Family Ties

Quinn

My thumb hovered over her name, but I couldn’t make myself hit call.

~Maybe this isn’t such a good idea.~

It had been weeks since I last powered up my phone. I’d been using a prepaid one since I left home. Instead of calling, I decided to check my text messages.

The icon on my home screen read: “99+ unread messages.” No one from home ever texted me, so they could only be from one person.

I opened the app, and sure enough, I was right.

Mom

Quinn, where are you?!

Mom

You weren’t in your room this morning!

Mom

Where’d you run off to?

Mom

…

Mom

Quinn, this isn’t funny.

Mom

It’s past noon.

Mom

Tell me where you are!

Mom

If you don’t answer me in the next five minutes, you’re going to be in big trouble!

Mom

YOU HEAR ME?

Mom

Quinn, please respond.

Mom

It’s been 12 hours.

Mom

I’ve called the police.

Mom

I’m worried about you.

Mom

If you’re mad at me we can talk about it.

Mom

Please…just let me know you’re alright.

Mom

If anything’s happened to you…

The messages went on and on. She’d texted me every day since I’d left. The more I scrolled, the guiltier I felt.

Mom

I don’t know if you’re getting this Quinn, but it’s been over a week.

Mom

I just wanted to say how sorry I am…for everything.

Mom

I know I haven’t always been the best mother.

Mom

I’ve made so many mistakes.

Mom

But having you in my life isn’t one of them.

Mom

You have no idea how much you mean to me.

Mom

I love you so much.

Mom

I’d give anything to hear your voice again.

Mom

Please, if you’re out there…just let me know you’re okay.

I couldn’t read anymore. Tears started to fall.

Did I make a mistake coming here? Leaving her behind?

~Damn it!~

I should have at least left a note!

She was hurting so much... I never meant to cause her pain. Only now did I realize I’d done exactly what my father and Aunt Jodie did... vanished without a trace.

The unknown was what was eating at her. I knew exactly what she was feeling, the numbing sensation of clinging to hope, yet wanting to let go...

I couldn’t let her continue without closure.

At the very least, she’d know I was okay.

And maybe, just maybe, she would tell me something about my father.

It was a long shot, but I had to try.

So, I scrolled back to the top of my messaging app until I found the audio icon.

My fingers were shaking, but I pressed it anyway.

The outgoing call dialtone echoed in my ear.

I held my breath.

Each ring felt like forever... then I heard a click.

“Quinn?!” a weak voice answered. “Quinn? Is that you?!”

“Hi, Mom…”

Jaxon

“I’m going to slit his fucking throat!” I muttered to myself as I stormed into the dungeon.

I’d let that monster live too long. I didn’t care what information he had. He hurt Quinn—my mate. I should have killed him the moment he touched her.

~He’s a dead man!~

I flung open Carl’s cell door and drew my blade, catching him off guard. His smug smirk vanished.

He knew I meant business from the fire in my eyes. I could tell by the way he stumbled trying to get away.

“Wait!” he screamed, but I didn’t.

I kicked him in the chest, knocking him to the ground.

He clawed at the floor trying to crawl away, but I grabbed his ankle and yanked him back.

There would be no final speeches.

No words.

He knew what he had done and that was it.

I yanked his hair back like he did with Quinn, exposing his neck.

I pressed the edge of my blade against his throat.

“Please, don’t!”

“Not a chance,” I growled.

My arm muscles tightened as I prepared to strike.

“I’m your brother!”

I froze.

“The fuck did you just say?!” I roared in his face.

“We share the same father! I’m your brother!”

“LIES!”

“I swear! It’s true!”

Suddenly, his mind locked with mine, and I was flooded with images.

A boy playing with a woman I didn’t recognize.

A boy being tucked into bed and read a story.

A boy rushing to greet a man at the door. The man picked up the young child and hugged him. And that’s when I saw who it was… My father!

I gasped and loosened my grip.

~But that can’t be!~

~This isn’t real!~

~How could it be?~

~My father would never hide something like this…would he?~

Then, another memory flashed into my mind.

A boy crying, rushing toward a door as my father slammed it shut. He pounded his fist against it, but it was no use. The woman pulled him away, trying to comfort him.

