CHAPTER TEN

The fight continues and it's a nasty one from the start. But it only gets worse as it progresses.

As the alpha and Rafael fight, some of the other wolves seem to notice them. And I don't like the look in their eyes. It looks like they might be willing to cut in.

Other wolves aren't supposed to interfere in fights like that. It's not the way things are done. But, this alpha has broken so many rules, that I wouldn't doubt if they are willing to break more. I wouldn't be surprised if other wolves got involved to try to save the alpha.

So, I stay close to Rafael. We fight alongside each other as I attack any wolves that seem like they might get involved.

I won't let him die like this.

I feel bad for Rafael. I know he felt like he was alone. But I hope he sees now that he wasn't.

So many people rise up to fight against him. But so many people rise up to fight for him.

“Just give in,” Rafael says, looking at the alpha as he tries to block his attacks. “People in this pack are dying.

“They're dying because of you. They're dying because they want to fight for you. But it doesn't have to be this way.

“Give in and stop this madness. Brothers are fighting brothers. Sisters are fighting sisters. Parents and their children are killing each other. Can't you see that that's awful? Can't you see this has to stop?”

“It will stop when you're dead,” the alpha says. “You're the one who's causing this. You give in and this will all stop.”

“I can't give in,” Rafael says. and it sounds like he's sad about that. It sounds like he truly doesn't want to fight the alpha, but he feels like he has to do.

“I can't give in because you've shown all of us what a terrible alpha you are. You've shown that you're willing to break the rules. You've shown that you're not a good leader.

“I would be just as bad as you if I let you take over now. I want to protect the pack. I want to be the alpha you will never be. So, even though I don't want to, I have to kill you.”

Rafael goes in for the killing blow. It's clear he's going to win. The fight is almost over.

But then, the alpha does something drastic. The alpha does something unfair. The alpha does something that's against the rules.

As Rafael goes in for the killing blow, the alpha grabs Jacob and tosses him at Rafael. It's too late for Rafael to stop himself.

He kills Jacob.

I fall to the ground as the alpha uses this moment to go in for the kill. Rafael is too distracted to stop him. He doesn’t have time to react.

The alpha kills Rafael.

Rafael is bleeding so heavily that I know there's no hope for him, but I run to him. I run to him and I collapse next to him.

“Please, don't leave me,” I beg through tears. “Please don't leave me. I'm begging you. I love you.”

But our love isn't enough. Rafael dies in my arms. And I know I'll be next.

The alpha turns to me with a chuckle.

“How does it feel to lose your mate?” the alpha taunts me. “How does it feel to have pain ripped through you like you did to me? I want you to sit in that feeling before I kill you. Because that feels worse than death. I want you to feel it all.”

I know it's over for me. I know he's going to kill me. But I don't care anymore.

I don't care about anything except for the fact that I lost my mate. I don't know how I'll move on without him. There is no moving on without him.

Then, I see it. I see the answer to ending all of this. But it's almost too good to be true. I don't even know what to do with it at first.

Right on the ground next to me, is the arrow that alpha was going to use to kill Raphael. He's forgotten about it now. He's too drunk off of his victory to pay attention to anything.

I quickly grab it. This all happens so quickly.

The alpha continues taunting me. I'm waiting for the right moment though. I have to be careful.

He's stronger than me, he's faster than me. The alpha was chosen to be alpha for reason. But I think I can win. I just have to have strength. I have to be smart.

“Now, it's your turn to die,” the alpha says.

He lunges down at me, planning the killing blow.

As he does so, I stabbed the arrow right into his heart.

It stops him before he can touch me. The alpha howls as he falls to the ground.

The others stop and watch, but there's no saving him. The alpha’s body convulses. And then, it stops.

My hands shake. I can't believe what I've done. I've just killed the alpha.

And that's when I notice everyone staring at me. Everyone staring at me because I killed the alpha.

And I wonder if the fighting is over. I wonder if now everyone will try to get along. Everyone will try to rebuild.

I won't be able to rebuild though. My love is dead. There's nothing I can do about that. And I'm too tired to continue on with this.

Even though I love this pack, I can never see people the same way again. I can never forget what happened to my mate. I can't be part of the rebuilding process.

So, I stand. I stand and everyone looks at me in awe as I wonder what will happen next. But I don't think I can be part of it, no matter what happens next.

“How did you...”

Before I can answer, I know what I have to do.

I run.

I run into the forest, hoping no one will go after me. I run away from all this stress. I run away from my dead mate. I run away from the fact that I killed the alpha.

I run and I don't think I’ll ever stop running. I don't know what I’ll do now. But the forest is my safety, so I run.