Okay. It's time.
Holy fucking shit, it's time. The Alpha is in the middle of the room, looking around with a single bright eye.
He doesn't waste time with a rousing speech. In fact, he doesn't say anything, not at first. He just howls.
Pack. Together.
The room responds.
packpackpackpack
togethertogethertogethertogehter
The Alpha nods. "Lets give him hell."
The air rings with howls and for a few brief merciful seconds that's all you hear. No moon. No voices. Just your pack, together, ready for war.
Vicky's at your side. She nudges you gently with her shoulder.
Together.
Together, you howl back in a voice just for her. Always.
But then another howl interrupts the rest. It's Addie, her voice loud, urgent, and coming from the door.
He's here.
Next Chapter
[b]Chapter Twelve[/b]
He's here.
For the few seconds after that howl everything is eerily silent, and still. The breath before the storm. Then, one by one, the cry is picked up by the pack.
He's here. He's here.
Their voices ring through the air, loud, discordant, and eager. They're tired of waiting. They're tired of boarding up windows, and hugging each other goodbye. They're ready for war.
He'sherehe'sherehe'shereherehere
hunthunthunthunt
ripripripripriprip
killkillkillKILLKILLKILL
WAIT!
That's a new voice. A voice you recognise.
"Fuck," you snarl and start towards the door.
Next
The air is cold and still as you step outside. The sky, a blank slate. No clouds. No stars. No moon... yet. But you can feel it, just below the horizon.
hunthunthunthunthunt
A single car is pulled up on the other side of the street, headlights on, and engine idle.
The Alpha is already at your side, standing in the shadowy alcove around the doorway. So is Addie.
You all watch the car.
"It's not Blackwell," you say.
"Who is it then?" The Alpha growls.
The passenger door cracks open. The figure that steps out is hunched, and sorry looking.
"It's my dad," you answer.
The Alpha and Addie turn to stare at you in shock.
Next
You step out of the doorway and into the puddle of light dropped by the den's single porch-lamp. Jay stops at the foot of the driveway when he sees you and slowly lifts his hands out of his pocket.
peacepeacepeacepeacepeace
His howl is small and sad, the lulling tones almost smothered by the rumblings of your pack, and the piecing song of the moon.
killkillkillkillkillkillkill
Behind him, the car that dropped him off, pulls away. You see an Uber sticker in the window.
"What are you doing here?" you yell out.
"Making a fool of myself," Jay answers.
"You should be with your pack."
"My pack doesn't need me."
"What makes you think we do?" you growl out, harsher than intended.
ripripripripripripriprip
Jay flinches and looks down. "I...I guess I just... I want to make up for past mistakes. I... I never followed your mother. I should've. I should've been a part of your life. I should've—"
Fucking hell. "Now is really not the time for this," you say.
He nods, still looking at his feet. "I want to help you. Whatever you need. I'm sorry I didn't get here sooner. I'm sorry I didn't call. I... I was too afraid you'd send me away."
"Gideon Mercer," the Alpha growls. "We can't do this now. Blackwell could show up any second. Do you trust him?"
"I—"
"Get him inside, or tell him to fuck off."
Jay stares at you. "You... you think I'm working for the vampire?"
"I don't know what to think," you say stiffly.
"I'm a werewolf! I-I'm your father! I'm—"
"Shut up," the Alpha snaps.
Jay obeys.
"If I find you in my territory without permission again, I'll kill you." His voice is rough, wolfish... and deadly serious.
Jay doesn't say another word. He just nods, puts his hands in his pockets, and starts walking briskly away, down the road.
You watch him go, feeling strangely sick to the stomach.
The full moon will rise in less than an hour. He doesn't have time to get out of the city. He'll be lucky if he finds a safe place in time. But that's not your problem. Surviving the full moon. That's your problem. Not estranged maybe-relatives and their misplaced guilt.
hunthunthunthunthunthunt
The others are watching you.
"Blackwell's coming," you remind them. "Let's get inside."
Next
The pack watch with bright, animal eyes as you re-enter the den. There are questions there, but no one voices them.
hunthunthunthunthunthunt
"Minjo," the Alpha calls out.
"I'm here." Minjo steps out of the crowd, looking and smelling very human in the dimly lit room.
"Get the kids somewhere safe," the Alpha says. "Everyone else... you know the plan."
Several nods, a few "Yes Alpha"s, and one very out-of-place thumbs up from Marco.
You're glad they're confident. Though, in truth, it doesn't take much confidence to know this plan. It is, after all, absurdly simple. Hide, wait for Blackwell to come, and rip him to pieces when he does.
You watch as the pack scatter throughout the den, flicking off lights, and slipping into their chosen hiding places. Or, at least, places where they won't be immediately obvious in the dark.
"So," Marco calls out with forced levity. "How fashionably late do you think this bastard is going to be?"
As it turns out... not much.
Next
You're not sure how you expected Blackwell to arrive. A limo with machine guns pointed out every window doesn't seem too out of character. Nor would you be surprised if Blackwell just ordered his servants to drive a truck into the building.
But, it seems, he has something a little more low key in mind.
It starts with a howl.
Huh?
Wait. Someone else responds. What was that?
There.
Did you see?
For a split second the howls get more intricate and you can visualise what your pack are seeing, peeking through the gaps in boarded up windows. The space outside the den is empty... and then, all of a sudden, it isn't.
A single shape melts out of the darkness. Tall with black hair, paper white skin, and a too tight suit.
You can't know if it's Blackwell, because it's not your eyes that are seeing him, but any doubts are quickly squashed as a sickly familiar voice call out.
"Little piggies, little piggies."
It's Blackwell. You'd recognise that airy, condescending tone anywhere.
"May I come in?"
"Is that a thing?" Marco whispers. "Do we need to inv—?"
"No," Ed hisses. "Be quiet."
You stay silent. For the plan to work Blackwell has to believe your pack is incapacitated. He has to believe he can just walk in without any resistance and take what he wants.
Next