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Series 10 Episode 10
"Escape"
Lily could barely remember the last time she had a good night’s sleep. Years of on-and-off sleepless nights had become suddenly frequent since becoming a full werewolf. Her brain was permanently wired, and though she was getting better at controlling the wolf, she still had a way to go to gain full control.
Nevertheless, Lily was getting ready for bed. Even if she could only manage a couple of hours’ kip, it would be a step in the right direction. She had already donned her favourite pink pyjamas and matching dressing gown, and just needed a glass of water before she could settle down. The lakehouse kitchen had the most gorgeous view out onto the gentle body of water on their doorstep. The moonlight bounced off the smooth surface, allowing Lily’s eyes a breath-taking view for how dark it was. Lily wished she could channel the calmness of the lake.
“Late one?” Lily jumped as Mia’s voice rang through her ears. She was stood in the doorway, just a couple of metres behind her, but the complete silence around them amplified the volume of any noise.
“Same shit, different day,” Lily laughed. She had to laugh – if she didn’t, there would be nothing to keep the tears at bay. She picked up her full glass of water to head upstairs.
“Have a good night,” Mia smiled, looking as gorgeous as ever, even in her nightie.
Lily nodded before continuing towards the staircase. Miraculously, her eyes were already heavy, no doubt feeling the pressure of so little rest in the week prior. In fact, she felt so tired that she could have fallen asleep stood up. Before she could put her foot on the first step, Lily paused, and whether she wanted them to or not, Lily’s eyelids succumbed.
Noticing rustling in her ears, Lily’s eyes shot open with the most urgency. What was going on? Lily was confident she had only been asleep for a few minutes, but somehow, she had a clear view of the clear blue sky directly ahead, and her back was lying uncomfortably against a solid but uneven floor.
Quickly, Lily sat up, inspecting the surrounding forest. Where she specifically was, she couldn’t pinpoint. She had a makeshift bed made up of leaves over the top of the muddy surface, just like she’d made it especially for herself, but why didn’t she remember it? She couldn’t recall even leaving the lakehouse. The hairs on Lily’s arms were stood to attention – it was intolerably cold, and she still only had her dressing gown for comfort.
The bed nor the temperature were the alarming part, though. Surrounding Lily like the most morbid clock she’d ever seen were seven bodies, with blood and body parts splayed all around like they’d been mauled by an animal. Lily panicked. Nothing made sense, but her stomach was performing somersaults. Lily could only be sure of one thing – she wasn’t in control of the wolf yet.
Nevertheless, Lily was getting ready for bed. Even if she could only manage a couple of hours’ kip, it would be a step in the right direction. She had already donned her favourite pink pyjamas and matching dressing gown, and just needed a glass of water before she could settle down. The lakehouse kitchen had the most gorgeous view out onto the gentle body of water on their doorstep. The moonlight bounced off the smooth surface, allowing Lily’s eyes a breath-taking view for how dark it was. Lily wished she could channel the calmness of the lake.
“Late one?” Lily jumped as Mia’s voice rang through her ears. She was stood in the doorway, just a couple of metres behind her, but the complete silence around them amplified the volume of any noise.
“Same shit, different day,” Lily laughed. She had to laugh – if she didn’t, there would be nothing to keep the tears at bay. She picked up her full glass of water to head upstairs.
“Have a good night,” Mia smiled, looking as gorgeous as ever, even in her nightie.
Lily nodded before continuing towards the staircase. Miraculously, her eyes were already heavy, no doubt feeling the pressure of so little rest in the week prior. In fact, she felt so tired that she could have fallen asleep stood up. Before she could put her foot on the first step, Lily paused, and whether she wanted them to or not, Lily’s eyelids succumbed.
Noticing rustling in her ears, Lily’s eyes shot open with the most urgency. What was going on? Lily was confident she had only been asleep for a few minutes, but somehow, she had a clear view of the clear blue sky directly ahead, and her back was lying uncomfortably against a solid but uneven floor.
Quickly, Lily sat up, inspecting the surrounding forest. Where she specifically was, she couldn’t pinpoint. She had a makeshift bed made up of leaves over the top of the muddy surface, just like she’d made it especially for herself, but why didn’t she remember it? She couldn’t recall even leaving the lakehouse. The hairs on Lily’s arms were stood to attention – it was intolerably cold, and she still only had her dressing gown for comfort.
The bed nor the temperature were the alarming part, though. Surrounding Lily like the most morbid clock she’d ever seen were seven bodies, with blood and body parts splayed all around like they’d been mauled by an animal. Lily panicked. Nothing made sense, but her stomach was performing somersaults. Lily could only be sure of one thing – she wasn’t in control of the wolf yet.
Though Dylan had never been much of a morning person, lounging around in bed felt counterproductive that day. It had been a week since Beacon Hills, and still, they were no closer to finding out how to solve the apparent problem of two alphas in the same pack.
Every day, all day, for the whole week, Dylan had exhausted himself looking for answers. The Bestiary had nothing. Mrs. Johnson had never heard of such an occurrence. There was no information anywhere, and with no knowledge, they had no solution. Dylan had barely eaten, partly because he’d been so busy, but also because he was feeling continually sick with terror. Losing Jono was his worst-case scenario.
Therefore, Dylan decided that, for that morning, spending time with Jono was the top priority. Even for a little while, they could pretend they were normal, or their own version of whatever normal was. Neither of them had moved since waking up, and conversation was in full flow. Dylan felt so comfortable, as he always did in Jono’s company.
“I’ll never forget the first time we spoke,” Jono smirked with a devilish charm. They’d found themselves taking a stroll down memory lane, and it was an equal mix of both fondness and embarrassment for Dylan.
“Oh god,” Dylan cringed, “The one time I got a detention, because becoming a werewolf wasn’t deemed more important than homework.”
“No regrets, I hope,” Jono put his positive spin on it.
“None. I mean, without that, I’m not sure I’d have found the courage to speak to you,” Dylan reflected.
“I’d never have let you slip by,” Jono assured. Dylan blushed. He still remembered the concoction of nerves and excitement that he felt in that moment. If only he knew then that not only would he get the guy he was crushing so badly on, but he’d also eventually get to marry him.
“Maybe we need to decide on the date you get to marry me, then?” Dylan navigated to a slightly different topic, from the past to the future. After all, no matter what the warnings said, Dylan was adamant that he and Jono had a future together.
“You know what? The sooner, the better,” Jono suggested. Dylan felt that same exciting sensation of butterflies that he felt when Jono first spoke to him, “I know you don’t want anything too big, so let’s have something small as soon as we can. This weekend, even. I can’t wait any longer for you to be my husband.”
