Chapter Twenty-One
I See Red by Everybody Loves an Outlaw
***
"What the hell!" I screeched as I ran outside with Niall on my tail.
I was left flabbergasted as I took in the sight in front of me. My heart thumped against my chest like a beating drum, and the longer I looked at it, the more surreal it became.
My car, that I nearly destroyed just coming here, was in giant flames with a very flustered looking Valero, and a pissed Clarissa standing next to it.
"I was literally inside the building for two minutes!" I pulled on my hair as I gazed between Valero and Clarissa, silently waiting for an answer.
"It-it just erupted in flames! I-I.." Valero stuttered, still looking stunned by it all.
I threw my head in my hands with a big huff, feeling rather annoyed and frustrated from this whole trip. I knew I smelled a little extra gas on my way here as if it had a leak, but I didn't think it would've exploded!
I felt as Niall rested his hand on my shoulder, at which I shocked us both by flinching away. My annoyance at what he did was still burning in me, but as I turned to look at him and saw the sadness in his eyes, I felt my self letting go as I stepped into his embrace.
Warm tears soaked his shirt as they seeped from my eyes. I had no specific reason for crying, but from the overwhelming feeling of thinking my mate was in trouble, to finding out that he wasn't, to emerging from the building to see my first car on fire--it was all too much.
"Hey baby don't cry" Niall coaxed as he pulled back my face to look into my eyes."I'll get you a new car tomorrow if you want to"
"It's not about the car Niall" I semi shouted as I stepped away from him. He was taken aback by my movements and my tone, and I noticed that Clarissa and Valero looked slightly uncomfortable. "I missed you...I needed you and you were here doing God knows what with God knows who for whatever reason. I pulled an Alpha away from his pack to help me. I called on a rogue you obviously don't like to help me. I put them and myself in danger because YOU decided to take a trip to rogue-town without thinking of informing YOUR MATE!"
The silence sat between us like still water, and I was drowning in its thick, tense atmosphere. The only sound emerged from the cackling of the fire as it lit the open night. Niall gazed at me in thought for a while longer as I dried my eyes. Realising that he wasn't going to say anything else, I simply turned to leave.
"If we shift we'll be able to be back by midnight" I cleared my throat as I spoke, not once gazing back as I headed for the exit. I heard all of them falling in, but I dared not to look back.
"I'll shift and you can ride my wolf" I heard Niall's gentle and small voice as he spoke."You must be exhausted" The guilt and pain in his voice was evident, but I tried not to let it affect me.
I simply nodded, appreciating the idea since I didn't feel like running 300 miles in wolf form. Clarissa gave the gate guards a curt nod as we left. I was left confused knowing that Niall's scent wasn't masked, yet the guards as well as other rouges I passed didn't seem bothered by it.
It made me wonder, what business did he really have here?
I decided, however, to leave the conversation for later. I was in no mood to discuss it.
We walked for a while, just enough to put distance between us and the compound. The silence was deafening as we travelled, but I made no move to break it. Niall stayed closely behind me, and I could feel how on alert he was as we ventured through the woods. I too kept on high alert, pushing my wolf forward just enough to be more aware of my surroundings.
"Um maybe we should camp out till dawn. I think we're all a bit too exhausted to run all the way back tonight" Valero suggested at which surprisingly Clarissa agreed.
I also nodded in agreement. Maybe I was being inconsiderate about travelling all the way home tonight. After all, it has been a long day.
"There's a small opening just about a mile from here that we could stay till morning. It's relatively warm and secluded there" Clarissa informed us as she took the lead.
Sleeping outdoors was never a problem for us wolves. In fact, it was better for us to connect to our animal side. But somehow the thought of sleeping right on the border of a rogue town didn't sit right with me. Our scents were almost back to normal. Still, I made no move to protest. I was too tired.
Valero and Niall both shrugged out of their clothes before shifting into their wolves. I purred in delight as I set eyes on my mate. His masculinity and dominance always had me swooning in delight.
I tried as best as I could to hide it as I hopped onto his back. Clarissa did the same with Valero, though it was quite obvious how uncomfortable they both were.
She guided him as we travelled at a steady pace. The night was relatively cool and calming. It almost made me forget the day I had. I almost fell asleep on Niall's back as I let myself relax, even though I couldn't shake the fact that he has yet to say something to me to make me understand what he was thinking.
Sighing, I leaned my body against his massive fluffy fur, wrapped my arms around his neck and allowed myself to be set adrift.
However, I wasn't allowed to be pulled deeper into my slumber, because I was brought back to reality when a loud growling sound trembled the the leaves Niall trotted on.
Instantly, he stopped, and I was up and alert too. Clarissa and Valero perked up at the sound also, and Niall was already growling threateningly as he sniffed, snarled and eyed the forested trees.
I ran my hand through his fur soothingly, simply because I needed him to stay calm until we identified the threat. With his mate this close by to 'danger', his wolf's only instinct was to protect me at all cost. Even if that meant killing whatever wolf had spotted us at first sight.
