Chapter 13: Dancing on a Dark Moon
9/23/2021
It was a dreary day, dark clouds hovered over the small town, a steady rainfall beating down on the darkened cobblestone. McArdles' was packed from wall to wall with people: locals stopping for a pint, couples on a date, and friends lining the bar while singing along to the band playing half-decent covers.
"Go home," Rhydian told his younger brother, who looked ready to jump out of his skin. Under the warm glow of the hanging incandescent lights, only made the cozy pub feel smaller.
"But I want to be here for you. You're me brother," he whined, jumping at the loud boom of the bass drum.
"It's okay," he assured, placing a hand on Bryn's shoulder. "It's a dark moon . . . no wolf, remember?" Seeing his brother's skeptical look in spite of the hard facts about their species, he pulled a small vile from the interior pocket of his denim jacket. "Honestly, I'll be fine."
"Yeah, but that didn't -"
"It's a dark moon today," he reiterated, his body feeling heavier by the minute. "Plus, Jana will be here too. So will Tom and Shan. I'll be okay." A clashing of symbols from the back of the restaurant and Bryn nodded his head in agreement of his brother's wishes, all too eager to leave.
Seeing Bryn disappear in a sea of people, Rhydian continued toward the far corner, away from the music.
He was nearing the table where the couple was anxiously waiting for their guest of honor when he felt a tap on his shoulder. "Wasn't sure you'd come."
"Because of it being a no moon day?" he asked, his eye lids heavy.
Jana nodded, as if speaking her answer would take too much effort.
"You think Shan did this on purpose? Plan the dinner on a no moon day? Stop us from comin'?"
"I think that Shannon's very calculating and one to take little to chance," Jana answered cryptically. Seeing Rhydian's quizzical expression, she huffed. "Very cunnin' . . . using the naming of their baby to push Maddy into coming to dinner wit'em," she added
"You think she made that up?" he asked, glancing over his shoulder at the table where Shannon and Tom were seated, reading from a menu.
"No, but Shannon's always been good at convincin' Maddy to go along with her ideas . . . remember the 'wolf' research. Promising to let her keep that 'research' of 'ers . . . "
Rhydian made a non-committal noise, resistant to agreeing with Jana.
Rhydian led the way to the table with the couple, who were heavily vested in picking appetizers. As he approached the booth, he stopped short, surprised to fine a third person waiting for them.
"Eh! What's up?" Jana asked, annoyed. Peering around him, she spotted Hannah. "Oh yeah, she asked to come along . . . meet Maddy . . . thought she may pick up something from our conversation . . . help with solving the case. "
"You mean interrogate," he grumbled.
"Nooo," she said with a smile.
"This was meant for - for pack members only," he huffed.
Jana rolled her eyes. "Well, I'm overriding you. As your Alpha -"
Rhydian opened his mouth, the words 'not my alpha' about to roll off his tongue when his tiredness and Hannah's perfect timing saved him from an inevitable argument.
"'ello," she said meekly, having left her seat to meet them. Rhydian slowly turned, the heaviness of the day grounding him again. Taking his reaction as some mute greeting, she smiled. "I'm so, so sorry, Jana," she began, bringing her hands to her mouth.
"Wha-what is it?"
"I have a family emergency, I need to leave."
"Oh - of course. You don't need to apologize."
Hannah beamed at the show of understanding. "Let me go get my things and say good bye to your friends. I don't want them to think me rude," she tittered. Hannah darted off, not before dropping her wallet under the table and having to crawl underneath to find it. Rhydian shook his head at Hannah's struggling, earning a half-hearted thwap on his arm by Jana. "Oh, stop," she said playfully. "We're lucky to have her on the team. She's one of our best forensic scientists. Volunteered her time to help us because she knows how important this is to us. Segolia didn't want her on it - it being a cold case and all." He and Jana gave lazy waves as Hannah rushed by them, squeezing passed a group of women that were blocking the path to the entrance door.
Finally reaching his destination, he greeted his friends. Tom and Shan looked up, smiling. "Hey! We were thinking of getting some drinks and maybe starters while we waited," Tom immediately divulged.
"I got a message from Maddy saying she was running late. Somethin' with her family," Shannon filled in, looking back down at the menu and mouthing the description of one of the items to herself.
Looking out the window at the darkened sky, the moon tucked away, Rhydian dropped into the bench seat, displeased by the reminder it was a "no moon" day. He could be sleeping like his parents and brother. Nudged in the shoulder, he scooted to the other side, so Jana could sit. He exhaled loudly from the effort. Eyeing Shannon with visible disdain, the scientist finally caught his sour expression.
"What?" Shannon asked.
"Leave it, Rhydian," Jana groaned.
"Why today?" Rhydian asked.
Tom's exasperated sigh was all the affirmation the blonde needed to confirm his suspicions that Shannon purposely selected that day in hopes he and Jana wouldn't show.
"You -" Rhydian began, yawning mid sentence.
"Look . . . before you make any assumptions," Shannon tried to assuage with a weighted sigh, "it wasn't personal -"
Tom placed his head in his hands and groaned loudly. From his peripheral, Rhydian caught Jana massaging her temple.
"Not personal?" he retorted.