“Same,” Dylan said, stunned. Jono had said everything Dylan wanted to hear, “We can use the lakehouse. Imagine the wedding pictures.”
“I’d have asked Lily to take the pictures,” Jono sighed, the mood deflating. Jono had tried to reach out to Lily over the week since the attack, but she’d left him on read each time. The alpha in Jono was harder to control, and it was going to take time for him to learn from scratch.
“Lily will be there. She never misses a party. Lily and Sammi as groomsmaids, and Yasmin as maid of honour. She’d kill me otherwise,” Dylan chuckled, “And Josh as my best man.”
“Freddie as mine,” Jono added, “The guest list is filling up.”
“We need the whole pack, of course. Mom, Ed, George, Mia,” Dylan listed some names off the top of his head.
“My mom and dad, I guess,” Jono considered, “And Aunt Maria.”
“Oh god,” Dylan nervously chuckled. It would be rude not to invite Maria considering she was living in the same house, and they were family, after all, “Drawing the line at your uncle, though.”
“Shame,” Jono laughed. The situation with David was far from amusing, but for once, they both had a little light in their lives, and Dylan was making the most of it, “Hey, we should probably get ready. I want to sort this shit out, once and for all.”
Dylan couldn’t have agreed more. He’d never felt so fired up to keep Jono by his side. They would find a solution; Dylan was sure of it. He wasn’t going to accept any alternative.
There was no greater feeling than being at home as far as Freddie was concerned. Though it was his own choice to move out, the Drummond house still felt like his safe haven. Sure, his dad lived there now, but so did his closest friends, as well as Caroline and Ed, both of whom easily outshone anything his actual dad had mustered up.
Despite the history, though, Freddie was willing to put his bad feelings to one side. His dad was trying, and that was what mattered most. Whether this would stick, Freddie was unconvinced, but he’d purposely not raised his expectations. He wasn’t going to let himself be left disappointed again.
That was why Freddie couldn’t blame George for being much more hesitant. He’d lived through it the first time, and Freddie wasn’t prepared to watch his brother struggle all over again. Nevertheless, next to him on the sofa sat George. Finally, he had agreed to meeting Mark for the first time in years, and Freddie was praying it would go well. They had a chance to change things – not everyone could say that.
“I always knew you’d be tall,” Mark commented, trying his best to make conversation with George. So far, the atmosphere was impenetrably awkward. Nobody knew what to say, Freddie included. Another gap of silence followed, and Freddie grew increasingly worried. It wasn’t going well.
“I think I missed that gene,” Freddie interjected, “The top shelf in Target is a little out of my reach.” Mark chuckled, but George didn’t react. Usually, he was always up for a terrible joke, but this was no normal situation.
“Why are you back?” George broke his silence, a blunt tone lowering the mood in an instant. Freddie was stunned into silence, shocked by the abruptness of the question while eagerly anticipating the answer.
“To see you,” Mark simply replied.
“No, you’ve had years to come and see your kids. Why are you back now?” George put his foot down.
“Dude, I told you,” Freddie gently nudged. Freddie had explained Mark’s mental health situation, so George’s apparent lack of understanding was frustrating and surprising.
“I know, and I understand, I promise, but something brought you back now,” George pressed.
“Dad?” a voice came from the hallway. A new voice, and a young one too. Stood in the doorway was a boy, around ten years old, with shaggy blonde hair resting on his shoulders that matched his glimmering blue eyes perfectly. Freddie was confused. Who was he, and why was he in the Drummond house? Most importantly, who was he calling dad?
“Boys, this is your brother,” Mark introduced. Freddie felt winded, like he’d been whacked in the back with a basketball at full pelt. Nothing was making sense. How was that kid their brother? It wasn’t possible…
…was it?
The sound of the doorbell caught Josh off guard. He’d become increasingly jumpy since David resurfaced, and it was unlikely to change as long as there was potential for him to crop up again at any moment.
That said, David was unlikely to ring the doorbell upon arrival. The front door was the last way he’d gain access to the house if he needed to; it wasn’t like he’d ever be invited in.
With everyone else seemingly occupied, Josh had to leave his coffee on the kitchen counter and answer the door himself. He felt somewhat safe in the knowledge that it was probably Yasmin, or Sammi, or someone equally as friendly, so he swung the heavy door open without a care in the world.
Rapidly, Josh’s comfort drained away. Yasmin was on the doorstep, but she wasn’t alone. She was scared, her make-up smudged from crying. It was no wonder, either, as the most awful blast from the past was directly behind her.
Forsyth.
“I’m sorry, he made me bring him,” Yasmin wept. Josh wasn’t sure what to do. Yasmin was in danger, but so was the entire pack. His hands were tied.
“The fallen alpha,” Forsyth smirked, “Put the kettle on, would you?”
The view from Jono’s treehouse always gave Brett the perfect sense of comfort. It was the best view in town, which probably didn’t say much as the tree was only a little taller than the surrounding houses, but Brett loved it anyway. It was the only placed he felt both alone and close to Johnny since he got back to Crystalshaw.
The truth was that Brett felt lost without Johnny. He’d spent so many years wanting him back, so when they reunited, he’d happily accepted that they’d be together forever. That opportunity was robbed cruelly from him, and he wasn’t sure that wound would ever heal.
Deep down, Brett knew he had to try and move on. He still had his own life to live, and Johnny would have wanted him to push forward, but that was easier said than done. All he could do was attempt to live his best and most authentic life, for the both of them.
“Hey,” Oscar poked his head over the top of the ladder. Though he appreciated the alone time, Brett had grown to value Oscar’s company hugely since they stumbled upon each other again. In less than two weeks, Oscar had gone from being a friend and fellow pack member, to the most valuable person in his life.
“Hey, come on up,” Brett invited, “Glad you got my text.” Oscar climbed the last few steps and made himself comfortable on the treehouse floor, perching cross-legged directly opposite Brett. He rarely ever saw Oscar without a kind smile on his face, or his eyes glimmering invitingly, informing Brett that he was safe with him.
“Everything alright?” Oscar immediately queried, like he could read Brett’s mind.
“You know, the usual,” Brett sighed.
“Wanna talk about it?” Oscar offered without a second thought.
“Thanks. I keep thinking about how I’m supposed to move on, but I don’t know how to do that, or if I’m ready,” Brett opened up. Oscar was the only person he felt comfortable enough to be that honest around. Dylan, Jono, and the rest of the pack were great friends, and Brett trusted them with his life, but some details felt too raw and intimate.
“If you’re not sure, then maybe you’re not ready,” Oscar suggested, “And that’s okay. There’s not a time limit for when you have to move forward by.”
“True. I just…I’ve never lost anyone before,” Brett admitted.
