Natalia’s P. O. V

After restoring all the trees, a very exhausted Timothy left to retrieve the few belongings he had.

“Shouldn’t a wolf on the run have everything they own on them?” I’d asked.

He’d sighed, giving me a weary look, hung with exhaustion, “I’d explain the method I use to keep them off my trail, but I don’t have the energy for that.”

He looked about ready to fall over, and not in the lazy, laidback way of Danny, “You sure you’ll be okay? Should I come with you?”

He gave me an infinitely displeased look.

‘Alright then.’ Candy quipped as he waked away.

‘Be nice.’

She harrumphed, ‘I don’t like this, Nat. You’ve mentioned the Lightwood pack to three people over the last week. I get how Hailey and Kaesha are most likely unrelated to them, but what about him? He’s on their radar. He could sell you out for lenience. He could be going to alert them as we speak! How can you trust him not to?!”

I sighed, ‘It’s true that he could turn on us. He could be with them now. He could have called them long before we finished our little brawl. Hell… He could even have left so that he’s not caught in the fight that will ensure if they come. I don’t know, Candy.’

I sat, cross legged, on the grass, ‘I don’t know how to do this without worrying, either. But we have to, Candy. We have to trust that he wants them dead more than he wants them off his back.’

I glanced back at Hailey and Kaesha again. They’d fixed a considerable part of the vehicle, only a bit of it was still dented and scratched. Kaesha was working faster than I still thought was safe after the magic she’d used earlier.

But Hailey was with her.

Beneath her relatively human upbringing, she was a, no doubt, powerful Alpha she-wolf. She’d offered Kaesha her energy, and she definitely had enough to spare. Even after working on the car for a while, she was still energetic enough for two.

‘Fine…’ She grumbled finally, ‘I trust you, Nat. And if you think letting him in is ultimately best, I’ll trust you on that.’

‘So, does this mean you’ll trust me enough to explain what you said earlier?’

She remained quiet.

‘Thought so.’

‘I’m sorry, Nat. I just can’t say.’

I rolled my eyes, ‘So can you tell me why you can’t say?’

‘Just that it’s not time…’ She replied in a quiet voice.

I didn’t respond.

“Ari!” Hailey called suddenly, “We’re done! And look how pretty it turned out!” She gestured excitedly to the new looking vehicle.

I stood up and walked over to them, admiring their work. It looked even better than when we rented it.

“And guess what Kaesha did! Guess! Guess!”

I opened my mouth to tell her I had no clue, but she turned to Kaesha.

“Kaesha, tell her what you did!”

Kaesha laughed, “I got a pretty good feel of that jerk’s energy back at the rental agency when he handed you the keys. So, whenever he looks at the Sienna, he’ll see something that looks like it’s been used for a Fast and Furious movie… only none of the main characters were behind wheel.”

Hailey beamed, “So, when he goes to tell his boss that we totally totalled it, he’ll look like a bigger fool than how he made me look on that awful date.”

I grinned, returning her high-five, “He’ll know not to mess with you again.”

“Better believe it! Hey, where’d Tim go?”

“Went to get his things. He’s coming with us.”

Kaesha looked sharply at me while Hailey grinned.

“You sure that’s a good idea, Ava? I mean…” She looked around apprehensively, “he’s still on your old pack’s radar. What if he sells us out? Or what if this was all a trap from the start? We should go.”

Hailey frowned, “Or he could be telling the truth and we’re his only chance to escape a lifetime of running. We can’t just leave him here.”

“And if it is a trap?” Kaesha challenged, “What’ll we do? From that conversation back there, it sounded like this Lightwood Pack could easily outnumber us.”

Hailey raised her chin, “Then we fight.”

Kaesha rolled her eyes, “And just how long do you think we’d last? I’ve performed several intermediate spells in the past hour, Ava isn’t at full strength from my channelling her for that healing spell and I just finished using some of your energy to fix the Sienna. We should go!”

“We should stay!”

I held up both hands, “Alright!” I paused, staring at them both till they’d calmed, “Alright… You’re both making excellent points here.” I looked at Kaesha, “I’m worrying about every single thing you mentioned. My wolf ran all the possible betrayal scenarios with me.” I turned to Hailey, “You also make sense. What if he needs us? We’d be no better than our sperm donor’s pack if we leave him behind.”

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

I sighed, “It’s a huge risk, Kaesha. But we have to try. If he turns out to be real, we’ll have another gifted wolf on our side. I’m still unsettled about Kirstin, our insider, but do you know the kind of advantage we’ll have if they both turn out to be loyal? Added to the fact that you’re a Psychic Witch and Hailey is a Seer descended, Alpha wolf? With some serious training…”

“We’ll be unstoppable.” She completed.

“Exactly.”

The three of us shared a look.

Kaesha nodded, “Fine, I’m on board. Just know that I still don’t trust him.”

“Neither do we.” Hailey said.

Kaesha shrugged, “I still have enough strength for one more major spell. If we’re attacked, I’ll teleport us right back to Ava’s place in Manhattan.”

I gave her an apologetic smile, “I hate to ask that of you, Kaesha. But I think it’ll be the best option in that scenario.”

Hailey put an arm around each of our shoulders, smiling, “Don’t worry. Ari and I will give as much of our energy as you need to make it easier on you.”

I heard movement and looked back, the others following my line of sight.

