Lone Wolf Rising

by Jami Brumfield

  Jackson ran after them. “Becks, last I saw Savvy, she was heading outside to call you.”

  “Thank you, Jacks.” Rebecca’s best friend gave her a dazzling smile and joined the group that was searching for Savvy.

  "Any luck, Rebecca?" Gabriel asked a strange question, unless he was expecting her to use that infamous twin-sense they had.

  Hunter watched as Rebecca closed her eyes and sniffed. He swore she sniffed the air. Without a word she led them in the direction of the front door.

  When they got outside Hunter took in a deep breath. The rush of adrenaline from punching Danny and the cool breeze helped him to pull himself back to normal. He looked around; the front of the school was fairly empty. Savvy was nowhere to be found.

  He happened to look down on the ground and noticed a pink, shiny phone winking at him from a rose bush. He picked it up and knew instantly it was Savvy’s phone. “Rebecca!” He held up the phone and watched as terror crossed his sister’s face. She grabbed the phone from his hand while Hunter picked up the purse.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  ~”As soon as there is life there is danger.”

  ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

  Rebecca

  Rebecca’s heart sped up as she ran back into the school. She didn’t have time to worry about her sister, she needed to focus on finding her and then she would worry about the situation. She pulled the purse open and noticed the necklace was still in the silky folds. She picked up Savannah’s scent. Just like before she focused on the strength of the scent line. All of them disappeared, one by one, until only one remained. “This way!”

  She made her way down to the basement. She had no idea why Savvy would visit the basement in the amazingly beautiful dress she wore but Rebecca had a feeling the answer was something she was not going to like. Somewhere in the back of her mind she could hear the foot steps of Lucky, Gabriel, Hunter, Natalia, Sundae, Jackson, and Persephone, her unconventional pack. She was learning quickly that she didn’t need wolves to make up a pack; it was her family and friends that were honorary members. She had no time to look behind her and determine where they were. If instinct was right they were at her heels.

  The basement was dark. Water leaked from pipes that ran along the wall and ceiling, creating a musty smell. It was hard to keep Savvy’s scent. The temperature became humid very quickly and she knew her hair would be frizzy within moments, but she did not care. "Savannah, where are you?" She didn’t have to speak very loud, her voice carried down the empty corridors.

  Savvy’s scent mingled with the scent of death, ‘Vampires’ Rebecca’s alpha screamed the warning in her mind. Her heart rate quickened and fear began to seize her chest. Her sister's scent was mixed with fear and Rebecca knew Savvy was in trouble. She needed to calm down and focus. The wolf scratched against her skin to get out. ‘Heel!’ She commanded in her mind.

  ‘Let me help.’ The wolf begged.

  ‘You are helping.’ Rebecca was thankful for the night vision to help her find Savvy’s location, grateful for the ability to smell the danger, but she was not going to let the wolf out. “Vampires.” She whispered so that only Lucky, Gabriel, and Persephone could hear her. “Jackson, Natalia, Hunter, and Sundae you should go back to the gym now.”

  They all shook their heads. None of them were leaving. “Someone needs to call for help. Hunter, it should be you.” Rebecca tried again.

  He crossed his arms over his chest. “I’m not leaving.” Determination clear in his eyes. Rebecca closed her eyes against the sting on her hand. She took a deep breath and turned back towards the scent line. She didn’t have time to deal with the rules. She needed to find Savvy. Besides, she tried to remove him from the situation. She couldn’t control where he went and in a few hours he would know he was a witch so technically, she wasn’t revealing supernatural existence to a human.

  Rebecca squatted down towards the floor; there was no breeze to carry Savvy’s scent towards her so she would have to find it.

  "Rebecca what are you doing?" It was Hunter’s voice, which trembled with worry that broke her concentration. She turned back towards him and zeroed her eyes on him, he stumbled backwards and Gabriel stepped behind him to steady him.

  “Tracking.” It was a simple answer and it kept her safe from breaking the rules. It wasn’t like she could tell him she was a werewolf picking up their sister’s scent.

  "Your eyes are... yellow!" He swallowed hard.

