INTO THE ASHES

2. Goodbye, John.

"Are you awake now?" Zelda asked seriously after pouring the jug of water on John's head. Zelda wasn't phased as this was not the first time John had tried to provoke her after getting drunk. However she had to see that he was not injured during these duels as he was the son of the Alpha.

John who was lying on the floor went into a physical shock as the cold water dripped from his head, flowing downwards and soaking his shirt and thick overcoat. His eyes were wide open as he stared at Zelda in shock. Hearing Dan burst out laughing he came to his senses and stood up as he wiped the water off his face with his coat sleeve.

"You're so dead." John pointed his index finger at her.

"Why?" Zelda asked and gave him an innocent smile. John couldn't help but glare at her. "What so funny?" He turned to look at Dan who was clutching his stomach as he laughed. The latter wasn't intimidated by him one bit, still he raised both his hands up in the air in mock surrender.

Oliver, being the sensible one came forward to apologise, "Sir Johnathan we're really sorry. Were you looking for something?" Zelda rolled her eyes at the honorific. When John didn't say anything and just glared at Daniel, Oliver tried to placate him by adding, "We were going to the cliff after this. Would you like to accompany us?"

"No!" Zelda and Daniel cried at the same time.

John turned to look at Oliver and then back at them, intrigued by their reaction. "Yes, why not?" He agreed and patted Oliver's shoulder making him blush a little.

Zelda glared at Oliver and then at John, just looking at him made her skin crawl in irritation. The cliff was just like any other cliff but no one really knew about it as it was hidden and was at a great height. Daniel and Zelda discovered it by chance when they were kids and it had been their secret hangout place since then. Only a few months ago they decided to let Oliver know about the place but now he had busted their secret.

"No!" Zelda said forcefully and Daniel joined her by saying, "We'll go there some other day, for now just get some rest before the festivities begin."

"There's still time for that. I'm sure we could still be on time." John grinned like a Cheshire Cat. Daniel could see the resemblance between him and his father by that creepy smile.

"Well, you see-" Daniel was interrupted by John, "We're going." Saying this he turned to Oliver gesturing to start walking.

Daniel looked at Zelda defeated for her to say, "No, we're not." John paused mid-step and faced her, "That's an order, Ernouf." He looked at her challengingly knowing that Zelda couldn't defy his direct order. Though he was not the Alpha, John was of the same bloodline and shared the same level of authority as the Alpha himself.

Begrudgingly Zelda started walking outside followed closely by Daniel. John could not help but smirk in triumph as if he had won a lottery.

Once they were out of the pack house, Daniel announced "I'm very sad to say this but you all will have to go without me. I was up all night so I'm off to bed." His hands were up in the air palms facing outwards as he emphasised his point and then pointed his index finger at John before he could open his mouth to speak "you didn't order me."

John did not seem to mind and resumed walking, gesturing Oliver to follow.

Daniel then looked at his best friend who was standing next to him giving him a betrayed look. "I know you can handle him and if he tries something just push him off the cliff." He whispered to her by bringing his hand to cover his lips in a secretive manner.

Seeing Zelda open her mouth to argue, he lightly pushed her forward, "Good luck, bye!" And he ran off not giving her time to speak. To her it seemed as if his tail caught fire with the way he had ran away. Zelda sighed at his antics and then forcefully dragged her feet in the other direction.