Chapter 50

Akirexer stepped back with her eyes wide. Britney kept her hands apart and wore the warmest of smiles. She softly nodded her head at Akirexer who shook her head right back in denial

"I cannot believe this." Akirexer mouthed.

"Believe it, Whitney." Britney took a step closer.

"No, I saw you. You nearly killed me." Akirexer took another step back.

"I know it is hard to believe but it really is me. I am your Britney." Britney stepped closer.

"Stay back!" Akirexer raised her voice at Britney and she halted. "Do you think that I am an idiot?" she growled and her fangs appeared.

Alex, still in his werewolf form, shielded Britney. He looked like a gigantic wolf beside Britney. His furry tail hid her nakedness from the waist down. The other werewolves growled and zeroed in on Akirexer and Maradina, ready to pounce at any given chance to attack.

Britney set her palm on her chest and longingly looked at Akirexer who just wasn't having it. She opened her mouth to say something but Alex beat her to the chase.

"Please calm down. What she tells you is the truth Whitney." he said, calm but alert. Alex firmly rooted his paws to the ground and held his tail up. "We can explain everything should you give us the chance."

"I don't know how much more of this I can take." Akirexer muttered to herself.

"Can I attack now?" Maradina asked Akirexer with her arrow aimed at a daring werewolf growling at her.

"As long as you aim for my forehead." Akirexer answered her.

"No, please!" Britney refuted. "What do you want me to do in order to prove to you that I am who I say I am?"

Akirexer paused in thought with her eyes fixed on Britney. Alex and Britney were anxiously waiting for her answer. They observed Akirexer's hardened face relaxed and braced themselves for anything.

"What did I get you with my first salary from the Firm?" Akirexer asked Britney.

Britney smiled warmly at her. She gave Alex an assuring nod that everything was going to be okay. Alex growled at the pack and they pulled back. Maradina maintained her hold on her bow - clearly not trusting the werewolves.

"You got me a golden bracelet with a navy blue oval shaped ruby." Britney quickly answered and crossed her arms. "I then proceeded to wear it everyday."

Akirexer shook her head unconvinced. "What were my last words to you?" She asked again.

Britney's eyebrows dropped in thought. Her face then brightened and she snapped her fingers. "You asked me if I wanted you to drop me off at school but I declined because I didn't want to get into a car with you. With the state you were in that day, who wouldn't have believed that you crushed your car?" Britney chuckled.

"Bri- it really is you." Akirexer whispered.

"Yes Whitney, it's me."

The two sisters ran to each other and hugged tightly. Tears of joy trickled down their cheeks as they embraced each other. Alex turned back into his human form but the others maintained their wolf forms. Maradina deactivated her weapon and stared at the sisters.

"I can't believe that it is really you." Akirexer put her hand on Britney's belly. "Look at you, you are pregnant. Who is the father?"

"That would be me." Alex approached the sisters and covered Britney in his hood. He stretched out his hand to Akirexer in greeting. "I am your brother in law."

Akirexer glanced at Alex's hand and placed her hands on her hips. "You two are married?"

"Yes we are Whitney." Britney held Alex's hand affectionately with a proud look on her face.

Akirexer held her forehead in disgust. "How could you be married and pregnant? You are only 18!"

Britney stretched her lips and held her waist. "I knew you would have something negative to say."

"Of course I would." Akirexer pulled Britney's ear. "I left more than enough money in the bank that was going to send you to a good college."

Britney winced at the pain. "Ouch, let go of my ear, Whitney. Please, I can explain."

Akirexer let go of Britney. She watched her rub her ear. Britney retreated and hid behind Alex. She peeped at Akirexer over his shoulder

"Why don't you come with us to our village and we will explain everything to you?" Britney suggested from behind Alex.

Akirexer turned to Maradina. "Would you mind tagging along?"

"Not at all. I will come with you." Maradina answered.

"Lead the way." Akirexer told Alex and Britney.

