Sapphire

THE ULTIMATUM

Hailey POV:

I watched as Rhett and Aiyanna drove in full speed, down the dirt road, only to disappear in the horizon. Minutes later I saw three black SUV’S drive down the same dirt road. I hoped Rhett and Aiyanna made it to the main road, with out Caspian noticed. I straightened the dress I had put on for the occasion, drove my palm trough my hair, and with a sigh, I went out to greet our guests. I was acting as the leading wolf while Rhett was gone, so it was my responsibility to take good care of them and the rest of the pack. I watched as the SUV’S drove closer, and couldn’t help but notice how misplaced they felt, they didn’t fit in to the landscape at all. It seemed like they should be at a mansion or a castle, not out here, in the middle of nowhere. Our territory was almost completely surrounded by forest, except to the east, we had a meadow there, stretching for about 3 miles, and then, there were trees as far as your eyes could see. The only way out in a vehicle, were through the dirt road. The SUV’S stopped and a tall man stepped out of the first vehicle. He had dark curly hair, his skin was tanned, and he wore a black suit, A bodyguard I guessed. He walked over to the second SUV and opened the door, and Caspian came out. He had long blonde hair, that was gathered in a bun, and it wasn’t hard to tell he was constantly at war with other packs or vampires, he was definitely in good shape. Way better than he used to be. He placed his hands on his side and glanced dissatisfied around until his eyes caught mine. We stared at each other for a while, and I kept the eye contact with him, without looking away, just like Rhett had taught me. It was a sign of disrespect amongst wolves, if you broke the eye contact with an alpha, you had to wait until the alpha decided to break it. Caspian nodded, looked towards the SUV and made a hand gesture. A man came out, Micha I presumed. He wasn’t as tall as Caspian, and his hair were mid length and pitch black. He sent me a greasy smile and looked at me from my head to my toes, like I was some great prize he could just come a collect. I was furious, it ached inside me to just go and put him, in his place. But I couldn’t do that, I had to just suck it up, and get through the night. Hopefully, they’d be gone tomorrow.   

 ‘’You must be Hailey’’ Micha ripped me out of my thoughts. 

 I nodded, ‘’ Micha I presume?’’

 ‘’She is not what I expected’’ he said displeased to Caspian, and didn't even bother to look at me. 

 ‘’Maybe not, but she is better than the alternative’’  They talked completely in over my head, like I wasn’t even there. I don’t know what kind of pack Caspian were running these days, but one thing was for sure, I would never agree to be a part of it. 

 ‘’Hailey, take our bags, and put them in our sleeping quarter’’ Caspian nodded towards 2 bags beside the SUV. 

He might be an Alpha, and once also a friend, but that, I wouldn't put up with. ‘’You can take your own bags to your sleeping quarter; I’ll brief my wolves on how to withstand the vampire attack tonight’’I looked directly into Caspians eyes before I left them alone. 

I went straight to Ivys to let out some steam, I was so angry I couldn’t even think straight. ‘’They are so disrespectful, I don’t know how Rhett keeps putting up with Caspians crap’’ I drove my hand through my hair in despair and looked at Ivy. 

 ‘’The same way as you’’ Ivy smiled. ‘’your brother is not a fan of Caspian, he hasn't been for a long time, but he knows that, if he does anything to anger him, Caspian will start a war against our pack. And such a war we cannot win’’  

I knew Ivy was right, a war with Caspian and his pack would end up eradicating our pack completely. He had the best wolves out there, we wouldn’t stand a chance. Which meant, I had to put on a nice dress, go to dinner and be polite to our new guests. A couple of hours later, I entered the assembly hall, just to find Caspian and Micha already eating. They wanted to show me, they had no respect for me at all, which meant my next move could be crucial, if I wanted to earn their respect back. I lifted my head up high, walked up, and sat beside Micha.‘’I’m sorry for earlier, I’m just stressed out, because of the constant attacks from the vampires’’ I lied.

 Micha looked condescendingly at me. ‘’At least you know when to apologize, that’s a good quality’’.  It took all of my strength not to bite his head off. I heard a howl in the distance, the vampires must've started their attacks.

 ‘’I know when I make a mistake, and when to apologize’’ I said 

 ‘’Good, otherwise I would have to teach you, the hard way, now that you are going to become my mate’’ He sent me a sly smile, and took a bite of his chicken, while he still looked directly into my eyes.

