Kylo made it into his room, as he looked in the mirror he really hoped that burn mark healed. He didn't need his parents to ask questions. He was startled when his bedroom door opened; it was Taliyah.
"You could knock, you know," Kylo said, trying to keep his voice steady.
"I know, but I didn't want to waste time. What happened to you?" Taliyah asked, her eyes wide with concern as she stepped closer.
Kylo quickly turned his back to the mirror, trying to shield the mark from Taliyah's view.
"Nothing, get out," he said, his voice a mix of frustration and urgency.
Taliyah's eyes narrowed as she caught sight of the burn mark. "Oh my god, what is on your neck? Did Luna do that?" she asked, her voice rising in alarm.
Kylo pushed her out of the room before she could ask more questions, he hoped she would just let it go. Taliyah stumbled slightly, her expression a mix of confusion and hurt. She opened her mouth to say something, but Kylo closed the door firmly, leaning against it for a moment to catch his breath.
He knew that Taliyah's curiosity wouldn't fade easily, but for now, he needed to figure out how to handle the situation without making things worse. As he turned back to the mirror, the burn mark seemed to mock him, a constant reminder of the secrets he was trying to keep.
And of course, he knew his sister had a big mouth and his parents would soon come into the room, demanding explanations. No sooner had he collected his thoughts than he heard the familiar footsteps approaching. The door swung open, and his parents stood there, their faces a mix of concern and sternness.
"Kylo, what is going on?" his mother asked, her voice tense with worry.
Kylo swallowed hard, trying to come up with a plausible explanation. "It's nothing, really. Just an accident," he said, hoping it would suffice.
Before Kylo could say another word, Chase, his father, stepped into the room, his eyes immediately locking onto the mark on Kylo's neck that he was desperately trying to cover up.
"Kylo, that is silver. That is not nothing! Did Luna do that?" Chase asked, his voice filled with concern and disbelief.
"No! She would never hurt me. She actually saved me," Kylo replied, his heart racing as he tried to convey the truth without divulging too much.
His mother, Skye, looked from Kylo to Chase, her confusion deepening. "Saved you? From what?" she demanded.
Kylo sighed deeply, realizing that he couldn't keep it all hidden any longer. "It's complicated. I got into some trouble, and Luna stepped in to protect me. This mark is a result of that, but I'm not hurt. I promise."
"Kylo, who hurt you?" Chase demanded, his voice growing more insistent.
Kylo hesitated, his breath catching in his throat. "I... um... I don't know who she is, but Silas—he, um, used wolfsbane on me. And then I was at his house, and then... um... this girl came into the room. She tried to take me somewhere, said she needed me for something."
"A hunter" Chase said, his eyes widening with alarm.
"Wait, what?" Skye asked, her face a mask of shock and confusion.
"I can smell it, Skye," Chase continued, his nostrils flaring as he took a deep breath. "Whoever she is, she means to hunt us."
"How can you possibly smell a hunter?" Skye asked, her voice tinged with both disbelief and curiosity.
"It's in their scent," Chase explained, his tone calm but serious. "Hunters have a distinct smell—it's a mix of fear and determination, alongside the scent of the herbs they use, like wolfsbane. It's something you learn to recognize."
"And you can smell it?" Skye said, her voice shaking slightly.
"Yes, it's all over Kylo," Chase confirmed, his expression darkening.
Chase's voice left no room for argument. "I have a feeling this one is more skilled than the last three. I will go talk to Wild and see what he knows. In the meantime, Kylo, you do not leave the house, got it?"
Kylo nodded, the gravity of the situation sinking in. "Got it."
Skye stepped closer, her concern evident in her eyes. "What about Luna? She's still out there, right?"
"Luna is fine. She is not a werewolf," Chase said, trying to reassure them.
"That may be true," Skye responded, "but she could use Luna to get Kylo to come out."
Chase paused, considering Skye's words.
"I never thought of that," Chase admitted, his gaze shifting from Skye to Kylo. "I will call Ryder on the way to Wild's, get him to keep her inside too."
With that, Chase turned on his heel and headed towards the door, determination etched on his face. Skye watched him go, her mind racing with the implications of the hunter's presence. Kylo remained silent, absorbing the weight of their predicament.
Outside, the night air was cool and crisp, the wind carrying whispers of danger. Chase dialed Ryder's number, his fingers moving swiftly. As the call connected, he took a deep breath, ready to relay the urgency of their situation.
"Hello Ryder," Chase said as soon as the call connected. "There's a hunter after Kylo. Keep Luna inside; we don't want her to be used to get to him."
"Yeah, Luna told us and we will keep her safe," Ryder replied, his voice steady and reassuring.
Chase knocked on Wild's door and Rory opened it. "Need him again?" she asked, her brow furrowing with concern.
Chase nodded, a flicker of a smile playing at the corner of his lips. "Yeah, sorry. He is like my guide and guru in all of this," he admitted, feeling a bit sheepish but earnest.
Rory's expression softened slightly. "I understand. Come on in, Chase." She stepped aside, allowing him entry.
Inside, Wild was hunched over a table, intently studying something. Chase's eyes widened as he caught sight of the small, armored creature in front of Wild. It was unlike anything he had ever seen before.
"What is that?" Chase asked, his voice tinged with awe and curiosity.
"A pangolin," Wild replied without looking up. "I'll explain more about it later. Now, what brings you here?"
