35. Hettie
Chapter 35
Hettie
I ’ve never considered myself brave. Reckless and impulsive, sure, but brave? Brave are the heroes like Hercules and Achilles. Brave are the fictional characters like Rapunzel and Merida. Brave is something we strive for, but very few of us are placed in situations where bravery means lives are on the line.
I can’t fuck up another family. The Guardian brought me here to make a difference, and I think I finally know what he means. It’s not magic that’s going to save the pack. It’s me. My choice to leave and give Rip and the others a fighting chance. I’ll walk into this knowing I made a difference—to hell with what happens to me.
I just wish Grass hadn’t come along.
He doesn’t need to die because of my choices. I tried to make him stay. Tried locking him in the bedroom, but he kept escaping before I could. Leaving the packhouse undetected was easy, considering so few guards were left. Leaving during shift change also helped us escape without anyone noticing .
So now Grass and I navigate a forest that is still very much a stranger to me.
I’ve always considered myself good with direction and getting around, but it’s different when everything looks the same. I’m not a damn Girl Scout. I don’t know how to read fucking moss on trees to tell me if I’m going in the right direction.
I’m not sure where I’m going, if I’m being honest. I’m going off the assumption that Michael wants me. I’m moving farther away from safety, alone and defenseless, an easy target for the rogue alpha. Eventually, he’s going to notice, and I’m banking on the fact that he wants me alive to keep me safe.
Safe-ish.
I pull my red coat tighter around me. In a field of white, I stand out harshly. There’s no disguising the blood-red color. It’s a deliberate choice to make spotting me that much easier.
I didn’t leave the pack totally defenseless, though. Strapped to my hip is my ax. It’s heavy and makes me lean to the right, but I feel more secure with it on me. It’s like a weird comfort blanket for me. You know, if axes could be that.
After a few strenuous hours of walking, my feet cramp, making each step painful. “We need to rest, Grass. Just for a moment,” I pant, leaning against a tree.
Grass looks around our surroundings. He has made little noise since we started, and I take that as a good thing.
I sink to the ground, ignoring the cold sting on my ass. My head drops into my hands, and I try to even out my breathing. Thinking of what I left behind makes me want to crawl back like a coward. But I can’t. I need to save Tallie and my pack. I need to show Rip that I’m not a total screw-up.
I lift my head when Grass growls beside me. He’s crouched in a defensive position, looking off between trees. I see nothing at first, but Grass doesn’t let up. He barks, getting more agitated.
“What is it?” I ask like my dog could answer, but I don’t sense the danger he does. I try to strain my ears to pick up on any sound, but nothing stands out. In fact, there’s no sound at all. Has it always been that way? Or is this just recent?
I call for Grass. I’m about to tell him to follow when he spins around and barks more loudly and frantically than before. I don’t get the chance to turn and see the danger though because, at that moment, something hard strikes the side of my head. Pain blooms in my skull, and the world goes dark.
A crackling fire draws me out of the darkness. I come awake with an ear-splitting headache and sore muscles. I groan, trying to move my body, but I realize something is hindering my movement. When my eyes finally adjust and I’m not seeing a blurry world, I notice the rope tied tightly around my torso. My hands are bound in front of me.
Rough bark digs into my back, and I realize I’m tied to a damn tree. A soft whimper off to my left has me snapping my head so fast, my vision blurs. When it finally rights itself, I see my dog tied up about ten feet away. Judging from the markings in the snow, Grass put up quite a fight until he tired himself out .
He doesn’t look hurt otherwise. A small miracle.
“Ah, she’s awake,” a familiar voice says, and ice-cold fear fills my body.
A man appears from behind the fire as if born from the ash itself. Soulless black eyes stare back at me. The jagged cut across his face is more pronounced today, reminding me of the dangers this man is capable of.
Michael’s smile is all predator and does little to quell the growing panic inside me. Light catches on something attached to his hip. The unmistakable metal of an ax protrudes from the small gap in his jacket. My eyes dart to my hip, and I curse.
My ax, my only defense against threats, is gone. Now on the hip of my enemy.
“I knew you’d see reason, Red.” Michael smiles. “I’ll admit, there was some doubt on whether you’d show up for me, but I knew in the end you’d do what was right.”
“Fuck you, Michael.” My words are slurred. I feel dizzy and disoriented. Clearly, the hit to my head was harder than I realized. It’s like I’m stuck in sludge, trying to navigate my way through it.
“Such a way with words, Red.” Michael chuckles and crouches down before me. This is the first time I’ve seen him in clothes. He dresses exactly as I thought he would. Cargo pants and a tight black shirt. His brown duster coat is open, allowing me to see he’s weaponless except for my ax. The ax is nothing compared to him, though. His wolf is his weapon.
