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Chapter 15
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2020-11-13 02:44:49Chapter 15
>War room. Night<
My eyes are riveted on the uberwolf that has begun to transform into something that resemblance a human. A human I begin to recognize. I just can´t believe my eyes. Is this really happening?
I look into the uberwolf´s eyes, and those eyes that I know so well. Eyes that I would recognize anywhere. Those eyes belong to none other than...
“Robert...”
(Nolan) “How is this possible?” (Amelia) “Has he been a wolf all this time?” (Lucas) “He´s not. We would´ve smelled it if he´d been a wolf this whole time.” (Patrick) “This is messed up.”
Liam remains silent, just observing what is happening. I kneel down to Robert´s side. I can´t help but stare at Robert. “Robert, who did this to you? Who turned you into a werewolf?” Robert stares back at me, struggling to speak. “Laur, I´m so sorry. It was the only way.” “What do you mean, Robert? Did Stella do this to you?” Robert gasps for breath, his eyes rolling back into his head. He´s clearly in the stage of delirium. The pain he´s feeling must be extreme. “I am sorry for everything. The fire at Nexus Labs...” Robert´s grip on my hand tightens. “I orchestrated everything. I wanted to sabotage the head of research so I could move up in the ranks.”
“So you knew about our operations right from the very beginning.” Lucas said looking at him in disbelief. Robert nods. “Stella Dubois. She owns Nexus Labs. She knows about the wolves in Wolf Springs.” “So she´s the one who had you turned?” Robert shakes his head weakly. “I did all this. For you.” “Why, Robert?” “Because it´s the only way for you to choose me. If I become just like them...” Robert gazes from Patrick to Liam. “I thought maybe you would choose me. So I used the lab to do my own research. Using werewolf blood and a host of other chemicals, I managed to synthesize a formula that turned me into this.” “Robert, you shouldn´t have done that.” “But Stella told me to. Stella has my best interest at heart.”
Lucas puts a hand on my shoulder. “Stella has manipulated him into doing this. We should have seen it coming. We already knew that Stella was involved with the black wolves, we should have assumed that Robert would be vulnerable to her.”
I stare at Robert in shock as our mistake, my mistake dawns on me. “Oh, my god. Robert, I´m so sorry. I should have done everything to convince you to leave Nexus Labs. None of this would have happened.” “I´m sorry, Laura.”
I turn to Lucas. “Luc, we need to heal him.” “We can´t, Laura. His body is saturated with a myriad of other chemicals. It will react to the components of my healing potion. I´m sorry, Laura.”
Then an idea forms inside my head. “My blood. I can give him my blood.” “Laura, you can´t. Remember what I told you. Besides, your blood isn´t something that can heal magically anything.” “Nolan is right, Laura. You also have to consider the fact that Robert is not a werewolf. He´s more of a mutant. He isn´t supernatural.”
I don´t know what else to say. I know that if we can do more to help him, we would have done it already. But apparently, there´s no more hope for Robert. Nolan does have a point, and he is backed by Lucas´s extensive knowledge of potions-making.
“Oh, Robert.” Robert reaches out to touch my face. His hands are cold as ice. “Don´t worry about me, Laura. It´s okay. Everything is going to be fine.” Robert manages to give me a weak smile. Then he starts to convulse. “Oh, god! Robert!” Robert starts to bleed from his eyes and from the mouth. And then the veins beneath his skin turns black. “Robert!” I cry as I watch him die. His eyes stare back lifelessly at me. Robert is gone.
Lucas wraps his arms around me as I wallow in tears, burying my face in his chest for several moments. Stella isn´t going to get away with this. I suddenly feel this rage inside me and the tears stop flowing from my eyes. I will make her pay!
I look up at Lucas and he wipes the tears off my face with his hands. “I promise you; Stella is going to die for this!” “I expect nothing less, Laura.” Nolan steps up and rubs my back with his hand. “He was dead the moment he used that serum. There´s nothing more we could have done for him.” “I realize that now. I completely understand what you mean from a medical point of view. Science doesn´t mix well with the supernatural. There are variables to consider. Chemical reactions. I know that now and I agree.”
