I prepared myself – fully believing that I would have to fight for my life but also thinking that I should take whatever punishment was coming my way. I couldn't fight the Royal Beta and Royal Gamma without severe repercussions. The natural fight or flight instinct was kicking, I knew Amara would fight her way out of this so I needed to remain in control for as long as I could.
In case a fight did break out I was already planning my first move, take out the Beta. He was a Beta for a reason and the closest to me. I planned on grabbing him by the forearms and kicking out his knee before I pulled his arms behind his back in preparation for the Gamma. Unsure of what his move would be I had to be to get enough distance between us so that I could shift and run. I scanned the small clearing, we were surrounded by dense trees, the air was slightly thinner so I knew we had to be higher up the mountain that stood behind the hotel. I could faintly hear running water, a small river had to be close by. It was colder outside than I anticipated, not that I expected to leave the hotel, so using the river to escape wasn't an option, I only assumed that parts had started to ice over and I didn't have time to fight that while running.
We can't run. Olivia.
I heightened my sense of hearing, waiting for the sound of movement behind me, the sound of the ground resettling as Theo took his stance. My eyes focused solely on Caleb, waiting for that split second I had before his body tensed. I remained as relaxed as possible, slowing my heart rate down the way Benton had taught me. He was always my sparring partner, he wanted me to know how to defend myself against any man. A lot of good that did. I ended up forced to mate with a sociopath that would rape me when he pleased. Alex thought me weak but he had no idea the strength I possessed. I only allowed him to live to protect my mother, my remaining siblings, and my daughter. My mind refocused once again on the task at hand. I sniffed the air in hopes that their scents would give me any advantage. My ears perked at a sound that I was not anticipating.
A laugh. Theo's laugh to be exact. I still refused to turn around, my eyes solely focused on Caleb. His beautifully chiseled features stern until I saw a slight crack in the corners of his eyes. He couldn't hold it any longer and let out a roaring laugh, bending over to grab his knees to try and contain himself.
"I'm crying! That was epic!" Caleb wheezed between bursts of laughter.
I turned to examine Theo behind me, actually looking at him for the first time. He was tall, as tall as Caleb, on the thinner side compared to most wolves but as his shirt tightened around his arms I could clearly see the defined lines of his biceps and chest. His auburn hair shining in the moonlight, his amber colored eyes filled with laughter almost seemed to sparkle. His features were softer, almost feminine, they still held that youthfulness. He had a thin mouth, slight stubble and perfect eyebrows. They were beautifully arched, I was jealous.
"What is happening?" Completely lost in the moment the two men high five, "Are you going to kill me or take me to the dungeons?"
"Fuck no! That was amazing! You took that dickhead out like no she-wolf I've ever seen and we have female warriors!" Caleb seemed almost proud of what just occurred.
"But I attacked someone. He's hurt." Still not fully believing that this was happening.
Did I step into the twilight zone? These people are crazy!
"Don't worry about it. He put his hands on you, anyone in that bar would vouch that you were protecting yourself. Plus no one would really be surprised that we got into another fight in there. It usually happens at least once a month." Theo's voice was like whiskey, smooth and warming. I tried to peek to see if he was marked but couldn't get a clear glimpse.
"What? You mean you get into regular fights with people? On purpose?" I couldn't believe this was happening. I should be punished for what happened. Yes, he put his hands on me but he didn't deserve a shattered wrist.
"It isn't really our fault if people fight us. They know who we are. We never start the fight." Caleb was waving away the obvious elephant in the room.
"But that's abuse of power. Pretty sure people don't just walk up to you and punch you. So you fighting other people when you hold the position you do is abuse." I approached my soap box with my head held high. Even if the guy was extremely intoxicated, I had no right to use my strength to hurt him the way I did, regardless of warning him.
"Actually that did happen to Caleb once. Someone did walk up to him and punch him. They didn't like his face apparently." Theo stated matter of factually.
"It was you! You walked up and punched me!" Caleb clearly hurt by the exchange.
"Well you should be happy we moved on and evolved in our relationship. I still don't like your face but I'm not punching you anymore so that's progress." Theo's sense of humor was a surprise but I didn't know what to expect having only met him for a brief moment.
"Cate, serious question though and don't feel obligated to tell us but...who hurt you?" Theo's eyes held a tenderness I hadn't seen in years.
Before I could respond their eyes glazed over, indicating that they were mind-linking. While they were distracted I started to really look at the trees around us. They were a deep green and lush – the smell of impending winter hung in the air. The cold causing my teeth to chatter slightly and my nose to burn. It was serene and picturesque, like something out of a movie. Amara was ready to break free and run through the wild terrain. It was unlike anything we had ever seen before. Moonstone Pack lands woods were sparse and the land held slight valleys and hills. When we were moved to Blood Stone, a few hours north of Moonstone lands, it was a more rocky, unstable area with smaller peaks, not quite mountains. Rogue lands also ran parallel to Blood Stone that it was sometimes dangerous to run at night. I often had to sneak out on my own to run. Sometimes I was invited to run with the pack but most would leave me be. I didn't mind running alone. I was able to let go and really be free, let Amara have full control.
"Well....His Majesty knows about what happened but don't worry! I took the blame. I said that I broke the guy's hand." Caleb's voice was calm as he delivered the news while I was beginning to freak out a little.
"What do you mean he knows? Why would you take the blame?" My mind was racing imagining a tall, brooding man in a dark room roaring in anger. A little fantastical but I didn't know him.
"Don't worry Red. You're one of us." Theo offered a soft smile and it tugged at the corners of my mind as if I had seen that smile before.
"We'll walk you back to the hotel. Everything has been cleared out now. You don't have to worry." I had only really seen the silly Caleb but this was the serious business Beta Caleb. His face an unreadable mask. Theo walking beside me, the silence was deafening. I didn't feel anymore at ease than I did before, if anything I was more stressed because now the King knew. I knew that all this anxiety stemmed from my time with Alex and Blood Stone.
No one touched me but Alex but that didn't erase the time spent in constant fear that something would set Alex off, that he would lose control of Odin like he had done a thousand times before. Memories began flashing through my mind, what little sanity I had been holding on to finally broke. It had been a long, exhausting day and the pressure of everything was finally hitting me all at once. I just had to make it back to my room before I could release the tears that I was fighting back. I refused to cry in front of these two after they just watched me snap someone's hand. It wouldn't be epic.
My mother and Olivia were still asleep when I arrived to the room. They could sleep through a hurricane and not even know it. I was grateful. I needed a moment to myself. The day was too much, the past ten years were too much. Hanging on to this secret was too much. It was hard to believe that we've made it this far without exposure but I suppose that's how our line had made it this far.
I turned the shower on in my room to scalding hot knowing that it would do minimal damage. I started to reflect on everything and cried. I didn't hold back, I let my tears fall without any hesitation. I needed to breath, to release. My strength was wavering, I left the invisible thread inside me pull taught, ready to snap. If I didn't release Amara, the real Amara, soon I wouldn't be able to control myself. My Mom tried to help me but her powers were weak. She was only a third of what I possessed and I knew that scared her because it scared me. I feared that my daughter would inherit it as well. After all, our kind were hunted and used for those seeking more power.
That's what happens when you're a Necro Wolf.