Mason and the two hunters who were with him started cheering as Team 1 finally eliminated every rogue werewolf. The entire Team 1 gathered around me, eager to hear what had transpired in the past two days.
"Enjoy some downtime with your friends," Mason suggested to me, to which I replied with gratitude. He then instructed the other hunters to assist in burying the rogue werewolves' bodies.
Team 1 shifted back into their human forms. Edward, filled with concern for my well-being, gently cradled my head in his lap as I sat.
"Sorry we couldn't get here sooner," Edward apologized, his worry palpable.
"You arrived just in the nick of time; you weren't late at all," I reassured Edward.
Luna asked about my condition, inquiring, "How are you feeling now, Captain?"
I replied, "I'm actually feeling much better now, thanks to the accelerated serum you gave me, Luna."
"Anything for you, Cap," Luna responded warmly.
"Umm don't you know that I'm no longer your captain," I informed them.
"We heard about it from Mason. What happened?" Hunter asked.
Emilly, her tone dripping with anger and resentment, offered her perspective, saying, "What do you think happened? Out of anger, she killed our pack mate, Emma, her former best friend."
"Also, she's has been marked as a traitor and no longer our pack mate. I don't know why we're helping her," Emilly asserted firmly, her tone laden with distrust.
"How dare you talk to her like that?" Edward rebuked Emilly, coming to my defense.
"Hey, hey, don't fight. She's right, Edward. I'm no longer your pack mate or leader," I responded with resignation.
"But... but..." Edward attempted to voice his objection, only for Emilly to interject, "You know what? I'm heading back to the pack. We were sent on a mission, and our orders were to deliver that package to Captain Steve as soon as possible."
Emilly transformed back into her werewolf form and bounded away toward the pack.
"Ah, I suppose Emilly has a point, Captain. I don't want to jeopardize my position, so I'm going back with her. You'll always be my captain, Ella," Luna expressed her decision and gave my shoulder a reassuring pat before departing.
"Why is she so angry with her?" Deesa queried, puzzled by Emilly's vehement reaction.
"She may be right, in the end. After all, I am the one who killed Emma," I confessed, my voice heavy with remorse.
"Oh, so the rumors are true," Logan acknowledged.
"So that means we could face punishment for helping you," Hunter pointed out.
"Yeah, you're right," I conceded.
"But, guys, I think we should at least hear her side of the story," Edward urged, his anxiety evident.
"Yes, he's right. But we're pressed for time, and we're already breaking rules by assisting her," Deesa observed.
"But, guys..." Edward began to speak, his emotions in turmoil.
"They're right, Edward. You should all listen to Emilly's words and leave me here. Remember? We promised to put the pack first everything when we became soldiers. Have you forgotten, Edward?" I reminded him, my tone somber.
"Yes, Captain is right, Edward. We should go back," Luna concurred, her voice tinged with worry.
"Hell no! I'm not leaving her behind like that, especially in that position," Edward erupted, his anger palpable.
"Hey, Edward, don't do that. You'll lose your position if you stay," Hunter cautioned.
"F that position," Edward retorted, his anger flaring.
"Don't say that, Edward. You're going against the pack by doing this," Deesa admonished.
Suddenly, Edward's transformation began. He shifted into his Alpha werewolf form (4th stage), and in his deep, commanding werewolf voice, he declared, "I'm saying this one last time. I'm not going back to the pack after what they've done to Ella, despite her numerous services to the pack. The real traitors here are them, not her. And anyone who tries to come between me will be held accountable for their actions."
"Hey, Edward, calm down. You've crossed a line here," I chided him gently.
Edward regarded me with concerned eyes, realizing he had gone too far, and reverted to his human form.
"Hahaha, Edward, you're quite the comedian," Deesa taunted, her tone lighthearted.
Laughter erupted among the group. "STFU! I'm dead serious here," Edward retorted, still seething.
