The Bitten Wolf

Chapter 15: The Bite

   I woke to the sun merrily streaming in through the bedroom window. Unfortunately, I could not join in to its merriness because of the nightmare that had jolted me awake seconds before.

   It had been like the dream I had after Luke ran away from us back at the cave, but strangely different. The colours were even blander, almost black and white, and everything was silent, not even the river making a sound.

   My shriek could not be heard as I watched Luke kill Will, tearing into his throat, eyes glinting in triumph. Will's eyes met my own before going blank, taking part of me with him.

   Then, Luke turned to me, changing back into human form. From his pocket he drew a gun - the same as the one that he killed Henry with. He raised it to my head, ready to shoot. But before he did so he did one other thing. He kissed me softly, pulling away fast.

   "I loved you," he mouthed, then tightened his grip on the gun.

   I woke up then, covered in sweat from my ordeal. Beside me, Will was still sleeping peacefully, breathing deeply and smiling in his sleep.

   What is he dreaming of? I pressed myself closer to him, my head against his bare chest. Subconsciously, he put his arm over me, bringing me closer. If only we could stay like this and not have to worry about Aiden or Ryley or Luke or Penny...

   I sat up abruptly, nearly falling off of the bed.

   "Hazel, you alright?" came Will's sleepy voice from beside me.

   "No," I whispered, "Will, I can't do this."

   He had his arms around me instantly, letting me cry into his shoulder.

   "You mean... You made a mistake?"

   I nodded, my hair brushing against his cheek. I just wanted to forget everything, pretend that nothing happened, that Maya and Jared were still alive and that our pack was alright. That my pack was alright.

   "Do you..." Will cleared his throat, "...want me to leave?"

   I drew away from him, shocked. Why would he want to leave?

   He doesn't know what you're talking about...

   Will took my silence as a yes and got up, grabbing his shirt from a nearby chair and putting it on. Then, he moved to the door, turning back to look at me once more.

   I threw myself at him, kissing him deeply and more passionately than ever before. He seemed surprised, but responded quickly, picking me up and carrying me back to the bed.

   "Will," I whispered as he lay down beside me, "I never want you to leave me."

   "I would never leave you," he managed to say between kisses.

   I wormed my way out of his arms just a bit so that I was able to see his face. Looking him in the eye, I asked, "Even if I killed someone?"

   His green eyes widened and he began to splutter incomprehensible things as I studied his face calmly. I watched as his eyes flicked to my collarbone, then back to my face, then back again.

   Finally, he stammered, "Y-you know?" I nodded, unable to hold his gaze any longer. The look of betrayal was too much.

   "Who told you?" Will growled as he shifted so that he was over top of me.

   "Why did you lie?" I refused to answer his question.

   "What was I supposed to do?"

   "Why did you do what you did?"

   "Was I supposed to watch them kill her?!"

   That shut me up. Losing a pack member was unbearable - what was losing a family member like? I knew the answer to that one too.

   "So it's true," I whispered, hand going up to my collarbone.

   "When Aiden found out he tried to shoot her, but I leapt in at the last moment, taking the bullet," Will answered my earlier question, "I couldn't just stand by and watch him kill her. She's my sister." The image of my little brother crumpled on the ground made me shudder.

   I turned back to Will, "Why did Penny do it?"

   "She did it for me."