Chapter 8

"Alright, so Lin and I will share a bed," I stated as we walked into the room.

Apsel immediately had an issue with it, whining about sleeping in the same bed as another man. I quietly began to search through my bag for my pajamas, not having a care in the world what Apsel wanted. Obsidian was quiet as well, he simply let out a sigh and laid down on the one bed and began texting. I finally found a pair and went into the bathroom, chuckling to myself as Lin continued arguing with Apsel. 

"Fine! You can sleep on the floor," Lin suddenly snapped.

"Excuse me?" Apsel sneered. "I am not sleeping on the floor! Why doesn't Obsidian?"

"He's injured and an alpha, you're just a warrior in training."

"So?"

"You're on the floor or sharing the bed with Obsidian." 

"This is ridiculous!" 

Finally having enough, I walked into the room and slapped Apsel on his head. "Will you quit complaining? Obsidian, what would you rather?"

Obsidian slowly looked at me, once again with an irked expression. I sighed and began tapping my foot, waiting for his answer. Seeing as I wasn't going to give up, he finally shrugged. I pinched the bridge of my nose, leave it to my luck that I'm stuck with a cranky alpha and an idiotic warrior with a fragile ego. 

"Apsel, listen, either you sleep on the floor or share a bed with Obsidian," I sighed in defeat, fatigue taking over.

Apsel folded his arms across his chest, "I'm not sleeping next to him."

"Floor it is."

"Why don't one of you sleep in the bed with him? It would be less awkward," Apsel suggested, causing Lin and I to look at him as if he had two heads.

Lin said nothing while she slapped him on the head, "Less awkward? A guy and a girl sleeping together who barely know each other." 

"Yeah, it's not like you're having sex!" 

"Listen, I don't like sleeping beside strangers and Sylvia has a thing with kicking when she sleeps."

I gaped at her, "Just tell all my secrets why don't you?"

"Nothing can be better than the secret I know about you," Apsel snickered.

I flashed him a glare before heading towards my bag and grabbing stuff to clean Obsidian's wound. While Lin and Apsel have this stupid argument, I'll do something productive and I know Obsidian isn't going to clean it. I set the items down on the nightstand and turned to face Obsidian.

"Shirt off," I commanded.

He raised an eyebrow, "Why?"

"To clean your wound, I know you aren't going to do it."

"I was."

"Mhm, when?"

He opened his mouth to argue, but sighed, "Fine."

Holding back my shock when I saw his very muscular chest was extremely difficult, even my wolf was howling with lust. Shaking the thoughts from my mind, I quickly focused on the task at hand. We said nothing as I gently removed the bandages, frowning at the sight of his wound. The skin around it was bright red and warm, the wound itself wasn't even closed all the way. The bandages were somewhat soaked in blood and it was smeared all over his side. I can't bring myself to try and imagine how painful this must be, but by his wincing, I had an idea. 

I dampened a cloth in water and a mild soap to gently wipe away the blood, trying my hardest to cause less pain. With clean, warm water I gently began cleaning the wound itself, ignoring his growls of pain. With soft hands, I spread polysporin onto it and began re-wrapping it. I carefully made sure the wrapping wouldn't fall open before leaning back and releasing a breath. 

"There, it should feel a little better tomorrow morning," I said quietly. 

He winced as he sat up further, "Thank you."

"You're welcome." 

"So, Syl..."

I turned towards Lin, making a sound telling her I was listening. She nervously bit her lip, which was a sign she was about to suggest an idea that I wasn't going to like. "Um...would you be mad if you slept with Obsidian? I hate this idiot too, but I don't want you being near him if I can help it."

I blinked, trying to digest what she had just asked. She wants me to share a bed with Obsidian, someone who I would rather be five miles away from. I kept trying to come up with a response that wouldn't include me strangling her, but I couldn't seem to think of one. 

"What?" I asked while gaping at her, giving her a what-the-fuck look.

She bit her lip again, "It's just.... well, Apsel pointed out that maybe since you're a little smaller that it would be better?"

"Lin, come outside with me really quick."

