I followed the others back into my father's office. Lawrence sat in a client chair of Charlie's desk. Tyler and Drew sat on the couch and reading chair on the other side of the room. Everyone was quiet and appeared anxious. As I entered, I glanced at my twin brother. He'd be insistent about going back to school. I didn't understand why he was still here.
"What's going on?"
"Brian Hayes just phoned me. He said he has something he'd like to discuss over video call," Charlie explained. Aaron sat down in the second client chair while Robb sat in the other reading chair. He seemed nervous. It wasn't obvious if he knew this phone call was coming. Though it made me feel a little suspicious he happened to be here at this time. I leaned against the door frame, looking at my father questioningly. He looked back at me with an open expression when his monitor began to chirp.
Accepting the call, the face of an older, grey-haired man appeared. Brian Hayes was my father's uncle and the Alpha of the United Kingdom Pack. I'd never met him, and from what I heard, I was lucky for that. He was said to be an angry man, easily agitated when things didn't go his way.
"Charles, how are you?"
Drew's face crinkle, Tyler, and I both rolled our eyes to each other. My twin brother thought accents were hilarious, showing his maturity at twenty years old. I knew my father well enough to know that he was uncomfortable. The last person to call him Charles was his father. I was almost certain no one had said it since.
"Brian, I'm doing well. I don't mean to be blunt, but what would you like to talk about?"
"Robert told me there was a fire near your property and several severe injuries. I'd like to know more about what happened, to assess the situation."
Charlie glanced at Robb before looking back to his computer. However, Tyler and Drew stared at our guest. We'd suspected Robb was telling Brian about what he saw here at Talia Grove. Robb's cheeks heated up. He was embarrassed to be outed. Charlie cleared his throat.
"It seems someone lit a car on fire and used it as a method to try destroying the woods. The fire was lit off our property, so there wasn't any disruption from the fire department," Charlie explained, shifting to lean on his arm. He sat straight again, as he'd unconsciously leaned on his healing arm.
"It was mentioned the car wasn't empty. Who were the victims?" Brian's tone was accusing. He obviously already knew the answer, but he also sounded like he was blaming them for being there.
Charlie shifted his jaw and cleared his throat, "From what can gather, James Blake, Brandon Kane, and myself were assaulted by a few Strays. Once they rendered us unconscious, we were put into a wrecked car which was lit on fire. Kurtis Carr, Aaron O'Shalle, and my daughter, Ashlyn were able to retrieve Brandon and I any permanent damage was left. James was found within the woods, outside of the car. The fire department did a full report. They determined it as vandalism, but don't intend to do any further investigating. They are not aware we were in the car."
"What have you done to punish the wolves responsible for this?"
Tyler and I made eye contact, and I knew he was thinking the same thing I was. One, Brian Hayes was annoying, but two, he was inflicting old views onto my father. He wouldn't be content with any other answer.
"We're still recovering. I have not given any directions yet to my Pack. I've called in all remaining Pack members to Talia Grove as a precaution."
"And this fire," Brian paused, "is that the only incident you've had recently?"
Charlie glared at Robb, sending a chill down my spine. Tony's funeral was last night, and Robb had already told Brian about it. Any trust my father had given Robb was slipping away with every moment. Charlie rolled his eyes back to the screen, his face falling back to a diplomatic expression. I could see the betrayal's extent on Kurtis's and Tyler's faces. They wanted Robb gone now.
"An Alberta Pack member, Tony Oxborr was killed. His head was sent to us as a warning. We believe it's meant to say that Pack members aren't safe unless we follow their demands."
Brian didn't respond. From my angle, I could only see that Brian was staring my father down through the camera. Charlie looked back without fear.
"You will be resolving this problem and permanently eliminating the wolves that have caused this. If not done immediately, I feel I'm going to need to make the trip and handle this situation for you," Brian told Charlie. Charlie leaned back in his chair; hands crossed. My father's nostrils flared for a moment.
"Understood," he said as if he felt no emotions at all.
"Robert?" Robb moved across the office cautiously, coming into the camera's view, "I'd like you to stay in Canada and keep me updated until this situation is resolved. You are welcome back after that."
Again, Tyler and I looked at each other. We'd both caught the very specific last sentence Brian said to Robb. Welcome back?
"Yes, sir" Robb responded with a nod. Brian said his goodbyes and hung up the call. Robb went back to the chair with his head hung. We stayed quiet, everyone looking around to read each other's expressions. Drew glared at Robb with disgust, who looked at his hands. Lawrence even had his attention on Robb. Robb lifted his head, glancing at me before back at his hands. I saw a confusion expression on his face. Was it fear?
"You can't let Brian come here. He'll ruin everything you've built."
My father's eyes flicked up to Robb. I watched my father as he read whatever was written across Robb's face. The suspicion Charlie had seemed to shift.