"No, it wasn't. It was a well thought out plan designed to give us the optimum chance at getting more information from her about what may have happened. If nothing else, forging a strong relationship by building on a good experience with us," Shannon said determinedly, leaning in (the best a woman in her second trimester could) to show she wasn't regretful of her plan.
"She's not a science experiment to collect data. We need to be working on helping her remember, everything else will fall into place," he countered.
"Her amnesia is permanent," Shannon declared as if she was telling him the weather. Seeing Rhydian visibly flinch, she reached for his hands, only for him to pull away. "I know you don't want to admit it, but the science - the medical notes haven't seen any improvement since they found her ten years ago."
"We can't just give up on her," he said, looking at Jana and Tom for assistance. "I'm her mate," he reiterated, just in case someone had forgotten.
"And I'm her best friend, the one who has known her the longest," Shannon countered.
Rhydian felt as if he had been punched in the gut. For it wasn't her words precisely, it was something inside that stirred at those words, on a night that shouldn't awaken such feelings. As if his status in relation to Maddy was in question, he grimaced, "Length of time doesn't mean anythin'. This dinner wouldn't be happening if it weren't for my finding her," he said, his chest rising and falling, tapping at the table for emphasis.
"Actually, Shannon got us this dinner," Tom murmured.
"But we wouldn't have gotten to that point, if I hadn't -"
"And what about Tom?" Shannon interjected. "If he hadn't found the antique dealer or Jana, finding her actual residence -"
"I picked up her scent that first led to her," he cut off, breathing heavy, his eyes lids feeling as if anchors were pulling on them, and the air, itself, thick and heavy.
"All right," Jana cut in, looking between her friends.
"Yeah, enough. This is not a competition about who did the most work, or who cares the most," Tom said in a tone that was taken by parents when scolding their squabbling toddlers.
Rhydian's skin prickled pink in embarrassment, and Shannon adjusted her glasses, taking sudden interest in a drink menu she couldn't order from.
"That's what I thought," Tom huffed. "Did you think of anything else from when you two went for your 'little run.'"
Shannon snorted to which Tom whipped his head to glare at his wife. "What?" she retorted, "Come off it, Tom. I searched the distance on the internet and they ran farther than any humans could have in that same amount of time. There was nothing short about that run."
Rhydian pulled at the sleeves of his flannel shirt. "She passed me when I was running at my top speed."
"So can I . . . you haven't run in a while." Jana wasn't wrong, but it wasn't his point. He was still faster than a human.
"You know what I mean . . ." he grumbled.
"So, how is it she can run like a . . . " Tom moved closer, "wolfblood," he whispered, "but not transform during a full moon?"
"I need a DNA sample to find that out," Shannon informed.
"Good luck getting her father to sign off on that," Jana quipped, folding her arms over her chest.
"She's an adult," Rhydian reminded.
"Who's father -"
"Adoptive father," Rhydian clarified.
"Adoptive father," Tom corrected, "has a team of lawyers to stop us."
Rhydian ran his hand down his face in frustration. "Ah, did you review the picture yet?"
"Of the castle?" Jana asked. Rhydian nodded. "Yeah, but nothing seem to raise any flags. She was right in saying that it's been in the family for generations and she was found there. . ."
"Hold up, what?" Tom interjected. Jana gave a long yawn, clearly annoying Shanon as she tapped her fingers on the table. Seizing the lull, Tom asked, "If you have on record of her being found then why didn't we - you know - know?"
"Because, they filed the report for a Madeline Stewart - not Smith," Jana finally supplied, resting her head in her hand, and her elbow on the table.
For as much as his body had wanted to desperately sleep, he suddenly perked up. "Stewart?"
Sidling up to the table, the waitress greeted them. "Good evening everyone one, I'm Caitlin. I'll be serving you tonight. Is this your first -" Looking at the distraught faces of the patrons, the waitress with purple hair and a nose ring stopped short. "Uh, did you want me to come back?"
Rhydian was about to answer when Shannon cut off, "Uh, no, we'll have . . . " The young woman, now eating for two, rattled off several items, most of which Rhydian could care less to try. Deciding not to have the woman return too quickly, they ordered their drinks as well. The woman smiled and left group to fill their order.
"Okay, now, you said they identified her as Madeline Stewart. Interesting . . ." Shannon hummed, fascinated by this new piece of intel.
"But that doesn't make sense. Where did they get that from?" Tom inquired.
"Her license . . ." Rhydian breathed, staring at the large knot in the wood table.
"Bingo," Jana confirmed, pointing lazily at Rhydian as if he had been a lucky contestant on a game show. "She was found with an ID card for a Madeline Stewart of Tofino, British Columbia."
"They were searching for Madeline Stewart - not Maddy Smith," Shannon said just above a whisper. "The wrong person this whole time."
"But that doesn't make sense!" Tom repeated, looking sheepish as a few people near them turned to stare. "Sorry, mate," he apologized to group. The waitress placed their drinks in front of them, promising to be back shortly with their food. Left alone again, Tom leaned in. "How did Segolia not pick up on a missing person's case registering for a Madeline Stewart? Did they not make up the fake names?" Rhydian's insides twisted and he shifted in his seat as if it would help alleviate the tightness forming in his chest. Jana looked down, suddenly at a loss for words. Tom looked to his wife, who also looked bashful. "You two work there, no?"
"I don't know, Tom," Shannon finally spoke. "I've just started."