“You’re dealing with it better than I ever did,” Oscar confessed, “I lost a friend, before I moved here. She died in a car accident. It was so sudden, and I never got to say goodbye.”
“I’m sorry,” Brett’s heart broke.
“It’s okay. It was years ago now, but it’s always painful to talk about. I’ve only told Jono before,” Oscar mentioned, “You learn how to cope with the pain over time, though.” Brett nodded. He needed to hear those words.
Silence followed – not an uncomfortable or awkward silence, quite the opposite, in fact. It was a blissful quiet, where neither of them felt the need to speak. Having each other for company was enough.
“Oscar,” Brett took a deep breath. It was time to take a big step – one he wasn’t planning on taking, but the timing felt right. It was time for someone other than Johnny to know, “I’m non-binary.”
Immediately, Brett felt the biggest wave of relief rush over them. It was a secret they had been keeping for far too long, and it still felt like such an awkward topic to discuss. They knew Oscar would understand, though, and that made it easier for Brett.
“Awesome,” Oscar smiled that same kind smile, showing how proud he felt whilst also displaying that it was no big deal in his eyes, “What are your pronouns?”
“They/them,” Brett confidently replied, “Please, don’t tell anyone else yet. You’re only the second person I’ve ever told.”
“Of course,” Oscar placed his hand on Brett’s knee, “I’m so proud of you. I know Johnny would have been, too.” Brett’s heart felt full. Perhaps moving on wasn’t such a pipe dream after all?
“Oi, new boy,” a female voice rudely barked from below. Brett had heard the girl’s voice before, but they couldn’t place where from. Their brain was frazzled.
“Oh shit,” Oscar mumbled.
“I heard that,” the voice called up again. Immediately, Brett figured it out. If she could hear Oscar, she must have been a werewolf, and it was one Brett only knew vaguely. Nevertheless, they weren’t going to forget Keisha in a hurry.
“What do you want?” Oscar interrogated, peering over the side.
“To help,” Keisha explained. Oscar looked to Brett, as if he needed a clue for what to say. They needed to swap roles now; it was time for Brett to be the strong one.
With so many weird goings-on happening in Crystalshaw, Jeremy was not surprised when Lily called needing help in a sticky situation. That said, that didn’t stop him feeling concerned. Lily was a brand-new werewolf, and he knew that the early weeks and months were vital for establishing so much of her new life.
Beyond that, though, Lily was Jeremy’s cousin. He didn’t’ even know she existed for most of his life, but she was one of three reasons that proved to him that family wasn’t so bad after all. They had to stick together, because someone was still trying to break them apart, and Jeremy wasn’t standing for it.
The sights in the forest were even more grim than Jeremy had anticipated. Seven dead bodies intricately placed equidistant from each other in a circle around where Lily had woken up. Their injuries were far less intricate, with organs, bones and blood scattered all around them. Whoever killed them really wanted them to suffer in the process.
“Are you okay?” Sammi rushed to console a frail-looking Lily, crouching in front of a tree outside the circle, as soon as they arrived. Jeremy, meanwhile, took a closer look at the crime scene. He was confident Lily wouldn’t have killed anyone – even as a werewolf, Lily’s humanity wouldn’t have been entirely lost – but Ed’s hands would have been tied if he saw the crime scene without any solid evidence. The pack had seen enough false arrests in the prior two weeks.
“Physically or emotionally?” Lily’s voice quivered. She was still scared, and Jeremy couldn’t blame her – he felt the same.
“Both,” Sammi replied, wrapping a jacket around her bare arms. Jeremy examined the body nearest to Lily, taking a mental note of the injuries he could see.
“Physically fine, I think?” Lily warily answered, “Mentally, well, I’m not sure how you’re meant to feel after killing seven people.”
“This wasn’t you,” Sammi immediately rebutted, as if she’d seen CCTV footage of the entire incident. Jeremy moved to the next body, repeating the same strategy.
“You don’t know that,” Lily corrected, “And neither do I. I’ve got no control; I could do anything.”
“I agree with Sammi,” Jeremy interjected, taking a quick glance at the remaining five corpses, “And I can prove it.”
“What? How?” Lily stood up, desperate to clear her name.
“When the wolf is in control, it’s animalistic and savage,” Jeremy began, “And sure, whoever killed those people is both of those things, but they’re also precise. Far too precise for a wolf that’s not in control.”
“I think precise is the last word I’d use to describe that,” Sammi doubted.
“Except it is,” Jeremy continued. He knew what he was saying, and he was keen to prove it to them, “The injuries are the same. Every one of these people has had their chest torn open, literally from one nipple to the other, and their heart ripped out. I’ve never seen anything so animalistic pay that much attention to detail, and there’s no way you could have maintained enough control for that, Lily.”
“Impressive,” another voice joined the crowd. The voice Jeremy was dreading to hear again, even though it was only a matter of time until that moment came. David slid into view, having evidently been watching them closely, followed by four others, all a similar age to Jeremy himself, but none he recognised, “You passed another test. Glad to see my own children are as strong and intelligent as me. Well, almost.”
Jeremy shuddered. He could hardly look at his so-called dad’s face. He wanted to be anywhere else, but he had a job to do.
He had to protect his real family.
Something was up – Dylan could feel it. Tension was pushing back against his skin, creating the smallest but very much present sensation of discomfort. Chemo signals were the most valuable secret weapon he had, and it was vital to his job as an alpha. Sometimes, they were impossible to ignore, and that told him one thing: something bad was happening.
“Can you feel that?” Jono queried. He’d noticed it too. Of course, with Jono now being an alpha, his senses were even stronger too. They really had so little separating them. It was no wonder the Nemeton hated it.
“Downstairs,” Dylan identified. He couldn’t tell what was happening yet, but the house was busy. His mum was still at home, not to mention Maria and Mark. If something was going on, they were all in trouble.
Now fully dressed, Dylan and Jono crept out of the bedroom, meticulously ensuring the door didn’t creak on the way. With one less barrier between them and whatever was happening downstairs, Dylan could pinpoint who was there by their scents: Freddie, George, Mark, Josh and, interestingly, Yasmin. Dylan wasn’t aware she was dropping by, she always texted in advance.
“Dyl,” Jono’s voice quivered, “He’s here.” Nervously, Dylan focused his nose, scared about what he’d pick up on. There were a couple of other scents downstairs, too, one of which was familiar, but it was difficult to pinpoint. Quickly, Dylan shifted his focus to his ears. He listened intently to the muffled conversation from downstairs, and the deep, commanding voice he could hear gave it all away.
“What the hell is Forsyth doing here?” Dylan whispered, a fiery anger igniting inside him. He knew it was only a matter of time until Forsyth was going to show up, but he must have had some audacity to show up to Dylan’s house, no matter what he wanted.
