#Chapter 128 – Snake

Suddenly, two of Victor’s Betas explode from the treeline on either side of the black figures who approach Victor. Victor’s Betas shoot at the black figures, but they dodge, leaping forward and pulling knives from their hips. The men in ski masks tackle Victor’s Betas to the ground, pressing the knives to their skin to infect them with the wolfsbane.

“That’s two of Dad’s Betas down,” Ian whispers.

“Eight more to go,” Alvin confirms.

Victor’s Betas scream with pain, but four more come charging out of the woods behind them. Slowly, Victor turns in his place, leveling his gun at the two figures in black who stand and put their hands up, realizing that they are surrounded.

Victor nods and two of his Betas move forward, quickly taking the two captured men by the wrists and knocking them to their knees. Then, swiftly, they press knives to the captive’s throats, digging just deep enough to get the wolfsbane in their bloodstream.

The two mean shriek bloody murder and fall to the snow, agony in their limbs.

Ian’s face brightens with a smile and Alvin laughs. “That’s it!” he says.

“One of those men is Uncle Rafe!” Alvin cries, clapping his mittened hands, which don’t make much noise. “Papa has won!”

They frown, though, to see that their father isn’t partaking in their celebration. Instead, he walks casually over to the fallen men, pulling off their ski masks and consulting with his Betas about their next moves. They nod to each other and move further into the forest with military precision, watching their surroundings, working their way towards new defensive positions.

“Wait…” Ian says, peering at the men on the ground.

“Neither of those…” Alvin says, studying them. “…is uncle Rafe.”

The boys look at each other, rage and horror on their faces.

Ian spells it out. “If neither of the five fallen Betas is uncle Rafe, and none of the six we saw back there are him either…” His voice fades off as he shakes his head.

“Then,” Alvins says, angry and confused. “Where is Uncle Rafe?”

“He is cheating,” Ian growls, rage lighting his eyes. “What a snake.”

“Come on,” Alvin says, starting to climb down the tree. “We have to go tell papa!”

“No,” Ian says, grabbing him by the coat sleeve before he gets too far. “We have to go tell grandpapa.”

“Why?” Alvin asks, looking up at him.

towards the camp. “Grandpapa is

“Okay. Back to

boys begin to move through the canopy of the

blinks slowly as she stares into

who is snoozing lightly in her own camping chair, her feet tucked up beneath her. Evelyn frowns, pondering this strange girl, worrying for her. She’s

determined to help

at her phone for the time – barely three hours have passed. Surely

sees two figures hurrying into the light of the fire. She had been looking for men – Betas, probably – dressed in black. So imagine her surprise when the two emerging figures turned out to be not Victor’s soldiers, but her

to life around her. “What the hell

she runs towards them, falling to her knees in front of them, checking them over with both her hands and her eyes to ensure they are all

okay mama!” Ian says, his

safe! We just

angry. The boys snap their mouths closed and stare at their mother, shocked.

a war zone out there –“ she says, flinging an arm towards the forest. “I don’t care how clever

see their mother’s face red with

both of their

says, bringing his mittened hands up to

trying to help!” Ian says, nodding

porch of his cabin. Evelyn had thought he had gone to bed, but he was

to stand with him and Bridgette sits up in her chair, suddenly awake, confused as everyone else is about

to stand next to the boys, her mind

look. “I want to

routed, Evelyn shuts her mouth

your mother isn’t happy about. Now, you’ve always been honest,

nod, not daring to look

sitting up straight in his chair, ready to

first. “We went into the forest, sir,”

Henry narrows his eyes.

promise we didn’t! You can ask any of

forbidden to go into the woods.

knew.” He looks up then, suddenly angry. “But we had to make sure uncle Rafe was

him do it! Uncle Rafe cheated then, putting something in

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