Chapter 14

W aking up to Ash grinding his dick into my ass was not how I expected to start the day. Now I'm grumpy, fucking horny— since I was edged all throughout yesterday by my beautiful brat—and concerned.

This war with Isabella is getting worse and I can feel the storm brewing on the horizon.

Jacob is worried that we will need to send in our new pledges, but they aren't ready for this.

They still have to undertake all of their trials. I know he has a lot on his plate, and I've offered to help, but he'd rather have me and the guys run the initiation. I guess it's better than putting that cassock back on.

Pretending to be a Priest was time-consuming, boring, and so stifling. But it did lead me to find the love of my life, so I guess it wasn't all bad.

Leaving the bedroom, I stop by the nursery to check in on my Little Princess. She is the light of my life, and I'm so blessed to have her and Eli.

The room is dark, since the curtains are still closed, and it's quiet. Flicking the light switch, I look around for any possible threats.

I hate being on edge so much, but Isabella is unpredictable. We can't trust anything her or her lackeys do.

Moving over to the crib, I find it's empty, so I turn and keep going to the kitchen. I need coffee, and I know Chas and Tempest will want some too.

Jonas is sitting at the kitchen table with a plate of toast and his phone in his hand. He's furiously typing something, but when he notices me, he turns it off.

I'd presume he was sexting Ash, but he's still snoring in the bedroom.

"Morning," I grunt, leaving him to do whatever as I grab a mug from the dish strainer.

The coffee is already brewed, so I help myself.

"Are you ready to move back to Holy Cross?" Jonas asks and I laugh, shaking my head.

If I had a choice, I'd never return there.

"Yeah, so excited. You?" I snark, and he rolls his eyes.

"If it keeps our family safe, then yes, I'm all for it. I just hope they don't stick us in the dorm rooms again. I want to stay together."

"Grandma Cross said we will be staying in my old apartment. It'll be cramped for a bit, but Jacob and Tempest will have their own places too."

"Where's Chas?"

"Living room. Looks like she was up early. Snake's in there too."

Nodding, I leave him and walk toward the living room.

Charity is asleep in a wooden bassinet, and Snake is sitting in a chair next to her, just watching her breathe.

Chastity is laying on her side, facing the back of the couch, cuddled into three fuzzy blankets.

"Hey," I grunt, nodding to my… Fuck, he's my father-in-law now, isn't he? "How long has she been asleep?"

"A few hours. She fed the baby, then we started to watch a movie, but she didn't last long."

"Movies tend to put her to sleep, but she always wants to watch one. So this was the big project?" I wave my hand toward the wooden cradle and Snake sits up straight, his chest puffed with pride.

"Yes, I wanted my grandbabies to have somewhere special to sleep. I… I'm leaving, Levi. I have to get back to the job before people start looking for me."

He glances over at Chastity and his shoulders slump. He looks upset about having to leave, and I don't blame him.

"We will be here when you return. Now that Chastity has met you, she won't let you go."

Standing, he pulls me into a quick hug, then leans down and kisses Charity's head, smiling.

"She's amazing. They both are. You're blessed, Levi. Don't make the same mistakes as me. Cherish them."

I nod. "Always."

He leaves the room, and I can hear him waking Ash up.

The door across the hall slams open and a furious Jacob emerges. He's shirtless and his pajama pants are dangerously low on his hips.

"What's wrong?" I ask, instantly alert. His eyes are glossy with unshed tears, and I can hear Otto crying in the room behind him.

Jacob looks at me, then Chastity, who is starting to stir.

"Tempest is gone."

BASTIAN

Since getting the news that Tempest is missing, things have gone to total shit.

Ash and Snake took off, back to the compound to spy on Isabella. The rest of us left for Holy Cross, not even bothering to pack more than the essentials, and the new bassinet, of course.

That thing is amazing, and Chastity wouldn't leave it behind.

Rome won't stop asking for his momma, which set Levi off. We haven't seen him in hours.

He's down in the gym, punching shit.

