three.

By: Kaylyn C.

Oh no, not Darius. I gave mama a crazy look. "What? Absolutely not! I'd rather go alone!"

Did Aunt Rose put her up to this? There was no way in hell that I was traveling days and miles to god's no where with Darius Woods.

"I trust him, Tequila. Besides, he always seemed to be very..protective of you." Mama insists.

Yeah, that was the problem. Darius was always protective. Even in school when the kids would bully me because I hadn't changed into my wolf yet or because my hair was too long or because of the clothes I'd worn.

Sometimes me and mama had struggled through the years to where she couldn't afford food nor clothes. We were even backed up bills.

That's why I stepped in taking extra shifts at the diner whenever I didn't have school. I was tired of seeing mama stressed out and tired.

"He's too protective of me, that's the problem. Mama, you can't possibly make me take him with me." I told her folding my arms.

"Why, Tequila? I think you're making a big deal out of this. Besides, you need someone to look after you. Babygirl, you have to be careful."

I looked at her confused again. "Careful?"

Mama looked up at the ceiling and sighed. "There's bad people out there, Tequila. Not just people, but people that are in-human. And they want you. I tried my best to protect you, now it's your father's turn."

I let out a shaken breath. "Mom, I'm gonna find him and bring him home to you. I don't care who's after me. I'm gonna save you, okay?"

Bad people out there? I never been the one to be afraid of anyone or anything, probably because I grew up and around the few I've ever known. I knew then I had to keep my guard up when I leave our land.

That included Darius.

"The box, Tequila. Never let it out of your sight, you hear me? You have to hurry and give it to your father." She says gripping my wrist.

There was that word again. Father. I couldn't believe I was finally meeting him. Truthfully, the only thing I was afraid of was what if I find him and he doesn't want to see me or help mom?

I couldn't think like that now. I had to stay focused.

"I will, I promise, mama. I'll find him and I'll bring him to you to make you all better. I love you, mom and I'll see you soon, alright?" I told her, gripping both of her hands tightly.

Mama nodded and I pressed a kiss to her forehead. My heart was breaking all over again. I prayed to the moon goddess to give me enough time to save her. "I'll be back as soon as I can, Aileen will be here with you."

I stood up off the bed with the wooden box close to my chest. I had to hurry because with every second counting down..

..I was running out of time.

➖ ✴ ➖

I sat the wooden box down in my trunk right next to my suitcases. I closed the trunk then turned around to stare up at mama's window. Her red and brown curtains were pushed back to where the sunlight could come through.

I wanted to say forget the hide and seek game of finding my dad and just run back upstairs to find another solution. But I had already promised my mom.

And I plan on keeping that promise.

"Looks like you're all ready to hit the road." I hear a deep voice over my shoulder. I knew exactly who that was.

Darius.

Turning on my heel, my eyes instantly connects with his. My eyes had to travel up to connect with his because Darius was tall as hell standing at least 6'5.

He was wearing a pair of blue jeans also a black v neck shirt with his muscles getting ready to pop out.

Darius was apart of the runner group in our pack. The runner group was at least two hundred of us when it was time to go hunting. I heard that Darius was being promoted to leader.

I totally wasn't keeping tabs by the way.

"Y-Yeah, I just packed my things in the trunk." I told him shyly. I watched as his eyes raked over my body.

Christ, I know I looked a mess right now.

"Well I guess we should head out then." He says going over to driver's side. He first opened the back door to put his bags inside. "I'm sorry about your mama by the way. My mom told me."

Of course she did. Speaking of Aunt Rose, I look over my shoulders when I hear a car door slam. I see her running towards me with tears in her eyes. Aunt Rose wraps me up in her arms.

I suddenly feel a sob wanting to escape me but I take deep breath and hug her back. "I'm so sorry, Tequila. I can't imagine what you're going through." She said tearing up.

"You were right. I have to find him. He has to save her. I'll convince him. I-I'll have to try."

Aunt Rose breaks away from me for her eyes to search mine. "You won't have to do anything. Your father will know what to do after you find him. He knows it's time."

I step back a little from her. "Time for what?" What the hell was she talking about?

"It's not my place to tell. You'll find all of your answers when you find him." She said as her eyes traveled to the windy grass.

