SWNOVELS Chapter A Second Chance!
His grandpa stands at the wood fire lit furnace. The pot on top bubbling and simmering. His grandfather grabs the spoon and gives it a last stir before taking it off the hot top.
Placing the pot on top of the counter he greets all the boys and waits for them to sit. One by one, he serves them a good heaping of food in a bowl each. Quietly, peacefully, they eat.
"I was sure I wouldn't see you until tonight. I'm glad to see you boys back so early. I have been worried since the moment you left." He lifts his head looking around towards the boys.
"Please! Help yourself to seconds if you'd like. I made plenty of stew for everyone. "
"Thanks grandpa. I really appreciate it. We were starving."
"So! Tyler, it's good to have you back safe and sound."
Tyler glances at him, a melancholic smile on his face. They all know this isn't over. Though he is safe now, they all know that the battle is still to come. And though they dread to think so, someone is bound to loose. Someone is bound to get hurt, and worst.... there will not just be blood shed, but lives will be lost.
Silence becomes a favorite among them. They sit quietly. All men looking down towards the floor, from time to time one or another steals a quick glance at the rest. Yet, no one shares to speak.
Blake stands, slowly making his way to a nearby window. Looking out onto the beauty of what surrounds them. Nothing but a tremendous and beautiful sight of mountain life!
He's startled by the sudden appearance of a great white wolf. The wolf stares back at him. Their eyes interlock, unable to look away, to move, to speak.
He mind links the wolf. Surprised by his response.
"Who are you? What are you doing here?" Blake demands.
"Your highness. It is an honor to finally have you back. We have been waiting for your return for over a thousand years. We are indeed honored to see you." The wolf vows down inclining one paw down, and prancing away. Leaving Blake startled and confused.
He looks towards the men, and stares at his grandfather who smiles at him, squinting an eye at him. He looks back outside and to a mountain top.
Realizing there are more great wolves next to the white wolf. His once over crossed over hands now down to his side.
Making his way outside, everyone looks at him, but like always... they dare not question his doing.
He steps slowly towards the top, glancing everywhere but nothing insight.
"Alexander...you saw that wolf too right? Who was he?" He asks his wolf. Alexander, laying on his stomach, lifts his head and scuffs his nose.
"Why don't you call out to him? He's bound to be here somewhere! Or the rest of the wolves that were with him as well." Xander suggests.
"Someone out here? Who are you?" Blake turns on his heel and glances every inch reachable by sight. A small stir out in the far startles him. Grasping his dagger from behind his jeans he dreads the fact to have to fight anyone.
He is tired, worried about Selene, and blood thirsty for Damian's head. The last he wants is to be surprised by someone who dares to cross him at this moment.
Far away, perhaps two or three miles away, he sees a group of human girls. Dressed in mountain gear with backpacks on their back, completely oblivious to Blake's presence on top of that mountain hill.
They laugh and talk among themselves. He becomes startled as Tyler comes next to him standing by his side.
"Blake! That smell? Where is it coming from?" Tyler's eyes darken, his mind clouded and intertwined with worriedness.
Blake narrows his eyebrows and glances towards the girls. "Ty, are you? ... fuck!" Both men stare at each other and Tyler's face goes from a cheery Ty who everyone knows, to a melancholy and regretful stare.
"She's human!?" He stares into Blake's eyes and Blake can't help but hang his stare.
"Ty, this is your second chance! You can't be thinking of rejection her. You know what that will do to you?"
"She's human Blake! She could never adjust to this kind of life. Specially with all this going on! She can die out there if she gets caught in the midst of all this."
Tyler's breath becomes erratic. The pull of the mating bond compels him to run after her. But he fights it, a single tear runs down his cheek and he turns away from her. Placing his hands on his hips, he hangs his head and shuts his eyes.
"Maybe it's better this way. She won't be hurt if I just let her go. She's human! So her body won't go through the same effect as I will if I just let her go through my fingers. She deserves to have a normal life! She will one day meet someone else who might make her happy....and she'll have a chance to have a happy family." He whispers his words, but deep inside each word uttered through his mouth hurts him like a dagger through his heart.
He doesn't know her, yet her own scent makes him love her already. A love he knows he must let go of now, before she can get hurt.
"She may go on with her life Ty! But what about you? This is our godesses gift to you! She's giving you a second chance at being happy! This is your chance for YOU to have a family of your own as well. Sure the life of a werewolf is tough, but you're not the only one who would be mated to a human. There are many wolves who have been partnered of to humans, give her the benefit of the doubt. You deserve this Ty! You deserve to feel the love of a mate." Blake reasons with him. Placing his hand on top of his shoulder as Ty hangs his head, bitting his bottom lip and clenching his fists.
He turns towards the girls hiking a few miles away. He nods slowly and turns back to Blake.
"No! I can't do this to her Blake. I just can't! I rather die then see her ever get hurt." Ty chuckles lightly and stares at Blake melancholicaly.
"I guess I understand now why you were telling me on the way here about my sister. Why you locked her in your room and left the boys guarding her door. You were just trying to keep her away from harm." He glances again as the girls begin to disappear as they farthen away.
