*Omario POV*
Abi is instantly agitated the moment Terrence walks out. She forces herself out of bed to stand near the window. I can feel her heart racing. She’s scared for him. I get up and follow her. It’s almost dark outside but the street lamps allow us to see Terrence confidently stride past the group that will be hunting him. They have already shifted into their wolfs and hauling excitedly. My heart starts racing too. There’s so much I hate here and this is on the top ten. I look at them, they are supposed to be my family yet I identify with the people who would never really let me in. I despise those whom I belong with, leaving me all…..alone.
“They are more today.”
Abi’s melancholic voice breaks my heart. She is terrified for her friend and blames herself that he has to go through this.
I narrow my eyes at the group. I have never paid attention of the exact number but they should be less because I got rid of Sylvester and Kane. My heart sinks, Abi is right and I can see why. There are a few young wolf in the midst. There, in middle of the group, fur as white as mine, is Oli. Next to her, with his unique silver fur is my best friend. I can’t believe this! Why on earth would they join them?
“What is it?” Abi asks and our eyes meet.
“Oli and Floyd are there.”
She looks away, I can feel her heart beating faster.
“Are they fast?”
It’s her soft thready voice that gets to me more than it should and awakes the need inside me that wants to reassure her. Without thinking I move closer to her.
“Abi, they would never hurt Terrence.”
I don’t know what possessed Oli and Floyd to join this madness but I know them. They are loving and kind, nothing like the monsters they are with.
Abi sighs and shakes her head. “They are hunting him. Are they fast?”
She does not believe me and I don’t blame her. I sigh. I understand her worry too well. Terrence said he has watched the group and knows that he is faster than everyone of them but he has never seen Oli and Floyd run, neither has Abi.
“Terrence is faster than the two of them but I don’t know about the other extra members there.” My answer does not offer much comfort but I just can’t lie to her.
She swallows, her breathing gets faster and it starts getting really hot in the room. Nina is agitated. She must care deeply about Terrence. I am now sweating, I don’t know if its paranoia but I feel the static energy emitting from her. It’s not safe for me to stay here.
“Are you okay?” Abi asks, worry written all over her face. “It’s freezing and you are sweating,” she adds.
“I think Nina is pissed.”
She shifts away from me with widened eyes.
“Go.” Her voice is weak but decisive and firm.
“No.”
“I don’t want to hurt you, please go.”
“I know.”
“I don’t know how to control whatever she’s doing. Please go!” she pleads but I can’t get myself to leave her when she’s this devastated and weak.
“Abi.”
She shakes her head when I approach her. “I will go then,” she says and immediately starts walking towards the door.
I curse under my breath. This is an impossible situation. I am trying to get her safe and she’s trying to get me safe. One of us is bound to loose, it just can’t be me.
“You are still weak, you will exhaust yourself.”
She does not respond but continues dragging her feet towards the door. I can tell from her unsteady gait that she won’t make it far before falling. Her determination is really touching but frustrating at the same time.
“Titan…” I link my wolf. He has a better chance of quenching Nina’s anger, cheering Abi up and keeping her here than I do.
“On it.” Titan immediately takes over and find Abi already sitting up on the floor. Her feet must have given away while we were shifting. Titan surprisingly does not run to her as usual but stands in the middle of the room, watching her.
“Titan.” Abi calls to him softly but Titan does not move. He is actually mad at her. He was very eager to take over, yet he is now just staring at her. I don’t understand this wolf of mine.
“You are mad at me, aren’t you?” Abi can’t hide the panic on her voice and I am not surprised. She cares and seems to understand my very confusing wolf better than me.
Titan still does not move.
“I am sorry, T. I was selfish. Please don’t ….”
Abi starts crying. That’s when Titan runs to her side and attempts licking her face but she hugs him and continues sobbing and he starts whining. This scene is becoming too familiar.
“Terrence is ….going ….to die ….because ….of …me. It’s..all my fault,” Abi mumbles between her sobs.
Abi and Titan are still on the floor when I hear distressed hauls coming from the woods. Abi springs up and pushes herself towards the window. Titan follows and reaches the window right when Terrence dashes back into the castle gates.
“He made it, he made it!” Abi shouts, laughing through her tears.
Terrence had to run to the river banks and back to be safe. The fact that he is back means he actually outran everyone. I also can’t stop laughing.
My Gamma showed those idiots flames. I don’t even see any sign of them anywhere but the distressed haunts continues.
What the fuck?
The hauls sound the same but they are not. I know my families and Oli’s. Amongst all that noise, I can hear hers. She’s hurt….
“Let her be,” Titan links back.
“She’s our mate you idiot!” I can’t believe this wolf!
“She made a choice. She made her bed, let her lay on it.”