Heart of Steel

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"Brie, are you sure? Like really, really sure?" Aidan asked, looking at me hesitantly as I strapped another handgun loaded with wooden bullets onto my belt. I sighed inwardly. It was the fifth time he had ask me this question. Well, I couldn't blame him. My twisted ankle just healed two days ago and the wound on my knee acquired from my previous close brush with a out-of-control, mindless ghoul bent on sucking the happiness out of humans was still pretty tender, the pink skin newly closed over.

"Don't worry, Aidan. I'll be fine. This isn't the first time, you know." I huffed as I bustled around, looking for a vial of holy water. "I am a seventeen year old trained warrior, not an infant."

He nodded skeptically, gazing at my ankle. I know he will be behind me at my every move, watching over me. Typical Aidan behaviour. At first glance, he could have passed for my older brother. Tall and slim, though not with the lean muscles underneath, his raven black hair and high cheekbones were exactly like mine. However, if you look closer, the striking teal blue of his eyes differ from my light blue ones.

Three years just passed in a blur. I mused as I got into the truck absentmindedly, the trackers getting ready to get rid of a rogue vampire infestation in the deserted part of town. Funny how I could still vivdly recall running away three years ago. I had covered several miles that night in werewolf form, drinking from a river and letting my animal instincts take over in my hunger, killing a wild deer that was unfortunate enough to stumble across my path when I was so ravenous. I had no goal in mind, just wandering around.

"Brie, what are we going to do?" Abby had asked worriedly in my mind. My mind had just seemed to operate on two purposes. One, getting away from Vicci and Jordan. Two, surviving. Now, I had completed my first mission and temporarily got rid of the second problem, fatigue started to make itself known.

"Sleep." I mumbled as I collapsed in a heap on the ground, near a tree and curled into myself.

Morning, I woke up, stark naked and very embarrassed indeed. Shifting into my werewolf form for the third time, I found that the agony had reduced significantly, the pain replaced by a tugging in my limbs, that was almost pleasant.

Living like a vagabond for days which I lost count of, I covered more miles that night, running past town and villages, taking refuge in the woods and forests which covered my slinking, midnight blue body. Hunger and water were no problem, usually satisfied by wild mammals, both big and small, and nearby streams. However, I knew I could not continue to live like this.

As I was wandering in the woods, I got spotted by a pack of lions who mistook me as their next meal. The glint of hunger, of ruthlessness was evident in their eyes. They were past reasoning.

The agony was something I was accumstomed to, just not the thunderous roaring and tearing of limbs. Whose? I wasn't sure. Only I was fighting with all my strength, with all my spirit, both Abby's and mine. They sank their teeth into my leg, into my hind, into my back. The sensation of being stabbed repeatedly by a sharp, sharp knife returned. I lashed out, my canines sharpening as I bit savagely into one beast's throat. It gave its dying cry, and the rest of the lions retreated, finally sensing they had met their match.

The trees were spinning around as I dragged my leaden body away, weakly. My mind was floating in a miasma of pain but not regret.

I would rather die like this than getting tormented by my own siblings.

Closing my eyes, I saw nothing, only blinding white light, like christmas lights twinkling.

So pretty. Is this the part where I get carted off to heaven? I know I haven't done anything to earn it.

No, why is the light dimming?

Hell, then?

With that thought, I surrendered to the dark waters that finally dragged me down.

'Brie, BRIE!" A voice jolted me out of my daydream.

"You are always zoning out. Anyway, we have arrived," Aidan sighed as he gripped my arm in his strong, sturdy hand.

Ted opened the door for us, as we filed out. There were only four werewolves involved in this operation ordered by the Supernatural Council. The best of the best fighters. Sometimes, I really wonder what I did to make them consider me as one of the "Golden Quartet" of Blood Moon.

This group includes Ted, the leader of the operation, Alpha of Blood Moon and naturally, his son, Aidan. Both were skilled warriors and could take down any kind of supernaturals, especially the criminals.

Next was the beta's son, Quinn. His fighting style was notorious for its aggression and savageness, and when he wields a weapon, it makes me question his sanity. When I first joined the pack, I made sure to stay far, far away from him. However, it turns out that his coldness was due to his parents. His mother was brutally murdered by a rogue vampire when he was little, and the Beta, driven by grief, stayed in his room all day long and filed paperwork for the pack, and only went out of his room when summoned by the Alpha. I was indignant for him.

"That's practically neglect!" I cried after I had learnt of Quinn's troubled childhood.

"Quiet now, my dear. We don't need to rub salt in his wound." One of the healers, a middle-aged, well-endowed woman named Rosa crooned, stroking my head gently. LIke all healers, she is very sensitive to emotions and could probably sniff out grief like a dog sniffing out a sausage. In truth, I adore her. She was the mother I could never have.

I wonder if that was how Quinn felt, a big, gaping hole in your chest, which no one could ever fill, except that special people who love you, simply for who you are. And once they are lost, they are lost forever, and that hole in your chest grows, weighing you down.

Quinn took out the rapier, his favourite choice of weapon and ran a finger along it lovingly. He looked over at me and grinned, "You ready, tracker girl?"

No, we are definitely not friends, just comrades. He looks out for me in a fight, just as how we watch each others' backs. Besides missions like this, we almost never talk. Right now, I could see the playful facade masking partially masking the hatred in his eyes, the hatred for all the vampires who killed his mother. Bloodlust could be a dangerous thing.

The sickly sweet smell of vampires floated into my nostrils languidly, making me cringe and gag. Funny how I can never get use to this smell, like vomit. The smell got stronger as I tensed myself. I could fell the soft padding of the wanted vampires as they stalked in the night. Well, it will be their last for breaking the laws of the Supernatural Council. Human slavery is illegal.

"Go!" Hearing Ted's command, I welcome the adrenaline rush that engulfed me, buzzing in my brain.

Showtime.

A/N whew, I FINALLY started on the real story of this book. Yay.

Random fact: I am sleepy.

Meh.

What a way to ruin the climax. HAHAHAHHA