It’s been almost two weeks since we saw Ramsay at the front for human auctions and I’ve seen him twice since then, but those other two times have been at our house. Every interaction has been uncomfortable for me, and Ramsay seems pretty confused by my discomfort. At least his confusion means he doesn’t know I was there, but it still feels awkward because I know what he’s hiding. 

I know that he must have made the choice himself; there’s no way that he’d be allowed to come to our house if he was being blackmailed or forced against his will to join the trafficking ring. Especially with how Dad feels about the ring and how he’d do whatever it takes to protect Ramsay if he revealed he was caught in it. 

Honestly, even if Dad figured it out and knew it was Ramsay’s choice, he’d still try to protect him and get him out despite his anger. Dad always insists that family comes first and it’s our responsibility to look out for and protect each other. 

Callum was asked to cover a shift for a security guard at Vampieress’ Dungeon last night, and he offered for me to hang out on one of the couches if I wanted, but I knew I’d be bored since Callum would be working and I don’t really know anyone else there. So, I called it an early night for myself and stayed home. 

It’s early, and since it’s November, it’s still dark outside. I haven’t been told of any new human murders in the last couple of weeks, but I’m not naive enough to think nothing’s gone wrong. There’s a decent chance that new information is just being kept from me. 

I’m tired, but I can’t fall back asleep. I grab my phone and see a text from Callum that was sent after I fell asleep. It’s just assuring me he got home safely, which I appreciate. Even though he’s a vampire and wouldn’t be a target for the murders, it still unnerves me knowing a killer is out there. 

“Good morning,” Joseph says from the kitchen table, drinking from a bag of blood. 

He’s reading something on his laptop; his eyebrows are furrowed and his lips are in a tight thin line, which is the face he makes when he’s focused or reading something. Since he’s on his laptop, I’m going to assume he’s reading. 

“Hi,” I say, opening the fridge and debating what to eat. “What’re you reading?”

Joseph sighs. “The missing person reports from the humans who were killed.”

“Why?”

“It’s just sad that their families will never find them,” Joseph says solemnly, rubbing face before reading on. “I’m also annoyed that we keep failing and haven’t found who’s responsible.”

I frown, opening the cupboard and choosing chocolate Cheerios as my breakfast option. “I mean, there’s only so much you or I can do. I’m not even allowed to go out and help.”

“Vampires are quicker than werewolves and the one we’re chasing… they’re probably rabid. It’d be more dangerous for you than Raina, Dad, or I.”

I make my bowl of cereal, take my multivitamin, and sit down across from Joseph. “Don’t get stuck on it, Joseph. Dad is the one who is taking the lead on this so it’s not like you can do much outside of what he tells you.”

Joseph sighs and closes his laptop. “Yeah, but nothing is getting done. They’re not making progress.”

I eat my cereal, unsure of what to say. It’s a difficult situation, especially for Joseph since Dad tells him what to do and he is expected to do it, but Dad isn’t very open regarding his plans. Honestly, I’m not entirely sure what Dad even does. 

He’s got money saved, as he’s six hundred years old, but he now just goes to meetings and converses about the supernatural community. Since I rarely go to those events, (mainly because I haven’t really ever been invited) I’m not sure what goes on there or what’s discussed. 

“Do you work tonight?” I ask, and Joseph shakes his head. 

“I asked for a week off a while ago and the timing couldn’t be better. Between the exhaustion of trying to help Dad and work with ER patients… I need a break,” Joseph tells me, and I have to admit he does look a touch more relaxed. “Maybe I can help crack down on these murders now that I have some time to focus.”

“Don’t put it all on yourself,” I say, bringing my bowl to the sink and washing it. “Uh, have you seen Ramsay?”

Joseph shakes his head. “Not today. I assume he’s still in his room, since I haven’t seen him leave and Dad’s still firm on curfew for you two.”

“Huh,” I say, acting surprised. 

