Death's Saviour

Author's Song of the Chapter: Monsters by Tommee Proffitt

The school day is long and pained as I keep taking hits and pushes from Caroline. I thought she might have backed down by now but she is determined to break me, she won’t. It’s the last class of the day, art and I am finishing my painting. I always did love painting, it is something I’m good at. This time I’m finishing up a painting of the sunset over the forest from a cliff. I’m working away deep in thought when I can feel someone standing behind me looking over my shoulder. I can smell who it is, so I don’t even bother turning around to look at him. Instead, I stay silent as I work away and for a while, he just stands there looking at my painting.

“You know it doesn’t have to be this way between us, Noah.” Crane finally says, and I can hear the defeat in his voice even though he tries to hide it.

“I think it does,” I reply simply as I add the finishing touches to the painting before painting my signature at the bottom.

If I closed my eyes I can remember the view for real and the beauty of seeing it for the first time from the cliff beside the waterfall looking out over the forest far below with the sun just beginning to reach the treetops below in its descent. Dusk sits in the last of the sun’s rays looking out over the world.

“That’s quite the painting, quite the view. I imagine you get to see plenty of views living out in the forest when you’re not Noah.” Crane sighs as he settles don onto a chair beside me looking at the painting as if he is really standing there seeing this view himself.

I glance at Crane and see he is pale as his eyes fixate on the Wolf in the painting as it looks out at the sunset.

“I know who I am Crane, do you know who you are?” I ask him as we sit there in the corner of the art room looking at my painting.

“No, I don’t think I do.” Crane finally replies to me after a few moments of pure silence, the cracking in his voice almost makes me feel bad for him.

“You’re not much of a pack leader if you don’t even know who you are,” I tell Crane when I say this I look at him and he looks at me with a form of respect.

“I’m not alpha Noah. I know you can sense it, the same as I can sense that you are an alpha.” Crane sighs as he looks at me, he seems to be really looking at me considering something.

“You could end this all.” I push him quietly causing his eyes to snap back to mine.

“I could but it would mean my death and I’m not sure I’m ready for that yet. I only have my life left. I’ve wrecked everything else, I've taken everything from myself, I don’t think I’m ready to take my life and give it away.” Crane tells me, he is being brutally honest.

“Is Caroline not your mate, should you not want to live for her?” I question pushing again even though I know Caroline isn’t his mate, it’s easy to see.

“No, Caroline is not my mate. You killed my mate, don’t you remember? You took her from me in cold blood.” Crane responds, he should be filled with rage but instead, he simply sounds empty.

“Mates are special, the loss of a mate is the worst feeling in the world,” I whisper simply to Crane as he looks at me with a bit of fire in his eyes.

“I am truly sorry about Hannah,” Crane tells me surprising me and I smile.

I decide to throw the poor puppy a bone since he is being so honest. A bone that I don’t and won’t regret.

“Hannah wasn’t my mate Crane, she never would be. I haven’t lost my mate and I don’t intend to!” I explain to him and I mean every word of it as I look at him.

“Is that why you’re doing this?” Crane prods me swiftly and I’m losing that open side of him back to what he must be to preserve his own life.

“Something like that,” I respond so he knows that I am doing the same.

“That Wolf in the painting, it looks a lot like my dead twin sister. Where would you know her from?” Crane asks suddenly as his eyes wander to other paintings I’ve painted.

“Dreams. Did you know she and Hannah were doppelgangers?” I ask gaining Crane’s full attention.

The bell rings cutting our conversation off.

‘Noah are you ready to go, is the plan still on?’ - Danny asks snapping me from the moment.

’Yes, let’s go.” - I tell Danny as I remove myself from my chair and strip out of the painter’s suit I was wearing.

“I miss Dusk, Noah, and I regret what I did to my family every day,” Crane whispers causing me to pause as I’m hanging the suit up.

I look back at him once as he sits on the stool looking between my paintings before I leave. I don’t think this conversation is one that I will ever forget. It will haunt me for the rest of my days as his last words repeat in my mind very similar to Dusk’s words from last night. I walk down the stairs calmly and meet Danny at the back doors to the school. I catch Crane watching us from the art room windows as we go.

“Is Tucker following?” Danny questions me as he stands beside me looking behind us but trying to use his nose.

