Undetectables

3. The moment everything changed

He held my hand tightly as we walked along the path, chatting about our day. This had quickly become a regular thing for the two of us. We both loved the outdoors and taking these walks was a way for us to not only unwind but connect with each other.

It was the first time we’d been to this side of the National Park. We always try to explore different areas, today being no different.

We walked for an hour before the most beautiful site appeared before me. I nearly ran the rest of the way, admiring the sea of bright, colorful flowers. Kneeling down, I smelled a crimson red poppy. We had these back in Crimson River. They grew wildly throughout the land, which is where we got our name.

“This is so beautiful; how did you find this.......” I paused, shocked and looking down into his chocolate brown orbs as he kneeled before me.

“Bri, you walked into my life and I honestly don’t know how I ever lived without you. I wake up every day with a smile, knowing that I am blessed to call you mine. Will you marry me?” Colson whispered as a single tear slid down his face.

I stood there, too stunned to speak. He was on one knee in the middle of a field full of flowers, holding a tiny box with the most beautiful ring inside. Wolves don’t get married, but he didn’t know that. Colson was a human and he thought I was too.

He was my mate, but he didn’t know that. Not yet, at least.

I couldn’t accept his proposal without being honest. I hoped that his love for me was enough to get us through this.

‘He is our mate. He has to love us enough,' Aspen whispered, her voice full of hope.

I stared into his deep brown eyes, trying to hold onto the look that he gave me like an anchor. His eyes were like a book, full of emotion. I could always read how he was feeling through them.

My mouth felt as if I had swallowed sand and I was unable to formulate the words that I so desperately needed to say.

Colson stood, nervously closing the box, “Bri, why are you not saying anything?”

I could hear the thumping of his heart, smell the sweat that came from his nervousness. But none of it was for the right reasons. Would he see me as a liar? Would he be able to look past the truth about who I was and continue to love me?

The pit of my stomach felt as if it were in my throat.

“I.....I need to tell you something.”

He looked around nervously, pushing the small velvet box into his jean pocket. I glanced down, seeing the tiny square outline and a tear spilled from my eye. The salty liquid stung as it slid down my cheek.

“Anything, Bri. Just don’t tell me you are saying no,” he whispered, leaning forward and wiping the tear with his thumb. Sparks from the contact ignited beneath his touch, giving me a moment of calm. A sense of false security.

“I.....I’m......I am a werewolf. And...You are my mate. My soul mate.”

The words came out of my mouth like a sharp knife. I had to force them and it caused me physical pain. Trusting Colson with this information was equal to trusting him with my life.

He shook his head, chuckling, “That’s not a funny joke, Bri.”

His heart leveled out to a slow, steady thump.

Colson didn’t believe me. He must think that I’m testing him.

“I...I’m not joking.”

He slowly backed away from me. I couldn’t read how he was feeling because my own heart beat with rapid intensity. Every negative thought was swirling through my mind.

He’s our mate, he won’t leave. Would he?

“No,” he said over and over, shaking his head, “It’s not possible. I would have known,” he muttered in disbelief.

I started towards him, but he took a step back, the action making my breath hitch. I swallowed hard, trying to fight the tremble of my lower lip.

Moments ago, he was on one knee, professing his love to me and now, he was backing away, like I was some kind of monster.

He was looking at me like I was a monster.

“Please tell me that this isn’t real,” he whispered, taking another step back.

I held his eye contact, allowing Aspen to push forward. I knew that my eyes would take on a life of their own. I had Alpha blood running through my veins, which meant they would swirl with red.

Colson’s eyes widened in shock and he continued backing away from me. He stumbled backwards onto the ground, crushing a row of the flowers that surrounded us. I started towards him but he crawled away, trying to get back on his feet.

Every movement was like twisting the knife that now resided in my heart.

“I’m sorry, Cole.”

The look of hurt changed to one of disgust. I didn’t think that the pain in my chest could get any worse, but the look in his eyes made me wince.

“You are disgusting. A monster. How could you do this to me? I fell in love with an.... animal,” he screamed.

I couldn’t bare another moment listening to his words. I ran, leaving him in the field, and shifting to get home as quickly as possible.

Aspen was devastated. The short run home felt like a lifetime, the pain in our chest felt as if someone was ripping my insides apart.

Shifting back behind the veil of trees, I ran as fast as my human legs would carry me back to my home.

“Momma, I need to talk to you,” I screamed, rushing through the front door.

My mother stood in the kitchen, rolling out dough for biscuits. She had a bright smile on her face that faded as soon as she saw mine.

“What happened?” she rushed out.