I know Ramsay is here, but I’m kind of nervous to approach him. Every time I try to get him to hang out with me, even though it was before I knew what he was wrapped up in, he always claims he’s busy and kind of blows me off. I should at least try again… maybe he joined because he felt lonely? 

I tried to make time to hang out with him after Callum and I got together, and Ramsay was reluctant. I’m honestly not sure what to do, but I can’t leave him. I know that Ramsay is a good person; he’s my brother and one of my best friends. 

He needs someone. 

Maybe if he recognizes the support and reliability I can offer, he’ll admit he doesn’t want to be a part of that world. It’s cruel, distasteful, and absolutely barbaric. It’s not the world that my brother belongs in. As much as I keep thinking that maybe I don’t really know Ramsay, I want to believe that I actually do and this is just a stupid decision. 

It’s not too late for him to leave.

I put my bowl and spoon in the dishwasher before heading up the stairs and knocking on Ramsay’s bedroom door. 

He opens it up, and he’s only wearing his underwear. “What’s up?” he asks, letting me in and flopping onto his bed. 

“Wanna hang out?”

“Uh… I’m kind of busy today,” Ramsay says, and he genuinely looks a little upset. “Sorry, Lennox.”

I sigh. “What’re you so busy doing?” 

I know I sound innocent, and if I didn’t know what Ramsay was involved in, I’d never have caught the brief panic that crosses his vision. Of course, as smooth as he is, Ramsay covers it up easily and picks up a sweatshirt from the floor. 

“Well, since we have a tiny bit of freedom, I’ve started hanging out in the vampire district of the city. I’ve made some friends and we go to events and such, kind of like what Dad sends Raina and Joseph to, but way more fun.”

I furrow my eyebrows, trying to come across as confused and inquisitive. “What kind of events?”

“Just vampire stuff. They’re held at places where eighteen year olds can go so we can kind of mingle among supernaturals.”

“Trying to meet someone?” I tease, even though Ramsay’s lies make me feel a bit ill. 

Ramsay scoffs. “Trying and failing,” he says as his phone buzzes. “Uh, I’ve got to go. Did you need a ride to Callum’s? I don’t want to steal our shared car and leave you stranded.”

“Nah, I’m fine,” I say, standing up. “Thanks, though.”

I retreat to my room and lay on my back on the bed. I haven’t received any text from Callum yet, but I haven’t reached out later. As much as we both love our time together, we do spend a few nights apart every week because we both need time to ourselves. 

Charity’s book has been sitting in my stack for the last month, so I grab it out of the collection and open it up to the first page.

This book is dedicated to my wonderful mate, Maurice, our daughter Teagan, and our beautiful baby boy, Giovanni, may the goddess allow his sweet soul to rest. 

Introduction. 

I chose to partake in the art of writing a novel in order to speak on the relationships within the supernatural community and what has caused a rift between them. Within our pack, after a ruthless battle that resulted in the death of a vampire due to their trespassing on our property, our baby boy, Gio, was kidnapped. This caused a dangerous hatred between my pack and an unknown vampire coven in the city. 

Our baby was three months old when he was taken from us, born on the fourteenth of June. He would have turned sixteen this year. When he was taken, my mate conducted a manhunt for our son, and we received a tip as to who kidnapped our baby from a well known vampire within the community, Samuel Gates. 

I pause and reread the same sentence over and over again. My dad knows the werewolf pack? If he offered them the tip as to who took their kid, why wouldn’t he keep a connection with them? Especially considering that it’s one Raina is kind of a part of that pack, yet she feels the need to keep it a secret. 

Or, since he found me on another pack’s grounds and has some kind of positive camaraderie with Charity’s, why wouldn’t he encourage them to take me in? While it’s uncommon, it’s not impossible for a werewolf family to adopt a pup since they don’t pose a threat if they become integrated with the pack. 

Gates told us of a small vampire coven who had a history of seeking revenge on others in the supernatural community, and our killing of one of their members would definitely press them to take our son. My mate and our other warriors broke into the coven house and ripped it apart, killing every vampire in the process, but no trace of our son was found. 

