Delta [Epsilon #2]

Chapter Thirty-Seven

I hardened my eyes into a glare, but I didn't say a word. It was then that he took in my company and, slowly, his eyes widened. "You're going to the Southern Court, aren't you?"

"I am," I said, raising my chin. "I'm going to rescue my friends."

He stepped towards me, then, and I sensed Azure and Luc cower away behind me. I held fast.

"You're insane. You really think you can take him on now? In your state?"

"I believe I can, yes. I think I'm more than ready."

"No, you aren't! You can barely summon your goddamn element." He reached out to grab me, but I jerked away, narrowing my eyes.

"Don't touch me. And you have no idea how far I've progressed with my element." I pointed to the forest behind him. "Go fuck your girl back home. I don't need you here. This is my mission to complete, and I don't need you fucking this up."

He gaped at me, rage and shock alike playing on his features. Then, he stepped forward again, teeth flashing in the moonlight. "How am I supposed to fuck up something that will never go right?" I bristled at his words, but he continued, "Do you have any idea how strong Alpha South is? My god, Epsilon, he is an Alpha. A Blackblood. He's not just an ordinary werewolf. You won't beat him."

"You don't know that," I hissed. The Delta chuckled coolly.

"Oh, I know many things, Epsilon, including the fact that you're not ready for this. All it will take is the bastard to have something up his sleeve, and you'll be back in those dungeons rotting with your friends."

Rage gurgled under my skin, at his undermining of my abilities. I turned away and marched ahead. "Whatever. I'm going."

"No, you're not," The Delta snarled, and within seconds, he was blocking my path. I stepped to the side, but he mirrored my movements. I pushed into him, but his body was like a stone wall; hard and unyielding.

I glared up at him. "Stop playing blockade. I'm going."

"And I'm not letting you," he hissed.

"Step. Aside," I said through grit teeth. Even the sound of my own voice sent chills up my spine, and I could feel the shock from Azure and Luc. The Delta didn't balk, though.

"No. I'm not going to allow you to you to hand yourself back to Azriel so he can make more damn Upsilons, because that's what will happen." I sucked in a breath to object, but he cut me off. "If you're going to get past me tonight, there's only one way you're going to be able to do it." His stare turned challenging, and I found myself raising my chin to level my gaze. "You're going to have to fight me and win."

I blinked at him. Once. Twice. I turned to Azure and Luc to see if I'd heard him right, and their white faces told me I had. I faced the Delta again. "What?"

The Delta shrugged, leaning casually against a tree. "If you think you are powerful enough to take on Azriel, then you need to beat me first. Otherwise, I am not letting you past."

I curled my hands into fists. "For god's sake, I do not have time for these stupid games!" I beckoned Luc and Azure forward, and with unsure feet, they followed. However, before we could make it more than five steps, the Delta was towering over me, his eyes were burning.

"Do not take me for a fool, Epsilon. I am not letting you into that damn territory so long as I can help it. I will not have you surrendering to Azriel so we have more Upsilons to deal with."

I snarled at him. "What the hell is it you want from me, Delta? Why are you always in my way?"

"I'm trying to stop you from getting yourself killed, or dooming the rest of the territory," he snarled back. He narrowed his eyes. "You're weak, and I'm not saying that to put you down. You're just too weak for him yet. You have no idea what you're up against."