Stood outside, I found myself second guessing my attire yet again. Looking down at my body I saw more skin than cloths. I didn't think that was a problem in itself. I was proud of my body now, confident in it and damn anyone who disagreed with what I wanted to wear. That said if a fight broke out – which it more than likely would – I had nothing to cover my wounds with should I need to hide them. The cloths I had on where too tight and small to risk tearing apart to cover a few scratches on my arms. Then again, if a fight did break out, what I was wearing would be the least of my worries.
Keeping that in mind, I found myself once again comfortable with what I had on. Around my chest, I had a strapless black crop top with and red printed love heart over my real one, which left my arms bare, my cleavage just visible and my belly button more than visible. Then around my lower waist, I had an extremely short leather skirt which matched Erica's and a pair of high boots that were both comfortable, suitable for fighting, and stylish. I also had a watch on my left wrist, with a neon face, and several bracelets around my right wrist, that could easily be ripped of if need be. It was all part of blending in, and the watch was worn by Derek's orders. And of course I had my ever present crescent moon locket around my neck.
Overall, I looked damn good, and felt justified in slapping Isaac when he complained about me taking too long. It had been worth it. I looked like I belonged, and I was ready to kick ass, without being hindered by my cloths.
"All right, Boyd, you'll stay out here with me," Derek explained, dishing out the orders now that the entire Pack – bar Scott – had assembled. We were stood in front of him, in a single line consisting of Boyd, me, Erica and Isaac. "You'll be back-up alone with me." Boyd nodded in acknowledgement. "The rest of you will be going in to help Scott locate, and then capture Jackson."
"You mean the Kanima," Isaac corrected.
"I mean, Jackson," Derek stressed, a hint of a growl directed towards Isaac.
"Why are we even doing this?" Isaac continued to protest, taking a ballsy step forward. "We know Jackson is the Kanima, why not just kill and get this over with?"
"Because, like I've told you umpteen times, we've tried that and it doesn't work. So we're going to capture him inside, find out who's controlling him, and kill them instead," Derek growled, to which Isaac fell back in line with the rest of us, having been put in his place. "We have a plan, so stick to it."
He then paused to recompose himself, calming down after his anger flared because of Isaac. "Now, while your inside, Dylan will be in charge of you both," he declared with a nod to both Isaac and Erica, who in turn looked to me.
I knew I swallowed then, but I wasn't sure if everyone else heard me, even with their Werewolf hearing. I was nervous. Not just because we were going up against the Kanima again, but because I was going to be in charge of Isaac and Erica. I was going to be responsible for their lives and be expected to make decisions like our Alpha would. It was a lot of pressure for a girl who was only turned into a Werewolf around a month ago.
Looking over, I got nothing but comfort from my Pack. I knew Erica and Isaac wouldn't give me trouble. Sure Isaac had a teasing smile on, but I knew he would only tease, never challenge or undermine me. And Erica was my sister, who would have my back no matter what. But even so it did little to reassure me.
"Dylan," Derek said, catching my attention before nodding away from the rest of the Pack. I caught his meaning and followed him as he lead me away. We didn't go to far, and if the Pack had wanted too, they could have heard us, but with Derek making it clear this was to be privet, I doubted they'd listen in. It would probably count as a disregard for their Alpha's orders.
"Keep your phone on. I'll do the same so we can stay in contact when necessary. If that should fail, and your think your all in serious danger, howl. It doesn't matter where you are, or whose around. Just howl, and I'll come." I appreciated that reassurance, but I also knew I'd only be doing that if everyone of our lives were in danger. Something which I was actively hoping to avoid during my first time leading part of the Pack.
"I also want you to follow Scott's lead." I did my best not sigh, but part of it just slipped out. "I know you don't like him. You probably don't even trust him, but he knows what he's doing, more so than you."
"Then why put me in charge, why not him?" I asked back.
Credit to him, he gave me a straight answer. "I don't trust him either. I'm not putting the Pack in his hands. And if you seriously question any of his decisions, call me. But unless I tell you otherwise, follow Scott and help him capture Jackson."
