Chapter 31 - Loyalty
It was later August, months had passed since he'd last had that phone call with Stiles. Since he made the deal with Deucalion, somehow everything had gone smoothly. Nothing much had changed, just the same plotting as they waited for the right time to strike. He'd visited his mother in the hospital until she finally was discharged, she'd asked him to come home but he'd refused. His father had an apartment downtown with an empty room so Mickey had moved in with him, they spent most of their days' training. He'd gotten to know the twins, Ethan and Aiden. They were the same age so they were easier to get along with than the rest of the pack, Kali scared him but Ennis was kinda nice when he wanted to.
He'd visited Boyd but the guy hadn't said much, neither had Mickey. There was nothing to say, no excuses to justify what he'd done. So he'd quickly left, his self-hatred growing each passing day.
Some days it got really bad so he stayed in his room, staring out the window as he replayed Ericas' death over and over again in his mind. When he really wanted to be cruel to himself he stood in front of the mirror, staring at his reflection. What looked back at him was the monster that had taken the life of an innocent girl, a beast that waited for its next prey.
Rapid footsteps echoed through the building as the chase begun, an intruder had been found. Mickey focused his hearing on the person's heartbeat, scared, panicked, and terrified. He was being hunted by alphas, there was nowhere to hide so all he could do was run. There was nowhere to run, he didn't know the building as they did. They were all there, Isaac couldn't have found them at a worse time.
The chase was approaching Mickeys' location, his father appeared through a doorway from the room next door. Stepping into the hallway to stand beside his son, he looked bored. It was a strong contrast to Mickeys' expression, he felt unbearably tense. But he'd made a promise to Deucalion and he meant to keep it, Derek for Scott which included Isaac. Isaac was Dereks' beta-like Boyd and Erica, the thought of the meaning of his promise hit him hard. He swallowed, restlessly shifting the weight between his legs. His hands were sweaty, clenching, and unclenching.
His father chuckled causing Mickey to glare but his gaze quickly shifted away from the man to stare at the floor, shifting to the direction he knew Isaac would be coming from, and then he was looking at the ceiling as he let out a frustrated growl.
''When stood in a crossroad you've got two paths to choose between,'' his father suddenly said causing Mickeys' gaze to shift back to the man, his fathers' face still held that look of amusement, ''You know which destination you want to reach, you just gotta choose what path you want to take there.''
''But I don't know which path is the right one,'' Mickey argued the footsteps were getting louder, coming closer. He could hear their breathing, it was like thunder in his mind. His breath was rugged even though he'd been standing still for the past few minutes, he was starting to panic.
His father's hand suddenly clamping down on his shoulder caused him to jump, the man himself seemingly unbothered by the youngers' distressed state, ''Then maybe you should seek someone who will walk with you.''
He didn't get it, his father didn't get it. Mickey didn't have anyone after what he'd done to Erica, his bridges had been burnt. Seeking help from his friends would mean he'd have to come clean about what he'd done, they'd hate him for it. He couldn't stand the thought of either Scott or Stiles hating him or Allison. It was too late to go back, he was alone. It angered him that he was so frustrated, his eyes flashed gold as he turned to end the on-going chase.
Three people rounded corner seemingly all at once, Isaac clearly being no match to the twins' speed. The empty hallway would be his final attempt at gaining distance but it only served to be his demise, as his eyes laid sight on the beast guarding his escape. A wolf-hybrid the size of a small bear, it was broad and strong looking. Pure muscles held up by strong legs, its' head was rounder than the normal wolves with a stronger more powerful jaw. The coat was thick and dark a grizzlies, its' canines huge and sharp clearly made to rip threw flesh and bones.
Suddenly fighting the twins didn't feel so bad but the shock of seeing the creature was enough for the alpha twins to catch up, Mickey watched as Isaac was subdued as the twins forced him to the ground. He struggled, tried feverishly to fight his way out of their grasp. It was a losing fight, more so as the rest of the pack arrived.
''Didn't your mother ever tell you never to walk into the den of wolves?'' Deucalion mused as Kali led him onto the scene, the woman sharing his amusement as she watched Isaacs' glare set onto Deucalion.
He tried to rip his arm free but to no use, his glare like fire as he set it upon Deucalion, ''Where are you keeping them?''
His face was pushed to the floor as the twins hardened their grips causing Isaac to flinch from the pain, Mickey shifted uncomfortably as his eyes shifted to Deucalion in an attempt to gauge his thoughts.
''Why don't I show you,'' Deucalions' lips stretched into a wicked smirk causing Mickey to cringe knowing what he was thinking, the alpha turned to the woman next to him, ''Kali my dear, why don't you and Ennis fetch Erica. Isaac really wants to meet her.''
''Of course,'' Kali said as Ennis gave a curt nod, the both of them disappearing down the corridor.
Watching them walk away, Mickey felt his heart thumping in his chest. He felt nauseous, dizzy to the point of seeing black spots in his vision. He blinked several times, staggered as panic rose once more. He couldn't see her, didn't want to be reminded of the damage he'd done to her. His legs were telling him to run away but when he looked at Isaac he realized that he couldn't, this was who he was now. He was a killer since birth, Ericas death had proved as much. There was no going back, he just had to accept it.
