Chapter 23
The next two weeks breeze by, between me learning about the legend retellings and crying at Scarlett’s diary. She was from a pack to the northwest of here. If I could go back in time to talk to Scarlett, I would have so many questions.
We found a small cabin Father says is safe. Half a roof. Enough to keep the rain off. I know I can’t ever have the life I wanted. It is better if I am alone. Turning eases the burning. But I still think of him. Every night, I think of him.
And that was the last entry she wrote.
Did she find a way to cool the burning without turning? Did she eventually find someone she could tell outside her family?
I never would’ve expected being special meant feeling so lonely.
Stark is in and out each day I’ve woken to him in the chair each morning. I’m not sure how Nikki feels about this, but she also thinks I’ve been immobilized. Stark and I came up with the plan for me to keep my back fully covered for the next few weeks, so no one gets suspicious.
I open the door, and voices flood into the hallway. It’s the first dinner I’ve joined since the night of last month’s full moon. The next is a few nights away and I will have to get rid of Stark, which, seems impossible with his current occupation of my room.
“We are all so happy you’re okay,” Lirea says, taking my hands. “I was so scared.”
“I knew you’d figure out a way to get blood on this floor again,” says Jocko, wrapping me in a hug.
“Jocko, her back,” Lirea warns.
Right. I give a small wince then squeeze him back. “Don’t worry, I’m good now. Catch me up.” I drop away from Jocko and Lirea steps between us.
“Well, Jocko managed to get a second graze wound. And we have two in beds from related injuries.” Lirea says. Jocko shrugs like it’s not a big deal. “Is the rumor right? You went there?”
“Um, yeah. I will tell you about it later.”
“I want more than the debrief details,” Lirea leans in closer.
“Deal. Now let’s go eat.”
The table is filled with familiar faces, a few of whom smile at me genuinely for the first time ever. I guess getting lashes by the Elders gives you a bit of credit.
Otis and Graden are here, but I avoid their gazes as I sit in the middle, creating as much distance from them as I can get. They did nothing to protect me, if I was human like they thought, I’d be lucky to be sitting here after all that blood loss.
Stark glances at me from down the table and scrunches his eyebrows, then looks at the empty chair beside him. Nikki sits across from him, and I look at her, like, pay attention to your mate. He doesn’t seem to get it though, glaring at me instead.
Jocko sits next to me and Lirea across the table, leaving a few seats empty. Steaks are stacked on the plates in the center, but I stick to my salad and wish we could all have a drink to relax. If the Elders weren’t here, I might suggest it.
“Nice to have you back,” Otis says from the end of the table.
My fork drops and clangs onto the floor. I slide my chair back to retrieve it.
“You good?” Jocko asks, bending over.
“Totally.” Not.
Dinner keeps on for way too long and I stir the remaining lettuce on my plate.
I have that same feeling I did when Tripp told me to pull the trigger—a true confliction of anger and anxiety.
I’m furious at the Elder’s reaction yet all of it has to be for something, and tonight I’ll get to share what I learned.
Finally, a few start clearing plates, and I hand mine off.
I’m sure no one will comment if I don’t help.
“Anyone who cares about our current war with the humans is welcome to join us in the forum after dinner,” Stark announces to the room.
A few nod, while some ask questions, but Stark’s glare is enough to shut them up.
I get up and go grab my phone. This is the right decision.
I trail Nikki and Stark into the forum. I’ve never been in it before.
It’s grand, like most rooms in the house, an amphitheater of sorts, with three tiers of permanent wooden benches and a big map similar to the one in Stark’s office at the bottom, blanketing the wall.
Down the stairs and off to the one side, I stare at the map pictures on my phone, comparing the map the humans have with ours.
They vary in a few different ways. I start grabbing pins and moving the lines to be more accurate.
Stark stands off to the side, and Nikki takes a seat at the front.
“No one touches the map except for Stark,” Nikki declares across the space.
I hold the pin in my hand over its new location, but Stark answers before I can.
“Aloka is welcome to change whatever she’d like.”
My stomach twirls with butterflies at his response to his mate, but I shove them back down. We’ve spent way too much time together lately.
The cohort shuffles in, talking to each other, and when I’ve made all the changes I need to make, I spin to face them and take a breath. I’ve been rehearsing this all week.
“Now, a few of you have heard the rumors. Aloka did infiltrate the human camp. I will let her share what she’s learned.” Stark steps away.
