Instead of walking to the office we walked down the stairs and rounded the corner. Stepping into the conference room I saw Cara and Anna sitting on the couch drinking tea and in the corner walking out was Kade. His large arms stretched the long sleeve shirt he was wearing and his chinos were tightly fit around his legs.
”You look a little pale,” he said and raised his thumb, slowly grazing it over the side of my face. I shivered under his touch and drew a shaky breath but I saw her face as I looked into his eyes. Was he seeing her too when he looked at me?
”I’m alright, just a little tired,” I said and smiled.
We walked over and sat down. Everyone seemed stiff and Anna was just looking with a pondering gaze with no clue as to what was happening but I was glad that they included her in this.
”Layla, you wanted the truth and you deserve it so I’m gonna honest you. All the cards on the table.” He said and narrowed his eyes on me.
Kade placed down a scripture and dragged his finger under one of the words.
’Emberclaw’
”The Emberclaw wolf is a superior werewolf species. They are like us in many ways but have a gene that they are born with which causes these abnormalities. Some call it gifts, others call it magical powers but whatever name you choose to use they all boil down to this; you can see into peoples mind, you can fell what they feel, you can see memories and find their secrets. You can also manipulate memories and plant memories of your own. Your strength is superior, your wolf, your hearing and your speed, Layla. Everything is more and it’s stronger.”
I watched everyone sit stiffly and await a reaction. Anna was wary as she looked around and took a grape that she put in her mouth.
Everyone else was displaying the same emotion, fear.
”The men at the club, they were Emberclaws?” I asked Kade. He nodded his head, his hair fell in front of his face and he clicked his tongue.
”They are,”
”Why were they there?” Cara cleared her throat and hung her head, Anna looked around and narrowed her eyes.
”There hasn’t been a sighting of the Emberclaws for a long time. We believed that they were in hiding and chose to stay away out of fear of being killed but now I’m starting to believe that they have just been waiting silently for another wolf to be born with the gene. They were there for you, Layla, they wanted to take you with them.”
My chin hung to the floor and my mind was a blank. They wanted to take me? How did they even know about me and how come I’ve never heard of the Emberclaws?
”As far as we know the Emberclaws formed their own pack. Inviting other werewolves with the same gene to join them. Many left their families and their packs to go and live with those who were alike themselves and their numbers grew quickly.”
”I get that,” Anna said and gained everyones attention. ”I mean, imagine being do different from everyone you live with and then suddenly finding people who are like you. It must feel…freeing,” she said and her shoulders went up and her head leaned to the side.
”Maybe so but as their pack grew bigger they became more violent and vicious. They stopped asking other Emberclaws to join them and instead they decided for them. Young pups were taken from their homes and were never seen again. Many believe that they are planning something, hiding away, growing stronger and waiting for an opportunity,”
”To do what?” Cara asked.
Kades head fell, his eyes became faint and his lips pursed together.
”I don’t know. There are theories but nothing conclusive,” he said.
Kade came over and sat down next to me on the couch. I stiffened for a second and hoped that nobody noticed.
”How do you feel now that you know the truth?” I know one truth.
”Thank you for telling me,” I said and smiled.
”They are the reason I don’t want you to leave the borders. Please, for the time being, until we find out what they want with you and how we can keep you safe, just stay here.”
The walls were closing in on me and my breaths became shallow. Staying here still meant staying in this other secret that Kade had no idea that I knew.
Should I tell him?
’Not yet’
Why the hell not? I can’t go around with this in my head
’If you wanna tell him then tell him but I think you should wait’
Why?
’Tell him, it’s your choice and I think you should do what feels best for you’
Kade raised the watter bottle to his lips. His lips formed around the opening and his eyes looked out through the window.
Cara was talking to Anna and Mason was holding the scripture as he read about the Emberclaws.
He slowly placed the bottle down and a ring formed around it on the surface.
I placed my hand on his leg, his head slowly turned and his eyes narrowed in on mine.
”Layla,” he said softly.
I clenched my jaw and ignored his voice. Looking deep into his mind, I knew I could see past the barricade he had put up and I needed to know for sure even though the truth was already in my mind.
”Stop.” He seethed but I continued drilling into his mind.
All i could do was feel but I saw nothing. I ripped my hand back and flew up on my feet.
”Why can’t I see your memories?” It came out as a scream in frustration.
”Because I won’t allow you to.” He said and stood to his feet.
”How is that possible?”
”As an Alpha my job is to protect my people, how do you suppose I do that if someone has the ability to see into my mind?” His cheeks turned maroon and his chest heaved with every hard breath.
”Kade,” Cara stood but he reached out his hand and silenced her.
”Not you nor anyone is allowed inside there to see things simply because you want to. If those memories fall into the wrong hands we could be screwed and I would not have done my job.” He stepped closer, his head rose and he but up more walls.
”If there is something you want to know, all you have to do is ask.”
I nodded my head and flicked my tongue.
”Fine, who’s Danielle?”