“We need a plan, right? We can’t just walk down there,” Jono considered.
“He must know we’re here regardless,” Dylan pondered, “We need to outsmart him. We need a diversion to get everyone out.”
“Morning boys,” Caroline casually strolled out of her bedroom, dressed in her stunning beige suit ready for work. Rapidly, Dylan raised a finger to his lips. There was no way he was allowing his mum to be in danger.
“Forsyth is downstairs,” Dylan kept his voice low.
“Oh, I don’t remember him ever being welcome in my house,” Caroline was furious, “Call Ed, now.”
“Sending him a text now,” Jono replied.
“We’ve got no time to waste, mom,” Dylan informed, “We need a distraction. Everyone else is downstairs.”
“Not everyone. I’ve got an idea,” Caroline thought. Dylan was all-ears. Whatever they did next was going to be risky – the only exit was past the living room – but he wasn’t going to let his family get caught in the crossfire.
Since reuniting with the pack, Oscar had gained some much-needed perspective. Cody wasn’t the person he thought he was, or the person he wanted him to be. Whether his feelings were genuine or not hardly mattered – the manipulation became blatant when Oscar took a step back.
That said, he couldn’t pretend some of the bonds he’d formed in that time weren’t genuine. Cody’s pack was tight, and they were loyal, to each other and to Oscar too. Considering they were the only people he had for the best part of a year, it was no exaggeration to say Oscar would still trust them with his life.
The last person he expected to see again, though, was Keisha. She’d made no secret of the fact that she didn’t like him. Perhaps it was jealousy, or she viewed Oscar as a distraction for Cody, but it was obvious how fiercely loyal she was to him. With Oscar cutting all ties, Keisha felt like someone who would remain firmly in his past.
Against his better judgement, Oscar had invited Keisha up to the treehouse. He was worried about what she might say or do, but the logical part of his brain told him that if she planned to hurt him, she would have done it already. Keisha wasn’t the type to dilly dally.
“What are you doing here?” Oscar queried impatiently. There was no need for small talk, pretending to care was pointless.
“The Nemeton is spiralling, look at this,” Keisha held out her phone. Oscar was taken aback; the picture was like nothing he’d ever seen before. The Nemeton had bolts of electricity shooting violently from its branches, with clouds swirling above its peak that were practically black in colour.
“What the hell?” Oscar was horrified.
“Dylan and Jono,” Brett realised, “Dylan said the Nemeton was going to try to separate them. The longer they’re together, the worse this will get.”
“Then we need to separate them,” Keisha replied.
“You’ve got more chance of the sun exploding,” Oscar scoffed. It was obvious she hadn’t paid any attention to his stories about Dylan and Jono because that was the first thing anyone needed to know: there was no separating Dylan and Jono.
“That might actually happen,” Keisha warned, “And I’m not dying because some lovesick teenagers can’t bear to be apart.”
“I’m not surprised,” Oscar muttered. He’d seen Keisha’s reactions to him and Cody. It was as if she had no understanding of what love really meant.
“You don’t get it, kid. I’ve seen lives lost in this stupid town. The hunters wiped out most of our kind, and if you get distracted, you’ve sealed your fate. Boyfriends are distractions, and that’s exactly what you were to Cody,” Keisha justified.
“I can speak for myself,” the sound of Cody’s voice intruded into the conversation. Seconds later, Cody’s vibrant red locks came into view as he climbed into the treehouse. Oscar shuffled backwards; a protective reflex action as much as a conscious decision to make more space. Cody didn’t evoke the same warmth and comfort inside him that he used to – quite the opposite, in fact.
“Leave us alone,” Brett immediately intervened. Oscar appreciated how much they looked out for him. They made a great team.
“I’m not here to cause trouble,” Cody defended, “Quite the opposite. The Nemeton affects us all, and you need all the help you can get.”
“An alliance?” Oscar was shocked. That was everything Cody had previously fought so hard against.
“Two packs together. We can all survive, or we can all die,” Cody continued, “What do you say?”
Oscar was mind-blown. This was everything he’d wanted from Cody when they first met. No matter how he felt towards him, Oscar knew one thing: they needed all the help they could get.
It had been a long time since Josh last came face-to-face with Forsyth, but the years that had elapsed still weren’t enough. He wasn’t sure eternity would have been enough, in fact. Some people were just filled with hate, and nobody epitomised that more than Forsyth did. He wasn’t even armed – that Josh could see, anyway – but his mere presence was enough to stop him doing anything rash.
Despite that, Josh wasn’t worried about himself. He’d been backed into the living room with people who were more vulnerable than him, so Josh needed to be strong. He wasn’t going to allow anyone to get hurt.
“He forced me, I’m so sorry,” Yasmin continued to justify. She was inconsolable, weeping in the safety of Josh’s arms.
“It’s okay, you’re safe here,” Josh would mop up every one of her tears if he could. After all, he still cared for Yasmin, more deeply than he ever had for anyone else.
“I wouldn’t say safe,” Forsyth snarled, “But believe it or not, I don’t want to hurt any of you.”
“Then leave us alone,” Freddie yelled. He was stood firmly in front of Mark, George, and a younger boy Josh didn’t recognise. It wasn’t the time to ask questions, but he looked more petrified than anyone.
“You’re in no position to make demands, wolf,” Forsyth blasted, “Typical that both of my daughter’s ex-boyfriends are werewolves. Guess it wasn’t meant to be after all.”
“Freddie,” Mark whispered, “What does he mean by ‘werewolf’?” Josh watched as Freddie’s face shone an embarrassed red. Of course, Mark didn’t know his secret, but was there much choice other than to tell the truth now? Josh felt so sorry for him – this was the worst case scenario.
“Oh, daddy doesn’t know? I wonder how he feels about having a song who’s a werewolf,” Forsyth taunted. He truly had no shame. Josh’s anger was reaching boiling point. Containing himself was proving more and more difficult.
“Dad, I want to go home,” the little boy whispered nervously into Mark’s ear. Josh grew even more confused, but Freddie and George’s faces spoke volumes. Nobody was as uncomfortable as they were.
“Soon, Jonah, I promise,” Mark replied, before looking up to Forsyth, “Whatever you want, just take it. Leave us alone.”
“I plan to. All I need is a lift to the docks, and then I’ll be gone. For good,” Forsyth bargained.
“To kill werewolves all around the world,” Josh realised. This wasn’t the quick fix it was made out to be.
“That’s not for you to worry about,” Forsyth replied smugly. Josh met eyes with Freddie and Yasmin, who shared his look of helplessness. What were they supposed to do?
