit quite yet. Not unless Trent or his others try anything on Auric or Thea.

Speaking of Thea... She happened to appear from out of the crowd, parts of her clothing bloodied as the rest of us and her grip on her sword tightened while her other hand carried a bloodied-tipped dagger. Following behind her, guarding her more like, was Azkar's Second-in-Command and her son. Vrable and her son both held this narrowed-eyed frown as they kept watching the others carefully while Vrable held her shotgun and Mr. President carried a crossbow that was ready to fire upon command. 

I looked over my shoulder, seeing Red starting to straighten, grunting as he yanked his up back; the dagger on his brass knuckles coming out of the snarky she-wolf's throat. She jerked forward a few times, gurgling until falling to the ground and letting the remainder of her blood streaming out from the open gash in her throat. 

I nodded, the corners of my lips pulling downward and looked up at Red approaching me; that serious look still on his face. 

"I gotta say, Red," he glanced at me, lowering a brow. "That was," I took a deep breath, held it, and then sighed with a grin, "Fucking hot." 

Red rolled his eyes, grumbling, "Not now, Easton." as he walked past me and I chuckled lightly, shrugging, "Your fault." which he shot me a look over his shoulder for before we both approached the main event by the barn. 

My amusement melted the moment we all closed in where Thea was standing beside her husband. Auric tossed aside the torn in half wolf, his growl minimizing to something fainter as he began to shift back to his human form. Once he did, Auric was panting hard, but slow and his chest and arms were smeared with blood. Instead of behind just Thea, this time, there was Vrable and her son standing behind both of them, continuing their cautious scanning.

Rolling his shoulders back, Auric kept his sight on Trent. "I suggest you retreat, Trent, and re-think whatever it is you are trying to accomplish here."

"We just want the boy, Dennison!" Trent called back from his "safe" distance. Pussy.

Sneering, my alpha warned Trent that whatever he was trying to accomplish wasn't going to happen without getting through two very pissed parents. The woman standing beside Auric narrowed her eyes, her lip involuntarily curling---a silent notion in agreement.

Trent's jaw clenched though I caught the nervous swallow he made while switching back and forth between Auric and Thea. He then called back that he had nothing against Auric, his friends, or pack members. 

The asshole shrugged, raising his hands as he shook his head and grinned, "Not even this town! We don't want anyone to get hurt here!" then Trent's face returned to a more serious look when Auric and Thea's hard expressions remained the same. 

Brows furrowing, Trent cleared his throat. "We have our orders, Dennison! And even with your new shifting form..." he paused, eyeing Auric a little since technically what was said was true. Auric couldn't shift to a full wolf like the rest of us. However, he was turned that way. Not born. Which was Trent's point.

"The boy is a danger to our lifestyle! His existence will cause havoc! We'll be discovered with him around!"

Thea growled, taking a step forward even though Auric's gaze kept an eye on her, and demanded, "How!? How is my son's existence going to endanger you!? How is his being alive going to make you any more discovered than what you are doing now!?"

She waved angrily at the mess of bodies left on the land while the remainder of the mercenaries were on Trent's side. 

"This...?" She raised her brows, turning back to Trent. "This is how you get discovered! This is how you---" she pointed at him. "Cause havoc! Not my son!" 

Trent eyed Thea, probably because of all the stories he must of heard about her. From former Councilwoman Estrada especially. 

His face contorted back into a frown, shaking his head slowly that to humans, our kind was supposed to remain non-existent. We were supposed to blend in and live peacefully among the humans. But when there is something unique---even to Werewolves---then it throws off the balance for everyone. 

"You don't know what he is capable of!" Trent tried to point out and Auric shot back, "And that means you do!?" 

Trent squeezed his eyes shut, shaking his head in frustration and even paced a few steps before snarling at the parents that they were to hand over their son immediately! That it was better to hand him over to Trent than for the Council to show up and demand this of them anyway; taking their son away in front of their eyes.

It was that moment... that tiny moment that Trent realized his mistake. 

Auric's and Thea's eyes widened under their furrowed brows and the father's grit teeth growled out, "Run that by me again, Roman...?"

Ohhhh, shit. He used Trent's surname. Trent done fucked up.

The "mercenary"---pft, please--- took another step back, his eyes a little wider than before and swallowed out that he was trying to make it easy on the parents by having them allow their son to go peacefully with him. Then their son would have to be taken to the Council where he will be dealt with. 

"You mean killed?" Thea snapped, her brown eyes on fire. 

