The Alpha's Siren Song

Chapter 19

No one followed me when I climbed into my CRV. Easton didn't beg and plead with me to get me to stay. He just smiled at me from his porch, looking a little uneasy, but otherwise sated. When I put the old SUV into reverse, he just smiled a little and raised his hand in a half wave.

I watched my rearview mirror and surroundings for werewolves who stayed close, but used trees for cover. Easton might have seemed passive enough to let me go, but maybe it was all just a ploy. Still, I couldn't see anyone or anything trailing after my car. Not that it mattered. Easton said he knew where I had been living for the past while. If he wanted to keep tabs on me, he would have already done so. It unnerved me and comforted me all at once. 

I tried to think of everything that Easton had said why I bumped along the narrow trail back to the cabin. I convinced myself to look at the situation as a fact finding mission instead of me just being weak and giving in to the night princess or whatever. But the only thing that replayed in my mind was the way he whispered to his friends, putting his insecurities out there.

To be honest, I hadn't even noticed any of the things he had talked about. They were all things that normal people experienced. Everyone had acne at one point or another and everyone came across someone who was fitter or taller than them. It was a part of life. I only wished that I could have told him that I didn't see any of that when I looked at him. All I saw was a perfect mouth that always grinned so wide, green eyes that reminded me of the vibrant, lively mountain lakes, and a body that was the perfect mix of strength and softness. 

I knew that I had been built to be the ideal. I was all silky hair and doe-eyes, but I wasn't normal. I had once been designed to tempt sailors and ships. Now I only tempted creeps who couldn't stop staring at me and men who thought it was shameful for women to have a sex life, as if sleeping with me decreased my value and increased theirs.

In the back of my mind, there was old red flags from my past when I actually dated around. I never wanted a man with baggage. And he was quite worried about his. He had said that things in his life had become tangled and jumbled. Was that the period that caused all the emotional damage?

With a disgruntled groaned, I misguided the CRV into a puddle that ended up being much larger than I thought. I turned on the wiper blades to clear the windshield and tried to restart my brain. My only concern should have been whether he was safe or not for me to be around. 

He was still one of them. But there were so many of them. It seemed very feasible that he had no idea who or what I was. And it was also feasible that he had never crossed paths with Nero. And if he was being honest, it wouldn't matter if I ran away from him, I would stumble onto another werewolf pack. 

I decided that I had enough to think about and many things to mull over in my mind. I would sleep on it and make my choice in the morning. Besides, it seemed that he was right. Every time I ran, he showed up. Or rather, I stumbled back onto him. It was just a waste of gas money and worry now.

I returned to my cabin in no time and was pleased so see that the place had been untouched. Even the fun was still lying on the ground, waiting for me. I spent the first hour back at the cabin remaking the bed, putting away the gun, and making sure everything else remained functioning. 

I then put my restless energy into chopping more wood. I worked until I was sweating then decided that it was time for supper. Once I was inside and saw my three canned options, I wished that I had asked Easton for a to-go container of his food.

Instead of stomaching more processed food I decided that I could sleep through the mild hunger and weigh my options in the morning. I just needed some time to clear my head. But as my eyes drifted shut, a peaceful sleep was the last thing I would get.

"Sing for me, little bird," Nero hissed in my face.

"Please, no!" I cried, feeling the blade slice down the inside of my palm. The skin felt hot and cool all at once as blood seeped out of the skin. 

"Mmm, your mother was so much braver than you, little bird. She never begged for anything, not even in death. She died with her secret, like so many of your beloved sisters," he taunted, his voice close and his breath acidic on my face.

I wanted to be strong. God I wanted so badly to be strong. But at the mention of my mother, I fell apart. I hadn't said goodbye. I hadn't gotten the chance to say goodbye. She was gone. He had killed her. And I had just watched, curled up and sobbing. I hadn't even tried to save her.

"That's where the power is, isn't it? you keep the power in your voice. You could probably heal yourself right now, if you wanted to," Nero snarled, swiping the blade down the length of my wrist. The blood was so dark it seemed black.

"I don't have any powers! I can't heal myself!" I screamed. 

But I could yell all I wanted. It would never make any difference. He never listened. So many had begged and pleaded. Some had even tried bribery and tradeoffs. But all he wanted was the power stored within us, power that we could not willingly hand over. 

"You lie, little bird. And because of your untruths, someone will pay," Nero warned. "You are too strong, I can't kill you and you know that. But I can do the next best thing."

"No!" I shrieked, already lunging towards the girl he was grabbing. But I had lost too much blood. My head spun. My feet wobbled. I felt like I was a leaf, swaying in the wind, but I slammed down onto my stomach with all the force of a dozen kettlebells. 

My ears were filled with shrill screams as I bled out on the ground.

~~~Distraction Section~~~

We are on update five out of seven. how are we feeling? Are we loving anyone? Are we hating anyone?

Question of the Day: What do you like to do on rainy days?