Choices

Glancing occasionally at Tessa through the rearview mirror, Vee was getting more worried seeing the look on her face. From how they found her dumbfounded in the woods to how she has been silent the whole journey back, was making Vee more worried. She looked like she had seen a ghost. She hasn't responded to their questions or so much as uttered a word to them. She had a shock and distant look.

Vee and Nate but exchanged confused looks. They decided to not push her yet for words but instead let her calm down first and go back to being herself. They dropped her off at her house and then pulled away, heaving deep sighs. There was some much tension with her present.

"What do you think is wrong with her?" Nate asked as soon as they pulled away from the house.

"How would I know, you saw how she said nothing the whole journey here" Vee quipped

"I just thought since you're her best friend..."

"Yeah best friends but we are not each other's mind readers" Vee teased.

"So are we going to tell her about what we discussed about the Beta?" He inquired.

"Not right now. You saw her. Let's let her get her head straight first. Is your offer still on the table about helping me out?"

"Yeah...yeah of course" He nodded

"Good. Cause I need it now. We have to do this ourselves for now. Find out what the Beta is truly up to and then we tell her" Vee explained

"Alright I'm in"

***

Tessa sat on the bed, both legs drawn into her with her arms wrapped around them. She kept staring at the door but her mind was fully elsewhere. She kept playing what happened back in the woods in loop. She was trying so hard not to believe what she saw. 'It couldn't be possible' she thought. She thought she might have saw wrong.

There was no way he was alive or worse be her worst enemy. She couldn't wrap her head around it. Seeing his snow white hair, and eyes out of the mask, there wasn't much hidden to make her think otherwise. Coupled with the fact that he didn't object when she called his name, she was prone to believe what she saw was reality.

"This can't be real" She muttered to herself, tears rolling down her cheek as she drew her legs into her more. 'What am I supposed to do?" She thought. If the love of her life ends up being her greatest enemy, she wouldn't know where to stand. She wouldn't know what do when faced with him next time. She thought her life was complicated already but now she realized there was room for more complications and it seemed to be getting worse.

***

Pacing about angrily, Derek was waiting impatiently for his father to return. He had words to say to him. He felt backstabbed and betrayed by the person he trusted the most. He had genuinely thought his father had his interest at heart but now he thought otherwise.

Tessa was all he had ever wanted and everyone was ripping her away from him. There was no way he could stand for that without fighting as hard as he could. He had Kieran's blood on his hand already and it was too late to stop now.

The door clicked open with Beta Maynard walking in. He glanced at his son's angry face and walked past him without uttering a word. "You betrayed me father" Derek blurted out, turning to face him angrily.

"No, you betrayed yourself son. You've always been naive and blind. You've made your whole life about Tessa. That is the quickest way to end yourself. You should accept the fact that I know what's best for you and the fact that Tessa is no longer yours" He said, his voice devoid of emotions.

"I can't do that. I killed Kieran because of her...you told me to. You've been using me for your own gain all along haven't you? It was never about me getting Tessa, it was about you getting what you want" Derek explained as it began clicking in his head.

"We have a bigger battle in front of us. War. We don't have the luxury of throwing everything we have away because of a foolish emotion such as love. You don't know anything son. And I think it's time you do..." He paused and stood up, heading toward the door. "Come with me" He ordered

***

"Where the hell have you been?" Cassie questioned, grabbing Nate's arm and dragging him to a quiet space. "I have been searching all over for you" She added.

"I just stepped out for a bit. Is something wrong?" He questioned with a curious look

"Yeah! Have you forgotten the assignments we were given? We have to come up with a plan that will get us results. I mean I kinda have an edge already, the Beta's son" She explained quietly, almost whispering. "I think maybe you can use your little crush for the mourning girl"

"I'm not doing that" Nate stated firmly. "I can't believe you're considering this. We can't spy on them....there's a war coming and the Black Lotus are the common enemy we should be fighting right now, not ourselves. If we end up tearing ourselves apart, then it would be easy for them to come in and finish us all off" He explained

"I was right, you're an asshat, a dumb one. You're right, we have a war coming, so we have to do all we can to benefit from it. Father is right, we have to expand our pack and this pack right now is unstable. If we don't do it right now, then other packs will beat us to it" Cassie explained

"I still think it's wrong what he's asking us to do" Nate shook his head.

"Sometimes I wonder if we really are twins. Don't be dumb Nate. You have to choose a side you want to be on. Them or your family and pack. Pick a side...and quick" She concluded and walked away.

***

Kreed took off his robe and handed it to Adan, making his way into the cave. He took off the half piece that was left of his mask and then ran his fingers through his white hair. He didn't seem angry nor was he happy. He looked like someone torn by his thoughts. "I take it things didn't go as planned?" Adan questioned

"No...no it didn't. I need a new mask" He replied, stopping on his track.

"I can see that" Adan stated, standing beside him. "Did she find out your identity?"

He shifted his gaze slowly to Adan, staring at him for a few seconds before replying. "It'll be safe to assume so"

"So what next?"

"If she's convinced it is me then we should expect fast paced movement. She never took my advice and let go of her feelings and it will alter our plans. My guess is now everyone will need to choose a side in the coming war. We should be ready for anything" He concluded and walked away.

***

Derek followed his father closely, climbing down the steps into the underground bunker he never knew existed. It was so secret no one would ever think it was present there. "Where is this place?" He asked.

"You will see" Beta Maynard replied and continued leading him on till they got to where a power switch was. He pulled down the lever and the lights came on, brightening the bunker.

Derek looked around and was surprised by the architectural design. It didn't seem like a bunker, it looked like an underground prison facility. It had rooms on both sides with heavy steel doors. "Go on" His father urged him.

He began slowly making his way toward the rooms. As he got closer he started feeling other presence around him, and sniffing mixed scents that filled the air. He got to the first room and peeked into it and his eyes widened with surprise, shock and confusion. He swiftly moved to the opposite room and saw same. He proceeded to check all the rooms and saw it was all the same.

He looked back at his father with a dumbfounded expression, waiting for an explanation. "Who are these?"

"Wolves from the direwolf clan" He replied.

"What...how...why are they here?" He stuttered, his heading filled with questions.

"Well they are going to help us win this war" Beta Maynard replied

"These are over two dozens father"

"Try fifty" He replied with an evil smirk.

"This....this is unbelievable. How is this possible? All of them were killed. That's the story you all told"

"Well don't believe everything you hear. This is our time"

"But does Tessa know about these? She's the future Alpha of our pack after all" Derek stated

"Not anymore" Beta Maynard replied, showing him his new red eyes. "I'm the Alpha now. Like I said this is our time and this is what I've worked for, for years. So now that you know you have to choose. Choose what you really want. Love or power. Your family or them. The choice is yours" He concluded with a smile, his glowing red eyes staring at Derek's shocked ones.