ETHAN'S POV
My mind was still reeling as I stepped out of Evelyn's room. Thoughts tumbled over one another, each more troubling than the last. Evelyn, my last child, was everything to me. I swore to protect my family, and tonight, that promise felt more urgent than ever.
I reached my room, closed the door behind me, and leaned against it for a moment. Picking up my phone, I quickly dialed a number I knew by heart. The call connected after a couple of rings.
"Alpha Moonblade," I said, keeping my voice steady, "It has begun."
"Ethan," Moonblade's voice was calm but edged with concern, "What happened?"
"Someone was in my house, in Evelyn's room," I explained, "I don't know what they wanted because they seemed not to have taken anything. The scent was faint but unmistakable. I can't figure out if they shifted or disappeared, but they left no visible trace inside."
Did your security systems catch anything?"
Moonbalde asked, his tone sharpened.
"I'm quite sure there was nothing," I said, "The security here is tight because it could have tipped them off. But somehow, they slipped through."
"How do you know it wasn't one person?" Moonblade asked.
"I can see only two sets of footprints," I replied, frustration creeping into my voice, "The other left as a werewolf."
Moonblade paused, considering the implications. "Go outside, Ethan," he said, "Check the grounds and see if you can find any footprints other than the one you saw. It might give us a clue as to who or what we're dealing with."
I nodded, though he couldn't see me. "Alright, I'm heading out now."
Ending the call, I grabbed a special beam from my bedside drawer and made my way downstairs. I was careful to scan the floor from Evelyn's room to the staircase for any strange footprints.
Outside, the air was crisp, and the leaves rustled softly in the breeze. I skimmed through the area with my beam, moving slowly and methodically.
As I approached the area beneath Evelyn's window, I felt a chill. The window was now open as I had left it. On the ground, barely visible, were faint footprints leading away from the house to the nearby trees surrounding the grounds. I crouched down to get a closer look.
I watched the angle of the security camera, which captured the ground from Evelyn's window. I made a mental note to check the footage later.
Just then, two of the security guards appeared from around the corner, their presence sudden but expected.
"Everything alright, sir?" one of them asked, his hand resting on the sidearm of his uniform.
I straightened up, gesturing to the tracks on the ground. "These weren't here before. Did either of you notice anything unusual last night?"
The second guard, who had been scanning the trees nearby, stepped forward. "We made our rounds last night, sir. Everything was quiet; no signs of disturbance. No one was near this area."
The first guard nodded. "We checked the grounds, there were no breaches. We even checked around the trees. Nothing."
I rubbed my chin, still not convinced. "And the security footage?"
"We'll pull it for you, sir," the second guard replied. "But as far as we saw, it was a clean night."
I nodded slowly, still uneasy. "I'll be checking it myself. Keep an eye out, just in case."
They both nodded, backing away to resume their patrol. I crouched again, focusing on the footprints. Something was off. There was a presence here, whether it was intentional or not, I couldn't yet tell.
I pulled out my phone and called Moonblade again. "Alpha, I found just the footprints. They were very faint, though the person tried to cover them."
Moonblade was silent for a moment. "That is the work of professional shapeshifters," Moonblade said, "maybe they were trying to make their presence known or it was a quick shift. Either way, it confirms our earlier suspicions that shapeshifters are now in Mooncrest."
I swallowed hard, the weight of his words setting in. "I will follow the trail a bit," I said, "Let me see if I can gather more information."
Moonblade's voice grew graver. "Whomever it is that came to your place should be long gone by now," he said, "This might be more complex than we thought. If the Nightshade's Pack is after something, then they could be planning something bigger."
"Understood," I said, "I will be careful and will report back soon."
"We need more intel before making any moves," Moonblade said, "Just hold on for now. Check on your family and we will talk soon."
As I made my way back to the house, a chilling thought crossed my mind. I muttered out loud, "If the intruder didn't harm Evelyn, then he was after something else."
"What could that be?" Moonblade asked
The realization hit me like a bolt of lightning.
"I will call you back," I said urgently, "I need to check something."
I dropped the call and sprinted towards the entrance, my heart pounding with the urgency of protecting my family and uncovering the truth.
*****
EVELYN'S POV
As I sat on the edge of my bed, my mother rummaged through my closet, muttering to herself.
"Evelyn, you have great taste, but you always seem confused about what to wear," she sighed, holding up a dress. "How about this one? It's professional yet stylish."
I shook my head, wrinkling my nose. "Too stiff. I need something comfortable but presentable."
She held up a soft, blue blouse and a skirt. "This?"
I nodded, smiling. "Perfect. Thanks, Mom. I'd be lost without you."
She chuckled. "You'd manage, but I'm glad to help. Remember, today's meeting is crucial. You need to be composed and confident."
I took the clothes from her, feeling a mix of gratitude and anxiety. "I know, Mom. I just hope everything goes smoothly."
She gave me a reassuring pat on the back. "It will. Just be yourself."
As I got ready to enter the bathroom, I heard my father's heavy footsteps approaching. He burst into the room, his expression a mix of concern and determination.
"Evelyn, Elena," he said, addressing both my mother and me. "The suspicion was real. Someone was definitely in the house last night, but everything is under control."
My mother and I exchanged worried glances. "What did you find?" I asked.
He looked at me intently. "I need to know exactly what you remember from last night, Evelyn," he said, "Every detail is important."
I hesitated, the memory foggy and unsettling. "I thought it was Mom who came into my room," I said, "I wasn't fully awake, and everything felt so surreal."
He pressed further. "Did you see anything? Hear anything unusual?"
I closed my eyes, trying to piece together the fragments. "I remember feeling a presence, someone sitting by my bed," I said as I relived the moment, "He touched my hand... and I thought it was comforting, like Mom's touch."
My father's eyes narrowed. "So it was a man," he asked without expecting an answer, "Anything else?"
I swallowed hard, my mind drifting back to the strange, almost tender moment. "I felt his hand on my body. There was a scent... it was familiar, but it didn't scare me. It felt oddly soothing."
My father exchanged a glance with my mother, his expression unreadable. "We'll figure this out. For now, focus on your day."
I took a deep breath, nodding. "I will, Dad. I promise."
I nodded, the unease settling deeper within me as my parents stepped out of my room.
As I finished undressing and while taking my bath, my mind replayed the encounter, but I couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more to it. Some people were in my room but didn't take anything. What could they possibly want?
There is something I was missing.