𝐓𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐅𝐚𝐭𝐞 ⸙

1.58𓆩ᥫ᭡𓆪

"How did that many Beta wolves worm their way into packs without us noticing?" Baela asked, watching Zayn pace back and forth in front of the door.

Wolves had to time their exits and entrances around Zayn, not daring to get in his way.

"This has been going on for years. They've had time to settle and earn our trust," Zayn muttered, trying to think about the pack, but constantly thinking about Liam instead.

"Did I do the right thing?" Zayn stopped pacing and stared at Baela with his cold hard eyes.

"The right thing?"

"Should Liam be with me?"

Baela tried to show only calmness, but she was worried about Niall and Liam. "I think you would have regretted taking him to the heart of the fighting."

"Where do you think Ni will take him?"

"Somewhere where they can hide. Niall will keep him warm in his wolf form. I don't think anyone would expect you to let him out of your sight, so I think they'll be okay. I don't think anyone will be searching for them." Baela said.

Zayn's palms were sweaty. If anything happened to Liam, Zayn would spiral and blame everything on himself. Zayn wasn't sure how his mother had pulled through her grief. Zayn wouldn't be able to live without his Liam.

"I hope not. They won't get far with Ni's injury."

Baela rested against the back of an armchair and fiddled with the silver ring on her thumb.

"I'm just shocked that so many Beta's are traitors. How did the South find so many rogue Beta wolves?"

"I'm not shocked," Zayn muttered, staring up at the clock on the wall for the third time in two minutes.

"Jaiden lived with us for years, and he was the Southern Beta's mate. Yeah, he was a twat, but he risked his life for my dad many times. If that didn't prove his loyalty, then I don't know what would."

"I suppose this will unite the North. Everyone has been betrayed by the same pack."

"I suppose it will." Zayn and Baela looked at each other with the same solemn faces.

******

Liam gripped Niall's wolf form as tightly as he could, but Niall had a harsh limp, threatening to dislodge Liam from his back with every step.

Liam couldn't look back to see if wolves were still chasing them. His head was tightly pressed into Niall's neck. Niall ran and ran, struggling up hills and through thick snow, but he didn't give up, even after he jumped over a fallen tree trunk and landed awkwardly. Liam fell from his back then, but Niall licked Liam's cheek as an apology and encouraged him to climb onto his back again.

They ran for almost an hour until Niall was sure that nobody was following them. He slowed down, so Liam could sit up on his back. Niall emerged from the trees and stayed close to the edge of the woods. Liam soon climbed from him, and Niall transformed from his grey wolf, to his
human form.

He winced from the pain in his arm. Changing back moved his bones. The pain was almost unbearable, but Niall simply gritted his teeth until the pain simmered.

"I-Is your arm hurting worse now?" Liam asked with arms around himself. He stared all around them, then stepped into the sun, which wasn't hot, but enough to make his skin feel a little less frozen.

"It's okay." Niall looked around too. "I didn't know where to run. We should keep moving. Walk along this bit, so we don't leave tracks." Niall pointed to where the grass met the raised path. There was a little gap where no snow had fallen.