"And why's that?" Charlie asked, picking up a pen off his desk.
"Being the Alpha over the U.K. Pack has given Brian more than power over the Pack werewolves alone. He's able to manipulate the non-members too. They all do what he says. He contracts them to attack the other Abilities who don't agree with him. The brutality of the non-members makes everyone listen to him. He'll kill them, the non-members and put the bodies on the doorsteps of people who oppose him. He has warlocks and others on his payroll. They do a lot of dirty work. He's been growing the amount of people he commands over," Robb explained. His hands were white from squeezing each other.
I met the eyes of every person in the room. Everyone was surprised. No one would suspect dark activities being run within a Pack. We hadn't heard any rumours.
"It does sound like something Brian would do. Especially if there was threat of interference in the Pack," Lawrence confirmed, scratching the side of his head. Lawrence lived with the U.K. Pack for a decade when he was younger and often went for month long visits. He'd considered Brian a good friend, but from the look on his face, this didn't surprise him. Maybe just that it was really happening. Tyler stood, stepping closer to Robb; his arms crossed across his chest. The suspicion was obvious on my brother's face.
"Why are you telling us this now?"
Robb sat straight in the chair, but his lips were pursed together. He was nervous that Tyler wasn't going to believe him.
"This is the first time Brian has threatened to come here. You didn't need to know before. You do now. You need to make sure that doesn't happen."
Something in Robb's voice causing Tyler and I to look at each other. Drew may be my twin brother, but Tyler and I could read each other just as well. A tone in Robb's voice told us that he wasn't telling the entire truth. He was genuinely scared enough to tell us some of it though. I considered asking what Brian meant when he'd told Robb he would be welcomed back, but the poor man looked like he may pass out. I think he was considering the possibility that he wouldn't leave this room alive.
"Brian sent you here to spy?" Drew asked, leaning forward on his knees. I felt a surge of annoyance for my twin. Could he not see the breakdown that was happening in front of us?
Robb shrugged, "he asked me to assess the situation here. Everyone back home has heard about the bonds you've been growing. It turned into daily and thorough updates of what was happening here and in the Abilities community overall."
Drew opened his mouth again but my father politely asked Robb to leave and shut the door behind him. We watched him leave silently. Robb's breathing was shaking as he past me. Charlie waved me forward to take the now empty chair. Charlie turned to a secondary monitor, clicking on his mouse. A camera feed appeared on the screen, showing outside of the office both in the hallway and the bushes of the backyard. It was only two of the security cameras we had. He turned, looking at all of us.
"What do you think of that?" he asked, opening the floor to conversation.
"I know I'm not the only one who noticed Robb wasn't telling the entire truth about why Brian shouldn't come across the ocean."
"Do you think he's actually scared of Brian?" Drew asked, looking over at me.
"I don't know but we'll find out eventually, whether Brian comes here or not," I said, pulling my feet underneath me.
"What do you say about Brian insisting you take immediate action?" Drew turned to our father. It looked like he was getting all his questions out first.
My father sighed, "it seems we need to find the Strays' location much sooner than I was expecting. I was hoping we'd all be healed before having to take any drastic steps."
"Are you really prepared to execute all of them?" I asked in a low voice. I didn't want it to sound like I was questioning my father, but it was a lot of people to sentence to death.
"I may not like it, but it's my job to protect this Pack no matter what. I'm not looking forward to telling James though," he said, raising his eyebrows to me. It was a look that asked if I would do it. I raised my hands, shaking my head.
"He's still upset over our last fight. I'm not going to be in the same room when you tell him. He'll assume it's my fault."
"Daniel has been running from us for fifteen years. How easily do you think it will be to find him?" Drew asked. I watched my brother mind spin, ignoring my resistance to be involved.
"He's got an obvious interest in James. Daniel won't be going far until he gets what he wants from James," Aaron responded, his eyes on my father. Charlie nodded at Aaron's assessment.
Charlie dismissed us, his eyes on the security monitors as everyone filed out. Drew stopped at the door, looking at Tyler and I not getting up from our seats. He seemed to be contemplating whether he should stay or not. But one look at my father gave him an answer. Charlie made eye contact with him then turned away. Drew had made his decision. He was going back to school. He wasn't staying to help. Drew walked away and Aaron shut the door behind him. Charlie glanced at me once the room had emptied, Aaron sitting back down.
"James isn't going to take this well. It could drive him right to Daniel," I said, shrugging my shoulders. I couldn't even imagine how to approach him with the subject.
"I know," he answered in a low voice.
"How are you so calm right now?" I was genuinely curious. I would've at least been sweating.
"It's my job, Ashlyn," my father responded, unhappily.