  Instead of responding she attempted to refocus on her task at hand. Almost immediately she picked up Savvy’s scent and began walking towards the back room of the basement. When Rebecca opened the door she found Savvy sitting in a chair... gagged. Her mascara had run which was an obvious sign that she had been crying and Rebecca’s heart broke. Once again, Rebecca’s actions put her family members in danger.

  Celestia was running her fingers through Savvy's hair. The action reminded Rebecca of someone petting a cat. "It took you long enough."

  Rebecca heard the rest of her friends and family come in behind her. Hunter gasped at the sight of Savvy being held captive. He tried to run to his captive sister but Persephone held him back. Lucky stood beside Rebecca, his chest swollen protectively and Gabriel joined her at her other side, growling deeply his warning.

  "I see you brought friends." Celestia almost cackled and Rebecca fought back the urge to scratch her eyes out. "So did I." She signaled and they were suddenly surrounded by vampires, at least a dozen of them had slipped out of the shadows. And Felicity stepped in line behind Celestia.

  She was protecting Celestia? Rebecca cast a questioning look at Lucky who shook his head signaling he didn’t know what was going on. Felicity held a bow in one hand and wore a quiver full of arrows behind her back.

  Rebecca took a deep, steadying breath. She did her best to control the wolf. ‘I’m giving you permission to come out ONLY if I am on the verge of losing the fight. Otherwise, let me handle this.’

  ‘That is a mistake. You are stronger as an alpha.’

  “That is my rule. Break it and I’ll make your life a living hell.’ Rebecca warned her.

  ‘Fine, but don’t blame me if this goes badly.’

  ‘I won’t.’

  "This is between you and me, Celestia. Leave my friends and family out of this." Rebecca fisted her hands at her side.

  "Let me think, um, no. They came here of their own free will and so they will die of their own free will." Celestia snapped her fingers and the vampires moved in on them, slowly, methodically. They were obviously masters of time. Felicity kept her post next to Celestia.

  "Lucky, Gabe, Persephone, please keep them safe." Rebecca pleaded quietly knowing the wolves and Lucky could hear her.

  ‘Name me your enforcer.’ Gabriel’s voice echoed in Rebecca’s mind as he stood by her side, ready to fight.

  ‘What is that?’

  ‘Your second in command. It will give me the ability to harness the wolf in human form.’

  ‘I already thought you were.’

  ‘You have to say it.’

  ‘I name you my enforcer?’

  ‘Good choice.’ The wolf in her mind chanted something from an unknown language and Rebecca felt a shock of electrical current leave her body and watched as it entered Gabriel’s body.

  Instantly Gabriel started to merge human with wolf. His nails grew into claws, his eyes turned yellow, his face grew side burns and his teeth became deadly.

  In the next moment they were being attacked. Gabriel's claws started ripping vampires to shreds, Hunter grabbed a pipe he found lying around somewhere and used the vamps heads as baseballs; Rebecca had never been so proud of him as she was in that moment. He seemed to be protecting Natalia who was nervously preparing some concoction on the desk behind him. Lucky pulled out two pens which instantly turned into long fiery swords when he chanted something over them. He made quick work of the first vampire which had jumped high in the air towards Rebecca. The one that flew in the air behind him was met with Re
becca’s alpha's wrath as she clawed his neck and he screamed in pain as he fell to the ground.

  ‘I told you to stay inside.’ She looked at the long claws that were now her fingernails. ‘Thank you.’

  The wolf growled in her mind as Rebecca felt the teeth in her mouth grow but that was the extent of her change. The wolf was holding back the rest of the transformation, keeping her human half in control, barely. It really was an integration of both wolf and human. Her body was a weapon; she didn’t need the hidden weapons on Lucky’s body.

  Inch by inch, body by body, they made their way towards Celestia and Savvy. When Rebecca got close enough she noticed the two puncture wounds in Savvy's neck. Rebecca finally understood what the saying 'seeing red' actually meant. Her vision turned deadly as anger filled her. The alpha even staggered for a moment, and a moment was all her attacker needed, he sliced down Rebecca’s torso with his sharpened claws and she winced as the pain counteracted the anger. She recovered quickly, adrenaline flooding her system. In moments she re-focused and ripped out his throat with a guttural growl from deep within. It was the first person she’d ever killed. Sadness filled her for the lost life, but necessity forced her to continue with the battle.

