Death's Saviour

Author's Songs of the Chapter: Stronger by The Score and Zombie by Bad Wolves

I fall into human form exhausted but satisfied. It’s been too long since I took a good run that made me feel so free of everything. My eyes adjust to the burnt-out structure in front of me and my heart clenches. I didn’t know they burnt it, I guess it makes sense. Still, it hurts me, even more, to know that there is nothing for me to even die in really. Rain pours down on the charred wood that barely stands around me showing the carcass of the house. Thunder and lightning crackled overhead and it reminds me of that night. I close my eyes to breathe and I see Dusk’s lifeless body lying before me as her warm heart is clutched in my hand. I absently run my fingers over the scar on my chest. That image has haunted me forever, this is the place where it all started, and this is the place it should all end. It will end with me and that gives me some satisfaction. The wind picks up raising up goosebumps on my arms and I can feel it, it’s here. I squint as I look around trying to find out where it is. When I die I at least want to know who my killer is. Lightning flashes and wood crackles behind me as something steps on it. I jump and spin around as I turn to where the kitchen would have been. The stone island father hand carved still stands, and on it is a brown Wolf glaring down at me with cold, gray eyes. I sniff the air and pick up Noah’s scent as rain rolls of his pelt. Noah bares his fangs at me and I smile, at least I can give myself props for being right about this.

“End it, Noah, please,” I whisper as I fall to my knees before him baring my throat for the kill.

Noah huffs in Wolf form before looking past me, then suddenly he does what I least expect as he jumps down into human form.

“If it were up to me I would,” Noah growls at me before he leans on the stone slab continuing to watch me, eyes still cold.

“What does that mean?” I ask confused as I rock back on my heels to stand and meet his eyes.

“I’m not your Hellhound Crane, I’m not your tormentor. Or at least I’m not the one you were looking for.” Noah tells me as a smirk plays on his lips causing me to frown as I try to understand what he means by that.

A growl comes through my spine ripping into my very soul. I whip around to face the second wolf, this one is dark black and stands larger than any wolf should. It bares its canines at me and I catch its green eyes, green eyes bright and burning with fire. These eyes horrify me as I never thought I would see them again, eyes that I remember being lifeless and dead. Suddenly the Wolf rushes forwards pinning me under it as its claws threaten to dig into my chest its teeth snapping above my throat. I can feel the anger and pain rising from her. This is something I could have never prepared for, not at all. I could never have seen my tormentor and the killer being my own dead sister. I remember Dusk for being the nice little girl who could never hurt a fly. Dusk was always so soft, this is not the same girl. Tears prick in my eyes, I did this to her. I created this her the day I killed our parents, I know that because she has the same look in her eyes that she wore last time I saw her, pure fire. I deserve this, and I turn my head to the side exposing my neck as I look up at Noah who is watching Dusk intently. Noah’s lips are pulled up into a cruel smile and his eyes remain cold. Noah and Dusk are both something else, they are not fully human but not fully animal. I can sense it in them the need for bloodshed but also the need for living the proper life. They want to right things that I have screwed up, they will, they are capable of it. I close my eyes and swallow. I am ready for this, it is what I deserve after everything I have put Dusk through. Suddenly the pressure lifts off my chest as Dusk moves off me and away from me. I open my eyes and watch from where I lay as Dusk moves away from me towards Noah, she goes to him shifting and he raises his head wrapping his arms around her hugging her close to him. At this moment Dusk is vulnerable and she looks like she is ready to shatter as she leans on him, this is a beautiful moment between true mates. They really love each other. I swallow a lump forming in my throat.

“I’m not here to kill you, neither of us are.” Dusk whispers from Noah’s arms as they both turn their focus back to me laying on the ground.

“I was afraid of that.” I choke out from where I lay.

“For the record, I’d prefer to kill you but, we decided there has already been too much bloodshed and Dusk has already lost so much. She wants you to be part of her life, she wants to forgive you and that makes you one lucky son of a bitch!” Noah uses his words against me like a knife slicing me open with how protective he is of Dusk and the way he looks between me and her ready to do whatever he needs to make her happy.

