60
“I’ll be fine, just stay close. If I need you, I’ll link. I still have abilities, you know.” And I know that metal is no match for a piercing wolves’ claws should they need to physically rip through the cars sitting yonder. Meadow would plough through a vehicle to get to me if I needed her, in the blink of an eye. We are strong and vicious, and Meadow is one of our worst. I have to nothing to fear, even if my own powers may be weakening as we speak. I still have enough to hold my own and get myself out of anything that might happen over there.
Meadow tenses and Carmen glares at Leyanne from her seat as she too settles herself in and locks her eyes on the two of us. She may not be someone who ever liked me but I’m a wolf, from her pack, her Luna, and our protective instinct for one another against another species is built in, whether we want it or not. She is giving me some serious vibes that Meds wouldn’t be the only one tearing open a metal box to free me.
“Relax puppies, I’m only taking her for a short walk. She’ll be back before you even miss her. Go chew on something.” Leyanne tugs my arm with a rather bossy pull and gestures towards the vehicles ahead, but as soon as we start moving towards them, they fire up their engines and head our way. As though they have been observing and waiting for the signal of us moving their way. My heart begins to hammer like a drum, my gut telling me I should be on alert and my body becomes instantly clammy.
They’re American luxury cars, but filthy, as though they have been driving through terrain like this for hours on end and not accustomed to it at all. As they approach at speed, they stop right in front of us, kicking up dust, mere feet from our truck so that Meadow doesn’t have to go anywhere at all. Close enough to see what’s happening right where we are and it settles some of my nerves, giving me a sense of protection that she won’t be far, neither of them will.
The first car door is opened by a driver jumping out quickly, dressed completely in dark clothes with gloves and a hood pulled firmly over his head so you get zero sense of what he looks like at all. I freeze in paled faced horror as his scent wafts this way at my approach and I almost choke on the sheer strength of its familiarity.
“What the fuck?” I gasp in shock and recoil against Leyanne’s hold as it computes through my head why I know that smell so well and what exactly he is. My inner alarm bells going off and I start to pull away, fear enveloping me and knowing we were right to doubt this witch.
“I said you wouldn’t like it, but you came to me for help, and that’s what I’m doing. So get in the car and don’t make a scene. I’m not in the mood for forcing pregnant wolves to heel.” She commands in a biting hiss, but I throw a hesitant look back at Meadow, crying visually for her, and she catches my fear and despair, her eyes glowing instantly as she rips herself out of the driver seat in an instant. Doors kicked open as both make way to save me.
“No. Don’t interfere!” Leyanne snaps, turns almost as quickly and with a raised hand slamming an invisible power their way, she seems to hold Meadow and then Carmen absolutely still and powerless with very little effort. They struggle facially but it’s like their bodies are bound and tied, lifted a foot from the ground, and all they can do is shake and growl as eyes turn amber and teeth elongate. She even seems to inhibit their ability to turn at all and the snarls turn to whimpers as she gives them a warning squeeze.
A gift so like mine, only I can feel it coming from her in powerful waves, crackling the air and turning the sky dark over my head. It tells me she has ten times what I inherited in terms of power, and she’s terrifyingly capable at using it. She’s barely trying, and both my femmes are held still before she tucks them back in the truck, pushes them to sit where they were and slams the doors. With only a slight move of graceful fingers and a deadlock glare aimed their way, she seals them tight with magic, so that Meadow and Carmen start to fight to try and get out, pulling out claws to cut their way out but it’s futile. She has each in some sort of bubble that makes it impossible for them to do anything much at all. Their claws can’t get through it, the invisible shield, and they’re trapped where they are.
I glare back at her, my heart hitching, my own eyes turning red as fury rushes through my body as she drops her hand and leaves them that way, I pull myself upright. Rounding at her and not concealing my anger and mistrust when she’s brought me to the feet of the enemy and bound my protection.
“You said I should never trust anyone, even you. Was that a forewarning that you were going to stab me in the back as soon as you felt like it?” I point out and back away slowly, cautious and on full alert, claws growing despite my brain telling me to not turn, as she straightens her cloak and reaches for me, but she only smiles and shrugs.
“And you shouldn’t, but darling, as I already pointed out, if I wanted to harm you, I would have done it already. I’m not the type to let vampires do my dirty work when it can be so much fun to do it yourself. He’s not a threat… none of them are, and you need to get in that car and learn something new today. If you want my help with your mate and your little fog problem, I need yours. This is why I was here …. survival of all species sometime means wars shouldn’t continue. I had a task, it’s in that car waiting for my answer… and you’re it. So, if you please?” She gestures towards them, but I step another foot back away from her, bristling and poised in pounce mode.
“What are you talking about? So many fucking riddles with you! You’re trying to end the vampire war, or is that another lie?” I glare at her, stiff and ready to fight but my stupid fuzzy head is still asking her for answers I shouldn’t trust. Leyanne seems completely relaxed, maybe a tad irritated but she patiently stands, then shrugs.
“Not directly and when did I lie, ma wee pet? I try to never pick a side or get involved, but sometimes I need to. One species is as important as another and if the balance is destroyed it affects all of us. It’s been decades of unrest and frankly, I’m tired of it. I’ve not got time to stand here and deal with a tantrum so move or I’ll carry you too.” She reaches out, catches my arm, yanking me towards her and shoves me a little more aggressively in the direction she wants. I stumble forward towards the open door, distracted by her aggressive behavior and the seemingly patient driver who motionlessly stares at the ground as he comes back into view. I bristle as I approach, my inner wolf aching to be freed when surrounded by the stench of his kind, my senses telling me to turn and run, but I hold it in. Thinking of my babies, knowing she will do to me what she did to my femmes and cursing that now of all times I would put myself in this situation without the ability to turn or hold my own against her.
If they hurt me, I can’t heal, and I don’t know if I truly believe this witch. She told us to not trust anyone and now I wish I listened to her own damn words!