  In that moment Rebecca’s eyes connected with Savvy's and she saw fear mirroring inside those eyes that were as large as saucers. Rebecca glanced back at her team, her unconventional pack and saw that Gabriel was doing his best to hold his own, but he was weakening, it took a lot of energy to maintain the state between transformations in human form. She was getting weak herself. Hunter was cornered and Natalia was already being held down by one of the attackers. Sundae and Jackson were in trouble. Lucky and Persephone were slicing through body after body in a blind attempt to get to Savvy who was now crying. The vampires continued to pour in and Rebecca briefly wondered if this was what it was like for her pack the night they were murdered.

  Her alpha screamed at her to keep fighting, but her mind told her to stop. "Celestia, stop this now! What do you want?" She ducked out of the way from another vampire that swooped towards her. Rebecca lost her balance and went tumbling into the cement floor and rolled head over feet until she crashed into the dampened wall. She scrambled to her feet quickly.

  Celestia seemed to be examining her fingernails while the bodies continued to fall around her. She had no care towards her own people, just the desire to win.

  Rebecca growled deeply, the growl made everyone, enemy and ally freeze for a moment, even Celestia looked up. "So, you’re finally serious? It took attacking you to get into the game?" Celestia tsked.

  "I said what do you want?" Rebecca pushed the anger down as she looked at her wounded friends and family. Not one person, friend or enemy went unscathed from the attack.

  "I told you before; all I want is a truce, that and your backing that I become the new vampire queen when the opportunity arises."

  The sound of battle ceased. Everyone focused on Celestia and Rebecca. Rebecca heard hearts pounding and breathes being held. Everyone hung on the conversation between them. Celestia had Rebecca backed into a corner and there was very little she could do about it. "Okay! First, I want the truth; every good truce should be based on truth."

  "About what, your parents’ deaths?" Celestia smirked. “Or should I say your mother’s death. Your father is still alive and well.” She pointed towards a shadow that slowly revealed her father as he stepped forward.

  “Hello, children.” Hunter dropped the pipe, which bounced off the floor. Savvy and Rebecca stared, mouths open as they took in the sight of their long dead father. The shock of dark brown hair and sparkling green eyes sent dread down their backs.

  “What kind of joke are you playing at? Our father has been dead for ten years.” Rebecca fought back the tears that threatened to fall. As the reality of the situation hit her, she recognized that unsettling feeling she got when her stalker was watching. Oh my Gods! He was the man watching her from the shadows this past week!

  “No joke. Like you said, every good truce should be based on truth.” Celestia walked over to their father and circled his body with her fingers. “Your father has been my ally for years, ever since your mother died.”

  He looked at Rebecca and she recognized that creepy feeling. He really was her spy!

  “As far as how your mother died? Well, I will leave that up to him to explain.” Celestia continued, satisfaction played in her deadly eyes and Rebecca resisted the urge to scratch those eyes out of her head.

  Rebecca didn’t know what to think. Her entire world crumbled around her. Everything she had believed for the last ten years was a lie. “And mother?” It was her voice that asked. The wolf went back to her place in her mind. This was her pain to face.

  “I’m afraid she was killed by my family.” Her father, no Maverick answered simply. He was no longer her family. His voice was cold, disconnected, and without remorse.

  Rebecca took a step forward; Savvy's hand was only inches from hers. "Your family killed mother? Why?"

  “We can talk about this later, without the audience.” His voice held warning.

  “Good, now tell me when you’ve caught up." Celestia clapped her hands excited as the pieces started to fall into place in Rebecca’s mind like a jigsaw puzzle that had sat unfinished for too long.

  "Did you ever love mother?" She couldn’t help it. The questions kept coming, tumbling from her lips. She needed to know.

  "No, she was simply a job. You children, on the other hand, he loved very much. It was that love that almost got him killed." Celestia answered for Rebecca’s father.

