Revenge

Chapter 14

I have made it a week without talking to Zach. He said he would stay away and that's what he's doing. I might see him look over at me a few times a day, but if the pain I feel almost every night is anything to go by, then he's definitely not missing me.

Will and I have shared a couple little smiles over the week but no words. I'm really starting to miss him. He was always so sweet to me. I didn't think that we would break apart so soon. He had become a big part of my life. Now it's as if the last month never even happened. The pain tugs at my heart every time I see Will laughing with another girl.

I've been training non stop like everyone else, waiting for the rogues to attack. The only two things that have plague my mind this past week is the rogues and Will. I've been teaching all the warriors my techniques and they have been catching on fairly quickly. I think we can win this fight. With everything I've taught them and the strategies Alpha Ryan has showed us, we have this fight in the bag.

I was sitting in my car about to leave school when my passenger door opened. I knew right away that is was Zach. The purring of my wolf agitated me and I was ready to snap.

"The fight is coming up fairly quickly," he said with his eyes facing forward. He hasn't looked at me yet and I was somewhat glad. I kept quiet since he really didn't need to me agree with him. "If there's anything you need me to do Piper, just let me know."

"What do you mean?" I asked and he looked at me. I haven't caught his eye in a week and it felt like the first time I ever saw him. His green eyes piercing mine with a worried look. My breath had caught and I couldn't take my eyes away.

"I don't want to see you get hurt. Sure you're a kick ass fighter but what happens when they see that and gang up on you? They would take you out which would take me out. Just say the word and I'll make sure you don't end up in that fight."

"I want to fight. I'm a warrior and I have trained like no ones business. I'm looking forward to kicking some serious ass and you aren't going to stop me. I've been waiting for this day like no one else, Zach. I'm finally going to prove myself. I don't want to be known as the nerd who only has a small group of friends. The girl no one likes. You have to understand where I'm coming from."

"No," he growled at me. My eyes widened as I looked at him. His face had turned up into a snarl and his eyes were changing into the black of the wolf. I'm not sure if this stuff actually works, but I tentatively reached my hand out and placed it on top of his. He took in a deep breath and his eyes went back to normal. I tried to take my hand away from his but he gripped mine before I could. "I'm not going to let you sit here and practically tell me that you're worthless. You don't need to prove yourself to anyone. Everyone in the pack knows how special you are. Lately you've been the main topic in everyone's conversation. I hear your name pop up everywhere in the packs conversation."

"Why would I be though? I am nothing special so don't sit here and tell me that I am. I am a low ranked member of this pack and I know it."

"Piper Maria Listford, I don't want to ever hear those words come out of your mouth again," he said and my jaw dropped. He knew my full name? He just talked to me as if he was my dad!

"But-" he cut me off.

"You give the pack hope. We aren't the strongest pack and many members are having their doubts. The only thing that keeps them going, well, that's you." I sat there, speechless. Everything Zach had told me made me want to cry. Everyone in the pack had that much confidence in me? I am a low rank wolf. They should have confidence in Alpha Ryan, Zach, Will, and Jason. I was shaking my head and mumbling incoherent nonsense. Zach grabbed my face and made me look at him, and I really looked at him. His green eyes were looking a little dull and they were framed with bags.

"I don't think I can fight. I thought I could before but now I'm not so sure. I had my own selfish reasons for fighting that only involved me. Now, with so many lives depending on me, I don't think I can do it."

"You don't have to fight if you don't want to. I'll make sure you aren't in it. I'll talk to my dad and make every things okay."

I was staring at Zach but not really looking at him. All I could see were the faces of people I've let down. The faces of broken mates who will never see their beloved again. I can't let down that many people. I can't fight and know that I let rogues get to some of my pack mates. I could get cold feet during the fight and let a rogue slip past me. Then someone's mate will die and I will also die.

Then I started thinking about everyone who had faith in me. All the howls that night when I was sad and the pack tried to comfort me. The way Zach just said the pack talks about me. How can the whole pack have so much faith in one person? What if I let them down by not fighting? I would rather die trying than sitting it out like a coward.

Shaking my head I said, "No, I have to fight. I can't let everyone down like that. I pledged myself and I will fight along side the pack. Whatever it takes, I'll do it."

"Spoken like a true Alpha Female," Zach said with a huge grin.

*****

I decided to go for a run later that night. I needed to get out and relax all my tense muscles. I ran until my legs started to feel weak. Until everything that I was feeling was gone. No more anxiety for the fight. No more feeling useless. No more feeling like I'm going to let the pack down.

I was on the top of the mountain and stood as tall as I possibly could. I let a ferocious howl be a warning to the upcoming pack that is trying to fight us. A minute later I heard the return call from the rogues. My eyes widened and I stood frozen to the spot. They weren't on our territory, but they were damn close.

I took off down the mountain at full speed. I don't think I've ever ran so fast in my life. I was zipping in between trees and hurdling over fallen logs. I needed to get to the pack house.

I was fairly close to the pack house so I shifted and searched around for a tree to see where some clothes were. It's actually pretty awesome that we have hallowed out trees to hide our clothes. I found the tree and quickly changed. From there, I sprinted to the house.

I barged in without knocking and wished I wouldn't have. I was breathing heavily from my long run and had to bend over to catch my breath. At least, it gave me a good excuse to look down. When I ran inside the guys were still there playing video games. Don't they ever take a break? The only thing different was that a girl was snuggled in between Zach's legs. She was just laying there like they were the happiest couple in the world.

"Piper?" Zach and Will said at the same time. I had caught my breath somewhat and looked up. Zach had a guilty expression while Will just looked confused.

"I have... to see... your... dad," I gasped and tried to take in more oxygen. I shouldn't be this winded. Sure that run was way more than ten miles, but this is ridiculous. Everyone in the room was looking at me and all their expressions mirrored each others, concern. I walked as fast as I could to Alpha Ryan's office and Zach and Will followed. I couldn't exactly stop them since Zach is taking over soon and Will is going to be Beta.

"Piper, what's going on?" Alpha Ryan asked after I had taken a seat. I told him the entire story. The anxiety I was feeling, the run, the warning growl, the howl they returned, everything.

"I thought about it the entire way over here and I think the fight is going to happen tomorrow. They were close but not here yet. We don't have much time, that much is clear. I think we need to round up all the warriors and go over our strategies. Also let everyone in the pack know to not go anywhere near the fighting grounds. It came faster than I thought and we need to be ready. Everyone need is going to need some last minute fighting skills," I said with determination in my eyes.

"I'll gather everyone and we meet in the gym in twenty minutes."

"Does that mean...?" I trailed off, not really wanting to finish that sentence. I was born ready for this, but that doesn't mean that my stomach didn't drop at Alpha Ryan's next words.

"Yes, we fight tomorrow."