I follow my instincts and head to the stairway. Just as I reach the top of the first platform, four males block my path.
“It’s the mutt.” One of them smiles to the others, and all their attention is on me.
I try to squeeze past them, but they won’t budge. They surround me on the stairs. From their musky scent, it’s easy to tell they are a small wolf pack. I needed to find out which one is the Alpha.
“Get it over with.” I lift my arms up and twirl around in a circle. “Nothing too special here.” I watch to see who will speak first.
“Leave her pass.” A wolf says from the top of the next landing.
I didn’t notice him, my mistake as his minions did his work. They step aside, and I walk up the next set of stairs to their alpha. He’s taller than most wolves’ I’ve seen. He leans against the railing and studies me as I approach.
“Don’t think I owe you anything,” I mutter and stop a few steps away from him. I’m vulnerable on the stairs between the alpha and his pack, and he knows that.
“That’s up to me, now isn’t it?” He doesn’t move from his post, and his eyes are trained on me.
“I don’t want any trouble,” I said, and I walk up the two steps between us. He moves over so I can’t step up to his level.
“I’m watching you. Whenever you think you’re alone, I’ll be there. Mutt.” The alpha steps down and pushes me to the side.
I don’t have time to deal with another clan hating me, so I make my way up the next set of stairs. I know I’m getting close. I climb up another set, and I’m even closer. I walk into the hallway and take a moment to sniff the air. He’ll catch my scent soon enough, I needed to get to him before he notices.
I turn to my left and walk down the hall. It’s empty, not like the floors I had just passed. Some doors are open. I easily cross them off until I come to the last door at the end of the hallway. I freeze, knowing he’s in there. Now that I’ve found him, I start to lose my nerve.
“Come in,” Hazen calls from his room, his door slightly ajar.
I take the few steps to his door and swing the door open. “I thought you’d run.”
Hazen is standing beside his cooktop, making pasta. He doesn’t bother to look my way. He’s too comfortable.
“I’m not scared of you, Penelope. Come in.” He said, as he finally brings his attention to me. He points to the only chair in his single room.
I walk in and close the door behind me, but I don’t take the seat. I watch as Hazen stirs the pasta in hot water. He hated cooking. Or did he? I notice two plates off to the side.
“Expecting Company?” I said, folding my arms across my chest and leaning against his armoire.
“You.” Hazen sets both plates on his desk and pours pasta into each. “No sauce.” He raises his cooking spoon and winks at me. “I remember.”
“You’re a full-blood,” I said, not wanting to play into his sweet-talking. I wouldn’t fall for anything he says or does again.
“I couldn’t be here if I wasn’t.” Hazen nods, “But what about you?”
I clamp my mouth closed. I had watched him manipulate others. Use his charm and good looks to get what he wanted. I was supposed to be different. I was supposed to be real to him. But I was just a trick.
“Why are you here? Now?” I ask, but he ignores me. I look around his room for any clues. It’s different from what I expected it would be. None of his vinyl records or comic books are here. In Fact, I would never have guessed this was his room. His school shirt, white and crisp hanging on the back of his door, instead of crumpled on the floor. His shoes shined and neatly lined up along the wall with not a sneaker to be seen.
“Why’d you do it?” I step closer to him. I wanted to smell his musk, the only thing that wouldn’t lie to me.
“You shouldn’t ask questions. You might not get the answer you want.” Hazen said, his voice cold and distant. He keeps busy stirring the sauce.
“I’ll decide that.” I take a step closer to him to demand his full attention.
Hazen grabs my jacket and pushes me against the wall. I’m caught off guard with his anger and force. “Stay away from me. It’ll be for your own good.” His hands let go of my jacket, but he doesn’t back off. He can’t look me in the eye, and for the moment, I see my Hazen.
“I have to know.” My lip shakes, and my eyes fill with tears. At this moment, I look at the man I loved for over a year, only to see a stranger. I wanted to make sense of it. Something had to have changed.
“No, P.” Hazen steps away from me, his hands shaking. “You shouldn’t have come here.”
“I’m not leaving without an answer. Something happened.” I hate begging him, but I can’t wait any longer. My plan escapes my body, being alone with him.
“You don’t get it. This isn’t about you. There’s bigger shit going on, Penelope.” Hazen walks back to his burner and with one hand, swipes the hot pot right off the burner. The red sauce drips down the white wall. “This would be so much easier if you weren’t here.”
I stay quiet against the wall, I want to tell him about the secret council, about my mission. I want to tell him everything.
“I turned you in.” Hazen faces me. “I got money, to turn you in.”
His face fades through my tears. I got what I came for, but I didn’t believe it. All my memories
