Chapter 59

They stop and stare, Freya no longer present.

Before anyone can say anything, we run. We bolt through the wall and land in the garden, and we don't stop. We continue to run, to hide, to escape.

We're monsters!

I've always killed in self-defence, and I had no problem doing it too. It weighed little on my conscience. Before I met Jaxson, there wasn't a day I had not killed. Every day was the same unending cycle of violence and bloodshed.

To survive, I became no different to them. Maybe that's why I hated being considered 'different.'

In the end, Kyro was right, *'to grow up around monsters - it's only right to become one.'*

No, not right - *sane!*

Still, I never went looking to kill someone. I never went looking for danger - it came to me. Sometimes I ran, sometimes I fought, but after, I'd always cry.

I'd cry when no one was looking.

I'd cry because I was alone.

I'd cry because I missed my mum.

I'd cry because I was tired.

I'd cry-... I'd cry-... I'd cry.

I just-... cried.

Slowly, my pain turned into hatred, and that hatred all zeroed in on my Father - in the end, even I didn't have the stomach to punish him myself.

Now, I killed Elias. I killed Elias in cold blood and took his abilities to carry on the Oracle legacy.

Nia's paws pound into the dirt, her furry body hurdling through trees. I don't notice how small the trees appear to be. I don't pay attention to my speed or that I'd already crossed into unclaimed territory.

"I'm sorry, Valerie," Nia whimpers through our shared minds. It only occurs to me now I have her back.

"N-Nia?" I whisper, peaking out of the small ball I put myself in. "Nia, I missed you so much!"

"I know, I missed you too! I don't exactly remember what happened, but it feels like it's been so long," She answers, her warmth seeping into every pore.

For a second, I recall how long it's been since I felt her on a deep spiritual level. I feel complete. I feel strong - I feel okay.

But then I remember what we did, and I remember what I left back at that house - and Nia runs faster.

"Valerie, Jaxson is missing us - you need to stop," Nia whines, confusion sits over my features - and panic.

"I-I thought..."

"No, it's you. You're in control right now," I didn't know. I'm a natural-born werewolf, and I don't even know how to stop.

Panic and fear surge through my blood as we barrel through the landscape destroying anything that comes in our way.

A large mountain inches nearer and nearer as I try desperately to turn or stop - even pass over the reigns to Nia. But I couldn't - I don't know how!

With my fear, I can feel Nia's. As the last second ticks, her body clashes with the mountain violently. Nia whimpers and comforts her slightly red shoulder.

A branch crunches from behind us, and her head instantly snaps up. Nia bears her canines at Jaxson.

I growl, warning him to back off, but he dangerously narrows his gaze, "shift," he says, but I couldn't. I don't even know how!

A pitiful whine escapes my lips. Jaxson tilts his head slightly, seeming to be in deep thought. "Shift!" He says again, and I respond with another whine.

I don't even realise I was backing up slowly, ready to run again. Jaxson doesn't understand me, and with his walls down, I have no chance of communicating with him.

"Valerie..." I glare at him through Nia's eyes, annoyance and frustration settling in.

*'I can't!'* I scream in my mind, his eyes widen the slightest, now it's my turn to tilt my head - confused.

"What do you mean you can't - you're a wolf," Jaxson states the obvious, only making my situation even more pathetic.

Still, did he read my mind or something? I couldn't reach him.

My eyes slowly widen. Could it be Elias's ability? He could speak via the mind when his eyes connect with mine. But it's only a one-way portal. I look at Jaxson's pale eyes, guilt holding my eyes, knowing the power I'm using isn't my own.

"I only ever shifted once..." I murmur into his mind, his posture remains passive, "during my first shift. Valak commanded me to turn back, and I never learnt how to be a wolf."

I wanted to shift so many times in that dungeon, but the risk of Valak hurting Nia wasn't one I was willing to gamble.

Jaxson takes a step, and I take another back. "Listen to me, your not a lone-wolf anymore. Nia isn't your enemy. Let your walls crumble and allow her to retreat into your mind," he explains softly - too softly.

'B-But before, I let my guard and we...'

"It isn't your fault - it isn't hers either. Your wolf has never tasted freedom. She's forgotten the completion of being within a pack. Also, she's been with Selene this entire time, and times work differently in death. What feels like a minute will probably be years for her. When she awakened, all she thought about was food. Let her in."

I listen to Jaxson, my walls crumbling, and every cell in my body fights to build it back up again. But when I don't, and I fall on my knees, naked. My hands and body still covered in Elias's blood as I wrap my arms around my legs peering up at Jaxson.

"H-He's-... He's dead!" I stutter. "I-I stole his abilities. I stole his life. He was good! He was good, and he just wanted to see the world become a better place, but now he's dead, and he's can't see it. He doesn't get to live in it when the time comes! It's not fair, Jaxson - it just isn't!"

"Valerie, even if it was your fault, Oracles always prophesies their own deaths. Elias has always known you'd be the one to kill him. Maybe that's why he expected so much from you," Jaxson explains, only for my mind to flashback to my mother.

"W-Why didn't he..." I murmur, confused.

"Because no one can escape fate, no matter how much they wish they can," - the problem is, I don't believe that. Do I?

So far, I'm playing right into their hands.

A deep, humourless chuckle sounds from behind us, causing both Jaxson and I to quickly rise to our feet, "Ahh, the worlds longest lasting lone-wolf has returned to our world, of strife and carnage."

Nia bleeds through my eyes our canines extended as we stare at the rogue. He's completely naked, so are the thirty or so other rogues behind him, so I don't feel too out of place, "I hear you're the Alpha Queen - Congrats!" He cheers mockingly.

His eyes then rake over my body, "that blood on you smells so sweet... I could lick every inch of you and never get enough!" He moans - quite literally.

Jaxson releases a devastatingly possessive growl as he steps in front of me, his large body covering mine, "We're not here for trouble, we j..."

"We're not here for trouble, we j-j-j- what?" The rogue mimics in a voice that doesn't even sound like me. He takes a step towards us. His eyes gleam sinisterly. "Lone-wolf, you stepped on our turf. Whether you want trouble or not, you've got it."

They barely blink before Jaxson has three hearts in his hand. Barely a drop of blood on him. Fenrir's eyes bleed through his - a smirk I've never seen on him comes to life and sends fearful shivers down my spine.

We all feel it - even the rogues.

"Ahh... It's been so damn long," he chuckles darkly - we all take a step back. He lifts his hand towards the thirty-odd rogues. His fingers spread wide open.

The air is tense in fearful anticipation and fear. Sweat slides down my spine, and my eyes widen, unable to say a single thing.

In the next second, his hand tightens into a fist, and all the rogues explode.

Blood rains from the skies. Limbs fly from all directions. Torn organs fall into our heads and on the flow beside our feet.

Eldora is no longer green. The tree barks are no longer brown. Everything is painted in deep crimson, and as Jaxson turns around - covered in blood and pieces of torn organs, his eyes as dead and cold as the day he was born.

I wonder, who the hell is Jaxson - fucking - Storm!