Monsters Beyond the Gate

Chapter Twelve: Too Late

Tessa loomed over me with her arms crossed firmly across her chest. Her jaw was set and her eyes were glaring neon green. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't surprised to see her. Wherever Levi went, she seemed to follow.

I tried to think of an excuse for being out in the woods, stumbling around like a drunk. She'd probably heard me with super wolfish sonar or something.

"I must have been sleep walking," I lied.

Pathetic.

I couldn't even look her in the eyes. There was no way that she didn't see right through me.

"Oh, save it," she barked, rolling her eyes. "We both know what you're really doing and it's definitely not sleep walking."

I felt my resolve breaking down. Did she know the real truth? If so, was she going to tell someone and get us all caught?

"I know that Levi is going to try and rescue your precious little brother. I know that Thor is with him. I came here to help," she added.

Her words caught me off guard. It was honestly the last thing I expected from her after the way she'd been treating me.

"Uh...why?"

I couldn't stop the question from pouring out of my mouth. I'm sure the amount of shock that was laced in my voice wasn't doing me any favors with her.

The look she gave me could have wilted fresh spring flowers. I did my best to look unintimidated, but it wasn't easy.

"For some reason, Levi thinks he needs to help you on your little suicidal mission. I'm Levi's mate. We are going to be married soon and run this pack together. That means I must support him and be there for him...Even if I don't necessarily agree with what he's doing."

I didn't have anything nice to say back. Her intentions were admirable, but they stirred that horrid beast inside of me. It was hard to identify my exact feelings because they shifted and wreathed beneath the surface of my skin. Anger, jealousy, maybe envy...I didn't understand it. I didn't want to. All I knew was that some part of me felt bonded with Levi. Yeah, I barely knew the guy, but despite that fact I just couldn't shake the feeling that there was something special between us, even if I didn't know what it was yet.

"How did you find me?" I asked after clearing my head of the emotional turmoil.

Tessa rolled her eyes again. If there was a picture in the dictionary next to the word annoyed, it would be of her face.

"You aren't exactly quiet. I'm surprised you didn't wake the whole den. Do you realize you're probably going to ruin this mission?"

I wanted to argue with her. Maybe I didn't know what I was doing, but after all the mission was to save MY brother. I had every right to help.

"I can see why they thought you and Levi would make a good couple," I muttered and then started back on my path.

"What's that supposed to mean?" she growled.

"Nothing," I stopped walking and put my hands on my hips. Levi was nowhere in sight. I assumed he was probably long gone by then, "But now I have no I idea where to go," I sighed.

"Do you ever think before you start barreling off towards what you want? Ever form some kind of a plan so that you don't, I don't know, end up surrounded by three Dark Wolves in human form all by yourself?"

I glared at her, "That was an accident. And I did have a plan, thank you very much, but then you came along and ruined it. Now I'm never going to find Levi and Thor."