“I picked him up as soon as I left the art room,” I tell Danny before we share a nod.

We take off running for the forest at full speed. We are faster, much faster than Tucker so when we hit the forest we split up as we come across a small clearing not deep into the forest. We shift and dip into the bushes waiting for Tucker to catch up to us. I can smell Dusk nearby as we lay in wait. Finally, the crashing of underbrush and twigs snapping signals the arrival of Tucker in the clearing.

“I can smell you, please I don’t want any trouble. I just want to talk!” Tucker calls out as he stands in the middle of the clearing putting his hands on his knees to catch his breath.

I watch from the bushes that I crouch in as Danny moves from his bushes and into the clearing, Carl silently joins me where I stand. Tucker’s eyes widen a little bit as Danny shifts to stand before him in human form.

“I swear I’ll kill you myself if this is some sort of trap Tucker.” Danny threatens in a throaty voice as he looks Tucker up and down while Tucker looks at him wearily.

“It’s just me Danny, there is no trap.” Tucker insists as he throws his arms out before him and around himself to show he is truly alone.

“What do you want?” Danny prods.

“I want my chance to talk to Noah, to talk to the Hellhound. I want my chance at life!” Tucker snaps clearly causing Danny to give a thoughtful nod.

“Why should you get the chance man?” Danny asks, and Tucker seems to look at him as if he has two heads.

“They gave you a chance, didn't they? You, one of the enemies, a Wolf from the wrong side. They heard you out, why shouldn’t I get that same option?” Tucker throws at Danny and he has a point.

“His circumstances were a little different,” I state as I step before the bushes showing myself to Tucker in human form, Carl prowls out beside me in Wolf form.

“Noah, I just want to talk. I don’t think Crane’s ways are right. I want a chance to be on the right side of this. I’m not ready to die too young. I haven’t even had the chance to find my mate or be a real pack member, my whole life has been nothing but pretend!” Tucker explains turning to me as he basically begs for his chance at life, I do notice however he keeps glancing at Carl.

“I thought you never believed in that stuff?” Danny asks raising an eyebrow at Tucker.

“I’m gay Danny, I said what I had to to keep Crane happy, didn’t we both? Danny you and I always were the smartest ones, that’s why we are best friends. I said what I had to convince Crane that I was some big hot-headed brute. In truth I want my mate, I want my life. I want my chance to be with Carl, to be together and members of a strong pack that would accept us as who we are. I want to be as close-knit as you and your pack are Noah!” Tucker’s voice turns from begging to pleading for this future that I can tell he clearly believes in.

“Our Carl?” I question curiously, my eyes flickering to him in his wolf form beside me.

“I’ve always had a crush on Carl, but I could never pursue him as one I’m a Wolf and two I had to play straight. Seeing him today, smelling the Wolf in him it just hit me and I know, I know we are mates.” Tucker explains, his cheeks flushing red as if he is embarrassed though his eyes are locked onto Carl.

“What do you mean by my pack, I’m not an alpha Tucker. I’m simply a lone Wolf amongst other lone Wolves.” I reply my words not missing a beat though they warrant a deep throaty laugh from Tucker.

“I just said Crane’s the stupid one, not me man. I know you’re an alpha, I know those people you came in with today are Wolves. I’ve figured almost all of it out. You and your mate have been saving the lost kids from the hospital, you give them the bite as an alpha to bring out the Wolf that originates the reason they get sick in the first place. You bring them into your pack and keep them safe, hidden. The only piece that I can’t figure out is who the hell your mate could be. It’s not Hannah, obviously. I know it’s someone you love but, I can’t place her scent on you. It’s unknown to me.” Tucker explains, he really is a smart cookie, he might even have been smarter than Danny if he hadn’t pinned me as a Hellhound.

No one ever suspects Dusk, they would never assume it’s a dead girl brought back to life for revenge on her killer of a brother.

“No one ever gets it quite right do they? Even Danny thought Noah was the one who ran the whole show. No, no one ever suspects me. No one ever thinks it will be someone familiar back from the grave!” Dusk’s voice echoes out of the trees causing Tucker to flinch.

Dusk steps from the shadow’s coming to stand between Danny, Carl and I. I stand close enough to her side to touch her but let her have the show. Danny and Carl stand a little bit behind us, but they still angle towards us showing their clear allegiance.

