Page 32 of Eclipsed Legacy

“Me too,” I say nodding before anxiously looking at the door.”

“Well, go on,” Lizzy says. “Get out of here. We’ll be fine.”

“Thanks,” I answer, squeezing her in a quick hug, before I jog out to my car.

When I get to my mother’s, she is waiting on the front steps. She stands as I pull up and runs to me, arms outstretched as I get out of my car. She pulls me into a tight embrace. “It took everything in me not to call the police,” she says into my hair.

I hug her back. “That was a good call.”

She pulls away. “I didn’t touch anything, just in case, but you can tell— he didn’t run away,” she insists as we walk through the front door.

“The thought hadn’t even crossed my mind,” I say to her in assurance, but for a fleeting moment, the thought now does cross my mind. What if he really did just run away? He’s fourteen and going through an unusual number of traumatic events. What if he just wanted to get away? As a teenager, I occasionally felt the need to do the same. But this is Michael. Michael wouldn’t run away without saying something first.

And as I enter his bedroom, my last thoughts are supported. A knocked over and shattered lamp, a rug partially flipped over, and the strong scent of wolves quickly dismiss any questions about whether or not Michael was kidnapped. The window across from his bed and by his desk is open, and Michael’s school supplies look like they have been thrown— or pushed— onto the floor.

“I made sure not to move anything,” my mother says from the doorway.

I nod my head. “Good call,” I say as I circulate the room, trying to look for any sign of where they may have taken him. Yeah, sure, Tala, because they definitely would’ve accidentally dropped some slip of paper with their address on it that you’ll conveniently find on the floor. Real life isn’t that easy. And I’m not a detective or private investigator. I know wolves were here, and there are definitely signs of a struggle, but I’m not a professional or miracle worker. But damn if I wish I were.

With a sigh, I turn to my mom and say, “Wolves definitely took him. It’s got to be Totius.” When she gives me a confused look, I add, “The rival pack, but I’m going to have to leave to get more answers. Whatever you do, don’t call the police.”

“I know they can’t help,” she responds, sounding a little annoyed. She rubs her forehead. “Just bring him home,” she says, her voice breaking at the end. “And, please, be careful.”

“I will, Mom. I promise.”

Mom’s expression is woeful, but I know there is nothing I can do to fix this until I bring Michael back. Alive. “I’ll take care of this,” I say, but whether I am trying to convince her or myself, I am unsure. I step out the back door and pull out my phone to call Ricky, quickly catching him up to speed on the situation.

“Well, shit,” he says when I’ve finished. “Tala, why didn’ you call me sooner?”

I shrug subconsciously then cringe before I respond— because he can’t fucking see me— “I don’t know,” I say. “I guess part of me was hoping I could handle it on my own.” It sounds ridiculous as soon as the words leave my mouth. I groan and rub my tired eyes. Unable to stop myself, I wonder when fate will stop laughing at me and my family. “I think we need to take another jab at questioning Dante.”

“Who?”

I can’t help but smile, “The guy that’s locked in Uncle Carl’s basement?”

“Oh, yeah.”

I chuckle despite myself. “I was hoping that would ring a few bells.”

“Want me to meet you there?”

I almost say yes, but the truth is I am more terrified than I have ever been. “Could you meet me at my mom’s?” I ask. I leave the last part unsaid: I’m not sure I can trust myself to question Dante on my own if his pack really is responsible for taking Michael…or worse.

Ricky’s voice softens. “O’ course, darlin’,” he says. “I’ll be there in a bit.” And, of course, he would. His sister just went through hell. Sure, it’s not the same thing, but he gets the protecting-one’s-singling thing.

“Thank you,” I say, trying not to disclose the fact that I am half a second from bursting into tears at the gesture. I really am losing it.

“Mmm-hmm,” he answers. “See ya’ in a bit.” He hangs up, and I sniffle before making my next call.

“Hey, Celest? It’s Tala…”

Despite living twice as far away from her, Ricky gets to my mother’s before Celest, but she isn’t too far behind him and pulls in five minutes later as I am giving my mother instructions.

“—and make sure that you lock the windows, too— it won’t keep them out, but it could buy you time or make it easier to hear them. And don’t forget to—”

“Tala,” Mom says, giving me a pointed look. “I know you’re a big girl now and in charge of several strong wolves, but I’ve been around for a while, too. I’ll be fine, especially since you seem to have a personal guard-dog—” She immediately cringes, before adding “Sorry,” to Celest. “My point is that I have more than enough to keep me safe.”

“Okay…” I say