Chapter Two : The Ghosts of Yesterday 43+ NICOLE ~ Present Day ~ Two more wolves are dead , Nicole . We cant just sit back anymore hoping it 11 go away . We have to do something . I looked up from the papers in front of me meeting Gerald , my Beta s eyes filled with worry and feeling the tension in the air that had spiked up the moment he walked in , and the words he spoke hit me like a punch to the gut . More deaths . I kept my back to him , staring out the window of my office , trying to collect my thoughts . The Hastings Faction had been reeling since the first wolf had gone missing nearly a month ago and was found dead . No signs of a struggle , no tracks to follow , nothing . 45 % 11:36 1/6 Chapter Two : The Ghosts of Yesterday And then it started . More wolves started going missing , meeting the same fate . I took a deep breath before turning to face him , I know , Gerald . Im not blind to whats going on . My voice was tight , controlled , but the truth weighed heavy on me . The more time passed , the more helpless I felt . We had pooled resources with the other Alphas in the faction , tried everything from tracking to gathering intel , but every lead we d followed had amounted to nothing . It was like we were chasing ghosts , our efforts evaporating into thin air . Gerald didnt wait for me to finish processing , You know as well as I do that . its time to stop hoping . We have to act . Weve been at this for weeks now . And its only getting worse . Its time we looked to the Kaldor packs . They are larger and have more resources to help us stop this before it consumes us all . The mention of the Kaldor packs felt like a 45 % 11:36 2/6 11:36 434 Chapter Two : The Ghosts of Yesterday cold chill rushing over me . All of it tied back to Nathan because he was the Alpha of the strongest pack in their faction . Not them . You know it will all tie back to Nathan . I will find another way , Even saying his name out loud sent a ripple of irritation through my wolf . Geralds voice softened , the edges of his words careful , as if trying not to push me too far . I understand your past with him , Nicole . But this is bigger than you , bigger than me . Wolves are dying . If we don t do something soon it wont matter where the attack is coming from . Well all end up dead , and I hate to say this but your son included . His words hit hard , and I felt my stomach churn . I had worked too damn hard to protect him , to keep him safe . And if the truth came out , if Nathan found out about him … I shuddered at the thought . That couldnt happen . 45 % 11:36 3/6 Chapter Two : The Ghosts of Yesterday But Gerald wasn t wrong . The Kaldor packs had the resources and the influence to help . Nathan , despite everything , was still one of the most powerful Alphas in the region . If I could swallow my pride and reach out , we might finally get the answers we needed . But the idea of doing that made my blood boil . Gerald spoke again , recognizing the battle playing out behind my eyes . Im not asking you to go to him , he might be the most powerful but there are other powerful packs in the faction . But if you dont , this will only get worse . I stared at him , torn between the anger I felt at being put in this position and the responsibility I had to the pack . One way or another , I had to act . I shook my head , clearing the fog in my mind . Ill look into it , but I wont ask Nathan for help . I wont go crawling 45 11:36 4/6 Chapter Two : The Ghosts of Yesterday back to him . Ive spent too long fighting for my place here , for my sons future . Im not going to ruin everything no matter what . Gerald lowered his head , clearly understanding the weight of my words , but he didnt push it further . I understand , Alpha . Just … just dont wait too long . This cant wait forever . With that , he bowed slightly and left the room , leaving me alone with my thoughts . The reason I had fought so hard to become Alpha after my fathers death was to ensure that I could protect him . Nathan could never know the truth about him- that he existed . And yet , here I was , on the brink of being forced to go back to the very source of my pain . To ask for help from the one person Id promised myself Id never go back to . 45 % 11.36 5/6 444 Chapter Two : The Ghosts of Yesterday I leaned back in my chair , letting the weight of it all settle on my shoulders . Id find another way . I had to . But the question was : What could I do before we all ended up dead ? Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!