Big Bad Wolfie

It wasn't long before we got warriors in defensive positions and everyone else at least on their way to somewhere safe.

We were ready right as the sound of the all-terrain vehicles and running footsteps were nearly deafening with how close they were.

For a second I was confused as to how we could have possibly missed these sounds for so long, but then I remembered we had heavy machinery of our own transporting goods around.

It's a good thing we smelled them before they were right on top of us. If not, we would have been in real trouble.

But we noticed right in time, and now if Abaddon attacks we'll have a better chance.

Not as good of a chance as if we actually had a complete arsenal at our disposal, but back up will be here soon.

I hope.

I watched the fortified all-terrain vehicles with big guns on them, along with the runners, come out of the forest.

The runners also strapped to the teeth with weapons.

Oh.

Never mind then, there are about...

I picked my finger up to count how many warriors our opponent brought with them.

Hmmm, one, two, threee, ummm, five bazillion? K.

Stalling until backup gets here it is.

"I'm gonna go out there and distract him until backup arrives," I informed everyone, already headed for the door.

"How do you know they won't just blow you up?" Happy frowned.

"Trust me. Old Abby loves to talk about himself. Once I get him talking, he won't shut the h3ll up until well past backup has arrived."

"I hope," I tacked on.

"You're gonna stake your life on a hope," Wolfie glared at me. Clearly not fond of my idea.

"What else am I supposed to stake my life on?" I furrowed my eyebrows.

"Facts?" Wolfie shot back like it was obvious.

Says the one that staked his whole pack on false promise and flashy possibilities and got us into this whole mess.

Oop, that sounded bitter. We'll unpack that later.

"Nah," I waved him off.

"If anyone calls from my house, or things go to sh*t, update them on the situation here," I told them as a last minute thought as I left.

I have enough experience with Abaddon to know he'd rather shove whatever advantage he thinks he has in my face than blow my head off.

He's classy like that.

And we'll have to go with that as facts for now.

I made my way out the front door and approached the biggest tank looking thing, knowing that's where he'd be.

I stepped in front of it and crossed my arms with a bored look while I waited.

Then, as expected, the he-devil stepped out without any more prompting with an evil smirk on his ancient face.

You couldn't tell by just looking at him how many years he's got on him, but by the number of cautionary tales about him, you can only assume he's been around a long while. "Maria," he nodded in indifferent acknowledgment.

"Abaddon," I rolled my eyes. "To what do we owe the pleasure of your visit?"

Of course I already know, but time's not gonna waste itself.

"Very cute, Maria. Why don't you get your little boyfriend down here too, so we can all have a little chat," the evil smirk is back.

Wanna kill two birds with one stone? I don't think so.

"Yeah, no. So what do you even plan on doing here? I'm in charge now, and you know I'd never except a challenge, so what's your angle?" I glared at him.

Obviously it's to blow the place up, judging by the big guns, but it's distracting distraction distract time.

He chuckled at my ridiculous question and gestures at his army. "Do you think I need to officially challenge you to get back what's mine?"

I rolled my eyes even harder than before, "My House was never yours, and I thought you knew better than to mess with my family. Don't you remember what happened last time?"

His smirk turned to a nasty glare on a dime.

Spoiler alert, after my dad met my mom, it didn't end up well for him.

He hastily schooled his expression and cleared his throat. "Your parents were formidable opponents," he growled. "But it was no secret your house started going down hill after their deaths. I just took the opportunity I saw and ran with it," he shrugged. "It was just a cherry on top that a new alpha was on the rise not too far away," he glanced up at a window I knew Wolfie was watching us like a hawk behind.

He's not wrong about the slight downward spiral, but here we are. My house, still under my family name.

Y'know what, that's a good comeback.

"And yet here we are," I tilted my head and smirked at him, "My House, still under my family name."

I mean, not for a second there, but we got it back.

"Not for long," Abaddon shook his head.

Well, certainly for as long as I can stall for.

"How did you even find out about me taking my land back?" I continued with a frown.

I tried to keep it under raps for as long as I could, but I knew it wasn't going to do much against him.

"Oh Maria, I have eyes everywhere."

I forced my eyes not to roll to the back of my head.

He's always saying dumb stuff like that.

...The sad part is that it's true.

"But also the fact that I didn't get my 25% cut these past few weeks," he tacked on.

I raised an eyebrow and couldn't help but glance back at the window with Wolfie in it.

"25% of what?" I asked suspiciously, while having an inkling of an idea.

Please don't say everything.

"Your blood collections."

Oh, thank the goddess.

He's not a complete idiot.

He chuckled. "You look relieved. You should be. You're lucky your little boyfriend drives a hard bargain."

I still frowned. "What is the 25% paying for?"

"His pack's protection," he said lifting his chin.

I raised an eyebrow. "Protection from what?"

"From future attacks," he shrugged simply.

"So from you and your house?" The eyebrow raised higher in un-amusement.

"Precisely."

"Of course," I couldn't stop the eye roll this time.

"But since your little boyfriend broke the contract," he started.

I wonder if he knows about how close he is with Wolfie and the whole boyfriend thing or if he's just insulting him.

"By missing the payment and not informing me of all of his affairs concerning your house," he continued, "he no longer has that protection."

"But he does have me and my house, and you've obviously greatly underestimated what we're capable of," I raised my chin.

At least I hope so.

I am only just now getting a whiff of backup in the distance.

I hope they've taken note of Abaddon's position in the front and are looping around the back to remain undetected.

Maybe that's why they smell so far.

Yeah, we'll go with that for my sanity's sake.

Abaddon only laughed loudly.

I felt my blood pressure raising a little.

This @sshole is gonna give me heart problems with all this stress.

"Ah yes, is that why everyone is hiding?" He raised an arrogant eyebrow.

"They're not hiding," I snapped back, "We were just hoping for a peaceful resolution to this."

That's a lie. They're definitely hiding, but he doesn't need to know that!

"Sure," he rolled his eyes, indicating he already does. "I hate to break it to you, Maria, but this is not going to end peacefully."

Oh, was that your plan? I couldn't tell by all the guns.

"Listen here, Abby-"I started to spew more bull crap in the hopes of buying time.

"No, I'm done listening to you, child," he barked.

I rolled my eyes hard. "Ooh, ouch. Child? Haven't heard that one before."

"Torro," Abaddon snapped suddenly.

At the call, one of the runners stood at attention and activated his gun, making it light up.

Oh sh*t.

I tensed, getting ready to defend myself.

Preferably before I get a hole blasted in me.

"End her."

The weapon made a charging up sound at the flick of a switch.

Ummm, how about no?

"Wait wait wait, We seriously need to talk!" I frantically said, still ready to pounce on the man with the gun if this doesn't work.

"Yes Master," the man said, the both of them ignoring me as he aimed.

"Goodbye, Crimson," The devil spawn spat my family name.

I was ready to run at the warrior, but before I could, he dropped to the ground in dead weight.

Uh...

As did about thirty other warriors around us.

All of them had spears, daggers, and throwing knives sticking out of them.

"Oh sh*t," slipped out of my mouth.

Black lines replaced their veins immediately, the skin around the wounds taking on a similar shade soon after.

"What the H311?!" Abaddon exclaimed before he could get a good look at what was happening.

But I've seen all I need.

We're f*cked.