This story is a work of fiction solely from the twisted mind of Chromex. Any resemblance to any persons living or dead is purely coincidental. All characters are of at least 18 years of age unless otherwise specifically mentioned. Please do not copy/redistribute the story, in part or total, without the author's permission.
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It's funny sometimes how life works. You get so wrapped up in what's going on around you that you can forget the rest of the world even exists. Days, weeks, and even months can fly by in the blink of an eye and before you know it you're looking out at a blanket of white snow when it seems only moments ago it was summer. Winter solstice was just around the corner and while always a cause for celebration; this year would even more so due to the full moon falling on the same night. The energy of the pack was palpable and everyone was looking forward to the midwinter run.
The last few months had been stressful, to say the least. Word of the Shadow Reavers having an unmated female alpha flew around the world and suitors started contacting Rasp almost as soon as Logan and the Iron Mountain pack had left our territory. A couple of them even tried the same tactics and found equal amounts of success. Eventually, it was Watcher who brought it all to an end when he met the delegation from Italy at the front gate. It's well known that the Italians venerate Watcher as the founder of their pack and the father of Romulus and Remus. He never spoke a word and never shifted from his saberwolf but the Italians stared at him intently before nodding and driving away. Since then not a single suitor has even asked permission to enter pack territory. I still find the whole thing rather strange and whenever I mention it to Sara she tends to chuckle like I'm missing the punchline to a joke.
There's been no sign of either Riley or his lightning throwing girlfriend since they tried to kill me and the general feeling is they've left the area. Natalie made contact with the Witches Council to see if they would know who she is but didn't make much headway. All she could get out of them was that they had no authorized members working in our area. As much as I would like to believe they're gone, I just can't get over the feeling that we've not seen the last of those two.
I've been slowly rebuilding my relationship with Angel, although it's difficult at times for me to call her that. As far as she and everyone in the pack are concerned she's always been Angel and after finally getting her back I'd rather not cause any friction over something like that so I've tried hard to move away from calling her Mercy. I still slip up from time to time. We've spent many a night just talking well into the morning or going over old photo albums. It's still difficult for me to believe that I finally found her after all of these years and in a pack of werewolves of all things and I've decidedly softened my opinion when it comes to her mate Derek. It's easy to tell how much they love each other and from time to time I see her mimicking things that our mom used to do. While I do wish her memories would return, perhaps it's for the best if only one of us can remember the attack as it returns in my dreams nearly every night.
It's strange now, to be having the dream again after all these years. My wolf was smart enough to recognize it for the dream that it is and helps me control my unconscious fear so I no longer awaken screaming. However I can tell that I'm upsetting her, there is something she wants me to see, some important detail I need to remember that I simply cannot.
"Is he still out there?" Holly asked as she walked into my room.
"No," I said staring out into the treeline, "I'm pretty sure he left a few days ago."
"What makes you say that?" She and Sara always get the same halfway grin when discussing Watcher.
"I don't know. A feeling I guess. I just know he's left." I'd wondered that very same question countless times since the day he came into the compound. I had a feeling I might already know the answer, but as long as I didn't ask the question out loud I was safe from the implications that it brought. One thing I did know for certain; I would never forget the feeling of absolute despair and loss I felt emanating from him that day. I would never forget it because I'd felt that way every day after Mercy was taken.
"Natalie asked me to come to get you," Holly said, "They're still in the library."
"Thanks, Holly, I'll be there in just a minute." From my window, I could see the two dark green SUVs that arrived just after three this morning. Their presence had everyone on edge as the rumor flying around the compound was that the seven bedraggled wolves who climbed out the trucks were the only survivors of the Glades Meadow pack. Glades Meadow was a small pack from the other side of the mountains that we got along pretty well with. A couple of our people found their mates during a gathering this summer and had gone off to live with them. Three of the wolves were currently with Damien and Angel in the medical clinic while the rest had been in with Rasp and Natalie.
Reaching the library I let myself in and took stock of the four wolves. It was clear they'd been through hell and back before reaching us. The two adult females sat with Natalie and Rasp while a young girl who couldn't have been more than seven or eight was curled up next to her teenage brother on the couch. Making my way to the couch I knelt and held the small stuffed pokemon I'd felt the need to double back and get. "Hi, little one. What's your name?"
"Hallie," the little blonde-haired girl said.
"Hi, Hallie, I'm Elizabeth and is this your brother?" The family resemblance was unmistakable.
"That's Davey." Davey may have only been a teenager but his eyes were those of someone who'd seen far more than they should. I knew those eyes because they were the same as mine.
"Davey it's good that you're looking out for Hallie," I told them. "I lost my sister when I wasn't much older than you and only got her back a few months ago when I became a wolf. Hallie, do you think you could do something for me? Could you hold onto my Charmander? I don't have the time to cuddle with him like he needs and was thinking you could help me." Watching her small hand reach out and pull the pokemon to her I know I'd be hearing from Natalie about my Alpha instincts kicking in.
The two of them watched me with wary eyes as I settled into the open seat next to Rasp. "Elizabeth, thank you for joining us," Natalie said, "Lisa, Cindy, this is Elizabeth Grey, our resident bonus Alpha. Lisa can you tell her what you told us about what happened right before the attack."
It was easy to see the fatigue on her face so I decided to try and relax things before making her start again. "Lisa, Lisa Simmons right?" Reaching over I set my hand on top of hers and squeezed it. "I think we met at the gathering over the summer. If I remember you gave Holly a run for her money in the circle during the Beta challenges."
"Not enough of one," Lisa smiled, "I thought I had her until she caught me with that damn headbutt right at the end there. I heard later that you taught her that."
"Sort of. She learned it the hard way the same as you did during my rank challenge." A knowing chuckle from the Alphas said they remembered Holly getting knocked for a loop before I choked her out.