Auric growled, lip curling while his gray eyes faded into those of his wolf. Sneering, my alpha warned Trent that killing Auric's son wasn't going to happen. Not without getting through two very pissed parents. More than before. The woman standing beside Auric narrowed her eyes, her lip involuntarily curling---a silent notion in agreement.

"Would you rather have to watch your kid be slaughtered in front of you!?" Trent shouted back, his face bewildered that the parents weren't complying. Like, are you fucking serious? C'mon, Trent.

The rest of us, particularly us five Weres who have always been protective over Eli from the moment he was discovered, all began to growl low; letting the asshole know how convincing his damn argument wasn't. 

Trent looked over at us, scanning us all before trying to tell Auric again that this was the parents only chance. That this could be done easily if they'd just hand the boy over. 

"Son or not, he's a danger to the Werewolf world because at least us normal Weres can control ourselves! What about him!? He's not the same, Dennison, you need to remember that!"

He nodded in Thea's direction. 

"Whatever is fucking running through her blood is running through your son! It is mixed with our genetic string and that is already complicated enough! And this isn't like it was a normal Advanced Hunter we are talking about!" 

His arm motioned to Thea this time. 

"She's the daughter to the most notorious Werewolf Hunter in history! And if that didn't already convince the Council of your son's fate then let me point out as well that your wife---" he spit out that last word. "Surpassed her mother! What she did to Councilwoman Est---"

"What she did," Auric interrupted, just his low tone was a tell for us in the 'Six' that he was getting agitated again. "Was what any parent would do, which is protect her child from harm. I'm sure the former Councilwoman left out a few details... such as how she had deliberately locked a four-year-old inside a house and was burning it down while making the rest of us watch!" 

Trent blinked, frowning a bit while the others with them raised their brows. Trent shook his head, stammering, "N--No! That's not what we were told! Estrada came to us in Europe saying that the Council here was attacked! That she---" once again pointing at Thea, "---had ambushed the Council's home and killed them all but her. That she escaped after the Hunter had deliberately injured her to send a message!" 

"And you fucking believed her!?" Thea growled, sneering that the former councilwoman was the one who ambushed us and that Estrada was taking her revenge for having lost her own child years ago by attempting to take Thea's. 

Thea raised a brow, tilting her head slightly, "But I can assure you, Trent, that you will be leaving here. Today. Now. With what mercy I had shown the councilwoman all those years ago. But let me just say this..." 

I could feel Trent's nerves even from this distance and I knew it was rattling him up that he was afraid of someone so small. 

Thea grinned, shaking her head as she chuckled, "You can let her know that the next time I see her---because I will---I'll be sending her a fucking message alright. But she won't live long enough this time to do anything about it."  

When Thea raised the arm with the sword, Trent and his mercenaries---whata crap job they were doing---widened their eyes, stepping back and the Advanced Hunter grit her teeth.

"You're not getting my son. Ever. So I suggest you and the Council go back home. And stay there. Where it's safe for you."

Trent narrowed his eyes, growling, "You threaten with some pretty scary words, Bitch. But I have a job to do and now that you've pissed me off, I can't wait to drag your fucking spawn out here and slice him open in front of you."

My deep growl was joined with the others, Auric's overpowering all of ours, but we were all shifting now and the Hunters with us fell into their Hunter mode; slowly stepping forward with that predatory gleam in their eyes. We were making our way forward and moving around so that we would be able to surround the mercenaries. 

Their faces looked worried, their backward steps stumbling while a few shifted as well. The growls they tossed our way had nothing on the ones we gave back. Trent, still in his human form, tried to reason with the parents once more.

"I might have been out of line there, Dennison," Trent was eyeing the taller, more muscular version of Auric who was watching Trent like a hawk. 

Beside me, Red scoffed, "No shit..." as his fingers squeezed the brass knuckles he wore. I went back to looking at Trent and his mercenaries. It was obvious by now for Trent that he and the others would not be leaving. They wouldn't have a chance now that Trent had ruined it for them. They could have gone away and pretended this never happened. 

But now we were all waiting... waiting for that signal again to finish the rest of them off. 

"Don't even think about it, Dennison!" Trent shouted, backing up even as he was speaking. "If the Council gets word of this---and not having us return---then you will be found guilty! And the Council will be adding you and the others to be taken care of too!" 

Auric's snout scrunched slightly, his clawed fingers curling inward as Trent's words settled in. Seeing this, Trent---the cocky bastard---took advantage of this and grinned, nodding, "That's right, Dennison. You'll condemn the rest of the Weres in this town! They'll be marked as traitors! And then you'll be responsible for every single one of their deaths because the Council finds them out of line!" 

