Zeld and I entered the den he stood as far away from me as possible Talieus narrowed his eyes at this but didn't comment.
"So what's the plan?"
Keyon was the first to ask. Turning to Exon I used my wind to pin him against the wall of the den. He struggled against it as he glared at me.
"What the hell Rav?!"
Zeld forced me to look at him the others too shocked to do anything but stare.
I growled at him.
"He's a spy!"
Zeld looked from me to Exon I could see the doubt in his eyes, but I could sense it from the second I saw him as I flew in.
"Raven Exon has never left the pack how could he be a spy."
"Why would you think I'm a spy I'm your friend!"
I scowled at Exon and Talieus's words. I made to step closer but Zeld held me back fearing what I would do. I faced Zeld peering into his eyes I could still see the hurt he felt from what I had done.
"I'll tell you all one thing only about the trails."
I spoke to all of them but I only looked at Zeld.
"I spoke to the moon goddess herself, my ancestor. She gave me back all my powers and added the power to sense where a wolves loyalty lies."
I turned back to Exon.
"And your loyalty lies with Shiya."
Exons face turned from feigned fear to hatred.
"So then you know it's already too late she knows you've passed the trails and she knows you have your powers back. I told her everything our numbers and maps of the caves. Face it Raven this pack is doomed at least I will be the one and only survivor."
Zeld rushed forwards wrapping his hands around Exons neck.
"How could you your mother is here do you want her to die too!"
"Zeld!"
Zeld snapped his head back to face me not letting go of his neck.
"Step aside it's not his fault his mind has been twisted."
"How is that possible he's a forest lakes wolf his mind can't be tampered with."
I looked to Talieus.
"He is not all forest lakes wolf somewhere in his line was a human who tainted the blood line making him vulnerable."
Zeld stared at me amazed.
"How do you know that?"
"I just do now step aside."
Zeld stepped back as I approached. Exon's eyes showed real fear this time.
"What are you doing?"
I placed my hands on his temples closing my eyes.
"Saving you."
I propelled my mind into his as I weeded through his memories and what I saw caused pain to course through my heart.
Exon had gone hunting further away then usual. As he stopped to rest he was captured by the bounty hunter who dragged him to a mountain nearby where the one male I had been dreading to see since the moment I left waited. Ki stared down at Exon there was so much hurt , pain and hatred in his eyes.
"Turn him make him get close to her and when she finds out that he betrayed her then maybe she will feel just a fraction of what I felt when someone else marked her."
I left the memory as fast as I could haunted by what I'd seen. Ki didn't switch sides because of the bounty hunter but because of me, because of Zeld's mark.
I finished erasing what Quell had done and left Exons mind.
I turned my back as Talieus and Keyon went to Exons side my wind freeing him from the wall.
"Wha- what happened? How did I get here?"
The two remaining elders comforted him as Zeld looked sideways at me. Quickly I masked my emotions as i turned back around.
"He is free of Quells influences his memory should return in a few days."
Though he will not remember where he was taken or that Ki was there. That part of his memory I erased.
'I need to talk to him.'
'Is that wise?'
'He deserves an explanation.'
'Very well we will have to leave later tonight assuming he's still there.'
'Something tells me he will be.'
"Rav?"
I snapped out of my reverie to Zeld's voice.
"Sorry what did you say?"
"I asked if you were alright?"
I nodded.
"Yes I'm fine. I trust you to be in charge of the patrols and sentries around the area. For now our priority is getting the young as far away from here as possible. Those that don't want to fight will protect them until this is all over I leave that to you two."
I indicated Talieus and Keyon.
Zeld narrowed his eyes at me.
"And you? What will you be doing?"
I scowled.
"What I was asked to do."
I turned and headed out of the main den leaving them behind.
'He's following you again.'
'I know clearly the order doesn't stop him from questioning everything I do.'
'He's persistent I'll give him that.'
He waited til we were back inside my den before he confronted me.
"Whats going on Rav?"
I groaned.
"Can't you go one day without questioning everything? Can't you just trust that I know what I'm doing?"
He laughed but their was no humour in it.
"Trust?! You talk about trust after what you did! Yes Rav I trust that you will do what ever you have to for this pack but trust you? No Rav I don't trust you. Ever since we got here it has been one thing after another with you. Don't you get it the meaning of being in a pack is that you don't have to do everything alone. All these secrets what is so dam bad that you can't let someone in?"
I stared at him my face emotionless as his fist clenched in frustration.
"Are you done?"
He scowled at me.
"Are you going to tell me what your hiding?"
I turned my back on him.
"No."
"Then I guess we're done."
I heard him walk out as my heart broke in two.
'Raven-'
'Don't Caryi you know why it has to be this way.'
'But it could still work out for you two.'
'I don't deserve to be happy after what I will do to them.'
'What if he doesn't think so shouldn't he have a say?'
'At the end of all this he will be free to choose another.'
'What if he still wants you?'
'He won't.'
'You can't know that.'
'Please Caryi it's bad enough that....'
I couldn't even bring myself to say the words, I could feel her sadness as well as her acceptance.
