Hidden Creek

Chapter Six

    “War, Haven? Are you f*****g insane?” Davidee growled.

    “We’re smaller than we’ve been in hundreds of years. It’s unacceptable, and I’m not going to sit here like a wounded animal.” I scoffed. “We’re going to increase our numbers like we should have been doing all along. Like idiots, we let Half Blood and Salt Water take advantage of the Coyotes destroying our village and killing most of us.” He shook his head and opened his mouth to protest but I cut him off. “They knew we were weak and used it to keep us weak. We’re done. From now on, we make moves to take back our role as the Apex Clan. Understood?”

    “This is a mistake.” He hissed.

    “Maybe, but it’s the order your Alpha has given you. No recruiting from other packs, we don’t need anyone catching on to what we’re doing. Go to that dive bar where humans cosplay as us and invite them back here. Every wolf made from now on gets the Alpha’s bite.”

    “There’s no actual study that shows an Alpha bite makes a stronger wolf than any other bite.” 

    “We can’t take the chance. This isn’t just growing our numbers, we’re growing our army.”

    “What has gotten into you?” He scoffed.

    “The yotes took everything from us, now we’re going to take everything from them.”

    He shook his head with a sigh. “You’re going to get the rest of us killed.” Without another word, he turned on his heel and stormed out. 

    “Drama queen.” I muttered under my breath. God, my side itches. I twitched uncomfortably, fighting the urge to scratch it. The bandage pulled back easily, and I peered down at the closing wound. It was jagged, rough, and the stitches stuck out at odd angles. For just a second, I flashed back to the bar, claws scraping down my side. Then there was that smell. It was floral, with hints of sweet honeysuckle, and I couldn’t help but take in a deep breath. The smell was gone, nothing but a memory. “Who is he?” I murmured as my eyelids got heavy. I’ll find out. After a quick nap.

                                                                                            ***

                                                                                            Nik

    The woman dripping with blood was haunting me. Every time I turned around, she was there for a second. As soon as I blinked, she was gone. “Nik? Everything okay?” Myra smiled up at me, her hair draped lightly over her naked shoulder.

    “Hm?” I gazed down at her and pulled the blanket a little tighter around us.

    “Is everything okay? You seem, I don’t know, like you’re a million miles away from here.” 

    “Oh, yeah. I’m fine.”

    “Nik... Is this about that girl you saw? You couldn’t have helped her.” She sighed. “You called the cops, that’s everything you could have done.”

    I rubbed at my forehead with my fingertips. “She could be dead by now for all I know. The cops couldn’t get any kind of lead on her, and the bar was empty and locked up when they tried to check it out.” 

    “You’ve gotta trust them to do their jobs, Nik. Just try not to think about it, okay?” She brushed her hair back and smiled up at me seductively. “Maybe I can help distract you, hm?” She murmured.

    I chuckled bitterly. “Myra, you think the solution to every problem is s*x. I have to figure out who she is and make sure she’s okay.” 

    “Seriously? You will find any reason to push me away.” She hissed while throwing off the blankets and getting up.

    “I’m not pushing you away, Myra.” I scoffed. “I’m allowed to be worried about a bloody woman on the side of the road! It would be way more concerning if I brushed it off and didn’t care at all about the fact that she could be dead.”

    “The fact that you’re concerned isn’t the problem. The fact that any time things start to get serious between us, you freeze up and push me away is the problem. I mean, really, Nik. Do you care about me or not?” She paused in pulling her clothes on, staring at me.

    “Myra...” I opened my mouth to say more, but nothing came out. What am I supposed to say?

    “No, that’s enough. Your silence speaks volumes.” She shook her head angrily. “I love you. So much, Nik. But I’m tired of your fear of commitment.” A tear slipped down her cheek, and even though I couldn’t force myself to love her, it broke my heart to hurt her.

    “I want to love you. Really, I do.” I sighed. But I can’t.

    “But you’re more intrigued by a blood soaked woman you saw on the side of the road for point two seconds than the woman you’ve been dating for two years.” She grabbed her purse and stormed to the door. “Don’t call me, Nik. I’m serious this time. We’re done.” Frustration boiled inside me as I watched her leave, slamming the door behind her.

    I grabbed my phone off of the nightstand and texted Lawrence.

    ‘Myra blew a fuse again -N’

    After about a minute of me staring at the ceiling, my phone chimed.

    ‘Let me guess

    It’s over for real this time -L’

    I let out a bitter chuckle.

    ‘Yeah

    Good thing she made that decision 

    I can’t take her s**t anymore -N’

    ‘What happened this time -L’

    ‘Remember that girl I told you about

    I’m worried about her

    M thinks I’m using mystery girl as an excuse to push her away -N’

    ‘Bro I’m not even the one who saw her and I’m worried about her -L’

    ‘Right 

    Whatever though 

    Want a beer -N’

    ‘Down

    Regular place -L’

    ‘I was thinking Red Moon Tavern -N’

    ‘What

    So you can get us killed too -L’

    ‘Shut up and meet me there in 20 -N’

    ‘On it -L’