Malakai's POV:
"That leg of yours is looking better already," Romona, my step-mom told me as she examined it. "It's a good thing I wrote the book on herbs," she teased me and looked over her shoulder at my sister, Nena. "He's going to be okay," she assured my sister. Nena gave a huge sigh of relief. She's been squeezing a clip board the moment she entered the room.
"Nena," I chuckled out. "I'm fine," I promised her. "Why don't you go get an espresso? You look tired." I could see the bags forming under her eyes. She's been up for a couple of days no doubt. I wasn't her twin- but I could sense she was loosing sleep. Mom tightened her back up and looked towards Nena. Her hands busy wrapping my leg up. Looks like I will suffer just a little longer in bandages.
"Nena, go home and get some rest," mom sudden commanded. "Look at how tired you look. By the time you wake up your father and the rest of the pack will be home. You don't want to pass out right as they return, do you?" Mom looked worried but I had a feeling it wasn't only worry for her daughter. There was so much happening to this pack and family.
"Mom," I whispered and took her hand. "Thank you for looking after me but I think I want to rest as well," I told them.
"Of course," she said and took my hand before giving it a kiss on the top. "Let me know if you need anything," she warned. I waited until she was out of the room and relaxed. I let out a small yawn.
I haven't slept since the journey home. It was about to be breakfast time and as much as food sounded delicious, I really wanted a nap. Vivienne should be here... as soon as she wraps up things in Blacktail. I just hope things went okay.
I reached the boarders of Scarlet Nightwalkers and pretty much everything from then to now was a blur. Mother had to work hard on my leg to get the wolfsbane out without touching anything in the process. I had been on an operating table at first. Wolfsbane was preventing my leg from healing properly. Now that she's put the herbs on the wound and taken care of the wolfsbane... I should wake up brand new.
I shut my eyes. My body sunk into the comfort of the bed.
But, I wasn't able to fall asleep.
Fang's last appearance lingered on my mind.
If I had stayed with him... would things have turned out okay?
Is Fang okay?
Of course he is...
He's going to come back with Vivienne.
But I could still hear Fang's voice calling to me. Telling me to run... I left him to fight alone. Was that rogue stronger then him in the end? He towered over me the way the others did.
I hate being a wolf.
I'm not strong enough for my pack.
Not to mention....
My soul mate just so happens to be Eder, the enemy!
I can't believe he just submitted to Lamia's poison. He didn't toss it into a plant. He just drunk it! What if he never wakes up? None of us will know how to cure him.
The wolves will win.
Good guys always win.
And, we're the good guys.
"Mal," I heard a whisper come out of nowhere. I shot up in bed and opened my eyes to look around. I found the window open and Marquis' scent hit my nostrils.
"Mars?" I asked in confusion. He looked younger now... and not a cat. Marquis had the same eyes as I once met him. But, he looked the same age as me. His skin was fresh and smooth. A young looking youth pulled his face into a tight lift. He was a master of disguise, that's for sure.
"Only my brother calls me that," Marquis told me as he stood on the edge of the window. He didn't come inside but instead held out a hand for me. "Mal, come with me."
"Why? Where are we going this time?" I asked him.
"You can't stay here," he warned.
"Why not?" I asked softly.
"Because, trust me! Come with me right now!" He urged.
"What's happening? What will happen if I don't?" I begged to know. He frowned and dropped into the room. He marched over to me and before I had time to speak- he picked me up and took the blanket with. He spun around and went for the window. I growled and squirmed in his arms. "No! Put me down! I just got back!" I growled out. He covered my mouth to keep my voice down.
"Shut up," he warned me.
This motherfucker.
I took in a sharp breath as I forced his hand off my mouth.
"What's going on?" I asked.
"You know Blacktail was attacked?" He asked me.
"Yeah..."
"They're coming here next."
"We have to warn everyone!" I yelled. His hand covered my mouth once more.
"No, it's too late," he told me. "I have to save you, Malakai. They'll be too risky." I pushed his hand back in a fight.
"They're my pack," I whispered. "And, I have family here."
"We can't risk it Mal," he whispered to me. He moved onto the edge of the window and I tensed up. Is he even giving me a choice?
I heard a howl, alerting the pack from the edge of the woods. Marquis froze up and exposed two silver fangs. The same ones that have punctured my neck, I believe. Marquis growled deeply and dropped me into the floor of the room. I could hear gunshots go off. I screamed as a few bullets hit the wall. I could smell blood, Marquis' blood. He pulled a gun from inside his jacket.
Mars was wearing a leather jack, denim jeans, and a black shirt. I almost assumed he stole these from somebody else's closet.
Shit.
Fuck.
I untangled myself from the blanket and watched as Marquis aimed the gun at something outside and shot. He didn't move from his post as he defended the window. I peaked through his feet and gasped.
Vampires.
I recognized some as the same from the Blacktail invasion.
