Ch. 116: A Fighter

CHAPTER 116:

Kyle~

The chaos of battle is about as chaotic as the aftermath. Once the witches and vampires disappeared, wolves were still stirred up. Running in groups, checking on things. For as busy as it was, it was pretty quiet. Being one of the few humanoid beings out here was a little alienating all of a sudden. 

While all the wolves ran around, I made my way to where I’d last seen Ally. I went up over a small hill, and there she was. Being very intimate with a very naked Nick. My eyes grew wide and I spun around quickly, giving them a few moments. 

I almost turn back but hesitate. I decided to yell out to them.

“Hey wolfie, can you put away the free Magic Mike show?!” I say loudly.

A few wolves turn their heads at me but disregard me as they trot about. I wait another beat then turn, to see Ally making her way to me. No Nick in sight. 

“I’m so glad you’re alright!” she exclaims as we rush to each other.

“I knew you’d kick a*s, but da*n girl!” I drop back from the hug to take her in. Big wide sparkling white smile, curls all natural and loose. Sweat on her brow. “This is a very good look for you. Who knew my shy bookworm bestie was secretly a battle warrior?”

I hear a growl to my side and know it’s Nick without even looking.

“Down, boy,” I joke and turn to find him dressed, scowling at me.

He puts a secure arm around Ally and continues to look at her with total adulation.

“Well, I couldn’t have done it without your help. All those days meditating and digging further into my power… It was crazy being able to unleash it all. Totally invigorating,” she’s flushed and grinning.

Nick’s head turns back to face his mom as she approaches. Oh great, here we go.

“What? Are we going back into the dungeon now?” I ask her, still angry at our treatment earlier. “If it weren’t for her,” I point to Ally, “You’d be filling body bags with your wolves.”

“Kyle, it’s okay-” she tries to talk me down.

“You did what to her?” Nick’s darkened look is honed on his mom.

“It was the Beta’s call. And the right call. You know that Nicky,” she says, stone faced. “It was for everyone’s safety.”

“Again, I reiterate,” I step closer to her. “If we hadn’t given you all an early warning, and if she hadn’t had stepped in and obliterated those b*tches-”

“I know,” she says, holding a hand up to stop me.

My eyes narrow at her, and Nick pulls her closer.

“Witch-” she starts to address Ally.

“Witchling,” Nick says simply.

His mom looks confused by the correction. Her mouth opens and closes again before looking back to Ally and starting again. “Witchling, thank you.”

She glares at where Nick is holding her, and spins on her heel. Not saying another word.

“Nick, I’m sorry and whatever. But your mom is a real cu-” I start to say.

“KYLE!” Ally yells my name, shutting me down.

I glare at her for a moment and settle. The sudden quiet gives me a moment to look around at the field. The red marked grass. The scorched bushes and trees. The bodies being carried inside. Here we were arguing when all of this pain and death was being brought inside their home. I hang my head for a heavy moment, wishing our departed werewolves a safe journey to the beyond, and praying to my Fae Goddess to spare the injured some pain.

All of this damage to the werewolves’ home, over what? It makes me sick to my stomach. By the time I look back up at Nick and Ally I can see similar weights on them too. I breathe out a big sigh and face the packhouse, before walking over to the big bad wolf holding onto my friend.

Evan~

This couldn’t be happening again. No matter how many witches I attacked after regaining myself post-lightning hit, I couldn’t get that redhead’s eyes out of my head. Why me? Have I done something to deserve traitorous mates?

By the time we wrangled the enemy and all the fireballs and raging bush fires were launching themselves out to Jake, I was thankful for the portal or whatever that was sucking up these evil witches. My body could take a hell of a beating. I could’ve kept biting, running, and rushing - but my head could only take so much. And that was on a good day.

The last one disappeared and I just lay down right where I was. While other wolves were rushing off to their assignments and running the injured indoors, I lay there looking at the grass move in the breeze. The sun had come back in full force just in time for a sunset. I may just lie here until the last sunset ever. 

How could I explain this? To Jake? To my parents? How would I find her? Would I survive another rejection? 

‘Goddess, if you’re out there, could you just smite me or something?’ I think out.