  "You lie!" Hunter stated angrily. Rebecca had almost forgotten he was there. He made an attempt to attack Celestia, but Gabriel stopped him. The pain in Hunter’s voice and face made something click off inside her. Her emotional attachment to their father, to Maverick died in that moment.

  "I'm sorry. She speaks the truth." Maverick stated sadly.

  "So you faked your death and killed mother to make sure we never learned of our family heritage?" There were so many pieces that just didn’t fit.

  "On the contrary, he realized he made a mistake not letting you learn the craft, but your mother disagreed with his sudden change of mind. He had no choice but to remove the obstacles in the way of your training. He had to remove himself and her, and hope your grandmother picked up the training." Celestia stated. “I’m sorry, I can see this hurts you, but you wanted to know the truth.”

  Rebecca ignored Celestia’s fake sympathy. “Grandmother never trained us. We’re useless to you.”

  "She tried and failed. That’s why I came out of hiding. I need to teach you three how to defend yourself. There is a war on the horizon and without the proper defense you could die." Maverick’s eyes pleaded with them to understand him. But Rebecca didn’t care; she had nothing left for the man who was once her beloved father.

  “And how do you fit into this?” Rebecca asked Celestia.

  "Were you two having an affair?" Hunter asked bitterly. He was now side by side with Rebecca. Gabriel stood on the other side of him to keep him from attacking. Lucky was next to her on the other side ready to fight anyone who came near them. The rest of the group stood in a line behind them.

  "You can say I was the other woman." Celestia smirked. “But not in the way you would expect. I was your father’s sire.”

  "And you think we can be allies after all this?" Rebecca asked incredulously.

  "You’re the best option I have at the moment. Everyone is interested in the new alpha and what she has to offer. Tomas was a tyrant. Be thankful you were never under his rule." Celestia stated coldly

  "Did you kill my pack?"

  "No. I already answered that question at our last visit. Please try and remember. I hate repeating myself."

  "But you know who did?" Rebecca asked coldly.

  "Yes."

  "Who?"

  "I tire of this. I’ve answered your questions about your parents’ deaths. Now, do we have a truce?" Celesti
a placed her hands on Savvy's shoulders.

  Every part of the alpha in Rebecca screamed no, it took all she had to be the one responding to her question, "yes."

  "Good." She smiled and in the next instance she snapped Savvy's neck.

  Any connection Rebecca had to Savvy broke instantly. Rebecca screamed “No!” As she bolted towards Celestia and her sister’s lifeless body. She could hear Hunter screaming "No" behind her but she was completely disconnected to the world around her. Rage filled her and was replaced with overwhelming grief instantly. It was her fault. Once again a family member died because of actions she did. Gabriel and Lucky ran after Rebecca. She fought them. She didn’t care who got in her way she would get her revenge.

  Her fist hit Lucky’s face square in the jaw. She heard it crack as Gabriel grabbed her around the waist and spun her away from connecting with Lucky again. Lucky stood dangerously close to Rebecca as he asked her, “Rebecca, focus on my voice. Close your eyes and focus.”

  “No. No. No, that did not just happen!” She burst into tears as her knees gave out beneath her. Gabriel fell to the ground with her and the world as she knew it crumbled around her. She was vaguely aware of Persephone and Natalia attempting to hold Hunter back. Vaguely aware of their father and Felicity watching from the sidelines as the drama of her life fell apart.

  “You will all pay for that.” Sundae’s cold, eerie voice echoed through the room.

  If it weren't for the alpha Rebecca would’ve broke in that instant. "We. Had. A. Deal." Tears flowed down her cheeks. Gabriel and Lucky were at her side, both trying to comfort her. She pushed them both away.

  “Stay away from me, both of you!” She zeroed her eyes on Gabriel and Lucky. “We are over!” If she hadn’t spent all that time trying to figure out the relationship between them maybe she would have been able to save her sister.

  Only Hunter could give the comfort she needed at the moment as he dropped to the ground next to her and held her hand. Rebecca wrapped her arms around his shoulders and allowed the tears to fall. The flood gates were open and she allowed herself to feel everything. Her guilt, sadness, disgust, helplessness, and every other emotion that was responsible for pulling her into that familiar dark abyss.