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Chapter 16
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Sacrificed Warrior Chapter 17
I stare at Ryan's neck, noticing the bare skin where a mark should be placed. My mouth dries as I conjure the right words."Do you feel it too?" I question, gesturing between us. "The pull," I clarify, though from the look he gives me, I didn't have to. Ryan freezes, analyzing me for a second. This close, I can smell his cologne and see the blond stubble that covers his chiseled jaw. He grits his teeth as his stare threatens to make me combust. Ryan doesn't speak for a long time, and I wonder if he too is scared of this moment, this minute that can change our perspective in a blink of an eye, so effortlessly. "Took you long enough to notice. I was starting to think I was imagining it," Ryan says light-heartedly, but I can't appreciate the humor. My lungs stop the intake of air abruptly. A piece of me held on the small tinge of hope that maybe, I was overreacting, that this was just a figment of my imagination. And yet, as my eyes hold the intensity in his grey ones, I realize the s
Sacrificed Warrior Chapter 18
My eyes follow Nathan, even as Ryan tries to avert my attention elsewhere. Something is awfully wrong with the Elite's leader; though the air is heavy with our mixed breaths, the cold that wafts from Nathan chills me right down to the core. Ryan had me sit on the floor with him, expertly blocking my eyesight of the leader. I curse beneath my breath as I attempt to distract myself by examining the people who crowd the room. I realize with a twist of anger that only a woman joined the ranks of the Elite. It seems that no matter how advanced this group must be, it isn't strong enough to overcome the misogyny that plagues our world. My focus drifts to her. She leans against the wall, a foot propped against the metal behind. She's slender, but her form fills the combat clothes she poured over herself. Her hair is pitch black, billowing around her in a mess of curls, creating an aura around her dark-colored features. She eyes the room warily, almost daring her fellow members to approach h
Sacrificed Warrior Chapter 19
We don't talk as we navigate between the streets, keeping close to the walls and the poorly lit sidewalks. We walk in profound quiet as the tension of battle rises deep within. We encounter no obstacles or problems on our way to the compound, but we stay alert. I don't notice the compound until Nathan points it out. His finger indicates a two-story abandoned building: the windows on the second floor are broken, and the whole structure appears to be decaying underneath the pressure of the years.I stare at the deserted construction, trying to locate a sign of life but come back empty-handed. The paint that covered its walls disappeared, exposing the concrete below. I look at Ryan inquisitively. This is nothing like the compound I stayed in, hidden in plain sight.We cross the street as discreetly as we can, trying to blend in with the shadows as we join the rest of the group behind a white van and a few bushes. We're clustered together, squeezed in to ensure that we all stay hidden as
Sacrificed Warrior Chapter 20
Ryan gave me a small first-aid kit to dress the throbbing wound on my arm as we drove back home. The cut is deep, and even though I do my best to treat the injury, it's not enough. Against my protests, Ryan forces me to call Devin to get a nurse to the pack house to heal me when we get closer to my pack. Devin didn't hesitate in aiding me, despite the late hour I disturbed him. I could sense the worry and unease on the other end of the line, but I refused to give any more details. Ryan doesn't speak much for the rest of the journey. His silence is deafening in the stillness of the night, but I know that he needs this time to mourn, so I stay quiet, suppressing the onslaught of questions that threaten to tumble out of my lips. I'm almost relieved when I recognize the sightings, eager to leave Ryan and the last remains of the battle behind. Still, as I stare at the man next to me, a rooted sadness settles in. How many times did he execute this ritual? How much did he lose to hold his
Sacrificed Warrior Chapter 21
Devin drives me home, filling the silence with easy conversation, but it does nothing to appease my nerves. Still, I'm grateful for the distraction. I hold a list of recommendations in my hand on how to treat my stitches, left by Bethany on the kitchen counter. I start to regret the way I snapped at her. My mother eyes me eerily when I get home, her glance lingering on my sweater. I thought about returning it to Devin, but the fabric is way too comfortable and warm to commit such a crime. When she charges at me with a whole set of questions, I dodge her moves, promising that I'll clarify everything to both of them tonight. I pass my day in a state of pure anxiety, distracted by my thoughts, so much so that Mrs. Hill sends me a sharp look every time I space out. I count the hours until they get back, getting more impatient by the minute. I attempt to make myself look presentable and fail miserably. My hands shake as the doom gets closer, impossible to ignore. I grab the necklace,
Sacrificed Warrior Chapter 22
The days go by torturously slowly, each one longer than the previous. A lump formed and lodged itself in my throat, relentless in suffocating me. The tension between my parents and me is unbreakable, a barrier that I can't climb across. Ryan called soon enough, and as predicted, the alphas commanded the Elite to partake in the security of the system whenever there was a pack meeting. Still, considering how much they could have ordered, this seems reasonable, though risky. Since more people will know about the date, it increases the chances of one of them being caught or worse: someone could betray our kind and lend the information to the hybrids.That very same day, I requested a meeting with Nathan, and though Ryan tells me that Nathan will probably not comply, I owe my parents to at least try. I could sense Ryan's unease and the sudden doubt that crept into his voice.I'm scared of the outcome. I don't know what to do if he rejects me. All I know is that I can't live with the guilt
Sacrificed Warrior Chapter 23
Since my episode, my parents have taken special care of me and let go of the hurt that my decision to join the Elite caused them. The bittersweet sensation of it isn't lost on me. I'd hoped for this change, starved for it as I needed air, but the caution of their actions stings. Every movement on their part is calculated, and carefully thought to prevent my discomfort. I wonder not for the first time if they feel how close I am to shattering; if they know how the pieces of my soul drift further apart by the day and how I'm running out of ways to keep them together. Still, I make an effort to pretend. I plaster on a smile and attend Devin's trials the next day, going as far as talking to a few members of the pack. If I can convince myself that I'm fine, maybe someday I will be. The next time I see Mrs. Hill, she smiles proudly at me when she declares that I'm ready to learn fifth-grade math and science, though my English is clearly far behind. She tells me that this is good news and
Sacrificed Warrior Chapter 24
Silence settles in the small room, carving an abyss between the occupants. In these infinite seconds, my heart is the only thing that dares to make a sound. My palms are slippery with gathered sweat from the anticipation. Nathan grits his teeth but doesn't make any move as he observes me for long seconds. I resist the urge to bow my head beneath his lingering gaze. The power radiates off him in waves, forcefully crashing into me. "You want to stay with my men, to play a part in my missions, to take revenge with my help, but you can't pledge yourself to the Elite? I thought Ryan had explained to you how we operate, but apparently, he failed. We're not a charity case, Audrey. We're a tactical team, and if you want benefits, you have to give something first."I try not to let the despair show on my features, but the flat-out rejection knocks my confidence down a notch."Then, you'll never find out what the alphas are so ready to camouflage," I answer, invoking courage that I do not h
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