Fangs vs Claws

by Rua Hasan

“I love you,” I whispered in his ear then kissed his forehead.

  “I love you so damn much! I don’t want you to leave me!” My voice now was getting louder by the end of the sentence.

  “Please don’t leave me,” I cried as I felt a familiar hand on my shoulder. I looked up in my blurry vision and saw Liam looking down at me with very sad, red eyes. He didn’t say anything, which I was thankful for, but I knew what he wanted. The look of his eyes told me everything.

  I pulled Aiden tighter to my chest and shook my head.

  “No! You aren’t taking him!” I yelled as my voice cracked in the end.

  “He’s still alive! You’ll see. He’ll come back, just wait,” I told him and everyone else around me. One wolf took a step forward, but I just hissed at him, making him take one step back.

  “Stella, it’s too late. There was nothing we could have done to prevent this,” Liam said, trying to reassure me, but I ignored him.

  I looked down at Aiden’s lifeless body and moved the strand of hair that was covering his face.

  I know there could have been a way to save him. But I risked it. I’ve failed, and forever I will blame myself.

  For eternity.

  Aiden was there for me from the very beginning. He was there for me through the thick and the thin. He gave me a shoulder to cry on, and how did I repay him? By being selfish. I only thought about myself and my well-being when I could have asked him how he was feeling.

  I must be one of the world’s most horrible mate.

  I was about to say something to Liam when I felt a strange feeling overwhelm my body. It didn’t feel painful, but it felt odd. It’s like my body was getting lighter. I looked around to see everyone face me with surprise in their eyes. Some even held panic.

  “What’s going on?” I asked.

  It was quiet for a moment until Liam spoke.

  “You’re disappearing,” he said.

  I raised an eyebrow at him in confusion then looked down at my body. I put Aiden back on the ground so that I could see my lap and gasped. My legs weren’t there.

  But why?

  Oh no! Shit, I totally forgot about my blood running down the mountains. I had to bring someone back to life, and since Alpha Argon wasn’t here, then I wasn’t going to bring his mate.

  I felt hope overwhelm my body when I realized I could bring Aiden back to life.

  Wait, but what about Alice?

  If I bring back Aiden, then I would never get to see Alice again.

  My thoughts were broken when I heard someone shout my name. I looked up to see Ian running furiously at me. He looked angry.

  Wait, where was he the whole entire time?

  He tried to get closer to me, but all the wolves surrounding me grabbed him. I then got up and pointed a finger at him.

  “Keep a hold on him. He’s the traitor. I’ll deal with him when we go back home,” I ordered them.

  Some men looked surprised about my statement, but some weren’t affected.

  “Let me go!” Ian yelled as if he lost his mind and looked at me with dark, dangerous eyes.

  “You have to bring her back! Bring her back or else I will make your life a living hell!” he yelled like a lunatic at me. I knew he was talking about Lilly Claze but why? Why was she so special to him?

  The men started to drag a struggling Ian down the mountain as he yelled threats at us. But before he could clearly disappear, I heard him yell something that shocked and surprised me.

  “Please! She’s everything I had! Bring back my sister or else! I will kill you all!” he yelled.

  My mouth fell open at his statement, and my widened eyes were clear proof I was surprised. Who knew that Lilly Claze was Ian’s sister? I guess when she died, he moved into Aiden’s pack.

  Speaking of Aiden. I looked down at my body and saw that my stomach was gone, and soon my chest would be.

  “Stella, what’s going on? Why are you disappearing?” Liam asked in panic.

  I knew he was scared. He may look strong, but deep down inside he was just a little boy crying over his dead best friend, and seeing me disappear might have scared him even more.

  “Relax. Everything will be okay. It’s just happening. I’ll be back soon,” I reassured him, but he just gave me a confused look.

  “What’s happening?” he asked as his eyes looked at my disappearing chest.

  “My powers are activating, and I don’t have time explain, but I will be back soon.”

  And just like that my neck disappeared then my head. I closed my eyes as I felt my body float. I took a shaky breath then reopened them to see that I was floating in a place that was white.

  Not another single color.

  I looked down at the ground to see that it wasn’t clear. Fog covered the place. I looked around but saw no one. I was completely alone in this strange place.

  But then I heard whispers coming from somewhere, so I decided to follow them. I moved slowly, not knowing what I was going to face. A minute passed and still nothing. I looked down at my arm and saw that the cut was almost closed.

  I observed it and saw that it was healing at a fast pace. Just when the end of the cut was closed, I saw something flash before my eyes. I looked up and gasped.

  Right in front of me were probably millions of people staring at me. I gulped nervously as I saw a couple take one step forward but stopped moving as they struggled against thin air. It was as if there was a wall between us, and they couldn’t pass.

  Maybe because there was an invisible wall, I saw no one take a step forward, like they were trapped.

  I walked closer and saw the eyes of the dead. Surprisingly, they weren’t as scary as I thought. Their eyes did hold sorrow and loneliness as they stared at me with pleading eyes.

  I walked down the line that held millions of people staring at me as if I was the cure for cancer. I felt sad and guilty, but what could I do? It’s not like I could bring back everyone. That simply was impossible. It’s their fate to be here, but only one person in here is coming back with me because that’s their destiny.

