The Beast Within Us

Chapter 15: The Beginning of Chaos

Elle's POV:

I let out a short yawn as I make my way through the hallway of the main house. Because of all that has happened I haven't been able to enjoy a real nice slumber. I rub my eyes as I stop in front of Conan's door. I knock.

"How many times am I going to have to come and drag you out of your office?" I say outside the door.

The only response I get is the sound of rustling papers and books hitting the floor. I grow curious.

"I really hope you are not throwing another tantrum in there," I say. "You have to receive an update over the situation from your warriors."

This time, no noise.

"Conan?"

I open the door and find him lying on the ground covered in blood. A tall, slim and dark figure instantly jumps out the window. I rush over to him in a panic and check his pulse. He's still alive.

"I need help in here! Someone get the doctor!" I shout.

Automatically people storm in. Most asking questions while the others attend to Conan's wounds.

"I want warriors to check for any suspicious characters!" I command. "Take a party to search the border as well!"

They nod and leave to follow the instructions. I move over to Conan and better inspect his wound. It is a claw mark. A faint sizzle escapes the wound.

Any deeper and he would be dead. I have never seen an attack like this before but if my guess is correct it was done by a werewolf who is getting creative.

He groans.

"Don't try to speak, you are very hurt." The doctor states.

"You were right, Elle," Conan says. "You were right."

"Conan, what are you talking about?" I ask. "You are seriously injured and--"

"It only took me being near death to realize that I do miss her." He looks at me. "This may sound selfish, hell, it may even be too late now but... I hope she misses me too..."

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Delilah's POV:

I stood there, unmoving. I was frozen with shock. I grit my teeth together, holding back bursts of all kinds of emotions. Eventually, I calmed down enough to talk.

"What do you want from me..?"

Alice's face held no emotion, "I want the truth."

I said nothing. My eyes fell to the floor, maybe in hope that something would happen so I would not have to be in this situation. My eyes snapped back towards Alice as she took one step closer.

"So it must be true?" She spoke. "Why did you do it?"

"I don't know what you're talking about..."

"Did you kill him!?" She yells.

My mouth hangs open. My bottom lip quivers as I search for the right words to say. I left The Pack of I Koiláda, my home, for this reason. I've been running away from that moment only to finally realize it has been right behind me all along.

"I- I did..." I attempt. "But I had to do it! I had no choice! I was defending myself, I am innocent! I--"

"Would an innocent person have buried the body?! Like they had something to hide!"

She slaps my totem poles out of my hands. The recent one- that I had just found- hits the wall. The other one rolls away out if my sight. I stare at her.

"You have no right to judge my action!" Rage began to build up inside me, "You were not there! You have no clue what I was faced with!"

Alice takes a step back. Shock is plastered on her face. I feel the fur grow on my hands and I instantly cover it with my free hand. I close my eyes feeling myself shake as I try to control my wolf.

"You will leave this pack." Alice demanded.

I let out a feral growl, "You will have to kill to force me out!"

Pure anger radiates off her. She too is on the brink of losing control of her wolf. She speaks, her words are calm despite what could happen at any moment.

"Thought I shouldn't, I have no choice but to give you a chance: we fight, the victor may stay and the loser must leave the pack, never to return! I don't like it but it is a part of what I stand for."

"And what is that exactly?" I ask.

"You can figure that out for yourself when you are wandering the forest!"

She lunges at me, sending a straight punch to my side. I hold my side as I try and recover while dodging another hit from Alice. She stumbles and I take this chance to blindside her. She falls over but instantly jumps back up.

Alice goes for another punch but I move out of the way, grab her arm and hold it behind her back. I kick at the back of her legs making her fall to her knees. She struggles and I continue to pull her arm back almost pull it out of the socket. Finally, she hangs her head and accepts defeat.

I pull her head back and expose her neck. I can feel my fangs grow to full length. My claws itch to rip her throat out. I could end it. But what would that solve? I throw her to the ground. My teeth revert back to normal as I begin to calm down.

Alice sits up, "You had the chance to kill me, why didn't you?"

"That is not what I stand for..."

She stands up, her back facing me. Alice rubs her neck. We stay like this for a moment. Unmoving. She turns to face me.

"You win." She quietly says. "But understand this: If any harm comes to this pack, to my people, to Alexander, I will not hesitate to exact revenge.

She looks me in my eyes, possibly trying to peer into my soul with no luck. "I love these people and I wouldn't hesitate to kill someone you love for them... I can promise you that..."

Without another word, she turns around and leaves. I exhale and place my hands on my knees then take in deep breaths. I keep hoping all of this is a dream and I will wake up back home in I Koiláda. I jump back up when I remember what I had. I look around and find my original totem pole undamaged.

I search again for the more recent one. Eventually, I find it among the rubble. I run my fingertips along the hand-carved patterns on the wooden totem pole. To think, all along the other one was here. I flip it over to look at the unique jeweled eyes.

But it is cracked...