He looked at the rest of us while still speaking to my alpha. 

"They're harboring an Abomination! An uncontrollable beast that will ruin our way life if the humans find out about him because he can't control himself!" He leaned forward, shouting so harshly that the veins in his neck bulged. "Is that what you want!? Huh!?" 

We all remained silent, still waiting for a notion from Auric or Thea. But then there was a loud howl that broke the silence, echoing from the forest before it was accompanied by more howls. Trent and the other mercenaries' eyes widened, once again stepping backward in a huddle. 

Auric turned towards the entrance of the woods where a dark fur colored wolf led the way out; more wolves following behind and their golden eyes locked on Trent and the others. The wolf leading trotted over to take its place on Auric's other side before shifting back to a human.

Alpha Brown stuck his chin up, a glower on his face while raising a brow and addressed loudly, "Trent Roman, why am I not surprised that you are the one leading this..." he looked over the other mercenaries. "Feeble troop?" 

The alpha looked back to Trent who didn't appreciate the jab. He growled, lowering his chin as the alpha chuckled, shaking his head and told Trent that 'the boy' he was looking for was well-protected. He turned to his pack, waving an arm in their direction as it was noted by Trent's group that Alpha Brown's pack took up most of the lot. 

"We---" he looked back to Trent. "Protect the boy. Willingly, I assure you, since you might think Auric Dennison is forcing me and my own. But I should remind you, Trent, that I don't do what I don't want to. And I can assure you that the only one who is threatening our way of life... is you." 

From what I could tell, Trent was getting more agitated, but I knew he wouldn't try anything. Not when he and his team were clearly outnumbered. He would, however, if he was stupid. Which is a huge possibility, now that I think about it. 

"Well, Alpha Brown," Trent spat, fists curled. "I'll be sure to add you and your pack to the Council's list of packs to exile. This will cost you their protection."

"Protection?" The alpha's brows rose, blinking. He leaned forward a bit while frowning, "From who exactly? Them? I can tell you now, Trent, that I certainly don't fear the Council. And neither does my pack. Not when the Council sends... well, you, instead of appearing before us themselves. That would impress me even more, actually." 

Even in wolf form, I could feel myself smirking---well, actually it was just me opening my mouth and letting my tongue hang out--- but still. 

Alpha Brown mentioned to Trent that the boy they were sent out for was not the problem. 

"It's the Council," his brow rose. "They fear change. They fear anything that could possibly challenge their status... and their power among us average Weres. But because in hindsight, the Council has only their title to cling to. Because without it, they are just---in fact---average Weres too."

Red, the corners of his lips pulling down, nodded his head, clearly impressed, and muttered, "That's not bad..." to which I nudged his hand and made him look down at me. I let my tongue hang out of the side of my mouth. 

My gorgeous, sexy platter frowned, shaking his head a bit before sighing, "You're so cute... I hate it." 

I pulled my tongue back in, closing my mouth and stared at Red before playfully nipping at his sleeve. Red shushed me, waving me off before going back to listening. I must admit that I was getting bored just standing there and as great as the speech was from Ol' Mighty Brown was, I wanted to either kick some ass or kiss Red's. Either one would suffice. Preferably the latter.

Lightly whining, I went back to Trent arguing---unsuccessfully---with Alpha Brown.

"You're a damn fool, Brown. The Council will hear about this."

"I hope they do, Trent." Alpha Brown nodded, "Because I'm sure they'll believe everything they hear from you. If this is the only thing you tell them that is actually true, then I do hope you tell them that Alpha Brown and his pack stands by Auric Dennison and the notorious Werewolf Hunter they fear so much."

The alpha growled as a close, "Just like you stood by my son before you killed him." 

Whaaaaat the fuuuuuck?

From the side, I noticed a golden-furred wolf lowering its head as it whimpered, its eyes lifting to Alpha Brown. I could only assume that this was Ophelia reacting to the mention of her brother---someone that no one really knew about.

Trent scoffed, sneering, "Caleb was just like you, old man. He always stood for the weak. He didn't have what it takes to be a leader. He was too trusting. That was his problem and that's why he let me get too close and I made sure that I took what I wanted."

He proudly held up his hands, smirking as he shrugged, "If it's any consolation, he did his old man proud until the very end."

From the way Alpha Brown's teary gaze filled with heat, I was expecting him to rush Trent. But much to my surprise---as to everyone else's--- it was Alpha Brown's daughter who zipped through the crowd and growled as she leapt at the group. One of Trent's wolves went forward, taking Ophelia on and that was when Alpha Brown broke out into a run too; assisting his daughter.