'I have accepted our fate maybe you should to and enjoy the time you have with them together.'
'Maybe your right but there's one thing I have to do first.'
'I still think this is a bad idea.'
'Maybe but I have to try.'
I hadn't slept all night having been in the trails so I decided to get some sleep in while I was waiting til nightfall.
It didn't take me long to fall asleep I hadn't realised how exhausted I was from the trails.
My dreams were plagued by what I'd seen in those caves. The death and destruction not just in Greenland but everywhere. The whole world had been thrown into chaos a barren wasteland caused by the never ending war between the packs.
The moon goddess was angry at the corruption and violence that was stirring amongst the packs. So she had entrusted me to deal out their punishment. I tossed and turned as I was haunted by what she'd shown me.
"They have abused their power the wolves were never meant to interfere in humans lives. In doing this they have tainted that power making them crave more. The wolves were always meant to be one with nature."
"But if I could persuade them to return to the wild live as the forest lakes wolves do. Wouldn't that be enough?"
"It is already too late they are too far gone to controlled by their bloodlust and need for more power."
"Moon goddess please even if that were true the forest lakes wolves have done nothing wrong why should they suffer the same fate?"
She had smiled sadly at that point and wrapped her arms around me.
"The forest lakes wolves are not immune from the corruption Raven. Even now Grit waits outside praying that you fail in your trails. The corruption has already reached the pack I created all those years ago. In your heart you know I am right."
My eyes snapped open as one tear escaped my eyes.
'She was right Raven.'
I ignored her as I got up it was late enough that I knew the only ones awake would be the patrols.
Wasting no time a shifted into my eagle form as I flew out of the den and headed west to where I knew Ki was. I had to talk to him I had to find out for sure whether he was forced into siding with Shiya or not.
It didn't take long to reach the cave Ki was staying in as I soared down shifting to wolf form upon hitting the ground. I approached the cave not even bothering to hide that I was here.
In wolf form ki came out to greet me.
"I had heard you had your powers back I guess I can assume you found out Exon was a spy?"
"Where's the bounty hunter?"
He chuckled but there was no humour in it.
"Gone Shiya needed him to help with the packs as they arrived."
I growled.
"You can still stop this Ki you have no idea what will happen if you continue on this path. Kill the bounty hunter free the others of their minds and together we can stop Shiya."
He padded closer his smaller form not as intimidating as it once was.
"Still naive as ever none of the packs are under the bounty hunters control. Shiya has convinced them that your pack plans to destroy them."
I growled.
"that's bull shit Ki and you know it!"
"It doesn't matter what I think they out numbered my pack it was either I fall in line or they kill us too and to be honest after what you did I wanted to come here. I wanted to see you feel just a fraction of what I did."
I sighed.
"Ki I know what you think-"
"You have no idea what I'm thinking! You betrayed me! You ran off with that mutt of yours and then let him mark you!"
"That's not what happened at all ki I was falling Zeld was in wolf form so he caught me with his teeth."
"Don't lie to me!"
He snapped at me.
"I'm not lying Ki Zeld and I are just friends I rejected him as my mate."
"You also rejected me!"
"Because I had too you said it yourself the pack comes first!"
"This is pointless Rave what's done is done you can not stop the packs from attacking they want the forest lakes pack gone."
"Can we go inside and talk about this?"
"Why Rave so you can pretend you still care for me?"
"I do still care for you!"
He growled in frustration.
"Why are you here?!"
I didn't answer because I had no answer. Why was I there? I knew I wouldn't be able to convince him to stop so why was I bothering when I should be killing him for turning against me.
In his frustration of my silence he started to leap towards me, I quickly beat him to it as I used my wind to propel me forward knocking him back inside the cave. Now under my paws he shifted back to human form. I froze above him the pain in his eyes had me shifting to human form as well.
As I stared down at him something snapped between us both as he sat up pressing his lips to mine. His hands wrapped around me as i thrust my tongue in his mouth. Reaching down I guided him inside me as he moaned with pleasure. I knew this was not a good idea but I couldn't stop myself. I still loved him and nothing would change that, however I knew just as he did that this would be the last time.
As his lips travelled down my neck he took my nipple nibbling at its peak as he thrust deeper inside me.
"I'm sorry ki-"
His lips returned to mine silencing me.
"Raven don't just let me enjoy you one last time."
I nodded as he stared into my eyes his hand caressing my cheek as he lunged his way into my core. My eyes never leaving his as our bodies met together in one last display of our love before it was torn away by a battle that neither of us could stop.
He took my lips even as he took my body rolling me over til he hovered above me pounding his way inside me not letting up as we both exploded in pleasure.
Still inside me he gazed into my eyes all the pain of what had happen returning as he pulled away standing up.
"Go Back to your pack Raven next time we met don't expect me to hesitate."
I sighed as he turned his back to me.
"Good bye Ki."
Shifting back into an eagle I soared out of the cave and back to my pack. His last words repeated in my mind. I'm sorry Ki but you won't even get a chance to kill me no one will.