We Could Go Anywhere (Nimona)

Part 13

[A/N: Dedicated to ExplosiveBiatch. Hope y'all enjoy the chapter!]

Needless to say, Chief was not happy about Lucas and Olivia's failure to convince Nimona of the humans' evil nature. How could someone who experienced so much at the hands of humans ever trust one? The other shifters were starting to question his control and self-composure after the failed power move on his own daughter, Nimona. Was their chief really all that stable?

Olivia: (steps before everyone) You wanted to see me, sir?

Chief: Yes, tell me, how much did Nimona really have to resist?

Olivia: We tried the tactic of verbal persuasion that you gave us, and she shut down any further discussion by refusing to entertain a conversation. That leech boy, Kayden, left with her, relieving us of the burden of looking after him.

Chief: You idiot! You let him get away?

Olivia: I was told not to use physical force, and I did as told.

Nolan heard the whole thing from the back door. Kayden had... gone with his sister? Why? He knew that Kayden and him hadn't exactly been on the best of terms since he not only dumped him, but turned his parents against him to disown their son...fuck, he saw now why he left. Nolan had made sure that there was nothing for him to come back to here. Maybe Nimona was right and striking out on her own--with, the apparent new addition of Kayden--within minutes of meeting them was supposed to be a massive wake-up call. He listened in carefully, with the rest of the crowd.

Chief: I will not be disobeyed!

Olivia: Alex! That's enough! Mira wouldn't have wanted you to force your will over the kids! She was my cousin before she was your mate!

Nolan flinched. No one has used his dad's first name in a millennium. They'd gotten so used to calling him "Chief" because of the role that he projected himself into as their fierce protector. In fact...the last person to call him "Alex" was his mother. Fitting that Aunt Olivia would know to call him to get his attention. He knew that Olivia finally wouldn't stand for his father's bullshit anymore...or, full disclosure, his own.

Chief: How dare you call me that, you ungrateful, dumb bitch!

Olivia: Oh, I'm ungrateful?! You take all the credit for sending your subjects on patrol to protect your base! You've never actually had to face down any threats since you forced us here! I'm just sorry that it took your daughter calling you out for me to see it.

At this point, there was nothing that Chief Alex could deny. Everyone knew that he had never left the village and sent others out on patrol. Olivia had been his most loyal guard and enforcer of his command, but now she was seeing him for who he truly was, and so was everyone in the settled village. He even knew that he couldn't beat Olivia in a fight. Fuck, he couldn't even overpower Nimona when she flew out of here and make her stay.

Chief: I--Olivia, please, can't we discuss this?

Olivia: No, no more of your manipulation. We'll continue to live here, we just won't follow your or Nolan's leadership. Alex, I challenge you for the position of Chieftain. If you win, I will take my leave with my supporters. If I win, I become the new Chieftess of the village, and you will be allowed the choice to stay and fall into line or banishment with your own. Choose to fight or stand down.

MEANWHILE, NIMONA CAMPSITE...

Nimona: (watching skies) No shifters yet.

Ballister: Maybe what Kayden told me that you said to them got to them.

Nimona: I can't make decisions for anybody but myself. I wouldn't want to pressure anyone into anything, either.

Ballister: You're wise, Nimona.

Nimona: Wisdom comes from a lot of living, Boss. I wish that my Bio father had used his for anything but manipulation and control.

Ballister: Do you...want to...?

Nimona: No. I'd rather stick to wishing that I'd never found him again. My recall blocked him and Nolan and my mom for a reason.

Ballister: Okay, we don't have to talk about this. Um, what about Ambrosius?

Nimona: If I ever sense that rice cereal looking bitch glare towards you two, I will snap him like the flimsy priss that he pretends he won't be.

Kayden: (incredulous) You care about me, Nimona?

Nimona: It's more of a revenge bond, in all honesty. Nolan shouldn't have done whatever it was other than dump you, don't try to deny, I had that whole depressed look you got on you when I was first cast out and judged by evil humans that Ballister has never been.