"Well, this is awkward." Heath plopped down on the dew-covered ground getting mud on his jeans.
629Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxnsGMpxntQ
Gregorio refused to look Theo in the eyes. "I'm very sorry, Theodore, but I had to complete my mission."
629Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt470lLE7VT
"But, you didn't complete your mission did you?"
629Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT8yK52z9LG
Chandler shifted back into his human form and stood up. "How dare you accuse the Pack Father of neglecting his duty! He is the most faithful member of the Silver Huntsmen and—"
629Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6xTKweflfJ
Gregorio cleared his throat, signaling for everyone to listen.
629Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWFY6b2Gg9t
"You had orders to kill me, but you didn't. Why not?"
629Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjODeT9alVg
Pack Father Gregorio sat down beside Heath. He didn't seem to care that his expensive-looking suit was now covered in dirt. The sun reflected off his silver hair. "I never wanted to hurt anyone. I signed up for this job because I wanted to make the world a better place for werewolves. The Pack Mother convinced me that eradicating the Mixedbloods was the best way to accomplish that. I killed so many people without question, but when the time came, I couldn't bring myself to harm a cub."
629Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ77o9JGvazZ
Now they all sat in a circle on the ground. "What made you change your mind?" Rosalind asked.
629Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKhgKjoaarD
He looked Theo in the eyes. "I have two cubs of my own, they're not much older than you. They are the reason I do what I do, but I can't justify taking the life of someone else's cub."
629Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZbkqqMu7o4
Theo folded his arms. "Do you regret it? Killing all those people?"
629Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxgXMLbLpML
"Sometimes, but I have to do what's best for my pack and my people."
629Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡui1C13wjxV
Chandler was staring at him like a kid who had just been told Santa Claus isn't real. "I thought you said you'd never failed a mission."
629Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwV9jWbyGCO
Gregorio patted him on the shoulders. "I understand how hard this must be for you to hear. I know how highly you think of me."
629Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6CiVFSdCFj
"Does Pack Mother Luna know you let him go?" Duke spoke up for the first time.
629Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMRWh3xP6vW
He shook his head. "I didn't. I ask you please don't tell her what I did."
629Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLK2ZRJbj1V
Duke slid his hands into his pockets. "Didn't you always tell us not to keep secrets from the pack mother?"
629Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrVVkj5ZIDf
"I know what I've told you in the past, I'm begging you to keep this between us. There could be dire consequences for us if she finds out the truth. I'll respect whatever decision you make."
629Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrPAOSwjZMr
Theo turned away from the rest of the group. He couldn't bear to look at the man who shot his father any longer.
629Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH6LB1I5bxq
Duke stood up. "What are our next orders, sir?"
629Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYrHr0fAZ9
"Escort these two back to the den, I'll make the arrangements with the Pack Mother."
629Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYz6UQt2TWw
"Yes, sir." They all stood to their feet."
629Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfbdVoE1Dfw
Duke stood tall and spoke in an authoritative tone. "Follow me." It was clear he was trying to impress the Pack Father.
629Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMtc1kESVWK
Pack Father Gregorio nodded in their direction. I'll meet you at the rendezvous point. I'm trusting you to make sure everything goes smoothly."
629Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3D14Djokl6
"We won't let you down, sir," Chandler said.
629Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKFLbho1dJi
"I know you won't." Gregorio shifted back into his wolf form then sprinted towards the ridge.
629Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqRgSuZi7jP
Everyone watched in silence as he dashed through the forest. As soon as he was out of sight. Chandler grabbed Theo by the shirt. "Listen up Mixedblood. I should be delivering your head to the Pack Mother as we speak, but our Pack Father has decided to show you mercy. I trust his judgment. If you try to pull any stunts, I'll slaughter you right here."
629Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSe7jtOrPdI
Theo pushed him away. "Be careful, you promised that everything would go smoothly. The last thing you'd want to do is disappoint your beloved Pack Father."
629Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDoRDkS9nN0
His boldness shocked Rosalind.
629Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrrBIF8gHSN
Chandler clenched his teeth. "Do you have a bone to picker with me?"
629Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡssuMhyriDP
"Perhaps I don't appreciate being treated like a rabid animal!"
629Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8eZjZGvH9G
"You're not in any place to be making demands here!" Chandler snapped.
629Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3YQtlgbKtL
"Hey! Knock it off you two!" Rosalind stepped between them. "Listen, I know we don't particularly like each other. After we meet with The Pack Mother we'll never have to see each other again. Can we try to get along for now?"
629Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2bqSBazmtH
Theo extended a hand. "Rosalind is correct, there's no point in arguing."
629Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTljmqs6P5
Chandler turned away, ignoring his outstretched hand. "Let's get going. You've already wasted enough of my time."
629Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuzntHA6uwx
Rosalind gripped Theo's hand. Which was becoming a usual occurrence for them, and began their hike to the den. Chandler cringed at their display of affection.
629Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGBGF0fOyhb
They trekked into the fires for roughly half an hour. Until they reached a stone wall with intricate carvings of wolves in battle engraved into it. Duke placed his hand overtop of a carving of a paw print.
629Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvY3gfv8gR4
The wall glowed red and a ghastly voice spoke. "What is round yet flat as a board, the alter of the Lupine Lords, A jewel on black velvet, a pearl in the sea, Unchanged yet ever-moving?"
629Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFpdDy6qnz
Duke cleared his throat. "The moon."
629Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPGOFvuQC1c
"Welcome."
629Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDHjlD4G7R9
The ground shook, and the stone wall opened up revealing a poorly lit stairway. Rosalind stared into the black abyss. There was no way of knowing exactly what awaited them. She had come much too far to be scared off by a creepy hallway.
629Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdWGDPIa3aP
"What are you waiting for?" Heath nudged her forward almost causing her to trip down the winding staircase.
629Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS4kIX5HDcD
Once they were all past the threshold the stone wall slammed shut, sealing itself off from the rest of the world. There was no turning back for her now. They tiptoed down the stairs, step by step until they reached yet another door. This one opened automatically once they'd all reached the bottom step.
629Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdOuVab9Bs
Behind the next door appeared to be some sort of underground cave. The inside was much warmer than she would've expected for somewhere this far beneath the ground. The inside was decorated with old-looking furniture and Leather couches that were covered in various colors of shedded wolf fur. dusty bookcases lined the walls. There wasn't a single window in sight, but the room remained well lit regardless. This room was much more inviting than the previous one. There were seven closed doors scattered throughout the walls. How big was this place?
629Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEF4Rdq21y4
Chandler pointed at one of the couches. "Wait there," he glared at Theo. "And try not to contaminate anything with your Mixedblood germs."
629Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡirokuFrV2I
"I don't think Mixedblood germs are a real thing," Heath said.
629Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2RnzP4xYp
"Shut up, Heath!" Chandler charged into one of the side rooms and slammed the door behind him.
629Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgr7zkO2cd2
"I can't believe you let him talk to you like that," Theo remarked as he sat down on the furry couch. "You should try standing up for yourself."
629Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6jHIwzBset
"Nah, Chandler only acts tough, deep down he's a huge softie."
629Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV9Z7cB8LGl
Chandler grumbled something foul sounding from behind the closed door.
629Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Hnx7Jo0Nb
She found it very hard to believe there was anything kind underneath all that angst.
629Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE1RjhwaIC2
"I'm sorry about all the fur on the furniture my Pack Brothers are animals." Duke chuckled at his own joke.
629Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ14rVZOg0K8
"Hey! We all shed on this couch equally, and you know it!" Heath snapped.
629Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR9W5T2HHNs
Duke tried to hide a guilty expression behind his hand.
629Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7rhdJ12nsh
Heath plopped down beside her on the couch, and she moved to the farthest end of the couch in response. He nudged her with his elbow. "You should totally join our pack. We haven't had a female since Veronica quit."
629Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlb3TdhS7Yh
"But I'm not a werewolf."
629Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8tc9jxOkm3
He shrugged. "If you say so."
629Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw3joPAsG9n
Chandler returned to the main room with a crimson hoodie in his hand. He dropped it on her lap.
629Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtyPFRdSF8O
"What's this?"
629Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3iCKGU5jaF
"A sweatshirt moron, to replace the one I destroyed." He pointed to the ripped and bloodied one she was wearing.
629Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq1LzkkHvbP
She stood up. "You can't replace it! It was my brother's" she was beginning to choke up, but she wouldn't cry, not in front of him.
629Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQaPFUac6q
He refused to make eye contact with her. "I'm sorry." He said in a tone that almost felt sincere. "Let me give you some advice, kid. It's better not to hold on to the past. It'll only hold you back."
629Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgWNnf70wEO
There it was again the same stupid advice her mother had given to her over and over her entire life. She rolled her eyes. "Thanks for the advice." Her voice dripped with bitterness.
629Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6uzI6Vahv
Theo seemed to sense her tension and squeezed her hand, but this time it didn't calm her.
629Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGH99tvHg5E
Duke stepped between them before Rosalind could give in to her overwhelming desire to punch Chandler in the face. He pointed to one of the doors. "There's a bathroom over there if you want to change."
629Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzR15dQu9A3
She turned around and marched into the bathroom without another word. The bathroom was small. It was impressive that they managed to get working plumbing down here. Rosalind begrudgingly changed out of her brother's sweatshirt and put on the new one. She held the tattered one close to her chest as tears streamed down her cheeks. She didn't know why she missed someone she'd never known this much.
629Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOsIDRrQt0l
She sat on the bathroom floor, Cradling the ruined sweatshirt in her arms. Until someone knocked on the door. "Are you alright?" It was Theo.
629Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK92Jleo2Rz
"Yeah." She wiped away her tears. "I'm alright."
629Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYyog8FCbQZ
"You'd better hurry. The Pack Mother is ready for our meeting. She won't be pleased if we keep her waiting."
629Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWodt3DsZa7
"I'll be right there." She splashed some water on her face and met him outside.
629Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL2M30SNlpD
Pack Father Gregorio was waiting for them in the center of the room. "The Pack Mother has agreed to a meeting. Follow me." He nodded towards the Huntsmen. "She would like to meet with you three as well."
629Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Or0vOhpsf
The group followed Pack Father Gregorio into a dimly lit office. Everything in this room appeared to be antique except for several wolf heads hanging on the wall. There was an old cherry wood desk at the back of the room. At the desk sat a slender woman wearing a long red dress and fur coat. She had long raven-colored hair, blood-red lips, and long nails that looked sharp enough to impale someone. She had dark brown eyes that were all too familiar.
629Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHmmDGJMkhH
"Mom?"
629Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeLfgqcWTjs
She smirked. "Welcome home Rosalind."
ns216.73.216.253da2
and then Add to home screen.