Chase hesitated, debating whether to share the latest development. "There's another hunter," he began, his voice low and urgent. "A girl. She tried to hurt Kylo, but he managed to get away. We don't think it's the last of her."
"Seriously, another hunter?" Wild asked, his brow furrowing as he finally looked up from his work. "You said she was a girl, like young?"
Chase nodded, his expression serious. "I wasn't there myself, but Kylo said she was a girl. He seemed pretty certain."
Wild went to his computer and looked at Chase. "Take a photo of her and ask Kylo if this is who he saw," he said, his voice calm but focused.
"You just have random photos of hunters?" Chase asked, taking the photo and sending it to Skye.
"Well yeah, someone has to look out for you and your little pack," Wild replied with a slight smirk.
Chase's phone buzzed, and he glanced at the screen. "Skye texted back," he announced, looking up at Wild. "Kylo said yes, it's her."
Wild's face paled as he processed the information. "Oh man, I was afraid of that. This is Gale," he said, shaking his head. "I was hoping she was gone; she hasn't been around for a while. And don't let the 'girl' thing fool you. She has a very powerful witch working for her, or rather, she's threatening the witch to help her. She is not just any girl, she is the most ruthless hunter out there."
"Can we stop her?" Chase asked, his voice tinged with desperation.
Wild took a deep breath, his eyes narrowing as he formulated a plan. "It's not going to be easy," he admitted. "Gale is cunning and has resources we can't even begin to fathom. But we're not completely powerless."
Wild sighed, sensing Chase's growing apprehension. "Okay, what do we do?" Chase asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
"We don't do anything," Wild replied firmly, his gaze steady on Chase. "You keep yourself and your family safe. Avoid isolated areas. She will not strike in public places, schools, or places with lots of crowds. She doesn't like to draw attention to herself."
"But how do we ensure everyone's safety?" Chase pressed, his worry evident.
"I will figure something out, I just need time," Wild said, his voice resolute.
"Okay, and are you going to tell me what that thing is for?" Chase asked, pointing to the pangolin.
Wild glanced at the pangolin, a hint of determination in his eyes. "That is an experiment I am trying to create a serum for Kylo. It's complicated but I think I can do it. It will help him if he ever loses control of his wolf, or if Luna asks him to shift too many times. I am hoping it will bring him back to human form. I mean, I am trying to get it to do that," he explained.
"Okay but how does the little guy fit in?" Chase asked, his eyes narrowing as he pointed at the pangolin.
"The pangolin is an essential part of the serum," Wild explained. "Its scales contain unique properties that can stabilize the transformation process. By including them in the serum, I hope to ensure that Kylo can safely revert to his human form without any adverse effects." Wild gently stroked the pangolin's back, and the creature curled into a ball, seemingly content.
Chase nodded slowly, absorbing the information. "It sounds risky, but if it can help Kylo, then it's worth a shot."
"Exactly. I just need to perfect it first, and well, that might take me time if you keep bringing me new projects," Wild remarked with a wry smile.
Chase sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Sorry and thanks, Wild," he said, his voice heavy with gratitude and worry. As he turned and left, he couldn't help but hope that Wild could indeed create the serum in time and somehow stop Gale's impending threat. The weight of the situation bore down on him, but he knew he had to trust in Wild's expertise and determination.
Chase was walking back home when he ran into Lizzie and Kol. Kol looked like he was struggling, or maybe seriously drunk. Lizzie was trying to support him, her face etched with concern.
"Chase!" Lizzie called out, relief washing over her features as she spotted him. "I could use a little help here."
Chase hurried over, taking Kol's other arm and helping to steady him. "What happened?" he asked, his eyes scanning Kol's face for any signs of injury or distress.
Lizzie shook her head in frustration. "He is an idiot, that's what happened! I mean, I honestly can't with him. Just because he's 21 now, he thinks he's invincible."
Chase sighed, understanding Lizzie's exasperation. "Well, let's get him home and make sure he's okay," he said, as they began to guide Kol towards his house.
Kol muttered incoherently, his steps unsteady.
"Yes, you are an idiot. I love you, Kol, but I am so over this," Lizzie said as they managed to get him into their house. Lizzie and Kol had finally moved out of Everest and Marshall's, and they were both attending college now.
"You good?" Chase asked once they had Kol settled on the couch.
"Yes, fine," Lizzie responded, brushing her hair back. She had a determined look in her eyes. "I'm in school to become a doctor, remember? I can handle Kol."
Chase nodded, reassured by her confidence. "Okay, I'll leave you to it then. Call me if you need anything."
Lizzie smiled gratefully. "Thanks, Chase. I'll let you know if things get worse."
Once Chase was outside, he pulled out his phone and dialed Zuma's number. Despite knowing that Zuma was tired of dealing with his brother's antics, he felt it was necessary to keep him informed.
"Hey, Zuma," Chase said when the call connected. "Just a heads up, Kol's had another rough night. Lizzie and I got him home safely, but you know how he can be."
There was a heavy sigh on the other end. "Thanks for letting me know, Chase. I'm so tired of this, but I appreciate you looking out for him."
"Of course," Chase replied.
Chase hung up and finally headed home. He felt a weight lift from his shoulders as he walked through the door, knowing that Kol was safe for now. The familiar warmth of his home embraced him, and the stress of the night began to melt away.
Skye, who had been anxiously waiting for him, immediately brightened as he stepped inside. "You're back!" she exclaimed, her face lighting up with a radiant smile. She rushed over to him and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him into a tight hug.