Chapter 4: Chapter 3
I lay in the middle of the floor, limbs sprawled out, thinking. Always, always, always thinking these damn thoughts that circled around like vultures preying on roadkill. Silence rang in my ears, the only other noise besides the occasional sound from Echo.
If Papa didn't die, would I still be in this situation? Papa would've protected me; protected his pup even from the Alpha. Echo purred in agreement, the sound coming out more like a snarl.
Jude promised he would help us escape. He gave us his word. But I don't know him well enough to decide whether he was just saying that out of pity or if he truly wanted to us to get out of here.
Either way, I was left with one question: can I trust him? There have been a few werewolves who have tried to save us; all have failed so far. They either got caught or chickened out, leaving me here, alone, feeling a bit more hopeless each time.
<Then we escape by ourselves.>
<Echo, that's impossible.>
<All we have to do is bite Damon's throat.>
<Easier said than done. Let's say we do kill Damon- what then? Axel will still be there, alive. He will hunt us down for killing his Alpha. And then there's the pack members who actually like Damon's rule-->
Echo cut me off with a low growl. <So you're willing to give up before we even try?>
<No! I'm just trying to make sure we survive after escaping!>
Our tense conversation ended there. We have had a few rough patched in our relationship as wolf and human, but that was to be expected. At least, that's what Papa said before he died. He told me to never give up on my wolf, for they will be my salvation, my other half, my soul.
My best friend.
My only friend.
<I'm sorry,> Echo said after a while, her voice laden with sorrow. <I don't->
<No, I understand. You just want to escape, as do I. But we have to think this through, to plan more. If we storm put of here blindly, then there's no telling what would happen to us.>
We lapsed into a comfortable silence, unlike the previous conversation. It is hard to apologize, especially if they're the only person (or wolf) you live with. Me and Echo always make up, and try to avoid going to sleep angry as Papa once told us.
"It's good to face our problems and confront them head on," he had said, squeezing my hand as he lay on his deathbed.
Confrontation is scary. I've lived like this long enough to know that thinking about all the horrible things Damon and Axel do to me is agonizing. Sometimes, when the pain gets to the point where it is unbearable, I hide it. Bury it deep, deep enough that it won't show up in my nightmares. Out of sight, out of mind, and when it's out of mind, it's not a problem. But I know one day those memories will resurface, and I'll have to face them again, and when that happens it'll be even more difficult.
I hope I'll have someone to keep me company when that happens. Someone to hold me, to tell me everything's going to be alright, to stay with me until the demons retreat and never come back. Whether they be a friend, a lover, or even a stranger, it doesn't matter.
"August!"
I jumped out of my thoughts, jerking my body to a sitting position, shocked to see Jude standing by the closed door of my room. He was rocking back and forth on his heels, his hands wringing behind his back.
"Good news."
I nodded, indicating I was listening.
"A rival pack will be attacking us at dusk."
I felt confusion flood my face. "How... is that good news?"
Jude pursed his lips. "Because that's how you will be escaping."
"I'm not quite following."
The Delta sighed as if it were obvious. "I have gotten word that the Blue Cloud pack's Alpha has some kind of beef with Damon. I have some friends there-- in the Blue Cloud pack-- that have been helping me gather information."
I whistled, impressed. I never would have expected someone like Jude to have friends, let alone be a double agent, and yet here we are.
Jude cracked a small smile before continuing.
"My friends in Blue Cloud know about your... situation, and have agreed to attack our pack as a means of getting you out. During the battle, I will have you sneak out while the rest of the pack is distracted with the attack. It'll be a bit risky, but it's better than nothing."
"And Blue Cloud's excuse for the attack?" I said. It would be unnatural for a pack to start a battle over nothing; even I, someone with little knowledge of pack laws, knew that.
"Blue Cloud's and Red Brook's territories border one another, and there have been a few squabbles over how far each pack's territory extends as of late. A territorial dispute is a perfect reason, partly because it's not even all fake. One of the reasons Blue Cloud agreed is because they'll most likely get a small chunk of our current territory."
<He has thought this through, and very thoroughly,> Echo commented. Even she was impressed, which was a feat in itself; it was rare that this she-wolf is happy with anything.
"I promised I would get you out of here," Jude said, studying my expression. "But it seems that you didn't fully believe me."
"Of course I didn't. You're not the first person to make such promises," was my curt reply. "I suppose even if your plan does fail, I'll have to thank you. For the effort"
"It was a group effort," he said with a small smile "but it will succeed. It has to."
Jude nodded his regards and tuned to the door just as I asked one final question.
"Why?"
The Delta paused, and without looking back at me, answered, "because no one should have to go though this."
He walked out, leaving me to contemplate my thoughts once more.
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