"You're not going to eat?" Ajay asks.
I shake my head.
"You used to love my hamburger," Ajay remarks.
"Now she loves human flesh," Dev laughs.
"Funny." I roll my eyes.
"Hey, bro lay off the jokes," Chetan gives him a look, like a serious dude look.
"I'm going to go for a run."
"Zare, it was a joke," Dev stands up.
"It's not the joke. I want to think."
"I'll come with you," Chetan says.
"No, Chetan," I yell louder than I thought.
"Zare, I don't think you should leave upset. You had a hard day," Ajay says.
"A hard day, I literally died."
"You need to stay," Ajay tells me.
"Sorry, Alpha, I wasn't asking for permission."
Not waiting for a response, I change into my wolf and run off into the woods. I hear the leaves crunch beneath my feet, and I listen to the little owl hoot in the tree. I feel so free, alone in the woods. Maybe this is where I belong.
I race. The wind blows. I run faster and faster. I know where I am going. I know Chetan is going to be pissed.
Soon I am at the place I have been for months. The place where I only had Ash.
"AB," I scream.
I only hear his annoying cackling.
"Come out, you coward."
"A bold choice of words for your clan leader," he steps out from the cave.
"Why did you care they killed Ace?"
"Technically, they didn't kill him. He's already dead. They destroyed him," he grins.
"And that's how you treat your friends?"
He shrugs his shoulders. "More like acquaintances."
"If I ripped out your heart, how are you alive?" He asks, looking me up and down.
"I'll ask the questions. Why couldn't I smell your scent approaching?"
"I've been killing humans and using their blood to mask my scent," he laughs.
"And that's your big plan, to try to sneak around?"
"Part of it." He says.
"You were pretty brave coming here, Zare. Because I rip out your heart this time, there's no one here to save you," he says, stepping forward with a creepy grin.
I hear hissing. Glad It's Ash and not Ajay or Chetan.
Ash jumps in front of me. AB growls, twitching his head back and forth.
Ajay, Chetan, Smoke Cricket, and Dev join Ash, all foaming at the mouth and growling. "Looks like you're outnumbered," Ash says.
"Or whatever should I do?" AB puts his fingers in his mouth and whistles. At a quick speed, five more pale faces surround us. Three boys and two girls.
"I've been busy creating new acquaintances," AB laughs.
"We're not looking for a fight. We just want Zare," Ajay remarks.
"Take her and leave. She hunted me out, naughty girl," AB roars.
Ajay grabs me by the arm. It was apparent that he was outraged. "Ajay, I am sorry."
"Shut up, Zare, you put the whole pack in danger," he yells.
"I know. I need an answer why."
"Why what? He's an evil vampire," he hollers at me.
"Control your temper, Ajay," Chetan interrupts, grabbing his arm that holds mine.
"Seriously, why do you defend her?" Ajay asks.
"She was wrong to run off to confront AB, but she had a rough day," Chetan says.
"Fine, next time I have a hard day, I'll put the pack in danger," Ajay says.
"I didn't put the pack in danger. You chose to come after me."
"And what would happen if I didn't, Zare?" Ajay rolls his eyes.
"I would defend myself."
Ajay laughs. "Fine next time you're on your own."
He lets go of my arm. The boys all walk ahead of me. Even Chetan. I feel my eyes fill with water.
"Chetan?"
He keeps walking, never even looking back. Great, everyone is mad at me.
Ash comes by my side. I smile. "I know you understand."
"I want answers to as much as you, maybe even more, but why would you risk your safety?" He asks.
"I don't know."
"I know AB and Ace were difficult, but I thought they were my family," he tells me.
"Yeah, I know."
"I will make AB pay," he tells me.
"Good."
Once back at camp, the boys sit on logs by the fire. I, of course, slip away under a tree. Closing my eyes, I remember the blood and the smell. I remember my life slipping away. I died. I died today. And I didn't even learn from it.
I watch Forest and Smoke kiss. They seem so in love. They make it look effortless and pure. I want that for Chetan and me. If he still loves me, I watch him laugh with Dev. He doesn't even care that I am not around.
I watch a tiny elf run through the trees. The smaller creatures seem so petrified. I guess I really don't blame them.
"Are you going to be here all night?" I hear Chetan's voice, he sits down beside me.
I nod.
"Zare, you don't even care about your life," he says.
"What?"
"Why would you hunt down a vampire who ripped out your heart?" he asks.
"I already said I wanted answers."
"You need to grow up," he remarks.
"Excuse me?" I feel so angry.
"The pack is tired of getting you out of trouble. Your decisions affect all of us, especially me," he says.
"I know."
"Then care," he yells.
"Wow."
"I am sorry, but you need to stop and think before you do," he explains.
"I don't want to discuss this anymore."
"Good," he gets up and starts walking away.
"I just want us to be like Forest and Smoke," I yell after him.
"And it is your fault we can't have that, because you're always kissing someone else or doing something stupid," he yells.
I notice the other pack members look in our direction. "You're right."
I watch Chetan until he was out of sight. I don't blame him for being mad at me, I guess I would be too. Every time I try to get my shit together, I just can't, and do something stupid.