Eve
For a moment, no one dared to move. My arm around Elliot tightened, and he snuggled closer, detecting the tension the air was now wrought with. This was an entirely new kind of tension; before, it had been like a candle melting to the end of its wick while we searched for clues with whatever light we had left. Now, it was the chilling tick of a bomb above us.
"Retrieve it," Montegue ordered one of the Gammas, who were still stunned into silence like the rest of us. "Now."
They obeyed. One stepped forward, shifting swiftly. His wolf leapt up and swatted the envelope down with a large paw.
I caught it midair, waiting for Montegue to step in beside me as I tore open the crimson parchment, my hands surprisingly steady.
The envelope was still heavy as I retrieved the first item my fingers touched: a letter.
I calmed my raging heart, steeling myself against the nausea from the dread.
Flipping open the folded sheet, I spread it out for us to read.