Again we broke into a fight, but this time I set my sights on Trent. That fucker needed to die. Today.

As I was scanning around, dodging other wolves, I caught a glimpse of the familiar build that belonged to Trent. Somehow I was able to pick him out of the chaos. And as if I didn't fucking hate the guy already, I was following where he was headed in such a stealthy mode that I saw his target. 

Red.

I growled, pushing off my paws in his direction.

Red was in the middle of using the dagger on the brass knuckles to swing down and cut off the wolf's ear. The wolf yelped, whining as its paw went up to where its ear used to be. Red was approaching, ready to finish the job, Trent latched an arm around Red's neck and hauled him backward. 

There were others fighting in front of me and I kept getting frustrated because they were getting in my way and I had to keep going around them. A few times I had to snap at a few who I startled. I didn't care though. My focus was getting to Red and fast. 

When I got to where I'd last seen Red, I began to panic and I whimpered because he was nowhere in sight. I lifted my snout, trying to sniff him out but there were too many scents mixed in the air; blood, dirt, trees, wind, other wolves, and the Hunters.

"Argh!" 

Spinning around, my eyes quickly looked around, hearing that cry but for some reason that cry sounded familiar. I took off down the side of the barn, leaping over two wolves fighting and slid to a stop behind the barn where I found Red getting up and wiping the back of his hand against his mouth. He was breathing hard but his attention was on Trent who held his hands up and curled his fingers towards himself, egging Red to try again.

"You couldn't beat me last time, Kale. But I know you've got it in you. So c'mon. Show me that spark you have. Or is that only just for Quinn?"

Red's lip curled, rolling his shoulders back. "You stay away from Easton."

Trent grinned, shaking his head, "I like this side to you, Kale. It's so... attractive. And I must say, that I was hoping another fight broke out because I needed to get you alone. Just once."

"The fuck for?" 

I lowered myself beside the wall of the barn, narrowing my gaze on Trent as I listened in. I was waiting for the precise moment to jump in.

"Because, Kale, I know how much more level-headed you are than the others. I can tell. You're more reasonable. Especially when I tell you that the Council is here."

My ears perked up, my head lifting a little at this piece of information.

Trent's lips split into a wide grin. He told Red how no one would listen to him except Red because he knew---from observation and researching through other Werewolves---how close Red was to Thea. 

"You're the one who can keep the most Notorious Werewolf Hunter---moreso than Emeel Ray---in line. To keep her under control."

"What the hell makes you think that?" Red snapped, frowning. He shook his head, scoffing, "We all do that for one another."

"No," Trent's grin disappeared. "Because, you and her share the same blood." 

Red's back stiffened, his brows furrowing as he shook his head. "So? What... what the hell does that have to do with anything?"

There was this gleam in Trent's eyes that warned me to step in, but another part of me was wanting to know what Trent was talking about. He made it sound so cryptic. Like it was fucking gold to him.

Trent raised a brow, tilting his head as he asked, "From my understanding, Emeel Ray wasn't the only gifted Advanced Hunter... was she?" 

Red didn't say anything. He just stared back, narrowing his eyes. 

"Even if Dennison's wife is this superior being in your world... she's not the only one. Because she's still only half Advanced Hunter with whatever is running through her fucking veins that makes her what she is." 

He was now circling Red and I lowered again, narrowing my eyes and readied myself to jump Trent once his back was close enough to me. Trent grinned again, letting Red know, "But you... You are full-blooded and with a father who has similar gifts as his twin sister." 

"I can tell you're stalling, Trent," Red kept cautious of Trent's pacing. He moved back a bit, shaking his head. "I don't know why either, but this has nothing to do with what's going on right now."

"Oh..." Trent smiled, "It has everything to do with what is going on right now. More because my team and I---while in Europe---happened to come across one of the Advanced Hunter Societies. We made ourselves welcome to it, of course," he shrugged, seeing that Red was a little agitated. "Killing off Hunter after Hunter---except for those who managed to escape. Probably to warn the others." 

Red shook his head, growling, "Get to your fucking point!" 

Trent's good mood faltered. He narrowed his eyes as he announced to Red that his team broke into the Society's hidden vault where there was record of every Advanced Hunter ever born. That among those names was Emeel Ray and the half-blood daughter born to her. 

"But of course, you---" Trent pointed playfully at the annoyed redhead. "Were in that vault too with the just-as-gifted father to match. But what I found so---astounding---about your file, Kale," he paused, raising his brows. He eyed Red up and down, earning him a scowl for this. 

Trent sighed, shaking his head as he looked at the ground.

