Fastest of the Woods

XVI

I woke up in the window sill hours later, Faye was saying my name from the doorway with my tray of food in her hands. 

I should say, Nova's name.

"Nova," she called loudly again, making me turn around to face her," Nova, please get out of the window. I know things are bad, but you cannot kill yourself."

The thought hadn't occurred to me, I looked out the window at the ground below. There isn't any glass in the old sill. I could just hurl myself out and be done just like I wished last night. It would be that simple. 

I wish I could ask my wolf her opinion.

"Please, please move yourself. Without you Wyatt will turn angry again, when he's angry then mother gets upset which makes father lash out and then-"

"Faye, what are you talking about?"

She clamped her mouth shut and I climbed down to stand next to her. On my way down I stumbled and almost fell from my weak legs trying to hold my weight after not having to for hours and she ran over to me to steady me. Her arms rested on my forearms and I put my own on her shoulders.

"Faye, does your family beat you?"

She whimpered and looked down. I pulled her in for a hug.

"Why would they do that?"

"B-because f-father-r had a-an affair w-with a w-werewolf. T-they don't-t... T-they s-say I'm b-b-bad."

"Sh, sh," I cooed, softly stroking her hair as she cried," It's okay. You aren't bad. Why would they say such a thing?"

"E-everyone-ne here h-hates w-w-wolves."

"Then why would they bring the oracles here?"

"T-to h-harbor their pow-wers."

"What powers? The ability to turn into a wolf?"

"N-no, they-y want O-oracle powers-s. M-mind reading-g, s-strength, ag-gility."

My eyes widened and my heart beat faster. He was feeling my bones to see if there was anything special in them that other wolves don't have that makes me more agile. Nova is more agile. If they know that about her then they must know she has siblings and they will see soon that I'm not a special wolf. I'm not special. Nova is. 

When they see that they will kill me and go get her. 

"Faye, I need your help."

_____

Later that night when Wyatt came in I asked him about Faye best I could without revealing anything I know about her.

"That girl who helped me move, she didn't smell like a vampire."

"She's not," he muttered while unpacking his bag more.

"But she also didn't smell like a witch."

"She isn't."

"Then what is she?"

"Nothing."

"She can't be nothing, if she's here then she must be something."

"She's a filthy hybrid, a werewolf. Now let's get back to business," he held out his hand for my arm.

After the injection he brought out a knife to cut open the same spot, I knew the scar would be uglier tomorrow. Thicker and longer and paler and uglier. He pried open the skin and used some metal tool to keep it there, my head rolled to the side when he put his hand in there. I couldn't watch.

Almost an hour late I fainted from the blood loss and pain.

_____

"Holly," a voice whispered," Holly, wake up..."

"What," I asked confused, my eyes wouldn't open but I could feel sparks on my arms.

Kian?

It's him, human.

Wolf?

I'm back. I won't leave you ever again, I promise.

You're okay.

We are okay, Kian came to get us. He saved us.

"Holly, open your eyes darling. It's time to go."

"Where are we going?"

"Home."

I opened my eyes at the sound of him saying home. He was leant over me, dark hair and matching eyes with his denim jeans and white V-neck shirt. I smiled at him. His beautiful eyes went from soft and gentle to hard and mirthy. He laughed coldly.

" You thought I cared for you? You thought I'd choose you?"

"Bu-"

"I love Hannah. She's beautiful and cunning, smart and so damn sexy. Why would I ever want you?"

He stood up and walked to the edge of the canyon we were in, Hannah was waiting. When he got to her she threw her arms around his neck. He smiled and she gave him one in return.

Then she moved her hands to the sides of his head. Her smile dissapeared. He laughed at her before she twisted his head sharply to the left.

A scream left my throat as his lifeless body fell to the floor.

Dead. Kian's dead.

Hannah looked up at me and smiled before walking towards me with her arms outstretched in front of her. I couldn't move.

It's OK, human. Accept your fate. accept the end. Hannah will win and you will fall.

Accept it.

I sat straight up in the small cot, breathing heavy. In, out. In, out. I'm safe. It was a dream.

I'm okay. It's okay.

My hands dug into my hair and I silently begged myself not to cry. I don't have the strength for tears. 

For the last few nights I've been having these nightmares. It's usually of the same accord; Kian finds me, my wolf comes back, Hannah kills him. There are varying factors, the way he looks, the color of his eyes, the things he says, same for Hannah. Every time she kills him a different way.

My heart rate slowed down and I decided there was no more chance of sleep tonight. Tomorrow I would talk to Faye more about our plan. She will help me. I will help her. 

Together we will survive and return to the Jade Forest Pack.