Welcome to the Wolf's Den
Yet another thing to think about. I was collecting problems like infinity stones.
I trudged toward the plane’s stairs, my limbs limp with exhaustion as I dragged my body to move. My thoughts were a tangled mess, replaying Ethan’s words and the unsettling encounter in my dream.
Most of Ethan's pack had climbed down the plane, I was one of the two people left. Every step I took felt harder than the last because the weight of everything I’d learned seemed to have somehow doubled overnight. That and I hadn't slept well.
The biting chill of the November air hit me as I stepped out. I shivered against the oversized coat draped around my shoulders. Caleb had handed me one before we landed. I quickly understood why as the cold settled In.
I sighed. I missed Springville, I thought to myself letting my gaze fall on the horizon. But then, I froze. A fleet of luxury cars was lined up on the tarmac with their sleek black designs gleaming. It rivaled a scene right out of a billionaire's daydream.
I was momentarily breathless as I tried to process what I was seeing. They weren’t just nice cars, they were vehicles that screamed an absurd level of wealth a small-town girl from Springville could never fathom.
“You look like you’ve never seen a car before.” Khalid’s voice broke through my thoughts, strolling down the stairs in front of me with his familiar grin firmly back in place on his pretty face.
“Not cars like these,” I scoffed, shaking my head. “What is this? Some kind of welcome parade?” I whispered aggressively like I could scare the cars away if I talked too loud.
“It's just a tradition to receive The Ethan Starrk,” he said with a shrug, his tone annoyingly breezy. “Come on, this is nothing.”
“This is not nothing,” I shot back, still staring at the cars. “How many of these are even for us?”
He tilted his head, pretending to count. I tried not to roll my eyes. There were exactly nine vehicles in number. Four Audis and five onyx G-wagons. “Hmm all of them?” His answer came in the form of a question, but it was an answer nonetheless.
It was obvious. I just couldn't believe it. I didn't see anyone else standing by so I assumed they were all sitting in one of the cars. Was I supposed to choose? I couldn't decide so I thought it best to follow Khalid.
“Unbelievable,” I mumbled, following him toward one of the cars which was an Audi. He opened the door for me with an exaggerated bow, smirking like all his problems had just been delivered in a desert.
“Your chariot awaits, madam,” he teased.
“Thanks, Jeeves,” I said dryly, sliding into the plush leather interior of the car. He laughed as he climbed in after me, shutting the door behind him. The car jeered into motion.
I was relieved to see no one else in the car but the driver. I was not ready to face Ethan yet, I doubted Abigail would want to see me after I spent the night alone with Ethan and I didn't know Caleb or Abel enough to share moments with them alone.
The car pulled away smoothly, and I leaned back, trying to relax. However, I could feel Khalid watching me. Could he tell I had questions?
I tilted my head to his side and as expected, his gaze was on me coupled with his grin. “Alright,” I began, side-eyeing him. “How well off are you guys exactly? And don’t give me a half-assed answer.”
He chuckled, looking out the window like the question wasn’t a big deal. “We’re doing alright.”
“Alright doesn’t explain a private jet and an entourage of cars,” I said, crossing my arms.
“I'm guessing the Sinclairs haven't set any form of standards for Alpha's capabilities,” he said, brushing it off like it was nothing.
I winced at the mention of Higan's last name. The Sinclairs were well off. They lived in a large mansion, bought new clothes every week, and often changed cars. However, they most certainly did not own a private plane or a fleet of cars of the same caliber.
“It just feels like you guys are on a whole nother level,” I countered, narrowing my gaze.
“Maybe,” He leaned back. “You’ll figure it out soon enough. It’s really not a big deal.”
I rolled my eyes, deciding to let it go for now. Looking for something else to focus on, my curiosity peaked the minute my gaze landed on the window. We had moved deeper into the city.
The streets blurred with passing scenes of countless activities. People along the sidewalks, waves of cars, flashes of neon signs, layered fabrics, and an overwhelming set of highrise buildings. It was all so…grand and alive. For a moment, I felt like I could breathe in that energy, even through the glass windows.
But as we continued driving, something strange began to erupt. Snippets of conversation floated toward me. I'd catch what sounded like pieces of discussion, laughter, or random sounds from anything moving. Each sound felt sharper than the last, cutting through my thoughts intrusively.
“Why is my hearing so sensitive all of a sudden?” I muttered to myself, pressing my palms to my temples as the fragments of conversation blended into an overwhelming pandemonium.
Was it because it was my first time in such a large city? A man arguing over the size of his TV on a phone, a child teasing his sister for liking cotton wool, a teenager gossiping—it all jumbled together, making my head throb.
“You okay?” Khalid's voice echoed in my head, louder than it was minutes ago.
“Fine,” I lied with a strain, forcing a tight smile. “Just a headache.”
I stared at my feet in the car, humming gently to settle my thoughts. I could still feel him staring but that wasn't my biggest concern. The voices didn't settle till the city gave way to quieter streets as we headed uptown. The relief was sweet as the noise subsided but it was quickly replaced by a wave of fatigue.
Perhaps I was getting my share of jet lag early. I concluded the matter, having no strength to question the strangeness of it.
We finally turned into a gated driveway and I was surprised despite my mental preparations for something grand. I didn't think it fair to call it a mansion, it was more like an estate.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I gasped as the car glided down the long driveway. Towering oak trees lined the path, forming a canopy that dappled the sunlight across the windshield.
The view of the mansion emerged slowly from behind a row of manicured hedges. I blinked slowly, taking it all in as the car rolled to a stop in front of the grand entrance.
Massive stone walls, huge windows, and nearly trimmed lawns surrounded the house, stretching further than seemed reasonable.
Khalid let out a low chuckle, clearly pleased with my reaction. “Lovely isn't it?” he said, smirking as he opened the door. “Don’t look so shocked. It’s really not that big.”
“Not that—” I cut myself off, too stunned to find the right words. “What the hell are you people doing to live like this?“
What were they looking for in Springville with that in their artillery? I thought.
“You do realize I'd have to kill you if I told you,” he laughed softly, gesturing for me to follow him.