“Crane killed you and your parents!” It is the only response Tucker musters out as his eyes go wide and he falls to his knees looking at Dusk standing before him.

“Yes, yes he did. But death was not ready to accept me, so here I am alive and stirring up trouble.” Dusk smiles down at Tucker as he continues to gape at her.

“How do I know she’s real? How do I know one of you just don’t have the powers of illusion or hallucinations?” Tucker questions past Dusk at Danny as they meet eye to eye.

Ignoring the question Dusk reaches out and run’s one claw along Tucker’s jawline causing him to wince as it draws blood.

“Okay, okay point proved your real!” Tucker snaps as he rolls away from Dusk’s claws.

Tucker pushes to his feet as he smears blood along his cheek while rubbing at his jawline.

“Exactly how much do you know Tucker?” I growl as I step forward past Dusk advancing on Tucker whose eyes widen even further.

“I already told you I know everything Noah. The only piece I didn’t know was who your mate was. I guess I was wrong about you being the Hellhound but this has proven I’m right about everything else.” Tucker throws at me fear wafting off him straight into my nose and it almost sends me into a frenzy as I hunt things that fear me.

“Why, why would you risk it all?” Danny prods Tucker as if he is trying to dig into his very soul.

“I already told you that as well. I don’t want to die Danny, or if I have to die I want it to be on the right side of things at the end of the day. When people look back at me I want them to realize I wasn’t just another coward stuck in his old ways. I want to be free.” Tucker explains to us all.

‘What are you guys thinking?’ - Danny asks as he watches Dusk and I exchange a glance.

‘He could be a valuable ally, he has a strong build and he obviously believes what he is saying. Plus he believes he is Carl’s mate.’ - Dusk replies for all of us to hear.

‘I agree I just worry about his loyalty. He is not the blood of any of us, so how can we tell if we can trust him fully?’ - I voice my worry honestly knowing both Dusk and Danny will take my thoughts into consideration, I can’t read how Carl is feeling.

‘Let’s test how willing he truly is, Noah freeze his feet and then we will all pretend to attack him. If he fights back he is a spy if he doesn’t then he is worthy. Carl you don’t have to participate but I think your compliance would be helpful.’ - Dusk suggests, and it is one thing we all end up agreeing on.

“Sorry man,” Danny whispers before falling into his Wolf form behind us.

Tucker’s eyes go wide as I freeze his feet in place before falling into Wolf form beside Dusk our eyes all glowing as we advance on him. Carl lacks conviction in his motions but he plays his part. Panic and fear fill the air making me hungry as Tucker watches with horror written on his face. We are upon him, Dusk has her muzzle up in his face when the smell of fear disappears. Tucker has accepted his fate, he has accepted death.

‘ He passed.’ - Carl barks out in our minds just as Dusk opens her jaws showing her canines to Tucker, then her mouth snaps back closed.

‘So, now we know he is worthy, he won’t go running back to Crane about this. What do we think? Should we bring him into the pack?’ - Dusk’s voice comes thoughtfully into my mind as I look at the guy in front of us.

I look at him, really look, and I know Tucker has a good heart. He really doesn’t want the life he was handed, he wants his chance at a life he wants and if we invite him into the pack it will give him that chance. The same chance that every true Wolf deserves, Carl will be thrilled.

‘I think we should let him in.’ - I respond back to Dusk, she looks over at me nodding.

’Carl we are heading home, make sure he can shift and run or else you can carry him.’ - I yip the joke out as I give Carl a playful shove before Dusk and I go to stand by the edge of the forest and wait.

I’m excited that Carl has found his mate, someone who will suit him, he deserves this after having to keep who he is secret for so long. He and Tucker have a lot in common and I’m sure they will bond over it instantly.

“Can you shift?” Carl asks Tucker as he regains human form, Tucker's eyes Carl slowly expecting it to be a cruel joke.

“Why would I need to shift, did you want to chase me to my death, a true hunt?” Tucker spits out at Carl bitterly.

“No, I really don’t want to have to carry you back with us. It would be better if you could run.” Carl laughs, the dawn of pure shock lights Tucker’s face.

“You mean you're not going to kill me?” Tucker sputters out as he tries to make sense of what is happening.

“No man we aren’t going to kill you,” Carl states before being pulled into a bear hug as Tucker lets out a little sob.