"Daniel was your best friend. You understand what James is feeling more than I ever could," I said. This conversation was between the two of us. Tyler and Aaron were just looking back and forth, having nothing to interject.
Charlie rubbed his hand across his face, "I understand what I felt and what happened fifteen years ago. I knew Daniel fifteen years ago. Imagine if James or Chrissy left with no explanation except a fury of anger. Life has changed since Daniel left. Things are different now, for both of us. Trying to understand what Daniel's reasonings are, I would be guessing into thin air. I must put my personal feelings aside. If that means executing a man, I once considered a brother, then I'll have to do that."
I could see that it was painful to Charlie to consider it, no matter what he said. Aaron's head dropped, feeling the same. Daniel had been his friend too.
"Thanks for coming home with me. I was sick of the cottage looking like a fraternity," I said to Chloe as we walked into the house, "and I needed something to distract me. Plus, we have too many people staying here for it to be that messy I was going to lose my mind if it didn't get cleaned up."
"No problem, I like decorating. Besides, I know if you'd tried cleaning with anyone around here, you'd never get any work done."
Dropping the heavy garbage bags in the hallway, I led Chloe into the kitchen. I pulled the hoodie off my body, trying not to inhale to scent of alcohol that was clinging to it.
"Do you want something to drink?" I asked her, taking mugs down from the cupboard.
"Heck yes, I'll take a hot chocolate," Chloe answered, hopping up on a bar stool.
"You don't hear a lot of heck yeses these days," Scott commented, walking into the kitchen with Will. They were both covered in sweat. I guessed they'd been in the basement gym working out.
"What are you guys doing here?" Will asked, sitting on the stool beside Chloe. He looked at her with a smile on his face that most men gave Chloe. She always returned it with a sweet smile and making them fall in love with her instantly. I wasn't sure if Will was immune to it.
"I took control of the wreck that is the cottage. It was a mess, and I don't know how you live there. Chloe helped me. She has the ability to keep her attention on the task unlike any of you," I sent a friendly glare towards the two men. They both sent me wide smiles of guilt. Turning the kettle on, I leaned against the counter and pulled my phone out. Sliding through my social media, I glanced up at Chloe, who'd fallen silent. Pausing, I did a double take.
Her face was covered in shock, staring down at the counter. It took a minute for me to recognize it as her premonition face. I kept my gaze on her until she blinked and began to look around. Whatever she'd seen was playing over in her head. The kettle began screaming on the stovetop, making me turn to silence it.
After making her drink, I handed her the mug and shifted my head lower. Chloe glanced up, meeting my gaze. I raised my eyebrows, indicating that I'd noticed her vision. She glanced at Will and Scott, their attention on their phones and shook her head, wrapping her hands around the mug.
"Yo Scott, I found that deal I was telling you about. Let's go," Will stood up, "see you two later, we're buying a new outdoor punching bag," he said, putting his hand on Chloe's shoulder. She jumped and looked him in the eye. Will's eyebrows scrunched together but he smiled at her.
Will chuckled, "sorry for startling you. I'll talk to you later if you're still here."
I rolled my eyes at his obvious attempt at flirting. Chloe gave him a weak smile in return, much different than the one previous. Once the front door shut behind them, I leaned towards her on the island.
"What the hell just happened? You're completely freaked out," I aggressively whispered to her.
Chloe looked confused, "I don't know. It was like I was seeing the past and present."
I shifted my weight between my feet, anxious that Chloe wasn't sure what she'd seen.
"What was it?" I asked.
"Will was in this ugly chair, unconscious. A man who I understood as a warlock stood at his head. I couldn't see his face though or recognize his aura. Then I also caught this anger rising unexpectedly, especially if Will thought about your dad. Which didn't make sense since he was unconscious. It was like a storm hitting a beach shoreline but then it would disappear just as fast."
I scrunched my eyebrows, staring at her watching the vision play again. I could loosely imagine what she was saying but didn't understand it either. Usually, Chloe's visions were clear even if she didn't know the people in them.
"Well, what happened when Will touched you? It was like you got an electric shock."
Chloe opened then shut her mouth, shoulders shrugging aggressively. She was getting frustrated that she didn't know what was happening. I'd known her for two years and not once, had she ever not understood her visions. Chloe began stuttering.
"All I saw was a grey smoky ball of fury in front of me, but it was like I was being forced into submission. It's hard for me to explain this part it out loud. I can't explain it other than it felt like an aggressive mind controlling spell."
I stared at her, mug to my lips. I ran her words over in my head. Inhaling sharply, I put my mug down, shaking my head.
"Is there such a thing? Like is that even allowed? I thought there were rules against that kind of magic." I asked, splaying my hands out on the counter. Chloe picked up her phone. I could see that she wasn't going to let this go.
"I need to call Scarlett. I need an answer now."