Mythical Link ▸ Link Neal {Book One}

Sixty Five

     Rhett and Link looked between each other curiously, having not recognized the girl from anywhere. That was a common thing for them to run into, seeing how they were internet famous and they tend to run into Mythical Beasts everywhere they go. Link was seriously hoping that she was a Mythical Beast and not some hired assassin, given the garb she was donning. Rhett's eyes fell on her crossbow, and he swallowed nervously, obviously hoping the same thing.

     "Oh my god. Oh my god! That's how I recognized you two," she said as she turned excitedly to Mike and Alex, whose gaze never tore away from the girl. "You two are part of the Mythical crew!" 

     Link's eyes widened and he heaved a ginormous sigh of relief, all of the muscles in his body relaxing. Rhett immediately threw his hand out to her for a handshake, but she completely bypassed that and went straight for a hug. Rhett stumbled backward a bit with a chuckle, returning the hug. She was remarkably up to his chin, being a pretty tall girl. She turned to Link and he smiled, opening his arms. She hugged him a lot more gently, and he wondered if she could sense that he was feeling somehow broken on the inside.

     She withdrew from Link and gazed between the two of them with awe in her eyes. "I can't believe it. I saved Mike and Alex from Good Mythical Morning, and now Rhett and Link are standing right in front of me. I must be dreaming!" 

     Rhett blinked several times, tilting his head to the side. "What did you say?" 

     Alex recoiled, bracing for the Rhett volcano that was about to erupt. Mike pulled his grey beanie over his eyes and Alex caught on, taking his snap back cap and pulling the visor over his eyes. Lydia's overly excited facial expression quickly melted to concern and apprehension. She licked her lips that seemed to be a bit chapped. Link felt like offering her some of his peculiarly perfect peanut butter peppermint lip balm. 

     "I'm not really sure how to tell you this," she started, lowering her eyes to her boots.

     "It was the wolf, wasn't it?" Link asked, his voice small. Lydia's eyes widened.

     "There were two of them," Alex cut in. 

     Rhett's mouth fell open. "T-Two of them?" His stuttering in alarm made Link feel even more uneasy, and he brought his hand up to his forehead. His hand felt like ice compared to his burning hot skin.

     "You know about the werewolves?" Lydia asked suddenly, her lips parted. 

     Rhett turned his attention back to her. "Yeah. We've been dealing with a pretty nasty big guy."

     "The Alpha," she said, nodding her head. Everyone fell silent as they stared at her, hoping she would elaborate. "Only the Alpha can get that big and powerful, and he doesn't do it easily. Every life that he takes, every soul that he transforms makes him stronger. I followed two of his Betas back from the convention, noticing that they were keeping a peculiarly close eye on Mike and Alex." 

      Mike and Alex made a squeaking sound, learning that they have both been targets for these wolves ever since they went to the convention. "Did they want to turn us, or did they want to kill us?" Mike's question sent literal shivers down Link's spine and he shuddered violently, earning a glance of concern from Rhett.

     "I think they wanted to kill us, man. Or maybe they wanted to turn us, who knows. When they had us cornered in the gas station, they said something like they were trying to get Link alone somehow." 

     Rhett instantly looked at Link, who looked like he wanted to throw up and pass out at the same time. 

     Lydia looked to Link, a frown creasing her lips. "Why would they want to get Link alone?"