''No,'' Isaac whispered causing Mickey to look up, his eyes shifting to Ennis as the huge alpha carried Erica. He put her down in front of Isaac who was struggling, to get away from her or towards her. His eyes were filled with tears as the twins held him back, he'd managed to get on his knees but they were keeping him there.
But Mickey wasn't watching him anymore, his eyes were glued on Erica. She looked terrible, one would after so long. She'd been dead for so long he'd almost forgotten how she'd looked, no he would never forget how she'd looked. He'd never forget about the horrible wound he'd inflicted upon her, so deep and ruthless on her fragile neck. Her blood still remained on her skin and clothes, her eyes open as they hadn't even had the decency to close them. Mickey had done that to her, he'd killed her.
''Why?'' Isaacs' voice was a whisper, his eyes were pleading as he turned them towards Deucalion, ''Why did you do this to her?''
''She died trying to protect a friend,'' Deucalion said as his eyes shifted towards Mickey, ''Sadly that friend ended up being her demise.''
All eyes turned to Mickey who shifted under their different expressions, it was only Isaacs who was filled with betrayal as realization crossed his eyes, ''Mickey? No, but, you're human?''
He wanted to be swallowed up by the ground, to disappear into the earth, and never having to face the people he knew. His secret was out, all of it. There was no more hiding it now, Isaac knew and so would Scott and Stiles. If Isaac would ever make it out alive, Mickey realized that the odds were greatly against the other teen. Could he really watch Isaac die? It would mean he'd killed another innocent, that would be two death all on him.
You can't make the same mistake twice, the second time you make it, it's no longer a mistake, it's a choice.
He'd read the quote somewhere or maybe his mother had quoted it sometime in his childhood but they were true, killing Erica hadn't been a choice. There were no excuses for what he'd done but he hadn't meant for it to happen, Isaacs' death would be a choice. He had a choice to idly stand by and watch him die or he could choose to help him. He glanced at Deucalion if he chooses to help Isaac the deal would be off. Either he could let Isaac die and in doing so save Scott from Deucalions manipulations, or he could save Isaac and trust Scott to be strong enough to stand against the pack of alpha.
A scream of pain tore him from his thoughts, his eyes finding Isaac. Deucalion was stood behind him, his claws dug deep into the teens' nape, extracting his memories to find out the secrets hidden deep within Isaacs' mind. The pain was paralyzing keeping the teen from struggling, deep scarred trauma flashing through his eyes.
The claws were extracted letting the teen falling to the ground, Deucalions lips stretching into a pleased smile as Kali handed him a tissue to clean his claws, ''It seems you are no longer of use to us.''
There was no need for further command, eyes flashed red as they prepared to kill the beta. Isaac still laid on the ground barely conscious enough to stand, no less fight. They would rip him to shreds, Kali smirked as she used her foot to slash a deep cut into Isaacs' ribs causing him to groan from the pain. He was trying to get up, fight, or flee. He was weakened, no way would he be able to getaway.
Raising her arm, Kali prepared to deal with the finishing blow to Isaacs' neck. Ericas' face flashed past Mickeys' eyes, the rip in her throat which he'd caused. He couldn't be apart of another one's death, so he moved. Standing over the teen as he let out a guttural warning growl, his eyes staring up at the alpha daring her to try him. She hesitated but she was backed up by her pack, the odds were on his side. He heard Isaac shuffle behind him, shocked that Mickey would help him.
''Wha-'' Isaac stuttered but Mickey ignored him as he took a step forward, putting himself in between Isaac and the alphas. He needed the teen to run, he lowered his head as he awaited the attack. His feet stood far apart, steady in his posture knowing he'd have to be on the defensive.
Feet slid against the floor as Isaac finally pushed himself up, the alphas' heartbeat picking up as the chase begun. But as Kali moved to chase, Mickey stood in her way. The twins hesitated, glancing at Mickeys' father as if assuming he would stand by his son. He didn't, Mickey was stood alone. He growled feeling saliva drip from his canines, showing confidence even though he knew he would lose. At least he would go down knowing he'd done something good, maybe Erica would forgive him. If not he would at least be going to hell knowing Isaac would live to survive another day, God he missed his friends.
The attack came quickly, a clean swipe of her claws aimed at his eyes but he'd seen it coming. Ducking he used his hind legs to push him forward, aiming for her neck but she wasn't stupid. Her hand-planted onto his head forcing him aside, her claws pricked his skin but he knew it would heal. His feet remained steady as he went for a second attempt, a hand flashed at the corner of his vision. He turned his head right on time to catch the arm between his canines, clamping down hard as he forced the person downwards. The person twisted around, falling onto his back as the wolf stood above him. Ennis glared as he swiped his free hand at Mickeys' face forcing him to let go of his hold. He would have spit he could, the iron tasting disgustingly on his tongue. Instead, he smiled wickedly, the blood dripping from his mouth as they stained his canines.
''Enough!'' Deucalion's' voice bounced against the empty walls, loud and demanding efficiently cutting through the fight halting all motions. Mickey glared at him but calmed as his eyes met with his fathers, his expression calm and collected as he watched his son.
''He broke the deal,'' Kali snarled as he eyes set upon Mickey, eyes crimson like the blood on the wolves fur. She clearly wasn't done with him, wanted their leader to command his death.
But Deucalions' expression remained neutral, neither pleased with the events nor displeased. Because Mickey had broken the deal, now Scott would pay for it. Mickey just hoped at his friends would be able to fight them, there was no going back now.