"Hahaha, well, whatever. I'm going back to the pack with everyone. What are you going to do now, Edward?" Deesa inquired, mocking him. "I'm asking this one last time: are you coming with us, failed lover?"
"No, I'm not. I'm staying with her," Edward responded, his anger unabated.
"So, what are you going to do now, buddy?" Logan teased.
"We will go somewhere away from this cruel world. We will live alone and find some place for us," Edward replied, prompting laughter and jests from the group.
"LMAOO, he's still talking nonsense," Luna remarked, her laughter somewhat malicious.
But Edward's words triggered something within me. A memory emerged, unbidden, from the night of Emma's death. When Emma had come to rescue me, and she had said, "Don't worry, Ella. I came here to save you...' 'We will go somewhere away from this cruel world. We will live alone and find men who are brave enough to marry us. Don't worry; I'm with you always."
Suddenly, a searing pain erupted in my head as this memory resurfaced, and I couldn't help but dropped some water out of my eyes.
"Hey Ella, are you okay?" Edward asked, concern etched across his face as he gently placed my head on his lap again.
"Hey, Captain, are you okay?" Luna's voice joined in, echoing the worry in her eyes. The others in the group shared their concern as well.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm okay, I guess. The healing accelerator is doing its work," I replied, trying to offer them a reassuring smile.
"Well, Edward, she's taken the accelerator. She'll be okay in no time. And the hunters are with her," Deesa reassured Edward, casting him a supportive look.
"She's right, Edward. You should listen to her. The pack needs you more than me. Think about the people and your family. I'll be fine in less than an hour," Emma chimed in, her words filled with encouragement.
"But..." Edward began, his reluctance evident, but I interjected, "Also, you can come visit me anytime. You'll find me here near this camp."
Edward fell silent, and I could see him weighing his options. After a tense pause, he finally spoke up.
"Well, okay, but I'm not leaving right now until you're fit," he declared with determination in his voice.
"But what about the package, stupid? We have to deliver it as soon as possible," Luna reminded him, voicing the practical concern we all shared.
"Emily has that package. You guys can deliver it, can't you?" Edward turned to the rest of the group, seeking their agreement.
"But what if they ask us about you?" Luna questioned, a worried furrow in her brow, as she anticipated the potential complications.
"Just make up some excuse that I'll be there an hour late," Edward suggested, looking at me with a reassuring nod.
"What kind of excuse do you think we can make?" Luna inquired skeptically, clearly uncertain about how to handle this.
"Leave it to me," Deesa offered with a mischievous grin.
"At last, you're a master of lying, Deesa, hahaha," I chuckled, trying to lighten the mood amidst the worries.
"Right, Captain," Luna agreed, and soon, laughter filled the air, even from Edward, who managed to smile too.
"Alright, so I guess we should get going. Emily must have covered a lot of ground already, and we need to catch up fast," Deesa suggested, breaking the momentary levity.
"Ahhhh mannn!!!, you're right, I'll have to run faster because of that witch!" Luna exclaimed, already dreading the impending sprint.
"Alright, best of luck for the future, Captain. We'll occasionally come to visit you, Ella," Luna said, and the others echoed her sentiments. With that, they transformed back into their werewolf elite forms (3rd stage) (so they can run faster), ready to sprint away. I watched them go, feeling a mixture of gratitude and longing as they disappeared into the distance.
"So, what are we gonna do now?" I inquired, looking at Edward.
"We should head back to the camp first then listen to your story," Edward replied, his voice steady with resolve. I nodded in agreement.
Edward lifted me gently, cradling me in his arms, and called out to Mason, who was busy helping bury the rogue werewolves. "Hey, Mason, I'm heading back to camp. Are you coming?"
Mason shouted back, "Nahhh, not right now. We're still burying these bastards, and then we'll wait at my brother's grave for a few minutes."
"Okay, okay," Edward replied and began walking toward the camp, me in his arms.
But I halted him when we reached the small cottage that had been our home for six months. It was the same place Jason and I had lived together for the six months. "Stop there, Edward, and thank you for carrying me," I said with gratitude.
