Thane

By some miracle I was able to get out of the house without breaking something. There was a red haze clouding my vision, demanding blood and destruction. Since I wouldn't get that right now, a run would have to suffice. 

Clothes were left at the edge of the property in chaotic piles on the dirt. I was the first to shift, my brothers soon after. But I didn't wait for them. I sped off as fast as my paws would carry me. 

I didn't know where I was running, and I didn't care. All I knew was I had to keep going. To outrun the images in my head. 

I had been there by the basement window with Ava, watching helplessly as Harper took on the two assholes. I saw the cage they kept her in. The only thing that held me back from ripping their throats out was Ava, telling me to stick to the plan. That it was Harper's only chance. 

It was torture. 

My brothers had stayed behind a bit, acting as lookouts until it was time to trip the alarm. It felt like it took an eternity. After Ava slid in through the window, I'd had to deal with an uninvited guest. Which was the reason I wasn't there to help them both get out the window. 

It was my fault Ava was dead. If I would've been there I could've saved her. Harper wouldn't be mourning now. 

. 

I let out a growl.

My brain knew that he was right, but the guilt and rage didn't go away. I pushed myself to go even faster as my mind thought up different ways to destroy them, slowly and painfully. 

The woman would be last. Watching the rest of the carnage before it was her turn. 

A foreign scent, something I had never picked up in these woods in the several years we'd lived here, assaulted my sensitive nose. My ears perked up, listening for anything unusual as I slowly followed the smell. 

I haven't figured that out yet, Tripp. Give me a damn minute. 

I could count on one paw how many times I've snapped at any of my brothers. The guilt settled in shortly after the outburst. I needed to get my head on straight and figure this out. And probably apologize…

That was convenient when it wasn't incredibly aggravating. 

I followed the scent to what looked like a makeshift campsite. I knew for a fact this site was new. A small one-person tent sat beside a doused campfire, which was still wet while the rest of the ground was dry. 

The last thing that was left there made me growl. I carefully sauntered toward it, confirming what I already knew. 

I grabbed the camera, which was pointed directly at the house, with my teeth and bit down as hard as I could. The sound of crunching plastic and metal did little to soothe the fury. 

I did have just enough common sense left to take the camera with me. 

I sprinted back toward the house, completely ignoring my clothes in an attempt to get there faster. The whole way I was praying that we didn't get Trey and Harper killed. Just the thought made me crunch the camera in my jaws. 

The three of us leaving was a stupid decision. 

I pushed myself harder and made it to the front door a minute after my brothers. I didn't stop running until I got to the living room and saw Harper sitting on Trey's lap on the couch. Trey had a worried look on his face. Harper just looked confused, that cute little wrinkle prominent on her forehead. 

Tripp and Theo joined us, now on two legs with pajama pants on. Theo tossed a navy blue blob at me, landing on my back. "How 'bout you get some pants on and fill us in?"

I took the camera with me, shifting and getting dressed in record time. On my way out to the living room I started to pick up a conversation. They must've started without me. 

"- gonna call you back anyway." That was Trey. 

"Why, what happened?" Theo. 

I reached the living room as Trey answered, a grumpy-looking Harper staring daggers at the side of his face. "Your exit was not taken well."

My brow furrowed. "What are you talking about?" I searched Harper for any injuries. If something happened I was going to lose it. 

Trey and Harper exchanged glances, having a silent conversation. Well, Harper actually looked like she was silently yelling at him.

Trey let out a sigh. "A conversation for another time. Which we will have." He shot Harper a serious face before turning his attention back to us. "Why did you all run back here?"

"Wait a damn minute, I want to kno-"

"Thane, have patience. I'm assuming there is something important you brought us here for." Tripp raised a brow. 

In answer I tossed the chewed-on camera onto the coffee table. 

Everyone leaned forward to get a closer look. It was Tripp, of course, who finally picked it up. "Where did you find this?"

"There was a small campsite about a mile away. Set up about halfway up the hill by the trail. It was used recently. And that camera was pointed at the house."