Suits and Rogues

Chapter 20

  The place was eerily quiet when Odin stepped inside the company’s building. Only a few lights were on; making the place darker and easier to hide in. However, because of the absence of his wolf, Odin’s senses weren’t as strong as they use to, so he couldn’t see clearly as much as he wants. It’s a good thing that Odin has accurate memory of every crook, cranny, and items of the whole building so he knows the best routes to take him to the highest floor. Knowing that the guards will currently be patrolling the shadier parts of the building, Odin opted to take the main routes.

   Threading as quietly and as undetected as possible in the spacious and tall building can be quite a challenge. Because it’s currently night, the atmosphere is quieter than it is by day. While his footsteps can be drowned out by the nightlife noises, the higher Odin goes within the building; the quieter it gets and the harder it is to mask his noise. Due to being an alpha and a huge male, his footsteps are naturally loud and even if he can somehow quiet it down, the vibrations his footsteps make on the ground will be detected by mortals and creatures alike.

   Detecting movement a few feet in front of him, Odin turned the other way around to avoid them. That’s the 13th and 14th guys among the 37 guards he counted inside the building when he was observing outside. The rest are probably higher above. Since the building has 236 floors, Odin is guessing that they are probably scattered above and won’t be patrolling in groups in order to cover all the building’s floors. It’s both an advantage and disadvantage for Odin’s part. It’s advantageous in a way that the probability of him being detected by guards are slim because they are focused on patrolling duty and are probably alone, thus, having weaker detection abilities. At the same time, it’s advantageous because if a guard is alone, that would mean the place will be more quiet and the risks of Odin being detected by his footsteps and presence are higher.

   Still, he persevered. Like a thief in the night, he slithered inside the building and made his way to the top floor while avoiding the guards to the best of his abilities. Too focused on getting to the top undetected, he was not able to detect that he was not the only one slithering inside the building.

   Taking the final stair leading to the highest floor, a chill went through him – a warning of the danger ahead. Looking around to make sure no one’s following him; the darkness of the night had served as his cloak along with the ones pursuing him for he overlooked their presence in the darkness with his weakened eyesight.

   Odin cautiously ascended the steps. Staying close to the walls, he took his time to survey the surroundings in front of him. Thankfully, the mess wasn’t completely cleaned up yet. The bodies of the deceased enforcers were thankfully cleared out but their blood remained stained on the furniture. The debris and other mess caused by his brief fight with the hellhound were still present along with the broken pieces of glass from the wolf’s eye. From Odin’s view at the stairs, he could clearly see the entirety of the lounge area along with the divider separating the lounge area from his office. The blind spot, however, is the corner area beyond the wall on Odin’s right. If an ambush was to be staged, their hiding spot would be there. Thankfully, the elevator is situated beyond the wall on Odin’s left and it is adorned with reflective glass. Odin could clearly see that the glass around the elevator was untouched and just his luck, some parts of it reflect the blind spot on Odin’s right.

   Knowing that his eyesight is weaker than normal, he took his time observing the reflection of the blind spot for any sign of presence while keeping an ear behind him in case someone attacks him from behind. 15 minutes passed with no signs of life. The only sounds he could hear are the gentle winds outside and his pounding heart. He wonders if anyone could hear its beats.

   Despite the clear signs that Odin’s alone, he still can’t shake off the feeling that something’s wrong. His instincts are always right so he’s determined to listen to it this time. Still, waiting makes him more uneasy as much as ceasing the chance. He has a strong feeling that whatever he does will somehow get him in trouble. If he waits in his spot, sooner or later, he’ll be found out and caught, and if he ceases the chance, he might fall into a trap.

   Damn it! What should he do?

   If he lets this chance pass, there’s no guarantee that he’ll have another chance to get inside the building again – much less having the hellhound’s scent remain in the floor. If he doesn’t cease this chance and chose to postpone it, there’s no certainty that the hellhound’s scent wouldn’t be wiped out or fade by the time he could get in the company again. And worse, all evidences, clues, and possible trail might all be gone if he leaves now.

   No, he’s already here so he’ll make it count. Consequences be damned!

   Checking the surroundings one last time, he made sure all the CCTVs are off and recalled the footage the investigation team managed to get on where the hellhound emerged. He remembered that the angle came from the left side of the window in the lounge area. That window happened to be the one beyond the wall on Odin’s right – the blind spot. And from the video, the hellhound appeared on the shadowy part of the lounge area and that happens to be the area on the corner where the divider is. Locking his eyes on that area, he analyzed the chances and angles and confirmed it. Checking the perimeter once more, he ceased the chance and sped up towards the area. The sooner he could get things done, the sooner he can escape.

   Almost immediately, he caught a whiff of the hellhound’s very faint scent – fresh pine and mint. It’s a very natural scent and without willing it to, the hellhound’s scent washed over him and gave him a sense of comfort and familiarity.

