Forever in the Past and Forever in the Future

Chapter 57

Tyree's POV

As soon as the Luna opens the door, the smell of blood is overwhelming. It isn't old and stale, like you would normally smell in a dirty dungeon. This smells like someone just sloshed buckets of it down the hallway.

How is that possible? The door was locked. I look over at the Elder, who looks pale and if I didn’t know better, guilty. I send a mind link to Marco and Beta Lenora, letting them know I need backup. Honestly, the Luna can handle anything going on down there. Even if she wasn't one of the strongest wolves I've ever met, with her powers she can defeat any threat, but it’s my job to protect her, not the other way around.

My wolf, Slayer, paces in my head, “High alert, my man. This clearly ain't right."

"Agreed, Slayer. Let me know if you see anything. If memory serves me correctly, there isn't a whole lot of room to move down there. We won't be able to shift if there's an actual emergency.”

"Ten four," he growls.

I let him come forward enough for my eyes to turn black and extend my fangs. Just one step closer to shifting if we need to.

"Luna, stand back,” I touch her elbow. She looks at me, trying to hide her fear, but her eyes are wide and her breathing gets heavier with building panic.

"It's alright, Luna. I've got this,” I reassure her and she steps back.

I look at the Elder again. He looks like he's about to bolt like a scared jackrabbit. I'm probably about to get fired for this, maybe even banished, but my wolf and my instincts are telling me not to let this guy out of my sight.

Goddess, forgive me. I pull my handgun from the holster and press it on his back. He lets out a little gasp and starts to look back at me, but thinks twice.

"W-what’sthe meaning of this?" he stammers like a coward.

"You first, Elder Randall,” I growl at the old man, pushing him toward the stairs.

"I-I'm sure this i-isn't, uh, n-necessary," still stuttering over his words,” probably just a leaky pipe or something of the sort.”

who crosses her arms over her body and who shakes her head at me. She doesn’t trust him either. Maybe she will put ina good word for me when I have to go to trial for threatening a member of the Elder Council. Maybe I won't make it to the trial. Mom will probably kill

movin’, Elder,” I grip his shoulder with my other hand, pushing him

Luna close behind me as we make our way down. Out of my peripheral vision, I see her hands glowing purple. I know it's her way of protecting herself, but it still makes me nervous when she does that stuff. You never know who she

we can hear a child near the

sounds like a child, doesn't it? Heh heh..." his face has a

have to help her," the

a kid somewhere down here," I mind link again as we look in the first couple of empty cells to make sure they're empty. I remember being down here to guard the Luna after the Alpha first found her.

two minutes,” he calls out, "Protect the

have my gun on him to make sure he doesn't try

tell me twice. Keep

coming from where my old bedroom is," the Luna says. I look down to see

for Marco. He will be here in just a minute. We don't know who or what is down there," I warn her, "the more backup we have,

okay. C-Can't you feel the sadness? The fear?” her voice is barely a whisper. Before I can stop her, she walks silently down

Please! Wait!" I hiss through my

You don’t need to be afraid. We're here to help," she calls down the corridor. The

hiccups can be heard.

girl's face peeks out from a doorway. She still has tears

come on. We can help you," the Luna squats down, urging the girl to come to her, "How did you get down

fear comes across the girl's face as she recognizes

stairs and steps in front of the Luna, "Luna! Stop! It could be a

of the hallway is a child,

holding one hand behind him to show the Luna she

the new pack guards, so you're safe now. You can trust me," he says in the most soothing voice I’ve heard from him in the twenty-three years I've

starts crying again, pointing at the Luna, "It wasn't m-me I swear. I-I didn't

me and whispers, "You know,

do you think we are, old man? Pool boys?" I growl into his ear. His body stiffens again, and he turns back to watch Marco. I’m dead meat when my mom finds out about this. Marco slowly makes his way to the girl. When he reaches the doorway, he

that she is safe, and no one can hurt her. Beta Lenora finally comes rushing down the stairs at the same time. She sees me holding