“Take him,” Dylan commanded from the doorway. Jono and Caroline were either side of him, and none of them looked worried.
“Really?” Josh was stunned. Were they really going through with it?
“Like he said, it won’t be our problem,” Dylan justified.
“You can use my car,” Caroline volunteered.
“See? It’s this easy,” Forsyth smarmed, brushing past the group on his way outside. The arrogance was unparalleled.
“Really, Dylan?” Josh reiterated with Forsyth out of the room.
“Trust me,” Dylan requested. Josh couldn’t argue with that – Dylan had never given him a reason to doubt him, “Come and see.”
Trepidatiously, Josh followed Dylan outside. The sight of Caroline chauffeuring Forsyth into the back seat of her car was uncomfortable, yet both Dylan and Jono seemed entirely at ease. What was the plan? He was desperate to know.
Caroline slammed the door shut and pressed the lock button on her keys. The engine switched on. David was trapped inside, but who was driving?
“Maria,” Josh realised, noticing Dylan’s untamed smile of success.
“The one person he didn’t know was here,” Jono revealed.
“Driving him straight to the sheriff station where Ed is waiting,” Dylan revealed, “We’ll follow behind to make sure there’s nothing to worry about.” Josh was mightily impressed; outthinking Forsyth was no easy task.
Pacing quickly up the driveway, Mia approached the house. Josh didn’t know she was coming, but it figured since George was taking such a big step with his dad, so they’d surely agreed to meet.
“Hey,” George smiled, “What are you doing here?”
“I’m sorry baby, but I’m not here to see you,” Mia dipped her hand into her back pocket. To Josh’s horror, she whipped out a gun, “Where’s Forsyth?”
“What?” George was just as baffled as the rest of them. What did she know about Forsyth? How did she know he was there? What was she trying to do?
“In the car,” Caroline answered, taking charge. She pointed as the car started to pull out of the driveway, “He’s going back to jail.”
“I don’t think so,” Mia scoffed before firing the gun at the car window. One shot was enough, shattering the back panel with ease. In no time at all, Forsyth clambered out, pushing the minute pieces of glass out of the way.
“Follow me,” Mia yelled. Forsyth took instruction, going after Mia in the direction of the forest. The pack stood still for a moment, shellshocked.
“What…what happened?” George was first to speak. Josh’s mind was spinning. He didn’t know what to say, and clearly, nor did Dylan. Whatever had happened had made the situation ten times worse. Suddenly, it felt like they had no way out.
Every day, all day, for the whole week, Dylan had exhausted himself looking for answers. The Bestiary had nothing. Mrs. Johnson had never heard of such an occurrence. There was no information anywhere, and with no knowledge, they had no solution. Dylan had barely eaten, partly because he’d been so busy, but also because he was feeling continually sick with terror. Losing Jono was his worst-case scenario.
Therefore, Dylan decided that, for that morning, spending time with Jono was the top priority. Even for a little while, they could pretend they were normal, or their own version of whatever normal was. Neither of them had moved since waking up, and conversation was in full flow. Dylan felt so comfortable, as he always did in Jono’s company.
“I’ll never forget the first time we spoke,” Jono smirked with a devilish charm. They’d found themselves taking a stroll down memory lane, and it was an equal mix of both fondness and embarrassment for Dylan.
“Oh god,” Dylan cringed, “The one time I got a detention, because becoming a werewolf wasn’t deemed more important than homework.”
“No regrets, I hope,” Jono put his positive spin on it.
“None. I mean, without that, I’m not sure I’d have found the courage to speak to you,” Dylan reflected.
“I’d never have let you slip by,” Jono assured. Dylan blushed. He still remembered the concoction of nerves and excitement that he felt in that moment. If only he knew then that not only would he get the guy he was crushing so badly on, but he’d also eventually get to marry him.
“Maybe we need to decide on the date you get to marry me, then?” Dylan navigated to a slightly different topic, from the past to the future. After all, no matter what the warnings said, Dylan was adamant that he and Jono had a future together.
“You know what? The sooner, the better,” Jono suggested. Dylan felt that same exciting sensation of butterflies that he felt when Jono first spoke to him, “I know you don’t want anything too big, so let’s have something small as soon as we can. This weekend, even. I can’t wait any longer for you to be my husband.”
“Same,” Dylan said, stunned. Jono had said everything Dylan wanted to hear, “We can use the lakehouse. Imagine the wedding pictures.”
“I’d have asked Lily to take the pictures,” Jono sighed, the mood deflating. Jono had tried to reach out to Lily over the week since the attack, but she’d left him on read each time. The alpha in Jono was harder to control, and it was going to take time for him to learn from scratch.
“Lily will be there. She never misses a party. Lily and Sammi as groomsmaids, and Yasmin as maid of honour. She’d kill me otherwise,” Dylan chuckled, “And Josh as my best man.”
“Freddie as mine,” Jono added, “The guest list is filling up.”
“We need the whole pack, of course. Mom, Ed, George, Mia,” Dylan listed some names off the top of his head.
“My mom and dad, I guess,” Jono considered, “And Aunt Maria.”
“Oh god,” Dylan nervously chuckled. It would be rude not to invite Maria considering she was living in the same house, and they were family, after all, “Drawing the line at your uncle, though.”
“Shame,” Jono laughed. The situation with David was far from amusing, but for once, they both had a little light in their lives, and Dylan was making the most of it, “Hey, we should probably get ready. I want to sort this shit out, once and for all.”
Dylan couldn’t have agreed more. He’d never felt so fired up to keep Jono by his side. They would find a solution; Dylan was sure of it. He wasn’t going to accept any alternative.
There was no greater feeling than being at home as far as Freddie was concerned. Though it was his own choice to move out, the Drummond house still felt like his safe haven. Sure, his dad lived there now, but so did his closest friends, as well as Caroline and Ed, both of whom easily outshone anything his actual dad had mustered up.
Despite the history, though, Freddie was willing to put his bad feelings to one side. His dad was trying, and that was what mattered most. Whether this would stick, Freddie was unconvinced, but he’d purposely not raised his expectations. He wasn’t going to let himself be left disappointed again.
That was why Freddie couldn’t blame George for being much more hesitant. He’d lived through it the first time, and Freddie wasn’t prepared to watch his brother struggle all over again. Nevertheless, next to him on the sofa sat George. Finally, he had agreed to meeting Mark for the first time in years, and Freddie was praying it would go well. They had a chance to change things – not everyone could say that.
“I always knew you’d be tall,” Mark commented, trying his best to make conversation with George. So far, the atmosphere was impenetrably awkward. Nobody knew what to say, Freddie included. Another gap of silence followed, and Freddie grew increasingly worried. It wasn’t going well.
