WITCHES OF WOLF CREEK: TRUTH

Chapter 24: Elinor

I turn in circles. Yes, that’s exactly it. I turn in circles for hours. There’s nothing left to destroy in this room, too. I made sure of that myself.

As I pace, my feet get caught in the sheets lying on the floor.

"Damn it!"

My biggest problem? It’s just that I’m not a poor, stoned, anxiety-ridden girl anymore. My brutal withdrawal, coupled with the strength that runs through my veins since my transformation into a wolf, has completed my transition. I am strong and in full possession of my faculties. And inactivity and impotence seem to me insurmountable trials.

And when I think that on top of all that, this… Cooper, this Alpha, dares to keep my friends in detention and have me thrown in this room whenever he wants…

No, but what does he believe? That he can come here, kiss me – kiss me… – and then play tyrannical little boss? I have no idea where the females fit into this pack, but there’s no way I let myself be treated like that.

I have to get out of here. I have to find Six and Neeve, free them… After all, I’m the one who got them into this crazy thing. It is because of me that we are here, and I must do everything to rectify the situation.

But how? Drumming for hours on the wooden board that closes this golden cage, already done, useless, and painful for my fists. Making eyes at Cooper when he comes back – because he will come back, that’s for sure – I can’t bring myself to do that. Or I don’t want to risk it, the little voice of my conscience whispers to me, the one I’ve been trying to stifle for years with Xanax and coloured cocktails.

Yes, I feel drawn to this Bretton. But it’s nothing. I’m stronger than that, I’m not like Neeve, and I know what it’s like to resist an urge. We don’t mix...

So what options do I have left? Vaguely dazed, I raise my hands in front of my eyes and stare at them for a long moment.

Magic… I could use my powers. Admittedly, the moon is not visible from these cursed underground corridors, but its energy is everywhere. I have always been able to connect to the night star, in all circumstances, and with disconcerting ease.

But if you use your magic, you’ll be spotted by the very people you’re running from… Maybe not, after all. Wolves don’t seem very sensitive to magic. And other sorcerers, whose location I don’t know, could they spot me? I suddenly decide it’s a risk worth taking, especially since the spell I’m considering isn’t very powerful. Immediately, a great calm came over me. A serenity that only the power of the moon can give me. In a corner of my head, I promise myself to practice more, as soon as this whole thing is over. That’s the problem with living largely with humans. We don’t show up. So we conceal our true nature. And it must have ended up going to my brain and messing things up inside me. I wasn’t like that when I was younger.

Calmly, I take the time to breathe. The waves of power surge through me like a slow opalescent tide storming a distant beach… or like a pale-skinned lover discovering his partner’s welcoming body. I feel peaceful, in tune with my deep nature. Between my hands is born a ball of energy of a very soft white.

With my fingers, I manipulate it, spin it, and extract a few long sparkling filaments, which I direct with ease towards the lock of the heavy door.

In a few seconds – too fast, too soon – I am free. So it was so easy… When I think my friends could have freed themselves, but they didn’t dare to… Or maybe they just didn’t want to.

However, I must not linger. I rush into the hallway, hesitating for a moment. On my last attempt, I just wandered aimlessly and came across the kitchens. But that’s not where I want to go now. Once again, I will search deep within myself.

Neeve…

I seek her aura that I know so well. We have shared so much for so long. A slight echo responds to my mental request. An enthusiastic echo? Regardless, I rush down the first hallway to my right and let my hand run over the bare stones. Incongruously, I wonder if I could live in such a place forever. Not seeing the sky… But wolves see the sky. They run in the forest and howl at the moon. If I really were a wolf, my needs would all be met.

I walk past many closed doors and meet no one. I run faster and faster, Neeve’s presence invades all my mental space. My heart races at the thought of finding my friend. I need her, I need to hear her laugh, I need her to hug me.

Finally, I stop in front of a door. It is in no way different from the others but I know that I am reaching the goal. I raise my hand, ready to push the door, when my gesture is interrupted.

Noises come to me from inside. Noises… indecent. A sudden blush invades my cheeks. s**t, Neeve… What the hell are you doing?

For a moment, my breath catches and my eyes widen. I don’t know if I’m ashamed to hear her get laid, or if I’m angry. I was so scared for her, when in fact, miss was having a good time! But if it wasn’t her… I have to be clear about it!