"Okay," I agreed quietly, wondering if Derek had heard me when he started to stare at me a little tensely.
"Are you going to be okay?" he then asked.
I shrugged, not entirely sure. "Just not sure I'm ready to lead is all."
He smiled a little at that. "You are ready. And if you really need me, just call. But trust your instincts. They're good, just like your senses. Remember your tracker training, and everything else." I nodded, smiling back at him. More reassured in myself.
"You're improving as an Alpha," I complimented, to which his smile broadened a little.
After that he sent us in, me at the front flanked by Isaac and Erica, all ready to prove ourselves and take on the Kanima. Even if we disagreed with the way we were doing it. Although any linger doubts were quickly swept away by the atmosphere of the rave. Even from outside we'd been able to hear the faint thuds of a musical beat from inside. But once we stepped inside, it consumed us. My body was aching to dance, to let lose and thrive in the attention I deserved. But I had a mission, and so did the rest of the Pack… Although, that didn't mean we couldn't have some fun while we worked.
So while we searched for Jackson, the three of us danced across the floor, pushing our way through group after group in our search for him. I'll admit, there were a couple of times were I got distracted, drowning in the attention boys were giving me – especially the cute ones – and getting lost in the music. Thankfully I had Isaac and Erica to pull me out of my daze, although I'd be willing to bet they both got distracted far more than I did.
Then, nearly half an hour into our search, we found Scott who'd apparently been looking for us instead of Jackson. As he then went on to explain, Allison was here, a fact of which I cared very little about. Until he then pointed out she had an army of Hunters backing her up, and that they were planning on killing the Kanima. My reaction was much the same as Isaac's. Why not let them just kill it? I didn't say it though, I knew what Derek would do, or rather what he'd want me to do.
So I told Isaac to shut up and to call Derek to let him know what was happening. I then asked Erica to do the same with Boyd, in case Isaac had trouble getting through to Derek, what with the noise. Once I'd given out those orders, I turned back to Scott who took me aside before pulling out the syringe that he was going to be using on Jackson. The one with the drug that would render him unconscious. "You're going to need this," Scott explained, showing me the syringe that was in his hands, without making it obvious to those still around us.
"Why are you giving this to me?" I asked, not understanding.
"Because I got to make sure that Argent doesn't completely ruin the plan," Scott explained. Not wasting time, he then moved on to explain the idea behind the syringe. "You gotta do it intravenously, which means in the vein. Otherwise it will take longer to take effected, if it works at all." I nodded, showing I understood despite my uninterested demeanour.
"When you find him, you pull back on this plunger right here," Scott then continued, holding the part at the end which I was to pull when I was ready. He then handed over the syringe, carefully putting it into my hand before he pointed towards my neck. "In the neck is probably going to be the easiest. So you find a vein, you jam it in there, and pull back on the trigger," he concluded, before motioning to the trigger on the strangely shaped syringe.
"Yeah, got it," I said before concealing the syringe in the back of my skirt. Yet another reason for me to have worn something different. But I couldn't be prepared for every scenario and look this good at the same time. There was no way I was going to be able to have my cake and eat it too.
Assuming the conversation was over, I turned to leave only to have Scott grab my wrist and pull me back towards him. "What?" I snapped, before pulling my wrist from him.
"Promise me you're going to stick to the plan," Scott said.
"Of course I'm going to stick to the plan," I snapped back, outraged that he'd question me. If it was just him that wanted it then I'd understand, but now he was questioning my loyalty to Derek, to my Alpha. I wouldn't stand for that. "Even if it is a stupid plan," I let slip, but I stood my ground regardless. Not letting it show that it'd been a mistake.
"Just promise me," Scott stressed, leaning towards me and entering my personal space.
"Fine," I growled back, my annoyance flaring for a moment. "I promise to stick to the plan."
Again I turned to leave, and again he pulled me back by my wrist. If he did that again, I was so going to rip his face off. "And be careful," Scott said softly.