“My apologies, am I interrupting a moment?” Timothy drawled, oozing sarcasm, as he moved towards us, a worn and faded backpack slung on one shoulder.

“Actually, you’re right on time.”

“Then let’s move our asses. We’ve already been here too long.”

“You’re the one moving like you got the life sucked out of you.” Hailey countered.

He snarled, “Watch it, Sunshine. We could have another go, right now.”

She simply smiled, “Don’t be so agitated, Grumpy. C’mon, I’m driving!” Then she sailed into the driver’s seat.

Kaesha retook her place in the middle row while Timothy confined himself to the last row after refusing to deposit his bag with the rest of our luggage. I rode shotgun again.

Hailey started the car then frowned, “How do we get back on the highway?”

“I’ve got this.” Kaesha replied, then worked her magic, making the vehicle slowly levitate.

Through the rearview mirror, I saw Timothy silently reach an arm forward, placing it on her shoulder. She briefly glanced back at him then we were moving faster. The moment our tires touched the road, he let go of her.

Kaesha yawned, “Y’all, I need some rest. Wake me when we get there.”

“Aye!”

She met my eyes in the mirror and nodded. I’d keep everyone safe.

For the next half hour Hailey tried to engage Timothy in conversation, only to be met with either snark or silence. After yet another question, I noted that his breathing had deepened and evened out.

“Hailey, he’s asleep. He’s exhausted from using his gift too much and he helped Kaesha get the car onto the road. He needs it.”

“Yeah, you’re right. They both deserve it.” She glanced briefly at me, “You can rest too, Ari. I’ll be fine, and you’ve done more than I have today.”

I shook my head, “Nah, I’m good. Sorry to make you the designated driver like this.”

“No worries, Ari. I mean, you’re too young, Kaesha hates cars and Tim probably doesn’t have an updated license even if he ever knew how. Besides, Kaesha’s a powerful psychic witch, Tim’s a Werewolf that can control trees and you’re awesome.” She beamed, “I’m just glad to be useful, even if it means being the driver.”

Somehow, her smile looked… sad.

“Hailey, you are beyond awesome. You’re a strong Alpha Werewolf with Seer blood. Even if you weren’t, you’re still fabulous, okay? No matter what anyone’s told you, you’re not useless. And you’re not just the driver.”

She remained silent for a while.

“Thanks, Ari.”

“What’re sisters for?”

She giggled, “Depends on the sister.”

“Can’t argue with that.”

I checked the map on my phone, correlating what was there with the mini map of Werewolf Packs I’d drawn.

“Looks like we’ll need to go to Pine Ridge at Crestwood instead. It’s closer to the forest and not everyone there is above the age of fifty-five like in Village Six. Here’s the navigation.” I showed her my phone.

She nodded, then took the next turn off the highway.

We were only twenty minutes away from our destination. Hailey and I spent the rest of the ride in comfortable silence, the even sounds Timothy and Kaesha’s breathing filling the vehicle.

Soon, we pulled into a parking lot. Hailey turned off the engine.

“You should stay here with them while I check us in.” I told her, then got out of the car, purse in hand.

As I made my way to the reception area, I took a good look around. The area was tranquil, a quiet place befitting of the elderly, as they claimed to be. There were a few adults that looked to be in their thirty’s and forty’s. The younger ones were usually with an elderly person while the older ones appeared to be checking the place out.

At the reception, a smiling middle aged man greeted me.

“You’re rather young for this place, girl. What can I do for you?”

I returned the smile, “My grams is looking for where to ‘spend the last few years of her existence’, as she says. So I’m here with my friends to check all the Crestwood places out with her. She wants to stay at each village for five days, then see what she thinks.”

His smile warmed, “That’s awfully kind of you kids. Nice to see there are some good ones left in your generation. But what about your parents?”

I let a dazed, slightly shaken, look cross my face, before casting my sorrowful gaze at my feet, “They… they’re… dead.” I lied in a small voice.

“Oh, you poor dearie. Don’t worry, I’ll get you, your grams and your friends the best house for rent that you can afford. You just take care of each other, okay? What kind of house would she like?”

I let my head snap up, surprise and gratitude painting my features, “Thank you so much, sir.” I paused, wiping moisture from the corner of my eye, “She’s a rather serene person, so she would love anything near the forest. And there are quite a few of us, so we’ll need four bedrooms.”

He nodded and typed some things on his computer then gestured to the payment terminal. I swiped my card when he looked away. Him seeing the type it was just wouldn’t line up with my story.

“You kids have fun with your grandmother, alright?”

I nodded, “We will, Mr….” I looked at his nametag, “Harrington.”

He waved a hand, then handed me keys and my receipt, “Please, just call me Max. Do come to me if you need anything, child.”

“Yes, Mr… uh, Max.”

He smiled again.

We waved goodbye as I left.

I got into the car, showing Hailey the address. She drove us there without difficulty, parking beside the house, then turned off the engine.

Quietly, we carried our luggage into the house. It was a quaint thing: one bathroom; four small bedrooms, the biggest one having its own bathroom; a homely living room; kitchen and dining area. The front of the house faced the forest and lake, a rocking chair stationed for whoever wanted to take in the view.

“Take Timothy’s things to the master bedroom.” I told Hailey, carrying Kaesha’s bag.

Once we were done, we returned to the Sienna, sliding the back seat door open.

“Time to wake them.”