Edward looked at the quaint cottage curiously and remarked, "It's a bit small compared to your actual house."
I couldn't help but laugh, "Haha, yes, it is."
Edward continued, "Well, it's enough for a single person to live comfortably."
"Yes, but can you imagine Jason and me living together here for six months?" I replied, reminiscing about our time together.
Edward seemed taken aback by the idea. "You guys lived together? Why?" he asked, his confusion evident.
"Well, first, let's enter the cottage. I still have my clothes and things here, and I'll tell you everything from the beginning to the end," I explained. Edward nodded, and together we stepped inside.
We entered in that small cottage, and I immediately changed into fresh clothes, then prepared a cup of coffee for both of us.
"You shouldn't have to do that, Ella. You're injured," Edward expressed his concern.
I reassured him, "No worries, my wounds are already 45% healed."
Edward looked at me with a mixture of gratitude and worry. "So, now, would you please tell me what actually happened?" he asked, his eyes earnest.
I took a deep breath and began recounting the whole story to Edward—my relationship with Jason, the events leading to his death, and how I had killed Emma in my Rage mode and how i got deported from the pack. Edward listened silently, absorbing every word of my painful tale.
"So, you and Jason were in a relationship?" Edward inquired once I had finished recounting.
"Yes, like I told you earlier," I replied.
Edward continued with another question that caught me off guard, "And you had sex too?"
"Um, yes?! What kind of stupid question is that, Edward?" I retorted, feeling a mixture of anger and confusion. "I'm still in depression, struggling to escape the trauma. I'm battling suicidal thoughts from that day. It's only my soldier spirit that's preventing me from taking that step."
Edward immediately realized his insensitivity and apologized, "Oh, no, no, I didn't mean it like that. I'm sorry."
"My world has been broken, Edward. I really don't want to live anymore," I confessed, my voice trembling with sadness, tears streaming down my cheeks.
Edward immediately pulled me into a comforting embrace. "Oh, no, Ella, don't cry," he whispered softly, gently wiping away my tears.
After a moment of silence, Edward broke it with a hesitant tone. "Um, hey, Ella," he began.
"Yes?" I replied, sniffling and attempting to regain my composure.
"Promise me that you won't take any wrong steps," Edward implored, his eyes filled with concern.
I sighed deeply and replied, "I can't promise that, Edward. I don't know why, but I just wish for death. Every time I close my eyes, I see both of them."
Edward fell into a thoughtful silence for a minute, then finally said, "So, you can't transform into a werewolf after the trauma and Rage mode?"
"No," I admitted.
"And these rogues are after you?" Edward continued.
"Yes," I confirmed.
"So, it will be harder for you to live, or you will eventually be caught," he reasoned.
"Probably. I would prefer to die than be their slave," I admitted, my voice heavy with resignation.
"Well, Ella, I've heard about a magician who can remove the trauma from your mind," Edward said after another moment of silence.
"Edward, are you kidding me? You know that magic is considered wrong among werewolves. They'll hate me even more," I responded.
Edward looked at me with a hint of frustration. "Ella, are you kidding me? They already hate you. Why do you care about their opinion now?"
I pondered this for a moment before replying firmly, "Still, I won't do that. My culture matters to me most"
Edward persisted, "I've also heard some rumors that this magician can even resurrect the dead."
My eyes widened with surprise and hope. "What did you say, Edward?"
"Um, I said that he can make the dead alive," Edward repeated, his tone serious.
I sighed and replied, "Stop kidding, Edward. Can't you see I'm already in pain? You're making it worse with these fairy tales."
"I'm not making fairy tales; I swear to you," Edward insisted earnestly.
His sincerity made me pause for a moment. I had a hunch that Edward had feelings for me, and he couldn't possibly lie about something like this. Because among werewolves, swearing on the names of their loved ones was a sacred act of honesty. If he swore, he wasn't lying.