‘’ I’m sorry, but I cannot accept your offer, my brother still needs me here’’ I sent him a apologetic smile. I heard another howl, this time it was a distress call, someone needed help. 

 ‘’You have no choice’’ Caspian interrupted our conversation ‘’Right now my wolves are tearing Rhett’s pack apart, and if you refuse our offer, your precious Ivy will break her neck’’ He made a hand gesture and a man came in. He had a chain in his hand, and at bottom of it there were, a little dark brown wolf, with a white dot upon her nose. Ivy.. I didn’t know what to do, my instinct told me to change and run out and participate in the fight, but it wouldn’t do anything, except getting me killed. If I on the other hand went with Caspian and Micha, I could at least be able to save Ivy.

‘’What is this?’’ I looked confused up at Caspian. 

‘’Let’s call it my insurance policy, to be sure that you would join my pack, and take your place beside Micha. And that your brother wouldn’t be able to follow me or put up a fight’’ He smiled, and held his hand out, waiting for me to take it. I looked at Ivy, and then back at Caspian. I cant believe he used to be a friend, he basically grew up with many of the wolves he just got Slaughtered.

 ‘’If I go with you, I want to see you release Ivy, and I want you to spare the rest of the pack. After I’ll do whatever you want’’ 

Caspian looked at me, took a firm grip in my arm and dragged me right across the assembly hall, and outside. The sight that met me was horrifying, it was a battle scene out here, there were wolves biting at each other’s throats, desperately trying to get the upper hand and win the fight. furthermore there were dead wolves everywhere, and the majority of them were members of my pack. I desperately looked around, searching for someone that might still be alive, when I saw a young agouti-coloured wolf run into the forest. I was sure it was Leah, and if she got away, maybe others did too, our wolves knew the forest better than anyone, and they knew how to disappear out there. It gave me hope, but they would need Ivy, not only to mend their wounds, but also to bring them back together, and get a clear view of who survived and who didn't.. 

 ‘’You don’t have anything to bargain with, Hailey. Either you take the deal, or Ivy suffers the same fate as the rest of your pack members’’ Caspian sounded impatient. 

''What about the vampires, if she runs into the forest they'll just kill her''  I shrugged my shoulders, and looked at Caspian. 

'' The vampires are not a problem, we got rid of them before we arrived, Ivy will survive the forest, but she won't survive us, if you don't take the deal'' I tried to read his face, what were he thinking, would he really let her go. His face didn't tell me anything, my only option were to trust him. 

 ‘’I’ll take the deal, just let Ivy go. And I'll come with you quietly’’ Caspian smiled, obviously satisfied he'd won. He ordered his pack member to let go of Ivy. She looked at me, and for a moment I actually thought she would attack Caspian. I shook my head, signaling she shouldn't. She sent me one last worried look, turned around and disappeared into the forest.

I breathed out, not even aware that I'd held my breath in the first place. I was relived she were finally out of here, still alive and still able to gather the surviving members of the pack.

A ray of sorrow washed over me, when I looked out at the once beautiful landscape, that where now covered in blood and dead bodies. 

 "Can I at least burry them?" I looked up at Caspian, hoping he would at least give me that. But of course he wouldn't, he just smiled at me."No, its a parting gift for Rhett, when he decides to come back. Maybe it'll teach him not to leave his pack defenseless" he walked towards the SUV'S. How did he become this cruel, he and Rhett were once best friends, they used to fight side by side, hell, I used to follow him and Rhett everywhere. I felt a hard grip in my already sore arm, and Micha started dragging me towards the SUV'S. "What the hell, I already agreed to go with you, and its not like I can run, Caspian has this entire place surrounded by his wolves" I felt angry and helpless at the same time.

 "But you weren't going, you were standing there looking like a lost little pup. And Caspian want us to be out of here before your Alpha gets back" he kept dragging me across the dirt and shoved me into the bag of one of the SUV'S when we reached them. As I sat in the back of the car, I tried figuring out what my options where. Clearly I had to get out of the car, I refused to give up, it was not an option. I tried pulling, hitting and shoving the door, but they didn't move an inch. I sighed and leaned my head against the sides, what should my next move be, perhaps I could turn into a wolf and try the door again and then I noticed it. There were claw marks everywhere, this car was built to transport wolves, there were no getting out. Rhett wouldn't be able to save me, I knew he would try, and then Caspian would either kill him or force him to join the pack, either way, there were no good alternative to this situation. I might never get home.