Saviour

Chapter Four

F O U R

My nerves were so on edge. 

This had been the longest I'd ever been away from home- and my family. To top it off, all that I could smell was deep fried foods and the hundreds of sweaty travellers bustling around me. I missed the scent of fresh pine and the familiar scent of home.

Now that I was safely in Seattle, I set my mind to the next task at hand: finding edible food. I glanced side to side at the options surrounding me. Sighing in defeat, I headed towards the familiar food chain in front of me. The healthiest spot I could find was Subway.

At home, our pack chef, Carlos, was always whipping up delicious dishes for our growing group of wolves- and as you could imagine- that meant a lot of fresh meat. 

My stomach growled loudly as I reached the front of the line.

"Welcome to Subway, what can I get for you?" The girl at the counter gave me a small smile. She slipped on a new pair of gloves and waited patiently.

I cleared my throat awkwardly. "I'd like a grilled chicken panini with extra meat, please. No cheese." My eyes roamed the small store. I was still on edge and weary I had somehow been followed. This process had seemed way too easy so far.

"Sure!" The girl responded, grabbing the bread and piling it with chicken. She stuck it into the oven and returned her curious gaze towards me. Her grey eyes pierced through me, seeming to study me intently.

"So, what brings you to this neck of the woods?" She smirked knowingly.

My eyes locked hers as I searched for a double meaning behind her words.

"Oh, just visiting some family I haven't seen in a while," I shrugged non-chalantly. The store had suddenly gone quiet. Previously busy, there was now no one inside but us.

"There's a reward posted for your return." The girl stated calmly.

I froze, eyes widening as I stared at her in horror. "I don't know what you're talking about." I feigned ignorance, hoping I was being mistaken for a local criminal- still not ideal, but better than the alternative.

The oven beeped loudly, making me jump. Ivy, according to her name tag, turned around to remove the sandwich. I remained frozen in place, torn between getting answers from her or fleeing in an attempt to get away from the situation spiraling in front of me.

"Any veggies?" She questioned, ignoring my denial blatantly. 

Unsure what kind of game she was playing, I gave a small nod. "Everything but pickles and olives." 

She got to work, adding to my sandwich without another word. 

I cleared my throat. "What do you mean there's a reward for my return?" I all but snapped, angry she had yet to clarify what she was talking about.

"Patrick. I know who you are, and that you're on the run." She eventually responded. My heart hammered in my chest. 

"How do you know that?" I all but whispered. There was a familiar scent in the air- one that I hadn't picked up on until now.

Her eyes flicked up to meet mine once more. "Because he used to be my packs Beta. When he killed our Alpha, our pack was dismantled and almost all of us became rogues. He still has connections all throughout the country. Our pack was the second largest in the United States, and despite Patrick's lunacy, we all have a dreadful problem that connects us to him." 

She wrapped the sandwich tightly, adding napkins to the bag.

"What problem?" I probed, the scent in the air still lingered, teasing me. It was on the tip of my memory but I was still unable to grasp it.

"We're sick." She responded, her lip curling up in disgust at the word. It hit me like a tonne of bricks. The smell that had triggered my memory. 

"Oh my god..." I whispered, "you all have the same disease as Patrick." 

She nodded mutely. "It's killing us. Thousands of us have already died, but no one can do anything about it. Patrick heard of your mothers healing affinity and began collecting information on your pack. He came up with the crazed delusion that he could take over your home and force you to find a cure."

"How do you know all of this?" I asked breathlessly.

Her eyes dulled at my question, lost in her own sadness. "Because Patrick was my father's Beta."

I gasped as memories began to flood back to me from several years ago. I recalled hushed conversations between my father and his Beta about a hostile takeover hundreds of kilometers from us- about what threat it had on us.

"Then he-" I began, only to be cut off by Ivy.

"Yes, he knows where you're going. And he will be ready for you. There are supporters of him all over the place, looking for you. The reward is high-not in money but with the promise of being one of the first healed from this disease."

"Why are you telling me all of this?" I choked out.

"Because he murdered my family. And I believe that you will find a cure, not because you are being forced to by some crazed lunatic- but because you're a good person. Alphablood runs deeply through your veins, and you would do anything for your people." She paused, rummaging through a bag beneath the counter.

"Time is running out for me. But I know you can save those deserving of it." She handed me a warm jacket and black toque. 

I remained mute, shocked into silence. 

"Cover your hair. Put the hood on and keep your head low. Chances are pretty high you've been spotted already, but maybe you got lucky. I'm glad we met." Ivy gave me a meaningful smile before she doubled over, coughing violently as she gasped for air. 

I jumped forwards, ready to help but she waved me away. "Go! Go to your terminal and stay in the public eye at all times. Trust no one. The disease we carry dilutes the smell of our wolves and makes it difficult to distinguish us from humans." 

I nodded, "I'll be back for you when I can. I promise, Ivy. I'll do everything I can." I clutched the food tightly, fumbling for my wallet. 

Shaking her head, Ivy said, "It's on the house. Maybe you can save my life in exchange for the sandwich," she grinned at my pale face.

I pulled the hood over the toque that now covered my long hair. "Thank you. I won't forget this." 

She gave me a smirk, "I'm counting on that."

With one last look behind me, I hurried out of the subway and towards the gate my departure was at.

I would not let Patrick get away with this.

_____

THANK YOU FOR READING! 

You are so appreciated! Please let me know what you think of the story so far, the characters, the FEELZ. 

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Lots of love,

Kyla