Chapter 5:The Journey Home

Georgia's POV

"Mommy, I can't find Mr. Bear!" Keira's scared words could be heard over the noise of packing. There were open suitcases everywhere, and clothes were strewn on the floor like bright puzzle pieces.

She was folding another shirt with shaking hands. It was scary to go back to Blue Moon Pack. It hurt her heart to think about it because it hit her in the ribs.

She tried to keep her voice steady as she said, "Check under your bed, sweetheart." It was the last thing her kids needed to see how scared she was.

Kelvin jumped on his bed, which made the springs groan. "Mom, are there really wolves where we're going?"

"Big scary ones?" Kelsey added, his eyes wide with joy rather than fear.

"Don't be silly," Keira said, returning with her toy bear clutched tight. "Mommy wouldn't take us anywhere dangerous. Right, Mommy?"

Georgia's throat felt dry. If only Keira knew the truth. Blue Moon Pack was the most dangerous place on earth for her. It was where her family had turned their backs on her. Where she'd been rejected and shamed in front of everyone. Where her whole world had fallen in one terrible night.

"Of course not, baby," she lied, forcing a smile.

Anna emerged in the doorway, her face serious. "Georgia, we need to talk."

The kids were too busy arguing over who got to carry the snack bag to notice their hushed talk in the hallway.

"I just got off the phone with my dad," Anna whispered. "There's something I didn't tell you."

Georgia's stomach dropped. "What?"

"The Alpha is sick. Really sick. There's talk that he might..." Anna couldn't finish the sentence.

"Die?" Georgia finished, her voice barely a whisper.

Anna nodded. "If he does, there's going to be chaos. His brother James has been waiting for this moment. My dad says tensions are high right now."

Georgia felt like the walls were closing in. "Maybe we shouldn't go."

"We have to. My mom's health is getting worse too. Georgia, I'm scared I might lose her." Tears filled Anna's eyes. "I can't do this alone."

How could Georgia say no to her best friend? Anna had saved her life five years ago when everyone else had abandoned her.

"Alright," Georgia said, taking a deep breath. "But we stick together. And if things get bad, we leave immediately." "Agreed. "

Two hours later, they were loading the car. The triplets chattered excitedly in the backseat, totally unaware of their mother's inner turmoil.

"How long till we get there?" Kelvin asked for the tenth time.

"A few hours," Georgia answered, checking her rearview mirror. A strange black car had been following them for the last thirty minutes. Probably just her paranoid imagination.

"I'm hungry," Keira announced.

"We just ate lunch," Georgia said.

"But I'm hungry again!"

"Kids don't starve in two hours, Keira," Kelsey teased.

"Do too!"

"Do not!"

"Enough!" Georgia snapped, her nerves frayed. The black car was still there, staying the same distance behind them.

Anna noticed her stress. "What's wrong?"

"That car," Georgia nodded toward the mirror. "It's been following us."

Anna turned to look. "Are you sure?"

Before Georgia could answer, her phone rang. Unknown number.

"Hello?"

Heavy breathing on the other end, then a low voice: "Turn around, Georgia. You're not welcome in Blue Moon Pack."

The line went dead.

Georgia's hands trembled so badly she nearly dropped the phone.

"Who was that?" Anna asked.

"Someone who doesn't want us coming home," Georgia whispered.

The black car suddenly speed up, pulling alongside them. Georgia's blood turned to ice when she saw the driver's face. It was Marcus, one of Jared's men. But what was he doing here? And why did he look so angry?

"Mommy, why is that man staring at us?" Keira asked innocently.

Marcus rolled down his window and shouted something, but Georgia couldn't hear over the wind and road noise. Then he pointed ahead and mouthed one word: "Stop."

Georgia pressed harder on the gas pedal. Whatever Marcus wanted, it couldn't be good.

"Georgia, what are you doing?" Anna gripped the door handle as they picked up speed.

"We're not stopping," Georgia said through hard teeth.

The black car fell back, and for a moment, Georgia thought they'd lost him. Then she saw it in her mirror - not just one car now, but three. All black. All gaining on them.

"Mommy, I'm scared," Keira whimpered.

Georgia's mind raced. They were still an hour away from Blue Moon Pack territory. Who were these people? And how had they known about her trip?

Unless...

"Anna," she said slowly. "Who else knew we were coming?"

"Just my family. I called my dad this morning to tell him we were on our way. Why?"

Georgia's heart sank. Anna's father was a leader in the pack. He would have told others about their arrival. But why would anyone want to stop them from coming?

The cars were getting closer. Georgia could see guys in the passenger seats now, and they didn't look friendly.

"There!" Anna pointed to a side road ahead. "Turn there!"

Georgia jerked the wheel, tires screaming as they took the turn too fast. The triplets were thrown against their seat belts, Keira started crying, and Georgia fought to keep control of the car.

They sped down the narrow country road, trees flashing by on both sides. Behind them, the black cars had made the turn too.

"Where does this road go?" Georgia shouted over the engine noise.

"I don't know!" Anna admitted. "I've never been down here!"

Great. They were lost, being chased by unknown enemies, with three scared children in the trunk.

The road quickly ended at an old bridge. Georgia slammed on the brakes, but they were going too fast. The car slid to a stop just inches from the guardrail.

Below them was a deep river, its dark waters rushing past sharp rocks.

The black cars pulled up behind them, blocking their exit.

Five guys got out, walking slowly toward their car like predators stalking prey.

Georgia recognized the leader instantly, and her blood ran cold.

It was Jared himself, the Alpha of Blue Moon Pack. The man who had rejected her so cruelly five years ago. The man whose face still haunted her dreams.

But something was different about him. His eyes were wild, desperate. And when he saw her through the window, his expression changed to something that looked almost like... relief?

He approached her window and tapped gently on the glass.

"Georgia," his deep voice was muffled but clear. "We need to talk. Your life depends on it."

Behind him, one of his men held up a picture. Even from the car, Georgia could see what it was - a picture of her and the boys from yesterday.

Someone had been watching them. Someone knew about her children.

And then Jared said the words that made Georgia's entire world tilt on its axis: "Georgia

, I know about the triplets. And I know who their real father is."