Seven

JADE POV

Stabbing the big burly grey wolf was definitely a mistake, one I didn't quite think through before I went ahead with it. The animal's full attention was on me, and I took a step back as it stalked toward me, its bright glowing golden eyes holding mine captive. Its fangs were terrifying as it snarled, and the sound of it rumbled through my skin, causing goosebumps to trail up my spine, even though I tried to project no fear. Was this even real, there was no way that a normal wolf was this big. Was this the feral breed of wildlife they were talking about? 

This was not how I envisioned spending my night. Fighting crappy humans who took me for a damsel in distress? Yes. Fighting a big bad wolf who could rip me to shreds in one bite? A capital NO. My life could not end like this. If I got out of this mess, Ryland was going to pay. He was going to pay with his fucking life. 

The wolf took another step in my direction,  teeth snapping, his mane of grey soft hair standing to attention as it finally nudged me with its snout. It was a small nudge, but it was packed with so much power that I fell on my ass. I stared at it in surprise, then in panic as it reared back. My hand raised automatically to shield my face.

"Enough!" A voice that held bone-chilling authority cut through the night causing me to jerk my head in its direction. Two men stood under the huge oak tree and the branches of it shrouded their faces so I couldn't make much of it except for the outlines. They were incredibly built and the first thought that popped into my head was that if I had to fight them, along with the others, there was no way I'd win, not with the way my ribs smarted anytime I tried to move. The snarling of the group of wolves flanking their sides had me flinching back in shock. Were those their pets? 

Was I going insane? Maybe I had blacked out somewhere and was having an insane nightmare because there was no way this was real.

The wolf in front of me was staring at the two men, the intensity of its anger almost a palpable thing in the air, which was insane. How could I feel that it was angry if this was not some alternate dimension? Maybe I'd lost the fight with those hunters, maybe they'd stuck a knife in my throat and this was my last tragic vision before I died. Eaten by a group of wolf-raising cannibals. 

"You're trespassing on my territory, and you just killed the hunters under my protection, this wasn't what you said would happen at the last pack meeting" the man beside the first one that spoke thundered and the wolf growled, the sound of it reverberating through every pore on my skin. The hairs at the base of my neck stood at attention.

Was the man talking to an animal, or was the world suddenly going insane? I couldn't decide who to keep my gaze on.

"Shift wolf," the other man said in a calm voice and the grey wolf barked, shaking off whatever effect the man's voice had on him. He seemed to be getting more pissed off.

The air was suddenly suffocating and I felt like I couldn't breathe right. I clutched the dagger, knowing I was about to make another stupid decision but unable to stop myself from taking a chance that could guarantee my escape from whatever this situation was. I was Jade Alvarez. I never stayed down.

I reared back with force, aiming the dagger right for the large throat of the grey wolf, but I seemed to be moving in slow motion because the wolf suddenly morphed into a human form, and it all happened so fast, that I didn't have time to blink before a huge naked man was standing over me, his grip slapping close on my wrist and cutting off my blood supply. I cried out in pain, the sound of the fear that leaked through the sound jarring as stormy golden eyes stared at me. My dagger clanged against a stone, and the sharp sound of it made me wince as it kissed the dirt. 

I was definitely not alive anymore if a wolf was suddenly a man, a man that towered over me like a fucking giant. I was probably lying on my back under some tree somewhere bleeding out, and these were just illusions I was having.

Glancing at the other men, it almost seemed that I was not the only one who was surprised, I could see the shock on their faces, but they bore their shock with more grace than I could ever dream to.

"Let her go" the quiet voice that felt suffocating permeated the silent space again. 

His eyes raked over my form. "Why should I? She just tried to kill me, twice" his cold dark voice filled the air, the intensity of it much more potent than the man that had spoken before.

He turned to face the men, his grip on my wrist not relenting. A little more pressure than he was already exerting and I was sure he could snap it in half. I bet if I hit him real hard, he wouldn't even feel it but was I going to go ahead and try to hit him anyway? I would because everyone had a weak spot. All I had to do was find it. That is if this was all real, but whatever the case, I wasn't going to go down without a fight. 

"You trespassed. You promised the pack that you could handle the shift without any casualties but look around you Dearil, you've killed the hunters under Detinos protection" the man said, a graveness to his tone that made one wary. I wasn't even going to pity those shit-eaters after what they did. They deserved to be dismembered, they deserved to be chopped into little pieces and fed to the birds of the air. 

I was done with their bullshit. "Those dead men were fucking pieces of bull crap, they deserved to die and you both deserve to die too if you were their fucking sponsor" I spat, the fury within me increasing by the second. 

"Silence human!" The man snapped and the anger in my chest skyrocketed.

