The Lupine Necklace

Chapter 15

Chapter 15

          Layla, we can't just kill him, Ian tried to reason.

          I turned on him.  And why can't we?  It's the only way that he will stop trying to get the necklace.

          I turned away from him and back to the alpha.  He was looking at me with approval clear in his eyes.  He told me that I should've killed him after the first time that he kidnapped me.

          Now that I didn't agree with.  Everyone deserves a second chance, even Derek.  We gave him one when we did minimal harm to his pack and left him alive.  He chose to come kidnap me again and his second chance was shot.

          Layla, we can't kill him, Ian said again.

          We won't kill him, I told him.  The alpha and I will kill him. 

          The alpha noticed the tension between us and asked if everything was okay.  I explained to him Ian's point in the matter and the alpha snorted in amusement.  He told me to go home and get everything settled and when I was ready, come back and we'd make a plan.

          I said goodbye to him and the few pack members that were out here with us, who also agreed with me by the way, and Ian and I ran back to the pack house in silence.

          "Jason!" Ian called as we walked into the house.  "Come talk some sense into your daughter!"

          I shook my head.  This wasn't really that big of a deal.  Jason and Jeremy walked into the kitchen together. 

          "What's going on?" he asked, looking between Ian and I.

          "Layla just asked the wolf pack alpha if he would help her kill Derek," Ian stated, his voice showing just how stupid of an idea he thought it was.

          Jeremy looked a little shocked but Jason was thoughtful.  "That's not a bad idea," Jason stated.  "After what he did, I'm all for killing him and the alpha would be a pretty good ally for the task.  What I don't like is your involvement, Layla."

          "I don't like the idea at all," Jeremy said, siding with Ian.

          I raised an eyebrow at him.  "I didn't expect you to.  He was your friend after all."

          Jeremy shook his head quickly.  "That's not why, Layla," he insisted.  "You can't just kill people because they hurt you."

          I looked him in the eye.  "It's not just me he's threatening.  He's threatening Ian and Xena and Nate and Lee and my entire pack to get what he wants.  Do you have a better idea to make him stop?"

          He looked down and said, "This just isn't what we do."      

          "We are wolves, Jeremy.  This is what wolves do.  The alpha is one hundred percent behind me on this.  In fact, he told me we should have killed him last time."

          Jeremy shook his head.  "We are also half human, Layla.  We aren't entirely wolf."

          I laughed at him.  "I was raised by wolves, I am more wolf than you are.  This is not something I'm going to ask your permission for.  I'm letting you know that this is my plan and the wolf pack won't welcome your help anyway.  The only people welcome on this are Xena, Nate, Lee and Ian because the alpha likes them."

          Now Jason appeared alarmed.  "You plan on doing this without your pack?"

          I nodded calmly.  "I do.  As Jeremy has pointed out, most of the threat is against me and my friends.  I will not endanger the entire pack for this, especially when I know most of them will feel the same as Jeremy does.  I will not ask them to fight for something that they do not absolutely believe in."

          Jason put a hand on my shoulder.  "You cannot do this alone."

          I smiled gently at him.  "I won't be alone.  I'll have the wolf pack.  They were my pack once and I will join them in one last hunt."

          Everyone stared at me in amazement.  Most probably never realized until now, just how much my two years with the wolf pack had affected my outlook on life.  I truly did have more wolf in me than they did.

          "Trust me on this.  I'll plan it out with the alpha, we will go take care of Derek and I will come back.  None of you are required, nor welcome to come."

          Jeremy threw his hands in the air and walked away, muttering about stupid wolves and their stupid ideas.  I watched him go until Jason pulled my attention back to him.

          "I do not approve of you doing this without us," he told me sternly.  "However, I do understand what you're trying to do, and I wish you luck.  Talk to Xena, Nate and Lee, they will probably want to go with you."

          I hugged him hard.  "Thank you, Jason.  I'll talk to them and I'll be careful."

          He kissed my forehead and smiled at me.  "I know you will be.  Go talk to your friends."  He patted my shoulder and headed off in the direction Jeremy had gone.

          As I headed towards the living room, Ian grabbed my hand, gently pulling me around to face him.  "I don't like this, Layla," he said to me, gazing into my eyes. 

          I smiled softly at him.  "I know you don't understand why I'm doing this.  You don't have to understand, Ian.  We were raised differently, but I won't allow Derek to continue this attack.  It's not just about my pack anymore," I added, more quietly. 

          He pulled my chin up with a finger.  "What is it about?" he whispered.

          "I need to make sure that no one will ever get the Lupine Necklace.  The wolf pack out there, it's proof that we can get along with real wolves without the necklace.  And, I will never allow a wolf pack to be controlled.  They have their own morals and rules and those should not be taken from them, ever.  I'm fighting for our pack, but I'm also fighting for all the wolf packs out there."

          "Don't you understand?" Ian asked me.  "It's not your job to protect them all."

          I stared him in the eyes and said slowly, "If I don't, who will?"

          He looked down, pulling his thoughts together, but I knew there wasn't much that he could say to that.  No one else would help.  I was the only one close enough to the wolves to care about them.

          Finally, he looked back up at me.  "You're going to be a great alpha," he admitted.  "And I'm going with you."

          I smiled happily.  "I was hoping you would.  Let's go talk to Xena, Lee and Nate."