The room hushes, and a lot of eyes are on me. I cough to clear my throat and scan the room. When I notice Otis and Graden sitting at the top, my pulse races, fire licking the healed gashes. I can’t look away from them, while they just sit there.
“Alo?” Stark blocks the view of them all.
I lean back to look up at him. “Sorry. Do they, um, need to be here?”
He follows my gaze over to Otis and Graden. “No. If you don’t want them to be, they can leave.”
I wring my hands. “I don’t . . . They just, um—”
“You have a good reason. Give me a moment.” He turns and walks up the stairs. Each head turns to follow, a few whispers are exchanged. Then the Elders stand and exit. Tension eases from my limbs.
“Hi, so, yes, Stark is right. I did go into the human camp, or as they call it the Uprising to learn about them. I figured being me”—I point at myself—“versus one of you”—I rise onto my toes and stretch my hand up indicating their height—“I fit in a bit better.”
A few people laugh, and I relax even more.
“So, I’ve drawn out the new borders here.” I explain the map changes, then go on to tell them about the night vision scopes, and how far they can see with them. Next, I describe the size of the camp and their current plan from what I learned at the time.
“That’s pretty much it. If you have any questions about the Uprising, feel free to ask.” My eyes scan all their faces deep in thought. I could go for a sip of water after talking for a half hour.
Jocko jumps up. “Did you shoot a gun?”
“Relevant questions,” Stark says, glaring.
“It’s okay. I did. I got close,”—my cheeks heat a bit at the conflicting rollercoaster I went through—“with their second-in-command, Tripp, and was taught to shoot a variety of guns in a range-like setting. They all walk around heavily armed, twenty-four seven.”
“Think we have a chance of beating them?” Hudry asks.
I smile at the young werewolf. “Of course.”
“Why are they hunting us?” Kiya asks.
“They call us—or you, I guess—the beasts that hide in plain sight within their cities just to kill humans without a thought. They blame everything on werewolves—including all missing persons and a variety of incidences which I’m not sure have actually happened—in order to influence the people.
It’s using a lot of fear to control others for their inaccurate cause. ”
Stark moves back beside me, a little stiffer than before. “Now, let’s all thank Aloka for not only risking her life for the entire pack”—he lets out a low growl, so low I nearly miss it—“and for suffering the consequences of her actions.”
Jocko claps, then Lirea and Kiya. A few in the back stand as they join in until they all start clapping and cheering. A wave of happiness fills my chest. This isn’t what I expected either—it’s better.
Stark asks a few to stay with him to go over the next plan of action.
“You can stay,” he says.
“It’s okay. You can talk it to them, then we’ll all meet again tomorrow once everyone thinks on it.” I need a break.
“You did great.”
Tingles skim over my skin. That might be the first real compliment he’s ever given me.
“Thank you.” One corner of my mouth lifts as I back away, and Nikki stands to go talk to him.
I climb up the stairs, but don’t make it far.
“Great work, Aloka,” says Mitus.
Kiya hangs on to her mate’s arm. “Thank you for everything you’ve done. I can’t believe you went there with all the guns.”
“I questioned it a lot when I got there, don’t worry.” I say lightly.
“How’d you convince them to let you enter in the first place?” she asks.
My shoulder bumps Kiya’s, making as much space as possible for Otis to pass us on his way down the stairs. “I blended in well. I went shopping in the city for human gear and then showed up in the middle of the night hurt.”
“I never would have thought about showing up with human gear.” Kiya shakes her head in disbelief.
Jocko skips up behind me. “Go Aloka. You’re a little force to be reckoned with.”
I laugh. If only he knew. “Shouldn’t you be joining the after meeting?” I eye five members at the bottom, waiting for Stark to be done with Nikki. Not that I’m paying attention to them as she places her hand on his arm. I need to go for a run, a long one.
“Yes, just had to tell you myself. You might’ve saved us.” He claps his hand onto my shoulder.
“Well, thank you. Now go before Stark comes to get you.”
He takes the wooden steps down two at a time as Nikki drops her arms from being wrapped around Stark’s upright stance.
I leave the forum to get some water in the kitchen and get bombarded with more and more questions, from what the humans wear to what they like to eat.
It requires more details I didn’t think about before, and I’ll be sure to tell Stark—or maybe Jocko and Kiya would be better.
I have to create some space from him, somehow.
The questions slow as everyone separates into small groups in the main space and I go for a glass of water.