Jonas is pacing, worrying himself sick about Ash being back in that succubus' clutches, and Chastity hasn't stopped crying.

We are all broken messes, and we need to find a way to trust that The Society has a plan, and will bring Tempest back home safely.

Rocking Rome in my arms, I'm trying to shush him and get him to take a nap. It's not working.

Someone knocks on the door, and Jonas moves to answer it. Otto stands there looking more distraught than Chastity.

I knew something was going on between him and Tempest. He looks like his heart has been ripped from his chest.

"Give him to me," Otto grunts, and Rome jumps into his arms, burying his face into the man's neck.

"Shh, my boy, it's okay. Daddy's here," he coos to him as Romeo breaks down, crying for his mommy again.

"Fuck, I can't just sit here and do nothing. We are Elders now. We should be on the front line, busting into that compound and taking out the enemy," I growl, standing and pacing alongside Jonas.

"Jacob could use your help with the trials tonight. He's in his office," Otto mutters, while shushing and rubbing Romeo's back.

Jonas grabs our robes and masks from a hall closet, while I check in on our girl and the kids.

They are all asleep. Chas has cried herself to the point of exhaustion.

"I love you," I whisper to them all, then shut the door and follow Jonas.

There are school kids everywhere, but they don't pay us attention. Grandma Cross made a big announcement at Mass that there would be some special visitors staying at the Academy, and to leave us be.

Being in these halls again, listening to the sounds my shoes make on the cobblestones brings shivers to my spine.

I joined The Society for a reason. I knew that I would have to do unspeakable things to join, but my soul is still tainted with his blood.

He was my monster under the bed, and I did the world a favor by eliminating his filth. I can still remember the way the wire sliced through his rough, scaly skin, and I close my eyes against the memory of how the blood flowed through my fingers.

Father Monroe hurt countless little boys, who had dreams to serve the Lord, do altar services, and be part of something bigger than themselves. He almost ruined my relationship with God, because how does He allow something like that to happen?

So I took matters into my own hands, and I refuse to feel bad about it. The issue is that my new responsibilities to help The Society are now bringing back those memories. I've worked really hard to box the murder away, but it's beginning to bubble up to the surface again.

I should have known that Father Monroe would find his way back into my thoughts, like the virus he was.

Finding my recruits, my lips thin as I walk toward Connor, Malachi, and Hendrix. These guys are going to be a handful. They seem to think they will have everything handed to them now that they're recruits, but I know better than most… it's a fight to the very end to get the reward we dangle in front of them.

God, they may fucking die still virgins.

Shaking off that thought, I turn my recruits toward Jacob's office, pushing them in that direction.

"It's time, boys," I mutter. "I hope you've been spending your time well, because this isn't going to be easy."

The first trial is taking place today, and we have dossiers on each of their lives. Jonas and I know what will hurt the most, because we've been mentoring and supporting them. It feels wrong to sell out their deepest fears, but that is the way The Society's trials work.

They're meant to tear you apart, so you can be built back up, and have the ultimate victory at the end.

Jonas, Ash, and I went through all of this, and now we are official members.

I have to remember that I'm The Wolf now, and Jonas is The Scorpion. It's a reminder that life continues on, regardless of the war around us.

"Wait here," Jonas growls, opening the door to Jacob's office. Jacob is in a corner of the room, chewing on his lip, and he glances up at us as we walk in, the Initiates remaining in the corridor.

"Are they outside?" he asks. His cloak and mask are beside him, all ready to go. The initiates won't wait long, but we need to get down into the tunnels to do this.

"Yes," I grunt, making sure the door is locked behind us.

"Okay, I need help. Connor's father is the only person in his family who is still living. He's a rotten bastard, and has been told various times that if he dies, he'll be sold to pay off his father's debts," Jacob says. "The first trial is to face his fears, and I believe that's it."

"There's more to it than just that." I sigh, wincing. I've spent some time skulking through the tunnels, like I did as a student here, in order to listen to their conversations.