Britney dropped to her fours. A gash of wind appeared and consumed her. Through it, they saw her purple glowing eyes. When the wind finally lifted, the glorious but terrifying view of Britney's werewolf was revealed.

She and the rest of the werewolves led Akirexer and Maradina through the woods. They all raced on into the night. Akirexer and Maradina leaped through the trees whereas the werewolves crushed rocks and dirt below.

This was all until they came to giant Oak tree. Alex placed his paw on it and it opened to a blinding light. Akirexer and Maradina landed down and watched Alex go in first. Britney was next and soon all the other werewolves got in one by one.

Maradina locked eyes with Akirexer and made it obvious that she was skeptical. "I'm not sure going into a strange gateway with a pack of werewolves is okay." She voiced out.

"I understand your skepticism but I feel this is something I have to do." Akirexer replied and flashed a faint smile at Maradina. "You don't have to come if you don't want to."

Maradina quickly shook her head, "No, I will accompany you."

"Alright, let's get to it then."

Akirexer was first to step into the light before Maradina followed her in. As soon as Maradina was in, the gateway closed with the tree sealing it. An owl flew past it.

Surprisingly, it was peach black inside the tree. The blinding light was gone and all that was left was darkness and silence. Maradina activated her eyes and was able to see in the dark. She gasped when she realized that she was all alone in the dark passage. She looked further ahead and saw another light. Maradina hurried her steps with the assumption that everyone else was beyond the light.

Maradina walked through the light and was completely amazed by what she saw. Before her was a beautiful underground town. It looked like an ordinary town but it was filled with werewolves going on with their business. While most were in their werewolf form, some were in human form. Maradina saw some going into a bar while others sat on park benches chatting.

Maradina turned her attention to Akirexer who was engrossed in a conversation with Britney. Maradina shifted her eyes to the twelve werewolves that were with them. Each turned back into their human form. All of them were female.

"Whatever you intend on doing, do it quick before the others find out." One of them softly warned Alex and Britney.

"Thank you." Alex replied and they left.

"Whitney, get on my back." Britney said to Akirexer and she got on without a second thought.

"Maradina, you hop on mine." Alex told Maradina and she hesitantly got on.

The two werewolves dashed into the streets. They ran in and out of alleys until they arrived at a neighborhood. Without wasting any time, they jumped over a fence.

Akirexer admired the beautiful white cottage. One didn't have to go inside in order to know that it was warm and cozy due to its inviting aura. As soon as Akirexer and Maradina got off, Alex and Britney returned to their human forms.

"Welcome to our home." Alex said. "Please, let us go in." He gestured to the door.

"Hold on just a minute." Akirexer said and everyone looked at her stunned. "I promised Steve and Rose that I would tell them what is going on. I need them to be here as you explain how you ended up here." Akirexer said to Britney.

"I don't think that's a good idea." Alex declined. "This place has been a secret for over a thousand years. No outsiders are allowed to be here especially humans. We had to sneak you two here. If the other werewolves find out that we are hosting two darkas gods, we will be kicked out."

"You can trust Steve and Rose. They know how to keep a secret." Akirexer insisted but Alex wasn't convinced.

"I still object to this." He stood his ground.

"Alex, she is right." Britney spoke up.

"Britney we can't." Alex held her hand and gave it a squeeze.

"I trust Whitney's judgement. Have faith in her, please." Britney tired to reason with Alex but he was unshaken by her words.

Sensing defeat, Akirexer said, "Okay I have another idea. Why don't I take you all to Rose's house?"

"No, I can't allow that either. She's safe here." Alex folded his arms.

"Look, you can stay out here shooting all my ideas if you want. I on the other hand don't have time to watch you do it." Akirexer opened a portal. "I'll be back with Rose and Steve." She said and left.

"Did she just ignore my concerns?" Alex breathed out through his nostrils annoyed.

"Calm down, it is well. I trust her." Britney got on her tippy toes and kissed Alex's cheek. She turned her attention to Maradina. "Come in with us Maradina. We will wait for everyone there."