So too bad, I push this damn door. With all my strength... But what I discover amazes me... From scarlet red, I feel myself going to chalk white, and my legs are shaking... It’s not true, damn her...

Did I expect for a single second to find my friend in such a… situation? No, obviously. But it is clear that when Neeve does something, she never does it halfway. She does it rather twice, in fact.

Neeve is in the middle of a leg party, and I’m clearly having a hard time counting the number of legs involved. Six, whispers my little voice, always there to help. Indeed, while one of the two Falck cousins is busy between my friend’s slender thighs, the other broods over her with a greedy gaze, while languidly stroking her breasts.

"But it’s not true!" I cried aloud, without even being able to help myself.

Immediately, the three lovers freeze, and their eyes pierce me, both shocked and accusatory. Ah, because it would be up to me to feel uncomfortable, then?

After a time that seems infinitely long to me, the two cousins finally free themselves from their embrace. They have the good taste to appear embarrassed.

"Get out, right now," I say in an icy voice.

I didn’t compromise the safety of the three of us only to find that my girlfriend had found a better occupation, did I?

The two wolves complied without arguing. They even give me a mocking little smile as they leave the room, stark naked. Modesty is really a cultural thing, and I understand better why Neeve is on the same wavelength as them.

Nevertheless, they allow themselves a little acid reflection on the way out:

"We leave you... but not long. Cooper isn’t going to be happy to have you out of your room."

I decide to ignore them. No sooner have they slammed the door behind them than I launch the attack, ignoring the delighted smile my friend gives me:

"What the hell are you doing, Neeve?"

"Uh... Well, you saw …" she replied, slightly confused, bringing the sheet over her.

But the smile faded on her beautiful face; I upset her, I understand that, but too bad.

"But where did you think you were? In a brothel?"

"I’m not doing anything wrong!" she protests. "I have to do something while I wait."

Shit… what do I say to that?

"I don’t know, you could have tried to take care of Six. Where is she anyway? How is she?"

My friend’s expression darkened. Ah. No orgy for Sixine then. She mumbles some incomprehensible words.

"Repeat, please."

"Sixine is still in jail," she said louder and more distinctly.

"Well, I know that! Hence my astonishment to find you there having a good time!"

Neeve stands, draped in her sheet like a queen in exile, her long red hair cascading over her pale skin and her hazel eyes blazing.

"Alright, huh! You have no lessons to give me!"

I sigh, half defeated. I hesitate to go sit on the bed, but... No, I prefer to avoid it. So I rub my forehead.

"I know, Neeve. Believe me, I know it, and I’m sorry enough. That’s why I decided to get us out of there."

Neeve’s eyes widen, all anger suddenly deserting her.

"What?"

"I used my magic to get out of my room, and I don’t think wolves are sensitive to it. Otherwise, I’d already have the whole pack on my ass, don’t you think?"

"Uh... yes, but... it’s super risky... and our sorcerer friends?"

I shrug my shoulders.

"I used a very small amount of power… And let’s say the thickness of rock and dirt around us must lessen the repercussions. Look, get dressed, and we’ll get Six. We will get our life back."

"But no! We can’t do that!"

"Yes. And we will. It’s too dangerous here."

"You’re wrong! It’s dangerous outside. Here, at the Brettons, we are safe!"

"Wait, wait, Neeve. We don’t even know if we were really in danger before coming here. Levenach may have been wrong and…"

She approaches me in two steps, the sheet which covers her slides on the ground, and then she grabs me by the shoulders and shakes me firmly.

"It’s up to you to listen to me! I saw Levenach, and I was able to talk to him, and he has a lead. We were really in danger, and we still are, although I don’t know exactly what is going on yet."

I open my mouth in surprise, but no sound comes out. Has she seen Levenach? But how?

"I can’t explain everything to you now. Not here, anyway. But you have to believe me. We are safe for a few more days, and we must take advantage of it. And hope that ours quickly find a solution."

"But Sixine..."

Neeve makes an annoyed gesture. She doesn’t tell me everything, I’m sure.

"Sixine... Leave her where she is. At least she can’t bullshit around in there."

"But…"

"Trust me, she’s weird. I don’t know if it was that wolf, Jaxson, who made her head spin, but I really don’t recognize her. We’ll get her back before we leave, and she’ll get over it eventually."

"She’s going to be mad at us."

But Neeve shrugs. I can see that it bothers her, but not to the point of upsetting her plans. And if it was me, in jail? Would she leave me too? And she? Doesn’t she have any illusions about her reasons for keeping us at a distance?