   Wait...it is indeed familiar. Odin suddenly remembered the last time he patrolled his pack’s territory. On the Western border when he detected a rogue, he caught the same scent just as he was about to leave. He remembered how worked up his wolf had gotten that time but maybe because of the rain and lightning, they were not able to comprehend that the scent belonged to their mate. The hellhound’s scent the following encounters he had with the hellhound was seemingly muted - in a sense that Odin can take in his scent but there’s no scent at all; just air with a certain energy to it. But now, he’s sure that the scent belonged to the hellhound from how his body is reacting.

   This is good. At least now, he has a lead and a clear scent to search. That’s one step ahead in hunting the hellhound.

   Just then, Odin’s eyes saw that the area in which the hellhound emerged from the video had some traces of fire. The area seemed charred like some sort of fire had burnt the area. That’s odd...Odin had watched the footage enough times and there was no fire. There were also no scents of fire and smoke from that day so it’s unlikely. Then what’s with this pattern? Why does it...?

   Odin reached out a hand to touch the area. To his surprise, his fingers barely touched the surface but it started to disintegrate like ashes to the wind. Almost everything disintegrated except the depth of the floor. But as Odin watches, it seems to slowly do the same – like death is eating at it. From the suddenly dead plant near the area along with the scent of dead insects, that’s highly likely.

   The discovery made him uneasy. It also made him doubt the knowledge he currently has about the hellhound. All he knows about him is that he’s a male, a rogue, and an alpha who has some sort of shadow power that he uses for stealth and transportation. Odin still has a hard time wrapping his head around it but he can’t deny the truth that’s already staring at him in the eye. With this recent discovery, the hellhound’s power doesn’t seem limited only to shadow stealth and travel but decay and death too.

   The more Odin finds out more about him; the more he understands why he’s called the hellhound.

   At that realization, it made him wonder who gave him the nickname “hellhound”. Judging from the data about him, no one ever survived being hunted by him, so the chance of someone knowing enough about him and come up with the nickname while also sharing it to others were very close to none.

   Unless...that’s the very reason the hellhound hunted and killed them in the first place. If that’s the case, then what is the reason the enforcer Odin unknowingly got into his pack was hunted by the hellhound? Could it be that the enforcer had known something important that the hellhound didn’t want anybody else to know?

   Sensing that he’s drifting off course, he shook his head and continued with his investigation. Still keeping his ears’ focus around him, he devoted the rest of his senses to find trails of the hellhound. Seeing nothing but debris, blood, and some footsteps, he swept his eyes around the perimeter again before following the scent trail to his office. In there, the scent is a bit stronger and he traced it along the edges of his desk (as if the hellhound ran his hands over it), around the desk, behind his chair, towards the walls and the wolf eyes window, and back to the chair wherein the scent is the strongest.

   Damn that hellhound for prancing around my office! Odin cursed but it was half-hearted. His body is surprisingly at ease after scenting his mate’s scent and there’s an ache in his heart. Already, Odin figured out why the hellhound appeared in his office. From his pattern around the office, the fact that the hellhound left his scent that one time despite keeping it muted in the past encounters, and leaving Odin this so-called “gift”, it was obvious that the hellhound was staking his claim on Odin while also courting him.

   Odin face-palmed himself at the realization. “Damn that f*****g mutt” he cursed once again but deep down, he was touched at the gesture. ‘This is what probably feels like to have a mate’ he thought as he placed his head on his forehead in an attempt to hide the tears falling from his eyes. Odin also knows of the risk the hellhound took when he left his scent. Hiding his scent was one of the reasons why the hellhound was almost invincible and untraceable. By leaving his scent for Odin, he also risked giving his enemies information and advantage to hunt him. The very fact that the hellhound still did it despite the threat it may come to him just for Odin’s sake made Odin feel even more guilty at what he’s about to do. And even if he refuses to admit it, he misses the hellhound.

   “f**k!” he cursed. But this time, at himself. Plopping down on his chair, Odin clutched his head in his hands as his emotions pour out of him. Slowly but surely, Odin is warming up to the hellhound. If it weren’t for the problems Odin is currently facing, perhaps he could find it in himself to give the hellhound a chance.

   But he can’t...

   Their pairing is destined to be doomed one way or another. Odin couldn’t invest himself into anything that will end up in failure. It’s a waste of time and effort no matter what it is.

   Looking at the view of the moon outside, he can’t help but ask once again what he did wrong. Was everything that he has done not enough? He had tried his best for everyone’s sake. Was it still not enough? If his best is not enough, then what will?

   Too occupied in his thoughts, he was not able to realize that the trap has been set. By the time he heard that familiar click, it was already too late.

   Sky blue lights suddenly appeared around the place and an agonizingly loud sound started piercing Odin’s hearing. A loud cry of pain escaped him as he covered his ears in an attempt to lessen the emitters’ impact. Despite the fact that his senses are dulled, it was still painful in Odin’s ears. The fact that it is as painful as it was when Odin’s senses were at its full capacity, he has no doubt that they had upgraded the intensity of the emitters; making their purpose clear.

   They’re not here to hunt him. They’re here to kill him.