We didn’t sense him there, we couldn’t find him anywhere. 

Our hope is that hopefully he’s alive out there somewhere. I have always wanted to write a novel about relationships between supernatural species, but my hope is that our son is out there somewhere and someone will assist us in finding him. 

His birth name is Giovanni Clarke, and he is of the Hills Pack, locally called the Portlandia Pack by supernaturals in the city. Our son is an Alpha wolf, with dark brown hair, tanned skin, and the most beautiful dark blue eyes that would stand out to anyone. 

If you know anything about our son, please contact our pack. 

I close the book and rush over to my mirror, feeling fully body chills run through me. I don’t know how to feel, now that I’ve read the description. My hands are shaking the same way they were when I discovered Ramsay as part of the trafficking ring. 

My appearance has always been odd; I have dark brown hair, darkened skin that is just a touch lighter than Dad, Raina, Joseph, and Ramsay’s skin. The only standout difference is that they all have dark brown eyes and mine are dark blue. 

I pick up my phone, calling Callum. 

“Hey, I was just thinking about bothering you,” Callum teases. 

“Callum, come pick me up,” I say, and I know I sound on the verge of tears. “We… I need to talk to you right now, but it can’t be over the phone. Please, just come get me.”

“Are you hurt?” Callum asks, and I can hear him grabbing his keys and moving around over the phone. 

I take in a deep breath. “No, I’m not hurt. Just come get me.”

“I’ll be there in ten minutes, okay?”

True to his word, I hear his car pull up ten minutes later and I leave the house with only my phone and the book in hand. I get into the car and buckle my seatbelt, but I remain silent. I don’t want to talk until I’m locked in my mate’s room, surrounded by his comforting scent. 

Callum, the angel he is, doesn’t try to get me to talk. He does check over me when I get in the car to make sure I’m physically alright and kisses my cheek before driving away. His music plays over the speaker and it’s soft and comforting. 

When we get to his house, Callum follows me up the stairs after I’ve shoved the book in his hands. He doesn’t say anything while I move his blankets and pillows around to make myself a sanctuary in his bed, he just sits at his desk. 

“Read the introduction. The description of their missing son,” I say, making one of his throw blankets into a cape and laying on my side. 

“Okay…” Callum reads it, his eyebrows furrowing as he does so. “I didn’t even read the introduction when I read the book… your dad helped them?”

I shake his head. “No, I don’t think he helped them.”

It takes a few seconds for the realization of my implication to hit Callum.“Lennox… you seriously think that-”

“I know it sounds bizarre, but I have the same look as the description. Dad says he found me in September which is conveniently when their pup went missing. He also says his wife died around the time I was taken in. What if he was the kidnapper and misled them so they would kill some other coven and be able to keep me as some kind of revenge for killing his wife?”

Callum looks pained, and I’m sure it’s more to do with my irritation and pain than his own. “Lennox… if that’s true, why wouldn’t he just kill you? It doesn’t make sense for him to keep you alive.”

“I don’t know, Callum. I just… do you think I’m insane?”

“No, that’s not what I’m saying. I’m just saying that you’re really overwhelmed right now and jumping to a conclusion, but you don’t know for a fact if it’s true. We need to think through if there’s a way to confront this.”

“Raina,” I say quickly. “She has been within that pack for five years. She was there when this book was being written, she was eight when I was a pup, and she’s not stupid. She has to know something.”

Callum sighs and sits beside me. He looks at the introduction once more before putting the book down and setting it aside. He hugs me, though he has a little more difficulty with it because of my blanket cloak. 

“If it’s important to you, I’ll support you, but I don’t want to see it break your family. I mean… they raised you.”

“Ramsay’s a human trafficker, Raina’s never home, and Joseph’s overworked. If Dad is a kidnapper, why would I want to keep this family together?”

Callum nods, seemingly agreeing with me, but it looks like he’s holding something back. 

I don’t press.