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.”

me. She doesn’t trust him either. Maybe she will put ina good word for

hand, pushing him forward. He

but it still makes me

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

that squeaky door sure sounds like a child, doesn't it? Heh heh..." his face has a cringey smile to

we have to help her," the Luna whispers to

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

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

gun

to tell me

Luna says. I look down to see her head tilted,

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

voice is barely a whisper. Before I

Wait!" I hiss through

to help," she calls down the corridor.

hiccups can be heard.

out from a doorway.

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

comes across the girl's face as she recognizes the Luna. Even from this far away, I can

then, Marco comes charging down the stairs and steps in front of the

the end of the hallway is a child, he holsters his gun and slowly approaches

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 known him, "You can

girl whimpers and starts crying again, pointing at the Luna,

me and whispers, "You know, maybe we should call security. This seems like a job

about this. Marco slowly makes his way to

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 my gun to the