Switched!
Thirteen
Meeting
October 29, 2010
11: 45 PM
Friday
I scanned the area quickly before reaching into my pocket and pulling out the burner phone to check the time.
It had to be close to midnight now and the woods were silent, with only the scurrying of nighttime creatures filling it with soft sounds, dry leaves crunching beneath our feet.
Beside me, Derek didn't say a word and I wondered, briefly, what was going through his head.
Worried?
Of course I am. I…I nearly killed her.
It was self-defense, Nadia crooned.
I shook my head. You and I both know that's bullshit.
She fell silent, receding to a corner of my mind to sleep.
"Where did the others head to?" I asked Derek, although I kept my eyes on the path and a respectful distance so we didn't accidentally brush.
"Factory, I th-think," he answered, sounding uncertain. "About earlier…" he started and I forced out a slow breath.
"It was nothing. Don't worry about it." My voice shook a bit on the word nothing and I paused for a second, wondering if he'd heard it. Apparently not, because his steps never faltered, although he kept tripping on tree roots.
"Oh." He sounded surprisingly disappointed.
There's nothing between us, I told myself fiercely.
Perhaps he wants there to be, Nadia purred from her corner.
I scowled. Why would he when he's made it all too clear that I'm a monster to him? The girl who killed her own flesh and blood in a fit of rage?
It wasn't your fault. Young—
That's shit, Nadia, I spat and she hissed, bristling.
I'm trying—
I'm a killer and that's all I'll ever be. This isn't Twilight; I'm not a romantic interest. Werewolves don't get the guy.
She fell silent and didn't say another word for a very long time. When she did speak, it was like a blow horn. Stop! she yelled loudly.
I froze mid-step. An unmistakable scent filled the air.
"Get down!" I snarled at Derek as he moved forward, completely unaware of the danger.
With a loud laugh, the werewolf backed off. I'd recognize that sleazy smirk and greasy blonde hair anywhere.
Malloy.
"Nice to see ya', girlie," he barked as he pulled himself upright, brushing the dirt off his flannel coat like he hadn't just smashed my mate into the ground.
"Not really, you rat bastard," I spat, bristling as Nadia took her stance.
"Have you ever fought a full-fledged Wolf?" he asked, smiling darkly. His eyes glowed in the dark like a cat's, watching my reaction. Before I could reply, he launched himself at me and exploded mid-air, knocking me to the ground.
All his two hundred pound wolf body smashed into me and the breath was squeezed from my lungs as he snarled, long strings of saliva hanging inches from my face. He was so heavy, pinning me while I was struggling to get away. With his front paws pinning my shoulders, he leaned close and snapped his teeth onto my hear.
I screamed and bucked wildly.
His laugh-like yelp echoed, scattering my thoughts.
"Get off me, you fucking mutt," I grunted as I managed to wedge my legs between me and his fleshy underbelly. With a loud curse, I pushed with my knees and he flew back, hitting a nearby tree with a yelp.
Obviously angered, he shook off the blow and came at me, lips drawn back and teeth gleaming.
I scrambled to my feet and swung out my arm, intending to punch him.
Last second, he lunged, and his razor-sharp teeth sank in, cutting through skin and muscle.
My fist glanced off his skull and he let go of my arm to slash at my side, tearing my shirt into pieces. Quickly seizing my advantage, I grabbed the scruff of his neck and threw him down to the forest floor.
Behind me, Derek stayed silent, watching in horror.
Crunch.
His nose gushed with blood as he let out a short, pitiful bark. He sounded like he was choking, as my knees came up and hit his side. My arm throbbed with each punch. Somehow, he wiggled free and went from my throat, saliva spraying my cheeks as he squirmed atop me, my hands wrapped around his throat. Like a true animal, he snarled loudly, claws ripping at my shirt and shredding the skin beneath. Drops of blood hit my face and neck.
Out of the corner of my eye, I heard Derek moving and saw a dark shape stumble out of the trees.
The smell of sweat invaded my nose and a faux-leather jacket gleamed in the moonlight as the second werewolf put both hands out and shoved Malloy off me. With a growl, the wolf rolled off me and came at Ramon.
This time, it was Derek who stopped his attack, swinging a half-rotted tree branch at the flank-scarred wolf, smacking him straight in the face.
With a low yelp, Malloy eventually retreated, leaving a trail of blood in his wake.
I watched him as my arm throbbed, demanding attention. In the light, it looked worse than I knew it to be; it was covered in gallons of blood and the skin looked badly torn. Glancing down at my shirt, I saw my side was in the same state, with several shredded cuts from Malloy's claws. I shook my head in distaste as Ramon helped me to the ground.
"This is gonna hurt," he warned me as he poured something on my arm.
He lied.
It hurt like a bitch, a fire exploding in my skin and burning me alive, charring flesh and breaking bones, like setting your hand on a hot stove, burning it purposefully.
"I'm fine," I argue stiffly as I sat up, ignoring the wound in my side and wincing when Ramon pushed me back down.
"No, you aren't…" he said fiercely, his eyes gleaming above mine like black stones.
"You really aren't," Derek echoed, speaking to me for the first time without being spoken to first. "You look like you've been mauled by a bear," he continued softly. His eyes looked scared like a little boy's.
"Actually, it was a wolf," I corrected him.