Sarah's head whipped toward the door, heart sinking. She felt it—the shift in the air, the faint rumble of the garage door closing. Her chest tightened.
Bullshit.
Jake frowned. "Can someone please tell me what the fuck is going on...?"
Scar licked his lips, eyes glowing faint red. "Daddy's home."
At that moment, the sound of keys jingling reached them. A car door slammed. Heavy footsteps echoed in the garage.
Sarah's claws flexed against her palms, her golden gaze darting to the hallway. "Jake. Upstairs. Now."
Jake blinked, baffled.
"Okay, hold up—what the hell is going on? Isn't that your little brother... what's with the glowing eyes, who the hell is that guy, and why does the house look like a warzone?"
Scar laughed, low and cruel, the sound rumbling from deep in his chest.
"Oh, such a clueless little pup…you have no idea what she is, right?"
"Scar, shut up," Sarah snapped, her voice tight, strained. Her eyes flicked to the door again. The footsteps were closer now. The metallic jingle of keys sliding into the lock made her pulse spike.
Jake threw his hands up. "Someone please start making sense—"
The front door clicked.
Scar's grin widened, blood still glistening on his teeth.
"Here comes the man of the hour."
The door began to creak open.
Sarah's lips parted, a whisper slipping out like a prayer.
"David…"
Scar laughed, low and cruel.
"I called someone to help me with the luggage," David said as he stepped inside, closing the door behind him. His voice trailed off when he caught sight of the living room.
"…Why's no one—" He froze, eyes sweeping the wreckage. "What the hell… happened here?"
David's gaze snapped to the two strangers by the door, then to Jake and Sarah standing tense in the middle of the chaos.
The bags slipped from his hands with a heavy thud.
He bolted forward, eyes wide.
"Are you hurt?"
Sarah stepped in fast, arm out like a shield, claws flexing, her golden eyes locked on Scar.
"Stay back, David."
Scar licked his teeth, blood still staining his grin.
"Well, well…" He tilted his head, eyes glinting red. "Come with us now… or risk their lives."
Sarah's chest rose and fell with a sharp breath, every muscle taut.
"You lay a hand on them," she hissed, voice low and cutting, "and I swear your last breath will be in this room."
"Scar, STOP THIS!" Hunter snapped, stepping forward, his tone sharper than ever. "This isn't what we came here for. Stand down."
Scar's head jerked toward him, that twisted grin never fading. "Don't lecture me, brother. You know as well as I do—words won't bring her in."
Jake finally snapped, his voice trembling between anger and confusion.
"Can someone PLEASE explain what the hell is going on?! Who are you people?"
David's fists clenched, his stance protective. "Sarah, talk to me."
Sarah's jaw tightened. She didn't want to—but there was no more time to hide.
"They're wolves. Like me. But not like me. Scar and Hunter… they're here to drag me back into a war that's about to swallow us all."
Jake's eyes widened. "Wait—wolves? As in—"
But before the words left his lips, Scar's grin broke into a snarl. In a blur of speed, he lunged forward, claws flashing through the dust and moonlight.
Scar lunged—straight for Jake.
Sarah blurred into motion, claws flashing. Steel against steel, her strike caught his just inches from Jake's face.
The impact shook the air, sparks of pain tearing through Scar's snarl.
"SHIT!" Jake stumbled back, eyes wide.
Sarah's golden gaze burned, her voice fierce, steady.
"Run. Now."