My Alpha's Mark

57 Lucky

Kacie

I listen as his footsteps disappear.

“Good evening,” Aiden called out and I heard the supply closet close.

Spreading my arms out, I reached out and could touch the sides of the tunnel. I started my journey through the dim tunnel.

“We got really lucky,” Athena murmured.

“I know,” I sighed. “I won’t forget the kindness he’s shown us today.”

“If we had crossed paths with another human who worked for the pack it’s unlikely they would have helped us out of fear or loyalty,” Athena said.

The crunching sounds of my footsteps resounded through the narrow way. As I walked the walls curved and twisted, there was only one road to walk, and I hoped a chance at freedom waited at the end.

The further I walked, my palms itched the darker it got and I needed a release. I called on the flames to light the way. Feeling relief wash over me as I let the flames dance in the palm of my hand. I looked around the tunnel as I went praying for an idea of what I should do when I got out. When I reached the end of the tunnel, I hesitated for a second before stepping out cautiously into the woods.

“I think we should run left,” Athena murmured, her voice nervous.

I closed my eyes and concentrated. I tried to pinpoint where Rich’s men were standing. I opened my mouth to respond just as I picked up some movement to the right. Beta Rich had four men stationed out here not including the guards that stood near the clearing in front of the gas station.

The customers had scattered and the pumps were empty. “Left it is,” I breathed and turned to leave. The front door of the gas station flew open stopping in my tracks as Beta Rich came out dragging Aiden by the hair behind him.

“KAACIEEE” Beta Rich called, throwing Aiden onto his knees on the ground in front of him.

“Shit,” Athena cursed.

“Where are you?!” He bellowed, “I know you’re here.”

Beta Rich chuckled and Aiden didn’t resist or make any move to fight. If anything, Aiden’s face mirrored something close to acceptance.

“He wouldn’t hurt him,” I reasoned, “he’s human. There’s no reason to harm him, Aiden can’t harm him and he’s not trying to resist.”

“I don’t know,” Athena whispered.

“What?”

“If Aiden’s family works for the pack it means they belong to them.”

“Meaning…,” I breathed.

“He can kill him if he wants to,” Athena said, confirming my fears. I stood rooted to where I stood. We stared down at the human who just granted us a chance at freedom.

“I won’t let him kill him. It’s our fault,” I said shaking my head. I take a step forward, making up my mind. I’ll turn myself in and they’ll let him go. I don’t know what I plan to do after but I have my flames. I won’t let them hurt me and with Ken dead, I only have Rich to deal with.

Beta Rich takes a step forward and I watch horrified as he grips Aiden’s head and in one fluid movement he snaps his neck. Aiden’s blue eyes are open staring at nothing as he falls forward on the asphalt.

I stare in complete in utter shock as what’s just happened hits me like a slap in the face. I stand rooted to the ground as I stare at Aiden’s body lying lifeless on the ground.

Why?

“Because he could,” Athena murmurs. “He won’t give up. We need to fight back.”

“Right here, right now,” I agree. “They know where my home is, what’s to stop them from going there and hurting pack?”

“We can’t allow them to live,” Athena confirms.

Taking another step forward, I see a large white paw in place of my leg. I shifted and didn’t realize it, I felt nothing but resolve as I weaved through the woods. I could feel the warmth of the men nearby and knew their location.

Silence filled the forest as I carefully trod closer to the man I’d heard on the right. Remembering where he stood, I was careful of the twigs on the ground, I stepped on the soft fallen leaves. He didn’t hear me as I inched closer and closer to the standing form who watched and waited for a signal from Rich.

I didn’t feel guilt, only vengeance as I bit into him ripping flesh from flesh. A pain-filled cry ripped through the air and through blood-red eyes, I watched as he fell to my feet. My eyes picked up another dark silhouette six meters away.

Someone cursed nearby as my teeth dug into him, dragging him down the hillside and silencing his screams with a jerk of my head. The sound of another forced me to let go and my heart thumped a little harder than usual, not in fear but with excitement.

Athena’s voice echoed in me and we lunged through the air snapping sharp canines at him. I didn’t hesitate as I bit his head and with a flick separated his head from his body. A warm liquid gushed and filled my mouth, I could taste the fear of the man remaining in the woods.

My hunt instincts caressed every inch of my strong body, flooding me, completing me. I wanted to get rid of the threat to my home, my family, my pack. I needed vengeance for the human boy who helped me escape. I felt my wolf instincts taking over and I almost lost myself to the terror, the need to kill them all. But I wasn’t alone in my darkness and rage. Athena was strong and constant within me. She wouldn’t let me lose myself.

The guards that had stood out in the clearing, rushed in to aid their fallen. I should have been scared, if I’d been in my two-legged state I doubt I would have been able to come as far as I have.