"You fucking shut… " the pressure on my wrist increased and I winced, the words dying in my throat as my gaze jerked to the man holding me captive. His eyes held a silent warning.

"Quiet" he ordered and it was spoken with such power that my mouth clamped shut even tho I wanted to tear out his eyes and scream profanities at him. The atmosphere felt chilly. I wanted to fucking wake up from whatever nightmare I was having.

He turned to face the men. "Your hunter was using the human for a spot, and the last time I checked father, that was not in the rule book that guides this sacred pack" he sneered, and the man he called his father stepped away from the shadow, and I couldn't help but gasp. His face was something I could only describe as wicked, he even put my father's angry scowl to shame.

"The humans have been warned not to trespass on our land, if they don't heed that warning, then the hunters take care of them before they can do damage, and sell them to us. How do you think we have all those human slaves that do all the dirty chores" he answered haughtily, his eyes becoming brighter.

"If it's such common knowledge, how come the other pack members know nothing of it and don't make up any stupid excuses, I know what you're fucking thinking in your head father" he rasped, the anger in his voice seeping Into my skin and making me breathless. It was a fucking strange feeling, and I wanted it to end. The tension felt thick in the air.  I knew that to the three of them, I didn't exist, so there was no point fighting. Yet.

"Watch your mouth Dearil, don't speak to our father like that" the guy next to him snapped and the wolf's beside them growled, almost as if they were getting ready to attack.

Dearil. I tested the name in my head, staring at the side profile of the man, animal, or whatever he was that was still holding my wrist between his large fist, his grip not losing or increasing its strength.

"The girl is mine and if you don't want the other pack leaders to find out about your dirty secrets then I suggest we bury whatever happened here tonight".

"Who are you to threaten me?'' the man roared, claws sprouting out of his fingers in a second. The wolves' barks rumbled into one, making my head hurt, but Dearil just stood his ground, unaffected by the aggression of the other party.

"Your son. And I'll suggest you quit antagonizing me, or I might just be forced to bring to pass the prophecy that was made about me while I was born Father, I'm sure you don't want that to happen," he asked, an eerie smile tugging at his lips.

The man who stood near Dearil's father paled, his fist clenching and unclenching.

"Is this how you want to play this game Dearil? And why do you want the human, you're going to kill her just like you did the last one, and she wasn't even human".

The word hit Dearil hard and I felt it because his hold on me increased and I cried out as I felt a bone crack. Fuck! I might really die tonight.

"What I do with my pets is none of your business."

Pet? I was nobody's pet, and I wouldn't start by being his. I was definitely having a nightmare, one I hoped I woke up from soon.

"You're barking up the wrong tree, Son".

Dearil smirked. "Try to stop me and let's see what happens" he threatened with a smile.

His father simmered, then turned to face the wolves. "Clean up this mess, make sure no one finds out about this night" he ordered, and I stared wide-eyed as the wolves all shifted into men.

His father stepped toward him until they stood face to face. "The human dies and you'll have the council to face. You have declared war against me, and I won't be forgiving your disrespect".

Dearil leaned towards his father. "I don't need anything from you, your forgiveness included. You should be happy I value the pack, or you'll all be dead" he said, the truth glaring in his words. The man stepped back, his claw becoming more extended, his eyes getting brighter, as he stewed in his anger, and then he was gone.

The man that had stood next to his father walked closer.

"It won't be long now Dearil. Without a mate, you are nothing" he said with a sharp laugh that rang through the night. "You. Are. Nothing Dearil".

Dearil stared at him until the man squirmed in uncomfortable silence. It was a tactic I used all the time and I appreciated seeing Dearil use it to its ultimate. 

The man rubbed at his neck as if to shield it from Dearil. "Don't trespass on my land again, or there'll be hell to pay" the guy threatened, his gaze shifting to mine. I stared him down, but the pain zapping up my arms from my numb wrist was getting to me.

The man also seemed to just vanish into the night and then it was I and Dearil.

The illusion was starting to dissipate I guessed.

He turned to face me and that's when I noticed that he was still fucking buck naked, and he had been all the while he spoke with his father. I kept my gaze up, refusing to look down and put ideas Into his head, but I had to admit, I really wanted to see all of him. Everything.

His gaze lasered in on me and it felt suffocating. My face burned, my skin warmed and he didn't say anything. Was he going to kill me, was he going to propose we fight?

"Mine".

The raspy sound of his voice broke through my thought and I watched him, took in the raw look in his eyes as his gaze swept over me like a caress. He was freaking gorgeous for an illusion, but the man was insane if he thought I was going to be his pet, it hadn't happened in the real world and it was certainly not going to happen in a fucked up dream.

I met his gaze head-on. "Not in this fucking life".