[DEVON’s Point of View]
I sensed something wasn’t right, and I knew Diana felt it.
I caught her looking at me the second Madison and Cynthia left the room. I was anxious and confused, but Diana’s stare made me confirm that these feelings were not just uneasiness but an instinct that she and I had been feeling since Mom suddenly disappeared days ago.
“I’m scared, Devon,” Diana whispered as she pulled her blanket halfway over her face. “Can you feel it too?”
I was scared, too, but I couldn’t show it to my sister. “Yes, something is wrong. Mom and Dominic have been acting strangely since they came back. Liam said they are just dealing with something to help the people of the pack.”
“I can sense Mommy always being anxious,” Diana murmured, teary-eyed. “How long are we going to stay here? I miss home. I miss Annie.” she pouted her lips, almost crying.
“It’s okay, Diana. I believe Mom is doing her best to solve whatever is happening.” I gave her a reassuring smile. “Things will be better.”
“I am just so happy Mommy is back.” Her voice was slightly muffled when she completely covered her face with the blanket. “I was so scared Dominic would never find her again. I was so scared, Devon.”
“Dominic will never let that happen.” My voice was firm as I stared at the ceiling that was filled with glow-in-the-dark stars, which Diane always loved. “Let’s sleep, Diane. Everything will be fine.” I reached for her head and patted the top of her hair.
*****
“Where’s Mom?”
Madison’s attention went to me as she did that strange, awkward smile she always did whenever she felt I had something to ask her. “I am not sure where exactly your Mom is right now, Master Devon. But I know she’s with Alpha Dominic, so I am pretty sure she is safe. You don’t have to worry about her.”
Diana gave me another sneak look and then her eyes went to her toys as she pretended to play with her doll. My twin and I were always excellent at these. We love to think we were little spies, collecting information from everyone around us. But if we wanted to know what was really happening, we had to get out of the little room Granny Lena prepared for me and Diana. We had to go out and see what was really happening. Diana and I needed to help Mom.
In any way we could.
“Oh, be right back, kids. I will go check the cookies I made for your snack. Wait for Cynthia, and don’t go anywhere, okay?
Diana and I said in unison, "Okay, Madison!" Madison smiled her sweetest smile and patted my head before leaving.
Diana gave me a short, serious nod.
It was time.
Diana was faster than me. She got to the door first and prevented it from closing with her tiny hand. I grinned at her because we felt like ninjas! We will be Mom’s little spies while she’s out there working hard to solve the issues of the pack.
My twin and I headed to the left side of the mezzanine floor, trying to avoid the guards and servants who occasionally walked the hallways.
“Devon, let’s go back to the playroom. I don’t think Madison will be happy once she finds us we’re not there anymore,” she said, worrying.
I was surprised when Diane suddenly changed her mind. But I know she was anxious about Mom scolding us again. “It’s okay, Diana. We can go back if you’re too scared to go outside.”
Her brow furrowed. "I’m not sure we should go anywhere, Devon. Remember what Mommy told us? We can’t go anywhere without Madison or Cynthia...”
Diana was curious about what was going on in the pack house as well, but I couldn’t blame her if she was scared that someone might hurt us. She had the hardest time when Mom went missing, and I will never let my twin sister suffer again. I promised Mom and Dominic I would protect her no matter what.
“Okay, Diana,” I reached for her hand so we could go back together. “I’m here. Don’t be afraid.”
Before returning to the playroom, we saw two guards talking while looking at each other, but they didn’t notice us. Since we got our wolf, Diana and I got really good at hiding our presence from the people around us. We always thought it was useful, especially when we hid from Madison when we didn’t want to take a bath.
“It’s just you who doesn’t want to take a bath,” Diana grimaced after she read what was in my head.
“Shh!!!” I shushed her. “I always hated that our minds linked the day we got our wolves,” I murmured to her.
“Yes, because your thoughts stink.” She complained, almost giggling but remained hidden behind me. We followed the two soldiers and made sure to hide our presence until they stopped. Diana and I decided to hide behind a giant vase and listen to the guards, curious when they mentioned the ‘poisoned’ patrolmen and gate sentinels at the east of the territory.
Madison told us Dominic went to the east to fix something. Was it about this?
Diana was about to say something else, but I silenced her and gestured for her to listen.
“Have you seen it?” said the guard that was shorter than the other. “I thought I had seen someone running past us in the garden, but I am not sure. So many guards had been passing through the garden after the incident so I wasn’t sure if I should be suspicious or not.”
“It’s probably just one of the messengers,” the taller one said. “But I heard the Alpha ordered every sentinel not to let anyone enter the pack house unless he gave his permission...”
An intruder! I have a bad feeling about this!
[We have to go back!] Diana was upset already but I held her hand as we carefully sneaked past the guards. I had no time to discuss it with her. We have a situation that we need to investigate.
[Change of plans, Diana.] I whispered to her in my head. [There’s something important we need to do first.]