Page 10

chapter Nine

Michaela

“ I can’t do this anymore,” Marley shouts as she paces back and forth in front of me.

We’ve been back home for about twenty minutes after leaving that cafeteria. My blood is still boiling at that prank, but I have to remain calm.

“I know you’re angry,” I say gently.

Marley stops pacing to glare down at me. “I’m beyond angry. They tried to kill me. I’ve been nothing but nice to those beasts, and they tried to kill me.”

Her emotions are rising. Standing up, I place my hand on her arm.

“Calm down.”

I watch as she slowly relaxes; the anger draining away from her. She takes a seat down on the sofa I’ve just vacated.

Dropping her head in her hands, she let out a deep breath.

“Thanks,” she says.

“No problem.”

She looks up at me. “Can we just find someplace else to go? Why does it have to be with wolves?”

I plop down on the couch beside her.

“Unfortunately, there is no other place to go. Plus, the wolves not only help hide my scent, but they also act as a source of protection.”

That isn’t the full truth, but she doesn’t need to know the truth.

She scoffs. “They’d probably sell us out to him if they had the chance. You know, maybe Markis had a point. Imprisoning those ungrateful beasts doesn’t sound so bad.”

“Stop that,” I snap. “No matter how angry you are at someone, you should never wish them to be drained of all their free will. You are not that cruel.”

I didn’t mean to be that harsh with her, but Marley has no idea what a simple thought like that could lead to. Markis recruited many of his followers and disciples for that simple train of thought. One wolf or witch wrongs you and now you’re ready to condemn all beings for the actions of one. It’s a dangerous thought process. One I’ve seen turn many people cruel.

“You’re right, I’m sorry.”

Sliding closer to her, I wrap my arms around her and pull her into a hug.

“I know this is hard. And I’m sorry I got you into this.”

She pulls back, looking up at me. “It’s not your fault.”

If only that were true.

“Come on,” I say, standing to my feet. “Let’s find something to eat.”

We head into the kitchen to prepare our meal.

“Please, Huntress.” The woman before me pleads. “Don’t do this. I have a child.”

Her words have the desired effect on me. My heart softens and the anger slowly wains.

“She has a child?” the deep rumble of the voice behind me mocks. “The witch has a child.”

I turn toward Markis. His short locs hang to his shoulders. His dark skin glistening under the summer sun.

He squats down in front of the witch. She tries to put as much space as she could between the two without actually moving away.

“You think we care you spit out a useless crumb snatcher from your tainted cunt?”

His usual disciples are with us tonight. There are twelve of them: Muza, Alexander, Colin, Denisa, Raoul, Davorin, Florin, the twins Kozani and Kavita, Torya, Talon, and Venette. All twelve of them stand around with disgust painted over their features.

“No one cares, witch,” Florin taunts.

They all laugh.

“And you have the nerve to throw your evil spawn in my mate’s face.”

He looks over his shoulder at me, his eyes softening. No matter how hard we try, my womb remains empty. A constant reminder of my failures as his mate.

“You’re mocking her.” He turns back to the witch.

“I…..I didn’t know. I’m… I’m sorry,” she pleads, cutting her eyes to me.

Her remorse means nothing. I tell myself.

“Your kind are pathetic,” Markis spits out as he stands to his feet. “You hide behind your powers and family ties. Contributing nothing but demanding our respect. You are the weakest members of our society. Hell, we benefit more from humans than you.”

Once again, the ones around us laugh. Markis walks over to me, lifting my hand, he kisses the back of it. My heart beats faster every time he is near me. It’s been that way since I first saw him.

He lets my hand go and turns back to the witch. “Give me the location of the key.”

“I don’t know it,” the witch cries.

“Your family is the keeper of records. You are the oldest child,” I tell the witch. “Only you would know the location.”

“Tell us, and we will leave you alone,” Markis lies.

The witch bares her teeth. “I will never give you what you seek.”

Only the cries and screams of the witch’s dying coven behind us can be heard as Markis stares down at the witch.

“Bring him to me,” he calls out without turning from her.

The moment the witch sees what Markis has, she tries to get to her feet. I wave my hands through the air, causing her to crumble back to the ground.

A tall, dark-skinned man that looks as if he’s been beaten within an inch of his life is escorted in front of Markis.

“Now, how much do you love your mate?”

The witch sobs. Her tears roll down her face. I can see the contemplation cross her features. Witches, like wolves, mate for life. It makes sense since male witches have very limited power. I can tell this witch is willing to give us the information we seek for her man. Despite the fact that giving us what we want would damn all mankind.

Unlike many others, witches had spells that could lock their thoughts and memories away. No matter how much Markis presses on her brain, he can’t get what he wants.

“It’s okay, Zola.” the man says, breaking the silence. “I love you. I’ll wait for you on the other side.”

His words give the witch strength. She lifts her head, although the tears are falling down her face, she eyes Markis without fear. “I will tell you nothing.”

With a vicious growl, Markis slaughters the man. His body drops to the ground. The witch lets out a deep sob as she nearly folds in on herself.

Markis turns to me. “Take it all from her.” He walks away, knowing I will follow his orders without complaint.

I go over to the witch, lifting her from the ground. Her cries and pleas fall on deaf ears as I sink my fangs into her neck.

I come awake abruptly, shaking the memory of the dream out of my head.

“Mizani,” his deep voice calls out in my head.

I quickly place my blocks back up, thinking of a solid brick wall. Once I feel secure, I plant my feet on the floor. The coldness of the wood is welcoming to my flushed skin.

Dreams are not a place I like to be. Which is one reason I don’t sleep much. But my body will occasionally demand it.

Climbing out of bed, I grab my robe, covering myself. I stop by Marley’s door, listening to the soft sounds of her snoring. A smile lifts my lips when I hear her steady breathing. Pushing away from her door, I make my way outside onto the porch. The smell of wolves is strong out here, but I’m getting used to the stench. I step down off the steps, lift my head to the sky, and shut my eyes. The chilly mountain air feels incredible. Snow will come soon.

“Trying to run away?”

I groan as I open my eyes to the Beta.

“Clearly,” I state.

He watches me from his porch, his large arms folded across his chest. I can tell he wants to say something else. I wait for him to spit it out.

He rakes a hand down his face, glancing away from me. “I didn’t know the rat would kill her.”

“Would it have changed anything if you knew?”

He glares at me. “This is as much of an apology as you’re going to get from me, Vamp.”

“Then keep it, Wolf.”

He scoffs, holding his hands up in a surrender posture. “Fine.”

“I don’t get you people,” I say, shaking my head. “Witches weren’t exactly on your side in that war, but I don’t see you guys refusing to break bread with the witch.”

“The war may have started this feud, but I’ve witnessed vampire’s savagery firsthand. You move through his world with no care for anything or anybody but yourselves. You are heartless, power hungry, narcissistic, monsters. The day the world says bye to the last vampire will be a good fucking day,” he snarls with so much vitriol that spittle flies from his mouth.

I want to argue. To tell him he is lying. That not all vampires are that way. However, that dream plays back in my head. Reminding me I have no right to defend myself.

His front door opens and a she-wolf with dark brown hair and tan skin walks out onto the porch. She’s wearing nothing but one of his shirts. She steps up behind him. Her face pinches with disgust as she looks at me.

“Enzo, are you alright?”

I watch as she touches his arm gently in a lover’s caress.

Looking away from the pair, I ignore the unknown burning feeling in my chest.

“Enjoy the rest of your night, Beta.”

With those words, I turn and walk back into my cabin. Shutting the door behind me, I remind myself once again why the hell I’m trying to save this species.