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“I doubt it’s the same. Especially if those that don’t support Caleb wish to replace him with Dom. There has to be some animosity there. Intended or not.” Dad stopped speaking as we came to a break in the forest where small wooden houses sat ringed in a large clearing. To our left stood the Pack House, a large community room set up like an amphitheater, where people were milling around outside waiting for the time to enter.
Dom? I pushed the thought out, hoping proximity would help my struggle with initiating the mental link.
Inside with the elders. Aggravation coated the thought but it wasn’t directed at me. They’re being foolish, he continued, his thoughts harsh.
Caleb?
Not here, the words ground out of him and I knew it was part of the reason for his frustration.
I can find him, I offered and felt his hesitation. He wasn’t sure if he should take me up on the offer but didn’t have a better idea. I’ll find him, I promised, taking the decision out of his hands.
Check the treehouse behind my house, he suggested right before our connection broke.
“Dad, I need to go,” I said hurriedly, already a few steps away. “Don’t lose Monster,” I chided and he nodded, having the grace to look slightly chagrined at needing the reminder.
I headed to the small shotgun house on the outside perimeter of the clearing, easily remembering the place where I’d stayed after Dom had plucked me from the side of the road when I’d escaped the Hanleys. The treehouse I was less certain about but I had to try and find it. Caleb needed to take responsibility before the elders decided to strip him of his Alpha position permanently.
I slowed as I moved around the house searching for a treehouse. Nothing stuck out at me, at least until I found a faint path behind the wood pile. I hesitated, wanting to check in with Dom before I followed the dark and creepy little trail, but I also didn’t want to come off as a scared little girl. I took a deep breath and gingerly stepped on what I hoped was an actual path and sent a prayer up that I wasn’t about to get hopelessly lost.
“Where you going?”
I shrieked at the unexpected voice, spinning around to see Monster standing behind me. “You’re supposed to be with Dad,” I hissed, my heart thumping like mad as I bent over, bracing my hands on my knees. “Were you trying to give me a heart attack?”
“No?” Monster gazed at me, his expression saying he wasn’t sure if that was the correct answer.
“What are you doing here?”
“Following you,” he answered promptly.
“Why?”
“Because it looked like more fun than standing around with a bunch of people that don’t have cookies.” He pointed to the bag over my shoulder as he added, “You have cookies.”
“So, you followed the cookies,” I concluded, nodding sharply, as I grumbled under my breath. “Nice to know what I’m good for. Breeding and cookies.”
I glanced back the way I’d come, quickly deciding it would take too long to take Monster back. “Come on,” I said, stepping forward again. “Be quiet and don’t wander off.”
“What are we doing? Hunting Hanleys?” He whispered, trailing after me. I glanced over my shoulder at him, tempted to tell him we were and he was going to scare them off with his whispering.
“Bloodthirsty, aren’t we?” I said instead, carefully stepping over a tree root. The path was overgrown and I crossed my fingers we were headed in the right direction. I did not want to have to ask for Dom’s help after saying I would find Caleb for him.
“What’s bloodthirsty?” Monster piped up, clambering over the rough ground with ease. “Is it like thirsty except for blood? I don’t have to drink blood when I’m a wolf, do I?”
“I don’t think so,” I murmured, swatting a low branch out of my way. “Last time I promise to tromp through woods to help anybody,” I grumbled to myself. “Monster,” I paused, glancing around frantically when he didn’t answer. “Monster?”
“Right here,” he finally replied as I spun in a circle, still searching.
“Right where?” I asked carefully, trying not to flip out.
“Here!” I jumped as he shouted, the sound coming from above me. His head hung out the opening of what I presumed was the treehouse.
“How did you find that?” I asked wonderingly, staring up at him.
“The ladder,” he answered in a tone that was just shy of ‘duh’ as he rolled out of sight.
“The ladder, of course,” I repeated, finally seeing what he must have spotted. Small wooden planks were nailed directly into the tree, creating a ladder up to the platform.
I said a quick prayer as I grasped the first board, fitting my foot against the bottom one. I hauled myself up to the next one, my fingers barely able to grasp to the semi rotten board. “You can do this,” I muttered to myself fiercely. “Monster did this.” I forced myself to reach for the next board and pull myself up. I clung to the side of the tree, closing my eyes so I wouldn’t look down. “I’ll just stay here,” I whispered. “Caleb isn’t up there.”