"Jana?" Rhydian said quietly, tapping her hand lightly to grab her attention.
She looked up slowly, suddenly shy. "I . . . I don't know, honestly. I'm trying to make sense of it, myself. If Maddy's ID card had been found on her person," she began, turning over left hand to face palm up, "then we should have been notified," she said turning over her other hand and looking at it, as if it should unveil the answer. "As part of her family's relocation, they were not to make any contact with anyone from her previous life - or return to England."
"O-kay," Shannon said slowly, her mind feverishly working. "So, say someone at Segolia found out . . . and just didn't tell anyone - hid it."
"Well, Dacia would be the one told, I would think," said Jana, yawning again.
"It doesn't make sense though,"Rhydian cut off. "What does Dacia have to gain by kidnapping the Smiths?"
"Maybe someone else then?" Tom proposed.
"Yeah, but who?" Shannon added, as if he had a suspect in mind.
"Someone who knows about Wolfbloods," he said matter-of-factly.
"That's more than you think, but does narrow things down a bit," Jana mused.
"But what do they have to gain?" Rhydian reiterated.
"There is . . ." Tom started, looking pointedly at Shannon.
Her eyes widening at the realization of who Tom was alluding to. "Rebecca - she gave up her hunt for Maddy."
"Yeah, but maybe it was before that. I mean, we don't know when exactly Maddy was taken but we know when she was found", Tom smiled victoriously.
"Well, actually, we know she had to have been taken after Segolia dropped them off and as far as being found, that was two weeks after we captured Alex Kincaid. That could be another reason it wasn't escalated - if Segolia had been notified," Jana thought aloud, "With everything going on, Sweeney on a war path to track down all of Alex's associates, and taking a fine tooth comb to all of the employees at Segolia . . . it could have fallen through the cracks."
"Fallen . . .through. . . the . . . cracks?" Rhydian asked, enunciating each word.
"Maybe?" Jana replied meekly.
"Or easier to make disappear?" Shannon offered, taking a long drink of her water with two slices of lemon.
It became quiet again, the only noise the waitress slipping the family style starters between them and then leaving again.
"You know . . ." Tom started, after a long few moments of silence, "we're missing something key."
"What's that?" Shannon asked, rubbing the bridge of her nose before adjusting her glasses.
"Maddy was found alone . . . did it say where they found the ID?"
"In her trainers . . . like inside . . . laying right inside. And no - no finger prints were found on the ID card either; though, I think that's more because of where the card was placed. Squeezed between her sock and the cushion of 'er shoe . . . anything on the card would have been rubbed off from the friction of her running," Jana supplied, clearly confused to where Tom was going with the question.
"In her trainers?" Rhydian repeated, dumbfounded by the location. "Not her pockets," he said aloud, more to himself than the others.
"Good place to hide something you didn't want found," Tom suggested.
"Or keeping it safe so she could be identified when found. . ." Shannon proposed.
"Okay," Rhydian growled, raking his fingers through his hair. "If someone else was responsible for hiding the ID card in her trainers then they would have to know she wouldn't remember who she was. Who would do that? And why? And if they did do it then why not come forward or alert the authorities themselves?" Rhydian listed, getting louder with each question, causing the group to shush him.
"That's what we need to figure out," Shannon affirmed.
"What about her medical records?" Rhydian asked, contemplating laying his head on his folded arms that were resting on the table.
Jana paused to let through another yawn, her eyes nearly closed. "Not much . . . We found she routinely sees a neurologist and they order bloodwork on a regular basis. . ."
"Why?" Shannon asked around a mouthful of a boneless chicken wing.
"Why what?" Jana asked, overcoming her tiredness to shove a whole nugget of chicken into her mouth.
Shannon made a noise of disgust, clearly frustrated with how quickly Jana's mental fortitude was declining. If Rhydian wasn't so tired himself, he'd tell her it was karma.
"Seeing only a neurologist? Why not a psychiatrist or even a hypnotherapist?"
Jana just shrugged. "We didn't get that far . . . Lord Heart caught on to what we had done, and shut us down - citing unlawful acquisition of her records based off unfounded theories," she mocked, obviously still bitter about the decision. Point is," she started, seeing the bewildered looks of the others, "without having evidence to prove her parents were murdered or miss" Jana yawned again much to the Naturals contempt,"-ing. . . or may" another yawn erupted. Watching Jana pause for each yawn was not helping keep Rhydian awake.
"Jana!" Tom yelled, startling the Wolfblood.
"Um . . . right, or finding they are the culprits -"
"What?" Shannon screeched, before Rhydian could say anything. "Emma and Daniel did NOT cause Maddy to have amnesia or be kidnapped!"
"Her own parents kidnap their teen?" Tom said aghast, straightening up.
"I didn't say I thought that," Jana snapped, slightly more alert than she had been just a mere few moments ago.
"I still think Lord Heart has something to do with all this," Tom spoke quietly, looking around for confirmation they were all on the same page. "Something is very shady about that guy."
"We've been over this . . . we don't have anything to point to him as a suspect," Jana said, taking a nacho layered in cheese and season ground beef from the stack.
"There has to be something. . ." Rhydian said as if his conviction alone would make appear the evidence they needed, right between the spinach dip and the barbecue wings.