“I think I missed that gene,” Freddie interjected, “The top shelf in Target is a little out of my reach.” Mark chuckled, but George didn’t react. Usually, he was always up for a terrible joke, but this was no normal situation.
“Why are you back?” George broke his silence, a blunt tone lowering the mood in an instant. Freddie was stunned into silence, shocked by the abruptness of the question while eagerly anticipating the answer.
“To see you,” Mark simply replied.
“No, you’ve had years to come and see your kids. Why are you back now?” George put his foot down.
“Dude, I told you,” Freddie gently nudged. Freddie had explained Mark’s mental health situation, so George’s apparent lack of understanding was frustrating and surprising.
“I know, and I understand, I promise, but something brought you back now,” George pressed.
“Dad?” a voice came from the hallway. A new voice, and a young one too. Stood in the doorway was a boy, around ten years old, with shaggy blonde hair resting on his shoulders that matched his glimmering blue eyes perfectly. Freddie was confused. Who was he, and why was he in the Drummond house? Most importantly, who was he calling dad?
“Boys, this is your brother,” Mark introduced. Freddie felt winded, like he’d been whacked in the back with a basketball at full pelt. Nothing was making sense. How was that kid their brother? It wasn’t possible…
…was it?
The sound of the doorbell caught Josh off guard. He’d become increasingly jumpy since David resurfaced, and it was unlikely to change as long as there was potential for him to crop up again at any moment.
That said, David was unlikely to ring the doorbell upon arrival. The front door was the last way he’d gain access to the house if he needed to; it wasn’t like he’d ever be invited in.
With everyone else seemingly occupied, Josh had to leave his coffee on the kitchen counter and answer the door himself. He felt somewhat safe in the knowledge that it was probably Yasmin, or Sammi, or someone equally as friendly, so he swung the heavy door open without a care in the world.
Rapidly, Josh’s comfort drained away. Yasmin was on the doorstep, but she wasn’t alone. She was scared, her make-up smudged from crying. It was no wonder, either, as the most awful blast from the past was directly behind her.
Forsyth.
“I’m sorry, he made me bring him,” Yasmin wept. Josh wasn’t sure what to do. Yasmin was in danger, but so was the entire pack. His hands were tied.
“The fallen alpha,” Forsyth smirked, “Put the kettle on, would you?”
The view from Jono’s treehouse always gave Brett the perfect sense of comfort. It was the best view in town, which probably didn’t say much as the tree was only a little taller than the surrounding houses, but Brett loved it anyway. It was the only placed he felt both alone and close to Johnny since he got back to Crystalshaw.
The truth was that Brett felt lost without Johnny. He’d spent so many years wanting him back, so when they reunited, he’d happily accepted that they’d be together forever. That opportunity was robbed cruelly from him, and he wasn’t sure that wound would ever heal.
Deep down, Brett knew he had to try and move on. He still had his own life to live, and Johnny would have wanted him to push forward, but that was easier said than done. All he could do was attempt to live his best and most authentic life, for the both of them.
“Hey,” Oscar poked his head over the top of the ladder. Though he appreciated the alone time, Brett had grown to value Oscar’s company hugely since they stumbled upon each other again. In less than two weeks, Oscar had gone from being a friend and fellow pack member, to the most valuable person in his life.
“Hey, come on up,” Brett invited, “Glad you got my text.” Oscar climbed the last few steps and made himself comfortable on the treehouse floor, perching cross-legged directly opposite Brett. He rarely ever saw Oscar without a kind smile on his face, or his eyes glimmering invitingly, informing Brett that he was safe with him.
“Everything alright?” Oscar immediately queried, like he could read Brett’s mind.
“You know, the usual,” Brett sighed.
“Wanna talk about it?” Oscar offered without a second thought.
“Thanks. I keep thinking about how I’m supposed to move on, but I don’t know how to do that, or if I’m ready,” Brett opened up. Oscar was the only person he felt comfortable enough to be that honest around. Dylan, Jono, and the rest of the pack were great friends, and Brett trusted them with his life, but some details felt too raw and intimate.
“If you’re not sure, then maybe you’re not ready,” Oscar suggested, “And that’s okay. There’s not a time limit for when you have to move forward by.”
“True. I just…I’ve never lost anyone before,” Brett admitted.
“You’re dealing with it better than I ever did,” Oscar confessed, “I lost a friend, before I moved here. She died in a car accident. It was so sudden, and I never got to say goodbye.”
“I’m sorry,” Brett’s heart broke.
“It’s okay. It was years ago now, but it’s always painful to talk about. I’ve only told Jono before,” Oscar mentioned, “You learn how to cope with the pain over time, though.” Brett nodded. He needed to hear those words.
Silence followed – not an uncomfortable or awkward silence, quite the opposite, in fact. It was a blissful quiet, where neither of them felt the need to speak. Having each other for company was enough.
“Oscar,” Brett took a deep breath. It was time to take a big step – one he wasn’t planning on taking, but the timing felt right. It was time for someone other than Johnny to know, “I’m non-binary.”
Immediately, Brett felt the biggest wave of relief rush over them. It was a secret they had been keeping for far too long, and it still felt like such an awkward topic to discuss. They knew Oscar would understand, though, and that made it easier for Brett.
“Awesome,” Oscar smiled that same kind smile, showing how proud he felt whilst also displaying that it was no big deal in his eyes, “What are your pronouns?”
“They/them,” Brett confidently replied, “Please, don’t tell anyone else yet. You’re only the second person I’ve ever told.”
“Of course,” Oscar placed his hand on Brett’s knee, “I’m so proud of you. I know Johnny would have been, too.” Brett’s heart felt full. Perhaps moving on wasn’t such a pipe dream after all?
“Oi, new boy,” a female voice rudely barked from below. Brett had heard the girl’s voice before, but they couldn’t place where from. Their brain was frazzled.
“Oh shit,” Oscar mumbled.
“I heard that,” the voice called up again. Immediately, Brett figured it out. If she could hear Oscar, she must have been a werewolf, and it was one Brett only knew vaguely. Nevertheless, they weren’t going to forget Keisha in a hurry.
“What do you want?” Oscar interrogated, peering over the side.
“To help,” Keisha explained. Oscar looked to Brett, as if he needed a clue for what to say. They needed to swap roles now; it was time for Brett to be the strong one.
With so many weird goings-on happening in Crystalshaw, Jeremy was not surprised when Lily called needing help in a sticky situation. That said, that didn’t stop him feeling concerned. Lily was a brand-new werewolf, and he knew that the early weeks and months were vital for establishing so much of her new life.
