Ambushed From the Inside

Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Katie’s POV

**Trigger Warning** This chapter includes some things that could be hurtful to some readers.

Today has been a very eventful day! Things that I would not have imagined in my wildest dreams, have happened. I walked into the condo that my parents and I share on the second floor of the packhouse after David and I said our goodbyes for the evening. As I crossed the lounge area going to my room, my mom stepped out the door of her and my dad’s room.

“Katie,” she said. “Where were you? Your father and I went looking for you a while ago.”

“I saw David down on the dock and went to bug him,” I said and smiled. Mom grinned and shook her head.

“I can’t wait to find out if you two will turn out to be mates. It’s a shame we will have to wait 24 hours after he turns 18 to find out.” She said with a sigh.

“How did you and Aunt Jackie end up giving birth a day apart?” I asked curiously.

“The only thing I can figure is because she was so small, giving birth to an Alpha pup. I found out I was expecting you three weeks before Jackie found out she was expecting David.”

Say what? “How did that manage to happen?”

“As I said, Jackie was carrying an Alpha pup. Alpha pups grow at a much faster rate and are large pups, add on the fact that Jackie was small, she just didn’t have any more room for David to grow.”

*****

I just nod my head. Then I remembered, “Mom, what happened to Aunt Jackie’s first pup? Where are they?”

Her face darkened a little. “Aunt Jackie miscarried her first pup.” I gasped. “We never really found out what caused the miscarriage. The baby from what I have been told, was growing and developing perfectly, until one day she wasn’t. Aunt Jackie was about a month away from delivery when she miscarried.” She explained with tears in her eyes.

I couldn’t believe what I just heard. “How long after they miscarried did, she get pregnant with David?”

“It was about a month later.”

“Did her getting pregnant that soon after cause her to have complications with David?” I wanted to know. I had studied about this a little because I had wanted to go to medical school at one point, and I knew it could happen.

“Surprisingly, no. However, when she found out she was pregnant with David, they had one of the pack doctors come stay in the packhouse and he was on call 24/7 just in case something ever did happen. Luckily nothing ever did.” I nodded in response.

*****

“What were you and dad wanting to talk to me about?” I asked getting back on topic.

“Oh, we were going to tell you that you need to pack warm for this trip to the coven. It is quite cold where we will be going.”

“How is that? It only took you guys a couple of hours to get back?”

She smiled. “Honey, did you forget who we are?”

I tilted my head puzzled. “We are witches, we have other means of travel.” She said with a mischievous glint in her eyes, like she enjoyed being able to do something that no one else knew about.

“Ok, I can’t wait to see this!” I said enthusiastically. Mom was never one to do anything outside of the rules, so I am super excited to see her in action.

As I walked from the lounge into my room and got ready for bed, an eerie feeling washed over me. I decided to shrug it off and get comfortable, praying to the goddess that I would have a peaceful night’s sleep. What I got in return was anything but.

*SNAP*

I whipped my head to the left, as I heard a twig crack under the pressure of something. Looking out into the darkness, I couldn’t see anything, just the outline of the pine trees that made up the dense forest. I could feel the wet, mossy earth beneath my feet, and feel the cool breeze as it moved softly over my exposed skin. I recognized the path I was on as the one that led from the packhouse to the town. As my senses calmed down, I began walking again, the feeling of being followed ever present in my mind. I tried to swallow the lump of dread that filled my throat causing me to suffocate from fear. The last thing I remembered was going to sleep in my bed, and I find myself in the woods. I continued on the path; I could hear cheers and laughter and really loud music. Although the music didn’t sound as loud as it was due to being so far from the packhouse, the trees and shrubs absorbed the noise. I stared moving more swiftly toward the source of the music, where there is music and laughter, there are people. I heard another snap, and I willed myself to go faster before I felt two arms reach out and wrap around me, pulling me away from safety.

I shot straight up in my bed, sheets covered in sweat. I woke up startled and breathing heavily. After a few moments of catching my breath, I go to the thermostat in the room to see it set on 65 degrees. If it’s 65 degrees, why am I sweating like this? I asked myself. Why was I in the woods? What was going on? I attempted to lay back down again, settling in, scared to go back to sleep, for fear that my dream would return.

As the sun rose the next morning, the beautiful rays of sunlight seeped into my room and warmed my face. I got out of bed and did my morning routine. Splashing my face with water, I couldn’t help but notice the bags forming under my eyes. It’s going to be a long day.

