Their ears suddenly perked up, and they abruptly retreated. They all dived into the river vanishing from sight. I stood there panting heavily. Blood was dripping from all over me. It leaked into my saliva and covered my tongue. Some was theirs, and some was mine. I heard the sound of heavy paws crashing in my direction. I turned prepared for another wave of attacks. I bared my bloody fangs and let out a low growl.
Three familiar wolves came through the trees and looked in complete shock seeing me. Was it the shock of seeing me alive? When Denny’s gray wolf stepped toward me, I growled a warning at him. I didn’t know their intentions. I didn’t know anyone’s intentions. And for the first time tonight, I wasn’t just an outcast but an enemy. I really thought I was about to be killed. This was now hitting me hard.
Joey shifted back into his human self and walked toward me. He was trying to show me everything was alright. Denny and Jude also shifted to humans. We were considered modern werewolves now and no longer had to worry about losing our clothes when we shifted. Some sort of pill had been developed to make this possible over the years. We only had to take it once, and the magic stayed with us. Though it was rumored to be made of troll toenail clippings. I’m sure that was just a made-up story, though. In either case, this was nice because there were no weird nudity situations anymore.
Joey came all the way up to me, showing me that he trusted me. At least to him, it didn’t seem like I was dangerous. But I didn’t know anymore. I felt like I didn’t know anything. I shifted back to my human form as well. Sheena was healing me as fast as possible, but blood still soaked my human body. I just had six wolves on me trying to kill me. I was lucky to be alive.
“Dear gods… Clover.” Joey reached his hand out, placing it on my shoulder.
“Who did this to you?” Denny asked as he walked up to me.
I see Jude failed to mention the person who sent me out here. My eyes darted towards him, and I could see him desperately pleading, not to mention her name. Here I am shredded to pieces, and he wants to protect the one who set me up. I couldn’t take it anymore. So much had happened to me today. I found my fated mate and lost him all at once. I lost my future family. I was set up and almost killed by my pack members. I rarely cried. But I don’t care how strong you are, in this situation you would cry too.
I didn’t know who I could trust. I just needed someone right now. So, I stepped into Joey’s chest, buried my head, and began to sob. I felt his arms come around me delicately as he tried not to touch my wounds. I could feel Denny staring at me, but I didn’t care. After what I heard him say to Andrea… I didn’t know what to think of him anymore.
I know they were shocked to see me crying like this. I was always the tough one, not the crier. But I was broken. I promised myself I would never break and that I would never show them they got to me, but they tried to kill me tonight. I never thought… as much as they disliked me, I never thought it was to this level. So much pain was radiating through me. Externally and internally. It was too much, and it was now overflowing through my tears. I guess I had a lot of built-up pain because I couldn’t stop crying.
Everything hurt too much.
I was now curled up on my bed in a room full of people. Alpha Scott had come and carried me back to the packhouse. I still couldn’t stop crying. What had happened to me was horrible and I was still in shock. It was too much for one day. Each thing was too much for one day, let alone combining it all.
Alpha Scott stood in my room talking with Denny. They were trying to figure out who had attacked me. Jude leaned against the wall quietly; he probably knew enough just from knowing Taylor was involved. Of course, he said nothing. I wasn’t the one he wanted to protect. But he also didn’t want me dead because he was the one who alerted the others.
Meanwhile, Joey was sitting right next to my bed. The pack doctor had just finished looking me over to make sure I was healing correctly. And luckily because I wasn’t getting the cold shoulder from Sheena now, I was healing just fine. There is a big difference between a cut on the hand and life-threatening wounds. Sheena wouldn’t withhold her healing at a time like this.
“Clover.” Joey reached out and grabbed onto my hand squeezing it lightly. “Talk to me. Who did this?”
My eyes only watered in response, but I didn’t utter a word. I did however squeeze his hand tight. I just needed someone right now. And the three of them did come to my aid, right? I’m not saying I trust them all completely, but I was alone here, and they were all I had. Members of the Sulfur pack tried to kill me. And now I was battling a harsh reality.
