The Shadows in the Hills: Triple Threat

Prologue -The Day of Esme's Disappearance

Nightfall had been hours before, and there was no sign of trouble anywhere. I headed back to the camp to check on Esme and told everyone to get some rest. The only exception was the guard duty, which I doubled. I wasn't taking any chances, not with Esme being so weak. She had been through too much and I would have been dead if it wasn't for her. I had come round as she healed me. It nearly cost her life to save me. As soon as I could get up, I checked her over, but there were no signs of life. I felt like every drop of blood drained out of me at that moment. Regardless of having little hope, I carried her back to camp.

Jackson checked her over and agreed there was nothing we could do. I was sure her dad would have some idea, but he was beside himself with grief the second he had seen her, only confirming my greatest fear. We were all there by her bedside, not really knowing what we were supposed to do. Then, out of nowhere, the shallowest of breaths came from between her white lips. Slowly the color started to come back, but we wasted no time in trying to get fresh blood into her system.

She was still out of it when I left. I hated leaving, but I had no choice. If Marcus attacked while she was so weak, she wouldn't stand a chance. I headed into the woods with everyone. I just had to try to keep her safe, protected. She would never understand what she had done for me, what she had given me. Seeing her there lifeless had changed me somehow.

I shuddered at the thought of how she had been and just thanked the Goddess for saving her. I couldn't come up with another explanation other than divine intervention. It was still going round and round in my mind as I strolled into camp. It might have been hours since I left her, but I wasn't convinced she would be any better than when I left her. Heading straight for our cabin, when I spotted Gerald. "You need to come with me."

"When I've checked on Esme."

"She's not here. As soon as she came round, she left. We tried to stop her, but as you know, there is no stopping a woman like her."

"I'll go look for her. It's not safe. Not with Marcus knowing where to find her."

"That's the other thing, boss. I didn't see her come back, and she's nowhere to be found, but Marcus is in one of the cages. He won't speak to me, just keeps demanding to speak to his brother." I had no idea what I was supposed to think. If Marcus had been contained, it had to be Esme, but if that was the case, where the hell was she?

"Meet me in the war room, bring everyone of importance. Especially Esme's parents." I snapped at him a little too much and it wasn't necessary. Gearld was loyal, he always had been, despite his outbursts. He just wanted what was best for the pack. It would just take a bit to convince him that I wanted what was best for the pack, too.

I headed straight to the war room, being the first one there by far. I was itching to go and find Esme, but it had to wait. Before I could even consider heading out, I needed to decide what to do with our visitor. It seemed only right to consult Esme's parents. He was their family, after all. For Esme to bother bringing him back, she must have wanted to give her dad a chance to speak to him. It would have been much easier to just kill him. There was no hiding the pride I felt that she tackled him herself. It wasn't what I wanted, but only because I wanted to keep her safe.

I was straightening up the chairs out of boredom when I spotted a scrap of paper on the floor. Quickly picking it up and tossing it on the table. As it landed, my eyes were drawn to the black ink scribbled on it. I had thought it was just a piece of trash, but realising my mistake, I investigated further.

Brodie,

I know about you and Cassie. I saw you both together. Living like this is too hard, I just can't do it anymore. I have no idea who I can trust, but I do know I can't trust you.

I'm pregnant, and I can't bring a child into the dysfunction of our relationship. I will be long gone by the time you read this, so it is pointless looking for me.

Esme.

I scrunched the note up in my fist. If I had read that as recently as the day before, I would have flown into an instant rage. After nearly losing Esme, things were different. I would find a way to find her and I would fix it. She was the only thing that mattered, and I wouldn't stop until she knew that.

As everyone filtered into the room, I stuffed the note into my pocket. There was no need for anyone to know my business. They all seated themselves around the table. There was one chair I hadn't expected to be empty, Jackson's. It wasn't much of a leap to assume he had gone with her. I should have been angry, and I was sure that would come, but at that moment all I felt was relief, knowing she wasn't alone. Apparently, I couldn't trust him much, but I could trust him to keep her safe.

I tried to push it from my mind because I needed to get on with the job at hand. "John, Marcus is here and contained. I haven't had the chance to speak to Esme, but I believe she brought him back here for you to be able to speak to him."

"I have a few choice words for him, at least."

"Well, when you are done, I will decide whether to execute him or not. There are some other matters to take care of. Gerald, you will be in charge for a couple of weeks. I need to head out on business with a team. The last bit of news is that Turner and his family are leaving the pack." The whispers were instant and fully expected.

"For what reason?"

"He has been trying to accumulate power within the pack and he pushed it too far. I've banished him."

"When did this happen?" Gerald looked concerned, and I wasn't surprised.

"Last night, but I haven't had the chance to mention it until now. I allowed them to stay until the threat was over, but they will be gone by morning." I'd had enough of him trying to force Cassie on me, long before I knew Esme had walked out. With any luck, he would be gone before I laid eyes on him again. Knowing what I knew, I would kill him for the damage he caused.

He had been trying to force the pair of us together for years. When she had kissed me in the vegetable garden, I had pushed her away and sent her back to their cabin. Then I told him enough was enough. He said that it was no longer him pushing things but Cassie, who was infatuated. It made no difference either way. I wanted her gone and that meant him going too. I just wished Esme had spoken to me about it.

I knew what it looked like, but I needed to keep Turner on side. He had been very useful to the pack over the years, helping to protect us in his role with the police department. That only brought him so many chances and he had officially run out. I excused everyone except Tyler and Gerald. "Esme had gone. She's pregnant, and she's running from me. It's not acceptable, and I will be tracking her down and showing her how unacceptable it is. Tyler will come with me, but I want it keeping quiet."

"How are you going to find her?"

"I have my ways and I have a plan, which is why I need Tyler."

"You seem calmer than I would have expected."

"Nope, just keeping it all inside, Gerald. Losing my mind isn't going to help. I will find her and I will bring her back." Losing my temper would have to wait until I found her.