“You always were the true alpha; did you change him?” I ask trying not to let Noah’s protectiveness make me mushy, he is exactly what she deserves after everything I’ve put her through.

“I didn’t change him, Noah’s always been a Wolf, his body just suppressed the Wolf for the longest time. It was his Wolf's way of protecting him from you and yours.” Dusk speaks softly at first but ends up spitting out the ending.

“Family, they were never my family Dusk. I killed my family, ruined them. I did what I had to survive once I realized my terrible mistake.” I laugh out and I know I sound manic.

Dusk leaves Noah’s arms before walking around running her fingers over the burned-out framework.

“When I first returned here after coming back I was disgusted and angry that it was the same. Father’s corpse was where he died, mother’s corpse was dragged into the forest by wild animals. I was in so much pain that I burnt it to the ground wanting to destroy the place where I was destroyed. I regret that. Hating you had consumed me, brother, but I’m done hating. I just want to make things right with the world and I think that starts with you and me. Crane, I forgive you for what you did to me, for what you did to our family. I forgive you and I really need you by my side being my brother again. I miss my twin, I miss you. I’m not going to lie and say this is going to be easy, but I want us to try and find our way back to each other.” Dusk explains her voice cracking as she ends her circling by crouching over me as she holds out her hand for me to take.

I can’t help it I burst into tears as I take Dusk’s hand, she pulls me up into a hug. I never thought I would be forgiven for my sins, I never in a million years could have predicted this is how my life would go or that I would ever be hugging my sister again. I squeeze her tight as I turn into a child sobbing his eyes out. This is almost too good to be true, almost. When we finally pull apart Dusk’s eyes are wet with tears, we both part to lean on something for support. I lean back against a burnt wall well Dusk leans on Noah’s arms as he looks past her his eyes on me. I smile as I recognize the threat and promise within them. Noah will kill me if I hurt Dusk again, he will do it without a second thought, and he won’t make it fast.

“What next?” I question as I find my voice again.

“Now we return to the pack and prepare. We prepare to end the alpha and whatever he brings with him.” Noah replies but Dusk shakes her head.

“It won’t come down to a war, the alpha is bringing something terrible with him. Something that will change the course of our history and all we will be able to do at this point is hope, hope that it’s something we can defeat eventually. Hope that he gets to us before the worse thing does.” Dusk sighs honestly, her words causing Noah and I both to stiffen up.

Something passes between both of them as they share a daunting look that suggests they can feel what is coming is way worse than anything they are prepared to face. If my hunch and knowledge are right than it is worse. This is something not even the Hellhound can fight, it is something we will lose to. But, I’m willing to die trying with my sister and her pack.

“Pack?” I asked suddenly as the word truly dawns on me.

I watch as Dusk shifts with ease moving away from us and into the forest. I look at Noah who looks at me before punching me once square in the nose breaking it and causing me to gasp. I grab my nose as Noah shifts taking off after Dusk. I focus and shift while dripping blood. They run at a breakneck pace that has me panting with my tongue lolling out of the side of my mouth. I’m out of shape compared to them, it’s embarrassing. I stole away to shift often but obviously not nearly as often as they do. I’m deep in my thoughts when growls bring me back to earth as I realize we are coming to a stop in a clearing with a huge mansion in it. I look up at the sheer size of the building in front of me, it fits into the forest perfectly like a hidden oasis. My focus is quickly diverted from the building as the growls grow around me and Wolves step from the forest all around. There are many more of them than I even thought there could be. I look around from growling Wolf to Wolf my heart clenches failing me as I recognize some surprising faces. It’s Tucker’s face that surprises me the most, as he growls at me from where he stands beside Danny and Cassie. We stand in a circle of growling Wolves which causes my hair to stand on end. Noah turns to them all and they cease growling even though he hasn’t said anything to them. It feels like Noah has spoken as the Wolves back down sharing glances between themselves. It is then that I remember how Dusk and I used to communicate when we were younger, my heart skips another beat as it connects that this is a strong pack if they can all communicate telepathically. I mull this over when suddenly a Wolf shoots out from behind the others slamming into me and sending me flying. I slam into a wall of Wolves that growl at me as I thud to the ground before them out of breath.