Jana groaned. "I give up," she mumbled.
"Well, I can confirm, these were no costumed assailants and -"
"Segolia agents found the other "werewolf" two days ago," Jana interrupted..
"Precisely," she confirmed, happily. "Rebecca and I are running tests, but so far nothing new," Shannon's smile dipped into a frown.
"What about their finger prints?" Rhydian asked, tearing his napkin into tiny pieces.
Shannon shook her head, "From what we can tell, this metamorphosis they undergo is permanent. So, we can't take finger prints and compare them."
Rhydian growled, "This day just keeps getting worse, doesn't it?"
"Being a little melodramatic, aren't you?" Jana retorted.
Shannon pulled out her mobile and looked at the screen. "Maddy just texted. She'll be here in just a few minutes." Jana pulled on Rhydian's sleeve, "Let's go." Rhydian looked nonplussed. "Get up, so, I can sit on the other side of ya." Rhydian grumbled and did as asked, allowing Jana to scoot passed him into the interior of the booth.
"Well, this will really be like old times, eh?"
"How do you mean?" Jana asked, looking suspiciously at Tom.
"Well, you and Mads sitting with Rhydian in between, you both wanting to be with - oomph," Tom grunted, massaging his ribs that his wife elbowed. He looked between the two Wolfbloods, who seemed to be growing more uncomfortable with each passing second. "Oh, come off it. You can't deny -"
"No one is denying anythin'," Jana snapped.
"But, maybe we don't bring that up," Rhydian whispered.
"O-kay," Tom agreed, putting his hands up in surrender.
Watching Shannon extract a thin, black leather album, Rhydian nodded toward it, "What's that?"
"An album," Shannon grinned.
"No, I know that, of what?"
"Pictures," she said, shooting him a look that said 'duh.' Rhydian huffed, but before he could ask more questions, she clarified. "If you're worried. I didn't include anything wolfy."
"What about wolves?"
The intruding question caused the group to jump. Standing next to the table, was Maddy . . . and beside her, was Sarah.
All of the joy that swelled at hearing his mate's voice plummeted through him like a ton of bricks. Rhydian surmised the current expression on Sarah's face would be the same as if she were just served a life sentence. It was clear as a cloudless day that she didn't want to be there, which begged the question, why was she?
It must have be written across their foreheads as Maddy explained without prompting. "This is my sister, Sarah," she introduced, to whom only Shannon may have needed clarification. "Uh, Sarah, this is Tom . . . his wife, Shannon . . . Ag-Jana . . . and Rhydian." Sarah gave a curt smile that was without a doubt knee-jerk manners kicking in and not any genuine sentiment to having the pleasure of being introduced to Maddy's old friends. "Sarah thou-" seeing her sister shoot her a warning look, Maddy stumbled, "uh, I mean, we thought," she corrected with sigh, "that she should come along. I haven't been to Stoneybridge before . . . I think . . . that I can remember, so . . ." she finished with a false smile. Rhydian could feel something percolate inside him, and he was sure it wasn't the beer or the starters, which he hadn't even the slightest interest in.
Feeling the awkward silence that was slithering about the group, Shannon raised from her seat (the best she could) and extended her hand to Sarah. "It's good to meet you," Shannon greeted, smiling cordially. Rhydian wasn't the only one to throw her an incredulous look. Everyone, including Sarah, gawked at the sugariness of her greeting.
Unsure how to receive Shannon, Sarah fumbled, "Uh, um, h-hello. Maddy said you had been friends prior to the accident." She relaxed her shoulders, and smiled as if seeing a second cousin whom she would only encounter on holidays.
"Oh, yeah! Maddy and I were inseparable as kids."
"Oh." Sarah's eyebrows rose high on her forehead, and her body jumped just the slightest as if Maddy having any friends prior to her life with the Hearts were the most mind-blowing idea to be presented to her.
Maddy seated herself next to Rhydian, Sarah carefully watching him as her sister settled. The waitress floated by, collecting their drink orders and two additional starters. Rhydian wasn't sure where they were going to put them on the already crowded table full of food that was sitting neglected.
Maddy covered her mouth as she released a long yawn, rubbing at her eye with her other hand. She gave a contented sigh and looked around.
"Everything okay?" Shannon immediately asked. Maddy had dark circles under eyes, and her skin seemed a little more pale than usual. Giving a closed-lip smile, Maddy gave a weak nod of her head.
"I told her we shouldn't come if she wasn't feeling well?" Sarah said condescendingly, as if Maddy were more her child than her sister.
"Sarah," Maddy said with a tone of warning. "I'm fine. Just tired. I have these days every so often."
"You do?" Tom asked skeptically.
She bobbed her head. "Lucky they are far and few between, but when I do, it feels like I was hit by a train."
"And it only gets worse as it gets later in the day," Sarah informed, pulling a strand of loose hair from Maddy's face and tucking it behind her sister's ear.
Pulling away from her sister, Maddy assured, "Really, I'm fine." Seeing the gang trade glances, she asked, "What?"
"Nothin'," Shannon said quickly, flattening some fly-away strands of her own.
"Well, it's good to have the pack back together," Jana mused aloud, sleepily.
"Excuse me?" Sarah probed.
