Chapter Seventeen

I wake up to a strong gust of wind pulling my little throw blanket off me, I sit up straight totally confused and scared at first. I take a look to my window to discover it was wide open, I was a little disorientated when I get out of my bed to close the open window. I pull the window closed so the freezing wind doesn't give me hypothermia, rubbing my eyes I go to turn around to go back to sleep, when I spot a note laying on my bedside table. I walk over picking the note up to read "Sorry I couldn't stay to wake you up, I had to run back home to sort some things. I'm so glad I was able to tell you last night, see you soon. Cody x" I soon remember what happened last night, the annoying police officer following me into the woods, him somehow falling into the werewolf territory......no idea how. I built an amazing barricade and than to top it all off, Cody tells me we're mates and we talk until I fall asleep. That has to been one of the most eventful nights of my life, no wonder I feel so drained. I place the note back on the bedside table before attempting to climb back into bed, but my door flies open with my dad bursting through. "Great you're up, you need to get ready quickly" he says before running back out my bedroom, I roll my eyes falling backwards on my bed attempting to go to sleep "we leave in ten minutes" my dad shouts from downstairs causing me to jump, I groan sitting back up climbing back out of bed to get ready. I guess my day starts now. Once I was dressed I slowly make my way down the stairs and into the kitchen, my dad, Justin and Reece were all stood around the counter talking. I walk in sitting at the table placing my head on said table, I had hardly any sleep last night so I wasn't really in the talking mood. "Great, now Erika's up let's go" my dad says walking out the kitchen, I lift my head up in disbelief as Reece just sends me a smile. "What is even happening?" I ask as he takes my arms and pulls me up to stand, he tells me he doesn't know before we both follow my dad and Justin out of the house. As we make it outside I see most of the town were also standing outside their houses, I didn't know of any town meeting we were having and I'm sure my dad would have told me when I woke up. We continue to follow my dad as a police man with a mega phone gave people instructions, weird ones at that. He told everyone that one member of every household has to follow my dad, while the rest stay in the house with the doors and windows locked. Are we going to war? But if we were going to war I don't think I would be one of the ones chosen, especially if my dad is the one making the decisions. We soon start to enter the surrounding woods, wait does this have something to do with the werewolves? But now I know its also to do with Cody, I really do hope my dads not intending to start anything with them, instinctively I would be on Cody's side. Justin and my dad were at the front leading the huge group of people, none of us actually knowing what they were leading us to exactly. A few people start asking me if I know anything, they get even more confused when I tell them I didn't know a thing. I know I'm the lead officers daughter, but that doesn't mean I'm kept in the loop of all the stuff my dad does, it'll be surprising to most if they learn how out of the loop I really am. After a few minutes of walking we arrive at the same place I was last night, like last night two men who I'm guessing are guards, stood at the edge of Cody's pack border. They didn't look surprised to see us there though, was this set up in advance? But if it was I'm sure Cody would have told me last night, or did they set this up this morning and this is one of the things Cody had to sort out. "The Alpha will be here shortly" one of the men tell my dad, this causes a few panicked voices erupt from behind me, while Jacob comes to stand beside me. "Didn't the officer say one from each household, why are you all here?" He asks looking over at me and Reece, which was a question I didn't know the answer to. "My question is, why are any of us here?" I ask directing the question at my dad, who actually turns around to look at us but doesn't speak "he's giving me that look guys, right we're going to war, get ready" I say obviously joking but some people behind me didn't catch on, really I didn't think I was that convincing. "You'll find out in a second" is all my dad says turning back, well that wasn't enough I guess I have to carry on. "Alright we're definitely going to war, Reece now I know you carry scissors, I suggest the rest of you just grab a stick, will it aid you on fighting a wolf? Probably not but it's better to have a stick than not have a stick" I say looking over at the crowd, my eyes landing on a young guy called Todd, he looked as though he was believing me! "No one is going to war, we're just having a civil conversation with the Alpha and I thought we could use with some backup" my dad shrugs trying to calm the crowd, but I knew he was holding something back, so you can guess what I continued to do. "You're using these guys as backup, you better hope this stays civil or these are toast" I dramatically say which causes Todd to run the other way and back towards town, my dad than turns to look at me slightly annoyed "I got rid of the dead weight, you know these are your go to's" I smile pointing at the crowd which was now Todd less, when we came here he looked as though he was gonna wet himself before I even joked about going to war, it's better if he isn't here. Before anyone could speak anymore a bunch of people start walking over, I turn my head and make direct eye contact with Cody who was leading that group of people. I don't think I'm really used to seeing him on that side, my mind is still trying to wrap it's way around me being mated to anyone. My dad and Justin stand up straight while I hear some worried whispers from behind me, Jacob looked a little tense while Reece, looked as cool as a cucumber. In no time at all, Cody and his men stop at the edge of their border, only a few feet away from us. Stood beside Cody was Scott, who sends me a little smile when they stop. "Where is he?" My dad asks starting the conversation, I send him a confused look not knowing who the he even was. "That's not polite, not even a hello" Cody says placing his hands behind his back as he spoke, I've never saw him act like this before, let's be honest we've only been with each other a handful of times. "You lost the right of my politeness when you attacked my home, now answer my question" my dad says angrily, woah Cody's really hitting a nerve. "Fine, when I only wanted to have a conversation, bring him out" Cody says looking back at his men, seconds go by before a man begins to be dragged out the crowd. He was all beaten up and looked hella weak, at first I hadn't a clue who this man was. That was until he looks up and I clock his face, the annoying officer. He looks at me with such a mean look, let's me honest I kind of deserved that look. "Look what you did!" he growls out in my direction, I had to hold back a smirk that wanted to form on my lips. "Me, I didn't do anything, you probably just couldn't handle the welcoming committee" I smile over at him sweetly, I than turn to my dad who was giving me a look "really dad, do you actually think I'm capable of doing that? Really I'm flattered" I say over to him while the dude just shakes his head, but is soon kicked down to the floor and told to shut up. He coughs uncontrollably, using his hands to pull himself back up. Not gonna lie I was starting to feel bad for him, maybe I shouldn't have pushed him over the border. "She did! I found her talking to that man and when she didn't like what I was saying she pushed me over the border!" He shouts looking up at Scott, this once again causes all eyes to land on me, maybe I don't feel bad anymore. "I have no idea what you're talking about, do you have any idea random stranger I've never met?" I ask Scott who shakes his head smirking also. "I'm sorry but I have no recollection of that ever occurring, he simply wondered onto our territory" Scott says backing my story up that I made up, I didn't want to seem like the bad one in all of this. "How it happened doesn't matter, but we need you to allow him back home" my dad says walking closer to the border, careful not to cross over it himself, they'd probably try to do the same to him. "But isn't that breaking the towns rule you have, once a person leaves your border and enters ours, they have to stay" Cody says crossing his arms, what is he after and how does he know that? "I don't think that's fair to all the girls that have been forced to leave their homes, do you?" He asks looking at my dad, who appeared to be at a lost for words, he can't argue with the truth. "But I will trade you" Cody says standing up straight while he spoke, worry soon takes over my dads expression as he looks down at the beaten officer "I will give you this weak piece of garbage back, in exchange for your daughter Erika" Cody says now turning to look at me, now I know what he's doing.