"The person he owes money to is the Irish mafia. They are in the human trafficking business as well, but mostly they enjoy collecting and breaking people. They lose their identities, becoming pets for their owners' sexual desires and proclivities. That fear is a very powerful one."

Jacob makes a sound of displeasure deep in his chest, but this is the way it has to be.

"We'll bring them in one at a time, and give them a fake truth related to their fear, before releasing them into the tunnels. They'll be chased through the hallucinogenic gas, where they'll be trapped in their fears for no more than fifteen minutes. They will need to find each other to escape from their nightmares. If they don't…"

"Then they don't pass," Jonas grunts. "I don't know if our group is going to make it. The trials are designed to feed on their fears, test their loyalty and discretion, and then create their bonds in blood. The three of them don't take this fucking seriously!"

"If the trials don't show them how serious this is, nothing will, and they'll be thrown out," I mutter. "We are done fucking around. What do you have on Malachi?"

"Okay, he's a little different," Jacob says, pulling out another folder. "He's fucking huge for his age at six feet tall. He's the protector of the trio, always pulling them out of the trouble they get into."

"We have to make him believe his friends are dead," Jonas rasps, paling. "It'll gut him to know that despite being as big as he is, he still couldn't protect them. Maybe this trial will get them to realize this isn't a game."

"His paper will say that he's doomed to lose his friends, and we'll tell him he has to find them. He'll be the last to go in," Jacob decides. "The gas will make his thoughts go wild. He'll hear the screams, and then make his own assumptions."

"Now, Hendrix," I say. "What are his fears, according to your information?"

"His parents are drug users," Jacob replies, and I know immediately that this is going to suck. I can already see how this is going to go.

"Prick him with something that will make him believe he's been dosed with illegal drugs," I say, rubbing the back of my neck. "It'll fuel the idea that this is the beginning of his addiction, and that he's about to become a slave to his parents' demons."

Jacob looks at me for a long moment before nodding. "I knew you two were the right people for this job," he murmurs, pulling on his cloak and mask, and gesturing for us to do the same.

He sets up all the necessary things for the trial, sends out a text to those who will be chasing the boys through the tunnels, and then blows out a breath.

We're ready.

"Jonas, join the others in the tunnels. Be sure to corral them toward where the gas is, after they get lost for a few minutes," Jacob orders. "Please, don't get gassed yourself."

Jonas looks sheepish as I burst out laughing, despite the somber nature of today. It would be just like him to be found passed out because he got in the path of the hallucinogenic gas.

"Ugh, I won't," he sighs, bumping me with his shoulder on purpose as he makes certain his mask is secured.

"Let's do this," Jacob says as Jonas releases the latch to the back tunnels and slips out. "Connor is first, Malachi is last."

Nodding, I walk to the door and lower my voice as I intone, "Connor, we're ready for you. No, just Connor."

"We're going alone?" Malachi asks, surprised. I think he has the misconception that because they are a team, they'd continue to stay that way, and they've definitely been leaning hard on him.

"Everyone sinks or swims alone during the trial," I growl, grabbing Connor by the scruff of the neck and pulling him inside. The guys yell, but I slam the door in their faces.

I'll be the bad guy today, if it means they'll survive this. We aren't at peace, and we need soldiers who can survive the mind games and torture that is thrown at us by the evils of the outside world.

Shoving Connor toward Jacob, who definitely emits a scary vibe with his dragon mask, I wait for Jacob to lean forward and offer his condolences as he hands him the piece of paper. The kid's face is pale as he shakes his head, opening the note that states:

Even in death, he's a shitty parent. His sins now fall on you. Run, boy, run. His enemies are in the tunnels, and we've agreed that if they catch you, you're theirs.

"No… You can't be fucking serious!" Connor yells as I glare stonily back at him.

"You can run and give yourself a chance, or go back and they can take you in my office," Jacob lies, lifting his phone as if to make a call.

"No! Okay, I'll play. I thought I would be protected here in The Society," Connor says as I open the secret door.

