“What did you do to her?” Jenson asks. I hadn't even noticed he had woken and wondered how much he had heard

“She begged me. Tried to tell me that the people upstairs were lying to me. Told me it was her home. That her parents had owned the house. It’s only when I look back, that I realise I didn’t see how ill she looked or how thin she was. I didn't see the dark shadows under her eyes. All I saw was a ‘liar’ that Cassandra had described. And I believed her’

Mallory drops her head forward. “She didn’t even try to fight back. She was too weak.”

It is horrible, listening to what she is telling me. It also showed how much Neah hadn't told me about her past. Or maybe it was one of those things that she had learned to block out.

“Even now, I hear the cracks of her skull from when I beat her against the wall.” “You shifted?” Jenson asks,

“No.” She shakes her head, “I was just an angry person and suddenly had the strength of a Lycan.” Her eyes settle on me again. "Is she really alive? You are not just lying to get me to talk to you?” holds text © rights.

“She's alive.”

“But how? She shoula't have survived that.”

“Because the Moon Goddess wants her to live.” I mumble

"How did you know she was an Alpha?" Jenson asks

"I overheard them talking. I never knew what the term Alpha was. Not until I broke free. Not until I met others." “Cassandra kicked you out after?” Jenson presses

“No. I was so disgusted with myself, I ran. I ran and didn’t stop until I could no longer hear Cassandra and her demands rattling around inside my head.”

“What about the others?” Jenson asks. I knew he didn’t believe her story. “If you were the first one, how are there others here, in this area?” “We found each other. Or rather, they found me.”

I call bullshit! Aero snaps

“Were they all bitten by Cassandra?” I ask

She nods. "For someone that rarely shifted. She liked to create us.” She looks over to the broken window. “The sun is rising, we should get ready to move.”

Mallory disappears up the stairs. She didn’t seem as concerned about being out of our sight. Maybe there was some truth to her story? I don't buy it.’ Jenson’s voice fills my head. ‘She’s playing the ‘I didn't know what I was doing’ card. I don’t trust her.”

You don't have too. She said she would help us find Jess. And all she wants is money in return. I can give her that.’

Jenson frowns at me. ‘I thought you might want te kill her after what she told us.’

I do, but that won't help us to find your mate, will it?”

“Don't call her that!” He snaps at me and Mallory sticks her head around the corner.

Eyeballing us she snaps, “What are you talking about?”

“Jess.” I mutter back

She slowly nods her head, Yet I see the slight narrowing of her eyes. “Right.” She didn't believe us, it was evident in her tone Dragging a bag, she moves back down the staircase towards us. The bag heavily thumps against each step

“What's in the bag?” Jenson questions

“Weapons.” Her brown eyes move to me. “Where do you think this girl is being taken?”

“To a place called Dark Ridge.

She laughs, “Dark Ridge? You guys really need to come up with better pack names. But I know where that is.

“What do you call the pack here?” I ask, “For the ones who have escaped?”

“Rogues. And we are not a pack!”

“Rogues?” Jenson muses.

“Those of us who don't belong. Nor do we want to be a part of some pack!” She spits the words out.

“But you are willing to help us?"

“As long as you don’t try anything stupid.” She smirks at me.

She leads. Us: almost a mile from the house to an old beat up car. She throws her bag in the back seat. “Get ia!”

Mallory settles herself in the driver's seat. Her hands gripping the wheel as she waits for us.

"We haven't got all day!” She snaps. "The sun is already up. Don't you~ ; want to get back to your mate?’

“Get in.” I mutter at Jenson

He takes the back seat while I sit in, the front next to her. Her foot hits the pedal and she drives like there I is no ‘one else on the road. Content >

“Will you chill?! We don’t need the human police to chase us down!” I tell her

She grins and keeps her eyes on the road, “There are no police out here.”

“Stop the car!” Jenson yells out after thirty minutes of driving.

“But we need...” Mallory mumbles

‘l can smell her.”

Mallory pulls the car over and Jenson practically throws himself out the door. His eyes are darting about. “Tyre tracks,” He mutters crouching down to the ground.

“What? That could be anyone.”

He sniffs the air, "She got out. She ran!”

Jenson stares out to the cornfield in front of us. He moves forward, reaching over the fence, grabbing a stem “What is it?”

“Dried blood.” He growls.