Jana turned pink, now realizing the slip of the tongue. Before she could correct herself, the waitress returned, and rested the additional apps on the table. Watching Maddy pull a pulled pork slider from the plate, Sarah appeared to have forgotten about Jana's slip, her eyes now fixed on her sister.
Noticing Sarah's staring, Maddy quipped, "Dad's not here."
"So, I guess that makes it okay," Sarah said pointedly, crossing her arms over chest disapprovingly.
Maddy paused for a second before taking a large bite of the slider, smiling as she chewed. Sarah huffed and shook her head, but didn't press the issue.
"What?" Shannon asked, watching them with intense curiosity.
"We're vegetarians. Well, we're supposed to be anyway . . ."
"You don't eat meat!" Jana erupted in a panic.
"No . . . " Maddy answered, giving the Wild Wolfblood a peculiar look. "Um, I'm not supposed to have it for health purposes, but I thought -"
"Since we're already lying to Dad, why not?" Sarah said, though the edge in her voice had waned.
"Wait, what health reasons?" Shannon asked, who was nudged by her husband. "What?"
While Rhydian was shocked that Maddy didn't eat meat, his interest laid with the lie Maddy told her father to come. Something inside twisted and danced with unbridle glee that she would do such a thing to see him again. Well . . . he, Shannon, Tom, and Jana. "So, where does Daddy Dearest think you are?" Rhydian whispered, leaning in closer to her.
Maddy smirked, swallowing the last of the slider and taking sip of her soda.
"Father thinks we're meeting a potential client," her sister answered, narrowing her eyes at Rhydian. "And my sister's health is off limits," she announced, scrutinizing Shannon. "I . . . accept . . . " she hesitated, "that Addie wants to connect with her friends. But you lot are also part of that dangerous investigation that my father has expressed his disapproval of." Seeing her sister start to protest, "That was the deal, Addie. I go with this little charade of yours but you still mind father's wishes."
Rhydian bristled, his instincts telling him to put her back in her place . . . back at Heart Manor and far from Maddy. This was his pack and she was talking to them as if she was the alpha.
"You know what?" Tom intervened, his voice going up an octave, "Shannon brought some photos for you to look through, Mads. Try and help . . . maybe you'll remember something, yah?"
Sarah opened her mouth, but she was overruled by the offspring of Dan and Emma Smith.
"Great!" Maddy extended her hands out.
"Why don't you wait 'til later, Addie?" Sarah suggested, "There's so much food and drinks on this table," she gave a grand gesture, "you wouldn't want to accidentally knock something over or spill something on this gift that Shannon graciously and obviously painstakingly made for you."
Shannon made a gesture of both accepting the compliment and politely trivializing it. "It really wasn't . . ." she tried to assure.
Yet, across from the scientist, Rhydian sat shaking with fury, piercing the navy, soft leather seat cushion between he and Jaana with his long, dark finger nails. Never had he felt so strong an emotion on a no moon day as he was feeling right then. Oblivious to Rhydian, Maddy disregarded her sister's recommendation, already absorbed in the gift. Opening it immediately, she started studying each picture, her sister craning her neck to see what Maddy was looking at so attentively.
Rhydian wanted this woman to leave and never come back. Maddy was his mate, part of his pack, and didn't need to take orders from anyone. Gnashing his back molars together, as the alpha, he needed to do something. Having decided to give her a lesson in Wolfblood pack hierarchy, he growled, overcome with a confidence not his own. A devious grin blossomed on his face, a plan rapidly formulating; yet, the wave of arrogance that had overcame him receded like a strong undertow as sudden pain shot through his leg.
"Ow!" he yelped, whirling around to find Jana, fully alert and pressing her fork into his thigh. Grimacing, he was convinced the utensil it was going to draw blood once she extracted it from his leg.
"What the bloody hell is going on with you?" she hissed, her eyes trained on him not unlike when she would go hunting in the wild.
He was about to tell her off when he caught movement on the opposite side of the booth. Holding a dessert card she had plucked from the metal wire stand on the table, Shannon shielded the small compact mirror from the Heart sisters' sight to show Rhydian his reflection. Staring back at him was a young, handsome man, with distinctly yellow eyes.
It felt as if the air had just evaporated from his lungs, he hardly registered Jana pull the fork from his leg. Breathing heavily, alarmed at the golden pupils his reflection looked at him with, he didn't care that he was right about the fork. Four pin pricks were left in his denim jeans that quickly spread with blood. Jana covered her hand over the wound, mouthing 'sorry' to him.
He silently nodded, unsure what would happen if he spoke. Quickly glancing at Shannon, he watched her tuck the compact back in her purse. Tentatively he looked at Maddy, who was staring at them, her eyes darting from their faces to Jana's hand.
Removing her hand, he laughed nervously, the air suddenly thick, nearly suffocating. "Is that blood?" Sarah asked, lifting herself slightly to see what Maddy had been focusing on. Rhydian grimaced, watching the eldest Heart daughter flash him a smug smile.
"No, just sauce," Jana said quickly.
"Uh, I need to use the loo," Rhydian said, his heart pounding, bile bubbling up in his throat.
Maddy nodded, her eyes still focused on where Jana's hand had just been. Eager to leave, Rhydian squeezed passed, barely allowing Maddy enough time to get out of the booth. Their eyes locking for the briefest moment, he wanted to explain further, denounce any thoughts that Jana and Rhydian were romantically involved, yet the terror spreading from his heart down to his fingers and toes stopped him. He suddenly felt sixteen years old again.
