21

As soon as I saw Kayler get into his car and start driving, followed by the other guys, Anne and I headed to her car. I sat in the passenger seat as she started the engine. We had to go slowly and keep a long distance so they wouldn't suspect. They were much further ahead, and now I think I'll be able to find out a lot of things, which puts me in a good mood. I just hope that whatever I find out doesn't ruin my relationship with Kayler.

"Now you'll tell me," commented Anne. "Why are we following them? If they find out, Carolina, we won't learn anything and we'll get into trouble," she concluded.

"They won't find out," I replied. "What we need to find out is why they always leave class together and never say where they're going or why. If they say anything, it's always about some project, but I don't believe them. Something tells me there's more to it." I sighed. "Besides, I think those wolves have something to do with all this."

I noticed she looked at me.

"I think you're right," she said. "Also, the threat you received yesterday mentioned Scott and that something similar could happen to you. I thought he was killed by those wolves, but now... maybe they're... their pets?" she wondered.

I had thought about it too, but it seemed ridiculous.

"I don't know. I hate this confusion."

We entered the road that leads to my house and Kayler's, through the forest. Here, the temperature is colder, and it's darker. The guys were further ahead, just barely in view. I just hope they don't see us.

"I know the one sending you those messages is Paige or one of her friends sent by her, of course. She's the only one who doesn't want you near Kayler," she commented.

Deep down, I knew it was true.

"I know," I whispered.

Minutes later, we saw the cars turn onto the road leading to Kayler's house. Shortly after they went in, we followed. I had only been here once, and it wasn't pleasant. I had come with Connor. Speaking of him, where is he?

We stopped halfway down the road when we saw his house in the distance. We got out. We started to enter the forest quietly to see who was at the entrance. I should have brought binoculars.

"Ouch," whispered Anne as she brushed her arm against a thorny bush.

"Are you okay?" I asked, stopping a bit.

"Yes, it's just a scratch," she downplayed it.

We continued walking quietly until we reached a large bush with a perfect log for us to sit and spy from. We sat down, and I started to part the bush a bit to see better.

"We should have brought spy gear like binoculars and all that stuff. Even black clothes," whispered Anne.

"Don't worry, Anne. Next time we'll bring all that," I whispered back. She gave me a questioning look. "Yes, we're going to keep spying on them."

I saw Kayler and his group get out of their cars. A guy came out of the house, dressed all in black just like Kayler always does. Do they always dress in mourning? Kayler said something to that guy, and he responded by shaking his head, which seemed to really anger Kayler. He punched the front of the car, making a big dent, and didn't even hurt himself. Oh God. He said something else to the guy before signaling his friends to go inside. What could have made Kayler so angry? The man, seeing the other guys go into the house, looked at where Kayler had punched before going in as well.

"They're gone," I murmured, looking at Anne. "We have to go in."

Her eyes widened in astonishment, and she shook her head.

"No, it's a bad idea, Carolina, no," she said.

"Come on, Anne, we have to find out what happened." I took her by the arm, and we started to walk stealthily to the back of the house.

There was a back door like at my house, and luckily it was open. We quietly entered and started to go up the stairs leading to the living room. At the top of the stairs, there was a door. I opened it a bit to observe and listen.

They were all gathered in the living room. I could see Paige, her group, Kayler, and the guys. There was the one I thought was his dad.

"I smell something strange," said Paige, sniffing the air. "A human smell."

My body froze.

"And what is she, stupid?" Anne whispered in my ear, mockingly.

"Oh," Paige seemed to understand. "It must be Kayler who was just with that idiot Carolina."

"Shut your mouth," Kayler snapped.

Anne nudged me. Thank you, Kayler, at least he defended me, that... jerk.

"Alright, to the matter at hand," said his dad. "Kayler, do you know why we're here?" he addressed his son.

"Steve has informed me," he replied. "I don't know how it happened. Last night I was..." he paused.

"You weren't on duty. They entered our territory at dawn and took some of our food," it seemed his dad was angry with him.

And last night he was at my house, which is why he wasn't on duty. But food? Territory? Who entered?

"I know that now that you've finally found Carolina you want to be with her, but you also shouldn't neglect your family, your pack," his dad continued.

Pack?

"Do they think they're dogs?" Anne whispered in my ear.

"Sorry, Father, I didn't think they'd come last night, it was raining heavily so I thought I'd be somewhere else," Kayler commented, crossing his arms. "Besides, I wasn't the only one in charge of watching," he gave his friends a look, who had their heads down. "I promise it won't happen again."

"We can't be so sure," Paige intervened, as always. "We don't know if on another night you'll also feel like rolling around with that idiot Carolina and leave the job to..." she didn't finish because Kayler quickly lunged at her and grabbed her by the neck. Oh God. He's choking her. But that idiot Paige just has a smile on her face.

"Don't ever say anything about Carolina again, she's not like you," he snapped through clenched teeth as he let her go. Paige laughed.

Damn her, I'd like to wipe that smile off her stupid face.

"Enough, please, I don't want any fights here in my house," his dad snapped. "And you, Paige, stop insulting Carolina. It's not her fault she's Kayler's Mate. In fact, I'm grateful that a girl like her is the right person for my son. She reminds me a lot of... my Madelane," the man made a sad face.

The others fell silent, and I could even see Kayler make the same face as his father. Madelane must be the man's wife and Kayler's mom. Where is she? Is she dead?

"Alright," said Paige.

"Kayler, son, I hope you take good care of her," the man stood up from his chair and started to go upstairs. "The meeting is over," he said lastly.

"We need to protect our territory," said the man who was outside with Kayler earlier.

"I know," Kayler replied, in a bad mood. He started to leave, but Apolo stopped him.

"We need to go," Anne took me by the arm, but I stopped her. I closed the door as quietly as possible, and we went down the stairs. We went out to the yard and started running back to the car to return to school.

"I hope they didn't notice," murmured Anne behind me. "Oh no," she stopped abruptly.

"What?" I stopped too.

"My bracelet, I lost my bracelet," she whined.

"Anne, we don't have time. We'll come back for it later." I took her hand, and we kept running. We were almost at the car when the voice of someone behind us made us freeze, paralyzed with fear.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?"

Damn it.