"Mal, I will keep you safe. But, you have to start following my orders," Marquis warned me. I watched as he used a twenty-two like a sniper riffle. His aim was unmatched compared to those coming from the treeline.
'Can we trust him?' Moro's voice echoed in my head. He wasn't forcing me… yet.
"Mal," Marquis asked in annoyance and looked me in the eyes. "If I have to put you over my shoulder," he said in a warning tone. "You won't like it."
"F-Fine, I will come with you," I muttered. I felt my heart fall heavy. My spirit broken. Moro was for certain... the moon goddess wouldn't like me turning my back on my pack and running away. Not in the time they need me the most.
'Shut up Moro, this is a matter of life or death for us,' I assured him. 'I can't help them if I die now.' Marquis jumped out of the window and landed by me. He helped me stand up as we got out of the window's view.
"We'll take to the hall," Marquis noted as he looked at the door. "Whatever happens, don't shift and don't leave my side," he begged me.
"Yeah, I got it," I growled. "Why are they invading now?" I asked him.
"Your pack is at it's weakest point. Lamia is a great strategist and it's your alpha's fault for falling for the trick."
"It was a set up," I muttered.
Fuck Lamia.
"Of course it was. She always gets what she wants, Malakai. You're lucky you're under her radar at the moment but if you get caught now... and taken to her... Who knows what she will do to you."
"B-because of-" I'm mated to her husband? No way... she couldn't know that.
"Because you're Fang's descendent, and unless you plan on kissing her ass- Like Niall, I suggest you run FAR away from her."
"Is Cole still alive?" I asked softly as my mind lingered on how his leg is doing or the fact.... Calcifer died at the hands of that monster.
"For now," Marquis muttered. "I have someone on the inside helping him escape," he admitted. "If all goes well, he will join you north of here."
"North? Nothing is north," I told him.
"No, a powerful pack lives in the north. I'm going to take you there for protection. I already asked and they agreed to take you in."
A pack?
I snorted in disbelief.
Marquis lead me out into the infirmary wing of the pack house. It was very familiar thanks to my mother being head doctor here. I also- spent too much time here. Especially after the run in with the rogue. If it wasn't for Fang... I would still be dead.
Fang.... how is he?
I followed Marquis down the hall and was amazed as he took the correct direction to get off the hall. We could hear the main commotion in the back of the pack house. Connecting to the open gardens right off the grand porch. Mars took the route to the front of the pack house. Hoping for a good chance to leave unnoticed... or at least to kill as little people as possible.
I felt a knot in my stomach.
I was abandoning the ship, and I felt like a captain that was told to stay put. I didn't feel allowed to leave.
The moon goddess will disown me after this.
There's nothing more I can say.
I could feel Moro's disapproval finally filtering through my thoughts.
I am a coward.
I will not find peace in the afterlife.
I will run with the pack of rogues for all eternity. Consumed by lies, savage urges, destruction, and famine. I will crave war for entertainment.... I will find disease plaguing my existence and I will feel unwanted. There will be no home for me. I will be stuck as a life of a nomad.
I will be a rogue.
My hands felt sweaty.
Is this something I can be okay with?
'You won't hear a word again from me if you do," Moro told me softly.
His words sent a spark of joy in me. A quiet desire to silence his voice worked it's way though me. I wanted to be free from the wolf's curse... and if this was how? I would take it. But, I knew better then that. This just means I will be a rogue unworthy of the spirit guide. I have strayed from his path... and will never hear from him again. I will be disowned by him and by the mood goddess. I will be unloved. So, becoming a rogue isn't.... on top of my things to do. I wanted out of the curse... not deeper in it.
Marquis pushed his back up against a wall. We snuck to the edge of the wall to look around it and I noticed we were at the front of the pack house. I stopped in my tracks to do the same as him. "What's the plan?" I asked as I spotted two guards hovering over dead bodies. It was Lamia's men covering the entrance. Like they were trapping us inside. The dead was probably from the begging of the raid. I didn't recognize them. But, I could tell they were my pack mates.
"Just let me take care of them," Marquis suggested. He snatched my hands suddenly and put rope around them. He winked at me and pushed me out into the open. I fell on my knees and felt my heart race. The two guards noticed me and aimed me down with riffles.
"What are you doing, mutt?"
I trembled as I couldn't find my words.
I was shell shocked.
Marquis' footsteps echoed up behind me.
"Look at what I got here," Marquis' voice sent a shiver down my spine. "Lamia specially wants this one."
"How come?"
"Those are private orders. Now, part. Get up, dog."
Moro growled in distaste. It ruptured out of my throat on instincts. How could he insult me like that? Marquis kicked my sore leg and it silenced me. "What's the matter? Come on and get moving," Marquis snapped. The two guards laughed and moved aside for us.
Oh, I was mad...
My feet picked up and I pushed off the ground. I thought of one thing, the door. I made my way to it fast. As soon as it was out, I realized Marquis had stated inches on my heels.