"Oh, for God's sake, Scott. I already promised to stick to the plan, now you don't want me to hurt the guy! I doubt he'll even feel it under all those scales," I snapped at him angrily. But rather than reciprocate my anger, Scott just continued to stare at me with those big caring brown eyes of his.
"No, I mean you. You be careful," Scott explained, which made my mouth drop a little, shocked at the fact that he was caring about me. Me, the girl who'd been making his life so difficult recently, making him uncomfortable with my flirting and fighting him every chance I got, and just being very uncooperative overall. And despite all that he still cared about what happened to me.
"I don't want you or anyone else getting hurt."
"Why?" I found myself asking, staring back at him like he was a stranger to me. "Why do you care if I get hurt?"
All Scott could do to answer that question was shrug. "I just…do," he said before then stepping back, turning, and running towards the exit. Even once he was gone, my eyes were still glued to the spot where I'd last seen him, trying to work out why he cared. From the sounds of things, he didn't know himself. But he did care. And I wasn't entirely sure what that meant for him, or even for me. But I did feel something in that moment. Something warm and comforting that made me glad he cared about me.
Shaking it off, I returned to Isaac and Erica, informing them that I now had the syringe and that Scott had gone outside to help Derek and Boyd deal with the Hunters. Erica asked if they should call again, but I saw little point since Scott would probably be with them by now. Our job now was to find Jackson and sedate him. Once I conveyed that order, we set to work, making our way through the crowd until we found Jackson.
Once we had him in our sights, we moved in. Erica was the first to get to him, running her hand across his shoulder before stepping out in front of him. Before he could say anything, she claimed his mouth with hers, kissing him as I came up behind, grinding against him with Isaac behind me. I then turned Jackson towards me with Erica's help, and I then claimed his mouth while Erica helped me hold him.
He seemed to be getting into it, the distraction working as the four of us danced away from inside the crowd. Satisfied that we had him preoccupied, I reached back, forming my claws and poked Isaac. It would have been enough to draw blood, but he didn't give anything away. And that was the agreed upon signal that I was ready, so he knew it was coming.
Stilling smiling as if all was perfect, I turned Jackson back around, pressing my waist to his back as I lead him into Erica. She pressed herself against his front in turn, running her hands along his chest while I wrapped one around his waist. The other reached back to remove the syringe from my skirt, while Isaac slid around so that he was behind Erica, adding to the distraction.
With everything ready, I reached up, ready to drive the syringe into his neck when suddenly I felt claws grab my wrist. Somehow, miraculously, they didn't break the skin. Which was a damn good thing because I saw instantly that they were Jackson's claws.
"He belongs to me," Jackson snarled, glaring right at Erica who began to shrink beneath his gaze. His other hand then reached up, claws having formed, ready to slash her.
"Erica!" I yelled, but it was barely audible above the music. She must have heard me though, as she snapped from her frightened trance and caught Jackson's hand with both of hers, before he could cut her with his paralytic claws.
Another window then opened before me, and I looked to Isaac who caught my gaze. He knew my plan instantly, and I knew he knew. The Pack bond perhaps? Or maybe we were just growing so close that we could tell each other thoughts and moves because of our enhanced Werewolf senses. In any case, I let go of the syringe and Isaac caught it in mid fall, pressing himself against Erica's back as he reached forward and jammed the syringe into the exposed neck of Jackson.
And just like that his claws retracted and his hold on my wrist fell away. The rest of him however, fell towards me and I staggered back in order to keep him up. Isaac quickly came around to help me, taking Jackson's weight from me and helping me to carry him to the prearranged spot with Erica in toe. As we went though, I couldn't help but smile. It had actually worked, and all according to plan this time. We had Jackson – the Kanima – and soon we'd have his master too, and this whole thing would be behind us. I might actually owe Scott an apology this one time. He had actually managed to pull it off…with help of course. And with that in mind, I decided I wouldn't be apologising to him. But that didn't stop me from smiling.