Return to Wisteria (Book Three of the Wisteria Chronicles)

Summer           I watched my opponent closely. We’ve been going at it for hours and the next move would decide the victor. Her hand shook as she raised it, finally ready to strike. “Checkmate.” she squealed, knocking over my king. I resisted the urge to flip over the board and glared at my cousin. Nova did a little victory dance while Autumn laughed her ass off.         I lost my cool and flipped the game with a frustrated growl. The girls laughed harder at my outburst. “S-Summer, how does she beat you every time?!” Autumn gasped, cheerful tears rolling down her cheeks. “I DON’T KNOW!” I screeched, finally joining them in their laughter. I used to be undefeated until a cheeky little 12 year old challenged me. I lost every game to her for the past five years and it was so damned frustrating!        Mom popped her head in through the door. “Did you lose again, Summer?” she asked with a devious smirk. “Yes!” Autumn and Nova chimed. I rolled my eyes, “I almost had her.” Mom shook her head, “I thought all the training you did with August was finally paying off.” I huffed, So did I. “I was on my way out but I needed to deliver a message. Nova, your mama said she will be here early tomorrow to get you and Dimitri.” mom said. I sighed, “I guess that’s our cue to go to bed.” Mom winked at me before closing the door.       Nova and Dimitri came to visit us for Thanksgiving and stayed a few days after. So naturally the girls had congregated into my room and refused to leave me alone. We joked around and talked while we got ready for bed. We piled under the covers and murmured our good nights. I stared up at the ceiling and listened to the sounds of my family sleeping.       Goddess, I hate the night. It left me with too much time to think by myself. What the hell was I even doing with my life? I was already 25 with no mate and slumming it in my brother’s pack. The most eventful things that happened here were the family get-togethers and last minute sleep-overs. My best friends were my sister and my 17 year old cousin. I sighed and rolled over to the side.           August has been acting Alpha since we turned 21. His beta was our cousin, Cylis, and his gamma was Donnie Jr. Both cousins were blessed with mates, Zara and Iris. I was thrilled for them, I truly was. But it didn’t stop the longing in my heart or sudden loneliness that set in now that they were too busy with pack business and had their own lives. I had no purpose or reason here. I felt like I was just wasting away, disgracing the title of the last female Alpha. What was the point of being an Alpha if you didn’t have a pack? I felt the lull of sleep, thankful to finally rest.          My feet crunched against the crisp earth, the fallen purple petals illuminating the way.  I tried to stifle my laugh as I ran towards her favorite hiding spot. The massive tree had a twisted trunk, leaving a small opening at the base. I could see the pink trim of her dress poking out of the entrance. I tiptoed closer, preparing to pounce.         She was trying her hardest to stay quiet, but her soft giggles filled the air. “I got you!” I shouted as I poked my head into the hole. She screamed and giggled louder. Her smile was blinding as she looked up at me. “You found me!” she squealed.       A hard kick to my back sent me flying off the bed. I threw a pillow at my cousin, “Nova! What the f**k?!” “Answer your damn phone, Summer!” Nova growled at me, burying her face into the pillows. I fumbled around in the darkness, trying to clear my dream from my head. I’ve had visions of the little girl since I was child, but I didn’t know who she was or why we were playing. Be-beep, be-beep. “Summer!” Nova's shout was muffled by her pillows. “I got it!” I yelled back.         I answered the call, “Hello?” The blood drained from my face as my sister’s quiet cries came through the phone. “Autumn, what’s wrong!?” I shouted. Nova leaped from the bed, hearing the panic in my voice. “Su-Summer, help me.” Autumn’s hushed cry was barely audible. “Autumn, what’s going on?” I asked her, my heart thundering in my chest.          Autumn whispered, “Summer, please come get me.” “Where is she?” Nova hissed. She turned on the lights and already had her shoes on. “Where are you?” I grunted as I shimmied into my jeans. I looked at the phone when Autumn didn’t reply, “s**t! She hung up.” I accepted the hoodie Nova held out to me.        “What the hell is going on?” Nova asked. I tugged on my sweater; my panic made my hands shaky. “I don’t know. All I could hear was her asking for help and a lot of crying.” I fumbled with my shoes. Nova pushed my hands out of the way and helped me put on the other shoe. “Do you know where she’s at?” she asked, following me out of the room.          “No! The last I saw her was when she went to bed with us.” I exclaimed.  The three of us crashed out around 10, it was now 3:57. Goddess knows how long she’s been gone. “Why would she sneak out?” Nova demanded. “Nova! I don’t know! She’s a grown woman and shouldn’t have to sneak anywhere! She normally comes and goes as she likes.” came my exasperated sigh.        I grabbed Nova’s arm and stopped walking. “Look, bickering isn’t going to help us find her. We need to be quiet. I don’t want August to overhear us and get involved, he has enough things to worry about.” I whispered, pointing towards August’s door. Nova rolled her eyes and nodded. “We need to think. Has Autumn mentioned any new places or people?” I asked her. Nova nervously bit at her bottom lip. “What?!” I hissed.       “I promised her I wouldn’t tell though.” Nova whined; I gave her a hard shake. “Summer sounded injured!” I reminded her. Nova let out a frustrated growl, “She said she’s been seeing the future Alpha of the Silver Valley pack.” “SHE WH-?!” I shouted. Nova’s tiny hands were covering my mouth before I could finish. “This is why she didn’t want to tell you! She knew you’d freak out like this.” Nova complained with wide eyes.        