The Unwanted Wolf
Chapter 38

“What took you so long?” Theron demanded.

“I’m an old lady. This body doesn’t move like it used to,” Clara sassed back. She sounded more confident than before, and I didn’t understand how she could face Theron like that. Somehow she knew who it was, and even though she was human and had no unordinary powers, she was bravely facing someone she knew was actively trying to kill me.

Theron clicked his tongue. “Where is her room key?”

I hear Clara put something on the counter. “Here. Do me a favor and don’t leave any b***d. I don’t want any police getting involved.”

I hated not seeing what was happening. Was Clara giving Theron a fake key to distract him so I could escape? I wanted to look around the corner to see the actions and body expressions of the two of them, but Clara’s effort would be a waste if Theron saw me now.

“Who are you to tell me what to do? Ow! What the hell?”

“People like you deserve to go to hell.”

“Stupid b***h. You’re going to regret that.”

My curiosity took over, and I peeked my head around the corner just in time to see Theron stab Clara in the neck with a shard of glass. My eyes went wide, and I completely froze. Red started pouring from her neck, and I couldn’t move. I wanted to run to her, but I couldn’t reveal myself now, not after Clara… No, she couldn’t die.

“Damn it, why can’t I shift?” Theron demanded, his face turning red.

“Because I injected you with a power blocker,” Clara weakly said. Her hands were grasping her neck, trying to hold the wound steady.

Theron narrowed his eyes. “I would rip your throat out right now if I didn’t have more important things to handle. Too bad I can’t watch you bleed out.” He turned and stormed out of the lobby, the door swinging shut behind him.

“Now, Adira,” Clara managed to say as she fell to the ground.

My feet finally started moving, but instead of trying to escape, I ran right to Clara. I pressed my hands against her neck, trying to stop the bleeding. It didn’t seem to do anything, and my hands turned red.

“No, no, no. You can’t die,” I cried. I felt like I couldn’t breathe. Why would Clara do this? Why would she sacrifice herself for someone she didn’t even know?

“Go now,” Clara said, her words gurgling as she spit up b***d. “He won’t be able to track you for a little while. I suppressed his powers.”

“I can’t leave you like this. Not after what you did.” Tears were freely flowing from my eyes now.

“Don’t worry. Ned is waiting for me.” Clara’s eyes closed. “Go while you can.”

My hands were shaking. I couldn’t leave…

Heal her, Moon said in my head. You have the power to heal her.

“I, I don’t know how.” I couldn’t think. I had never healed anyone before.

Just try imagining the wound closing.

I took a deep breath and tried to imagine Clara being healthy and the bleeding stopped. I tried to keep my breathing under control, but I was too panicked. I tried to imagine the wound closing, but nothing seemed to be happening.

“Go,” Clara said, barely audible. I was confident without my wolf senses I wouldn’t have been able to hear it.

A moment later, Clara’s body went limp in my arms. There was so much b***d. It was too late. I closed my eyes tightly, angry at Theron. There was no reason Clara had to die. She was so nice and helpful. I let go of Clara’s neck. I didn’t want to leave her like that, but I didn’t have a choice. I had to get somewhere safe. I had to get back to the pack so I could make sure Theron never hurt anyone ever again.

I pulled the key Clara gave me out of my pocket and ran to the parking lot. There was a blue car parked near the front, and I hoped it was the right one. My hands were slick with b***d and shaking too violently, making it difficult to insert the key to the door. I finally got it in and felt a sense of relief when the door unlocked. I started to open the door, but then I felt a pain in my side, and I was on the ground.

I looked up and saw Haley standing over me. Her hair was a mess, and her eyes were bloodshot. She almost looked possessed compared to the version of her I knew from the coffee shop.

“Do you think I’m just going to let you get away and ruin Bae’s plan?” Haley seethed.

I scrambled onto my feet. I felt stronger than the last time I saw her now that I had some rest, food, and proper clothes.

“Just leave me alone,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

Haley smirked. “Not a chance. If I have to kill you myself, so be it. It’ll be a pleasure, and I’m sure Bae would understand, given the circumstances.”