Beyond that, though, Lily was Jeremy’s cousin. He didn’t’ even know she existed for most of his life, but she was one of three reasons that proved to him that family wasn’t so bad after all. They had to stick together, because someone was still trying to break them apart, and Jeremy wasn’t standing for it.
The sights in the forest were even more grim than Jeremy had anticipated. Seven dead bodies intricately placed equidistant from each other in a circle around where Lily had woken up. Their injuries were far less intricate, with organs, bones and blood scattered all around them. Whoever killed them really wanted them to suffer in the process.
“Are you okay?” Sammi rushed to console a frail-looking Lily, crouching in front of a tree outside the circle, as soon as they arrived. Jeremy, meanwhile, took a closer look at the crime scene. He was confident Lily wouldn’t have killed anyone – even as a werewolf, Lily’s humanity wouldn’t have been entirely lost – but Ed’s hands would have been tied if he saw the crime scene without any solid evidence. The pack had seen enough false arrests in the prior two weeks.
“Physically or emotionally?” Lily’s voice quivered. She was still scared, and Jeremy couldn’t blame her – he felt the same.
“Both,” Sammi replied, wrapping a jacket around her bare arms. Jeremy examined the body nearest to Lily, taking a mental note of the injuries he could see.
“Physically fine, I think?” Lily warily answered, “Mentally, well, I’m not sure how you’re meant to feel after killing seven people.”
“This wasn’t you,” Sammi immediately rebutted, as if she’d seen CCTV footage of the entire incident. Jeremy moved to the next body, repeating the same strategy.
“You don’t know that,” Lily corrected, “And neither do I. I’ve got no control; I could do anything.”
“I agree with Sammi,” Jeremy interjected, taking a quick glance at the remaining five corpses, “And I can prove it.”
“What? How?” Lily stood up, desperate to clear her name.
“When the wolf is in control, it’s animalistic and savage,” Jeremy began, “And sure, whoever killed those people is both of those things, but they’re also precise. Far too precise for a wolf that’s not in control.”
“I think precise is the last word I’d use to describe that,” Sammi doubted.
“Except it is,” Jeremy continued. He knew what he was saying, and he was keen to prove it to them, “The injuries are the same. Every one of these people has had their chest torn open, literally from one nipple to the other, and their heart ripped out. I’ve never seen anything so animalistic pay that much attention to detail, and there’s no way you could have maintained enough control for that, Lily.”
“Impressive,” another voice joined the crowd. The voice Jeremy was dreading to hear again, even though it was only a matter of time until that moment came. David slid into view, having evidently been watching them closely, followed by four others, all a similar age to Jeremy himself, but none he recognised, “You passed another test. Glad to see my own children are as strong and intelligent as me. Well, almost.”
Jeremy shuddered. He could hardly look at his so-called dad’s face. He wanted to be anywhere else, but he had a job to do.
He had to protect his real family.
Something was up – Dylan could feel it. Tension was pushing back against his skin, creating the smallest but very much present sensation of discomfort. Chemo signals were the most valuable secret weapon he had, and it was vital to his job as an alpha. Sometimes, they were impossible to ignore, and that told him one thing: something bad was happening.
“Can you feel that?” Jono queried. He’d noticed it too. Of course, with Jono now being an alpha, his senses were even stronger too. They really had so little separating them. It was no wonder the Nemeton hated it.
“Downstairs,” Dylan identified. He couldn’t tell what was happening yet, but the house was busy. His mum was still at home, not to mention Maria and Mark. If something was going on, they were all in trouble.
Now fully dressed, Dylan and Jono crept out of the bedroom, meticulously ensuring the door didn’t creak on the way. With one less barrier between them and whatever was happening downstairs, Dylan could pinpoint who was there by their scents: Freddie, George, Mark, Josh and, interestingly, Yasmin. Dylan wasn’t aware she was dropping by, she always texted in advance.
“Dyl,” Jono’s voice quivered, “He’s here.” Nervously, Dylan focused his nose, scared about what he’d pick up on. There were a couple of other scents downstairs, too, one of which was familiar, but it was difficult to pinpoint. Quickly, Dylan shifted his focus to his ears. He listened intently to the muffled conversation from downstairs, and the deep, commanding voice he could hear gave it all away.
“What the hell is Forsyth doing here?” Dylan whispered, a fiery anger igniting inside him. He knew it was only a matter of time until Forsyth was going to show up, but he must have had some audacity to show up to Dylan’s house, no matter what he wanted.
“We need a plan, right? We can’t just walk down there,” Jono considered.
“He must know we’re here regardless,” Dylan pondered, “We need to outsmart him. We need a diversion to get everyone out.”
“Morning boys,” Caroline casually strolled out of her bedroom, dressed in her stunning beige suit ready for work. Rapidly, Dylan raised a finger to his lips. There was no way he was allowing his mum to be in danger.
“Forsyth is downstairs,” Dylan kept his voice low.
“Oh, I don’t remember him ever being welcome in my house,” Caroline was furious, “Call Ed, now.”
“Sending him a text now,” Jono replied.
“We’ve got no time to waste, mom,” Dylan informed, “We need a distraction. Everyone else is downstairs.”
“Not everyone. I’ve got an idea,” Caroline thought. Dylan was all-ears. Whatever they did next was going to be risky – the only exit was past the living room – but he wasn’t going to let his family get caught in the crossfire.
Since reuniting with the pack, Oscar had gained some much-needed perspective. Cody wasn’t the person he thought he was, or the person he wanted him to be. Whether his feelings were genuine or not hardly mattered – the manipulation became blatant when Oscar took a step back.
That said, he couldn’t pretend some of the bonds he’d formed in that time weren’t genuine. Cody’s pack was tight, and they were loyal, to each other and to Oscar too. Considering they were the only people he had for the best part of a year, it was no exaggeration to say Oscar would still trust them with his life.
The last person he expected to see again, though, was Keisha. She’d made no secret of the fact that she didn’t like him. Perhaps it was jealousy, or she viewed Oscar as a distraction for Cody, but it was obvious how fiercely loyal she was to him. With Oscar cutting all ties, Keisha felt like someone who would remain firmly in his past.
Against his better judgement, Oscar had invited Keisha up to the treehouse. He was worried about what she might say or do, but the logical part of his brain told him that if she planned to hurt him, she would have done it already. Keisha wasn’t the type to dilly dally.
“What are you doing here?” Oscar queried impatiently. There was no need for small talk, pretending to care was pointless.
“The Nemeton is spiralling, look at this,” Keisha held out her phone. Oscar was taken aback; the picture was like nothing he’d ever seen before. The Nemeton had bolts of electricity shooting violently from its branches, with clouds swirling above its peak that were practically black in colour.
“What the hell?” Oscar was horrified.