"The file on you was pretty interesting, Kale... Mainly about your blood type." 

Red's brow rose, glancing to the side and shrugged, "Congratulations, you know how to read. So the fuck what?"

"Hang on..." Trent toyed, "I'm getting there."

My sexy platter tilted his head, boringly staring back at Trent until the asshole decided to finally get to what this whole thing was about.

"You happen to have interesting genetics, Kale. Aside from being advanced in everything, of course. But what I thought was fascinating as I read through your file---though there was no picture to it, otherwise I would have recognized you that first time I met you--- is the surprising number of extra chromosomes you were born with. Those extra chromosomes happen to noted in the file as all translocated."

Red's brows furrowed, blinking a few times. He swallowed, looking a bit worried about this. He didn't like the way Trent was so calm... and to be honest, neither did I. 

"That means, Kale, since you look so confused," Trent grinned, "That like your cousin, your blood was different than the normal Advanced Hunter. And, well, they didn't have a sample of her blood there from what I saw, but they had yours. Oddly enough." 

He shrugged nonchalantly, sighing, "And when I read further, it said that they used your blood for experimentation."

"On what...?" Red frowned, his jaw clenching.

Trent's face suddenly morphed into a vicious scowl, his eyes tight as he clenched his teeth. 

"Werewolves, Kale. Werewolves. And do you know what happened to every God damn Were that was tortured by your fucking kind!?" 

Red blinked, stepping back a bit. 

"They became something worse than dead! Something that would put every single Werewolf alive in danger."

Trent pointed at Red, growling, "Your blood was the only one that fucking Society used to turn Werewolves insane! Their reaction to your blood was a cancer! It messed with their brain! There were tons of pictures linked to your file, showing all the Werewolves they experimented on! And with every experimentation, the Weres' brains erased parts of its functionality."

He glowered, breathing heavily. 

"They became maniacal animals."

I glanced at Red, his wide-eyed look turning solemn and he turned his head, frowning as he shook his head. He kept muttering that it wasn't true but Trent countered that.

"Not true!? Yes! It is! It's true because we found one of their experiments, Kale!" 

My ears perked up just as Red's attention snapped back to Trent. Trent spat that they found the Werewolf chained up around the neck, its wrists and ankles. That it was locked away in some underground cell. He then told Red that they at first thought it was a Werewolf like them, but when they got closer, the Werewolf wasn't normal at all. It had lashed out, saliva dribbling from its teeth, and its eyes were wild, no evidence of humanity in them left. 

Trent huffed, shaking his head, "But even if he was no longer a Werewolf... we couldn't leave him like that. We couldn't leave him for more of your kind to come back to the Society facility and find him." 

At this, Red blinked. His brows furrowed as he was lowering his chin and slowly shook his head, "You... you didn't... Trent, you didn't... bring it... here, did you?" 

"Of course, we did! We couldn't leave him on his own! He'd get caught by the Hunters and then everything we worked hard for would be for nothing!"

I noticed Red's chest rising and falling rapidly, him swallowing as his brown eyes widened. He shook his head, mumbling, "You idiot..." and frowned, shouting, "Trent, you realize what you've done!? What this could mean if that Werewolf gets out in the open!?" 

Trent frowned, shaking his head that the Werewolf was locked up, that it was secure with the Council.

Red's brows shot up, leaning his head forward. "The---The Council has it!? Are you fucking insane!? The Council wants to kill my teenage cousin and you don't think that they would risk anything---anything---to do that, like releasing a rabid Werewolf on him!?"

He shook his head, trying to move forward to leave but Trent got in the way, shoving Red back. I growled, now making my presence known and they both turned to me. Red looked relieved for a moment while Trent frowned.

"Well, if it isn't Quinn! Come to play hero for once?"

I lowered my head, feeling the fur along my spine standing up on end. My teeth bared as I stepped closer to Trent. He chuckled, shaking his head, "You wouldn't stand a chance against me, Quinn. You remember how that played out for you last time, don't you? Or should I string your ass up to another flagpole to remind you?"

Fucker.

Pushing off my paws, I leaped up and latched my jaws against his throat. With my weight against him, Trent stumbled back, mid-cry, and knocked against the back of the barn. 

All that rage that I had during that humiliating time in my life came rushing back. Everything that happened between Thorton and me before Trent had to go and fuck it up came rushing back at me. Remembering the way everyone looked at me, laughed at me... the laughter still ringing in my ears and having to watch Thorton stand there wide-eyed now made sense as I could clearly see now when Trent stood there proudly; crossing his arms and keeping his brother at bay.