I pushed her hands away, trying to cope with her news. “This is the only way to react when you find out your sister is running around with a f*****g murderer!” my whisper sounded hysterical. The future Alpha of Silver Valley was Quincy Davis. He was the second son, rumored to have brutally killed his brother for the title. Although he was put on trial, the Assembly of Elders were unable to provide enough evidence to prove him guilty. His ceremony was due any day now.       He almost killed his ex-mate when she rejected him for his infidelity. Everyone knew how crazy that bastard is and were warned to stay away from him and his pack. But here’s Autumn, choosing to be around him despite everything he’s done. I didn’t understand my sister sometimes. August and I were in the same mate less boat she was in, but we weren’t as desperate or as reckless as her.         “So, are we going to Silver Valley?” Nova asked. I shook my head, unsure of what to do. Silver Valley was two hours away. It would take me an hour to get there in wolf form. I also didn’t want to bring Nova. Now that another pack was involved, Crescent Woods and Black Pines would be held responsible if something happened. I didn’t want to make problems for Uncle Titi. We stilled at the sound of footsteps coming up from the staircase.       Dimitri came into view with two large pieces of pie and a cup. “H-Hey D, w-what’s up?” Nova asked nervously. Dimitri had a mouth full of food and muffled out a hello. “I see you got some food there.” Nova tried to make idle conversation. I glared at her hoping she would shut up. Dimitri swallowed his food and smiled. “What are y’all up to?” he asked. Nova paled and started to stammer.      “We were just gonna head down for a walk before training starts.” came my rushed response. Dimitri pursed his lips and nodded. “Cool, have fun.” he replied, walking into his room. We let out a sigh of relief when we heard his door click shut. My phone rang again. I stood in terror, listening to the muffled screams of Autumn.       My heart threatened to leap out of my throat. “Do you know where Silver Valley is?” I asked Nova. She bobbed her head wildly, her face ashen. Uncle Titi was going to kill me, but I have no other choice. “Ok, warp us over there now.” I told her. Nova grabbed my shaky hand and warped us out. We landed a few feet from the territory line; I could see a few guards ahead.     I turned around to study Nova; she already had sweat pooling on her forehead. “I have one more warp left before I’m tapped out.” she said with a wide smile. My little cousin was such a badass; she never ceased to amaze me with her magical prowess. Most elves at her age were barely managing basic elemental spells. She was going to have terrifying power when she finally turned 18.       I smiled back at her, “Good, we will need it to get back home. Do you think D heard us talking?” Nova shrugged, “I don’t know, maybe.” I wrung my hands, I hope not. Dimitri would definitely tell August. If he did, my only saving grace would be the one hour run August would have to make to get here. Hopefully by then we will be back home, pretending like nothing happened.         “How close is Dimitri to you in terms of his training?” I asked. Nova tilted her head to the side, thinking. “He’s nowhere close to me.” she stated confidently. My panic calmed; August would definitely have to run here. “Good. Come on.” I motioned. Nova nodded and followed me along the tree line. We found an area that was unguarded and slipped over the border.      Dimitri       “SHE WH-?!” I stopped chewing at the sounds of Nova and Summer’s heated argument. I had gone downstairs to raid the fridge for some snacks, finally satisfied with my new treasures. Now I’m stuck in the stairwell, eavesdropping instead of eating. Nova’s voice was quiet, “So, are we going to Silver Valley?” I frowned, why in the hell were they trying to go to Silver Valley? My stomach rumbled with protest.      I inwardly sighed, stepping into view of my cousins. I chewed, interested in Nova’s panicked face and nervous greeting. Summer hurriedly explained that they were going for a walk as she wrung her hands. I nodded, taking in their appearance. Summer’s hoodie was inside out and Nova’s shoes were on the wrong feet. Suspicious.       “Cool, have fun.” I said, making my way to my room. I closed my door, about to take another bite when the sounds of Autumn's screams filled the hallway. I yanked open my door in time to see Summer and Nova warp away. I walked back in the room and set my food down. What in the actual hell, was going on? It seemed like Autumn was in trouble over at Silver Valley, but the girls were trying to keep it a secret. Should I tell August?       I gave my pie one last longing look before I sprinted to August’s room. I knocked then barged in. “August! August!” I yelled, shaking his sleeping body. “D, someone had better be dying.” he growled, yanking me down into the bed and into a headlock. “I don’t know about dying, but definitely hurt.” I gasped, tapping on his massive bicep. August let go of me to turn on the bedside lamp. “What the hell do you mean?” he asked in a serious tone.       “I think Autumn is in trouble. Summer and Nova just warped away to help her.” I reported, trying to catch my breath. August was already out of the bed, sliding his pants on. “Where?” he asked. I shut my mouth; he wasn’t going to like my answer. He tugged on his boots and gave me an exasperated look. “Damn it D, WHERE?” he shouted. Goddess, I hope he doesn’t freak out. “Silver Valley.”       August’s face darkened, a menacing scowl twisted his good looks. “I’ll be there in an hour.” he muttered, stomping towards the door. “It will be too late!” I warned. August slowly turned around, “What do you mean?” “Autumn sounded like she was in bad shape. An hour would be too long.” my voice low. He reached out his hand, “Warp us.”      I raised my eyebrows at his demand. August hated breaking the rules, especially when it involved other packs. “Are you sure you want me to get involved?” I asked him. August shook his head. “Summer already involved Black Pines by taking Nova. So, please help me.” I grinned and grabbed his hand; August also hated asking for help. We warped in front of Silver Valley’s pack house, where all hell was breaking loose.