She pulled out a knife, and it looked familiar to me. Lunging forward, she swung the knife at me. Instinctively, I shifted and was suddenly standing behind her. I shoved forward and sent Haley flying to the ground. I didn’t hesitate to jump into the car, not even taking a second look at her. I locked the doors and started the car. I put the car in reverse and slammed on the gas. Haley was slowly getting to her feet. I put the car in drive and sped out of the parking lot as fast as I possibly could.

I just kept driving, not thinking about where I was going. I just knew I had to get out of there. I was still on edge and kept looking in my rearview mirror. I kept expecting Theron to show up in the mirror, but thankfully he never did. I clutched the steering wheel tightly, my hands still covered in Clara’s b***d.

Just a little longer, I kept telling myself. I had to keep it together for just a little longer, at least until I was surrounded by other werewolves. I would be safe at the pack house with Mark there.

The sun started to peak over the horizon, and the light started to flicker between the trees. With the newly found light, I started to recognize the area better. In high school, we had taken a few class trips to the mountains. Asheville was only an hour from here. It wouldn’t be long before I was back to the pack house.

–

I pulled up to the pack house and a sense of relief washed over me. I did it. I escaped and survived and made it back. I swallowed hard, but my throat was dry. I only made it because Clara didn’t. Theron wouldn’t be able to use his magic for a while, although, I didn’t know the exact timeline the drug would have on him. I didn’t even know what hurt sorcerers, but it sounded like they had a substance similar to wolfsbane.

I sit in the car a moment longer, afraid of moving. I desperately wanted to be around everyone again. I wanted to feel safe and warm in Mark’s arms, but I was afraid of who else would get hurt because of me because I walked through those doors. I couldn’t stand the idea of Theron killing anyone else to get to me, but he threatened everyone I cared about already.

He also said he would kill everyone I knew in front of me.

Finally, I stepped out of the car and started walking towards the door. The door to the pack house opened up, and someone I did not recognize stepped out. It looked like a young teenage boy, and when he looked up and saw me, his eyes went wide. He ran back into the house without even shutting the door.

I climbed up the stairs to the porch, and every step reminded me how worn out my body was. I walked through the front door, and seconds later I saw Rie running down the stairs.

“Adira!” She ran right up to me and wrapped her arms around me, squeezing me so tightly I could hardly breathe.

“Oh my god! Adira, you’re back!” This time it was Scythe who approached. His eyes grew wide as he looked at me. “Let go of the girl. She’s covered in b***d. Are you okay? Are you hurt?”

I shook my head. “I’m okay.” It was a lie in more ways than one, but I had something else on my mind.

More people started filing into the room, but none of them were the person I truly wanted to see. I kept waiting for those piercing blue eyes to come running towards me. People kept touching me and saying things, but I was no longer listening to them.

The back door flung open, and I smelled him before I could see him. He pushed through the crowd and pulled me into a tight hug. His nose buried into my neck, and he deeply inhaled.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t here the moment you walked through those doors. I was on patrol,” Jori said.

I was comforted by Jori’s touch, and my body instantly responded, but it wasn’t the arms I wanted to be in. I looked over Jori’s shoulder. Where was Mark?

Jori placed his hands on my shoulders and made me make eye contact with him. “How did you escape? What happened to you?”

“Don’t push her,” Daniel said, pushing through the crowd. “She has clearly been through hell. Let her get cleaned up and checked over by a doctor before you start questioning her.”

I looked over at Daniel, grateful. I still hadn’t said anything else to people, but each time someone asked me what happened, I kept imagining Clara’s body in my arms. There was so much b***d.

Rie reached out and grabbed my hand, pulling me away from Jori. “Come on. Let’s get you cleaned up.”

I stopped and pulled back on her arm. “Where’s Mark?” I was supposed to run right into his arms and hold him tightly. There was a sinking feeling in my stomach. Why wasn’t he here to greet me?

Rie and Scythe passed a glance between them, and I knew something was wrong.

Finally, Scythe said, “Mark’s not here.”