Rhydian hobbled to the mens room and leaned against the porcelain sink, tentatively looking at his reflect. A wave of relief washed over him as green eyes looked back.
Turning on the tap, he splashed cold water on his face. He extracted the vile from the interior of his pocket and emptied the contents.
What's happening? Starring into the mirror, he leaned in, "I know you're there? But how?"
"Rhydian? Mate?"
"Tom?"
"Yeah, Shannon asked I check on you." Tom eased into bathroom, and sauntered up to the sinks. Rhydian leaned against the sink, turning away from the mirror.
"She's thinks we're going out?" Seeing Tom's quizzical look, "Maddy - and her sister! They think Jana and I are going out. Her sister, she's mucking everything up! Did you see that smirk?" He knew he needed to calm down, but he couldn't hold it back. "She's going to ruin everything!"
"Hey, relax mate!" Coming to stand in front of his best mate, he gripped him by the shoulders. "Maybe you should call it a night, yah?"
"And let her throw dirt all over me? Us? Her past?"
"I won't let that happen, but maybe you just trust us - your friend, our pack," there was a notable hitch in his voice and Rhydian could hear Tom's heart pounding and see the pleading look in his eyes.
"Okay," he relented. He wanted to give hims a hundred small suggestions on how to handle the situation, but left it alone.
"Great!" Tom patted his friend on the shoulder, guiding him out of the bathroom. He stopped short causing Tom to step on the back of his heels.
Returning to the table, were Shannon and Jana only. Rhydian rushed to booth, "What happened?"
"We went to the women's bathroom," Shannon answered.
"No, where's Maddy?"
"You mean, Addie?" Jana corrected.
Rhydian snarled, there was not the time for technicalities. Spotting Maddy's clutch on the bench seat, he Looked frantically around. After a few very tense moments, he found the women on the small dance floor with two men he didn't recognize. Rhydian felt a tug on his brown leather jacket, a pitiful attempt by Tom to keep him planted. Rhydian shirked off Tom's grasp and marched through the crowded pub.
Rhydian ran his tongue over his teeth and felt it catch on his incisor. Prepared to chuck the man across the room, he stopped short as it suddenly occurred to him that he was on the center of the dance floor. Standing beside the couple, he swallowed, trying to force down the panic rising in his throat.
His mouth moving, but not the slightest bit able to articulate himself, he stood there like an oaf watching them.
"You've been a lovely dance partner, but my friend and I haven't seen each other in years, it would mean so much if we could share this dance together," Maddy said, tilting her head to one side in just the most adorable way.
Somewhat flustered, the gentleman released his hold and made room for Rhydian to switch. Relief washed over Rhydian as the song ended. Grabbing for her hand, he attempted to escort her off the floor. "Come on."
"Hold on," she laughed, keeping him from leaving. "The band is still playing," she smile coyly. Rhydian looked up to see a dark skinned man scurry off the stage, having slipped the band some money.
Tom, Rhydian grimaced. Rhydian didn't dance. He just didn't. What was Tom trying to pull?
Looking into her eyes, he desperately wished he could see golden iris staring back, but all that shone were chestnut brown. Resigning to the fact, she wouldn't leave, he assumed the proper hold for a slow dance.
"I have to warn you . . ." he began, "I have two left feet."
"Noted," she giggled. "If it won't wound your pride, I'll take the lead."
"Not at all."
They swayed, listening to the cover band churn out a moving rendition of "Truly Madly Deeply" by Savage Garden. A light weight pressed on his chest and he realized she had laid her head on him, his reflexes on autopilot, he rested his head against hers, taking in her scent, the feel of the music as it flowed from the subwoofers, the floor under their feet aged and bending just the slightest under their weight. The sound of patrons talking, dancing, and laughing, a hum of background noise. Rhydian closed his eyes, imagining if this is what the disco would have felt like if he had been alpha enough to ask her instead of using the Dark Moon and his lack of dancing skill as an excuse.
"Rhydian," she began, her voice sounding a million miles away. "Did we . . . Rhydian, were we ever a cou-" The song faded and an uproar of clapping trampled the question.
He looked at Maddy, knowing the question swimming in her mind.
Rhydian felt his breath catch in his mouth, as much as he wanted to confirm her suspicions, a dubious feeling overcame him that telling her would be a bad idea.
"You are better dancer than you think, Mr. Morris," she interrupted, releasing her hold and stepping away from him.
As they walked back, Maddy asked, "So . . . Jana and you are close . . ."
Rhydian rolled his eyes, tucking his hands into his pockets. Addie was just as annoyingly persistent as his Maddy.
Electing to pretend he didn't hear her, did not dissuade Maddy. Like a wolf who had caught the scent of sickly fawn, she was on the hunt for the elusive information.
"So, how long have you been -"
"Were friends," he snipped, feeling immediately remorseful by her shocked expression. "We . . . had a . . . thing," he fumbled, "years and years ago and it didn't compare to . . . " he sighed and moved passed her, grabbing at his chest as he felt something burrowing, restless inside.
They reached the table where the others were waiting, Shannon and Jana looking like kids having gotten away with something.
"So, you heading out?" Tom reminded.
