"So the secret to creating the most epic meal of all time is stuffing a corn dog from Sonic into a Taco Bell burrito, and then you put Nutella on it," Heath explained.
142Please respect copyright.PENANADt5StIJJFg
Theo had been hearing tales of the unholy abominations Heath called food all evening long. All Theo could think about was a quote from the movie Jurassic Park. "Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should." That's how he felt about Heath's choice of snacks. Did Heath ever think twice before creating the culinary equivalent of Frankenstein's Monster? Theo didn't think so. Bizarrely he envied Heath, he didn't seem to have a worry in the world, apart from coming up with new edible monstrosities. Life must be happier for the unintelligent.
142Please respect copyright.PENANAOmC2j1uQdD
His train of thought was interrupted by the sound of screams coming from the other side of the stone wall. Theo pressed his ear against the wall in an attempt to discern what was happening on the other side.
142Please respect copyright.PENANAuTl6TpGldU
"Control yourself at once, Rosalind." Pack Mother Luna shouted.
142Please respect copyright.PENANALSvRQklL0b
Her demands were met with the sound of a fearsome growl.
142Please respect copyright.PENANAqnaTqkCDMZ
"This is your final warning Rosalind, shift back to your human form, or I'll have no choice but to incapacitate you."
142Please respect copyright.PENANAOisRP19Uaa
The sound of growling grew louder and the council erupted into chaos.
142Please respect copyright.PENANAGBqTU0U1An
Theo stood up and ran towards the door.
142Please respect copyright.PENANAVb5JxVv21r
"Hey, where are you going?" Heath called after him.
142Please respect copyright.PENANAIhZiDqdplI
"Rosalind needs me." That was all he said before he sprinted out of the room.
142Please respect copyright.PENANA41zS1gwEsg
"Hey, wait up!" Heath jumped up and ran after him.
142Please respect copyright.PENANADh7V2Q5Xgt
Theo rushed down the hall, even though he wasn't sure where he was going. He ended up in the room Rosalind had been staying in. Something silver caught his eye. He raced into the room and grabbed it. It was a silver bow and a quiver full of silver arrows. All werewolves were weak against silver. He could feel it slowly draining his life force every moment he touched it. If he was about to face The Council of Alphas, he was going to need any help he could get.
142Please respect copyright.PENANAW9HE2B7gk6
Heath barreled into the room after him. "Damn, you're fast." Sweat dripped from his brow and he panted heavily.
142Please respect copyright.PENANAlsSLQuhtu6
Theo seized the opportunity and held the sharp tip of one of the arrows to Heath's throat. "I'm leaving this place, and I'm taking Rosalind with me. If you stand in my way, I'll carve open your throat."
142Please respect copyright.PENANA3uL6gtjJu4
Heath raised his hands in surrender. "Okay, okay. Please keep that silver away from me! Ooh, I have an idea! You should let me help you escape. I know every inch of this place, and I will personally escort you out of here."
142Please respect copyright.PENANA8GrQr7PbnS
Theo refused to back down. "You would betray your pack? Why?"
142Please respect copyright.PENANAiDNXgX6Rp8
He shrugged. "Because I hate Pack Mother Luna, she's always treated Chandler and I like trash, and I want to spite her."
142Please respect copyright.PENANA8b1kLKiLoF
Theo glared at him as he lowered the arrow. "No funny business."
142Please respect copyright.PENANArplEkEZzxJ
Heath nodded vigorously. "No funny business, understood."
142Please respect copyright.PENANAa3iEOA8wPx
Theo signaled for Heath to lead the way, and he happily obliged, leading the way through the winding corridors of the den.
142Please respect copyright.PENANAiNWYdtBvjP
Things were going well until they reached the outside of the banquet hall, where they were confronted by one of the alphas. "Halt Mixedblood. You are under arrest in the name of the Silver Huntsman."
142Please respect copyright.PENANADrl7DbpYex
"Move aside!" Theo shouted as he aimed an arrow at the Alpha. Theo didn't trust his archery skills enough to fire an arrow, so he hoped his empty threats would be enough.
142Please respect copyright.PENANAqEObZMNUDj
The Alpha bared their fangs. "I'd rather die than yield to a worthless Mixedblood."
142Please respect copyright.PENANAI9cN5vRSwQ
Theo pulled back the bowstring. "That can be arranged."
142Please respect copyright.PENANAwg7au2v5Bs
The pair entered a staring match that seemed to last an eternity. The alpha made the first move and pounced at Theo. In the heat of the moment, Theo recalled everything Rosalind had taught him about archery. He widened his stance, relaxed his muscles, and released his grip. The arrow flew into the alpha's shoulder. Theo didn't stick around to see if they were okay. He pushed past the wounded alpha and sauntered into the banquet hall, with Heath trailing behind him.
