Chapter 180: Enemies

ARIA

For the past two hours, we’ve been silent.

I guess it’s safe to say that we’ve both been deep in thought. This situation isn’t being kind to anyone and it’s easy to mess things up when emotions are all over the place.

I don’t trust Wilson or Dorson, and I don’t trust their intentions. That’s a fact. I think that they want to separate us for their own benefit. I don’t know and can’t imagine what they will gain from this, but they don’t want me around.

How can I leave Ryder alone with those two greedy bastards? He needs me the same way I need him. We’re supposed to be a team against those two.

How can we spend time apart?

Moon Rose is so far away. I wouldn’t be able to see him, and he wouldn’t be able to leave. I’d have to spend every day worrying about his safety and I don’t know if I can handle that.

I know he’s terrified of threats to my life, but apart from Ray, there isn’t anyone else out to hurt me. We can make it through this.

If we just stick together, nothing will hurt us.

Nothing.

He stands up and this pulls me out of my thoughts. We make eye contact and the defeat I see written all over his face makes my heart hurt.

I know he’s thinking of what’s right for the baby and me, but Moon Rose? I’d be so deep in enemy territory that there’d be no way out if any danger were to befall me.

I don’t know about that.

We have to stay together. It’s the only way.

Ryder extends his hand and I take it. He helps me stand up while telling me, “We should head home and rest.”

I nod. We step toward the door and he stops suddenly and looks like he just remembered something.

“What?”

His eyes meet mine. “There’s a body there. I forgot all about it. Maybe…” He looks around. “Maybe staying here would be the best option.”

“What if Lizzie returns?” I ask, and that’s when I remember that I saw her packing earlier. Goddess, so much has happened just today that it’s easier for me to be forgetful.

“Yeah, you can’t stay here,” he mumbles. “I’ll find a way. Maybe we can—”

“We’ll clear the body and clean the place up,” I suggest. He gives me a bewildered look that makes me shrug. “It won’t be the first dead body we come across. We have to get used to it. That’s our home, Ryder. What else are we supposed to do?”

He nods and we head out, hand-in-hand. I stay close to him, assuring myself that everything will be fine. There’s nothing for me to worry about. Usually, I have an answer ready for everything, but about this, I don’t know. I’m opposed to it, sure, but I don’t know what’s right.

I guess we just have to think about it, like he said.

On our way home, I can’t help but notice the damage the attack caused. There are bodies everywhere, and they’re being thrown into piles. Ryder tries to shield me so I won’t see it, but he can’t hide all this from me. Not forever, anyway. War means death, and like I said, we’ll have to get used to it.

This won’t be the last attack.

“Has he been found?” I ask, referring to Ray.

“No. I didn’t see him anywhere and he wasn’t among the dead. The woods are being combed through right now to ensure that no enemy is lurking around, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike again.”

We reach home and exhaustion just washes over me. Ryder glances at me before opening the door. The whole house is dark. He turns the lights on and I look away from the glare for a moment.

Then, I take in the scene before me.

I’m shocked to see Lizzie’s father, dead and lying in a pool of his own blood. The sight makes my stomach churn but I force myself to—

“Wait,” Ryder says, voice laced with concern. “This isn’t right.”

I snap my head in his direction and he walks further toward the body to inspect it. I watch him as my heart starts beating faster.

What’s wrong?

“Someone was here,” he claims, pointing at a pair of bloody footprints all around his body. “Someone came in here after I left!”

I look around and then I spot something among the mess that is the living room.

A small suitcase.

Lizzie.

Just as I’m about to say this to him, she comes running out of our bedroom, holding a knife over her head. It all happens so quickly that I can barely wrap my head around it. Ryder doesn’t see her because he’s distractedly staring at the body with a furrowed brow. I open my mouth to scream, but nothing comes out, not that I’m aware, and Lizzie races toward me quickly with a look of pure hatred in her eyes.

She crashes into me and I fall back, hitting the floor hard. Pain explodes in the back of my head but I open my eyes and see her holding the knife up.

Suddenly, something white blurs right over me, and Lizzie’s weight is off my body. I sit up quickly, stunned. Ryder reaches me, eyes wide.

“Are you alright?” he asks desperately and breathlessly. “Baby, are you hurt?”

I start shaking my head, but the sight in front of us catches my attention. The white wolf—Anne—gets off Lizzie’s mangled body and turns around to look at me. My gaze flickers from her eyes to the spot on her neck where the knife is lodged.

I gasp, horrified, and Ryder turns to look, too.

Anne looks confused, but then she must feel the blade inside of her because she winces and seconds later, blood starts pouring down her white fur, staining it red. I get to my feet, ignoring the pain, and rush to her. Ryder gets to her first.

She falls to the side and her head rests on my lap. I can’t heal her with the knife still inside of her, so I pull it out and press my hands against the gash, applying pressure.

“Stay with me,” I whisper. “Please.”

I watch as the light leaves her eyes and a sob escapes me.

She’s gone.

Anne is gone.