"Will you at least tell me where I'm headed? Where do I look first?"

"I've managed to pick up a few tabs with the help of a friend of your mama and I. I'll text you the pics of his wood shop he owns down in Denver. I think you should start there." Aunt Rose's eyes doesn't meet mine.

"Thank you, Aunt Rose. For everything." I gave her a sincere smile.

"Tequila, there's danger out there. Me and your mama did our best to hide you. We're old now and we aren't fast enough."

"Which is why you're sending your son." I finished her words. Her nodding her head had confirmed it.

She gives me a sympathetic look. "T-There's something you should know. Your father, he-"

"Miss Rose, Lena is asking for you." Aunt Rose was cut off when Aileen calls out from off our wooden porch.

"I'll help take care of her while you're gone. And I'll keep you updated. I love you both and please take care of her." Tears fall from Aunt Rose's eyes as she looks over at Darius.

Take care of me? I don't need him to take care of me! I wanted to tell her just that but I didn't want to hurt her feelings when she's stressing over mama.

Instead, I turned around and slipped into the passenger seat. I pulled my seatbelt around my belly and into the lock. A few moments later, Darius gets into the car and starts it up.

Darius then pulls out of the driveway and down the road. "Uh, aren't you gonna put your seatbelt on?" I asked him curiously.

Darius looks at me and smirks. "I think it's you who needs one, T."

T? What the hell?

"Look Darius, I know you had better things to do than babysit me all the way to God knows where. There's still time to turn back around if-"

"I'm not doing this for you, Tequila. I just don't like seeing my mother upset. You and Lena is all she's been talking about the last few months." He says.

"I-I just knew that you were busy with your group and the diner." I responded.

Darius looks over at me for a split second. "They aren't more important than the people I care about, T."

The inside of my chest warms a bit. I didn't know how I should feel when he said that. I wondered how many girls he had said that to.

Instead of responding, I nodded then turned to stare out the window.

This was gonna be a long drive.

➖ ✴ ➖

A few hours later, I feel a strong hand shake my shoulder. When I open my eyes we were sitting at a gas station. There was no cars and it looked rather abandoned.

"Sorry to wake you. I thought you'd want to get a snack or something. And plus, I have to get gas." Darius says getting out of the car.

I unhook my seatbelt to step out of the car as well. I took my phone out of my back pocket. Hm, Aunt Rose sent the pictures. Opening the attachment, my finger then clicked on the picture that was supposedly my father's shop.

His shop looked up to date. It was built with wood and surrounded by a few trees. The name of it was called L+D's. Wait, did the L stand for Lena?

"Hey, you okay?" Darius called out.

"Y-Yeah, let's just get the snacks and gas. We still have a way to go." I brush him off then make my way into the station.

I look around when I step inside. The lights were flickering a bit in the far back corner. There was a room back to where the lights were flickering and it was pitch black.

There wasn't anyone at the counter. "Hello?" I turned around to look at the room again.

Hm. Maybe they were outside. I walked to the other side of the small store and opened the door to the restroom. I closed the door behind me. I looked into the mirror.

My eyes had a few bags underneath them. I knew I was looking a bit rough but never thought it would be this rough. I turned on the cool water to run a puddle in my palms.

I splashed my face with the water and sighed. That felt nice.

I dried my face with the napkins in the container on the wall.

Exiting the bathroom, I walk over to the chip aisle. I just grabbed a few random bags. I wasn't a fan eating too much junk food and I didn't really know what Darius liked.

Of course the aisle would be connected to the dark room. There was a loud bang that suddenly sounded from the room.

The bags of chips fell as soon as I jumped and turned towards the sound. "Hello?!" I yelled. "Are you okay in there?"

No one answered. All I heard was this big dripping sound. What the fuck was going on? I look to the front door and saw Darius pumping the gas.

I quickly turned on my heel and ran towards the door. One moment I'm looking at the bars on the front door getting ready to push my way out of them and the next I'm seeing pitch darkness.

My heart raced and then I felt my fangs grow out of my teeth. Mama told me I was driving and running my way into danger. I knew what I was getting myself into and I wasn't afraid.

"Whoever or whatever the fuck you are, I suggest you think twice about fucking with me!" I bite out into the darkness.

➖ ✴ ➖

To be continued. ❤️