It's Dark Within

Ell vs. Delusional

        I smiled big and silently clapped for my brother. I was fully prepared for a battle, but love won first. Which is the way it should be. I turned to go find Jack, maybe I could catch up to him. Jack. Man, that guy is amazing. I told him that I possibly rejected him when I was a kid and he went ‘whatever’. That was not the reaction I expected, but it couldn’t have gone better. Still, there is the possibility that it worked and when I turn eighteen in three weeks that I won’t be able to feel him, at least any more than I do now. A claimed mate was a mate in terms, but without the intense irreplaceable bond. I wanted for him to have that, I want it too. What we had now though, would be good enough if it’s all I got. I would take Jack anyway I could at this point.

                While I was lost in thought I felt someone behind me. I ducked quickly, but unfortunately lost my balance and fell to the grass. When I looked up I saw a very bruised Malcom standing there with a metal pipe in his hand.

                “Malcom? What the hell is wrong with you? Did you seriously just swing that at the back of my head?” I asked as my heart pounded against my chest.

                He scoffed. “Yeah, I did and missed. My head must still be messed up from that Mutt of yours. Do me a favor, stay still so I can try again.”

                I rolled my eyes at him. “Like that’s going to happen you psycho. What is the point of you smashing my head in?”

                “It’s what the Mutt did to me? So, I’m going to do it to you and see how he reacts. Don’t worry, your Wulfkin and will heal. I have no intention of killing you or anything. I just want to see that stupid Mutt’s face when he sees you all f****d up.” Malcom said confidently.

                I shook my head. “Oh, thanks for that consideration, Malcom. I know it was you and one of your friends that stabbed Jack the other night, and I’ve been wanting to pay you back for that anyway.”

                He chuckled. “What are you even going to do against me? Come on, we’ve know each other for a long time, Ell. Just give me this and I’ll never bother you again, I promise.”

                I have no idea how I even get into these situations with males. What Malcom wants is stupid, and what he doesn’t know is what he wants would kill me. I wasn’t like the other Wulfkin. His few smacks with that pipe will kill me, not maim me like he thinks. I swallowed hard, pushing my feet out to scoot back.

                “No, I don’t care, Malcom. You’re not going to hit me over the head with that pipe. What the hell is wrong with you?” I tried to look for an exit, but there was no one around. I was alone with him.

                Malcom shrugged. “Be happy. I was think about taking you under me and showing you what a real man feels like between those thick thighs of yours. I figured that would probably piss him off too, but I’m feeling merciful today. I’ll settle for this instead, but if you keep looking like that I might just reconsider.”

                I let out a deep breath and shot to my feet, running for the woods and where I thought I might be able to find Jack. I could hear Malcom start laughing hysterically behind me. His voice fraying my nerves and making the hair stand up on the back of my neck. He gripped the pipe tightly as he watched me run.

        “Marco!”

        My feet were fast, out of me and my brothers I was the fastest. I let myself turn as I ran to aid me, and just maybe I’ll be able to escape Malcom and find Jack. I needed to find someone, someone that would help me. My eyes were bright yellow, my hands were claws, and my teeth razor sharp. I glanced back and couldn’t see Malcom anymore, but I didn’t want to slow down. I needed to find Jack, or Callum. Maybe I could scent them out?

        The only problem, to do that I needed to stop and concentrate for a moment. That would give Malcom time to catch up, but it was the only way I was going to be able to find anyone in this dense forest. So, against better judgement I stopped running.

        I tried to quickly focus on scenting out for help, and right as I pin pointed Callum and Jack I felt Malcom behind me. I dove to the ground to avoid getting smashed with the pipe. He swung at me again, but there wasn’t enough time to do much beside block. The pipe cracked into my forearms with enough force I thought both were broken. Thankfully, they weren’t. I rolled over and got to my feet, glaring at Malcom.

        “Just stop, Malcom! What you are doing is stupid and insane! Let me go!” I yelled, hoping maybe someone was going to hear me. Sweat dripped down my forehead as my chest heaved.

        Malcom shook his head before closing his eyes. “That scent. It’s overwhelming. You know, on second thought…you haven’t fully mated with your Mutt yet have you?”

        I snarled at him. “Don’t even think it, Malcom.”

        He shrugged. “I’ve been thinking about it for a very long time, Ell. I was actually going to propose to you at this Gathering, but then you show up with that guy. All weekend you two have been all over each other. Thinking that Mutt has my place, my girl? Look what it’s made me do?”

        “Malcom, if you would have proposed to me, I would have rejected it. I was never your girl, I don’t know what delusion you’ve been feeding, but it’s definitely just that. A delusion. This is all you, don’t blame others for your actions. None of us made you do this.” I said with a huff.