   “Dang it!” Odin groaned upon scenting gun powder. Thankfully, he crouched beneath the desk in time to avoid the sudden onslaught of bullets coming from outside. For a little while, Odin’s vision went slow motion as he caught sight of the bullets whizzing past him.

   ‘Why does it look like that?’ he thought as his eyes take in the weird-looking bullet. Compared to normal bullets, the bullet has a pointier tip. As it zipped past Odin and lodged on the chair Odin was just sitting on earlier, Odin caught how the bullet’s hide peeled off; leaving only a ¼ inch space at the bullet’s end and revealed curved spikes facing away from the bullet’s tip. It reminds Odin of the Mosasaur’s central teeth and a lion’s p***s. Yes, it’s a weird thought but if the spikes on those bullets function the same way, then whoever gets hit by that bullet is doomed.

   There’s only one reason why spikes like that are used for weaponry. The impact will make it easy to lodge itself into the target’s body, but will also make it very difficult to take out. Once those spikes are in, taking it out will make the spikes hold on inside the muscles and tissues more. And the more it is tried to be taken out, the more painful it gets, the more blood loss it causes, the more muscles, tissues, and organs it destroys, and the more it makes the chances of survival slim. As if that’s not enough, the moment the bullet is lodged on the chair, a mini explosion went off; blasting an area off at the size of a volleyball ball. The damage to the chair may not look much, but if that was a mortal or a creature’s body...the person will be dead.

   ‘s**t! This is worse than I thought!’ Odin cursed. Not wanting to wait for his death, he kicked the desk over to the window for protection. Papers flew and scattered at the impact and Odin used it to snatch some up, ripped and crumpled them into ear plug shape, and used them to plug his ears. He felt the oozing blood from his ears and prayed that he won’t end up deaf before rushing away, but not before taking a chunk out of the damaged part of the chair.

   Armed men suddenly rushed from the stairs and more of them appeared from the elevator. Instantly, they started attacking Odin. Guns fired, arrows flew, and knives whizzed towards Odin. Not wasting a second, Odin concentrated his strength to his left hand and used it to flung the nearest couch to his attackers. Most of them went down at his attack – crushed and disoriented from the impact.

   “Stop! I don’t want to fight you!” Odin yelled as he recognized the scents of his pack members and employees. His heart ached once again. It hurts him having to stand as enemies towards his past comrades. The pain is even worse since he has no choice but to fight and hurt them in order to survive.

   “The penalty for betrayal is death, alpha. You knew that.” was their reply before the battles resumed.

   They attacked in a synchronized fashion that further proves that it is indeed a planned attack. Odin had indeed fell into a trap.

   Despite the threat, Odin couldn’t find it in himself to hurt them. So as they were attacking him, all he did was defend himself. His body was assaulted with punches, kicks, swipes, stabs, and grazed by a few bullets. Whenever he manages to defend against an attack; another strikes him. It wasn’t long before all the pain his body received started catching up to him; making his stance waver, his movements slower, his body sluggish, and barely able to defend himself.

   “He’s weakening! Give it all you got! End him! NOW!”

   With a war cry, they all charged at him with eyes intent to kill. Odin could feel their bloodlust in the air and if doesn’t do anything, he’ll end up dead. Gathering his remaining strength and using up the remaining ties he has of the pack, he took a very deep breath in and-

   “EEENNNOOOOUUUGGGGHHHH!!!!!!”

   A huge gush of wind emanated from him. His loud voice shook the whole place; making the building tremble, the remaining glasses to shatter, making cracks appear on the wall and floor, and for debris to fall.

   He could feel his remaining energy thrumming in the air and as expected; everyone froze at the tone of his Alpha Command. This is probably the last time he’ll be able to use it but it’s worth it. It may have cost him a great deal of energy and used up his remaining pack ties – officially making him a rogue – but it was all worth it. At least, it had prevented any casualties and his pack members and employees weren’t severely hurt.

   That’s all that matters.

   But it turns out, things are not finished yet.

   Suddenly, a bullet lodged itself in his stomach and before he could react; it exploded, sending chunks of organs, blood, muscles and tissues flying in the air. It must’ve been worse than expected because everyone around him gasped with horrified looks on their face.

   Weirdly enough, Odin couldn’t hear anything. Everything sounds surprisingly silent even when he caught sight of the helicopter’s shadow coming from the window behind him. Sh*t...he forgot to secure that one. He saw from his periphery the shadows of more men coming in to kill him as he slowly fell down on his knees.

   He knew it should hurt. That kind of weapon is designed to bring excruciating pain. Then why didn’t it? Why does he feel...numb? Is this what death feels like?

   Just before he completely collapsed to the ground, his father’s stoic face appeared before his blurry vision. He can’t hear what he’s saying but Odin knows his father is probably insulting and degrading him as always. Somehow, that made Odin smile. His relationship with his father was never good but at least the way his father treats him is consistent. It might be bad but it’s the only consistent thing in Odin’s life that is stored with endless piling of problems and pain.

   As his body finally gave up and collapsed on the ground, he can’t help but think, ‘Damn it...this is not how I envision myself dying.’