‘That sort of already happened,’ Xavier comments.

‘Helpful,’ I reply sarcastically.

I whine aloud, and huff.

“Evan?” a familiar voice calls to me.

I turn my head to see Ally walking over with Nick’s hand in hers. Back to the real world I guess.
Nick turns Ally to face elsewhere while I shift back. I briskly walk over to the treeline and rack my brain for the location of some clothing before remembering it’s a bit of a walk away. I jog over and find two others already opening the bag. I keep moving to the next area and pull out sweats that are too short, and a shirt that is too small. Unfortunately, being much larger than the rest of the pack meant things were a little small when meant for the majority.

‘You guys may want to get over to the packhouse cells,’ Jake’s link comes to me.

‘What’s going on?’ I ask back.

‘You’re going to have to see it,’ is all he replies.

What on the Goddess’ earth could it be? I really can’t take anymore 

I meet Nick outside the packhouse and we both walk through the side entrance down to the cells. A few warriors pass us heading back up, leaving just Jake and my father down here.

“Well, first thing’s first, Sophie escaped. Tiffany is still down here, but Sophie got out,” Jake grumbles out, fire crackling on his skin.

I watch as my dad registers what’s happening.

“Great,” Nick asks, arms crossed. He sighs and moves a hand to his forehead. “Anything else?”

“One of The Collective stayed behind and surrendered,” my dad said.

My eyes darted to Jake, but he just motions us to follow him.

I know it’s her before we move any closer, the scent of daisies wafting to me. My heart thundered. What should I do? Do I tell them? What is she going to do?

And why did she surrender?

We approached a cell in the far corner, one that dampens magic use. Because this is where we put our dangerous enemies and rule breakers. Because she’s a dangerous enemy.

When we turn the corner she stands up from a sitting position and walks over to the bars, one hand reaching out, ever so slightly.

“She refused to talk to anyone but the brown wolf with the Witchling friend,” my dad grumbles out wryly, looking at me from the corner of my eyes.

But I already prepared my Beta face. It’s still and gives nothing away.

“I’ll give you two a few minutes. Report later?” Jake asks me and I nod at him, keeping a stoic expression on.

The three of them walk back the way they came. I ignore the flabbergasted look I get from Nick. Once I hear them reach the outside I open my mouth to speak.

“What’s your name?” the loveliest voice I’ve ever heard asks me.

She stands like a fawn, her eyes lively, taking in everything about me. That’s right, she didn’t see much of me in this form. When we’d seen each other earlier I’d been half shifted.

I lock my jaw. A part of me wants to immediately reject her.

‘Second chances are rare. Third are unheard of,’ Xavier reminds me.

Not that I needed reminding. I know. I’ve been thinking about this. I’ve been thinking nonstop about this.

She’s looking at me, expectantly. Waiting for my answer.

“Can you confirm you are an agent of the terrorist group The Collective?” I ask, straight faced.

She flinches backwards, like I smacked her. I can smell the tears before they show up in her eyes. She doesn’t cry. But the tears stayed there, shining in her eyes.

I don’t move.

“I-,” she begins, looking at the ground. “I’ve been involved in the movement, yes. But-”

“How long have you been part of The Collective?” I continue hitting with questions. “What role do you have in the organization?”

“A few months. Maybe my whole life,” she says breathlessly. “And none, really. I’m a frontline runner.”

“Clarify - months or longer?” I ask, my face shifting a bit as I react to her weird answer.

“I, it’s a long story,” she says, dropping her hand from the bars. “I guess the short answer is I’ve been with a similar group my whole life but more recently we got this title… Well I guess not my whole life, but-” she stops as she looks at my face.

“But?” I prompt.

“I was raised by fellow witches after being found by their gathering spot,” she says, looking up to confirm I’m still following the story. “My - adoptive family - they became loyal to The Collective when their leader saved my life almost six months ago. After we joined they put me to work after realizing I was a fighter.”

“And are you?” I ask.

The flirty tone comes out against my better judgment. It throws her off too. What is going on with me? Am I really buying her totally fake story?

She squints her eyes at me, “Am I what? A fighter?” She looks down at her hands. “I don’t think I want to be.”