‘You do not belong here, you belong in the grave six feet under!’ A voice growls in my mind, and it is another voice I never thought I would hear again.

I watch as Lora stalks towards me her lips peeled back showing bared canines, her blind eyes centred on me. I will not submit to her, but I will also not fight her, I will simply evade her if I must. I do not get the change to as Dusk steps in front of me standing tall and blocking me from Lora. Their minds fall open for me to find my old telepathic connection to hear their conversation.

‘Lora, stand down!’ - Dusk commands but Lora isn’t hearing her.

‘Why did you bring him here alive Dusk? You know what he did to us, to our kind! We should kill him.’ - Lora throws her words at Dusk with no respect for her alpha, she is intent on her revenge on me and unstable.

Suddenly more voices fall into my mind as more of the Wolves open their minds connecting with me unknowingly.

‘I get Dusk wants to be done with bloodshed, but does she seriously have to decide that now with the enemy right in front of us?’ - A voice I recognize as Sicora’s murmurs to the Wolf who must be Garth beside her.

‘This is not a showdown I ever wanted to witness.’ - Danny grimaces where he stands tensely.

‘You think Lora will actually bring it to a fight?’ - Tucker questions Danny as he watches Dusk and Lora.

‘We have all made mistakes Lora, some have more consequences than others, Crane will not die because of his actions.’ - Dusk’s voice is steady and loud above those that rumble speaking around her.

‘So, there is no consequence held against him for killing your parents? For killing our family?’ - Lora growls taking a step forward that causes Dusk to bare her canines.

‘He lives with the consequence of knowledge Lora. The knowledge that he has done, and he has to come to terms to live with it, I have as well. Can you do that? Can you find peace with the fact that I won’t lose any more family even after what he has to us? Can you accept that I have forgiven him for his sins?’ -Dusk asks Lora who growls at each question in response.

‘Don’t do it Lora!’ - The Wolves collective voices mix around me as Lora takes another step forward before launching herself at me, the circle of Wolves bristles uneasily.

‘ I can’t.’ - Lora tosses her answer at Dusk as she chases her words.

Lora guns for me but she doesn’t get the chance to get anywhere close to me. Noah’s mouth clamps shut around her tail holding her where she scrambles in the dirt. Lora turns her head snapping her teeth at Noah. Noah growls but he stands strong with Lora’s tail in his mouth.

‘Let me go, Noah!’ - Lora cries in her mind causing me to wince.

‘Don’t make me do this Lora.’ - Dusk whispers her voice freezing everyone where they stand as her tone promises pain and danger.

It’s like time has stopped as the Wolve around me brace. I miss Lora’s response to Dusk, but it obviously isn’t good as she stands up to Dusk who prowls right up to her. Dusk stands taller than Lora as they look eye to eye as the most intense and powerful sound radiates through us from Dusk. Dusk’s growl is deep and commanding as she stands taller over Lora baring her teeth, the growl gives me shivers. An overwhelming need to submit and bow down comes over me. I see the Wolves around us beginning to do so, giving in to their instincts. Some resist, the betas, as they watch Lora with cold eyes blaming her for this interaction. At some point, Noah has let go of Lora’s tail as his growl is added to Dusk’s and they command Lora to submit and respect them as her alphas. Lora will either submit or die and I know that this is the ultimate show of alpha power together. Now my body twists bowing even without my consent, that is the effect that it has on me. All the Wolves bow now, some even go as far as beginning to whine as they twist their muzzles into the dirt. Soon we are all whining, pleading, begging for Lora to submit and end this command, this control. Dusk and Noah’s growls grow deeper and stronger as Lora begins to cower beneath them before she falls and bows. Lora bares her throat as she tucks her tail in between her legs screwing her ear into the dirt. Dusk is satisfied and stops growling which lets me relax a little bit, but Noah is not pleased as he bowls Lora over until she has her belly flesh vulnerable. Noah deepens his growl letting it vibrate out into a howl that leaves a clear message that he repeats using words.

‘No one harms Crane, not unless you want to end up like Lora!’ - Noah demands, when he is finally satisfied that the message got through he breaks his hold as well.

