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Chapter Thirty-Eight
Alexa
When the door sealed behind Grant, it felt like it was sealing off any form of hope I had in escaping.
I feel as if we’ve been placed into a tomb with no means of finding the light of day or an exit.
Ihaveto find a way out of here, though.
Now, it isn’t just me who needs to survive this and find a way to thrive again. I have Teague to think of. Even though he’s a werewolf, he’s still a six-year-old boy who just witnessed the murder of his parents and has to be just as frightened as I am. There’s no way he could possibly fight against a full-grown werewolf who has lost his mind.
Grant drove us for a while. The violent rocking of the camper somehow aided me in calming Teague enough to tell him it was time for us both to be brave. It was up to us to save ourselves, and I needed to make sure he wouldn’t shift. Running with a little boy is easier to explain than a werewolf. The traps dangling around us only spiked his nervousness whenever he looked away from me.
“W-Why did he kill my mom and dad, Momma Alexa? They didn’t do anything to him … Did they?” His voice is broken just like mine, but I’m patching myself with cement to get us through this.
Thank goodness he isn’t bigger. With my hands still bound, it’s nearly impossible to hold him how I want to hug him to me, but we have managed.
“No, sweetheart. Your parents were incredible people. They were kindhearted, warm, and willing to do anything to make sure you were safe and happy.” I’m falling apart on the inside at the secrets I have kept up until now. Teague is still completely unaware of the truth behind his birth, and I had hoped he would never know, but it looks like I might not have any other choice.
“Then why did he do that and take me? Why does he have you?” His entire jawline trembles as he asks the questions I’m not ready to answer.
It breaks me even more, and seeing as I don’t know how much longer we’ll be driving, I don’t see any other way of getting out of telling him everything. “You knew your mom and dad adopted you, right?”
“Yeah, you’re my real mom. Dad never turned into a werewolf like me, but he took me hunting with Uncle Pete, who did change. They said I was special, but I had to keep it a secret.” His words convey his sweet innocence.
“That’s right. Werewolves are special andmustbe kept a secret to protect themselves.” I finger brush his shaggy hair from his face.
“Do you know any?” Seeing his eyes that match mine, I really am happy he looks just like me.
“Aside from you? Yes. I know an entire pack, and they’re some of the best people I have ever met. They were protecting me from that bad man before he took you.” My voice is strong and gentle.
“They didn’t do a very good job.” He sniffs.
“They did the best they could, and I’m sure they’re trying to find us right now.” I can’t help but think about Miles and allof them. Knowing Rylie, she isn’t allowing herself to be upset but instead orchestrating every possible search pattern she can.
“Us?”
“That bad man, Teague? He’s …” God, this is difficult. Should I really be doing this, or should I wait until he’s older and has gone through counseling for this ordeal? “He’s your biological dad, sweetie.” Tears pour down my face. If Teague is shocked about this bit of information, he doesn’t show it. Instead, he remains focused on me and reaches up to wipe my tears away. “He’s an evil man who tricked me when I was younger. The moment I found out I was going to have you, I did everything I possibly could to keep you away from him. It broke my heart to give you away, but it was the only thing I could think of that would keep you safe.”
He says nothing, and we fall into relative silence. The camper rocking back and forth in the bed of the truck with the jingling of the traps are the only sounds until there’s no more motion at all.
Tension oozes from us both as we wait. I jump at Grant’s truck door slamming, instantly thinking back to a few hours ago when it first happened. I don’t move us even an inch. We remain sitting on the bed, waiting to see what is in store for us next.
“Whatever you do, see, or hear, Teague, when we get a chance to run, you take it and donotstop. Don’t look back for me. Just run. Find somewhere safe and find someone like a police officer. Tell them to locate a man named Miles Fischer from Rocky, Wyoming. He’ll do everything he can to protect you.” My words are barely above a whisper. Low enough Grant can’t hear outside but just enough for Teague to hear.
“Momma Alexa—”
“Promise me, Teague.” I hiss before it’s too late, and Grant hears us. “Promise me.”
“I-I pr-promise,” he stammers softly.
“Good.” Kissing the crown of his blond head, I release him with the sound of the locks being turned.
The door flies open once more. Darkness surrounds Grant as he steps up and into the camper too small for him. His massive weight shifts everything in the camper as he takes a step into the depths. He doesn’t stop until he reaches us. Taking us both by the arms, he jerks us from the bed and out of the camper without a word.
“Sit down.” Throwing us down to the ground, he stalks over to a firepit and begins to make a fire. His jerking motions have me completely homed in on him. Something isn’t right. I’ve seen the man worked up before, but this is worse than anything I’ve ever seen in the past.
I also see an opportunity. Getting up, I move closer, making sure Teague stays as close to me as I can keep him while also allowing him a small window to run. “Here, let me.” I’m not a seasoned fire starter, but I can do enough to make a big enough flame that may help get us noticed. If not, I can make it smoke to cloud his senses.