  I was having a battle with myself as I continued to look for any familiar faces. My mind told me to choose Alice because this is what I have wanted in years, but my heart was yearning to see Aiden again. I felt tears of frustration form behind my eyes as I continued to think of who I was going to choose.

  But deep down inside I knew from the beginning who.

  Aiden.

  As much as I wanted to see Alice again, Aiden’s my other half. And without him, I don’t know how I’ll live. I’ve grown to love him so much it hurts. I’ve become attached to him, the complete opposite of what I wanted when I first met him.

  I felt my heart stop when I saw a familiar face standing right in front of me. I let two tears escape my eyes as I stared at my best friend smiling sadly at me. I walked closer until I was standing right in front of the border that was keeping me from passing.

  “Alice,” I whispered.

  I wanted to grab her and hug her, but it was impossible.

  “I’m so sorry,” I said.

  She shook her head at me and gave me a reassuring look.

  “Hey, don’t cry. I know it’s your only choice,” she said as she put her hand on the border.

  I placed my hand over hers and laid my forehead on it.

  “I failed everyone, and especially you,” I said as I looked at the ground, feeling ashamed of myself. It was quiet for a moment until she spoke.

  “Look at me,” she said.

  I looked up hesitantly and was surprised to see her crying as well.

  “Stop blaming yourself! None of this is your fault,” she told me.

  By this time, I completely forgot about everyone else here as I focused on my best friend in front of me.

  “You know that when destiny bites you right in the ass, you always find a way to make things better,” she told me.

  “B–but what am I supposed to do Alice? I’m so confused,” I said, and a sob escaped my thr
oat. I didn’t want to leave her after all those years. I finally had a chance to get her back, but it backfired on me.

  She closed her eyes for a bit then opened them as she stared at me with glassy eyes.

  “You know I can’t tell you, only your heart can,” she said.

  I knew she was right, but I was too afraid to admit it. But I made so many mistakes in my life and messed things up, now wasn’t the time. I’m going to do what I know I have to do and follow my heart.

  “But I’ll miss you,” I said now, banging my fist on the border.

  “How can I just walk away and leave you here?” I asked as I cried.

  “It’s simple,” she whispered.

  “Just turn your back on me and walk away knowing that someone else is waiting for you here,” she said as a tear ran down her cheek.

  “B–but—” I stuttered but was silenced by her stern look.

  “Just go! You know this is what you have to do,” she said.

  I rubbed my eyes and wiped my tears. I looked at her and gave her a small smile.

  “You know what made you special from all the others?” I asked.

  She smiled and shook her head at me.

  “Even though you were a goofball, you still cared about everyone around you. Always chose the decision that will keep them safe and not happy. As long as they were okay and fine, you thought the world was a better place,” I told her.

  She chuckled as she wiped a tear running down her cheek.

  “I was motivated,” she said.

  “You were my motivation in life, and still are,” she told me.

  I smiled sadly at her.

  “Now go, Stella. He’s waiting for you at the end of the line. He’s confused and needs you to be there with him,” she said.

  I nodded and took a step back. I was about to turn away when she called out my name.

  “Stella!” she yelled.

  I looked at her and saw her waving at me goodbye.

  “Never forget me,” she said.

  I waved back at her and spoke.

  “That’s never happening. I can still remember the day we first met like it was yesterday,” I told her and smiled.

  I took a step backward slowly, wanting to cherish this moment.

  “See you later, best friend. This isn’t goodbye,” I told her.

  A tear ran down my cheek while she smiled at me, nodding.

  “See you later, best friend,” she said.

  And with that, I turned my back on her and ran as fast as I could to the end of the line, trying to ignore the pain in my heart. I had one mission, and that was to bring Aiden back to life. Not just for me, but for Marie, Liam, his parents, and our pack.

  Everyone is depending on me, and this time, I won’t fail them.

  Ignoring all the shouts from everyone around me, telling me to pick them, I stopped at the end of the line to see Aiden looking confused. I felt my happiness come back to life at the sight of him. My humanity and sanity slowly came back to where they used to be.

  I saw light in his beautiful blue eyes.

  “Aiden!” I yelled, catching his attention.

  He looked happy but surprised to see me.

  “Stella?” he whispered.

  I ran to where he was standing and gave him a bright smile.

  “Why are you here? Don’t tell me they hurt you?” he growled, getting angry as he looked me up and down.

  I was surprised that even though he was here, and he was the one to get stabbed in the heart, he still cared about me. It made me happy in a way.

  “I’m fine. Don’t worry. It’s a long story, but right now we have to get you back home,” I said.

  He raised an eyebrow at me.

  “How?” he asked.

  I shook my head.

  “Not now. I’ll explain later, but right now we don’t have much time,” I said.

  I’m not sure why, but I was able to cross the border, not like when I was with Alice. I guess it has to do with my powers, knowing that this is the person I wanted to bring back with me. I was about to grab his hand when something stopped me.

  It was his eye color.

