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.”

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

I grip his shoulder with my other hand, pushing him forward. He makes

the 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

the stairs, we can hear a child near the end of the hallway crying. The Elder looks around,

sounds like a child, doesn't it?

have to help her," the Luna whispers to me,

ETA? There’s 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. It is

than two minutes,” he calls out, "Protect the

I have my gun

tell

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

in just a minute. We don't know who or what

the sadness? The fear?” her voice is barely a whisper.

Wait!" I

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

hiccups can be heard.

the end of the hall, a girl's face peeks out

We can help you," the Luna squats down, urging the girl

the girl's face as she recognizes the Luna. Even from

comes charging down the stairs and steps in front of the Luna, "Luna! Stop! It could be

the hallway is a child,

to show the Luna

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 known him, "You

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

back at me and whispers, "You know, maybe we should call

mom finds out about this. Marco slowly makes his

Beta Lenora finally comes rushing down the stairs at the same time. She sees me holding my gun to the Elder's back. Her eyes widen, but she says