Chapter 15: Freya

The den was a run to say the least. I would have much rather have made the run in my fox form, but I was not about to be tied to that form again. 

“What was that thing?” I huffed nearly out of breath as we continued running. Several people we passed were going the opposite direction with as much urgency as we had away. My best guess these were pack members coming to rally around their alpha. 

No idea, Oliver answered back, he wasn’t nearly out of breath like me. I’ve heard about wolves who get power through witches, maybe it was something like that? 

“You have witches here?”

He nodded as best he could in his wolf form. Vampires are the ones who we don’t allow in, but yeah witches typically aren’t something we need to worry about.

“Clearly, if they can only do that.” 

They don’t normally do that. I don’t get why I had to stop fighting, but whatever.

We came to a dirt road leading far back into a heavily wooded area and finally Oliver let me rest as I collapsed nearly to the ground my hands going to my knees.

“Oliver!” I heard the voice of a young girl bounding with glee as she ran up to us. She was such a young looking girl, barely eighteen if that. She was dressed in some very fine clothes though and her long blonde hair was done up in a braid that wrapped around her head into a braid. “Oh man, daddy said you were coming to the den!” She stopped and did a once over on me before sneering back, “Didn’t think you were going to bring some girl though.”

“Some girl?” I sniffed rising back to stand tall. “Who is this?” I turned down to him. 

Her name’s Chloe, she’s the daughter of someone important. Don’t fall for her being nice. She’s a fucking bitch. 

“Not going to worry about her hearing you?” I laughed out loud. 

“Hearing him?” She cocked her head to the side. “Wait you can hear the werewolf network?” 

She’s not old enough to turn into a wolf and so she doesn’t have access to it. 

“Ah,” I nodded, and turned back to her with a smile that just made me feel slightly superior, “So you’re Chloe?” 

“Chloe Argent,” she corrected but kept her arms crossed as she continued to survey me. “And you are?”

I looked to Oliver who shrugged, Tell her if you want, it doesn’t matter to me. She’s gatekeeping but I’m allowed to bring whoever to the den so it won’t matter either way.

“I guess then, it’s none of her business who I am.” I continued to take steps toward her but she stood her ground. “Can you move?”

“I get you’re coming in here with Ollie,” Oliver groaned at the nickname but she ignored him, “I however need to get a name so I can say who came through here.”

“Then say Oliver and guest.” I snapped, “now move kid.”

“Kid?” She scoffed. “You’re such a fucking clueless little shit, do you know how you’re talking to?”

She obviously doesn’t know who you are because she’s not a werewolf yet. Oliver laughed, just tell her I said you’re invited. 

“Fuck that!” I spat, “Move your ass or be moved.” I stood just as tall as her and sized her up. Was this what it felt like to be challenged? 

“I’ll have you know you’re looking at the next mate to the alpha of this pack. If you think for one moment my first action as leader isn’t going to be to kill anyone who crosses me then you’re seriosuly underestimating me.”

“Oh you’re the alpha’s mate?” That nearly had me in a tizzy. 

Please be nice to each other, Oliver grumbled. I really don’t want to do damage control. 

“Get the little bitch out of my fucking way then Oliver!” I snapped my teeth grinding together. I did have one little trick up my sleeve, I snapped my fingers as I formed myself into the image of that monstrous beast. I saw her eyes bulge wide and her mouth fell open as her head followed my illusion up to it’s full height. “Trust me you little fucking twig. You will never, ever be the alpha’s mate. If you ever breath around me again I’ll fucking tear your head from your shoulders. Now move, or be moved.” I growled before snapping my fingers once more. 

Fucking gods alive, Oliver laughed, you’re scary when you want to be. 

She was frozen, that might have been on me for the over kill so I just stepped around her and continued walking down the dirt path. 

Feeling possessive of my brother then? 

“No idea what you mean.” My nose was held high in the air as I dismissed him.

You know I have to tell my brother what you did. She’s going to go straight to her dad and this is going to be blown out of proportion. You could have just given her some fake name. 

“It’s not about that. It’s about the principle of it. She had no fucking right to be such an ass.” 

