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We had a plan for this.
We had a plan for everything.
After our parents were killed, Celia had gone into survival mode. We disappeared for months, staying in the forest, in our house, and did not come out until Celia felt like we were truly ready. I didn't mind the time away from everyone, relished it in fact.
In that time, we came up with every single terrible scenario that we could think of and made plans for all of them.
I went to our father's office and pulled open the drawer. In it, there were folders that were coded to each plan and scenario. The three of us memorized everything in all of these folders but I flipped one open anyway.
In the event that Celia was taken by the Ascendancy, and there was a chance that Artie and I could make it out, then we had to take it.
Unfortunately, we didn't see Lou and Dante involved in this scene. I looked out the window and wondered what we could do about them. I closed my eyes and sat down at my father's desk. A few minutes later, I got up the courage and picked up the phone.
For the rest of the morning, I stayed on the phone, making accommodations and speaking to alphas with more authority than me. The worry was clear in all of their voices and they understood what I was asking them. When they heard that someone else was bringing Artie, they grew concerned. They wondered if we had brought the Ascendancy down on ourselves by creating a bigger pack.
I lied and assured them that this new wolf was a friend from another country and the Ascendancy had jumped to conclusions once more.
That was something they all understood and their fears were eased once more.
I went to the safe and began pulling out some cash. There was plenty of money for all three of us to get away on and access to it was remarkably easy.
I then proceeded to send off email after email, explaining the situation and requesting a few other documents.
When I was done, I looked over everything that I had checked off on our scenario. Everything was done, except for the last step.
This would be the hardest one of them all.
It was easy to separate myself from what I was doing and what I actually had to put into motion. Without this last step, nothing else would happen. It was like knocking over the first domino in an intricate design.
But that wasn't quite right.
Lou and Dante were the first dominos in this mess. And even acknowledging that I couldn't bring myself to be angry or upset at them. They were as innocent as Charlie and his dog were and I felt awful for them.
But, things had to be done.
Our line had to survive, and hopefully, Artie would be able to find a little revenge along the way and set everything right.
Accepting my own death and Celia's was easier than what I was about to do.
I cleared my throat and called out to Artie and Dante.
When they appeared in the doorway, I nodded to the sofa in front of the desk.
"We need to talk about what's going to happen next."