Fighting for Power (Howl of the Elements: Book One)

Chapter 13

***picture of Shawn***

Chapter 13:

"Oh, uh..hey Shawn," Layla stuttered, "What are you doing here?"

"I was coming to check on you," his voice lacked any emotion, and his body was as still as a statue.

"Well..that was a nice gesture, but I'm fine. Actually, I should go check on Jasmine. She's probably having a heart attack waiting to hear every detail about me being gone," pushing the blanket aside, Layla stood up.

"Jasmine is asleep. She can wait until morning. You, on the other hand, need to stop trying to avoid my question," Shawn's eyes were like daggers, adding to the effect of his demanding statement.

"And what question would that be?" giving a slight attempt at an innocent sounding response, Layla began heading towards the exit of the tent.

Every step she took, Shawn followed pursuit right behind her. "You know exactly what question I'm talking about. Why is it so hard to just give me an answer?"

"Why are you acting like it's such a big deal?" she snapped back before she could catch herself.

"I don't know. Maybe because you are my mate, you were kidnapped, and now you just called me by another guy's name," the more he said, the more he began to raise his voice.

Thankfully they were now outside, but that still didn't change the fact that everyone in the tent could hear every word that he had just said to her. Sighing, Layla stopped in her tracks and turned to face him. "Okay, if you want me to talk then you better listen up. For one, you are not my mate yet. For two, everyone can hear this entire conversation, so if you want us to talk then we are going to go somewhere else. And lastly...I'm sorry, okay? I didn't mean to do that. I just kind of forgot where I was."

Silence followed for what seemed like eternity, but finally Shawn responded, "Fine. Let's go."

Brushing passed her, Shawn walked off towards the edge of the village. Layla knew he was expecting her to follow, and as much as she was dreading it, she shrugged her shoulders and trailed behind him.

The area that they were headed towards was used as a popular picnic spot for the people that lived in the village, but it was also well known as a late night make-out area for the teenage one-skinner girls that didn't have much dignity. Oh hell no. He better not think that he's going to be getting any action from me. Yeah, I haven't exactly been myself with everything that's happened, but I'm not that vulnerable right now. He must be brain dead or have a strong wish to become that if he even tries-

Her thought process came to a screeching halt when she saw the burnt wreckage that was once an area that filled many of the citizens' childhood memories. "I didn't realize that the flames went all the way over here too..," she let her voice trail off as she slumped down on the dirt covered ground beneath her.

"Yep. Every inch of our village has been affected by those monsters. I can't wait until we get our revenge on that pathetic pack. Once we get your mom out of there we should just make their entire village a new crater on Earth," Shawn grinded his teeth and clenched his shaking fists at his sides.

"Not all of them are responsible for what happened here, though, but I agree that some of them need to pay for what they did to all of us."

"What are you talking about? If they apart of that merciless pack then they deserve it, too," he turned around to face Layla again, a look of pure anger on his face.

"Wow, Shawn. Way to stoop to their level, then. Just so you know, there are people there from other packs that were taken against their will as well and are being forced to work every day. Are you saying that they don't deserve to be saved? That they deserve to be harmed?" Layla was now on her feet, mere inches from Shawn's face, as her own anger started to boil over.

She couldn't understand why she was getting so defensive over people that weren't apart of her own pack, but it felt almost like a natural instinct to her. She could care less about Rocco or that creep that was now her step-father, but when it came to Gabriella and the others, or maybe even Logan, it was a different story.

"Calm down. I can't believe you are actually siding with those murderers," Shawn put his hands on her shoulders and held her away at a safe distance.

"Get your hands off of me, and do not tell me to calm down! I have been riding on an emotional roller coaster ever since the attack. I can't even fully think about what to do or what to think. I have no idea where my life is going. I am trying my hardest not to have a fucking mental breakdown, and some of the people I met there showed me kindness and were what helped keep me sane while I had to watch my mother get married to some loser only a week after witnessing my own father die. So excuse me for not wanting to see harm come to them. Trust me...there is no one that wants revenge on my father's murderer and the pack's leader more than I do, but I'm not going to sit here and listen to you down grade all of them over a couple of them being power-hungry. The way you talk about them doesn't make you any better," she twisted herself from his grip and stormed off back to the village.

***

"How the hell did they find out location?" Rocco roared.

"I-I don't know, sir. Maybe we weren't as careful at masking our tracks as we had thought, sir," Leon wrung his hands together as he nervously stood on the opposite side of the desk from Rocco.

"Well obviously someone messed up. What I am asking is who?" Rocco shouted as he slammed his fist down on the desk.

"I'll try to find out," bowing his head, Leon hoped his response would satisfy his alpha for the time being.

"Good. While you're at it, try to figure out why that damn girl left as well. I was relying on my son to catch her attention and make her more compliant here, yet she chose to run away with that sorry excuse for a pack," rubbing his temples, Rocco leaned himself down into the cushioned swivel chair behind his desk.

"The plan seemed to be working, sir. All of the girls would do anything to have as much attention from Logan as that little brat did. I know it was surely enough to make Callie very upset."

Tapping his index finger on his chin, Rocco stared off as a plan began to form in his mind, "Leon...I think I know exactly how we are going to get that girl back, along with a whole lot of extra power as well. I don't know why I didn't think of this sooner!"

A deep laughter erupted from him, echoing throughout the dimly lit room. He had never felt so in control of life than he did right at that moment.

A/N: Sorry for the long wait, been really busy with work and motherhood. If you would like updates on when new chapters will be written/posted or if you would like to be involved in times when I ask for readers' input, then go ahead and follow.

Also, if you like romance, check out my other story "To Find Love."

It would also be awesome if you took a look at "Champion" by tlallen or "The Chosen" by cashjo

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