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“Wait, what?” Ashley said, more than a little gobsmacked. “Malaceia had you kidnapped from your family?”
Jacques nodded. “Every single wolf that has ever served alongside the Kempe family is or has been a shifter trapped in his wolf body. We’ve all been caught by unsuspecting humans being paid off by the organisation, and then shoved in Gregory’s sick little lab, stuck with needles, cut with knives, and forced to hunt at their sides. Before Gregory, the witches would keep them as their shift animal with magick.”
“Forced to hunt at their sides? How are you forced? You’re not exactly kept on a leash, are you?”
Jacques smiled. “No. But the microchip we have in our neck ensures our good behaviour. They’re tracking devices that also deliver a nasty little zap if we ever misbehave. Psychological fear worked before the microchips. When you’ve endured enough years of mental abuse and told that your family is in danger, believe me, no amount of wide-open space will make you even debate running. But then Katana happened, and my resulting behaviour brought about the introduction of the microchips.”
Ashley frowned. “Go on.”
“I hadn’t been captured long—maybe three months max. Gregory had been acting strange the day before and when hours had passed and not one of us had been dragged out of our pitiful, gloomy cages, we knew something was up. A few of us, myself included, had turned on our last shift, and were struggling to turn back. This delightful little giggle sounded from the room next door, followed by ‘Daddy?’. Then, just like an angel walking into the pits of hell, in walked Katana, holding the rock salt necklace she still has to this day as a light. She skipped into our room, giggling and looking for her father. When the light from her necklace lit up the end of the room and all of us, she stopped and gasped. Then, she rushed forwards and undid all of our cages. Dylan did nothing but sit in his cage, even though the door was swinging wide open. He’d given up all hope of ever going home.”
“So how did you get out?”
“She told us all to follow her and motioned us towards the black chair that we all knew so well. A few of the boys became suspicious and turned back to their cages, thinking it was just a sick test or some sort of new experiment Gregory had planned.”
Ashley raised an eyebrow. “Was it?”
“No, thankfully. But we’d all learned that Gregory is capable of anything. Only four of us followed her to that chair.”
“Then what happened?”
“Just as fits with Gregory’s twisted humour, Katana pressed a small button on the side of the chair. The damn thing moved to the side and beneath it opened a doorway. She skipped down the stairs, led us across an empty basement and then up another flight of stairs. When we reached the door at the top of these stairs, it opened out into Malaceia’s office. She pointed to the open window and watched us all run for our freedom. I was nearly two miles away when I heard Malaceia’s shout of fury at her. He was livid.”
Ashley laughed. “Jeeze, I bet he nearly exploded from the anger.”
“I nearly turned back to help her, but I’m a selfish coward and I kept running. I ran, and I ran, and I ran. I stopped only for water and the briefest of rests before I picked up the pace again. Eventually, I found myself on the borders of Mongolia, China, and Russia. A tribe of natives were going to kill me until I gave in and spoke to them. They were so shocked by a talking wolf, they almost fainted. It turned out they were a pack of shifters themselves—tiger shifters.”
Ashley gasped. “No. Don’t tell me the same pack that was ripped apart by civil war?”
Jacques winced and nodded. “I don’t know how he did it but Malaceia found me. It took him several months, but he damn well found me.”
“What did he do?”
“He put a knife to my throat and said I could either go home with him or die.”
Ashley’s mouth dropped open. “What did you do?”
“I chose die.”
“What? Seriously?”
Jacques nodded. “He didn’t like it and couldn’t go through with killing me. Instead, he grabbed a hold of the pregnant woman whose cabin I was staying in. He slit her belly wide open and then slit her throat.”
Ashley gasped. “No. He really did that?”
Jacques nodded. “That’s when I knew I was already beaten. It was just a matter of casualties in the meantime. When he put his knife to the heart of a four-year-old girl, I knew I had to come home.”
“What a callous bastard. And Katana doesn’t know?”
Jacques shook his head.
“What happened with the pack? What did they do?”
Jacques barked with laughter. “The slimy bastard had stuck them all with a sedative whilst we were sleeping—they couldn’t shift. By the time he’d killed the pregnant woman, they were only just getting the use of their limbs back. The war between them happened after we were long gone.”
“Do you know what the war was about?”
“I don’t know for sure, but I can hazard a guess. Some of the pack were ok with me and my situation. They wanted to help me. Others were hesitant about taking me in; they foresaw the trouble I’d bring to their doorstep. Guess they were right.”
“My God.” Ashley swallowed the lump in his throat. “I’m astounded. I knew Malaceia had some shady depths, but that’s just uncalled for.”
“Welcome to the truth of Malaceia Kempe.”
“What happened when you got back?”
“I hit the jackpot—Katana’s mum, Shania, saw me and said instantly I was to be Katana’s partner. Malaceia hated it. His face looked like he’d just swallowed a bunch of lemons. But, considering her status and power in the Amethyst Coven, who was he to deny her? Katana had unknowingly just saved my life. Ever since that day, I’ve made it my mission to protect her from the truth of her wicked father and to put my life before hers.”
“So what’s changed?”
“I snuck down into the basement a few weeks back—whilst Gregory was testing on you guys.”
“I thought I sensed something. I thought I was going mad though.”
Jacques nodded. “No, you weren’t going mad. It was me. When I realised what he was doing, I knew something had to be done. Whether it’s Gregory on his own or Malaceia at his side too, they both need bringing down. I only know one person tenacious enough to do such a thing.”
Ashley sighed. “Katana.”
Jacques nodded. “Irony at its best, isn’t it? She saves my life—twice if you count the fact she allowed me to escape, then I repay her by destroying her entire world. What more could a girl want?”
“Shit, man. I really don’t know what to say. If I can help in any way, I’ll be glad to.” Ashley ran a hand through his hair and let out a long breath. “So if we manage to reverse the shift on you, what about the others?”
“Well, I guess they need to be given the option at least, don’t they?”
“Have you considered the fact that to turn you back might be permanent? As in, you’d be stuck as a human not being able to shift into a wolf?”
Jacques laughed. “I think it’s safe to say I’ve had a lifetime’s worth of being a wolf. It really wouldn’t make any difference to me if I couldn’t turn into a wolf ever again.”
Ashley leaned forwards, his eyes full of concern. “I just want you to be certain you’ve thought of every possible way this could go wrong before I start poking at possible avenues.”
Jacques nodded. “I’ve thought about this every day since the day I realised I was stuck like this. I’m not going to beg you, but if there is a route you can explore, I would appreciate it.”
“Consider it done.” Ashley stood up and squared his shoulders. “I’ll be going straight to the source, just so you know. Nothing better than straight from the horse’s mouth, hey?”
Jacques nodded and stood up. “I’m sure I don’t need to re-iterate this, but not a word to Katana?”
“You do realise we could both end up losing her?”
“Sometimes a great sacrifice is needed for the greater good.”