The Hanes Enigma

Chapter Five - Pack Instinct

Jeon Jungkook

It's cold. Bitter cold. The type of cold that forces you to suck air in through your mouth instead of your nose.

The sharp water sloshes around my numb knees as we wade closer to shore. I do a quick head count and sigh gratefully at the sight of all six faces blinking back at me, comforted yet more by the heat of Brynn on my back - there was no way I was letting her get wet in this cold weather. After all, I have given her pneumonia twice already.

As I turn back, I gaze up at the enormous palace. So, this is where Taehyung was for the five months we thought he was dead...

"The servants quarters have a back exit. If we go through the forest, we're less likely to meet any guards on the way." Taehyung creeps onto the pebbly shore and gestures for us to follow him.

"From now on no talking. Jimin, just follow our lead." I shrug apologetically.

"Okay, understanding the use of the bite, now..." Jimin purses his lips slightly but nods, all the same, landing daintily beside Brynn and me.

I gently let Brynn slide down my torso and she hops onto the floor delicately. As we follow Taehyung, I squeeze the witch's shivering hand and she grins up at me. I still wish she'd stayed at Pharaway, but I know there's no way I ever could have won that argument. Even if I did, it probably wouldn't have been worth the pouting I would have received for days afterwards, anyway.

Before my girlfriend can accidentally distract me any more than she already has, I feel dry leaves under my bare feet. Ahead of us, a wooden door with peeling off-green paint hangs slightly ajar. Taehyung widens the gap and slips silently through, gesturing for us to follow. One after another, my pack creeps through the doorway until I am the last to inside.

It's dark and, though not as cold as the ice-like air outside, it definitely isn't warm. Our bare feet pad over the chilled stone flooring, a quiet tap of Brynn and Jimin, the only two who didn't leave theirs in the boat, being the only thing audible in the narrow hallway. The somewhat careless decor of the room Taehyung leads us into juxtaposes hugely from the extravagance of the outer view of the palace. I can't help but feel slightly angered at the Theasphreyei's. Do they really care this little about the people who work for them? Clearly, otherwise they would have found this Hollis girl long ago, and we wouldn't even be here.

You three, I nod to the three betas watching me intently, let's get an idea of her scent and then move on. We've been here for too long already.

They nod to me and the four of us begin to sniff around the room. I catch a few trails but they don't linger for long, being chased off to their own bedrooms. There is a constant backdrop of moss, dust, dankness and clay, but eventually, I begin to pick up the distinct scent of a single person. It's floral and almost sickeningly sweet - like the taste of honeysuckle.

I sense the feeling of completion and nod as each werewolf turns back to me having also picked up Hollis' trail. Brynn grins, clenching what appears to be a friendship bracelet in a tight fist. I cock my head, confused.

The witch ignores me and sits cross-legged on the damp floor, tying the bracelet onto a cord she takes from around her neck. I watch, still utterly bemused, as she then cups her hands around this and mutters "darag o fyddiad".

It's something Hollis held dear. Now it's my way of finding her. You guys can track with your sense of smell, I can track with magick. She shrugs at me and smiles.

I sigh. But you don't need to.

It's always good to have a backup plan. And even if we don't end up needing it, it's good practice for me. She pouts slightly and I quickly give up before I regret it, kissing her gently on the forehead.

As my hand brushes the door handle I hesitate. Keeping my voice a hushed whisper I warn them, "Remember, you can knock the guards out but do not do any permanent damage. They're not the enemy, they're just doing their jobs."

All seven heads nod in mutual agreement and I resume my previous actions, opening the door and leading them back out of the servant's entrance. Hollis' scent leads me to the edge of another forest. The other werewolves next to me and Brynn following closely behind, we creep through the undergrowth. I am pleasantly surprised at the sheer lack of protection this palace seems to have.

We approach the steady trickle of a river and Tae quietly comments on how only a select few were ever allowed over it even though Theasphreyei territory goes on for miles past. I hush him as I hear the rustle and faint footsteps of a guard a few hundred miles from us. I gesture for Thulu to take care of it and he sprints ahead. I smile at the satisfactory thump and then a jogging figure of the werewolf returning.

"Wait." Brynn hisses as we all begin to follow the scent along the left of the river. "Where are you going?" She frowns at us, the pendulum swinging steadily forward and back.

"Following the trail..." I shrug, assuming it was obvious.

"But it's leading the wrong way. She's straight ahead." The witch furrows her brow even more.

I chuckle and, admittedly rather patronisingly, correct my girlfriend. "Smell doesn't lie, Brynn."

"Neither does magick." She glares defiantly up at me.

A low growl escapes from somewhere at the back of my throat. "Are you talking back to me?."

"I'm just advising that you reconsider." She snaps, vaguely attempting to calm herself.

I don't make such an effort. "Why should I?."

"Because otherwise, you'll be going the wrong way." She quips back, voice still hushed and urgent even if it is laced with sass.

"Who's the alpha here?." I step towards her, larger figure towering over her as I claim dominance over the situation. Her head falls slightly and for a second I think I may have won.

"It's not about who's in charge! Just, please trust me." She looks up at me with big, round, blinking eyes.

I sigh, long and deep. "Taehyung, you and me will follow Brynn. When the others find Hollis, I'll run to join them and you keep her safe. Got it?"

The faerie nods and the short witch in front of me tuts disapprovingly.

"Jimin, follow Thulu, Dwyll and Youngha. I'll be as quick as I can." I nod to them before ushering them off down the edge of the river.

Brynn glares straight ahead, no longer even making eye contact. "Nice to know you have faith in me."

"I have faith in the skills my father instilled in me since I first ever turned. I've never heard of this bracelet thing before. I'm sorry that I don't automatically trust it to be perfectly accurate and ignore my instincts."

"Whatever." She huffs and begins to follow her pendulum again. I honestly don't understand how she thinks it's telling her anything. It just continues to sway in the same direction, to and fro, to and fro. If anything, it might put me to sleep.

~~~~~

Hey peaches! I'm back. 

Sorry for the very short hiatus. Blame my new friend, Pati. She has been distracting me from writing since the last update! I think it's only been two or so weeks, but either way. Sorry!

Uni has started as well so that sucks. Actually, I love it. But, I do have a lot more work to do than before.

Enough of the excuses, I'm ready to fall back into the drama. (I'm also vaguely wondering what I want to do for my next book. So, if you have an idea you want to tell me then please go for it!)

Have a wonderful night! Or day.. Or whatever it is for you right now!!!