“I told him that I was a wolf. That he was my mate.”

My words came out choked and I began sobbing. Mother’s arms quickly wrapped around me as she tried to comfort me.

“Brielle, it’s okay,” she whispered into my hair.

“What’s going on?” Bailey asked, coming out of her room. Her eyes met mine and concern took over her features.

“Colson knows sweetheart. I want you to go pack your most important belongings. We don’t have a lot of time,” my mother ordered.

We were going to have to leave. This has been our home since the pack was disbanded. Glancing around at everything that we’d built, guilt washed over me like a tidal wave. I’d just ruined everything that my mother had worked so hard to give us.

“I’m so sorry, momma.”

She grabbed my shoulders, putting some distance between us, “Do not apologize for following your heart, baby girl. When the goddess gives us a mate, it is either a blessing or a lesson. Go pack your bags. We don’t have much time left,” she nodded, staring into my eyes.

I rushed into my room, throwing everything I could fit into a backpack.

Back in the living room, my mother calmly waited for us to come back. She had a small bag of her own, likely containing a few photos of our family that included my father and the supplies for transfusions.

The three of us headed out the front door, but my ears picked up the sound of a large vehicle heading this way. Moments later, a Humvee was driving down the thin, winding path of our driveway.

“When I say run, you two run. Got it?” my mother whispered quietly.

“I’m not leaving you.”

‘You may not have a choice’, her voice floated in my head, as the men had parked the Humvee and began filing out towards the three of us.

“You guys going on a trip?” the first man, who’s shirt said Corbin, chuckled. The look in his eyes was dangerous. He came here with intent.

Aspen was growling in my head. He was armed with a gun that held silver bullets and we could smell the wolfsbane on his belt through the sealed vile.

My mother walked towards them, “We were just leaving. Is there a problem?” she questioned, sounding calm.

The man named Corbin narrowed his eyes, “We’ve received a tip that the family staying here are werewolves. You wouldn’t know anything about that, would you?” he questioned, as if he already knew the answer. The arrogance was sickening.

She frowned, “I believe you may have the wrong family.”

He chuckled, pointing a finger in the air and making a ‘come here’ motion. The back door to the Humvee swung open and out stepped a teary-eyed Colson.

“This the family you told us about?” Corbin questioned, motioning his head towards the three of us.

Colson looked past my mother and directly into my eyes, nodding. I gritted my teeth, trying to fight the pain that his actions caused me. He never broke eye contact, making sure that I knew how disgusted he truly was. I thought he was different and if this were any other situation, I would have torn him apart on the spot. His actions were going to cost us everything.

He could have walked away and never looked back. No one had to know.

The other man with them, Owen, walked over to my mother, “On your knees,” he ordered.

She calmly knelt down and Corbin walked over to her, kicking the bag she carried away from her.

My sister had started sobbing seeing the scene unfolding before us, but I continued looking directly into Colson’s eyes. My own mate was going to be the end of my family. Rage burned through my body and I gripped my palms tightly, trying to keep Aspen from coming forward. My claws elongated, puncturing wounds on my hands. I could feel warm blood spill onto my hand, but the pain kept me from letting Aspen loose on these pathetic humans.

Fighting the tears that threatened to spill over my lashes, I refused to allow him to see my weakness, holding them back with the last bit of strength that I had.

Corbin laughed as he pulled out a vile from his waistband. I grabbed my sister, shielding her from seeing what was about to happen. He roughly grabbed my mother’s arm, dumping concentrated wolfsbane directly on her skin.

She hissed as the liquid spread down her arm. She was fighting the urge to transform into her wolf.

“She’s a fighter,” Owen muttered, watching my mother struggle with a sick interest in his eyes. He enjoyed this.

And they call us monsters.

I heard the cracking of bones as my mother began to transform. White fur sprouted from her body and I watched as the two soldiers backed away, preparing their guns.

“RUN. BRIELLE, YOU HAVE TO GO NOW, THERE’S NO TIME. GET YOUR SISTER AND RUN.”

“No, mom, we’re not leaving you,” my sister sobbed, but I knew from the look in my mother’s eyes. This was it. If we didn’t leave, we would be dead.

I grabbed my sister, dragging her away as my mother shifted completely. She may have been weakened by the wolfsbane, but she wouldn’t go down without a fight. In my heart, I knew she was only buying us time. She was going to die either way.

Shit, I almost forgot about my mother’s bag. Releasing my sister, I ran as fast as my legs would carry me, grabbing the bag from beneath my mother’s hind leg.

She gave us one last glance and I mouthed "I love you" before running. The sounds of gunshots and loud snarls echoed behind us.