"Clarissa? What was that?" I asked, as I made a move to hop from Niall's back. But the minute I did, he was circling me in a protective manner as he continued to watch the trees.
I didn't stop him, since I understood his urge much too well. Valero was doing the same for the most part, except he was just in Alpha mode rather than mate mode.
"They found us" Was all she said as she too jumped from Valero's back.
We could smell the mutt, but he was not showing himself. His scent was also quite faint, telling us that he either masked it, or he was quite a distance away.
"Who found us?" I tried my best to get away from Niall's circling so I could get closer to her, but he simply wasn't having it.
Eventually, I just led Clarissa inside my personal bubble to converse with her. We were still very much on alert, but the way how Niall and his cousin were acting, I was sure it was safe to talk without being hurt if a wolf should attack.
<"Remember when I told you about our scents being...special?"> She poked in my head instead of saying it out loud. I nodded in response. <"Well long story short, it was the reason why I was kidnapped from my pack as I child. Our blood can do wonders and-">
She stopped immediately as the growling came closer. I pushed my wolf forward as I scanned the trees and perked my ears. We couldn't tell what direction he was coming from, but he was indeed closer. I quickly looked back to Clarissa for a quick answer; the urgency in my eyes told her to make it fast.
<"It cant do much for a regular wolf now, but if a pregnant wolf should drink our blood, it would cause the pup to grow stronger than any regular wolf. Of course, he/she wouldn't be able to be as strong as an high ranking wolf, but he would be stronger than his peers. Way stronger. It also has special healing agents, but nothing miraculous. So you can imagine of other wolvss should know about this, how dangerous it can be.">
<"And?"> I urged, wanting to know where she was heading.
<"There once was a group of 15 special rogues called genesis rogues. They dedicated their whole lives into finding wolves like us so so that they could build a pack of their own with their heirs being born with our blood. But they retired a few years back and settled at Rogue Burg. For generations they have failed, so they gave up their aimless mission. But this one in particular must've been out hunting and caught your scent, since the mask is waring off. It wont be long until he alerts the others.">
<"And you didn't warn us!"> I snapped unintentionally, but a group of blood thirsty rogues was something I would've liked to hear about.
<"I haven't seen them in a decade, and your scent is still faint so I didn't think..."> She trailed off as she pinched the bridge of her nose before meeting my eyes again. <"You have to understand Zoey, their tracking skills are a thousand times better than mine. Even with the light coat of wolfsbane, they scented you out">
I huffed in frustration as I continued to eye the trees. My mind swirled with various questions, but thinking about it all would surely give me a headache.
Who would've thought that my bloodline that I didn't even know was special until this morning, could get me in so much trouble?
<"What about you? Aren't they after you too? Weren't they after dad?"> I was utterly confused and slightly nervous. If my blood could do such things, why didn't I know about it earlier from our chat?
<"I have been a rogue all my life, and your dad was a rogue for years. We had to stay safe from them, especially after they kidnapped me from my home. In order to stay safe, Reagan corrupted our blood with napellus ashes, making it deadly to the mother of the child who would drink it. They took my blood once, and when it killed the mother, they left us alone.">
<"And now they smell fresh blood and is after me"> I concluded, running my hand through my hair in frustration. Niall was still sniffing and sneering at the trees, ready to pounce and completely oblivious to my conversation with Clarissa.
<"If you and Niall run real fast, maybe Valero and I can keep them off until you're in pack lands-">
<"No" > I cut her off swiftly. <"If they're after me, then this is my fight"> I stated confidently, ready to take them down.
This wasn't only about me anymore. If even one of them survived, I would always have a target on my back, meaning that people I cared about could get hurt. When Niall and I should have a child, he too would be in danger as long as they are aware of my existence.
This had to end now.
"Why isn't he attacking" I mumbled out loud as I waited for him to emerge.
Valero and Niall were in attack mode too, but the 'genesis' rogue wasn't showing himself. Instead, he seemed to be only circling the grounds a few yards away, growling every now and then to make us know that he was very much still present.
"He wont attack alone. He knew he'd only die" Clarissa confirmed. "He's waiting on the others"
<"What others?"> This came from Niall as he pushed himself into my head.
<"I'll tell you later"> I quickly replied.<"Now let's just stay focu-">
I wasn't allowed to finish, because the rustling of leaves and the distinct sound of more wolves growling stole my attention.
Niall lowered his upper body in a pouncing stance, while Valero mimicked his movement as he turned to the opposite direction.
If Clarissa was correct about the number, this battle was four against fifteen. But the advantage is that we are all high ranking wolves against mere rogues. Special rogues or not, they didn't stand a chance.
The shredding of clothes alerted me that Clarissa shifted too, but I stayed in human form, simply because I never got to learn to fight in wolf form, and I was better with my weapons. I whipped my silver bullet gun from my belt, already aiming it at the trees as we circled slowly.
<"Stay behind me" > Niall instructed sharply in my head. I didn't appreciate his tone, but I knew it was his sole protective nature.
However, I didn't listen, since the minute wolves both shifted and in human form came pouncing from every direction, I made my move.
