Chapter 112 - Relocation

**Hopes pov**

“Are you ready? You don’t have to do this now, we can let him sweat for a couple more days, he’s fine.” Callum massaged my tense shoulders. We’re standing outside Dirk’s cell, I haven’t been here in a week, can’t take the negative effects of it. After we got Zandra back I didn’t want to leave her side, Callum had to carry me away. When she finally awoke, she was quiet and withdrawn, like a girl forced to age too quickly, or an old woman looking back on a tragic life. The stubborn glint in her eyes was gone, so were her sharp lines and I didn’t know how to get her back. I took her for walks to the playground to meet the kids, to the mall for an ice cream and to buy some new spices for her kitchen. My mother also spent a lot of time with her on short forest walks. Zara was staying with us but was going back home this afternoon, she promised to check in regularly and she would be back as soon as we needed her. But for now, I had to focus on the hunters, Tony called yesterday, we have been passive for too long.
“I’m ready, let’s do this” I looked up at Callum and kissed him for extra strength before taking a deep breath and opening the door.
“Dirk! It’s been a while.” He was sitting on the bed, his beard had grown from a charming stubble to unkempt ruffs. He looked tired even though the reports I got said he spent most of his time in bed.
“I’ve been told you eat well and exercise a lot, that’s good, gotta keep those muscles right... What I’ve also been told is that you don’t talk much but when you do, nothing nice comes out between those perfect white teeth.” Dirk snorted at me in response while studying me closely. I could imagine what was going through his head, all the plans he hatched here in his solitude. Would he attack me with his bare hands? Had he managed to fashion some primitive weapon out of something we wouldn’t miss in the room? I knew the thoughts all too well, it wasn’t long ago that I myself was a prisoner and had too much free time with myself.
“So, are you ready to go?” It was just a question but it got his full attention. He swallowed and licked his lips.
“Go where?”
“Well, I guess you made your choice? Is that right?”
“My choice?”
“I gave you some choices last time we met..unfortunately my witch friend has left so that option is no longer available and considering how you treat those who take care of you and feed you every day, I can’t believe you want to welcome a wolf side...that leaves only one option left. The car should be here in half an hour, do you need to shower or go to the toilet first? Maybe a snack before you go, to remember the taste of food I mean.”
“Would you really do that? Hand over a human being to the bloodsuckers? Aren’t you supposed to be mortal enemies?” The nervousness was clear in his voice but there was also a note of disappointment. Could it be that he was starting to change his mind about the wolves? That it dawned on him that they weren’t the monsters he’d been taught to hate?
“The way I see it, I’m not handing over a human, I’m handing over a hunter...a creature who lives to exterminate an entire species without breaking a sweat if it means shooting a rabid wolf or slitting the throat of a small child. The more I think about it, this option is the best, you don’t deserve to see the sun or feel its warmth again... to be stressed or worried about not making it to the store before they close, to feel heated summer sand between your toes.. you know, the little things. And to answer your question, we were enemies for a long time, the wolves and the vampires and we will probably always disagree on many issues...but we have one important thing in common and that is our burning determination to stop the hunters.” Although his facial expression doesn’t change much, the cell begins to reek of fear, and I know I have him exactly where I want him.
“You gave me another choice..information versus free passage, didn’t you? I cooperate and you help me start over in a new place far from here…right?”
“Well..that’s true..but I don’t know Dirk..you haven’t given me the feeling of wanting to cooperate...not to mention how my friends feel, those are pretty mean things you called them …” I sighed and paced the room, pretending to consider my choices.
“I’m extending your stay here by...hmm...Three days. Three days for you to spend giving us all the information we ask for. If I’m happy when the time is up, I’ll help you out of here...if not, we’ll be back at the point we are at now. Do you understand?” And there it was, the one thing I wanted to see before leaving the cell, the look on the face of a defeated man.