        He smiled evilly. “Your right, this is a delusion. And if it’s a delusion I’m not really doing these things, right? So, no matter how many times I hit you with this pipe, in the end you’re going to be fine.”

        I shook my head violently. “No, that’s not what I meant. s**t, Malcom. You are not in a delusion! I’m right here in front of you! The real me! If you swing that pipe again you’re going to hurt me!”

        “It’s going to be okay, baby. Let’s get this done so we can go back to the way things were.” Malcom said as he tossed the pipe aside.

        “Malcom, what are you doing?” I scooted back, but he was getting closer. There was one last thing I could try, but I didn’t know if it was going to work or not.

        There was a way for mated Wulfkin to call for their partner, it was a specific howl meant only for that wolf. Since I wasn’t a full wolf, I wasn’t sure if I could even do it. With a last-ditch effort, I turned as much as I could and lifted my chin to the sky. I thought about my instincts, the wolf I knew was somewhere in me, and the wolf that was hopefully tied to Jack. My voice dropped low as I felt my wolf essence surround me. To my delight and surprise, a loud defining howl escaped my body. It rang through the trees, and with any luck would reach Jack. Hell, I would settle for anyone who heard at this point in time.

        Malcom looked enraged. He undid his belt, frustration leaking into his hands. “You just had to call that Mutt! I wasn’t ready! I guess I’ll have to hurry this up.”

        I flinched as he ripped the belt out of his jean holes. “Malcom, you can stop right now. Before this gets too far. If you want we can just go separate ways and I won’t tell anyone what happened.”

        “That’s where your wrong, Ell. I want to do this. I have to do this.” He said coming towards me.

        I kicked out at him, knowing my arms weren’t going to do me much good. That crack to my forearms was throbbing and radiating intense pain. Malcom grabbed my feet and flipped me over onto my stomach. I hurried and tried to crawl away, but he sat his whole weight onto my back. I watched the belt over in front of my face to my throat. I thrashed, trying to wiggle him off me or pull the belt away, but nothing was working. He twisted the belt around, tightening the leather around my throat, cutting off my air supply. My eyes felt like they were going to pop from my sockets as I reached back with my claws and nicked him several times.

        Malcom growled as I drew blood. “You know what? I wanna see your face.”

        With a huff, he yanked me over on my back as I gasped for air. He readjusted the belt so he could tighten the straps by pulling them away from each other. I took the advantage and clawed his arm up, my sharp nails tore through his flesh easily. In pain, he leaned down a little, giving me an even greater advantage. I used all my strength to lean up and bite the side of his face as hard as I could. My razor like teeth shredded his right cheek and corner of his mouth. I leaned back and took his skin with me.

        The feeling of his skin in my mouth was nauseating, instantly I spit it out and gagged. Malcom fell off me, holding his face and screaming. I rolled over onto all fours and crawled away, stopping only to throw up the contents of my stomach. I looked up and could see I was getting closer to the edge of this part of the forest. Then suddenly I felt a strong blow to the side of my back. I dropped to the ground, screaming out in pain. When I looked up I could see Malcom with fury in his eyes, face halfway hanging off, with the pipe back in his hands. He lifted it up over his head while drool dripped down his chin. I put my arms over my head and waited for the impact.

        When I heard a loud commotion happening around me, I slowly opened my eyes. Senan was next to me, reaching out to touch my face gently. Complete sadness filled his eyes, something else caught my attention. I could smell fire, and knew Jack was close by somewhere. My eyes finally found him, Ben the fight coordinator was doing his best to pull Jack off Malcom. I could see Jack was probably a few punches from ending Malcom’s life, I had to stop him. There was something wrong with Malcom. When him and Jack fought earlier something must have jarred lose.

        “Jack…” My voice was barely a whisper.

        Without hesitation, Jack left Malcom and was at my side. He cradled me in his lap, and I could feel his heart beating ten times faster than usual. He was riled up good. I winced when his arm wrapped around me to pick me up, he recoiled and lifted my shirt. A solid thick bruise was forming on my skin. He let out a deep sigh before turning me to face him on his lap. I wrapped my arms around his neck, legs around his waist, and buried my face in the crook of his neck.

        “It’s alright now, Ell. I got you.” Jack’s voice was low, dangerous. Right now, if someone even looked in his direction the wrong way he was going to snap.

        I let out a sigh of relief. Being right here in his arms was safe. Nothing could get me as long as I was right here. “I love you, Jack.”

        My voice was almost inaudible, but Jack was close enough to hear it. “I love you too, rain.”

        Sometime after that, I drifted off to sleep with the comforting scent of fire filling my mind.