No matter what… I couldn’t stay here. How could I live in a pack where they tried to kill me? I couldn’t. If a wolf left their pack, they either became a rogue, a Seeker or joined another pack. What pack would take me in? I closed my eyes as a wave of exhaustion blanketed my body. I didn’t want to become a Seeker. I knew how they were viewed. I had one chance and that was seeing if there was a pack that would take me in. The meeting that was coming up would have leaders from all the packs around. I would have to go and assess them; see if I felt any were willing to take in a new pack member. And if I failed to find another pack…well I guess life wouldn’t be much different for me as a rogue. I was already unwanted and didn’t belong. Of course, with my luck I would be the reject of the rogue’s who couldn’t even join the Seekers. With that last wry thought, I drifted off to sleep.
I was shocked when I woke up in the morning and noticed Joey was still there holding my hand. He was sound asleep in a chair next to the bed with his head lying beside mine. It couldn’t be comfortable. I blinked my eyes as they adjusted to the light and turned my head slightly to look around. On the other side of my bed, Denny was sitting there leaning back against my headboard. He was also sleeping in an uncomfortable position. I didn’t want to hope but it did look like they actually cared. Was it silly of me to think that though? Maybe I was just so desperate that I was willing to believe it. It’s just… they didn’t have to come for me if they thought I was under attack. If they wanted me dead all they had to do was ignore me. And then their eyes… they looked genuinely worried for me.
I moved slightly and with that slight movement, they both jolted upright. I could feel their eyes on me and I knew they wanted answers. I couldn’t give a lot of details; I could still see Jude’s pleading eyes in my head. As much as I wanted to out Taylor and her involvement, I also knew Jude wanted to try and deal with it first.
Okay, so for one this felt a bit weird. It was like we just woke up from a drunk threesome and no one knew how to act. Meanwhile, I was sandwiched between them. I decided I needed to at least sit up and test out my body. It should be completely healed now. I pushed off on my elbows and both men reached out to guide me into a sitting position.
“I’m healed now,” I said quietly while their hands both retreated.
“Clover, what happened?” Denny asked the question I knew they were dying to hear.
I nodded my head and turn to look at his green eyes. “I have a question first.” I pinned my blue eyes against him as I remembered what he said to Andrea. I watched him nod his head for me to continue and I took in a deep breath. “Was I made the delta… so you could watch me?” I glanced from Joey to Denny, and saw the obvious shock in their eyes. And not the shock of hearing something absurd but the shock you have when someone found out something they shouldn’t have.
“Why do you ask that?” Joey asked but I ignored him and fixated my gaze on Denny. I wasn’t in the mood for a dance. I wanted answers.
“At first… yes. It isn’t that you weren’t strong enough because you are. But the reason I took you was to see who you were on my own. And I have… we all have.” Denny nodded towards Joey as well as he said this. “You are no longer someone we watch. You are someone we trust.”
“Why? Am I someone who is so dangerous who must be watched?” I watched the cocky smirk on his face as he let out a chuckle.
“I answered one of your questions now it is my turn. Who attacked you?”
Okay if he wanted to answer questions vaguely, I could do this too.
“Six of our own pack members.”
“WHO?!” He roared.
“Tsk. Tsk. That is two questions.” I clicked my tongue and gave him my own arrogant smile.
“Well, I see you are feeling much better today.” Joey chuckled and gave me a warm smile. “But I should get to ask questions too, right?”
“If that is the case then should I get to ask two questions?” I challenged back.
“Look… we don’t know. Dad told me after watching the officer trials to pick you. He said he wanted you close so that we could watch you. I asked him why and he said he wanted to know your character. And that you were damn good so why the hell not. There is a tad bit more that I know…”
“Is it why the pack hates me?” I interrupted and he frowned as he shook his head..
“The pack doesn’t like you because it was your pack who killed my mother during the dark war… I don’t get it; you didn’t kill my mother. You were no more involved in the war than I was. And yet that burden gets put on your shoulders. It isn’t right. It is wrong. And I don’t plan to tolerate it. You aren’t just an officer to me. You are my family. There is also stuff about who you are… but it is your turn.”
Wow… so I wasn’t just some infant found in a basket. There was more to my story. And I was being judged for something I had no control over. In their eyes, I was still the enemy that took away their luna. Something they didn’t get over because they just tried to kill me over it.
“I won’t tell you who exactly. Do I know who? Yes, but they might have been the ones who made the attempt but they’re not the only ones involved. And if push comes to shove, I am quite certain most of the pack would have agreed with them trying to kill me. They masked their scent but knew I would recognize them. To attack me like that… and also from the wounds I suffered from…” I shrugged. “They were trying to kill me. My own pack members… well I guess not. I guess I was never a member of their pack in their eyes.”
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