Clara’s POV:
Half an hour of running on foot, we had reached an open area and in another few minutes, we finally neared our destination. We were laying low behind an abandoned truck, discreetly scouting the area. Up ahead, I can see it…the shed. And I can smell him too…Kasan I mean. But… the scent of blood is also unsettlingly pungent. Is Nate already here? Did they get here before us? Are we too late?
“We need to move…” Lucas whispered, “But …they’re close…real close. DO NOT let go of your guns…”
“Fuck.” I raked a hand over my face as sweat ran down my skin. I was conflicted with no idea what to do. Running over there now would be like throwing myself into fire. I would not be killed, at least for now, but my mom, Dad, Lucas…they’re the ones in danger. They’re the ones I fear for. And on the other hand, leaving things as it is and cowering away like this…is not my style.
Kasan is the reason I came back here, I’m not leaving without him…!
“Mom…Dad…” My teeth sunk into my bottom lip, “I think…it’d be for the best if you b—”
“No.” Father cut me off before I could even finish my words, his forehead creasing in what appeared to be a sudden birth of anger. “I know what you are going to say, and my answer is no.”
“Yes.” Mother was quick to grab his hand, a sign of complete agreement with his words, “As much as we don’t feel too good working alongside someone like Kasan, we will go with you…no matter what you say. We won’t leave your side…not this time. Clara, please don’t tell us to leave…”
“Our help will be needed…” Lucas continued, as he cocked his rifle to remove and check the magazine, “You can’t possibly be thinking of heading in there alone, I’ve already said we’re going in together. This time, do not leave my side.”
My eyes dropped to my feet, a sinking feeling rousing in the pit of my stomach.
Their persistence has become stifling… They…won’t listen to me…
For God sake, why?! Why won’t they do as I say? With the situation we’re in, cutting ties and running the other direction would guarantee their survival…so why? Why go this far for someone like me despite hating every air Kasan breathes?
I can’t…I can’t understand them…
“Then…” I clenched my jaw, sucking in a breath, “…promise me…promise me that you’ll all be safe…”
A soft smile graced mother’s face, “You know full well we don’t go down easy.”
“…You too Lucas…” I turned to him, not missing how he immediately scrunched up his face, “…promise me you won’t do anything reckless.”
“Look, Clara…we’re wasting valuable time her-”
“Promise me! Just promise me…once…!”
“Fine.” He grumbled, jaw ticking as he looked away. “But the same goes for you.”
“I will be fine, defi—”
An earthshattering howl echoed from a distance, rupturing the little tranquility we had formed in an instant. Suddenly, everyone’s heartbeat blasted up again, including mine. Paws…I can hear them pumping towards us!
Wolves?! Again?!
“They’re back.” Lucas’s hand grasped mine, eyes swooping over the area as his feet took off, making a dash for the shed. “Let’s get to the Alpha first.”
“Guys, move fast!” I glanced back at mom and dad who were close behind us, and breathed a sigh of relief when I didn’t catch either of them limping. I’m glad they’re keeping up. As long as we get to the shed, Kasan will give us a better chance of winning. We can deal with them…together.
“So guns…can’t take them out?”
“Aim for the head and shoot more than once.” Lucas answered, palm sweating against mine as he struggled to catch his breath beside me. Is he tired? Or panicking?
“You heard that, you two back there? Go for the head.”
“Got it.”
They’re getting closer…the wolves. At this rate, they’ll bulldoze the shed, won’t they? If we head there, we’re putting them in danger too, aren’t we? But there’s no other choice…
“Stop worrying.” As if sensing my anxiety, Lucas tightened his hold on my hand, eyes darting to me for a split second. “I won’t let you die. We’re almost there.”
“I shouldn’t be hearing that from you, I don’t want you to protect me. And you’re sweating like a fucking pig.”
“I’m fine.”
Lies.