"I've also heard these rumors," I admitted quietly to myself.
"Are you referring to Jaffaari?" I asked Edward.
"Yes, you're right, Ella. But how do you know about that magician?" Edward inquired with confusion.
"Oh, Edward, he is the only popular magician in the world. Everyone has heard his name. But no one has ever found him or seen him," I explained.
Edward nodded in agreement. "Yes, you're right. But there were some rogue werewolves we hunted recently. We had a rumor that they were visiting Jaffaari for something... I don't know what, but it was related to the reincarnation of Fenrir or something like that. They claimed that their boss would be reincarnated as the next Fenrir through Jaffaari and would rule the entire werewolf world. It sounded absurd, to be honest. I can't remember all the details, but when we hunted them, I found some coordinates related to Jaffaari's hideout."
"Fenrir? Are they mad?" I chuckled at the thought.
Edward laughed as well, saying, "Yeah, right."
"By the way, do you know who Fenrir is?" I asked curiously.
"Not much, but I've heard that he played a significant role in our werewolf history," Edward replied, his interest piqued by the conversation.
"Well, The Great Fenrir was our first werewolf, the one who started our lineage. No one knows exactly how we got split into hybrids and rareez. But The Great Fenrir is considered the All Father, the progenitor of both hybrids and rareez," I explained to Edward.
"Oh, so that's the story," Edward replied, his interest clearly piqued.
"Yes, but I don't know much about it myself. Hybrids like us have limited information about our past, but it's said that the rareez possess more extensive knowledge," I continued.
"Ah, so maybe that's why those rogues were trying to do some shit. They might have stumbled upon unusual information in their books and attempted some kind of experiment that ultimately failed," Edward speculated.
"Probably," I agreed.
"Edward, do you have those coordinates with you?" I inquired.
"Oh yes, here they are," Edward said, retrieving a piece of paper from his pocket.
"Why did you save them?" I asked, curious.
"All of the Team 1 have a copy because these coordinates were meant for our next mission. We were supposed to investigate the location according to these co-ordinates after the peace talk event, And i heard that you was going to lead that mission" Edward explained.
I chuckled and replied, "Ah, I see. I was told the same thing, and I couldn't help muttering to myself that they wouldn't let me rest for long after listening that. But it seems destiny had different plans."
Edward sighed and said, "Destiny can be quite the trickster."
"Haha, indeed. So, Edward, thank you for sharing this information. I'm definitely going to visit this place and uncover the truth behind what you've told me," I said with determination.
"That's the spirit. So when are we beginning this new adventure?" Edward asked with a glint of excitement in his eyes and stood up while saying that.
"Wait a sec...What do you mean by 'us'? Only I'm going. Aren't you heading home in a few minutes?" I questioned Edward.
"I was supposed to, Ella, but now I can't leave you like this. That's why I'm not going," Edward stated firmly.
"Are you kidding me, Edward? You'll be marked as a traitor too," I protested.
"I'm aware of that, Ella. But I would always prefer to be on your side, always," Edward replied with determination.
"I won't allow that," I countered.
"And I won't allow myself to let you venture into the depths of darkness alone. I know that Jason was your light he was your helping hand, but he's no longer here. You also can't transform into a werewolf due to that trauma. I can't let you go into any dangerous situation alone with your human form. Tell me, Ella, if the roles were reversed, and you were Jason, and I was Ella, would you allow Jason to go to a dangerous place like that alone when he had no powers?" Edward reasoned.
I fell silent, realizing the truth in his words. I began to overthink the situation, finally admitting to myself that he was right. However, I knew his actions might brand him as a traitor too. Despite my reluctance, I had no other option. In the end, I agreed to let him come with me after a long debate, as it seemed to be the only feasible choice.
"Ugh, Edward, you're incredibly stubborn," I grumbled.
"Not more than you, Ella," Edward retorted, and we both chuckled. Edward, who had already stood up, extended his hand and said, "So, I guess this is the beginning of our new adventure."