***
-8:00am-
Today's the day.
Today is the day..
Today is THE day...
"Harper, I promise we'll bring him back to you. I. Will bring him back to you.." James held his hand to his chest, forming a gesture that wolves saw as an unbreakable promise. Like a pinky promise but it can't be broken and actually means something.
"Thank you but please don't promise me anything. I couldn't handle it if you had to return without him." Harper pulled James's hand from his chest, stopping the gesture. James stared Harper in the eyes trying to discern if he was okay or if someone should stay to watch him.
"He'll be fine James. Scarlett is here to look after him." Atlas placed his hand on James's shoulder and gave him a look saying he wanted to speak to Harper alone. James walked to the front and started double checking everyone on supplies and their knowledge of the plan.
"Harper, you will be okay, right?" Atlas had his hands on each of Harper's shoulders.
"Dad, I'll be okay until you get back. I promise."
"Okay." Atlas took in a deep breathe. "Take care of your mother and try calling your sister, she's always had a way of making you feel better." Atlas gave Harper a strong hug before leaving for the mission.
(They'll be okay, right?)
(Mate is strong, he'll be okay. Alpha is strong too.)
***
-8:30am-
"It'll take us four hours to get there so we need to move fast and make minimal breaks." James was in charge of the route, he was the best navigator in the pack and had the best sense of smell and hearing.
"It'd be faster if we shifted to our wolves." Atlas looked to James, although he was alpha he couldn't undermine James's authority when Atlas put him in charge.
"That's true but I figured we might need the stamina later."
"If we do this the right way, then we won't need it."
James thought about Atlas's words for a moment and finally agreed before telling everyone to shift their wolves. Atlas's wolf had a strong, dominating figure, his wolf a sleek almost golden brown. James had the same type of figure but his wolf was duller in color compared to Atlas. Of the other eight wolves there were two red wolves, one silver wolf, three timber wolves, and two grey wolves. They carried their packs in their strong jaws and set off, full speed to rescue the two boys.
***
-8:00am-
It's early, the sun has barley risen high enough to make a sun beam in the room, Neil is still sound asleep. I suppose he's earned his rest, after all, it's my fault he's here. I know that I shouldn't do this for Blink, find his niece, but after everything that's happened in the last three months I want to try and make sure Neil doesn't have too many reasons to hate me. I already killed his family, the least I can do is make sure our capture keeps him comfortable.
"Niklaus." Blink was outside the door. "Tell the guard when you're ready and come downstairs."
Niklaus listened as Blink's footsteps faded away and let out a large sigh.
'I suppose I should go down.'
The guard escorted Niklaus to the main room where Blink was waiting for him.
"Niklaus, how did you sleep."
"Fine."
"Oh, really?" Blink had that look people get when they know someone is lying. "You didn't have any.. nightmares? No unrelenting thoughts?"
"If you want the truth, I slept like shit. In fact, shit would be an upgrade to how I slept because I didn't sleep at all. How could I?"
"Splendid, at least I know you'll be to tired to run away when you're ready for the hunt."
Niklaus huffed at Blink's little joke. He didn't actually want to do this hunt but hoped that by doing it Blink could keep Neil comfortable.
"When do we leave?"
"Noon, 12:00pm."
"I don't suppose you'd allow me to shower and eat before we go?"
"Oh of course." Blink gestured to the guard to a oblige to Niklaus's request.
During his time in the shower all of the thoughts from last night flooded his mind again. His mother, his father, his pack, and other family. The way he slaughtered them, the gift that was not knowing what had happened that week. The knowledge that Shade was so guilt ridden with the actions of that time that he completely shut Niklaus off and left him to fend for himself, a 12 year old, against a bipolar, blood thirsty, tyrant werewolf looking to destroy the old world and rule the new one.
-9:00am-
Niklaus, escorted back to the room, found Neil and some clean clothes waiting for him.
"I guess making deals with the devil does have some perks." Neil looked aggravated, like somebody peed in his corn flakes.
"You okay?" Niklaus walked over to the clothes laid out for him. They looked brand new like fresh from the clothes rack new. There was a green camouflage shirt with plain black pants and socks.
"Fine." Neil went back to his own thoughts for a second. "It's just.. why didn't you tell me the deal was to hunt down his niece?"
Niklaus let out a slight groan, who told Neil what the deal was?
"I just didn't want you worrying about it."
"Why? I mean, we just found out we're not only brothers but identical fucking twins, isn't it our jobs to kind of fucking worry about each other?"
"Look, I'm sorry I didn't tell you but it's been nine years since I've had any form of contact with anyone other than my fucking torturers, so if I haven't shared something with you it's probably because it's not something I need you worrying or knowing about right now."
Neil could tell there was something else pressing on Niklaus's mind but didn't feel like pressing any further because he didn't want to be chewed out again.
"Come on, I managed to get Blink to give us more food." Niklaus knocked on the inside of the door and waited for the guard to answer.
The guard escorted the brothers to the dining room where Blink was sitting at the head of the table with a pile of food in front of him. Blink gestured to the chairs on either side of him and waited for the two boys to sit down before having the maids serve them.
"So, Niklaus are you ready for this hunt?" Blink took a bite of roast pork and waited for Niklaus to respond.
"Yes, I'll do my best to find her and bring her here."
"Good, and Neil?" His eyes shifted to the other side and looked at Neil who was sitting quietly eating the food presented in front of him.
"I don't think he should've taken the deal."
"Really? Why is that?" Blink placed his fork and the table and crossed his fingers, resting his head on the backs of his hands.
"I don't think he should've done it because it requires him to sell a piece of his soul."
"How's that?"
"In order to fulfill his end of the deal, he'll have to kidnap and place another person into the same situation that he's been trying to escape for nine years."
"I suppose, but there's no fun in safe bets."