There was no stopping myself from clawing at Trent. I kept feeling my jaws clamp down on his throat, his shoulder, his face and tugging aggressively to anything that I could pull on while my nails dug in deeper in every direction that I could claw in. The metallic taste in my mouth was getting more and more bitter, heavier and it wasn't until I could hear the faint, "Easton! Easton, stop!" that I realized I had tuned everything out.

Once I felt arms around my neck, tugging me backward forcefully, I felt myself growling still but minimal. My eyes still set on the bloodied remains in front of me. My paws trotted in place as I struggled to get loose but the arms around my neck held tighter and then I smelled Red's scent which made me freeze a moment---momentary panic because I feared that I did something to him again.

But then I felt the arms around me tightening more and I bowed my head, my ears perking up as I recognized the sneaker of the outstretched leg beside me. I blinked, panting heavily, as I heard Red's soft voice while leaning his head against the back of me. 

"You're okay, Ease... You're okay... I'm right here."

The sudden calmness taking over helped with my breathing, and I felt myself starting to shift back to human. Once I did, my hand instinctively went to hold tightly to Red's. His arms were still wrapped around me, feeling the side of his face against my sweaty back. I swallowed, staring straight ahead, the bloodied remains of Trent now blurry as I was focusing on how quickly I came down from my rage with Red's touch. 

I frowned, swallowing again before turning my head slightly and could see the top of Red's ruffled hair. 

"Red..."

He didn't move. He just kept holding me as his voice muffled back, "I'm okay."

I sighed in relief, closing my eyes then just as quickly opened them.

Licking my lips, I twisted around where Red slowly sat up. He stared at me with a teary gaze and I frowned, reaching up to take hold of his face. Shaking my head, I asked him what was wrong, that I thought I didn't hurt him. My eyes went straight to the scar on the side of his jaw to the middle of his neck. 

Red shook his head, assuring me that he was fine. Physically.

"Easton... they brought that thing here. That thing that---that---that was my fault." 

He sniffled, frowning as he tried to get up and wiped under his nose with the back of his hand. 

"I have to warn Thea and Dennison. I have to tell Maddox to get Eli and Maddie out of here."

I grabbed hold of him, pulling him back to me and took hold of his face again. 

"Red! Red, relax!" But his bottom lip puckered, trembling before squeezing his eyes shut and sobbed. He dropped his head as much as he could and cried that it was his fault! That his cousins were going to die because of him! 

My jaw clenched tightly, not sure of how to make him feel better other than to pull him to me. His arms looped under to hold onto my shoulders from the back, burying his face against my shoulder. I frowned, staring at nothing in particular as my mind raced with hopeful solutions. Red trembled, crying harder that back when they had found Hollow's father, that man wanted Thea's blood to do the exact thing Trent explained about this frenzied Were.

"And---and it was me! I was the one who changed them all! It's my fault, Ease!" 

I'd never seen Red like this. It frightened me, to be honest, because I didn't know how to make him feel better. Even when I tried telling him that he didn't know they were using his blood for experiments, it didn't help because Red was just more upset that the Society had apparently tried with other Advanced Hunter blood but none worked. 

"Because of who my dad is," he frowned, sniffling. His brown eyes lifted to mine. "Thea's blood does the same thing because of our parents being twins. She got her mom's blood and I got my dad's. I thought I was so insignificant because of who my Aunt Emeel was. What she'd accomplished and then how Thea became an Advanced Hunter was more than what I was born as."

He swallowed, looking away with a frown.

"I liked being insignificant. At least then I knew I wasn't the reason to possibly wipe out the Werewolf kind."

I sighed slowly, tilting my head to catch Red's gaze. He glanced at me and I weakly grinned, shrugging a shoulder. 

"You know... This isn't your fault, Red. They took that sample when you a baby. You were helpless. You didn't have a say. You didn't even know. So don't feel bad. I'd get it if you volunteered for it, but you didn't. Thea was the same way. She was human and had the Hunter inside her dormant. But even that human side to her was taken away against her will. But she survived it."

I held his face again, his brown eyes staring back at me. I couldn't help but grin.

"You're so weird, Red. You want to be normal in a world that isn't. You live in a Werewolf world now and you still want to be normal. You are too rough on yourself. You and Thea. I think that's where you get it from since she was like that back in high school."

Red chuckled a little, looking down then back up at me.

I shrugged a shoulder, lowering a brow. 

"But I think that what I love about you so much, Red. You see such good in everyone else... that you don't see there is just as much good in you... or more."

Then I licked my lips, shaking my head that he didn't have to worry about Eli and Maddie. 

