Chapter 13

Kobe stared into the lake. His decision was a bad mistake. One that had cost him his son’s life. He no longer felt the connection. He was gone. There was no other explanation for it.
It is the perfect place he had told his family. Surrounded by the wild yet close to civilization. They could blend in. Be a part of society while being true to themselves. Like everything that is good, it never lasts long. Plus it was the place which Cora De’Mar had created for their kind. A place they should feel at home.
He should have gone barging in there. But he knew that wouldn’t have worked. They didn’t know anything about the place.
All they knew is that he was there. His son held captive. They would have been setting themselves up for the same fate. But on the other hand, anything would have been better than nothing. However, they had rules to follow. They couldn’t afford to break those rules as the consequences would be far worse.
The internet held little information. So, they had checked the place out from outside. Kobe couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw the detectors. Ones that pick up the presence of the supernatural, they knew about them. If they had walked through the gates, they would have altered whoever was inside. Kobe didn’t know how many they were or what weapons they had. He had no choice but to walk away and try a different method. He wasn’t a coward. He would fight for his family. Fighting the unknown was his problem.
So, he sent Josh, to find answers, figure out what they were dealing with. Josh was taking too long. Kobe was worried about him. He feared he had fallen in love with the human. The problems they were facing just kept getting bigger. He was the only one to blame.
He had let his son down. He had let is kind down. Now he had to tell the others. They needed to know. He had to warn them. But of what exactly? Now it was up to Josh, he had to find the missing pieces. Kobe just hoped that Josh wasn’t too far gone. Out of them all he was the one that was the wildest.
He watched as they bounded over the hill, their fur gently rippling in the wind. All but one of his family members had shifted. He should have felt joy. Instead, he felt empty, numb inside.
“Kobe,” his mother was the first to shift. Her long silver hair reached the bottom of her back. She was the wise one and often referred to as the wise old women.
“Mother,” Kobe pulled away. His sister was the next to shift Asia. Then his father Jack and brother. Sam his brother gave him a nod while his father shook his hand.
Paige is daughter was the one still in human form, she gazed at him with questioning wide eyes.
She could feel it.
He could tell by the sadness that was on display on her face. Then that sadness shifted and was replaced by indigence and anger, much like lightning on a pitch-black night. She didn’t have to say it. Kobe knew, he knew what she was thinking, Paige blamed him. Just like he did, he blamed himself.
She was a year older than his sons. His twins. He let her stay behind to finish up business in New York.
“Jax is gone,” Kobe said. They all bowed their heads. Kobe had a feeling they were all waiting for him to say it. For him to confirm what they already felt.
***

“Where are you going?” Paige asked. Josh looked at her then away.
“To get ice cream with some friends,” Paige gasped at his answer.
“To get ice cream with some kids! That is where you are going? Jax is dead. And you are going to get ice cream!” Paige was upset.
Dad should have told her. He should have told them all the moment that Jax disappeared. If he did, maybe they wouldn’t be in the mess.
Instead, secrets had destroyed them. Secrets of who they were and what they stood for; Josh was finding it too much to stomach.
It had kept them in the shadows. Stopped him from getting close to humans. They had been living a lie. His Dad told the others that they were fine. He guessed he really believed that they would find Jax, and everything would be okay. But that wasn’t the case. Instead, he had lied.
“The last place we picked up Jax’s scent was outside G.G.M. Do you know what that place is? A lab. They do tests and research and…”
“Josh, what does that have to do with ice cream and a bunch of kids?” Paige asked with her hands on her hips.
“Everything, there is this girl and…”
“A girl, really? That is something I would expect from Jax. He is the flirt. The one that……”
“Paige it is not like that. Jenna’s dad is one of the leading scientists there. If I can get her on my side, then maybe it is a way in. It is our only hope of getting inside, finding out what is going on. Who are these people? What do they want?”
“Why don’t we just break in?” Paige asked.
“Because they have alarms. Alarms that sense our kind. The only way we are going to get in is if those alarms are disabled. We need someone on the inside,”
“Why don’t we just leave? There is nothing keeping us here now,” she whined. Josh thought about it for a few seconds. No, he wouldn’t leave
“We need to find out what happened to him. We owe him that much,”
“Fine then I am going with you,”
“No way,” Josh was not about to make things more complicated than they already were by taking his sister with him.

***
Jenna stepped out into the car park. Her mind was occupied with scenarios of the evening, and questions. Did he really like her? Jenna Jenson, the shy girl with frizzy untamable red hair. The girl who hides behind her books, completely socially awkward and shy.
Slowly the car park was emptying. There were only a few cars left. Not one of them belonged to Josh. She had seen his car. It was a black expensive Landover. Tugging on the hem of her jumper, her heart sank. He was never gonna wait for her.
Probably a joke. The whole school would be laughing at her tomorrow.
Jenna Jenson thought she had a chance. She started to walk, tears brimmed her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. She wouldn’t cry. Not over a boy, even if he was different.
She heard the soft hum of a car; she kept her head down. She didn’t want to face anyone. She didn’t want to hear their laughter or jokes.
The car rolled to a stop besides her.
“Jenna,” she heard the sound of his masculine voice and looked up into deep brown eyes.
“Hay,” She didn’t know what to say. Sat beside him was a young woman. Around the same age as herself. But young woman fit her better. She looked sophisticated, long dark blonde hair that was perfectly straight with ruby lips. She looked older, more mature with a perfect sculptured face. She was the type of woman you would see on the cover of magazines.
“Get in, I believe I promised you ice cream,” The girl laughed. It was a gentle sound fill of light.
“Please ignore my sister, she begged me to bring her with me,” The girl punched him in the arm, and he rubbed where her hand had hit.
“I am Paige by the way, I guess I have to introduce myself,” she rolled her eyes at Josh and Jenna smiled. She did look a lot like him now that he said it. The same eyes and button nose.
“Jenna,”
“Great now get in,” Josh smiled.
The drive was uncomfortable, Josh did is best to lighten the mood with small talk and jokes, yet Jenna had a feeling something was bothering them. You can tell when a person is holding back. We all wear masks and paint a smile on our faces when inside we are crying out in pain.