142Please respect copyright.PENANAG0cScOwi9h
The banquet had erupted into chaos. Rosalind stood on the table in her werewolf form, growling at Pack Mother Luna. She had knocked most of the food onto the floor during her frenzy. Half of the werewolves were trying to evacuate, the other half were preparing to fight.
142Please respect copyright.PENANA88KiX4MveN
"You guys missed one hell of a party," Chandler said by way of greeting. His speech was somewhat slurred. This could be a good thing. It'd be easier to overpower him if he was intoxicated. Theo hoped it wouldn't come to that, he wanted to avoid harming anyone else tonight, but he wasn't leaving without Rosalind.
142Please respect copyright.PENANAMWcSF7fmIG
Theo inched towards the end of the table.
142Please respect copyright.PENANAdXPrAciPMr
Several of the Alphas whispered among themselves.
"Is that a Mixedblood?"
"What is a Mixedblood doing here?"
"What is it doing?"
"Should we try to stop it?"
142Please respect copyright.PENANAHtKkwvh2L7
Theo ignored them. His only goal was getting to Rosalind. He wasn't far now. "Rosalind, I need you to relax."
142Please respect copyright.PENANAMW4vwJVuZK
She jerked away from her mother and faced him. She peered at him with a look of fury in her eyes and let out a low growl.
142Please respect copyright.PENANAtdf5JDBhDw
"Rosalind, I need you to relax." He extended a hand towards her. There was a high probability of her biting his hand off, but it was a risk he was willing to take. She inched closer and sniffed his hair, then she pressed her forehead against his. "I knew you wouldn't hurt me." He entangled his fingers in her thick brown fur. "I'm going to get you out of here, but I need you to work with me, okay?"
142Please respect copyright.PENANAnhO7WSD1o6
She let out a sharp wince and passed out.
142Please respect copyright.PENANApz0mgduR17
He shook her. "Rosalind!" Therewasa small tranquilizer dart buried into her dense mass of fur. Theo looked up to see Chandler holding a tranquilizer gun.
142Please respect copyright.PENANA7mQPnOEA6s
"Excellent work, Chandler," Pack Mother Luna raised a brow and smirked. "It's about time you did something useful for once in your life."
142Please respect copyright.PENANAougJhhVNoO
"I'm not going to let you abuse me any anymore, mom." Chandler's voice quavered, but he didn't back down.
142Please respect copyright.PENANAYFthMsMdwp
Luna let out a humorless laugh. "Stop being dramatic. Me? Abusive? Please, I've never laid a finger on you."
142Please respect copyright.PENANAxpFSpl77DE
"You criticize everything I do, and you belittle me in front of the pack, I can see it in your eyes, you enjoy humiliating me!"
142Please respect copyright.PENANAxoMl6IuIlW
"Sticks and stones, Chandler. If you're not tough enough to handle a little criticism, you're certainly not fit to lead this pack. If you were less of a failure, I wouldn't need to correct you so often."
142Please respect copyright.PENANAhufxnPdFfg
Chandler fired a tranquilizer dart into her neck.
142Please respect copyright.PENANAPXjHueJTIG
The remaining Alphas gawked at him in disbelief.
142Please respect copyright.PENANAy8Bk35qyub
"The party is over, assholes!" Chandler announced. He slung Rosalind's unconscious body over his shoulder. He motioned for Theo and Heath to follow. He guided them through a secret passage within the walls, which lead them outdoors. The full moon greeted them as they ascended from the underground cave.
142Please respect copyright.PENANAn8IrW4dsRa
"The Pack Mother is totally gonna kill us when she wakes up," Heath remarked.
142Please respect copyright.PENANAjTFopPPZ1x
"Which is why we'll need to outsmart her." Theo said.
142Please respect copyright.PENANAz3BXZGzQy6
Chandler scoffed. "That's not possible, no one can evade the Pack Mother for long. Congratulations, boys, we've irrevocably screwed ourselves. I hope you've both completed your bucket lists."
142Please respect copyright.PENANAcly36jz1ZX
Theo crossed his arms. "Well, I've managed to evade her for twelve years and counting." He argued.
142Please respect copyright.PENANAVfospBbLJ6
"Yeah, well now she has a vendetta against you personally. Let me tell you something about my mother, She never lets go of a grudge."
142Please respect copyright.PENANAyAGVbd07uZ
"You should listen to him, Mixedblood." Duke stood in the center of the path, holding a pistol fully loaded with silver bullets.