"Uh, no," Rhydian said calmly, sliding passed Maddy to sit. "We're good." Rhydian smirked as Tom frowned, clearly disgruntled at Rhydian's change of mind.
The remainder of the night felt much like the beginning. Rhydian was sure he was going to have a bruise the size of an orange on his shin and ribs from how many times Shannon kicked him under the table or Jana elbowed him to dampen his urge to argue and challenge Sarah.
The sound of the guitar jack being ripped from the woofer gave signal to the pub patrons that things were wrapping up. Patrons started meandering to the door and Rhydian understood this to be the beginning of the end for their dinner. As the group started to follow the crowd out, he patted at his pockets searching for his phone. Realizing he was one mobile device short, he jogged back to his table to see Shannon drop a large clear plastic bag with something inside into her purse.
Coming upon the table, he stopped. "Shan?"
She jumped, startled. "Uh, I was just looking for my mobile."
"Why?"
"Well, if you must know . . . I heard it vibrate."
"Who would be contacting you now?" It was well after midnight.
"Well, that's what I was planning on finding out," she snapped.
He knew it was an act, folding his arms over his chest. "Shan . . ."
"I'll just look when I get home," she mused, waddling passed him. He wanted to press her but he first needed to find his own mobile before they kicked him out. The servers and bar tender were cleaning tables as rapidly as they could, turning over bar stools and chairs, so the young man mopping could gain better access to floor around the free standing tables. Rhydian leaned into the booth where he sat - nothing. He looked on the cushions - nothing. Checking underneath the table, he spotted it against the wall, crawling underneath, he snatched the phone. As he backpedaled out and started to stand, something caught his eye.
Rhydian narrowed his eyes, looking to his right at the adjoining booth, but the small black device adhered to the underside of their table was non-existent at the next. Rhydian gripped his fingers and pulled hard. Resisting on his first try, his body feeling weak, he gave it another attempt. Finally, on his third try, he wrenched the device free from the table.
What's this? He wondered, turning it over in his hand. Examining it, he recognized it as a listening device to spy on people. When had this been planted? Looking to the edge of the table, there was only one person sitting there. Sarah.
Switching the device off, he pocketed it and prepared to confront Sarah about it.
Catching up with the others outside, he saw Sarah being helped inside the back seat by the driver of the black cab that Tom hailed for them. Debating if he should say something or not, Maddy began hugging each one of her friends goodbye. First Shannon, then Tom, followed by Jana. Rhydian would be lying if it didn't drudge up bad memories of that fateful day nearly ten years ago. He watched Sarah twist around in the back seat to call to her sister, "Addie, come on. It's late. Father is going to call the police to report his daughters missing. I'm sure of it!"
Maddy looked back at her sister and nodded. His mind already on the long drive home, he stumbled forward as he felt a strong tug on his shirt, and his lips meeting hers. It was brief, but the kiss left his lips tingling as they separated. "Finally . . . got my answer," she snickered, "And uh . . ." she pointed to her eyes, "you should probably eat something," she encouraged, easing herself into the back of the cab.
Rhydian turned to his friends, who looks morphed from ecstatic to horrified. A chorus of whispers about his eyes confirmed they were golden-yellow. But Rhydian couldn't care, he was barely able to contain within him the howl he craved to let out.
Uninterested in Rhydian, the driver went through the motion of closing the door and moving on to his next destination. Watching the cab drive away, Rhydian could see her sister widely gesticulating; yet, the laughter from Maddy that he could hear with his gifts settled his fears that she was apologetic or regretting her actions.
"Rhydian!" Jana said between clenched teeth. "Your wolf. Turn. It. Off."
"I don't think he can," Tom muttered.
"How is that possible?"
Rhydian laughed, not a care in the world.
"Hey!" Called a voice from behind the group. "Was that Maddy Smith?" Rhydian's eyes immediately narrowed. Rhydian whipped around to find Liam jogging up to the group. "That was Maddy Smith, right?"
"Hey, mate," Tom greeted.
"Hey, Liam," Jana and Shannon greeted in unison.
Before Rhydian could reign IT back, he had lifted Liam off his feet and pinned him to the exterior wall of McArdles. "No! It was you!" he bellowed. "Your fault!" Rhydian snarled. "Tell Whitewood, invading her family's tunnels - her territory!"
"I-I-Rhydian!" Liam shook, his heels scraping at the brick wall.
"Rhydian!" Tom appeared in seconds, trying to separate them.
"Let him go!" Shannon demanded.
Take the threat out! Rhydian reached back, long black nails extended. Liam wouldn't hurt Maddy again. He wouldn't betray their kind. He wouldn't be the reason they were separated again.
Somewhere in the deep recesses of his mind, where his humanity was caged, Rhydian felt a pinch. Looking over was Jana with a syringe pressed into Rhydian's bicep. Rage consuming him, he dropped Liam and swung widely at Jana, knocking her to the floor.
"Rhydian!" Tom surged forward, tackling the Wolfblood to the ground. Rhydian made an effort to fight back, but his muscles felt like lead weights had been tied to them and his vision blurred as if he was trying to see underwater.
Then it was dark.
"Careful."
"Watch his head."
"You didn't have to do this."
"What? Leave him in the street . . . able to attack someone else?"
"That wasn't Rhydian."