She’s a kid, Oliver shrugged, Most werewolf kids are that stubborn. We just deal with it, you took it in a more interesting way. Not gonna lie, glad to see you lay down your claim like that but really save the crazy for the werewolves. 

“Maybe you need to get better gatekeepers.” 

Well, since it’s your estate I guess you get to choose how it’s run.

I rolled my eyes at the notion, “I already told you, I’m not going to join this pack. I don’t care what you do with the den.”

Do you even know where we are?

“No.” I shrugged, “Some state park maybe?”

I mean, it’s the den so yeah it looks like a park. It’s been in the pack for generations. We have all our packmates who don’t like to live as humans stay here, ultimately though there’s an estate back there a ways. Sure the den is a building but it rests on the Wallace Estate.

“The Wallace Estate?” I gasped and looked around as if I was re-seeing everything about this place through the eyes of my father. “Dad…” I sighed, collapsing to my knees. The trees had grown tall, creating a canopy that provided perfect shade on the dirt path. It was a winding path, one that might have been fun to race down when I was a kid.  

I think I broke your mate. Oliver whispered. 

Yeah, Elias huffed in a whisper, well we’re not doing much better here. The thing’s been killed. 

Every manner of trees mixed together as I looked out into the dense forest. It was simply beautiful. It wasn’t beautiful in the way that it had to be forced to look this way. It was a natural beauty where I knew I could take long inhales of stress and anxiety and exhale every worry away. This was a place where I could get lost and I wouldn’t mind it one bit. 

Yep, Oliver nudged me with his nose, She’s snapped. 

We’re on the way. Andre laughed. Can you two at least get to the den? 

“The den?” I shook my head finally able to focus again. 

Yeah, like the place where the pack meets. I told you some live here. 

“But my family owns it?” I felt myself adapting more animated movements nearly mimicking the wolves, “Why wouldn’t the alpha own it?”

Olver shrugged, The Wallace family has always owned it. It’s why Rose was so eager to hear you and my brother were mates. Finally it’s naturally going to get passed to the alpha family.

That’s right, I sighed. Mates to them meant starting a family. It meant so much for them that the alpha line continued. Maybe after everything the real way to get him to reject me was just to tell him the truth. We could never have kids. I turned back to the trees. Dad, I sighed again, I get this palace was your home growing up, but I can’t do it. Mom could, but I’m not as strong as her. Moon goddess, in these woods I felt so close to her now, you have to see the problem. You have to see that we can’t be together. Please tell him to reject me. Let me go. Time’s running out, please. 

Freya? Andre I heard him close now, then again maybe it was easier for everyone to catch up to us running as wolves. 

Is she okay? That was Elias, he sounded slightly out of breath and when I turned around I saw why. A long deep gash down his side was just starting to close up. 

“Elias!” I shrieked and scrambled to my feet slipping on the dusty ground. “Are you okay?”

He’s fine. Andre shrugged and stepped between us to display his own battle wounds. Down his face and across his nose there were deep cuts. Thanks for thinking of all of us though. 

“What?” I looked them over they were by far the ones in the worst shape, sure a few other wolves that passed had some dried blood and minor bumps but clearly those two were on the main line. 

Make sure the cleaners burn that body. Elias grumbled, everyone get to the den I’ll be along shortly to debrief. He turned his attention to me next. You’re staying with me. 

I swallowed hard and nodded. 

“Here sir.” Chloe bowed and handed off a pair of shorts to him. “I tried to stop her-”

He turned to her with a growl and she immediately backed away. Though it was my snarl that didn’t go unnoticed by anyone and they all turned to me. 

“Get your ass to the den like you’re fucking told.” I continued, “You go near him one more time and I’ll tear you to pieces.”

HAHAHA! Elias knocked his head backward and let out a howling roar that causing everyone to leave. Oh my dear are you seriously going to try to butter me up with this little game of actually caring for me now?

“Fuck you.” I stomped and turned away heading off into the trees. If he wanted to follow me fine, but I was being drawn out here away from the path. This had been the most tumultuous last twenty four hours and it still wasn’t over. These trees were offering me something I was calling out for. I needed to be lost, I needed to be away from people. I needed- I checked my phone. I fucking needed a signal to tell Latharn I wasn’t going to be able to get out of town as easily as I had hoped.