Chapter 6 : Maya's Dark Secret

Karenina

In the dense forest, Karen held back tears as she clung to Maya's shoulder as the she-wolf raced through the trees with Karen on Maya's back. Every now and then, however, a small hiss escaped Karen's lips. The sound was so subtle that no creature would be able to hear it, but Maya was a full-grown she-wolf with a high level of sensitivity, and she was able to detect these small, infrequent sounds.

Maya had just informed Karen through their mind-link that she could hear the sounds of a fight going on not far to their right, but she decided to keep her distance so as not to get involved in another confrontation while Karen rested her tired body. However, all of Maya's good intentions seemed to be in vain as a few minutes later they realized that an aura was following them.

Maya increased her speed and tried to break away from the enemy, but her movements were too violent, reopening Karen's wounds so that blood filled the air like a signal, leaving a trail that was easy to follow. They were forced to stop and prepare for another fight.

Maya placed Karen beside a tree and turned to face the young girl.

"Karen, stay hidden here while I confront and eliminate this threat," Maya said.

Stepping away from the tree to stand on her own, Karen replied, "No, it wouldn't feel right to let you fight alone. We face this together."

A soft smile touched the beautiful she-wolf's lips as she looked at Karen.

"That won't be necessary," Maya told her.

"I can help," Karen persisted.

Maya's smile faded, but she didn't look angry as she grabbed Karen's shoulder. Before Karen realized what was happening, Maya grabbed the injured shoulder, making her scream softly and push back against the tree, barely able to contain herself.

Maya's hand was exposed to Karen's blood as she brought it to her lips to lick it clean without breaking her gaze on Karen. "Your wounds are open again. You'll just get in the way."

Karen knew she was probably right, but she persisted. "Auras are powerful. You may still need my help."

Smiling again, Maya said, "I can handle it." But when Karen opened her mouth to reply, Maya raised her finger and pressed it against Karen's lips. "Let me protect you," Maya whispered softly.

Karen did not notice the change in Maya's voice, too worried about the danger that threatened her new partner. Nodding her head, Karen watched as Maya lowered her hand, and with one last look, Maya took off at high speed to deal with the threat. Karen sat down to rest, trying to concentrate on Maya's aura and their enemy, who had come closer as they argued. In fact, she could hear the faint sounds of battle, which only increased her concern for Maya.

She felt so useless and ungrateful for not being able to help her who had done so much for her. She did not understand why Maya wanted to help her at all. If all this blood and death happened because Xavier was looking for a mate, why would Maya help Karen, who must have seen Karen as a competitor to be present in that place, even though she was only a half-wolf, a female hybrid wolf who was even younger than she was? But from the beginning, before Maya even knew that Karen had no intention of fighting to become Luna of the Westwood, the woman had shown no violence towards her.

Why was that? Maya never even mentioned Xavier's name, except to answer Karen's questions and help her find him to remind her.

Karen was so confused! She had just decided to wait to ask Maya about it when Karen heard a female scream, though faint to her human ears. Karen wasn't sure who was screaming as the auras of Maya and her opponent were more vague than ever.

Standing up heavily, Karen turned and ran as fast as she could through the forest to reach Maya, worried that her best friend was in danger. She would not let Maya die, not while she still had breath in her little body. Maya had gone off on her own to protect her; Karen could do no less to return the favor if necessary.

She knew she had almost reached them by the sound of their approach. She had just circled the tree to see Maya and was moving toward her when she froze, her eyes wide open and her mouth slightly agape as she took in the scene before her.

****

Maya hurried away from the little hybrid girl to face the other she-wolf who dared to challenge her.

"So," the woman said firmly in front of Maya, "you abandoned that hybrid girl, weak female wolf."

Black hair tied with a red ribbon fluttered in the wind that pulsed with their merged auras. Maya's opponent wore a beautiful red dress, decorated with pink flowers on top of her red outfit, which had purple fabric that looked like petals above and below. Her dress was loose around her legs so as not to hinder her movement.

Maya did not respond to her opponent's statement with words, instead she said, "I am Maya. I think you should know the name of the last person you will meet."

"Elena, remember that when you take your last breath," her opponent replied, pulling her sword from its sheath and assuming a fighting stance.