"She smells so wonderful! Her smell is intoxicating. It's the most beautiful smell I have ever known. I will hold on to the memory of her smell forever." He slowly turns and begins to walk away.
A sudden shriek and the screaming of girls startle them. They both turn realizing a few male figures are surrounding the girls. Both Tyler and Blake run as fast as their legs can take them. It takes them just a few seconds before they reach the girls.
Grasping the group of men who surround the four girls. One by one, the men are gripped by their shirt and thrown across the earthed ground. Inexplicably three of the girls hold each other tightly to protect each other. But the beautiful figure of a long black haired girl with gray eyes stands frozen in place.
She views in mesmerment at how easily the two take on the group of men. She looks towards the right realizing one of the men holds a riffle and she runs, pulling the trigger upwards making the man miss his target from firing at Ty.
He's angered and throws the riffle to the ground, grasping the young girl by the throat. But soon is taken down and torn into Two by Tyler. Her eyes widen and mouth gawked open as her face becomes blotched with droplets of the man dead on the ground.
She takes a steps back and gulps down hard. "I'm not going to hurt you. I promise!" Tyler holds a hand out as he tries to take one step closer to her. She looks towards the girls who are still embracing each other and towards Blake who stands by a man who he had to tragically tear apart as well.
She turns back towards Tyler and before knowing, she finds herself embracing him tightly. Her arms around his neck as she silently sobs.
"Hey, hey it's ok. You guys are alright!" He eases her body and places his hands , gently cupping her face. Slowly wiping away her tears with the back of his finger.
"He.... he was aiming at you! I thought he was going to kill you!" Her voice breaking with the feel of the knot in her throat as tears continue to descend from her eyes.
"Why did I feel the need to protect you? I don't even know you! I'm sorry I don't want to seem like a psychotic, but.... I just-" she stares in his eyes, lost for words as he listens to her sweet voice, closing the gap between them.
He slowly Grace's her lips and kisses her softly. Her arms slowly wrapping around his waist. He places his forehead against hers and sighs deeply.
"My name is Tyler." He whispers, his eyes closed as he caresses her cheek with his right and holds her by her waist with his left.
"I...uhm.. I'm Emily. Emily Mitchell." Her heart raising at a million per second. Feeling her mind clouded and her body shacking.
"Thank you guys for coming to our rescue. We... we don't know how to thank you. But, this....this isn't normal! How did you manage to tear these guys into pieces like this I don't understand! " Blake walks towards the girls who are still frightened and amazed.
Tyler closes his eyes and sighs. "Emily, I'm afraid those guys are not normal guys. Just like us... they have the scent of a werewolf. Rogues to be exact."
"What? No! Werewolves don't exist." The beautiful blonde haired, blue eyes Chloe responds.
"I'm afraid they...we... do exist." Blake grips the girls arm and stares at her in her eye. Making her go into a hypnotic state. "You will forget this whole incident. You were taking a stroll and went back to your destination. You had a wonderful time hiking and never saw any of this. You never met us, you were never attacked by rogues. You will get your things and leave back home." He stares at each of the girls doing the same thing to each one. Commanding them to continue on their way as if this incident had never happened.
Tyler looks at Emily. His eyes lingering with a single tear threatening to leave his side. "Are you really going to make me forget about you too? I don't want to. I know we just met, but I.... I don't want to leave your side! I don't want to forget about you! Please?" Emily implores.
Her hand tightening around his waist, as the knot in her throat increases with the melancholy building inside her.
"I'm sorry darling. But you are better without this memory in your life." He whispers as she nods in disagreement with him.
"No! Please? Don't make me forget about you... don't leave me!" He pulls away as Blake holds her hand and looks deep in her eyes. With burden in his heart knowing he's doing it against his own will, he slowly utters his words and makes her forget about Tyler and the attack. Tears fall down her cheeks and Tyler can't stand to see her cry. He turns on his heel and walks away.
The girls, still in a slow trance continue to walk away together. It must of been two miles away from the attack where the girls finally regain full consciousness. Questioning how they got to where they are but for a few seconds. Coming to terms that maybe they were so engulfed in their conversation that they didn't realize they had walked so far.
Yet, inside Emily, she can't help but feel an emptiness and sudden sadness in her heart. The knot in her throat building up and a tear escaping her.
"Hey Em? Are you ok honey?" Chloe asks her best friend. Emily takes a big gulp to clear her throat and clenches her eyes. Involuntarily looking towards the peak of the mountain.
"I uhm... yeah! I'm fine. I don't know what's happening to me. Maybe I'm just tired." She looks back at her friends and smiles wiping away the stray tear.
"Ok come on guys... I'm starving. Why don't we pack early and head back home. I could really go for a BLT at Carissa's and an ice coffee. What about you guys?" Chloe suggests and all girls chuckle as they turn and head back to their camp sight.
Emily stops one last time, clutching the straps of her backpack and sighing.
"Why do I feel like I'm missing something now? I feel divided. Like I just lost something really important in my life?" She sighs and turns slowly back to her friends slowly walking away.