Shining Through Shadows

Friend or Foe II

Zachary

As Travis and I ventured to our small infirmary, I was having an inner battle with my counterpart. He was pacing around in my head like a maniac and wanted me to go back to her, to rub his scent on her, to let everyone know exactly whom she belonged to…

His idea was tempting, it really was… But she wasn’t ready. I could tell she felt something whenever we were close, but she hadn’t made up her mind about me yet and, honestly, I was having my own doubts about pursuing her.

While she calmed the storms brewing in me, I didn’t know how my madness would affect her. Would I still succumb to the darkness, but at a much slower pace? I didn’t want to put her through the loss of a mate. Another more profound issue was that of a potential mark. Would I ever be able to place my mark on her and claim her entirely? Could a human survive the pain of a werewolf mark?

As we entered, I saw a young man sitting on the bed, his arms resting on his knees and with his head low between his legs. His breathing was steady, but at the same time labored.

He didn’t even raise his head as we entered, but he could be in a state of shock from being out in the harsh weather for too long.

I glanced at my beta with a frown on my face. Under normal circumstances, I wouldn’t meet every single person we saved. In fact, I liked to stay in the shadows and let Travis take care of them instead.

“What’s your name?” My beta asked him, knowing how I preferred him to do the talking. The guy on the examination bed raised his head to glance at us with narrowed blue eyes.

“Cameron.” He answered confidently.

“Can you tell me again why you’re here?” My beta asked and I eyed Cameron carefully.

“I’m looking for someone and I need to know she’s safe. I’ve already told you that.” He replied with a frustrated groan.

“You weren’t chosen?” I asked curiously, making Cameron’s eyes snap to meet mine as if he had only noticed my presence.

“No, but she was. I need to know if she’s alive.” He answered as he swung his legs over the edge of the bed. “Her name is Lydia.”

My heart stopped beating for a moment as her name fell from his lips and my previous thoughts immediately reappeared. Were they related? Or in a relationship? The latter made my beast growl inside my head and the lights flickered inside the infirmary as my shadows tried to engulf some of it. My beta glanced at me worriedly, knowing I was struggling to keep control of myself.

“Who are you to her?” I heard myself asking him. His eyes glistened with relief as I stupidly confirmed to him that someone named Lydia was indeed living here.

“I’m her friend.” Friend. I clenched my teeth together and gulped down the sudden feeling of jealously. I had no right to be jealous, because she wasn’t mine. At least not yet…

“I’ll be right back.” I muttered as I left the infirmary with my beta right behind me.

“Alpha.” He called after me as I made my way to the back door. “Alpha!” He whisper-yelled at me, making me stop in my tracks, my heart still hammering inside my chest.

“Let them meet and offer him to stay.” The shadows within me engulfed every single source of light around us as I tried to keep them within.

“You care about her, don’t you?” Travis asked me cautiously as I began to undress, ripping my shirt off and tossing it onto the floor. I didn’t bother to give him an answer. He probably already knew what it would be anyway…