Chapter 31
I positioned myself at the front of the group with Harmony allowing Noah to take lead of my section. Harmony flanked me pushing her nose to the ground. She huffed moving loose dirt around her face and kicking up fresh scent. After we were a mile or so away Noah's group would follow our tracks then Rowland would follow that group.
Two miles from the pond Harmony hunched down into a defensive position again. I stepped in front of her allowing the rest of our group to swallow her back in the middle for her own protection. Another wolf sprawled underneath a tree. As I moved closer, I realized that this wolf had opened eyes. His body was pointed one direction, but his head was twisted backwards. The eyes were glossed over, and a limp tongue hung from his mouth.
I sent a message back to the others informing them we were on the right track and not to be alarmed before urging my group forward. Harmony glanced the other way a few times and wrinkled her nose but continued on. At this point I was just as capable of leading us back to where Lily had been held captive, but I wanted Harmony here in case Henry ran. I wasn't going to let him get away again.
Eventually we came to a tall thick fence with an opening for a driveway. I could see the bits of blood that upon further inspection were definitely Lily's. I couldn't help the growl that escaped me. My claws dug into the dirt, and I shut my eyes for a few seconds. It would take everything I had not to run into this enclosure without a second thought, but that wasn't what an Alpha did.
I backed into the tree line again forcing the others back as well. Pressing my body against a tree, I shifted into my human form so that I could communicate with the group at one time.
"Harmony and Cane stay out here. When the others come, they will follow us in." Harmony shook her head and grumbled. "There's no reason for me to take you into a fight. Stay here and if you see Henry run then you chase him. As long as you're on his trail I can track you." She nodded and trotted behind a group of bushes and trees. Cane followed while I directed three more of the group to stay with them.
I shifted back into wolf form as Noah trotted up to our group. We formed one group and walked onto the property. It was so quiet and almost peaceful. Birds were chirping from trees that surrounded the back end of the property. We had passed the hottest part of the day and it was starting to cool down sending small breezes through the air.
I glanced at Noah. 'Why is it so quiet?'
We were all weary, but as soon as we walked a few feet into the fence we saw why it was so quiet. A wolf laid on the ground...no...in the ground. It's paws were sucked into the earth forcing the wolf into a flat starfish position. As we approached the birds that had been feeding on it flew in all directions squawking angrily. The body had gouges all over it with only one eye still hanging by its socket. It was clear that the wolf died by having its throat ripped out.
Rowland's group walked through the entrance and glanced at the wolf in front of us.
'There are three buildings on the property. Rowland take yours to the house and search it. Noah stay with me, but the rest of you go to the far side of the property. It looks like there's a small house over there. Noah and I are going to follow the trail on the wall to the small building against the fence at the back.'
Everyone nodded and split their different directions. Noah walked behind me as we made our way to the end of the blood trail. The door hung open allowing rats to crawl in and out in droves. Ants began creeping their way up our legs and stinging.
As soon as we breached the entryway the smell hit us like a ton of bricks. My eyes watered and Noah started gagging. The space was small and dark with only one window and the doorway putting light into the building. The hard cement floor was cold against my paws and the sound of our nails scratching the ground gave a faint echo throughout.
Flies buzzed around our faces forcing us to huff and shake them off every few seconds. When looking forward I could see that the majority of the space was used to house a large collection of torture devices. I moved closer seeing most of them covered with dried blood. I dipped my head and looked to the side where the smell was coming from. The room was small with a morgue style table on one side and another crumbled up wolf on the other. Glass and dried blood covered the floor. I could see from his coloring and lack of smell that it was Henry.
Every wolf has their own unique smell. It alters slightly between human and wolf form, but this wolf only smelled like rotting flesh. Large rats crawled over the body and rather than scurrying away hissed at us.
'Let's get out of here Noah. We'll see if the others found anything.'
We jogged back towards the main house where the other wolves were beginning to gather.
Rowland's voice came through the link first. 'Nothing was found. Looks like the place is empty. Dried blood and a few baby items upstairs but looks like they are long gone.'
'We found Henry's body in the back building already dead.' The wolves looked between each other shifting their weight. We came for a fight, and they worked themselves up for it. The tension was palpable, but this was the best-case scenario. 'Rowland stay here with your group and call the police. We opened a missing person case and need to see it closed. The rest of us will head back home. I would like to get more information from the she-wolf.'
He nodded and we ran back out of the compound. The sun was starting to set, and I longed to be back with Lily. I still couldn't feel the pull of the mate bond and was desperate to make sure she was okay. I went to where Harmony and Cane sat still in hiding and urged them to follow us as best I could.
I broke out into a full run not caring about staying in unison anymore. The danger as we knew it was alleviated and getting back was the priority. The wolves around me huffed as they tried to run faster to keep up with others with longer legs.
Once we got back to the pond the wolves surrounded the water lapping it up greedily, but I paced back and forth anxious to keep moving. I shifted into my human form to make sure all could hear me.
"I know this has been a long day for you all. This is a good place if you wish to rest or stay the night and recover. Please stay in groups. Noah and I along with anyone who wishes will head straight back home." Noah perked his head up from where he was drinking and walked over to my side. Water still dripped from his snout and open panting mouth. I looked over at him and was met with hot breath in my face. I pushed his snout away from my face and rolled my eyes. A few others along with Harmony and Cane joined our group while the rest stretched out on the ground rolling in the dirt.
Once I was satisfied that everyone who wanted to continue was ready, I shifted back to my wolf form and started running at full speed back home again.
We didn't stop again despite a few of the wolves lagging behind. The closer we got to home the more I felt Lily's energy pulling me towards it. I pushed forward dropping my head lower to try and get as much speed as I could. I knew Noah and the rest weren't able to keep up, but my body didn't care.
When we broke the trees, I ran straight to our back door shifting as I stepped onto the porch. My body protested at the constant shifting back and forth in addition to the exertion from all the running. My joints ached and muscles wobbled threatening to give out any second.
Dad cut my off at the door putting his hands up. I growled and attempted to step around him. "Where are the others? I need a status update." I growled louder as the rest of my group broke through the tree line. A few laid on the grass trying to catch their breath. I used this opportunity to step around him and make my way into the house.
"Noah can give you an update."
Walking into the house I noticed all the furniture was pushed back to the walls or taken out of the room altogether. A pallet of blankets and pillows were formed in the middle of the living room with Lily stretched out on it still in wolf form.
She was eerily still, but her breathing was steady. I looked around for Josh for an explanation, but he was no where to be seen. The doctor stood up from the chair in the corner of the room and made his way to me. He was a slightly older man that was balding at the top.
"She hasn't been able to shift back yet. We have her sedated in hopes it will help her recover enough to shift so we can treat any injuries."
"And the she-wolf?"
He glanced back at Dad who stood behind Mom at the table. "We've sent for a doctor for her. It looks as though she recently gave birth and is in the same state as the future Luna."