But Lucas knows better. Lucas puts his arms around me in an embrace once again, because he knows that I ramble when I´m about to breakdown. But this time I react with rage. “This is all happening because of me. Death has been my gift to the people around me.” (Patrick) “That´s not true, Laura. Don´t you ever believe that.”
A long moment of silence ensues until finally Nolans speaks up again. “What do you want me to do with the body?” I give Robert´s lifeless form another look. “Let´s at least give him a burial fit for a werewolf.” “As you wish.”
Nolan kneels down next to Robert´s body, and I put a hand on his shoulder to stop him. “No, let me do it.” I gather Robert´s body in my arms and, using my supernatural strength, I pick him up from the floor. The pack follows me as I carry Robert´s body out of the house, beyond the gardens, and into the clearing in the woods.
>Clearing in the woods. Night<
It´s a funeral procession for Robert. I lower Robert´s body into the ground. Amelia places sprigs of sage and monkshood around Robert. Liam then pours kerosene all over Robert´s body. Lucas lights up his zippo and throws it onto the body, which erupts in flames in an instant.
I watch as the fire consumes Robert´s lifeless shell. “Tomorrow is another day. But this time it will be different. We will work hard to prepare ourselves to defeat Stella. She will pay for everything she´s done. I promise you that.”
>Cliff. Day<
The next day, I wake up early to go for a run, wearing my training clothes. I end up at the cliff where I had my first transformation. I keep coming back here because this is where it all began. Robert used to be my connection to my old life. To a normal life. But that connection has now been severed. This is as far as I can go back to. To the moment I first transformed into a werewolf.
I look into the horizon, at the rising sun. “Robert.” Paying my last respects to Robert, I walk back into the woods.
>Woods. Day<
As I walk through the woods on my way back to the Knox Manor, my mind is filled with all the things I need to do for the day.
We need to set up a training room so we can all train together. Perhaps Lucas has a spare room somewhere at the manor that´s spacious enough.
Suddenly my thoughts are interrupted and I feel his presence. I stop in my tracks as I make out Patrick´s figure ahead. His white hair is unmistakable even in the distance. I walk towards him, stirring up a sense of relief inside me upon seeing him. He shows up at exactly the right moment when I need him the most. My heart begins to beat faster against my chest as i near him. Patrick reaches out a hand as I walk up to him. I stop in my tracks. Patrick waits. When I don´t move, he lowers his hand and he gives me a smile. “Have you been to the cliffs again?” “You know it´s my safe haven. It helps clear my head.” Patrick moves towards me and gives me a hug. He makes me feel the warmth of his body and I hug him back. “There will come a day when you will no longer need to go to the cliff to feel safe. I hope one day you will feel safer in my arms.” “I do feel safe when I´m with you. I´m glad that you´re here, Patrick. It´s amazing how you always show up at the right moment.” “I don´t know but somehow I always seem to find you. And I feel it when you need me. Like I have to be there to make you complete. Perhaps it´s because of the mark.” “Either way, I´m so thankful for you, Patrick.”
I stare back into Patrick´s eyes. I wanted to kiss him. But I shouldn´t. Patrick caresses my face in his hand. His lips are a few inches away from mine. If I lean in a little closer, our lips would touch. But I mustn´t.
“No, Patrick. We shouldn´t be doing this.” Patrick says nothing and continues to stare at me. How can I say no to that face? The lust I feel for him is undeniable. I struggle to keep it at bay. “I should stay away from you.” But my body says otherwise. Something is drawing me closer to him. Something that I just can´t seem to resist. What do I do?
Reaching into a reservoir of strength I never knew I had, I manage to resist the urges I feel. “No. We shouldn´t be doing this. Robert just died, Patrick.” “I understand, Laura.” “We better head for the manor. We´re going to start the challenge for Alpha today.” “About that.” “What´s wrong?” “Oh, nothing´s wrong. It´s just that I still need to do one last shift at the hospital. I filed for a leave of absence and it won´t be effective until tomorrow. I´ve already informed the pack about it.” “I understand, Patrick. I guess I´ll see you tomorrow?” “I look forward to it.”
I give Patrick one last look. “Good-bye, Patrick.” “Good-bye, Laura.”
>Lucas´s house. Living room. Day<
When I arrive at the manor, Liam and Noland, wearing their training clothes, are waiting for me in the living room. “Hey. Where are Lucas and Amelia?” “There´s an emergency at the bar. Lucas had to leave. Amelia is procuring some equipment for us.” Liam answered. I say nothing else. I understand that what they do is excusable.
