“What truth?”
His eyes met mine. “That some packs got together, banished their warriors for the sole purpose of becoming rogues, just to attack us. My father was tracing everything down for years until he was murdered. And now, it’s been left to me…and your father, to find the truth.”
Chapter Fourteen
Igot back to my room very late. I barely crawled into bed before I fell into a deep sleep.
I was running through a dark forest, searching for something. I needed to find something, or someone. They needed me. I could almost hear crying. It was pushing me harder, trying to reach them in time. I heard a rushing and crash, a familiar sound, and I knew without the sea salt on the wind that I was by the ocean.
I bounded through the woods and I heard a twig snap, but no scent hit my nose. Somehow I knew it was Erubus with me. We ran through the woods.
The light barely made it under the deep canopy of this forest. It felt old, older than the trees I grew up with, older than the trees in the forest I ran near school.
I knew without even seeing it; I’d never been to these woods before, but I knew with clear certainty, I would come to know them. I would come to know them very well.
I had no idea how I knew this, or when it would come to be, but this dream was going to come true. I knew it in my bones. I searched the woods, and out of the corner of my eye, I saw her. The moon goddess.
She was beckoning me towards her, so I pivoted and headed that way, Erubus following my lead.
“Where are we going?” His words tempted me to slow, but I knew I couldn’t. I needed to save her.
I pushed on, running at my top speed through the trees. I kept searching. There was no way I could stop. They needed me. I kept searching and Erubus kept trying to talk to me, and I felt like I was answering, but everything from my mouth was silent to my ears. It was as if I wasn’t meant to hear my words.
I woke up with a start, sweat beading on my brow and my breath labored as if I’d been running through the woods. I gave a sigh as I dropped back onto my bed. It was just a dream. Even with that, though, I knew that there was something more to it. It was a warning.
I shook off my blankets. I knew I wouldn’t be able to get back to bed, and I went to take a bath. I hadn’t had one in a long time and right this second; I needed to relax. I heard my phone chirp from my bed, but I ignored it for now.
I slipped into the tub and closed my eyes, relaxing in the heat. My mind kept flashing to the woods, to the sea, and what I might find there. There was another chirp from my phone, I wanted to roll my eyes, It was four in the morning for fuck’s sake.. Whoever needed me this badly would just have to wait.
I relaxed in my bath, avoiding my phone until the water cooled. Then I drained the tub and took a hot shower. I slowly got ready for the day. I did my hair and makeup and pickedout my clothes. Normally, I’d get some training before class, but since I already had my shower, it could wait until the end of the day.
I finally made my way back to my bed and my phone. I checked the time and saw it was around six. I opened my texts and saw, surprisingly, that Rowan and my father texted me. I checked my father’s message first.
Dad- Hey baby. I have some news that you aren’t going to like, but I wanted to be the first to tell you.
The rogues have been attacking more often. They have attacked not just our pack, but twelve more. The king is doing his best, but we are all stretched thin. We are looking at solutions, but everyone has agreed that you all are going to stay in school.
I love you, baby. Please, learn well.
He was telling me to buckle down and start trying to hack into Vince’s system. We needed to know the truth.
I switched to Rowan’s text without responding; I wanted to see what he said before I messaged either of them back.
Rowan-I know your father said he was going to reach out, but I wanted to as well. Mr. Oran will be taking over my class. I have to focus on these attacks and do my best to keep everyone safe.
I didn’t want to just disappear on you again. I know I promised you extra help with the class, but I am at my wit’s end here with these rogues.
I sent you an email that has my complete guide to the program you were looking to build for fun. I have a habit of writing everything down, and when I was learning the system myself, these were my notes. I hope they help you.
Don’t trust anyone.
This is war.
His words resounded in my mind. This is war. I stared at my phone for what seemed to be years, but was merely seconds before his next texts came through.
I tried Vince’s system myself, and it looks like you have to be physically tapped in.
Good luck.