"Neeve… what the hell are you doing? Really?"

"Frankly, Eli, I ask myself a lot of questions. We’ve been stuffed with these stories, but… I like them. And I’m not just talking about the cousins."

She has the good taste to flush as she utters these words. As for me, I can’t help but be shocked.

"We are witches!"

"So what? Who said we can’t get along?"

"Well, everyone! Our tradition!"

"I do what I want with my heart and with my ass. And frankly, maybe you should do the same."

"What do you mean?"

"Oh, stop it! Everyone’s talking about Cooper and you. He has you under his skin. He spends all his nights watching your room. Not my type, but…"

I take a step back, horrified. I think back to the kiss I shared with him, the monumental slap I gave him, his talk about imprinting… and the desire I can’t help but feel for this man. For this wolf. This. Wolf. I must not forget that.

"Neeve, you’re going too far…"

"And you, not enough. You should try."

This time it’s too much for me, and I run away, leaving Neeve with her fists clenched, her forehead stubborn, rooted in her new beliefs. With a furious gesture, I wipe the tears that run down my cheeks. How the hell did we get here? Murder, Sixine imprisoned, Neeve flouting all our laws, and me… Me, I don’t know where I am anymore.

I end up finding myself in the kitchen again. The huge room is empty. Only Lyle, who had promised me a meal, is seated at the large table, in front of a steaming cup of coffee. When he sees me coming, his big white moustache quivers.

"Ah! Here you are again! I knew you would eventually come back to see me. Come on, come on, I saved your plate, I’ll warm it up for you."

Like a rag doll, I collapse on a chair. I drop my head into my hands. I feel lost, and I don’t know what to do.

"When things are not going well, I usually say that the best thing to do is to share a good meal with a friend."

A friend? Which friend? I believe that even during my episodes of depression, I have never felt so alone. I let out a heartbreaking sigh. As if reading my thoughts, Lyle continues:

"You can consider me a friend. Confidence will come little by little. Just know one thing. I am an old wolf. I’ve seen things… Cooper is a very good Alpha, the ideal Alpha for this pack, but he doesn’t have that much experience yet. Me, I know who you are."

Shocked, I jerk my head up. What? He knows…

At my frightened expression, he laughs softly.

"Don’t worry. I’ll not say anything. You and your friends are the best thing to happen to this pack in a long time. sorcerers, vampires, wolves... We are all set in our habits, and our traditions, and it’s time for all that to move a little."

He supports his point with a mischievous wink and pushes my plate under my nose. Immediately, delicious scents reach my nostrils. When was my last meal? I throw myself on my cutlery and engulf each piece of meat with relish. It’s strange, it’s not my thing, meat, usually. Did my spell change my diet? But that doesn’t have to be so much the case, because Lyle casually adds:

"For you, I cooked the meat a little more."

"It’s good," I say, mouth full.

"Thanks. It’s my mission, you know, to feed all these young wolves. And by the way, if I can share my experience…"

"Where do you come from?"

"From the North," he replies with a wink.

For a moment, I interrupt my chewing. He’s kidding me, right?

"Relax, just kidding," he adds, seeing me on the verge of apoplexy. "You have nothing to fear from me. And, if you want my opinion, you have nothing to fear from anyone here."

"My friends…"

"They are well. I hear that their situation is not ideal, although, for the tall redhead, it seems more… Well, she doesn’t seem to have reservations, the vegetarian, if you want my opinion… But anyway, they are well. They’re warm, they’re fed, and they’re safe."

This Lyle completely destabilizes me. He seems to know a lot of things, but I still can’t figure out what I can confidently confide in him. If it’s a ruse of Cooper to get me to talk. No way am I falling into this little game.

However, I’m tired of it all. Tired of conflict and concealment. Saddened by my argument with Neeve. After all, we’ve been apart for so long already. What do I know about what happened to her since we left each other? So… So, I let myself go, a bit. Just a little bit.

"You’re right," I sigh. "But I would like so much… to return to a normal life. See my friends."

"I understand," Lyle nods. "But give yourself time. You still have things to do here, and…"

He stops. Look up at the kitchen door. His benevolent expression darkened. What is going on?

All my senses on the lookout, I also turn to see a pack leader with dishevelled hair, looking furious. Immediately, the hairs stand on end on my arms, and a painful tension arises in my gums.