“Do you think I’m blind? You’re not f—” I had to swallow my words when we came upon lifeless bodies sprawled across the ground, claw and teeth marks over their skin and pools of blood beneath them. I couldn’t see them from where I was standing before, but…these men…they’re Kasan’s people, aren’t they?
They were all unmoving but we kept ourselves on guard as we made our way through them, heads held down and guns gripped tight. Thankfully, none of their faces belonged to Kasan or Kenley, but the closer we got to the shed, the more the scent of blood got immensely stronger. When we finally reached, I was already holding my breath. This stench is coming from inside? The blood of those we killed before? O-Or…is Kasan hurt? No! Lucas would know…he’s apart of the pack, he’d definitely know if his alpha is dead, w-wouldn’t he?
“There’s more.” Lucas’ voice pulled me out of my thoughts and I took the risk to look behind us, paling when my gaze drifted across more than six wolves thundering not far behind us.
They’re wayy too close!
“Not them.”
Huh?
His feet climbed the short stairs at the front of the shed, then quickly helped me up, the others following after.
“Lucas.” Between gasps of air, Father managed to speak, “What do you mean ‘more’?”
“There are others closing in from the opposite direction, werewolves. It looks like Nate’s already here… We must alert the Alpha.”
Without further ado, we swiftly spun in the direction of the door and Lucas didn’t waste any time in slamming it aside, each of us barreling inside one after the other. Dad closed the door behind us, him and mom taking a stance on both sides, readying to attack anyone who entered.
My eyes caught sight of Kasan first…and did a quick run over his figure, relief enveloping me when I found him completely unharmed.
My gaze then looked to the floor, passing over the bodies I’d last seen and locking on Kenley’s unmoving figure leant against the wall. My eyes bulged. A hole through his gut? Is he dead?!
“KASAN! KENLEY IS NOT THE TRAITOR! FUCK, DID YOU KILL HIM?”
Panicking, I rushed to him, quickly pressing my ear to his chest.
Badump…
Badump…
Badump…
He’s still breathing…but barely. His wound is pretty nasty, I don’t think he’ll last.
“Alpha.” Lucas was by Kasan’s side in an instant, “We managed to get here first but we need to move. They are closing in from both directions, a lot of them. You all must leave now… And in the meantime…I would like to ask permission to get him to a hospital. He is not a traitor.”
“Hospital?” My brows pulled together, immediately objecting the idea. “But we’re in the middle of nowhere. Kasan, there aren’t any hospitals near here, are there? I didn’t pass any. Besides, what if you encounter more wolves? How will you fight with him? Kasan, tell him.”
Silence…
“Alpha?”
Silence…
Why isn’t he saying anything?
“Kasan…?”
I crept off the floor, gaze darting to look up at Kasan who’s eyes hadn’t left Kenley’s figure even once since we got here. He looked like a wreck with eyes overrun with red veins and skin pale as a ghost. It was the first time I’d ever seen him so stiff, he hadn’t even glanced at me despite the wounds on my body.
He’s so out of it that it made me certain he wasn’t the one who did this to Kenley. And even though questions were bubbling in my mind, I was honestly too scared to open my mouth.
Me…I was actually scared.
But… has there ever been a time where I’ve been scared of Kasan? He gets angry, he does and say shit but I never once felt threatened. However, those blood red eyes…even though they weren’t pinned on me, I could feel it…the blood thirst, the overflowing anger.
That…is not Kasan, is it?
Before I knew it, I was taking steps back by instinct. And the second Lucas noticed, he stepped across, moving towards me with a frown.
He grasped me by the shoulder, rooting me in place, “The Alpha won’t hurt you.”
Yes…
…he’s right, he’s right…
Kasan won’t hurt me. What the hell was I thinking?
I looked to the floor, clearing my throat as I tried to suck in as much air as possible. I feel like I’m drowning in this kind of aura but he’s right, Kasan definitely won’t hurt me. This…is just the face of someone who’s blinded by rage and thirsty for revenge.
I…
…will help him get that…