"Okay."

As soon as the door was shut, I flicked her on her forehead, "Why the hell would you think that would be a great idea?" 

"He's not going to shut the hell up and he threatened to push us out of the bed! I'm tired, I want to sleep, and I know you wouldn't feel comfortable sleeping next to him!"

"Like I'll feel any more comfortable sleeping next to Obsidian?"

She groaned, "Probably a little more than sleeping next to Apsel!" 

"Lin, if you want to be my beta one day, you need to be able to put him in his place. Tell him no, he neither sleeps on the floor or with Obsidian. I'm not sleeping beside the guy. I don't want to share a bed with any man I'm not in a relationship with. You know this!" 

"Okay, okay fine.... could you tell him though?" 

"Fine." 

I barged back into the room and grabbed Apsel by the ear before throwing him onto the bed with Obsidian, "You sleep here or on the floor and that's final. Test me again and I'll have to sleep on the balcony. Your choice." 

"But—"

"No. Keep pushing and I'll blame the hunters for your disappearance when we come home without you." 

He gave me a bewildered look as I climbed into my bed, "Now, get some sleep. We're going to be up at five to start searching." 

I glanced over at Obsidian to see him giving me an odd look, when he saw I noticed he swiftly looked away. I could see a hint of red on his cheeks but told myself I saw things. There's no way a king like him would be blushing over looking at a girl like me. 

"Okay, the first spot is around here. Don't go too deep into the woods, we just need to find an entrance of some sort," I explained, facing the group.

Apsel frowned, "Like an underground entrance?"

"Yes, these hunters have to be using the rogue area to watch us. The rogues wouldn't tell us nor would the hunters keep them alive if the rogues even attacked them. They're most likely using rogues as their experiments." 

"Are we splitting into groups?" Lin questioned. 

"We can, if you'd like."

She nodded, "Apsel, since you love to harass Sylvia nonstop you'll partner with me. Obsidian, would you mind partnering with Syl?"

"Sure," he replied with a shrug.

I nodded, "It's settled then, me and Obsidian will go that way and you can go the opposite." 

"Deal."

~*~

We scanned the area for a few hours but kept coming up with nothing. We did find a few traces of silver after I had accidentally brushed against a bush with it. I paid no attention to the burn on my arm though, too focused on the job in front of me. I want to prove Obsidian wrong, but at the same time, I want to protect my pack from these monsters. It's ironic how they consider us the monsters when they're the ones killing us for no reason. I can't remember the last time a werewolf had attacked a human, at least no one did while I've been alive. I'm sure, in other parts of the world there have been a few, I wouldn't put it past any wolf. Especially if they're rogues, they're completely feral and could care less about rules or morals. 

I couldn't help but notice how beautiful the forest was as we walked through it, the smell of the earth helping me to relax. A pleasant breeze whispered through the trees, causing leaves to float through the air before landing on the ground. The dirt below was moist from the rain shower last night and the leaves still held a few droplets. 

"I don't think we're going to find anything today, we should turn back." 

Obsidian's voice brought me out of my daze, bringing me back to the dreaded reality. I nodded in agreement, my legs growing tired from walking for a while. Without a word between us, we turned back towards the hotel, knowing Lin and Apsel were most likely waiting for us. 

"They're around here," I murmured.

Obsidian nodded, "I know." 

"So, you're finally believing me?"

"Sort of, but a few traces of silver aren't enough to prove anything."

I shrugged, he had a point there, "I know." 

"If I had to take a guess, their entrance would probably be between area two and three. Unless they have random silver spread out for miles." 

"That would be a waste of silver."

"They're not the smartest, they would most likely make a mistake like that," he replied, his voice lacking any hint of vexation for the first time. 

I smiled, "Are you actually talking to me without being annoyed?"

He let out a soft chuckle, "Don't get your hopes up."

"Don't worry, I don't have much with you anyway."

"I guess you are somewhat smart after all." 

I let out a small laugh, feeling somewhat proud of myself for getting him to open up a little. Even if it was just a small chuckle.