The Love Of An Alpha

Chapter 40- Purged

The wooden sign and red flashing neon light welcomed me into Greendale just as they had the first time. It had seemed like a lifetime since I had first come to Greendale, everything has changed. The nerves we becoming painful now at the thought of seeing Ethan. I was worried now we were closer together he would be able to sense me, making me anxious of my surroundings and every person that we drive by afraid that it might be someone I recognise. My mind quickly snapped to Angie and the girls, I hadn't thought about them since I left and I knew that once I returned I would be facing a whole world of pain from them. I deserved everything that was coming to be; I was a coward for running but I guess it is what I do best. Tina drove us through the back streets of Greendale only relaxing my nerves slightly as we were able to make it undetected to a small wooden cabin on the outskits of town.

"Who lives here?" I asked curious, partly afraid it could be a member of Ethan's pack who might drag me back kicking and screaming.

"A man I met once when I was traveling. He is a powerful Siphon but prefers solitude as his craft is outlawed here and in many other practicing states." Tina explained, stopping the car and turning off the engine. I stared out the window at the wooden shack and couldn't help but be afraid of the process I was about to face.

"Come on." Tina pushed as she opened the door and climbed out followed by Cindy. I waited a moment until I was sure my legs wouldn't turn to jelly before slowly climbing out of the car.

"If we wait around outside all day he might think we are creepers," Cindy said as she grabbed my hand and dragged me along with her and Tina. We walked up the old, rickety stairs each one making a  creaking sounds as we advanced. The wooden door that greeted us at the top of the stairs smelt of mould and untreated timber. Tina knocked heavily before taking a small step back, I listened, awaiting the footsteps or signs of life coming to open the door. A slowly moving tap was the only sign of movement in the house, it reminded me of a bomb slowly ticking away. My nervous rose quickly as the door opened and an middle aged man stood in front of us. My eyes were drawn to the wooden right leg which was the cause of the tap, it looked uncomfortable. I quickly took the rest of his appearance in before coming back to his eyes. His raggy jumper and long sweat pants were dirty and old and his hair was dark with bits of grey scatted throughout.
"Jim" Tina greeted warmly. "It's so good to see you again" She might touched his arm out of affection before he spoke.
"Tina. This is quite unexpected. What are you doing here ?" Jim said. His eye Browns rose a little as he took in the three of us.
"I know that this is a bit improper but my Niece needs your help." Tina explained. She lightly placing her hand on my back and pushing me forwards slightly.
"What is your name child ?" Jim asked me. Staring at me in the eye as if he wished to determine my inner thoughts with one look.
"Zoey," I whispered.
"Well, you better come in so I can decide whether or not I will help you." Jim turned and the rhythmic  tap of his leg returned as he led us into the house.

"Jim, Zoey needs you to syphon away her powers," Tina explained.

"And why would you possibly want that?" He said slowly sitting down on the brown chair in the corner of the room.

"I don't see it that way," I replied.

"and why would that be?" He asked turning his gaze slowly to met mine with a curious and disinterested look all at the same.

"There is a darkness within me that is tied to my powers, I'm hoping that if I get rid of my powers that the darkness will go with it." My explanation sounded silly and my plan sounded flawed but it was the best chance I had to be normal, to have my life back and hope that maybe I could raise my baby without the fear that the darkness lives within it.

Jim didn't say anything for a few moments before he stood and walked slowly towards me. I could feel his gaze on me, assessing me like some sort of judge. I can see that there is also another part of you that you deny, something that you didn't ever think was possible." Jim said plainly and simply as if he have a playbook of my life over the last months.

"I don't think I deny that I am a werewolf," I stated.

"I wasn't talking about that."

"Then what were you talking about?" I asked confused.

"The one who holds your heart." He said. "You deny the love he offers because you are afraid you aren't worth it. With a brother who turn against you and parents who left you, you are worried you aren't worth the love of someone who perfect. Well,  as least he is perfect in your eyes." Jim rolled his eyes at the last bit as if the idea of love or perfection was a mere fairytale.

"How could you possibly know all this?" I asked astonished at the amount of insight into my inner thoughts and feeling this strange man had.

"When I siphon away someone's powers I can choice whether or not I would like to keep them or let them pass through me. It is way the practicing of syphons is outlawed in most states. We can become very powerful. I don't have to will it to take your powers you know." Unconsciously I took a small step back, maybe out of fear, maybe out of shock I couldn't be sure.

"Are you going to do this or not?" Cindy asked obviously frustrated.  Jim looked at her for a moment before return his gaze to me.

"Give me your hands." He commanded. I hesitantly placed my small hands into the tight clasp of Jim's rough ones. I could feel the many skin callus that have formed across his palms brush against mine.

"I am not sure what will happen when I attempt to syphon away your powers. They are an intergrated part of who you are now. I can feel it interwine through you struture. Your powers are why you are a werewolf and I am not sure if you will surive once I rip them away. Are you still willing to do this?" Jim stared into my eyes, searching for doubt and only sign of concern. I knew what reflected back, my desire to be normal, to have my baby be normal and to be with Ethan again fuelled my need to make this work.
I didn't speak, I just nodded, showing all the commitment I felt. Jim closed his eyes and stucked in a deep breath before I felt the sudden pull within me. Deep down inside me I felt a presence of Jim, as if he was stucking my insides out of me through a long, thick straw. I screamed out in pain and pressure as I began to feel my powers ripped out of me.
It felt like days but I wasn't sure if it was hours, minutes or seconds but all I knew is that the constant agony within me seemed never ending.

"Zoey!" I faintly heard a whisper of a voice. I feeling the pull back to consciousness. "Zoey! Awake up. Please wake up!" The voice commanded me. I recognised it. Cindy's voice broke through the haze and I recognised it. Croaking for air I slowly opened my eyes and pulled my body up into a sitting position.
"What happened ?" I asked confused and dazed looking around the room to see all the faces of before. Jim was resting in the chair from before and Tina was standing back quietly watching over me. My eyes focused back on Cindy who was kneeing next to me, lightly holding my arm as a brace for me.
"It worked Zoey. Jim was able to remove your powers." A sudden burst of hope and excitement ran through me as they were shortly followed by relief. It was all over. All the hiding and the fighting and the denying everything I had ever loved. It was done.
I stood up on my shaking legs and took a deep breath. Feeling for the first time in months no pressure, no feeling of darkness and no urge to kill or be evil.
"Thank you so much!" I said turning to Jim with a huge smile on my face. "You have no idea how much you have helped me." I smiled at Tina and Cindy before I sprinted out the door, into the forest and towards my hearts desire. I ran and ran and ran before pulling myself up out the door. I took a deep, shaking breath as I lifted my hand and knocked heavily on the door. It open and my breath stopped.
"Hello." I whispered.