The Lupine Necklace

Chapter 16

I called Li, Xena and Nate down to the living room. They all took a seat together on the couch while I sat in a chair across from them. Ian sighed and sat down on the love seat.

Xena glanced between us and asked, "Alright, what's going on?"

Taking a deep breath, I began my speech. "As you all know, Derek is threatening not only me, but all of you as well. On top of that, his want for the necklace puts all wolf packs in danger as well. Ian and I just returned from a visit with the wolf pack alpha.

"I want first, for you all to know, that this is completely voluntary and if you're against it, even a little, you don't need to help me. I understand." I waited, watching for their reactions to my initial statement.

They all smiled encouragingly. "You know we're all behind you one hundred percent," Nate assured me. "No matter what." Li and Xena nodded in agreement.

I sighed, feeling a little relieved, but they could still change their minds. "The alpha and I are going to kill Derek." Their eyes widened slightly, but they didn't interrupt me. "The pack is not coming, nor are they welcome to come," I added.

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Li asked me, now sounding a little nervous.

I nodded confidently. "I'm positive. I will not ask them to fight with me on this. The only reason I came to you is because the alpha is willing to let you help and I wanted to give you the option."

I let this sink in for a bit. They were all thinking intently, most likely going over worst and best case scenarios. Finally, Xena looked up from the floor. "I will be by your side in this fight, Layla."

I sighed and closed my eyes for a moment. I was so relieved that one of them was going. I was fine going with just the wolves, but I still wanted my group with me.

Nate and Li both nodded as well. "We will come with you, too," Li told me. "But I just want it stated that I don't like this idea."

I nodded in understanding, but Nate looked at him as if he were insane. "What are you talking about, man?" he exclaimed. "Derek has kidnapped and injured your best friend. He whipped her for gods sake! And you don't want to kill him?"

Li growled in exasperation and ran his hands through his hair. "Of course I want to kill him for all of that, Nate! But that's not something we do! We are half human for a reason!"

"We are also half wolf," Xena butted in. "For a reason. Our wolves are right on this, as are the the wolf pack and Layla. He deserves to die. He's had a second chance and god only knows how badly he'd screw up a third. It's time to put him down like the animal he is."

We all stared at Xena, wide eyed in shock. Shaking my head a little, I said, "Wow, Xena. I think you could've changed my mind if I were against this. That was well said."

Nate slapped Xena on the back and smiled with approval. Li and Ian still didn't look convinced.

"Okay, look," I said, looking between Ian and Li. "I know you guys don't like this idea and I love you, you know I do, but I can't take you with me on this."

They both stared at me in outrage. "What the hell are you talking about?" Li asked me.

"I'm not going to take you guys with me if you don't believe in what I am doing." I focused on Ian. "I know what I said to you a few minutes ago, but I can't take you." I changed back to the both of them. "I can't be distracted by you guys when I'm fighting Derek. You guys would try to talk me out of it and that could get me or the wolves injured."

"Okay, that's not going to happen, Layla!" Ian exclaimed. "We may not agree with what you're doing, but we want to be there to watch your back. We aren't going to try and distract you from what you're doing."