I looked at my daughter standing to her bag. She is just like me. Took her five minutes to get her essentials in a small bag. Perhaps like me, she just tossed in a few clothes and a book. She was never materialistic. For now, I was relieved that she has agreed to leave. When I read in the news that Marc was getting married to Erica, I wanted to meet him and warn him. I was sure he had his reasons. We hadn’t spoken in years. He was only a boy when I met him last. No doubt, Tobias heared that I was in town and sent Mark to get me. Marc isn’t a threat. He would never cross me. He owed me that much. And if he chooses to defy me, that can be taken care of easily.I feel bad to have dragged Lisa through all this. I knew sending her to the city was a bad idea but when she got into her dream college, I couldn’t say no. She is passionate for her research. Like father, like daughter. Besdies, nobody had met her. Noone knew who she was. If I am being honest to myself, She doesn’t know who she is

“What are you doing? Turn the car around now. We are going to the airport.” I was getting ready to bring the car to rest forcefully. Lisa had passed out and was in the backseat now. Had Marc joined Tobias? I didn’t want to fight him but it didn’t look like I had much choice, as he continued to drive into the city instead of the airport. “Veronica. I told you, The Five are on their way to the airport.”“What makes you think I am scared of them?” I was beginning to get restless now. “Remember who are you speaking with.” I didn’t care if The Five or Fifty showed up. I had to get my baby out of here. I clenched my palm into a fist and threw a punch at Marc. His head hit the driver’s seat window and he pressed on the brakes. He turned to face me immediately. “Veronica.” I quickly got out of the car and opened the door to get Lisa. “Listen,” he tried to speak, still recovering from my blow to him a few seconds ago. “Think for a second. Do you want her at the airport? Have you not realise

“Sweetie, look. "The thing is," Veronica began to say, but knew Lisa wouldn't believe her no matter how she framed her sentences. Who’d believe any of what she was about to say?“Tia, would you like to come with me? In the meantime, maybe we can get some of your things. We need to be leaving soon.” Veronica said.Tia wasn’t allowed to go anywhere alone or with strangers. In fact, she wasn’t allowed to go anywhere if Marc wasn’t with her. She looked at Marc for permission who instantly nodded. A surprised Tia got up from her seat and followed Veronica who was almost out of the door.“Lisa. Are you okay?” Marc turned towards Lisa.She sat in silence for a moment before finally finding it in herself to speak up.“What’s going on, Marc? Is anyone going to fill me in?”“Your mom and I spoke while you were resting. We decided I should be the one to tell you. But before we begin, are you okay?”“I am fine." She replied, realising that her question wasn’t going to be answered just yet.“ I am

“I know it’s a lot to take in. Your dad wanted to keep this a secret for your protection. But hiding things is no longer an option."Lisa looked at me for answers. There is no mother who wants to see her children hurt. But the only way to protect Lisa was to tell her the truth. I knew someday she’d find out, I justwished, it was under different circumstances.“Mom, isn't that true?”I knew she believed me. She needed my validation because I wouldn’t lie to her.“Yes, sweetie. He, Tia, and even me.”I had never seen her so small. She seemed to have shrunk in bed as if her world had collapsing around her. I wished nothing more at this moment than to protect my baby girl. But there is no fooling Tobias. If he had already met her, he knew who she was. The sooner we told her, the better.“My father was the leader of our pack. So were both of Marc’s grandfathers. His parents married when they were young, and their packs had joined arms. I grew up with his parents. My father and his parents

I knew I could handle The Five. Maybe even three times that number. I was raised to be a fighter. But Tobias had a huge army. Though I couldn’t let him sense fear in us, I knew we’d lose because we were outnumbered. Also, if I were to be honest I couldn’t take on Tobias on my own. Dad kept him besides him for a reason. Dad and his two best friends didn't stand a chance against him. I could avoid or delay a fight, but face-to-face with Tobias wasn’t a fight I could win.“Where to?” Marc asked. I looked at Tia and Lisa in the backseat. Lisa fought so well earlier. She remembered what we taught her when she was little. But her strength. Could it be that the gene was kicking in now? Why now of all times?“By now Tobias must have sent an army looking for us. "We can't leave or stay." I looked at Marc, worried. He had already lost his parents, and Tia was all he had left. He and I had our girls to protect and none of us could think of how. “Let’s go to the woods. A friend of mine might know