Two weeks later
"Ruff night again sweetheart?" Ask Dev, kissing me on the cheek and sitting on the log next to me.
"When I get my hands on that son of a bitch, I am going to rip him limb by limb," Chetan hiss.
"You and me both," agrees Dev.
I hardly speak anymore and hardly even eat, it's like I have completely gone insane watching people I care about over and over again die.
"Let me seek him out Ajay," yells Chetan.
"I've already told you we have no idea what he is and where he resigns," Ajay says.
"I can't watch her suffer anymore," Chetan cries.
"And we already know he's the Ghost King," Cricket says.
Putting my head back, I whimper in pain. It's like someone taking a knife and cutting up my insides. My eyes roll back into my head. I feel Chetan gripping me even through the pain.
"He's coming."
" Dixon?" Chetan asks.
I nod.
Hearing humming to the tune of the little wolf, we hear Dixon's voice.
Soon he appears, entering the camp. He swings his arms back and forth carrying something. I am too scared to look.
Chetan stands up ready. Smoke already has a grip on his arm.
"Well well, well, Zare, you look like you've been through hell." Dixon laughs.
He drops a bloody head right in front of Ajay. I see the red and smell the Metallic. Elfie.
"An eye for an eye, or should I say a head for a head?" He laughs.
I cry. "What did Elife do to you?"
"Nothing my dear, everybody has to play their part," he responds, walking towards me.
He reaches to stroke my cheek.
"Do not touch her," Chetan says. Breaking out of Smoke's hold, he changes into a wolf quickly. Growing like a beast about to strike.
"You might not want to do that, because every pain I feel your little precious angel feels," Dixon grins wildly.
Chetan changes into his human form. "Take away the nightmares," he demands.
"What's in it for me?" Dixon asks. He tries to move toward me, and Chetan won't let him near.
"Back up now," Chetan yells.
"Let's negotiate, what do you want from us to take away the nightmares?" Ajay asks.
"Why are we negotiating? You got the sword to kill him," Cricket says.
"Go ahead great Alpha, go and get the sword, I'm standing right here," Dixon says, wearing a grin.
Ajay eyes him up and down. "It's not the right time."
"Because we both know that a sword can't kill me," he laughs.
"Whatever, what do you want in exchange?" Ajay asks.
"We both know you took all the potions from Zero's cave, I need the blue one," Dixon.
"Location, so what are you trying to find?" Ajay urges.
"I'm not going to tell all my secrets." Dixon sniggers.
"Ajay, don't give him the potion, I'll be fine." I cry.
Ajay eyes me for a moment. He takes a deep breath. "Dev grab the blue potion bottle."
"Yes, Alpha," Dev says.
"Ajay, I think that's a bad move," Cricket says.
Dev is back in moments with the bottle in hand. He passes it to Ajay.
"Ajay don't" I cry.
"How do I know you'll keep your word?" Ajay asks.
"I always keep my word," Dixon hisses, holding out his hand.
I find the courage to try to walk forward. "Ajay, don't please," I yell.
Chetan puts his arms around my waist. "Shhh it's okay", he tries to calm me.
Ajay hands him the bottle. Dixon brings the bottle to his mouth and kisses it. He moves towards me. Chetan and Dev both act like boy guards, stepping in front of me. Dixon smiles.
I pat the boys on the shoulder. "I have something to say." They move aside, but don't leave my side. Walking up to Dixon, I slap him in the face. It makes my hand burn, it was a loud bang. He brings his hand to his face in return.
"Mmmm you naughty girl," he laughs.
"You have no idea what I've been through because of you." I point my finger at him.
Still holding his face, he crocks his head to the side. He moves closer, and Chetan puts his arm out.
"No kiss today, beautiful?" Dixon asks.
"I am afraid not you freak," Dev says, stepping into his face.
"I'm glad my queen has such good bodyguards, because one day I'll be back and she'll be mine. Dixon eyes Chetan up and down for a moment, before he turns and walks away.
"Thanks for that potion Alpha," he says, bumping into Ajay before walking towards the forest.
"You have no idea the mistake you just made," Cricket says, arm crossed.
Chetan rolls his eyes. "Zare needs the nightmares to stop."
"Whatever Dixon wants with that potion, we will handle it," Ajay says.
The nighttime approaches faster than it feels it should have. I lay wrapped in a blanket with the other girls, we spent the night hanging out in the group looking up at the stars. The other girls have fallen asleep, so the boys automatically assume I did too.
"Why did you give him the potion? Do you think we can't beat him?" Cricket asks.
"We can, but I know no one's going to like the way we have to do it," Ajay remarks.
"It has something to do with Zare being able to slap him and not feel pain herself," Chetan says.
"They are blood bound together, she's the only one that can kill him," Smoke says.
"Right," says Ajay. His voice was almost a whisper.
"I don't want her anywhere near him," Chetan says in a huff.
"She's been through so much, I can't ask her of that right now," Ajay says.
"Does she have to do it herself, like go alone," Dev asks?
"Unfortunately," Ajay answers.
"I'm not going to ask her for that ever, Zare is a sweet soul, she can never kill anyone," Chetan says.
"I'll do it." I jumped up.
Dev chuckles.
"How did I know you weren't sleeping," Ajay says, shaking his head.
"Please Ajay, the pack needs this."
"No Zare, absolutely not, it's out of the question," Chetan says.
"Chetan's right, for now, I would never send you after him until we have a thought-out plan," Ajay says.
I nod.
It doesn't bother me that I have to save the pack again, like the tree of knowledge said. I am the most important member of the pack.