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Word Count: 1856

~Thea

For a good second, I was stunned.

I could have not believed him. I could have told him he was crazy, and that walked away. But not only did I see the truth in his eyes, he relayed what had happened to me with not a single falter in his voice, in his expression.

"What...What do you mean?" I ask, my voice breathy.

"These people that you trust are planning something, Thea. Something terrible, and I need to get you out of here before they can-"

Suddenly a hand clamps on my shoulder, tight. I jump, but don't bothering to turn around to see who is behind me, because I know it is my boyfriend. His touch is one I know, especially when he is angry.

"Thea, it is time to take you home."

The look on Casper's face, in his eyes is something that is almost impossible to put adequate words to. It could almost be compared to utter malice brewing under his skin, and by the way his fists clench by his side, I can tell he is considering letting Luca get a taste.

"Don't go with him Thea," Casper says carefully. With every word that comes from his mouth, Luca's hand clenches tighter on my shoulder, but I keep my face passive.

"I am her boyfriend," Luca says carefully. "And I am going to take her home."

I can tell what this is...A contest of masculinity. Both of them are staring each other down, waiting for the other to turn around and walk away. And despite Casper being far bigger than Luca in size, my boyfriend would never step down from something like this if it killed him.

"I want to know-"

Luca cuts my words off, pushing me back behind him. The movement was so sudden I stumbled back a few steps. I wanted to question him, I wanted to understand why he did what he did last night. What Casper had to do with it...

But he was ushering me into his car, and there was nothing I could do. If it truly wasn't a dream, then my father drugged me, and Luca had been apart of that.

And at the last moment, I caught Casper's eye, and I had a feeling this wasn't ending here. And my thoughts were only confirmed by his next words.

"Don't believe them...I'm going to save you from-"

And then he disappeared, as my boyfriend drove me away

-

"Keep your doors locked tonight, okay?"

I don't say a word.

Luca turns back, as he closes all the curtains in the lounge room. He isn't staying. I told him to leave. I even told him to explain himself, but he said he would take me to the doctor in the morning, and arrest Casper too.

"Babe?" he snaps, making me look up from where I was staring at my fingers, wondering what I should do.

"You don't think you dad would drug you would you?" Luca questions, chuckling slightly. "Or me?"

I cross my arms over my chest as I lean back in my seat, still not saying a word. He sighs deeply, obviously annoyed deeply. It isn't like he hasn't told me I get on his nerves with my stubbornness before.

"Just go," I mutter.

With one more furious look directed at me, Luca turned and walked out the door, slamming it behind him.

Luca and I argue a lot. But nothing like this. Nothing has felt like the current confusion, and disbelief. Casper remembered last night...He relayed the moments to me like they really happened, but everyone else has told me I am ridiculous...Am I?

I stand up, both hands clutching the side of my head. What do I do?

Luca had closed all my curtain, for safety. It was raining again outside, so everything is naturally darker, meaning I should probably start my thinking by turning on the lights. But the moment I flicked the switch, I realised the power is out.

I growl under my breath.

Grabbing my phone, I dial my fathers number. Not the first time I have done that today. But again, he doesn't answer, letting my worry set in even deeper.

I begin to pace.

I call June, but she doesn't answer. Then, I call my coworkers, my boss, Jamie, and everyone I can think of that would get me out of here...Get me anywhere that isn't this house, without my father, and without power.

Suddenly, as I lie back on the couch, my phone rings from my hand. I sit up, seeing the caller ID being a private number. A flicker of concern passes across my mind, as I wonder who it could be. I decide to answer it anyway, seeing no harm in finding out who requires my attention.

"Thea, listen..." Casper. The ease, the smoothness of his voice is unmistakable. But something urgent is there.

"Casper, what do you want?" I question.

I didn't want to admit that I wanted to talk to him. Obviously he knew about last night, and I am on the tipping point of believing him, or my boyfriend, my family, and my friends.

"I am coming t get you," he says quickly, and I can hear a door slamming in the background. I frown, walking to the window, pushing the curtain back.

"Why?" I ask warily.

The rain is beating down as viciously as ever, indicating this storm, or whatever it is, is the cause of the power outage. And by the looks of it, it doesn't seem to be ending anytime soon.

"I told you that you aren't safe," Casper reminds me. "I will explain everything when I get to your house. Pack a few things, we will be leaving this Pack as soon as I get there."

His words take me back. The way he spoke made me instantly want to follow his orders, as if it is second nature. But I made myself stop, and think before I went and got together a bag of things to leave my home.

"Excuse me?" I splutter. "I am not-"

"Thea, you need to understand that you are in serious danger. Like I said, everything will be explained to you when I get there."

And he hung up. I was left staring at my phone in complete bewilderment. Not only did his words ring in my ears, but I was considering them. And after what happened last night...

All of a sudden, the sound of a loud banging could be heard on the front door. "Babe! Let us in."

Luca he was back. Looking out the window again, I noticed two very large men were with them. And if I am not seeing things, one is holding a wound rope in their hand. I nearly screamed in horror.

Casper is right...My own boyfriend is coming here to hurt me.

Glad I remembered to lock my door, I ran to my room. It took me a few minutes to pack some clothes and other necessities. All that was running through my mind, is am I really doing this?

Am I about to get into the car of a stranger, because I think my boyfriend may be planning to kill me, or something else?

The banging only got worse as I sling my bag over my shoulder, and wander to the back door. Every call of my name from Luca is like a stab to the heart. Perhaps I am falling for Casper's trap, I think, as I quietly exit through the back door. But the thoughts melt away as I see Casper's car pull up in the driveway.

We don't meet gazes, and I can tell he is looking at Luca, who is on the other side of the house from me. And without a second thought, I am sprinting harder than I ever had toward his car.

Everything seemed to slow down as I ran, rain hitting my face, feet sliding across the grass of my backyard. Just as my hands reached for the door handle, I looked left of the driveway, just in time to see Luca's livid expression, and the confusion on the other two men's face.

"Drive," I snap, the second I am seated in the car. Casper presses the gas pedal down, forcing the car forward dramatically, making me brace my arms on the dashboard. I even nearly smacked my head as he turned around to drive back down my driveway.

I toss my bag over into the backseat. "You better explain before I call the police."

Glancing behind me, I see Luca throwing his hands up, and I can sense the phone call I would be receiving soon if my phone wasn't turned off.

Casper looks a little nervous, so I decide I need to be the one demanding the questions.

"Were those men there to kill me?" I questions, watching Casper bite his lower lip. "Or hurt me?"

"Yes," he admits, as if it is the most painful thing he has to say. He glances at me anxiously, as we pull onto the main road, the car window wipers moving quickly against the onslaught of rain. It reminds me of how soaked I am right now after the run I made to the car.

I swallow. "Why?"

"Because of me. They knew that I was aware of what they were doing...What they are. The moment I stepped foot into the town I was planning to take you away from them, to save you from them, and they knew that. They weren't planning on hurting you yet, but my presence forced them to put their plans ahead," Casper tells me.

That took me back to last night...When dad was talking about starting the next stage. Of what, I didn't know.

"How did you know about this?" I ask, finding this was the first question to ask despite all the ones that were already mulling in my mind. And by the way Casper was heading toward the exit of the Pack, I had no idea how long I would have to ask.

"It's a long story," he tells me. I lean back in the seat, wishing my hands would stops quivering.

I shrug. "Start from the beginning."

"Well, my name is actually Jasper, and I am the Alpha of the Devotion Pack," he says casually. He hesitates, glancing at me so I could get a glimpse of those violet eyes. "Your Alpha."

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