Rhydian felt like it took all the energy he had to open his eyes just the tiniest amount; quickly shutting them as bright light flooded his pupils. .
"Oi! He's waking up."
"Get out, all of you! Bryn and I will take it from here."
Rhydian attempted to move his hands, but they were pinned together, tied at the wrist.
"Where . . . " he groaned. Rhydian sniffed the air, he was in the Den. He could smell Jana, Tom, Shannon, Bryn, and Liam all within an arms length.
"What's going on?" he asked weakly.
Rhydian forced his eyes open this time, the light blocked from the kitchen by the appearance of his mother, who hung in the doorway.
"IT broke free again," Bryn said, a tone of anger in his voice.
"Again?" Ceri squeaked.
"This was my fault. I should have made him go home when he first started struggling,"Jana spoke up.
"Wait," Tom interrupted. "What is going on?"
"That's what I'd like to know," Shannon grumbled..
"What's he doing here?" Bryn snapped, looking at Liam.
"Hey," Tom stepped between the two. "Liam helped us get Rhydian here. Helped us restrain him so he couldn't hurt anyone -"
"Else," Liam injected, his shirt ripped from where Rhydian had grabbed him.
"What about the Heddwch I gave him?" Ceri inquired.
"Wasn't enough," Rhydian garbled. Tom and Liam, who had been carrying him, one holding his feet the other holding him from under the arms, laid the groggy Wolfblood on the small alcove that doubled as a bed. His feet hog-tied, he wriggled himself into an upright position.
He could see Ceri's eyes sink to the floor, much like her hopes that she had found a viable solution.
"It's not your fault, mum," he soothed, giving her a half-hearted smile. "A little help?" Jana chewed her lip, staring at his outstretched hands to be set free. "Mum's got liquid silver and a silver dagger, I give you permission to use them freely. But . . ." he looked in Shannon, Tom, and Liam's direction, "I need to explain and apologize, and I'd like to do that without being bound."
They were seated in a circle on the ground, a small oil lamp their only light. Gerwyn had locked the door, begrudgingly, as to secure another layer of protection between Rhydian and world. It had taken less time than Rhydian had imagined to recount the different episodes in which his wolf took over.
Tom dragged his hands down his face, while Shannon look at the blonde in rapt attention, processing every detail. "Amazing," she breathed. Tom threw his hands up, clearly frustrated at his wife's comment. "Well, it is. . . I mean -"
"Don't," Tom said sternly.
"So, what happens now?" Liam asked finally.
"Well, that's up to you lot. If you tell Whitewood or Dacia, Segolia will lock me up."
"Or worse," Jana murmured, picking at a piece of dried twig.
"What?" Rhydian asked.
She gave a long sigh, dropping the twig and looked at Rhydian. "I didn't want to say anythin' . . . But they may order you to be terminated."
"What?!" everyone shouted.
"It's not like I agree with it!" Jana defended. "But, if they approved cagin' an irritable elderly Wolfblood, who was wheelchair-bound and had an honorable life of service to both humans and Wolfbloods, what do you think they will do to Rhydian? A Wolfblood they think is reckless, young, able, and whose Wolf has no loyalty but to itself . . . not even its human counterpart." Jana wiped at her eyes, taking a calming breath.
"You should have told me," Rhydian snapped.
"What good would that do?" Jana countered. "Would you honestly have done anything different?"
Rhydian clamped his mouth shut, for the answer was "no." He had no control over his Wolf and all the Wolf wanted was to protect and reconnect with Maddy. Segolia and the threat it presented were nothing but a gnat zipping about its head.
"There's nothing we can do?" Tom asked after a brief silence.
"No . . . I don't think so . . ." she gave an exasperated sigh. "I don't know anymore."
She shot him a look that said she was withholding something, but Rhydian didn't have the energy to press her on it.
"Have you asked Maddy?" Liam asked. Rhydian looked at Liam wearily, realizing he needed to explain more to the former classmate of his.
It took longer to explain to Liam the history of the missing persons case than he would have liked. In spite of Segolia's interviews they kept enough "hush-hush" to prevent too many prying eyes from digging too far into the case.
It was nearing daybreak, a stream of light leaking through the coal hatch. "You can stay here, if you want. You shouldn't be driving this tired," Rhydian offered, watching Shannon give way to a long yawn.
"I'll stay down here, so there's two bedrooms and a couch to rest," Bryn informed.
"You don't - " Rhydian began.
"I like it better down here, closer to nature . . . sort of," he said with a shrug.
As the group gathered and filed out of the Den, Liam - who had been leading the group - turned around to face Rhydian. "Listen, if there's anything I can do . . . I want to make it right."
Rhydian nodded. They were gathered at the iron-bar door, waiting for Gerwyn to saunter down and release them when a knocking sound, like a wood pecker, startled the group. Rhydian turned about, finding his phone vibrating from an incoming call. Five pairs of eyes were trained on him as he read the caller id, "It's Maddy."
"Well . . ." Jana probed.
Rhydian accepted the call, but instead of the relief he was expecting at hearing her voice, he was blindsided to hear Sarah's voice instead.
"What's wrong?" Shannon asked.
"That was Sarah," he said, panic pumping through his veins. "Maddy's missing."
- End Chapter
A/N: Thank you for reading. Feedback is appreciated.