“So, here’s how this is going to work.” Michael grabs my chin, forcing me to look up. I try to fight his hold, but it’s useless. “The Nephilim think I’m going to hand you over to them like a good wolf. They want you dead. But don’t worry, Red. I won’t let them kill you. ”
Michael pauses like he expects me to thank him. I knew I probably wouldn’t be getting out of this alive, but it doesn’t make the fear any less real. “Why do they want me dead?”
“To take your magic for themselves, of course.”
“I have no magic.”
“All humans possess magic. Why else do you think you’re here? You didn’t actually believe Rip loves you, did you?” Michael’s smile turns cruel.
My face heats; whether from embarrassment or regret, I’m not sure. Rip did love me…didn’t he? He never said it, but it was in the way he acted and the adoration he sent me in our bond. The smiles and touches. I was the one who broke his heart, not the other way around. I lied and went behind his back.
“You did. How pathetic.” Michael rolls his eyes. “Unfortunately, Rip is going to have to die.”
“No!” I scream, throwing myself against my restraints. They don’t budge at all.
Grass picks himself off the ground and starts to bark. He’s desperate to get over to me, but Michael stares Grass down. Something in his stare has Grass backing down and whimpering.
Michael’s dark eyes find mine again. I see nothing but evil within them. “But, yes, how else will I stake my claim as their new King Alpha? If the pack is lucky, only Rip will need to die. Anyone else who challenges my rule will join him. I don’t particularly want to kill any more wolves, but I will.”
“Why are you doing this? Why are you working with the Nephilim just so you can take over as king?” It doesn’t make sense. Why would he go through all the trouble with the Nephilim only to betray them in the end? According to Rip and Thorne, they aren’t an easy enemy.
“The Nephilim were coming whether or not I agreed to work with them. I saw my opportunity to use them to gain access to Lycan Forest. I cut off their access to wolfsbane, knowing it would make them desperate. And it has. Some of Rip’s pack have joined mine, and now many of his alphas are in Dragon’s Keep, leaving Lycan Forest vulnerable to attack. It’s the perfect opportunity to strike.
“You are my ticket to defeating the Nephilim, Red. That’s why you are so important.” Michael finally lets go of my face, and I jerk away. “You claim you don’t have magic, but I can feel it inside of you, just begging to be used. You make wolves stronger, Red. Imagine the power I can have if you agree to be mine.”
Michael’s delusional, but that much was evident the first time I ran into him. I can’t make anyone stronger. I was brought here for Rip and Rip alone, and that’s who I make stronger. Or, rather, I did, but I’ve managed to fuck that up.
True fear takes over as I scream, “You said you would leave the pack alone if I came to you. You lied!”
“Hardly,” Michael scoffs. “I’ll leave them alone in the sense that I won’t attack them or expose them to the curse. I’ll cure them all. Those who wish to follow me, that is.”
“You can’t harm any of them.” I have nothing to bargain with, but I will not let him hurt my pack. I will protect them with everything I am. “I won’t agree if you kill any of them. You need me, don’t you? To defeat the Nephilim?”
“It would be a lot easier, yes.” Michael narrows his eyes. “But not entirely impossible to do without you. As long as the Nephilim don’t have you. I would hate to kill you, Red. You’re growing on me. I think we could become…well, not friends, but partners .
“But let me sweeten the deal, Red.” Michael smirks, getting in my face. He’s so close, I can see the stubble on his face and the fine lines around his eyes. “I heard a friend of yours got sick. She got bitten by one of my wolves, did she not?”
I don’t answer. I don’t have to because he clearly knows.
“She will not get better. At least not without a lot of wolfsbane. More than you could find. See, working with the Nephilim comes with many great perks. Like a lethal bite.” His lips turn up into a sinister smile.
The rogues’ bites expedited the curse. Lucielle had theories, and Michael all but confirmed it. None of us realized just how strong the rogues were getting. And with the Nephilim fighting alongside them…we don’t stand a chance.
“Agree to be mine, and I’ll make sure your friend lives,” Michael continues.
“How can I trust you? All you’ve done is lie.”
“No, all you’ve done is misunderstand,” Michael growls. “So I’m putting it plainly, Red. Agree to be mine, and your friend lives. Don’t, and she dies. And so will you and everyone you love.”
It’s not a choice at all. I’m backed into a corner, and he knows it. But what did I think would happen? At least this way, I can help save my pack. And, eventually, I can bring down Michael—maybe. I won’t stop. If he thinks I’ll cooperate, he has another thing coming.
“Fine. You keep her and my pack alive, and I will join you.”
“That’s what I hoped you’d say.” Michael picks himself up and disappears behind the tree. My restraints loosen and finally fall free. I let out a sigh of relief.
That is until he ties the rope to my bound hands and drags me up.
“Let’s go, Red. There are people waiting to meet you.” I don’t have time to respond before Michael pulls on my restraints and tugs me forward. He grabs Grass’s makeshift leash and pulls us deeper into the forest.
Farther away from Rip.
I hope he knows just how sorry I am.