“So, on to our next job for the day...” I drank my coffee a little slower than I normally do to prolong the time. I felt cold inside, like always after I played the frosty woman who decided the fates of others, and I wasn’t done yet, the next task was more difficult. Not just for me, for Luna too.
“Hope, I think you’re way too kind..it’s hardly a punishment.”
“Maybe not…but that’s what I want to do…I don’t believe in capital punishment and Luna would never do anything to their wolves, it’s not like with Magda, her wolf wasn’t right, it was sick, damaged...that doesn’t apply here.”
“Okay...let me know when you’re ready, Reese has gathered them, the other two should be here any minute.”
Reluctantly, I got up from the comfortable armchair and put down the coffee cup. I didn’t get past Callum before he lifted me up and sat me on the pool table. He ran his nose along my neck and left little kisses behind.
“Just promise me one thing...Tonight, when this is over, can you please let me take care of you?” His hands on my hips hardened in their grip and a flash of pleasure went through my body. Like magic, his touch made my muscles relax and a warmth spread to chase away the cold feeling. I closed my eyes and enjoyed it, for about five seconds until we heard the front door open.
“We are here!” Maya came in with the women in tow, the wives of our prisoners in the lower cells. They had their eyes on the floor, not at all the mean and superior attitudes they showed before.
“Good, let’s get this over with.” Callum took my hand and we left the room first. Adjacent to the lower cells was a larger area, I never asked Callum what it was used for but given the hooks in the ceiling and walls, the shiny and easy to clean surfaces and the floor well, I had a pretty good guess. Reese had our prisoners on their knees in front of him, their hands were locked behind their backs and they each had a tight neck collar with studs on the inside, I could sense Luna’s disapproval but also her understanding. Now that she was here, however, they were unnecessary. The women behind me were sobbing loudly as they saw their loved ones on the floor in front of us, I can only imagine the pain, if someone had Callum like that, our child...the thought made me sick.
“Take off the collars.”
“But Hope..Luna..isn’t it risky?” Reese scratched his head and looked doubtful. “Their wolves know better than to cause trouble...don’t they?” I drilled my eyes into all five and got silent nods back, from four of them. Tina was quiet at first, then she raised her gaze,met mine and spat at me. She was offended, thrown aside like dirt and she was pissed. A part of me could sympathize. She had been a young wolf, in love. She dreamed of a future with the handsome Alpha in the neighbor pack and he fueled her fantasies by taking her to bed and exploiting her for his own needs. On the other hand, everyone who gets dumped, no matter how ugly, doesn’t turn into a psychopath trying to get rid of the opponent..so there’s that. *Luna, have their wolves submitted?* She snorted at me like the question was stupid, so I took it as a yes.
“Your wives already know what is going to happen and they have accepted it. You are no longer ranking members of the Low Falls pack, that pack is now under our protection. David, you are an Alpha, you will always be an Alpha and as long as you have this company, you have a pack. In addition to your wife and the beta family, these three men will also join you.” I looked at the three traitors, the ones who helped the hunters at the Fusion. “It’s up to them if they want to swear you pack allegiance or take a chance on life as rogues again. You will be transported to Maine, you get a smaller area of land, approximately one thousand hectares, there are some buildings in good condition, what you do with them is up to you. The nearest settlement is two hours away by car, so you will have your privacy. You are not allowed to leave Maine, nor will your wolves allow you to do so.”
“Please Miss Hope..Luna..Maine is a vampire area..there is a reason there is no established packs there.” David’s voice was raspy as he spoke.
“The vampires know you’re moving in and they’ve promised to honor the truce so for your own sake I’d advise you not to try anything that might piss off your new neighbors.” I looked at Tina as I answered, she was the weak link in this deal.
“Can’t we at least get to bring some of our former pack members with us? We have friends...”
“David...we gave everyone that choice, we don’t force anyone to stay but I’m sorry, no one wanted to come… So, if you have don’t have any questions, a bus is waiting for you. I turned and left the space, eager to get out into the fresh air to calm my nausea.