No one stops bowing right away, but slowly one by one they stand still moving to share licks with their alphas. It is a sign of respect for their alphas and their choices. I’m surprised when Danny and Tucker move my way.

‘I see you finally smartened up.’ - Danny’s voice comes into my mind as he brushes his shoulder with mine in welcoming.

‘I came out to die, only to find that my sister was willing to give me another chance that I in no way deserve.’ - I respond to Danny honestly causing him to chuff in laughter as though this is what he expected all along.

‘Sorry I played dead. I just want my chance at a normal pack life and being with my mate, this is the pack that will happen in.’ - Tucker explains as his eyes wander away from me to glance at Carl who stands beside Noah.

‘I always knew you were smarter and more believing than you let on Tucker, I just played it the way you wanted to make it easier on you in the pack and with Caroline. I should have stood up for you and for that I’m sorry, however, I’m happy you finally get to pursue your wants.’ - I smile at Tucker his eyes widening before I nudge him in a caring way.

‘Caroline, she is the one we will definitely be facing off against. She won’t switch sides, and even if she wanted to I don’t think I want her to!’ - Cassie jokes as she comes up joining us, I watch with envy as she comes up brushing against Danny and they share a lick.

Dusk and Noah howl, it is another command that we should all get some rest. We can catch up later. Something is coming soon so we need to try to be ready for it. I follow the pack inside as Noah and Dusk come in behind us watching carefully. We all shift into human form when we get inside, and people move off to their rooms.

“Follow me.” The only guy I don’t recognize suggests, he must be Garth as he and Sicora, with her striking purple eyes, begin to move down the hallway together.

They lead me through the house, we pass a large kitchen area that leads off into another room on the right, on the left is a huge living space with a large fireplace and pictures of the forest all around. This room cuts away into a hallway leading deeper into the mansion and has a stairway that leads up to a set of hallways with bedrooms. We go up the stairs, which are an open concept as they look down on the living room and go to the end of the hallway where there is another staircase. Finally, Dusk and Sicora stop at a room where Sicora enters leaving Garth and me alone.

“I think there are some empty rooms near the stairs back there along the floor we just came up.” Garth states before turning and entering his room and leaving me standing alone in the dark hallway.

I move down the hallway more and heat shimmers around me from the fire downstairs and from something else. I come to one of the doors near the end of the hallway and knock on it, there is no answer. I turn the nob and head inside. The room is dark and dusty but still had a bed with covers and its own bathroom. I’m thinking at some point this place must have been an older style hotel. I don’t bother looking around too much, I’m tired and the bed looks inviting. I plop down on it and it squeaks a little beneath my weight. I close my eyes and listen freely for the first time in a long time. The house is relatively silent for the number of Wolves within it. Suddenly heavy breathing reaches my ears and a bed is creaking. I turn my focus away from it, I’m not interested in listening to sex, I’m looking for something else. When I hear them, I put my full attention on them.

“Something really bad is coming for us Dusk, I can feel it. We’re going to be separated.” Noah speaks and his voice is barely a whisper.

“We can’t beat what is coming for us, Noah. It is a new test; the alpha has gone crazy in the need to win and Crane has led them straight to us. I don’t know what’s going to happen Noah, but I do know I am going down fighting!” Dusk’s voice comes, and I must straining myself to really hear it.

Her words dig into my gut like I’m being ripped open. I feared the alpha would go to extreme measures to deal with this situation, I never once thought it would be something bad enough that we couldn’t deal with it. I swallow and the whole house is dead silent now, they were all listening. Something snaps through the house that moment and it causes my heart to beat wildly. I gasp for a breath of air as if I forgot how to breathe and I can feel it, I feel the whole packs resolve that tomorrow will not be the end, it will be the beginning of something new. It is amazing how in the face of impending doom all these Wolves will not back down, this truly is a pack. I sigh, and a tear slips down my cheek out of my eye, this is the pack I robbed myself of when I choose the path I did. I try to keep from more tears leaking gout of my eyes, I want to be able to fit into this pack, I want to earn my place and be as much of a member as all the other Wolves. I want this, and it will all be taken away from me tomorrow. With that thought, I fall asleep and am tortured by nightmares.