Hunt

Chapter 23: Betrayal and its Consequences

I was livid, and I felt that was justified in being so. Not only was I mad that I was followed, but I was now going to be pulled again into another conversation with the she-wolf at some point. It was a long shot that we could actually co-exist. This betrayal of trust tonight didn't give me any confidence in the she-wolf's words. I try my best not to slam the front door out of anger, storming to my room to quickly stash my hunting equipment.

I needed a drink, something strong to calm my mind. Beelining it to the kitchen I run right smack into Julie, who I had just caught red handed going for same bottle I was trying to sneak away with.

"What are you doing?" I question.

"N-nothing!" Julie squeaks, putting the bottle gingerly back atop the fridge. An attempt to hide the evidence. "I-it was falling! I was just..."

Sighing and with no desire to throw my sister under the bus, I motion for her to pass it over. Taking it from her and popping the top. "This," I gesture to this whole situation, "Never happened. Alright?" I say, waiting for her to nod before taking a large swig. The liquor burning my mouth and throat on the way down.

"O-okay Kyle." Julie says as I hand the bottle back to her, "Is everything okay?" She asks.

"No, not really. Its... Sorry it's hard to explain." I shake my head, "it's nothing you need to worry about Jules. Just been having a bad night."

She looks from me to the bottle now in her hands. Following in my footsteps she takes a large swig, coughing and groaning before gingerly placing it back up on the fridge. "How do you take that stuff like it's nothing?!"

"Practice," I mumble before retiring to my room, the familiar warmth of alcohol burning in my stomach was rounding over my jagged rage. I contemplate just laying on my bed, but the daunting task of my schoolwork drags me away from my bed and over to my desk. Besides, if I fall asleep now I run the risk of having to talk to that lying she-wolf again. I needed some time before that happened... Slipping my earbuds in I crank my music loud, attempting to drown out the rest of the world before sinking into the dark depths of my overwhelming schoolwork.

After what feels like an eternity of paperwork the sound of a knock on my door over my music pulls me from the autopilot state I had found myself in. Sitting up straight I take a moment to stretch before addressing the knock at my door.

"Yeah?" I call. Taking an earbud out.

A small voice on the other side answers, "Hey Kyle, you busy? Can I come in?" Julie's muffled voice comes from behind my door.

Looking at my mostly completed stack of homework to the clock I sigh, "Yeah sure, come in."

Julie enters silently, quickly sitting behind me on my bed. Fidgeting. "You looked really mad earlier, I haven't seen you this pissed since..." She trails off.

Turning in my chair to face her I lean forward, resting my elbows on my knees, "I'm alright Julie, just stressed about school is all. I've missed quite a few days, got a lot of work to make up." I try to sound reassuring. Deep down I could still feel my anger bubbling, boiling under my skin. But I could tell she had another question. "What is it?"

She fidgets, "How was your date last night? You went down to Seattle with Reyna didn't you? I didn't get to ask when you got home last night, and then you were gone all day today."

Julie was never this interested in my personal life, it was a different side of her I've never seen before, not snarky or sarcastic. "It was good, we both had a good time. Seattle was, well... Seattle."

"Haha yeah..." she laughs, "Glad you had a good time." She says as she stands. "Hey, I just wanted to check in on you. I know you think you're quiet but I can hear you sneaking out at night..." she trails off again. "I just wanted to make sure it wasn't like before."

"No, it's nothing like that." I try to say reassuringly. Thinking back to when Amelia died and how I would sneak out almost nightly. When I was beginning to find myself among the wrong crowd, Julie confronted me about it. Helped me turn my destructive behavior around. "I promise it's nothing like that."

"O-okay. Goodnight Kyle, see you in the morning." She slinks from my room as quietly as she entered. Closing the door behind her as she leaves.

How many times has Julie noticed me sneak out? I gotta be better than that. Can't keep slipping up. I think as I ponder Julie's sudden concern. I need to be better, I can't have her coming out after me when I'm on patrol. That's a mess I can't afford to clean up.

I attempt to finish what little remains of my homework. But as I stare at the pages in front of me it begins to feel as if the writing is pulling off the page, swirling into a jumble of nonsense on the papers in front of me. Turning away from the desk I flop down on the bed, pulling the hood of my hoodie up over my head. Burying myself into my pillow. It had been a long weekend and I was wiped, hard to believe it had only been a couple days since Reyna and I went on our hike. Our first date? Could I even call it that? Surely going to dinner counted.

Groaning I push myself from my pillow, rolling over and pulling my phone from my pocket, sending a quick update to Natasha:

"Thanks for the heads up about my stalker. Got home safe."

Hitting send I pull up my group chat with Paul and the other hunters, sending:

"We need to tighten up surveillance on the Silverlock pack. They sent a tail after me tonight. They keep saying one thing and acting different. It's wearing out my patience."

After verifying both of the message went through I roll back over, burying my head in my pillow again as I feel myself begin to slip into sleep. But instead of normal dreams a familiar sinking feeling overtakes me, one I knew was coming and was beginning to recognize. I just wish it wasn't going to be tonight...

"I have your answer." The familiar voice of the she-wolf calls from behind me, almost cheerfully. I spin quickly, we were back in the park from tonight's meeting. My poorly suppressed anger comes flooding back, like the dam had been busted through, rage filling my lungs.

"You have some nerve!" I shout, drawing the handgun I find on my hip. My outfit mirroring that of our more recent encounter. I storm towards the wolf who was sitting casually at the edge of the clearing.

"I-I beg your pardon?" She backs up quickly, spooked by my sudden advance.

"Don't test me! I found the dog you sent after me! Did you think you could get away with sending one of your buddies to tail me home? What was the plan there? Take me out after the meeting? Or find where I lived so you could get me in my sleep!" I yell.

My anger overflowed and I pull the trigger on my gun, and much to my surprise the gun does actually go off. Blasting the dirt at the feet of the she-wolf. Causing her to jump back. My aim was true, yet I still somehow missed.

"W-wait! Hold on!" She barks, dropping her head low into a more submissive pose, "I-I have no idea what you're talking about!"

I grit my teeth, training the gun between her eyes. "Bullshit. That wolf that was following me belongs to your pack. They were at the meeting tonight and would've followed me all the way home if my backup didn't spot them." I take a threatening step forward, "I think we're done here."

"N-no wait!" She quickly pleads, "I swear..!"

"The Silverlock pack will hold no territory without our direct approval. Don't expect any leniency should you overstep your bounds." I growl, turning and taking my leave into the darkness of the dream. "I never should've trusted a dog..."

I barely hear the wolf's last pleadings as I vanish from the clearing and into the fog, a last ditch effort to get me to listen swallowed up by the illusion.

Beep! Beep! Beep! My alarm rings, pulling me from my rage fueled sleep. Groaning I slap the clock quiet, feeling slight catharsis from the violence against the machine. It felt like I had just run a marathon in the desert. I was achy and feverish, drenched in sweat with a severe case of cotton mouth. I don't think I've ever been this dehydrated. Nevertheless, I push myself from my bed. Grabbing for some water and popping the top off an Aspirin bottle. 

Time for school. Can't be late...