142Please respect copyright.PENANAKHo2DXN3Nw
"Get out of the way, Duke," Chandler said, not a bit intimidated.
142Please respect copyright.PENANAVRWhCwrfFK
"You've both lost your damn minds! I could picture him pulling a stunt like this," Duke pointed an accusatory finger towards Heath, "but I thought you were better than this Chandler."
142Please respect copyright.PENANAfA2YLx5YDu
"Oh, you want to tell me how much of a disappointment I am? I'm sorry, but you're going to have to get in line."
142Please respect copyright.PENANABs9YGBDF59
"Don't try to make yourself the victim here! You betrayed your pack! You betrayed me!"
142Please respect copyright.PENANAHzGl7TuPnV
"This isn't about you. This is about me protecting my little sister."
142Please respect copyright.PENANAE1SpCwXoNe
"From her own family?"
142Please respect copyright.PENANAWp2BIgjj3b
"Yes!" Chandler gestured around them. "She deserves a better life than this. She deserves a better mother than the one she was born with. She deserves a father who's willing to stand up to mom. She deserves a brother who's not a total screw-up. I can't give her any of those things, but I give her a life better than mine."
142Please respect copyright.PENANAKxwQ04ChvA
Duke's hands shook, as he moved his finger towards the trigger.
142Please respect copyright.PENANAzh9LQ9A5wG
"Run away with us, Duke."
142Please respect copyright.PENANAZhQSQf7TYL
"I can't," His voice quavered. "My loyalty is to the Silver Huntsmen, and I have a duty to fulfill."
142Please respect copyright.PENANAIsvuouGP9a
Chandler shook his head. "I don't think you really care about hunting rogue werewolves. I think you want something else."
142Please respect copyright.PENANAZA9gqW0nnj
Duke clutched onto the gun tighter. "Like what?"
142Please respect copyright.PENANANbgw2yJyta
"Validation. I think what you truly want is to be told that you're enough. I'm sorry your father has never told you that you're good enough. I know you think my mother's approval can fill the void your father put inside you, but it can't." Chandler took a step towards him. "You're good enough for me, Duke.
142Please respect copyright.PENANA5BuUaQj7GG
"Shut up!" Tears sprung to his eyes. "You don't know anything about me! You're nothing!"
142Please respect copyright.PENANAJzQgS5mqSQ
Chandler gently removed Rosalind from his shoulders and handed her to Theo. He took another step towards Duke. "If I'm nothing, stop being a coward and put a bullet in me, already." He strode forward. "I've officially gone rogue, so complete your duty as a member of The Silver Huntsmen and kill me."
142Please respect copyright.PENANASW5EHOzMPN
"Chandler no! Don't do this, man!" Heath wailed.
142Please respect copyright.PENANAMM9ehTI6wh
Chandler shot him an icy stare, warning him to stay back. "Deliver my body to my beloved mother and become the Alpha you were always meant to be." Chandler took two more paces forward."
142Please respect copyright.PENANAAsssn1QpYj
Duke's entire body trembled.
142Please respect copyright.PENANApWvsKFV4LO
"What are you waiting for? This is the final step in your journey. If I'm dead and Rosalind is gone, you're guaranteed to get promoted." He took one final step. The pair were only inches apart. The tip of the pistol rested against his forehead. You can kill me, but please let everyone else go." He said in a hushed whisper. "Do it."
142Please respect copyright.PENANAu69seHsHw1
Duke lowered his head. He released his grip on the gun, and it clattered to the ground.
142Please respect copyright.PENANAzNFTwTSpra
Chandler squatted down and picked up the pistol. He pointed it towards the sky and pulled the trigger. Nothing happened. The safety was on. He let out a loud cackle. "I knew it!"
142Please respect copyright.PENANAqmhW0pOaJ5
Duke gave a sour, disbelieving laugh. "No, you didn't."
142Please respect copyright.PENANAFmLKoJIwKr
You may have a superior sense of smell, but you're not the only one who can smell a lie," Chandler winked. "And I was pretty sure you were bluffing."
142Please respect copyright.PENANALTl8JIcvMi
"How sure?"
142Please respect copyright.PENANAQv5ea82rtd
"Like sixty percent."
142Please respect copyright.PENANAIAsIrFpzkE
Several wolves howled in the distance.
142Please respect copyright.PENANA6Wjg0llTlM
"They're coming for us," Theo whispered.
142Please respect copyright.PENANAMbOuV1pKcB
Duke reached into his pocket and pulled out a set of car keys. "Try not to shed in my jeep."
ns 172.70.179.102da2