Chapter 23

My head snapped towards Jared suddenly as I felt the blood in my veins run cold. Biting my lip slowly, I finally managed to utter a croaked demand for an explanation.
“What do you mean you have found James and Julianne?” I stammered slowly, feeling my temper rise. “Where were they and what were they doing? Where's Louisa?”
“We found them running along the northern border. They were trying to get into no man's land and make their way to the airport,” explained Jared carefully. “The Blood Red Pack let off a warning, that said they had two intruders matching James and Julianne’s description, running towards them, so we quickly made our way over there. No sighting on Louisa I'm afraid!”
“Ever since the news of their crimes got out, the wolf packs all want them dead,” Jensen continued gleefully, his eyes glinting in the dark. “Ahh, I can't believe I helped catch them!.”
“However, the Blood Red pack are the worst pack you can run into,” nodded Jared. “They’re not called Blood Red for nothing. Anyway, our little duo managed to get to the border only to find a wall of snarling wolves waiting for them.”
“So, what happened?” Blake butted in angrily. “Did the Blood Red pack arrest them? How on earth did you manage to get that pack to hand them over!?”
“No, they didn't luckily enough, as James and Julianne had one more trick up their sleeves,” replied Jensen, slowly. “They ran along the northern borderline but on our side, hoping to find a weakness on the Blood Red’s side, so that they could slip in undetected. Because they were on our side, the Blood Reds couldn’t do anything but just give chase and hold them off until we got there.”
“When we showed up, the pair was exhausted and they very quickly surrendered,” smirked Jared, while looking over at his twin gleefully. “They realized that they weren’t getting through the border anytime soon and they were outnumbered by a lot on both sides. They took the easier way out!”
“And are you sure that they can’t escape?” I asked nervously. “Are they definitely secure?”
“Oh yeah! They won't be escaping anytime soon, princess,” Jared smirked while chuckling slightly. “They are entirely at our mercy now!”
“What have you done to them?” I asked slowly, carefully studying Jared’s face for any hint or clue to Julianne and her boyfriend’s fate.
“They are in the prison wing, so what do you expect? Does that give you enough of a clue?” laughed Jenson loudly, folding his arms across his chest proudly. “We’ve chucked them in a silver cage with silver shackles around their wrists and ankles and at least 15 guards are watching over them. They won’t be going nowhere!”
“Good job, you two. You will be rewarded well for your services to the pack!” nodded Blake happily, while wrapping his arm around me tightly. “Right, let’s get out of here and shut this place down. I’ve got important matters to attend to back at the house, obviously and I’m sure you will want to go and check on your parents. If, that is who they are!”
“No. I need to go and face my demons first,” I breathed gently, closing my eyes and breathing deeply. “There are some answers I need to hear from them before I go and see my parents.”
“Hey! Listen!” Blake whispered gently pulling me close, allowing his musky scent to fill my nose. “You don’t have to go and see them straight away if you don’t really want to. I won’t let anyone hurt you ever again. I promise you that!”
“I know, but if I don’t face them now, then I don’t know when I will ever have the confidence to face them again,” I replied confidently, gazing up at my Mate in awe. “Besides, they need to see what I have become and that even I won’t show them mercy.”

Smiling, Blake pulled me into a long hug, tightly wrapping his strong muscular arms around me. Hungrily, I breathed in his scent one more time and felt my senses ignite. Everything I ever needed in this world was now standing in front of me and it made my heart burst with happiness that he was mine. Slowly, I peeled myself away from his embrace and gently pecked him on the lips before walking towards the staircase. Silently, we trudged up the creaky stairs and piled into the murky kitchen. The rooms weren't as dark as before and as we walked through the house and out into the garden, we noticed that dawn was starting to break.

“Ahh finally!” Damian exclaimed loudly, inhaling the air hungrily. “Fresh air and no putrid smells. I can finally breathe again! That place was disgusting! I feel like I am going to need a bath every day this month, just to get clean again!”
“Disgusting or not, at least you are still alive and well, unlike some of the people we found today,” warned Blake, his voice falling into a low growl. “Come on. We need to get back. Alistair, Damien, sort this place out if you will. I want all of Libby’s stuff out of there and then torch this place if you must. I want no remains of this house left!”

Alistair and Damien nodded before turning back towards the house and disappearing out of sight. Silently, I marched towards the car and jumped in the front, Blake quickly re-joining me in the seat next to me. The car revved noisily into action as we sped back down the road in silence. I stared out of the window, only briefly acknowledging the blur of colours speeding past as shops and houses raced past. This time, the streets were beginning to fill with early morning workers, ready for another day of trade. My mind flipped to my barely alive parents, and I felt my eyes prickle in response, while 101 questions began filling my brain.

How were they both alive? Was my mum kidnapped by Julianne all along? Did James know about my parents below the house? What was Julianne even thinking? What was she going to do with my parents? Surely, she wouldn’t have kept them, prisoner, forever? And how did she even subdue both of my parents? They were warriors back in the day and were as strong as old carthorses. Did Julianne ever love my dad? She was my mum's best friend! Why!? And Louisa? What did she have to do with all of this? Did she even know!?

Before I knew it, our car had skidded to a halt back outside of our packhouse, the gravel crunching under the tyres. Unclipping my belt, I opened the door and jumped out, feeling the crunch of the gravel underneath my feet. Patiently, I waited for Blake, as he walked back around the car and gently grabbed my arm before guiding me towards the house.
“Are you still sure you want to go and see Julianne and her filthy piece of shit boyfriend? I think you should get some rest. We've been out all night!”
“Yes,” I nodded gently, even though I was beginning to notice my tiredness. “Though, I’m not sure where I’m going. I need to do this. You can come with me if you want, but please, just take me to them.”

Blake sighed slowly before beckoning me to follow him. Silently, I followed him through the front doors and across the hallway towards the staircase. Puzzled, I watched as Blake pulled open a wooden door hidden behind the grand staircase and pointed down some concrete steps.

“They are down there,” he mumbled quietly. “Would you like to go first?”

Nodding, I squeezed past Blake and made my way down the concrete steps into the dungeons. The sudden chill in the air hit me instantly, making my body shiver gently. The walls were damp and cold, but they weren’t green like the basement back at the house. Somewhere below me, I heard the echoed drip of water hitting the floor in a surprisingly calming rhythm. As I continued down the steps, I entered a large square room, with long walls entirely made up of silver cages, lined with guards who stood still as statues. I shuddered at the thought of them and deep inside of me, I could hear Mya growling in a warning.

In the middle of the room was a large desk which was home to many computer screens. As I stared at them curiously, I realized it was CCTV footage inside each cage. It was only then I noticed, that two of the little screens showed that there was a person contained within the bars. I looked up and scanned the room until my eyes fell on the corresponding cage. Slowly, I stood up and tiptoed towards the bars before peering in at a slumped figure leaning against the wall. Slowly they lifted their head and locked their eyes with mine. I gulped nervously as I studied the ragged, dishevelled, and bloodied face of James....