The Wolf Inside

Chapter 7

Authors Note: Hey guys. This is the 7th chapter of The Wolf Inside. I really hope you guys enjoy it. Please comment to let me know if you like it or want me to add anything or improve it in any way. Thanks for reading!

Shane and I reach the pack, engulfed by hugs. Well, Shane was the one who got the hugs. I stand there not knowing what to do. Chris and Maddy run over to us. "Oh my gosh, big bro! Are you ok?" Maddy asks. Shane laughs. "I'm fine Maddy. Your big brother is pretty tough. I won't let a bunch of badasses stop me". Maddy grins. "I know". Chris smiles. "Good to have you back Alpha". Maddy glances at me, a look of disgust on her face. "Why did you bring her back?". I cringe at her voice. Chris casts Maddy a warning look. "Maddy... Don't be mad at her, she's the one who helped us escape" Shane assures. He doesn't say anything more, about me being part of pack Black Claw. I told him on the way not to mention it to anyone. Maddy nods, not asking more.

I look around, suddenly noticing that there were only a few of the pack members surrounding us. Where was everyone else? Shane follows my gaze and seems to understand. "Maddy, where is everyone?". Maddy looks away and hesitates before speaking. "Oh um, they went out hunting" she answers. Chris shuffles his feet uncomfortably. Shane's face hardens. "Maddy, where are they?" He asks again.

Suddenly, Maddy breaks down into sobs. "Th-they all got taken away. We fought them Shane, we really did but there were too many of them. They took them all. The pups and everyone. They even took Karla and Kristina!" She wails. Shane and I gasp. "W-what?!" Shane yells. I walk over to Maddy and try to calm my racing heart at the horrible news. "Maddy" I say gently, putting a hand on shoulder. "Sit down and explain everything slowly". She looks at me like she wants to lash out at me because everything is my fault, but instead she nods and lets me lead her to a cabin. Shane, Chris and the rest of the pack members follow.

"Alright. Now, start from the beggining" Shane says sitting down next to me at the table. Everyone else sits down with sad eyes. Maddy takes a deep breath as silence fills the room. "Maddy, if you're uncomfortable talking, I'll tell them" Chris volunteers. Maddy shakes her head. "I'll do it".

"When you guys got taken away, more of Black Claw's pack members came. There was a LOT of them. Most of the hunters and fighters of our pack were tired from the fight from before yet we still fought them. While the fight was going on, we didn't realize that they were slowly surrounding us. They took half of the pack and lead them away. Our whole pack would've been gone if we didn't fight. Some of us ran away and retreated into the forest with the other young ones but they still managed to take pups and other wolves" Maddy explains. I am speechless. I don't know what to say as I rub my temples.

A frustrated Shane groans. I think to myself remembering the words that Shane said to me before we got taken by Black Claw. "If anything ever happens to any of my pack members, I will forget I ever considered you to be a part of my pack". That was what he had said. His warning still lingers in my mind as fresh now as when he had said it. It destroyed my hopes. How could I ever find a place to fit in, when the only people who had been kind to me were turning their backs on me. I know my thoughts are selfish, thinking of myself only, but I can't help wondering what will happen. Has Shane actually forgiven me? Or is he just being kind and having pity on me?

I am snapped out of my thoughts when Shane waves his hand in front of my face. Everyone is staring at me. "Alice, we've been talking and planning about what to do with the situation for the past half and hour. Are you okay? You seemed completely zoned out". I force a smile on my face. "Yeah. I'm perfectly fine". His eyes linger on me, watching me with such intensity that could pierce through my soul. "I am okay. Don't worry about me guys. I was just thinking about what to do to get everyone back" I assure. I feel bad about lying but I can't do anything about it. The most important thing right now was to get everyone back safely.

Shane, as well as everyone else, nods. "So, we were thinking of a plan. There's no point in crying about it so we have to do something. We have a guess that the most obvious place is they would take everyone to their territory and pack site. A few of us could go and search about the place. We need to get all the information possible about where Black Claw is keeping our pack members captive. According to the information, we will distribute ourselves and break in. But we must do it in a way that will be quick because I am pretty sure Jake found that we broke out".

I nod. It was good plan during our situation. We couldn't do much until we knew where everyone was obviously. "Alright" I say. Everyone else at the table agree. "So, who wants to go and get all the information?" Shane asks, looking around. "I'll do it" a tall boy about 17 says. He looks determined. Shane nods. "Good. Anyone else?". "I'll do it" i blurt out. I don't know why I did it. It just felt right, knowing the whole problem was my fault. If I hadn't lead that idiot Jake and the rest of his pack to pack Blue Moon's territory, none of this would have happened. Shane's words from earlier really had stung even though he apologized after.

"Alice!" Shane yells. I look up quickly. "Again with the zoning out?" He asks. "Oh sorry" I reply. He sighs. "It's fine. I had said that you are not going with Dillan". I guess the boy who volunteered was called Dillan. "But why?" I ask, confused. He knows that I know everything about pack Black Claw's territory, yet still he isn't letting me go. "Because we need you to help lead us into battle" Shane replies. Oh, so that's why. When he mentions battle, my heartbeat quickens. Is it really getting to the point that we will have to fight? Again?

"Ok" I tell Shane. He nods. Soon later, a girl maybe a little younger than me, volunteers and Shane agrees to let her go. "Ok. While these two are gathering all the information they can get, we have to save our strength, make a battle plan and practice for the worst" he explains. His words don't comfort us but instead make us more nervous. But, the only choice we have would be to fight if it gets to that.

After a while when Shane and I had eaten, Shane gave the boy and the girl instructions to what to information thy need to get. When he was done, he sent them on their way.

The pack members spread out, doing what they needed to do to get ready. Shane was in his cave, leaning against the wall with his eyes closed when I walked in. I clear my throat. He opens his eyes and smiles at me. "Hey" he says softly. "Hi" I reply, awkwardly. I want to ask him if he was still mad at me but the words refuse to form on my tongue. He senses my awkwardness and motions for me to sit down. I do as he asks.

"What's the matter? I know you aren't okay. What's wrong? " he asks. I look down at my hands and take a deep breath. "No. I don't know. Well... Shane... The thing is i wanted to ask you something that will keep on bothering me until i know the answer" I tell him. I honestly didn't know how to ask him. I just feel awkward. But mostly I'm scared of knowing te answer. "Yeah? Ask away" Shane says, raising an eyebrow. "Are you still mad at me?" I say abruptly. Shane gets a little startled. But mostly he looks surprised. "Mad? About what?" He asks. "Don't play dumb with me Shane" I tell him, sternly. He smiles. "No. I guess not. You proved yourself. U helped me get out so that evens it out". I look away. "What do you mean, u guess?" I ask. He shakes his head. "I'm not mad at you Alice. All I'm focused on right now is saving my pack. With your help of course" Shane replies. 

I nod and get up to walk away when he grabs my wrist. "Is this the reason you were acting weird before" he asks. I grin, sheepishly. "Yeah".  Shane laughs. "Okay. Now that your worry is gone, put all your focus in breaking into Black Claw's territory". I laugh and nod.