"We're going to be okay. They are going to be okay. We're not going to let this new obstacle keep us down, okay? We'll figure something out. We always do, don't we?"

When he didn't answer, I tilted my head to catch his gaze again. I raised my brows, asking again, "Don't we?"

Red stared, taking a deep breath and then nodded as he sighed. The corner of his lip curled upward and whispered, "Thanks, Ease. I really needed that."

I gave him a cheeky grin, shrugging a shoulder, "It's like you said once, Red, you need me just as much as I needed you."

Rolling his eyes while shaking his head, Red grinned, "Yeah... I remember now." then glanced back to me. "And I love you, too."

Again, I couldn't help the smile I had when I heard him say that. 

"C'mon, let's go check on the others. I think we're in the clear... for now."

Walking side by side, we noticed that everything did quiet down. Most of Alpha Brown's pack was dragging bodies in both human and wolf form into a pile at the far end of the lot. Others were checking up on one another. 

My eyes scanned the different faces until I found the familiar one that I was looking for.

"Langley!" I called, glancing at Red to see if he'd be okay for a moment. He nodded and waved me off. I smiled then ran over to my sister.

She was straightening from where she knelt and had been wrapping Athena's ankle. My sister's same blue eyes looked me up and down then back up to my face. 

"Easton... What... What happened to you? Is---Is that yours?" she asked, pointing out the blood that I just realized was on me.

Hm. I wonder if I got some on Red...?

I looked down at myself again, shaking my head and waved off her question and instead asked if she was alright. She nodded, looking down at the irritated she-wolf scowling at her leg with her arms crossed. 

"I was just helping Athena wrap her ankle for now. Even though it'll heal, it would be a few hours and she keeps touching it after I've already snapped it back into place. Twice." 

I raised a brow, looking at the she-wolf seated on the ground and she lifted her eyes up to me for a second then did a double-take before scowling at me instead.

"The fuck are you looking at, Quinn?" 

My eyes narrowed at her, taking a moment to purse my mouth then glanced at my sister with a raised brow and half-lidded eyes. 

"I can see now what Valentine sees in her. She's precious." 

The red-head growled, sneering at me before ordering me to find the person I mentioned and let him know that she was demanding his presence. 

My brows shot up, and I scoffed, "Uh... No, Bitch. I'm not your lap dog. You want Valentine then you go find him yourself. Walk off that sprain, why don't you?"

"Easton..." Langley groaned, giving me a look. I glanced at her, shrugging, "She started it."

"Athena?" 

Speak of the devil.

There was a complete one-eighty all of a sudden in the she-wolf as she had a smile---yes, I'm serious---on her face and threw up her arms as she cried, "There you are! I've been looking all over for you!" 

I raised a brow, lowering the other, "You have? By sitting here?"

Athena's icy gaze snapped to me for a moment. "Can it, Blockhead." before turning back to Valentine who grinned at her as he scooped her up and she adoringly caressed the side of his face. He walked away without a word to either Langley or me.

I frowned, waving, "Bye! Not like your best friends are standing right here! Just go on and ignore us while you act all lovey-dovey with your she-bitch!"

"Okay," came my hulk-sized friend's reply. 

"I hate when he does that..." I mumbled, turning to my sister who was already walking off. "Hey! Where are you going?"

My sister blushed, raising her shoulders as she was still walking but this time, backward. She jabbed her thumb over her shoulder and grinned, "To, uh... Find Maddox?"

My nose scrunched, lip curling as I growled and Langley rolled her eyes, sighing, "Easton... You really need to let that go. I'm not fifteen, you know? And yes, Maddox and I have done it waaaaay more than fifteen times. Perhaps more than you and Kale."

Narrowing my eyes at her, I growled that she would refrain from speaking to me about her sexual rendezvous with Hollow. That if not, I'd make sure to put him back in the grave. 

"That's not funny, Easton!" Langley snapped, turning on her heel and storming off. 

I frowned, shouting back, "Now it is! It wasn't seven years ago!" then straightened as I mumbled, "She's too far. Now it's not fun."

I sighed, turning to look for Red now that I know my sister was alright. I spotted him speaking to Dennison and Thea, along with their parents. I started heading over to where they were honing in my hearing to hear Red explain what Trent had told him. The look on Thea's face was worrisome, but it looked worse because of how pale she'd gotten. Then Red shook his head, mumbling his apology before Auric frowned, placing a hand on Red's shoulder that it was not his fault.

"You didn't know," I could hear him saying.

As I approached, I was about to say some smart ass comment but then an anxious, "Dad!" came out of nowhere.