"You seem to have lost your weapon," Elena continued. "After I kill you, I'll quickly finish off your little girl. It is truly pathetic for a mature, high-ranking wolf to associate with a young, even immature, power-level hybrid."

Maya raised both hands, her palms facing Elena as her claws grew a foot long, not as long as Elena's sword, but no less deadly.

"As you said, she is mine. You will not touch her." Maya leapt to attack, her claws aimed at her opponent with deadly purpose.

With a swift movement, Elena grabbed the hilt of her sword with her right hand, pulling it from its scabbard with a sure motion and deflecting Maya's attack with a steady swing. Undaunted, Maya whirled around and lashed out with the claw of her other hand, only to be met again by Elena's sword, the collision rumbling around them.

Elena was sure she would win. She had to win. Only she could be Alpha Xavier's mate, only she was truly worthy. With this thought in her mind, she slashed and swung her sword with ease, constantly putting Maya on the defensive.

Her skills with the sword clearly gave Elena an advantage that Maya was unable to reach and hurt, no matter what angle she was coming from or how fierce Maya's attacks were. Elena could only slice her repeatedly with superficial wounds, while Maya managed to avoid more serious injuries. But how long would it be before a more serious blow came before Maya could get past Elena's defenses?

Rising to try and turn the fight to her advantage, Maya's aura smoldered as power radiated from her as she gathered energy in her clasped hands. Sending a blast of energy toward her opponent, Maya continued to attack even as Elena jumped and dodged her attacks, hitting the ground and surrounding foliage, raining dust and debris down on both of them.

As Elena jumped back to dodge another energy ball, she felt a foot hit her in the stomach before she could complete the move. The force of the blow sent her flying as her breath was painfully knocked out of her. She took a hard blow to the face before she could raise her sword in defense.

Quickly regaining her balance, Elena considered retaliating with flaming fire. She swung her sword in an arc in front of her, and a wall of red flame, hotter than anything else, rushed toward Maya. But Maya sensed the rise in her opponent's aura and jumped out of the way in time, landing on Elena's sword as she raised it in defense, thinking it was Maya's claws she was trying to dodge.

Instead, Maya sunk her half-foot claws into her opponent's chest, ruining the beauty of the beautiful red dress as it mixed with the other red colors spilling over the fabric. She could feel her claws tearing through tissue and flesh before ripping away bone.

Wincing in pain, Elena did not panic or try to escape Maya's deadly claws that had sunk into her flesh, instead she raised a hand to grab Maya's wrist and stop Maya's movements. Maya tried to back away as she felt the sword move beneath her, but she was trapped.

Raising her other hand to open Elena's throat and end their fight before she felt another sword thrust, Maya never touched her opponent as Elena slid toward her. Her feet lost their footing when the sword was no longer under her, and she fell backwards as sharp teeth pierced her vulnerable neck.

Before they hit the ground, Maya knew she had only a moment before her throat was ripped out and she bled to death, so she wrapped her free arm around Elena and used the new power her dark master had given her.

Elena's growls stopped as she felt her body clinging to wherever Maya's body touched before she felt herself begin to merge with the female wolf beneath her, including her mouth wrapped around Maya's neck. She could do nothing but feel terror and horror as her strength was drained from her as her body slowly sank into Maya.

Maya smiled as the pain from the sharp teeth faded as Elena was slowly absorbed and their powers merged, knowing that her opponent's consciousness would die, leaving Maya as the stronger being after the merger.

Then she rose to a sitting position as Elena was fully absorbed, almost standing when she felt she was not alone. She turned her head as she rose to her feet, ready for a fight now that her wounds from the merge had healed. She froze when she saw Karen looking at her with fear and disgust.

Maya was hurt by Karen's expression. She did not understand. She approached the pale girl who looked shocked, unable to move.

"Karen, are you all right?" asked Maya worriedly, reaching out a clawless hand after her claws had returned to normal, but Karen dodged and moved out of her reach.

As she lowered her hand, feeling hurt by Karen's reaction, Maya asked, "What is it, little girl? Karen?"

Still shocked by what she had witnessed, Karen stood up, trying to make sense of what she was seeing and feeling. Maya's aura had changed, and not just because she had absorbed another werewolf's body. It was very scary and familiar. But how could this demonic aura be present and then absent? She was sure that she felt the vile aura of 'him' coming from Maya after what the woman had done to her opponent.