“Thank you, you won’t regret this!” Tucker continues to sob, and Carl continues to hold him up in a hug.

“It’s a long run man we should probably get going.” Carl prods a little uncomfortable from how long the hug is lasting and the fact that a huge guy is crying on him like a baby.

Dusk and I run towards the forest to start home figuring they can catch up with us when we are shocked into stillness. Behind us, Tucker has pulled Carl to him as he kisses him passionately. I catch the kiss in the corner of my eye and turn to regard it, it’s a kiss of mates finding one another. It escalates from an innocent kiss to a full out make-out session that has me turning back to Dusk as Danny makes a fake wretching noise that has Carl letting out a little growl.

“Wait, why waste this opportunity. If I just go with you and show up tomorrow with Noah it will make Crane even more suspicious. Why don’t I play dead? Pretend you’ve slain me, send Crane a picture and let him think you are able to kill his best warrior?” Tucker suggests behind us when he and Carl part, Dusk and I both turn at his words.

‘That’s actually a really good idea.’ - Danny points out from beside us.

‘This guy really is smart, I’m glad he picked the right side.’ - I joke as I bump my hip against Dusk’s as she chuckles with a wolfish grin on her face.

“So how are we doing this Tucker, gory as fuck?” I smile wickedly once I’ve shifted back into human form.

“No, gory is too plain, too boring. It won’t leave the right message or the right kind of fear in Crane.” Danny sighs from where he stands deep in thought also back in human form.

“It needs a more signature touch to it. Dusk you like to kill with fire. Why don’t you punch me good in the mouth, I can fall leaking blood as if my insides have been boiled and then you could carve a message into my side for Crane. Take a picture text it to him and voila?” Tucker responds excitedly as if he has just been given a rabbit for free and I like how crazy he is.

“It’s a signature for sure and very convincing, however, it would be quite painful. Are you sure you're up for that?” Dusk explains as he mulls over the option.

“You guys could heal me after, your blood does that. I would be good as new, so nothing permanent.” Tucker smiles at us, causing us to raise our eyebrows a bit impressed with his level of commitment.

“Let’s do it!” I smile.

Tucker swallows and cringes but he doesn’t cry out as Dusk carves our message. It is simple, nothing to complex or crazy for Tucker’s sake. I feel bad when she is done, I try to let go one of my best punches as I feel bones crunching and breaking as Tucker’s face snaps away from my hand before he falls with a thud to the ground. Tucker lays motionless, thankfully the punch didn’t break his nose. His jaw is obviously broken, and he bit his tongue pretty good but it adds the right effect as blood forms a small puddle on the ground around his mouth. Tucker is coming to just as we snap the picture which gives his eyes a glazed over look that really makes him look dead. As he sits up I go to him and bite my palm letting him have some blood, it is quite amazing as after a few moments Tucker’s jaw cracks back into place and his tongue heals. The words take longer but within minutes he looks like nothing ever happened to him.

“Wow, I didn’t realize our blood could do that,” Danny states his voice awed as he looks from my healing hand to Tucker’s healed body.

“It’s one of the reasons we are supposed to hate them so much. Our blood lost that power when we decided to glorify our transformations to full moons only. We made ourselves into superhumans, but they never did that, so they kept all the powers, they made us appear weak. I think going back to your ways our blood will start to take on some of those properties again.” Tucker smiles from the ground as he reaches up taking my outstretched hand as Carl helps him get his feet under him. We all share a look as Noah sends the text and then we share a laugh. To our surprise, Tucker can shift without too much trouble joining us as we run back home.

‘I didn’t think he’d be able to shift.’ - Dusk sends to us as we run, we don’t expect Tucker to be able to respond to anything.

‘Don’t be too surprised. I was smart, so I had my places and ways that I could use my Wolf without anyone ever knowing.’ - Tucker's voice reaches my mind scaring all of us as we fall out of sync before forming up again.

‘Jesus, Tucker you scared all of us!’ - Danny huffs his voice a growl of words.

‘Sorry, this, however, is surprising. I didn’t think that any of us communicated this way anymore. I didn’t even think the telepathic connection was possible anymore.’ - Tucker laughs as he lets out a puppy-like yip.

’You truly were meant to be a part of the Wolf pack.’ - I end with before we focus all our energy on making it home.