The Alpha's Beta

Chapter 19

"She is not yours to take!" Elise yelled up to the Leader. 

Oh yeah. Elise has an Eagle, too.

The Eagle known as Dylan took a sharp nose dive, pulling up at five feet off the ground. He Shifted midair, lightly dropping to his feet. The Eagles that had joined him - only about six - perched on the trees behind him.

"Elise, nice to know that you're stunning as ever. Nikolas and Noah, glad to see you both faring well. Charlotte, still searching, good job. Lucas, what are you doing here? Raven, I could expect this from, but you, you knew that you had your place. You had a job to do, and you failed. Both of you, come back with me now, or forever be banished." Charlotte - aka my mom/Guardian - let out a gasp. Dylan faced her. "I'm sorry for what I have to do to your child, but it's for the best."

"She isn't Charlotte's daughter. She's mine." Elise stated, stepping forward. 

Dylan's face held surprise for a split second and then he was back to his serious face. "Then I apologize for what I have to do to your daughter." The Leader faced me, and spoke gently, "Raven, dear, I need you to do something for me. Can you do that?"

"Hmm, how 'bout no?"

"Come to me, daughter of Elise." My feet moved forward of their own accord. They walked me around the defensive barrier - also known as Nick, Noah, and Lucas - and right in front of Dylan. "Good. Now stay here and don't move from this spot."

Two Eagles instantly flew down, Shifted midair, and dropped next to me, guarding me. Actually, they were keeping me from escaping, but I couldn't move, so it was pointless.

I turned, trying to see where Dylan was walking. When I finally spun around completely, I saw that Dylan stood in front of Lucas. I could tell Lucas was mad; his hands were in fists at his sides.

"I can't allow the fledgling to escape - she's too powerful to be on her own. But even with that power, her mind is easily compromised. Lucas, I know you've seen it a few times before, and can guess what I'll do. If you agree to come with me, I promise I won't touch Raven's mind."

Lucas instantly hunched down, looking defeated. He slowly walked towards me, choosing to go with his Leader. 

"Lucas! Don't give up so easily! Come on, man." Noah called. "What's so terrible about what Dylan would do?"

"He would tamper with her memories, with her thoughts, and do with them whatever he feels like." He whispered, almost too quiet for me to hear.

"I don't understand why you'd protect this girl that you've met just a few days ago, but as long as it gets you back, then I'm all for it." Sky Flock's Leader said, walking back to me. Lucas had now joined me, and the two men grabbed his arms, holding him in place. "But you understand that I need Raven to trust me. And right now, she doesn't. Raven, open your mind to me."

Before I knew what I was doing, I let the tendrils of thought out into the empty space between Dylan's mind and mine. I tried to pull them back, but Dylan's mind clamped down on them.

I wondered for a second why the others weren't doing anything. I saw a glimpse of them over Dylan's shoulder, surrounded by Eagles - in human form.

Dylan put his hands on either side of my face - like you see in the movies right before the couple kisses - and stare into my eyes. His voice echoed through my mind. 

"You do not need to be afraid. All will be fine. I won't take your memories, none that are important, anyways. I'll peek around a little, though. See if you're hiding anything." 

I could feel the tiny presence of Nyla in my head, trying to be as far away from the invading voice. If Dylan discovered her, who knows what would happen?

"Your secret - along with your Fox's - is safe with me. Don't act so surprised! I've been doing this for years, so I know how to find secrets. Like the one about your mystery voice. The one that shows up every once in awhile. Now, are you ready?"

For what?

"I'm going to go through your memories. And pick out the bad ones about me. Would you like to be put unconscious for this part? Ah, who am I kidding? You'll black out the instant I touch a memory of yours, anyway. Good night, sweet Raven."

With that, my mind went dark.

***

I slowly came to, hearing far away voices that were coming closer.

"Do you think she's okay?" 

"She should be, but we can't know for sure until she wakes up."

"Dylan said that he didn't take anything, or even mess with her brain at all - some crap about how her Animals shoved him out. I don't believe him for a second."

My eyes flew open. I saw three boys and two women above me. 

"Oh, thank goodness! You're okay!" Exclaimed one of the women.

One of the boys peered down at me. "Do you know who you are? Do you know who we are?"

"I'm Raven. And you are Lucas Clare, Noah Crest, Nikolas Rane, Elise Storm, and Charlotte Black."

"Good. That's really good! Do you feel different or anything?" Lucas asked again. I got up off of the dirty ground and brushed myself off.

"I feel like... me. Normal. Now can I go home? My dad's gonna be real worried if I'm not home soon." When no one moved, I continued. "Which one of you brought me here? And where is here, might I ask? Also, you don't need to feed me, because I think that my dad is making dinner." Once again, no one said anything. "Fine. I'll find my own way home. See you later, people." I gave a tiny wave and headed in a random direction. 

"Wait!" Lucas called. I stopped and turned. "Me, Nick, and Noah brought you. So we'll take you home."

"Okay." I waited for them to lead me, since I didn't know where to go. "You guys brought me, so I assume you know how to get back. Right?"

"Yeah, yeah. Of course." Noah took point, walking in the direction I had earlier picked.

"We're in Buelle Forest, by the way." Lucas pronounced it "Boo-el." Weird that I've never heard of it before.

"Can you guys tell me something?" Three head nods, and I continued. "Why the heck was I in this forest with you guys anyways? We've never been here before."

"Well, um we were - " Nick started. 

"Wait, you said we haven't been here before? That means we've hung out in other places. When did you meet us?" Lucas interrupted.

"Idiot. We grew up together, remember? You're in my Flock. Duh. And then we met these two in school a few weeks ago."

"Raven? What's your last name?" Lucas asked hesitantly.

"My god. Are you going through amnesia? It's Wells, dummy. Raven Lee Wells. You always tease me about my middle name, since it's a boy name, but I think that it's a girl name, too."

"And who's your dad?"

I groaned. "Seriously? If you ask me one more super obvious question, I swear I'm gonna explode! Our Leader, Dylan Wells! Geez, get a new brain to replace the stupid one you got while I was unconscious. Also, who was responsible for shoving me from the tree? Because I will punch you."

No one answered me. The boys had these expressions that said 'Who turned the world upside down and are pigs flying right now?'

It wasn't like the news was new to them. So what was their problem?

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