Dawn
"Members of the Hunter pack," Hayden announced as we stepped up onto the small stage set up in the pack's training ground. I hung back on the steps up to the platform, whilst Hayden stood firmly in the centre of the stage. "I can't tell you how grateful I am for all of your contribution and unbelievable hard work to protect this pack and your future Luna."
The crowd cheered at Hayden's mention of me, and I could see the determination in the eyes of all of the members. On the other side of the platform, at the back, Harvey and Jackie stood proudly, watching their son with admiration. Ash stood beside them, clinging onto Sid's hand. At the sight of Sid, my heart rate spiked.
What is she doing here? She isn't supposed to be here- it's not safe!
"Dawn," Hayden beckoned me from the front of the stage. My eyes widened as he held out his hand, asking me to go to him. My eyes flickering nervously from the crowd, to Sid, and back to Hayden, I gingerly walked over to my mate. I instantly spotted Indie standing just by my feet on the ground, smiling up at me encouragingly.
The pack was silent.
"Um, hi," I started, almost kicking myself at how weak I sounded. I am going to be their Luna- I have to man up!
I took a deep breath and started again. "I- no one here knows for sure that there will be an attack today. I don't know if the prophecy is true. I don't know how the Bear Shifters are behaving right now; I don't know where they are. There have been signs that make the prophecy more likely to be true than false, but there are all kinds of factors that could mean that all of our preparation is for nothing. That the prophecy might never come true.
"I feel unbelievably guilty that I may be the cause for some of you getting hurt today. If I had a choice in the matter, I would never, ever bring any of this onto you. I don't know all of you, but I can tell you now that I truly don't want any of you to get hurt." My eyes flickered to Hayden, who was watching me carefully. "Unfortunately for you, you have a stubborn soon-to-be-Alpha who won't take no for an answer, and will do whatever he thinks is right to protect his mate."
The crowd laughed lightly.
"I just want all of you to know that I deeply respect each and everyone of you, your bravery and loyalty amazes me. Whatever happens today, please know that I will do anything to ensure that the pack is safe and cared for, with no one left behind or abandoned."
Hayden reached for my hand and squeezed it tightly, beaming at me with that jaw-dropping smile of his. I gave him a small smile, but despite the success of my speech judging by the admiring gazes of the pack, I couldn't get my mind off Sid. If she was here, she was in danger; she was safe at home with my parents and Ryan. Hayden let the pack disperse before sending me a worried look. "What's wrong?"
Instead of answering him, I pulled him over to the Harvey and Jackie who were coming towards us with Ash and Sid.
"Sid, what are you doing here?" I demanded anxiously.
She looked up at me, confused, "Mummy and Daddy brought me."
I was shocked, "What?"
"Dawn!" I heard from behind me. Spinning around, I saw my parents sprinting towards the stage and running up the steps.
Out of breath, Mum crossed the platform and gripped both my arms. I saw concern swimming in her eyes, making me struggle to breathe. Nothing could go wrong, not when it was so late in the game.
"Ryan's missing."
My heart stopped.
Did the Bear Shifters take him as a trap? Why else would he disappear?
Taking shallow breaths, I tried to clear my mind, "H-have you checked with Samantha?"
Dad stepped forward, "He's not there."
"I know Sydney can't be here, it's not safe, but we don't know what to do! We've searched the park, the pack grounds, his friends' houses- everywhere!- but Ryan's not here. We came to you because we don't know what to do and we can't leave Sydney home on her own," Mum stressed.
"Paul, I'm sorry but Sydney needs to be protected. You need to take her home and keep her safe whilst Kate stays here and we'll help her look for Ryan," Hayden said. Anger flickered in my father's eyes, but he nodded and scooped Sid into his arms, before kissing Mum and speed-walking away. Ash looked heartbroken to be away from Sid, but seemed to be relieved that she would be safe. I could see a glimmer of protectiveness in his eyes though, like he believed only he was capable of keeping my little sister safe- despite the fact he was only ten years old.
From the corner of my eye, I noticed an old woman step up on to the stage, but before I could say anything, Jackie ran over to talk to her.
"I don't know where he could be... It's horrible because all of my babies seem to be in trouble, and I can't do anything to help..." Mum trailed off into sniffles and I pulled her close as tears rolled down her cheeks. Hugging her tightly, I stroked her hair reassuringly.
"It's okay, Mum," I whispered, "I promise everything will be okay."
"You need to hear this," Jackie suddenly announced. I broke away from my distressed mother to find an elderly lady standing beside the Luna. Her face was wrinkled and blotchy with sun spots, but she had a determined look about her, and from her stance, I could tell that she was a strong woman.
"My name is Catherine," she began, holding out her hand to me. I shook it firmly and she continued, "I am one of the elders of this pack. Ever since I was your age I've been able to...sense things, if you will, like an event that going to happen or a person that is going to arrive. It's like when you see someone you know from a distance away, but you can just sense that it's them, you know?"