I opened the door to leave my room, but found a note attached.

Katie,

Darling, I am sorry, but we had to leave out again to the palace. We will come back for you Friday afternoon. Make sure to have your bag ready by then. I love you.

Mom

Ok, so mom and dad are gone again. Things must be really bad with my grandmother. I exit the room to go downstairs to the dining hall when I hear Heather and her mom talking.

“Did you do as you were told?”

“Yes, even though it wasn’t easy. I got the codes and gave them to the contact.”

Codes? Contact? What the hell?

“Good, your father is to meet with them today.”

As I hear this, I clear the corner. “Good morning, Gamma… Heather.” I say as I pass. Neither one acknowledged me. No love lost there. I couldn’t help but wonder who their contact was, and what codes they were talking about.

I made it to the dining hall, and I see David sitting at the front of the table next to the Alpha. I take my seat next to him and greet them.

“Good morning Alpha, David.”

“Good morning, Katie,” they say in unison, Rough night?” David asked.

I nod, “I didn’t sleep well.”

The Alpha looked around the room. “Where are your parents?”

“They left a note saying they had to leave back to the palace, and that they would be back to get me Friday.”

The Alpha nods. “Things must be worse than we thought.” I nod my head, not really knowing anymore on the matter.

Breakfast was silent. David looked as if he was in his own little world and the Alpha sat there looking depressed. As I finished eating, one of the guards came running in and straight to the Alpha.

“Sir, there is a matter of great urgency that needs your attention.”

“What might that be, Micah?” The Alpha asked.

“I think you would rather see this than be told about it.” David and the Alpha both furrowed their brows and stood up from the table to leave with the guard.

“I’ll see you later then I guess, David?”

“Sure thing, Princess!” He smiled at me. I am not too sure whether or not he meant that as my title, or as a term of endearment…I just went with the latter.

David’s POV

As Dad and I were leaving the table from breakfast to follow the guard, I hear Katie call out, “I’ll see you later then I guess, David.” Knowing she was probably upset that we didn’t say more than a few words when she sat down at the table, I answered her with “Sure thing, Princess!” If it had been anyone else, I was saying that to it could have been taken literally, but since it was Katie, I doubted anyone would. They would just see it as a term of endearment between would be mates. As my father and I were following Micah, in what looked to be the direction of the border, I caught the whiff of the same scent I noticed a couple of days ago, when we were being followed. I decided to keep my mouth shut for the time being. What really bugged me though was the fact that no one else was picking up the scent. We finally made it to the border to see that one of our patrols had been killed.

“What in Selene’s name is going on? Why have we had people being killed?”

I stood there silent, not wanting to talk about it in the open. “Micah, secure the body and bring him to the pack hospital. I will link Dr. Jacobs and let him know you are coming,” Dad said. With that he turned on his heel, and we made our way back to the packhouse. Once we were back inside the walls, I looked at my dad.

“We need to talk in your office.”

He quirked his brow in response to my statement but nodded as he turned to go upstairs. Once inside his office, I closed the door and locked it.

“What is it, David?”

“I smelt the intruder again.” My dad’s eyes widened.

“Where?”

“On the way to the border. I didn’t react because I want him to think we don’t know. I want him to get comfortable, maybe he will make a mistake.” My dad nodded.

“I wished I knew why we kept having people turn up dead.”

“I don’t think it’s a coincidence that I smelt him right after mom died and again today. I think he may be the one doing the dirty work, but I’m pretty sure it runs deeper than that. We need to talk to Elder Graham.”

“I agree, but he won’t be back until tomorrow.”

“Where did he go in the middle of the investigation?”

“I’m not sure, but when he received a phone call last night, it seemed urgent.”

I nodded. “I’m not sure what all is going on, but I need to ask you a question.”

“What is it, David?”

“How far are you willing to go to find mom’s killer?”

“As far as it takes.” He answered me with a questioning look.

“How far are you willing to let me go?” He gasps, as his eyes open wide in realization of what I am getting at.

“David,… I…” I shake my head.

“Dad, I am asking for your blessing now. However, I am also going to speak with Elder Graham. Whoever did this, and those involved deserve everything they get when it comes to my wrath. I am going to make sure that it will be done legally because I am not going to just let this pack die, but I want anyone that is connected to this to realize that when I find them, there will be no mercy.”