said. She looked at him with a bland expression and returned her attention to the movie she had been watching before. “So, how is your, um, how do I say, relationship?” Maybe if she answered all he wanted to hear then he might go away. “It is going fine. Is there anything else?” she asked. He could tell it was a bad time, or perhaps it would always be, but he had to make an effort. She had all the information he needed to take them down. “How did they treat you?” he persisted. “Dad, they treated me fine, or I wouldn’t have stayed there. I told them I had no relatives that could take me in. Obviously that wasn’t true because my aunt lives up state. I wanted to go there.” “Do you feel so closely to them? Even more than you did your own mother? How can you be so loyal to them?” “It isn’t about loyalty. It is about right and wrong. You kidnapped Luke just so you could torture him for the sheer fun of it.” “No, it was not for the sheer fun of it. There are much more of them out there and they may be dangerous. I needed him to show me the way to where the rest of them are located. Have you listened to the news lately? The so called bear attacks? Have you ever known of bears in these parts?” She now turned her head in his direction. “What are you talking about?” “The attacks lately where three men have been killed and they suspect some form of animal. We don’t have any animal of that size in this neighborhood. None except for overgrown wolves.” “What are you saying-that Luke and his people did this?” “No, not Luke, but there are others who will. That’s what I have been trying to tell you. While Wes and Luke may be the good ones, they are not all good, and as soon as I can find where the others are and destroy them, then the sooner we can get on with our lives.” She thought about that for a second. “That may be true, but what will your life be not chasing wolves?” she asked and got up from the chair. “Chrissie, just think about it. If you could get Luke to...” “Oh so that’s the plan. I am to use Luke for information so that you can feed your petty obsession?” she now folded her arms across her chest, throwing darts at him with her eyes. “What you call petty obsession is what I call justice for your mother. You should remember that these dogs you so boldly protect are the reasons you have no mother today.” He got up and walked out of the room before his anger could get the better of him. He knew that he had he cornered so he had to do something bold for her to come to his side. The very next day Derek made sure Chrissie was aware of the news when another animal attack was reported. “See what I mean? They won’t stop until they have eaten every last one of us. And if you notice, Wes and Luke are doing nothing about this. They are staunchly defending their kind. You need to choose a side kiddo, and choose well.” “I don’t believe they are doing this,” she said defiantly. “It really doesn’t matter what you believe. There is a war going on and you and I have been caught in it. Dead center.” Chrissie refused to believe that the wolves were as dangerous as her father kept saying. He had grown relentless in trying to have her see his way. But with all these attacks, how can she deny the evidence. They weren’t all going to be good, so she may as well see things for what they