"What’s she doing there?"

Lyle regained a calm appearance.

"She’s eating."

In two steps, Cooper swoops down on me and sweeps my plate with the back of his hand. He grabs my arm and forces me to stand up.

"Hey, but this is not okay! Lyle, tell him to get off me."

But the old wolf watches us with… a small smile! But they’re all crazy in this f*****g den!

"I told you everything was going to be okay, young lady. Trust an old veteran like me."

"But…"

I don’t have time to add another word before Cooper drags me out of the room, in caveman mode. After all, it’s not respect for women that stifles these wolves.

Back to square one. This room looks more and more like a prison. I have the feeling that someone has just caught me in the cookie jar and that I am being punished like an eight-year-old.

To make matters worse, Cooper hasn’t left and is pacing right under my nose. Annoyed, I roll my eyes and puff out my cheeks.

"You’re going to end up digging a hole in your floor."

"What?"

Obviously, his body is here, but his mind is elsewhere.

"Floor. You. Walk a lot. Risk damage."

He grimaces. Well, I admit, it wasn’t funny. But, the situation leaves little room for my comic talent.

With a sigh, I get up from the bed I was sitting on.

"What is happening? Won’t you tell me, instead of spinning around like a caged lion? You annoy me, you know."

"Eh? Me, I annoy you? But who got out of her double-locked room to go for a walk in my lair, huh?"

Ah. Whoops. I need to find an explanation, and fast.

"Uh... The door was perhaps not so well closed as that?"

Without my being able to react, Cooper throws himself on me.

"You lie! And above all, you’re hiding things from me! If you were able to get out of here, someone helped you… Who? I want to know who it is. If there is a traitor among my wolves…"

This guy clearly has issues. Especially since he seems to include me in the list of his possessions.

"There is no traitor."

"You lie!" he repeats.

"Listen, Cooper. I feel like you’re going through a tough time. But know that this isn’t a reason to attack others. All of this isn’t necessary. So you’re going to take the time to think a little about all this and…"

"Don’t talk to me like I’m a kid, Elinor"! he roared, his eyes bloodshot.

Between his lips, I see his canines emerging, and the fingers he holds out to me are clenched strangely. Pfff, anyway, I always knew that I sucked, as a teacher.

"Okay, okay. Calm down. I swear to you that the door was badly closed. I swear I had no bad intentions. I just wanted to find my friends. If you allow us to…"

But he won’t let me finish. With a growl of a wild beast, he throws himself on me. I am petrified with terror and stagger in shock. To prevent me from falling, he holds me in his arms, strong, and powerful. All desire to joke deserts me.

My breathing quickens, my pulse races, as I feel his warm lips, and the sharp point of his teeth, tickle my neck. I would like to retaliate, to defend myself, but my body refuses. A wave of desire mixed with fear overwhelms me. In Cooper’s throat, the bestial growl softens, becomes almost soft, pleading. What’s happening?

He suddenly straightens me up to press me against him. His hair brushes my cheek. My breathing stops. In my head the vision of Neeve surrounded by the two Falck cousins resurfaces. I try to push him away, to no avail. Am I going to break our most basic law too?

"Elinor…" he moaned into my neck.

Where did the ruthless leader go? Where is it, the wild and angry creature? Despite myself, despite my doubts, despite this ancestral fear that haunts me, I raise a hand to stroke his hair, and he comes to snuggle his head in my neck. He tightens his embrace, even tighter.

"You’re hurting me," I whisper.

He immediately straightens up and stares into mine. What I read there takes my breath away.

"I will never hurt you."

And there, moved by an impulse that I could not explain, I stand on my tiptoes to put my lips on his. I grab him by the back of the neck, and he returns my kiss with an all-consuming passion. Excitement rises in me, I have the feeling of not having felt so alive since… since when?

We let ourselves be carried away by this powerful, exhilarating tide, while our breaths mingle and our hands seek each other, without our mouths ever leaving each other. Staggering, dazed, and perhaps already defeated, I back up with him, dragging him after me.

"Elinor," he growls again, as we fall back.

He put his hands on either side of my head, hesitating. But already, my thighs move apart and my pelvis moves to meet him. Breathing short and hoarse, I grab him by the hair. I want him. NOW.

"Cooper!"

It’s not my voice that suddenly resounds in this room. It’s not my voice that breaks this perfect moment. No.

"Cooper! We need you right away. The prisoner fled."