I nodded, wondering where she was going with this.
"I have an immense feeling that something unexpected is going to happen, something bad. I know that you don't need anymore bad news at this point, but you need to be prepared. It's nagging me, and I just can't ignore the sense that there will be a betrayal. I can't say who or how, but please make sure that you watch your backs."
My heart sank. A betrayal? I didn't think I could take any more bad news.
"Thank you, Catherine," Jackie said, patting Catherine's shoulder and taking her down from the stage.
Harvey, who had been quiet up till now, looked thoughtful before he began to speak, "A betrayal... a pack member, do you think?"
I shook my head, "I don't know- it could be anyone. I think we should just focus on finding my brother and making sure that if there is a betrayal, we can handle it."
Harvey seemed to agree and Hayden took my hand. "We need to get you to the house," he said.
"No, I can't go yet. I need to find my brother! Besides, don't you think the Alpha house is the first place they'll look? I need to go somewhere they won't think to search for me."
Harvey clapped his hands as an idea seemed to come to him. "The supply bunker," he said.
"Don't you think they'll suspect it?" Hayden questioned.
"It's too inconspicuous. Dylan has never been there, and neither has Jason. It's perfect."
"Um, actually..." Ash started, looking ashamed. Our attention turned to him and I knelt down to talk to him.
"What is it, Ash? You need to tell us if there's something you know, okay?"
"Um... Well... I'm sorry! I was giving him a tour and I got excited and I showed him all my secret hiding places," he burst. He looked unbelievably ashamed of himself.
I pushed his chin up to look at me, "Ash, that's not your fault. You're only ten; you're expected to have fun and play with your friends. Jason is- was- your friend, and of course you would have told him secrets, that's what friends do."
"I know, but I-"
"-Ash, it's okay." He quietened down and for a moment, he looked inconsolable. But then he threw his arms around my neck and hugged me tightly, as I smiled and squeezed him back.
Standing up, I ruffled Ash's hair and took a deep breath. "Is there anywhere Jason doesn't know about?" I asked.
Ash looked pensive for a minute, when suddenly his face brightened. "One place."
Hayden breathed out on relief, "Where?"
"...The treehouse. I didn't want to show him our place, Denny."
"Treehouse?" Harvey questioned, confused.
Hayden breathed deeply and switched his gaze from his little brother to his father. "When I was eleven, I took Ash into the woods, deeper than anyone usually goes. We found this square of wood built into a tree- it looked like a floor. It had a wooden pillar on each corner, and an old stepladder leading up to it. Eventually, after a year, I managed to make it stable, gave it some walls and a sloppy roof, and I told Ash not to tell anyone about it, that it was our place. I'd completely forgotten about it before Ash brought it up."
I couldn't read Harvey's expression. "That's where we'll hide you then," he told me. I didn't say anything.
"I need to find my brother," I then said simply. Mum, who I hadn't noticed had been sitting on the edge of the stage, thinking deeply, suddenly stood up.
"I'll find him, Dawn. I can't risk you being taken by those psychos. I'll feel better if I know that at least two of my children are safe," she said firmly. I started to argue, but she held her hand up to stop me, looking at her watch.
"It's 4:45. You need to go right now. Don't worry, I'll find him," Mum assured me, and hugged me tightly. I held onto her until Hayden pulled me away, saying I had to leave.
"I'm scared, Denny. I don't know if we can handle someone in the pack betraying us. I don't now if I can handle my brother being missing at a time like this. And I don't know if I can handle not knowing if Sid is really okay," I murmured.
Hayden wrapped his arm around my waist tightly, reassuringly, and kissed my cheek. "Don't worry babygirl, I'll make sure everything works out okay."
I can only hope.
As we picked up the pace and edged towards the trees on the other side of the Pack Village, I noticed something moving to my right.
Panicked shouting suddenly echoed through the village. I turn instantly, dreading the fact that it was most likely to be Dylan and Jason, followed by hoards of Bear Shifters.
What I saw, though, was what I never could have predicted.
Streaming through the trees lining the path to the Alpha house came hundreds of people, all wearing the same maniacal expression of determination. At the front, I saw Dylan striding towards us wearing the same look, except his features also exposed deep, untamed anger. His eyes were fixed on me, sending shivers crashing down my spine relentlessly. Beside him was Jason.
But next to them was a tall, muscular man clutching a little girl in his arms, who was flailing around desperately.
"Sid!" I screamed, and Hayden's tight clutch of my waist was all that stopped me from running to her.
Two other men dragged my father forward with them, restraining his wild thrashing and shouting.
And that's when I noticed him.
Ryan.
He strode forwards purposely, walking on the other side of Dylan.
Betrayal was the only word that washed trough my mind endlessly as Hayden scooped me up in his arms and sprinted into the trees, towards the treehouse, my helpless form peering over his shoulder and screaming for my sister, my father, and my traitorous brother.