  Just a while ago his eyes were blue, but now it had a color in them. Almost red. I then grabbed his hands but pulled away when I felt how cold they were.

  “What happened?” I asked.

  He looked the same to me, the same Aiden I knew, but his scent was also different. Something changed in him.

  But what?

  He ran his hand through his hair and sighed.

  “I don’t know, but when I got here, I felt different. I felt more powerful, and I think it has to do with your blood in my system,” he said.

  My eyes widened at what he said as I looked at him in shock. So what he was telling me was that he didn’t cough all the blood out, only some. And that it has affected him.

  Does that make him a...

  “Stella,” Aiden said.

  “I’m half vampire and half werewolf,” he said.

  “I’m a hybrid!”

  The words I was going to say completely disappeared as I looked at him with wide eyes.

  I can’t believe I did this? Does that mean when I bring him back to life then he will be immortal just like me?

  “How do you feel?” I asked.

  He smiled at me and took my hand in his.

  “Much better now that you’re here,” he said.

  I couldn’t hold it in much longer. I jumped on him, wrapping my arms around his neck, finding comfort just by being with him.

  “I love you,” I said in his ear.

  He pulled away once I said that and looked at me with surprised eyes. A big happy smile then broke loose, showing me his straight white teeth.

  “You do?” he asked.

  I nodded, then the next thing I knew he lifted me off the ground and twirled me in the air, ignoring everyone’s stares. I squealed in surprise as he laughed happily. That sound was music to my ears. He then hugged me so close to him and kissed my lips.

  “I love you too, Stella,” he said, looking at me with sincere eyes.

  “I love you so damn much! And I’m looking forward spending eternity with you,” he told me.

  His words made me smile brightly. I felt my broken heart repair as I looked at the gorgeous man in front of me. I finally found my happiness in Aiden’s arms.

  I couldn’t wait to spend eternity with him.

  I wonder what the future has in store. Whatever might happen, I know that no matter what, I’ll be happy as long as I’m with Aiden. He’s the light in my dark life. And I’m the dark in his bright life. Together we even it out.

  He then grabbed my hand in his and looked at me with happy eyes.

  “Ready to go home?” he asked.

  I nodded.

  “Ready.”

  And with that, I pulled him through the border, and everything around us disappeared. We went back to a place we call home. With everyone we love waiting for us there.

  Our future awaits. All I have to do is open the door that will lead the way. The same door I opened that brought me to Aiden.

  I remember when I first crossed Aiden’s territory. I thought my life was going to end.

  But little did I know that was just the beginning.

  Epilogue

  Ten years later

  “Aiden!” I yelled furiously.

  Words couldn’t describe my anger for that man in this very moment. All I wanted to do was rip his gorgeous face from his sexy body and feed it to the annoying dogs that lived next door.

  Ever since we’ve moved to our wonderful new house nine years ago, which was made by him, it was very peaceful. But a couple years ago, some members of the pack bought the house that was next to us and brought their dogs with them.

  Now don’t get me wrong. I love dogs and all sort of animals, but you start to get annoyed when they keep you up at night or even wake up your five-year-old son who was at the age of two when they arrived.

  Wh
ich meant no sleep.

  I slammed the fridge close and screamed for my husband to come down or else he wouldn’t be getting anything tonight.

  “I swear, Aiden, if you don’t come here right now, you’re sleeping on the freaking couch tonight!” I threatened.

  Again, I was met with silence.

  I continued to curse some colorful words in my head as I walked out of the kitchen and into the living room to see Aiden hiding under the dining table with Ryder by his side. I heard some whispers from under there as Ryder giggled.

  I took a step forward and kneeled down to glare at Aiden.

  “What are you two doing?” I asked, but it was mainly directed at Aiden.

  Aiden gave me an innocent look as he pouted his lips.

  “What? Can’t a father just play hide and seek with his son?” he asked.

  I crossed my arms over my chest and raised an eyebrow at him.

  “You do realize that you both are hiding from no one,” I pointed out.

  “But we are, Mommy.” Ryder’s cheerful voice said, catching my attention as Aiden gave him a pleading look, not wanting him to say anything. My anger went away when I saw his toothless grin. I stared at him in awe.

  “From who, baby? Has Daddy been telling you scary stories again?” I asked.

  He shook his head at me.

  “No, Mommy, but Daddy said there’s going to be a very scary woman that will attack us, so we had to hide,” he explained.

  I then averted my eyes from my adorable son and looked to where Aiden was once at to see him gone. He was running toward the front door.

  Oh no he didn’t.

  “Aiden!” I yelled as I waddled after him, trying not to cause any pressure on my growing stomach.

  “You better slow down or else I will blow up,” I said, knowing that was going to stop him dead in his tracks.

  He turned slowly to face me as I stomped toward him. He looked at me with worried eyes.

  “Baby, you look gorgeous as always,” he said, but I smacked him right behind his head.

  “Ow!” he whined as he rubbed the back of his head.

  “What was that for?” he asked.

  I rolled my eyes at his exaggeration.

  “You know exactly why,” I said, glaring at him.

  “And don’t think by complimenting me I will forget about you eating my slice of cheesecake,” I hissed as I punched his chest.