Born in Fire

Chapter Twenty-One

*Caspian*

John, Neal, and I stood on the side of the training field, watching as the Warriors went through the new exercise routines. John and I hadn’t spoken outside of Alpha and Beta work since Samuel’s involvement had been revealed. I was happy that Julie and Kalama had worked it out, but it didn’t seem very…unmanly to admit to another man that I missed his friendship and with the news that Kalama was pregnant, well I was excited to share. I looked at John, who kept his eyes on the two warriors doing a series of one-handed push-ups. I mind-linked, “How are Julie and the pups.” John shrugged.

“They’re good.” I nodded. “Miley was excited for her playdate with, the Luna today.”

“Luke was too.” Neal chimed in, pacing in front of a row of Warriors across the field. “I don’t think the pup slept a wink last night.”  I smiled.

“That’s good. Kalama was excited too.” We were quiet for a moment. “You know, we’re looking forward to the day we add our own to those playdates.” John nodded.

“Don’t worry, Alpha. It’ll happen.” I chuckled.

“Yeah. It will. In about three months.” I watched as Neal stopped his pacing. His Gamma voice boomed over the field,

“Cool down with 30 laps. Go!” The Warriors cleared the field, leaving us alone. They both clasped me on the shoulder, smiles across their faces.

“Congratulations.” they said in unison.

“How far along…” John asked.

“According to Dr. Barker, a little over two weeks. He’s keeping an extra eye on her though. With her power, we just don’t know what will happen.”

“Makes sense.” Neal nodded. “You think the pup will…” I shrugged. The doctor hadn’t been able to find anything about Elemental Wolves having offspring, much less what those offspring were capable of. John wrapped his arms around mine and Neal’s shoulders,

“We should celebrate. Let’s go into town and have dinner.”  Neal nodded in agreement. I thought about it for a moment. It might do Kalama some good. It’d been two days since the Nelsons and the other Elites had gone into the woods to follow Rogues, Deborah and Joanna and we’d yet to hear anything and it was making her sick with worry. Stress was the last thing my Love needed and while I couldn’t do much about it, maybe a night out would help ease some of it. I nodded my agreement.

“Sure, we’d love to.”

*Delilah*

I watched as Ethan paced back and forth. His anger was thick enough to taste. Word of the failed attack had come quickly. Reports were broken and confusing. I had alerted the Blood Creek Warriors as soon as I had gotten Samuel Blake’s text. The sun was just beginning to rise. Blood Creek should have had the advantage, did have the advantage and then suddenly they didn’t. Reports say fire rained down, turning the Blood Creek wolves into ash. I had not heard from Deb or Jo. Reports said they were captured by a Scout. A growl bubbled in my throat at the thought. I knew I shouldn’t have trusted them. They were weak, no doubt they told that Bitch luna everything. I looked over at the man sitting next to me. His dark brown eyes followed Ethan’s movements. It had been easy to get close to him. Men were all the same, bat some eyelashes, show some leg, and they turned to mush. This Alpha was no different. I admit, he had taken me by surprise when he’d snuck up on me a couple days before the Ceremony. I had been watching her and that Bastard Gamma spar. I’d known exactly who he was, Samuel Blake, future Alpha of the Crescent Wolf Pack. Everyone in the territory knew how big Crescent Wolf was and how with size came power. It was also well known how angry the current Alpha, Mason Blake was when his Alphablood daughter was fated to Beta, John Farris of Green Grove.  

I recognized that look of disgust in Samuel’s eyes as he found what I had been looking at. I had reached out to Ethan Haynes right before my fight with that Freak. I had told him what I’d planned to do. After I won and became Luna, I would hand over the murdering Bitch. He, of course, had agreed on the terms that she was alive. He was a man that liked to dish out his own justice, a trait I could respect. He had not been pleased when I lost and was sent to the outskirt cabins. I did not know him well, except that he was powerful, but I learned that day that I did not want to be at the back of his hand. When I had first laid eyes on Samuel, seen the disgust and distrust in his eyes as he watched her. I knew he was the perfect inside man, able to get close, where I could not. It was the perfect plan.  He stopped pacing, his already dark eyes were black with anger as they landed on us. I felt Samuel tense and my own disgust bubbled in my stomach, perhaps he was not the Alpha I thought he was. I pushed the thought away. It did not matter, there was only one Alpha for me. 

I let my eyes roam over Samuel’s body, warmth settling between my legs. This one was only temporary. We stood as Ethan walked across the room, his anger now suffocating. He balled a fist and before I could do anything, it connected with my stomach. The air was pushed from my lungs. It took everything in me not to crumple to the floor. “This is the second time you have failed me, Delilah Richard. I do not keep failures.” A growl bubbled low in his throat. His eye flicked to Samuel. “And you. If there’s one thing I hate more that failure, it’s a coward. Ran as soon as you gave the all clear. You call yourself an Alpha.” Samuel’s head snapped to the side as the back of Ethan’s hand connected with the side of his face. He cocked his hand back to give him another when yelling filled the hallway outside the room. Deb and Jo burst into the room. Joanna’s hand was wrapped, the same wrap adjourned Debroah’s head. Ethan straightened, his hand falling to his side. 

“We bring a message from the Fire Luna.” Joanna gasped, trying to catch her breath. Ethan wrinkled his nose.

“Fire Luna? What garbage are you…” Joanna raised her bandaged hand. 

“Kalama Edwards. She is an abomination. She is the reason your plan did not work, she is responsible for the fire. She did this to us.” They took the packs they carried off their backs. “She let us go with this message.” They opened the packs and turned them upside down. The ashen head of a wolf fell out, thumping against the carpeted floor. Ethan stared at the remains. It's blackened flesh now unrecognizable. “Anyone who dares threaten the Green Grove pack…will be burned.” Deborah muttered. Ethan bent down, picking up the remains. Ash flicked off at his touch, floating down to the floor.

“Edwards did this. With her own hand?” The two she-wolves nodded. I could smell his lust as he looked at the head. He looked at the she-wolves. “Were you followed?” They shook their heads,

“No sir. We made sure, that’s why it took so long for us to return, sir.” 

“Very good.” He placed the head on his desk. “Now. Tell me, what did you tell them?” Joanna squared her shoulders.

“Nothing sir.” Ethan met her eyes, she looked away. His eyes flicked to Deborah. Her face paled and her body tensed as she shook her head. He looked back at Joanna, who glanced at Deborah and then back at the floor.
“Edwards figured out we had an inside man, sir. Deborah told them it was Blake, sir.” She looked at Samuel. “Everyone knows. Including Crescent Wolf.” Samuel’s eyes went wide. Deborah dropped to her knees.
“Forgive me, sir. I was not strong enough. Her flames…I will do better next time.” Ethan calmly walked up to her, placing his hand on her head. His voice was unsettling sweet,
“Debbie. Debbie. Debbie. No you won’t” He whispered, as his nails elongated and sunk into her throat. There was a sickening rip as his hand came away. Her windpipe in his fist. Her limp body fell, thumping against the floor, blood pooling. He tossed her windpipe at her body, bending down to wipe the blood from his hand. He looked at Joanna. “You. Get one more chance.” His eyes met mine and then Samuel’s. “I want Kalama Edwards.” He looked back at the head that sat on his desk. “Alive.” He walked to the door. “Fail again and it’ll be your throat I hold in my hand.” He looked at Deborah’s body, disgust on his face. “Clean this mess up.” he growled, and slammed the door shut.