We all turned, wide-eyed, as a thirteen-year-old was sprinting out of the back door of the house, jumping over the steps and stumbled a bit before picking up his pace again. Behind him was a more calm-walking, Alice with little Maddie in her arms as he was talking to that little girl, Ruby, who was quite fond of Eli from what I noticed. 

My sister and Hollow were following right after; Hollow hugging my sister against him and their fingers intertwined. 

I wanted to vomit.

I moved out the way just in time when Eli practically rammed into Auric. My friend's brows furrowed, blinking a few times before slowly placing his arms around the teenager whose eyes were squeezed shut. 

Eli pulled back a bit, still holding onto Auric and sniffled, "I'm so sorry, Dad! I'm so sorry! I didn't mean it! My life would never be the same if you weren't in it! As much as I love Maddie, Dad, you are just that! My dad! I---I don't want anyone else but you to be my dad..."

Eli lowered his head, frowning, "I really do love you, Dad." then looked back up at Auric. "Do you think you could love me again?"

My friend frowned, glancing at Thea who shrugged---so helpful she is---before Auric lowered to meet his son's gaze. 

"Eli... What are you talking about?" 

The teenager swallowed, nodding as he shrugged a shoulder, "I said something really awful. And I felt bad about it but was too embarrassed to apologize sooner for saying what I said to you. And..." he glanced away as he continued. "I just thought you wouldn't want to love me anymore because of that. And... and I kinda was expecting it. Especially when you gave my nickname away."

Auric frowned, as did the rest of us. Except for Red because he was grinning behind his hand. 

When he could see that his dad wasn't sure what he was talking about, Eli sighed, his face reddening as he reminded his dad that when Auric was spending time with his little brother one time in the living room, that Auric had called Maddie "Sport" which was a nickname that had been very dear to Eli.

Eli pursed his mouth to the side, his eyes focused on the ground. He shifted his sneakers around in the dirt before glancing up at his dad. 

Auric's frown deepened, pulling a hand up to brace against the side of his son's head. 

"Eli... No matter what happens... or what we say... or do... I am always going to love you." Auric shook his head, raising a brow, "You're not little like your brother. I figured you'd want to have your space until you were ready to talk. I was a little hurt..." 

He paused, frowning between them as he thought of his words and Eli looked more guilty hearing this admitted out loud. 

"But like I said, that doesn't mean I was going to stop loving you. Never will I stop loving you. Do you hear me?"

Eli nodded, sniffling as he raised a hand to wipe his cheek. "I really am sorry, though, dad."

"I know. And I'm sorry that I couldn't bring Maddox back to you any faster."

His son pouted, looking down and shook his head before looking back up to Auric. Eli told his dad that as happy as he is to have Hollow back in his life that Auric was someone Eli had always wanted since he could first comprehend what a dad was. 

Eli grinned, leaning into Auric for a tight hug. He closed his eyes, sighing, "I love you, Dad. Even more than mom."

Auric laughed---a deep hearty laugh---that we all hadn't heard in so long and Thea gasped, "Eli!" while her son peeled an eye open and grinned, "Sorry, Mum." before being buried in Auric's embrace. Thea rolled her eyes, crossing her arms and sighed that she might as well get used to that, being that Eli and Auric would be the dynamic duo to annoy her again.

Both Eli and Auric shared the same identical scowl as they turned simultaneously to her. Thea raised a brow, placing her hands on her hips and shook her head that it was really unfair to be at a disadvantage with three boys in her home. She huffed that maybe she'll ask Alice to move in with them so that there was one more girl in the home.

"I wouldn't say that," someone from the back chirped. 

We all turned to see Emeel frowning at her nails, raising a brow as she flicked something off her fingers. Then she looked up at us and Thea's eyes widened under her furrowed brows, lowering her chin as she stared at her mother. 

"Moooooooom..." Thea's warning tone made Emeel's brows shoot up, "What?" 

With us all staring at her, Emeel went from looking confused to scowling in a second and rolled her eyes, throwing her arms up in the air and cried, "Well, you guys never let me know when is a good time to bring things up! There's always something with this family and impending danger that I can't get a glorious moment that is appropriate!"

Titan blinked, touching Emeel's hand and softly asked, "Emeel... Is there something that needs to be brought up?" 

Thea's mom raised a brow, blinking at her... lover... and then looked at the rest of us to pipe with a beaming smile, "I think you should name her Amelia. That's got a good ring to it!"

And then Thea shouted, "CRAP!" 

Damn... way to pull out, Auric. Way to pull out.