“I guess you have to make it with me and Liam.” “That´s all right. Actually, is there some other spare room we can use to train? I don´t think the war room is big enough for us to use it.” “Actually, there is. Follow me.”
>Training room. Day<
Nolan leads me to a set of double-doors at the second floor. Liam trails behind. Nolan pushes the doors open and I find myself walking into some sort of training gymnasium. “Old Man Lobo used to train us here when we were young.” “God, I missed this room.” The room is filled with a combination of weapons and sparring equipment. I smile as I take it all in. “This is perfect.”
Nolan begins to take off his shirt. “Seriously, Nolan. Do you really need to be shirtless for this.” “I happen to sweat profusely. And my shirt will greatly affect the aerodynamics of my moves.” “Don´t do that.” “Shall we begin then?” “Are you ready to bleed?” “For you, I always am.” Nolan smiles at me mischievously. He pulls out a staff from a weapons rack. “I hope you don´t mind. Since I am at a disadvantage.” Nolan spins the staff with his hands. I say nothing. He´s quite right into thinking that he is at a disadvantage. I´m the descendant of the First Wolf after all.
Without warning, Nolan whacks me on the side with the staff. “Lesson 1: Always be alert. You can´t expect your opponent to give you a warning that they´re going to attack. Again.” Nolan bombards me with a flurry of blows. I have to say, he´s quite good at this. Liam, who´s watching from the sidelines, give out pointers. “Use your strength, Laura. You are stronger than him. Use it to your advantage.”
Nolan manages to land several more hits with his staff, until I´ve had enough of it. Bringing my fist down on the staff, I break the other half of it, leaving Nolan holding a short stick. Nolan smiles at me, impressed. “I figured it´s easier to just break the staff than to avoid it.” I turn to Liam. “Thank you. Those are really good pointers.” “Happy to help.” Nolan looks at me intently. “Now let me test your hand-to-hand combat skills.” We both assume a fighting stance. Nolan once again initiates the attack. He manages to land blows, but they don´t seem to affect me that much. I duck and dodge his punches, but what Nolan lacks in strength, he makes up for in speed. Nolan manages to knock me off my feet. I land on my back and Nolan is on top of me with one hand on my neck. “In time you´ll be able to move faster than I do. You just have to keep practicing.”
We stare into each other´s eyes. Nolan gives me a quick kiss on the lips. I his Nolan into the chest and I send him flying into the air. He lands in a crouch a few yards away. “Sorry, I can´t help myself.” “Stop fooling around, Nolan.” Liam just stands there, observing us. Nolan and I begin to trade blows once again. He manages to evade my punches. But I saw an opening and I´m able to knock him off his feet. I straddle him. That´s when I feel the erection underneath his pants. “Nolan, what the fuck?” I stand up as Nolan climbs to his feet. “What did I do?” “Are you ever going to take this seriously?” I feel this sudden urge to punch him in the face. I pull my arm back and drive my fist toward his jaw. Nolan is knocked off his feet, rolling on the side. He gets up, spitting blood. “Good. That´s how you channel your anger. It cost me a molar, but at least now you have something to use against Stella. You see, Laura. Sometimes you have to put self-pity aside and own your anger. Own your gifts. Embrace who you are. Those are the things that will help you win against Stella. Be the First Wolf. That´s what you are. Training´s over.” Nolan leaves us.
“Nolan is right, you know.” I just nod. Now I know what to do.
>Lucas´s house. War room. Night<
That night I gather the pack in the war room and stand in the same spot where Robert died. “I gathered you here tonight because I want to tell you something. After giving it much thought, I´ve decided that I want to be Alpha. I´ve realized that if I want to triumph over Stella, I have to accept who I am. And I can only do that if I accept my birthright, and that is by becoming the Alpha just like my predecessors.” “Being Alpha is in your blood, Laura. The position is yours if you want it.” Lucas said. (Nolan) “I´m willing to bow down before you.” “(Patrick) “The same goes for me.” (Liam) “Me too.” “You don´t understand. I want it to be different this time. I want to earn being Alpha. I want you all to fight me for it.”