“Dylan and Jono,” Brett realised, “Dylan said the Nemeton was going to try to separate them. The longer they’re together, the worse this will get.”
“Then we need to separate them,” Keisha replied.
“You’ve got more chance of the sun exploding,” Oscar scoffed. It was obvious she hadn’t paid any attention to his stories about Dylan and Jono because that was the first thing anyone needed to know: there was no separating Dylan and Jono.
“That might actually happen,” Keisha warned, “And I’m not dying because some lovesick teenagers can’t bear to be apart.”
“I’m not surprised,” Oscar muttered. He’d seen Keisha’s reactions to him and Cody. It was as if she had no understanding of what love really meant.
“You don’t get it, kid. I’ve seen lives lost in this stupid town. The hunters wiped out most of our kind, and if you get distracted, you’ve sealed your fate. Boyfriends are distractions, and that’s exactly what you were to Cody,” Keisha justified.
“I can speak for myself,” the sound of Cody’s voice intruded into the conversation. Seconds later, Cody’s vibrant red locks came into view as he climbed into the treehouse. Oscar shuffled backwards; a protective reflex action as much as a conscious decision to make more space. Cody didn’t evoke the same warmth and comfort inside him that he used to – quite the opposite, in fact.
“Leave us alone,” Brett immediately intervened. Oscar appreciated how much they looked out for him. They made a great team.
“I’m not here to cause trouble,” Cody defended, “Quite the opposite. The Nemeton affects us all, and you need all the help you can get.”
“An alliance?” Oscar was shocked. That was everything Cody had previously fought so hard against.
“Two packs together. We can all survive, or we can all die,” Cody continued, “What do you say?”
Oscar was mind-blown. This was everything he’d wanted from Cody when they first met. No matter how he felt towards him, Oscar knew one thing: they needed all the help they could get.
It had been a long time since Josh last came face-to-face with Forsyth, but the years that had elapsed still weren’t enough. He wasn’t sure eternity would have been enough, in fact. Some people were just filled with hate, and nobody epitomised that more than Forsyth did. He wasn’t even armed – that Josh could see, anyway – but his mere presence was enough to stop him doing anything rash.
Despite that, Josh wasn’t worried about himself. He’d been backed into the living room with people who were more vulnerable than him, so Josh needed to be strong. He wasn’t going to allow anyone to get hurt.
“He forced me, I’m so sorry,” Yasmin continued to justify. She was inconsolable, weeping in the safety of Josh’s arms.
“It’s okay, you’re safe here,” Josh would mop up every one of her tears if he could. After all, he still cared for Yasmin, more deeply than he ever had for anyone else.
“I wouldn’t say safe,” Forsyth snarled, “But believe it or not, I don’t want to hurt any of you.”
“Then leave us alone,” Freddie yelled. He was stood firmly in front of Mark, George, and a younger boy Josh didn’t recognise. It wasn’t the time to ask questions, but he looked more petrified than anyone.
“You’re in no position to make demands, wolf,” Forsyth blasted, “Typical that both of my daughter’s ex-boyfriends are werewolves. Guess it wasn’t meant to be after all.”
“Freddie,” Mark whispered, “What does he mean by ‘werewolf’?” Josh watched as Freddie’s face shone an embarrassed red. Of course, Mark didn’t know his secret, but was there much choice other than to tell the truth now? Josh felt so sorry for him – this was the worst case scenario.
“Oh, daddy doesn’t know? I wonder how he feels about having a song who’s a werewolf,” Forsyth taunted. He truly had no shame. Josh’s anger was reaching boiling point. Containing himself was proving more and more difficult.
“Dad, I want to go home,” the little boy whispered nervously into Mark’s ear. Josh grew even more confused, but Freddie and George’s faces spoke volumes. Nobody was as uncomfortable as they were.
“Soon, Jonah, I promise,” Mark replied, before looking up to Forsyth, “Whatever you want, just take it. Leave us alone.”
“I plan to. All I need is a lift to the docks, and then I’ll be gone. For good,” Forsyth bargained.
“To kill werewolves all around the world,” Josh realised. This wasn’t the quick fix it was made out to be.
“That’s not for you to worry about,” Forsyth replied smugly. Josh met eyes with Freddie and Yasmin, who shared his look of helplessness. What were they supposed to do?
“Take him,” Dylan commanded from the doorway. Jono and Caroline were either side of him, and none of them looked worried.
“Really?” Josh was stunned. Were they really going through with it?
“Like he said, it won’t be our problem,” Dylan justified.
“You can use my car,” Caroline volunteered.
“See? It’s this easy,” Forsyth smarmed, brushing past the group on his way outside. The arrogance was unparalleled.
“Really, Dylan?” Josh reiterated with Forsyth out of the room.
“Trust me,” Dylan requested. Josh couldn’t argue with that – Dylan had never given him a reason to doubt him, “Come and see.”
Trepidatiously, Josh followed Dylan outside. The sight of Caroline chauffeuring Forsyth into the back seat of her car was uncomfortable, yet both Dylan and Jono seemed entirely at ease. What was the plan? He was desperate to know.
Caroline slammed the door shut and pressed the lock button on her keys. The engine switched on. David was trapped inside, but who was driving?
“Maria,” Josh realised, noticing Dylan’s untamed smile of success.
“The one person he didn’t know was here,” Jono revealed.
“Driving him straight to the sheriff station where Ed is waiting,” Dylan revealed, “We’ll follow behind to make sure there’s nothing to worry about.” Josh was mightily impressed; outthinking Forsyth was no easy task.
Pacing quickly up the driveway, Mia approached the house. Josh didn’t know she was coming, but it figured since George was taking such a big step with his dad, so they’d surely agreed to meet.
“Hey,” George smiled, “What are you doing here?”
“I’m sorry baby, but I’m not here to see you,” Mia dipped her hand into her back pocket. To Josh’s horror, she whipped out a gun, “Where’s Forsyth?”
“What?” George was just as baffled as the rest of them. What did she know about Forsyth? How did she know he was there? What was she trying to do?
“In the car,” Caroline answered, taking charge. She pointed as the car started to pull out of the driveway, “He’s going back to jail.”
“I don’t think so,” Mia scoffed before firing the gun at the car window. One shot was enough, shattering the back panel with ease. In no time at all, Forsyth clambered out, pushing the minute pieces of glass out of the way.
“Follow me,” Mia yelled. Forsyth took instruction, going after Mia in the direction of the forest. The pack stood still for a moment, shellshocked.
“What…what happened?” George was first to speak. Josh’s mind was spinning. He didn’t know what to say, and clearly, nor did Dylan. Whatever had happened had made the situation ten times worse. Suddenly, it felt like they had no way out.
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