I wasted no time in firing at them immediately, taking down three of them in the split of a second. I contained a smirk, knowing this couldn't be too hard. The others were already knocking over the shifted wolves, biting into their neck with no hesitation as their body went limb.
I drove my elbow backwards as I heard a rogue approaching me, hitting him square it the face as he plummeted to the ground. I didn't hesitate to end him, immediately turning to strike my right foot to another one who was running towards me, sending him flying. I didn't even know that I had that much strength. Just like before, I delivered a shot to his chest the minute he fell to the ground.
But to my utmost surprise, I was taken off guard as a ball of rough fur plunged me by my side, sending me smack against a tree. I winced as my hand immediately went to the back of my head, but I had no time to focus on that, because the same wolf who shoved me was walking threateningly slow towards me with her teeth bared and snarling.
I knew that look too well. I was sure that one of the men I killed was her lover. Else, she wouldn't had been approaching me this slowly, threateningly and intentional. She would've just killed me the minute she shoved me.
I searched for my gun, cursing lowly when I saw that it was a few feet away after I dropped it when she pushed me. I tried to stand, but my feet failed me. Slightly panicking, I grabbed two daggers from my belt and hurled them at her, landing them in both of her eyes.
I winced as she howled in pain, but that only seemed to enrage her more, as she darted towards me blindly.
With wide eyes, I rolled out of her way before quickly jumping to wobbly feet. I whipped my silver rope from my duty belt also, after which I swung it around her neck, pulling as hard as I could. But my strength failed me, and she trashed from its hold and aimlessly dashed towards me.
I made a move to get away from her blind path again, but she was tackled to the ground by my mate's large wolf. I sighed in relief as I watched her body go limp after he drove his teeth in her neck. I felt for her, but I kept reminding myself that this is for my future baby. They had to go, or else he would never be safe if they know I'm alive.
Niall's eyes quickly met mine, and a whimper rumbled from his chest when he saw that I was hurt, but I quickly told him to focus on the few rogues left. About twenty rogues attacked us, at which only six were still standing.
I scanned the area for my gun, but panic rose in me when I saw that it was no longer sitting in the place I saw it earlier. I knew the shifted wolves could've never taken it, and Clarissa, Niall and Valero couldn't have taken it with their paws either, which only told me that one out of the two wolves that were still in human form had it.
I wasted no time in running in the direction of one of them who was creeping up behind Valero, but a surge of panic in both my mate bond, and the bond I had with Clarissa took me by surprise.
<"Zoey look out!"> Niall screamed in my head, just as the loud, deafening sound of a gun shot rippled through the air and shook the trees.
It all seemed to have happened in slow motion as I spun on my heels, where I saw a body of large brown gloom leaping in front of me. Before I knew it, I watched as she tumbled to the ground in writhing pain--she saved my life.
My eyes burnt with tears as my vision blurred. I could see from the side of my eyes when Niall attacked the rogue who had my gun. They all seemed to have stopped fighting as Clarissa shifted back to her human form, with her eyes barely drooping.
I fell to my knees in front other as a sob raked my body. I could feel the newly formed link between us already being broken, and it hurt more than I expected.
"No!" I cried, as I tried to stop the blood seeping from her side. Her limb fingers stretched over my hand, gaining my attention as I met her pale eyes.
"Go to England Zoey. Remember to go to..." Her voice trailed as it cracked and went small. My heart broke as my tears continued to fall. "Your dad would be proud of the woman you've become" She whispered with a strained smile as her body went completely limb in my hand.
My cries grew louder as I felt her bond completely disappear. I didn't know her long, but as she said, we are bound by blood and I felt the lost dearly. A sound of a wolf whimpering caught my attention as I eyed the now ending battle.
Three wolves were now standing, and after predicting their demise, they started to back away as if wanting to retreat. But the anger that rose in me forbid them from doing so. Because all I saw after that was red.
Plain, raw red.
I jumped from my former kneeling position, shifting mid way in the air and I wasted no time in charging towards them.
I pounced on the one closest while his friends tried to escape. But I didn't know how I moved so fast and where I got the strength from, as I caught and tackled them both in one go. I didn't see what happened or how I did it, but my eyes only began to clear as I stared at their lifeless bodies beneath my feet.
Niall's wolf approached me, barely nudging me with his nose which brought me back to reality completely.
I spun to look at Clarissa's lifeless body a few feet away. She took a silver bullet for me. She died for me so that I could find out all I needed to know about myself.
She was around Victoria's age--she left too soon. She could've done so much more before her life was taken from her. But I was grateful for her sacrifice, and I promised myself that it wouldn't be in vain.
Niall rubbed his nozzle to mine as an act of comfort for us wolves. Yet somehow, it only granted me so little comfort as I ogled her in sorrow.
I threw my head back as my heart ached, and let out a long, sorrowful howl to the moon.
Your death won't be in vain Clarissa. I promise you.
.
.
.
Aaah I cant take it!!
What do you guys think? Do you think it's fair that Clarissa died?
And I know some of you might not find the song fitting, but I chose it for that part in particular.
Stay tuned guys! A lot in store.