The Hunter's Daughter

Chapter 7

New Chapter

The next morning I walked to the end of my street and met Alpha Daniel sitting inside a RAM 2500 Outdoorsman – black, it was pretty cool; I know that when I get enough money I’d want a pickup truck or SUV for when I couldn’t use my bike.

He smiled at me through his window before winding it down. “Good morning Ruby, you ready”?

He was being overly nice, like a Dad who isn’t used to talking to his daughter. “Yeah, lets do it”.

I walked around the truck and hopped in the front, closing the door behind and buckling myself in. When he heard the click Alpha Daniel started the engine up and an impressive U turn to head back down my street and out of town to the highway.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t make it last night, I know that Jake can be a little tough to swing”.

“It’s ok and it’s not his fault, it does annoy me but it was never my intention to make friends, just keep people breathing”. I muttered looking out of my window for something to do.

“It’s a good thing that you’re doing Ruby”.

I shrugged. “Maybe, maybe not”.

“You have doubts”?

“Not about the people I help, more my betrayal”.

“Of your Father you mean”?

“Yeah but, no one should have the right to decide who lives and who dies, it’s not right... maybe if you were dangerous it would be different”.

“You think we’re not”?

“I’m not stupid Alpha, I know that you all the potential and motive because of who I am to hurt me or kill me, whatever you wanted... but you’re not animals, you have sense and reason and feelings, you get sick, you bleed – given not as much as everyone else but still –“ he laughed at that.

“You don’t have to answer this Ruby but, is your Father a good one”?

“He doesn’t hurt me if that’s what you mean, but his priorities have meant the whole father daughter bit takes a back seat a lot of the time. It doesn’t bother me anymore, if anything I guess it makes what I do a little easier”.

“Are you not worried of the risks”?

“Honestly”? I asked turning to face him.

“Honestly”.

“No, I just know in my heart that I’m doing the right thing, and I guess that knowing gives me a thick head or something... I don’t think about it anymore, at least I know that if I die it’s because I was helping people to live instead of trying to hurt them. If the last thing I do on this earth is fighting for life then I’ll go with some peace, I can’t stand the thought of doing nothing... it’s my responsibility to do something about it”.

We stayed silent after that, I had a feeling that the Alpha wasn’t as sold on me as he first appeared and that today was almost a trial run for me in his eyes, he wanted to see my work and if he could trust me, just as much as I expect he’s keeping an eye on Trent in case I crossed him.

I wanted to be insulted by it all but I couldn’t bring myself to be that way, there was something about this guy that settled me, that was both scarily and comfortingly familiar about him... maybe I should be keeping my eyes on him too.

Around three and half hours later I was back in Red Rock, I smiled at the sight of the reservation here, it was practically all forest unless you knew your way through like I did. The trees that were candy apple green when I left them were now burnt ambers and sunshine yellows though the air was still warm.