"Protection comes with passing your trials," I snarl, pushing him through the door.

Whirling around, he starts to run, and it's not long before I begin to hear screams, though I can't tell if they're his, or the people in the tunnels, who are pushing him in the direction he needs to go.

Blowing out a breath, I shut the door to the cold, sour scent of the tunnels.

"Bring in Hendrix," Jacob says, sounding tired already.

I feel sick to my stomach as I walk to the office door, my feet heavy. Malachi and Hendrix look apprehensive as I announce, "Hendrix is next."

Malachi starts to breathe hard as I grab his friend's arm, and I can see he's very close to hyperventilating. This is why he's last. He needs to believe that he failed everyone he cares about.

This trial, I learned when I was a recruit, is as much about the demons in your mind as it is about psychological warfare.

Pulling Hendrix inside, I gaze at Malachi as I close the door. His face is one of horror and desolation, and I can only hope they'll be able to pull through this trial. Mind over matter, always.

I have a syringe filled with saline—that will do absolutely nothing biologically to Hendrix—in the pocket of my robe. The point of this is to throw him into a tailspin, to make his fears consume him, as he believes that he is doomed to become a drug addict as well.

Often, one taste is all it takes, and I know it's a concern he's voiced to his group. The gas in the tunnels will make him believe the rest.

Jacob stands for this, walking around the desk to hand him the piece of paper. Hendrix reads it, looking confused for a moment as Jacob begins to walk him toward what appears to be a simple wall.

We'll spin that as well.

Reality is the truth, while your demons tell lies. Hold onto the truth, the drugs lie.

"What drugs? Hello?" Hendrix asks. Jacob stops him in front of the wall, and I yank down the recruit's shirt, quickly pushing the needle into his skin and depressing the plunger.

Throwing the needle at his feet, I wait for the realization to kick in. Jacob pushes the depression in the wall, to make it seem as if it is opening on its own, his foot helping it along the way. Hendrix is too panicked to notice.

"Remember the note," I growl, pushing him into the tunnels. "Use your time well."

Hendrix screams in anger and terror, before taking off running, and I sigh.

"This last one is gonna suck," I mutter, shutting the door.

"The bigger they are, the harder they fall," Jacob agrees.

Growling under my breath, I open the door for Malachi.

"You're the last one. I hope you do better than the other two," I lie. Malachi is trembling a lot for such a big guy, and he struggles to keep it together as he walks inside.

"Are they okay?" he asks, eyes wide as I shut the door behind him.

"No idea," Jacob says, holding up the piece of paper and giving it to him. "They're only as valuable as their ability to conquer their demons. The only way you can be of any use to them is to do the same."

If your value is placed on how well you can protect others, you're a failure. You can't protect everyone, every time.

Malachi looks up from his paper, his features shattered and angry.

"But you said…" he rasps, his eyes looking tortured.

"I know what we said," I grunt, picking up from Jacob as I lead Malachi to the tunnels. "The truth lies beyond the door. It's up to you to figure it out. Good luck."

I open the door as Malachi pulls on his long black locks, his voice breaking as he gives a tortured yell. He throws the paper to the side before stalking into the tunnels, yelling his friends' names. I appreciate how loyal he is to them. Maybe they'll figure their shit out after all.

The screams grow louder as they echo around us, and I can tell that at least two of them are stuck in the nightmares of their minds.

"Close the door," Jacob says, rubbing his temples as he moves over to his desk, perching on the corner. Doing as he says, I then return to stand next to them.

"Go ahead and leave. There's more than enough people running interference in the tunnels tonight."

"You sure?" I ask. Even though he's family now, he's still my boss.

"Yeah. I'll be here most of the night as they work through things," he says, dismissing me.

Nodding, I use the tunnels inside of the school to keep from seeing any students. I'm more at home with them than the hallways, despite the odd spider here and there. Shoving my mask up off my face, I think about how I should start to make amends with my own family.

A lot has happened, and I've survived so much. The least I can do is open a line of communication, but first, I need to face a demon of my own.