I dropped the knife from his throat and backed away, releasing him from certain death.

I couldn’t believe it…after all this time…

“I don’t understand…” I said.

“Your father had a woman long before your mother—his ‘mate’ came around.” He pushed himself off the floor and crawled to his chair.

“He kept us a secret,” he continued, “he cared for my mother deeply but knew she wasn’t his soulmate. And the second he found her, he abandoned us! Like we never existed. And I’ve hated him ever since.”

I was speechless.

How could my father do such a thing?

All this time…I never knew…

“So if you want to kill me…go ahead. But you’ll be killing the rightful Alpha of your pack!”

~This can’t be true.~

~This is impossible!~

“I was appointed leader of the Moon Shadow Pack by the Goddess herself! You have no claim to the title!”

His smirk returned. “You sure about that?”

I pressed the knife back to his throat, but this time, he didn’t flinch. His eyes dared me to do it…but I couldn’t.

This was too much.

I turned away from him and left the cell.

“You should have killed me!” he taunted. “These walls won’t hold me forever! You can gather all the packs in the world, but it still won’t be enough to stop what’s coming!”

I didn’t look back.

Quinn

“Quinn…” Mom’s voice wavered, “I’ve missed hearing your voice. It’s been nearly three months, hasn’t it?”

~Three months? Has it really been that long?~

“Are you okay? Are you hurt?” she asked, her voice filled with worry. “Where are you?”

“I’m okay, Mom. I’m somewhere safe.”

“Where?!”

“I can’t tell you…but I’m okay—honestly. You need to trust me.”

“Did something happen? Were you taken?”

“Not exactly…I left on my own. But I was found by some people who are looking after me.”

She fell silent.

“Others…” she murmured. “You mean…the people in the forest.”

~Does she understand what I’m saying?~

~How much did Dad tell her?~

“Quinn! You need to leave there! Those people are dangerous! They aren’t…normal! They’re the ones who killed your father! Please, come home!”

I gasped.

“You knew he was murdered, and you didn’t tell me?” I asked, my voice rising.

“You were just a kid! I didn’t want to scare you! I’m sorry!”

“But why?!” I demanded, “Why did they kill him?”

“Because of who he was…and because of who you are. He left to protect you!”

“From what?!”

“Please, come home, and I’ll explain everything.”

I could tell she was starting to avoid my questions. I needed to push harder.

“How do you know all this?!” I shouted. “I need to know.”

“Your Aunt Jodie…she was there when it happened. She saw it all.”

Suddenly, I remembered Carl’s vision. I saw a woman tied up and gagged but I couldn’t recognize her! It must have been her!

“Now, please, come home, and I’ll—”

“You said they killed him because of who he is,” I cut her off. “Who I am? What does that mean?”

She hesitated.

Whatever it was, she was scared to say it.

“Your father’s blood is unique. It’s from a very rare lineage.”

“Unique lineage? Of what?”

“Of wolf…”

I gasped.

~She did know!~

“And if they know who you are, they’ll kill you, too.”

So that’s why they killed him! It’s what Carl was trying to tell me!

“Quinn, I’m begging you…please, come home! You’ll be safer if they don't know you exist!”

But they did know.

The rogue attack on the pack…they were after me. Even if I wanted to go back home, I’d be putting her life at risk. There was no turning back.

“Quinn? Quinn, are you there?”

“What about it makes my blood so special?”

“Please, come home…I’ve missed you so much.”

“Tell me!”

“Please, I want to see you!”

I knew I’d lost her. I wasn’t going to get any more information.

“I have to go, Mom.”

“No!” she sobbed.

“It’s the only way I can keep you safe. I love you.”

“No, wait—”

And I ended the call.

Hanging up was harder than leaving.

I threw the phone on the ground and stomped on it until it was completely destroyed. I couldn’t risk her tracing my location.

I knew this was the right decision, but guilt gnawed at me.

I wanted to be angry at her for all the secrets she’d kept, but all I felt was sympathy. Would I have done anything differently if I were in her shoes?

I might not ever find all the answers I was searching for, but I’d be damned if I didn’t try.