Chapter 15

Gabriel cursed, and Ulf backed up the riverbank. "It's okay, little brother," Gabriel said. "I'll not bite."

"Ulf everything is going to be fine." I told him pulling the boy into a tight hug.

"They didn't see me," Ulf continued, watching Gabriel warily with my head resting on his shoulder. "I left while they were rolling him up in the carpet they'd done him on. I climbed out the window and went over to Willem's."

"He wouldn't tell me what was wrong at first," Willem said. "But you know Ulf, it was obvious something was."

"How could I turn in my mother?" Ulf wailed.

"Ulf look at me," I demanded. "Hey, Gabriel may have said he wouldn't bite but I make no such promises," I pressed out moving his face to look at me. "If you hadn't of done that then Viv would have- she would of," I stammered out trying to find my words ", I wouldn't have a cousin anymore. Thank you, Ulf. Yes you turned your mom over, but you saved Vivian from herself and for that I am forever grateful."

"Cyn you do not even like me anymore."

"Ulf of course I like you, all of you," I looked towards the others around me "you mean the world to me. You're my pack. I guess my grief made me forget that." I smiled.

"It's okay Cyn. I'm not sure we have been very worthy of you anyway," Willem said pulling me into a one sided hug.

Gabriel's dark brows knit into a frown as if he was in deep thought."But why did you think the killer was you?" he asked Vivian. He folded his arms and waited for Vivian to say something. They all knew Viv had tried to kill herself for a reason.

"Vivie its okay to tell them now," I coerced her.

"I couldn't remember things and I woke covered in blood. I thought it was my boyfriends but Cyn assured me it wasn't. They framed me," she admitted.

"I knew it wasn't you all along Viv. Do not you think if I had any doubt I would have gone to Rudy?"

"Ulf," she said. "Did they say anything about setting me up?" Where was she going with this?

Ulf swallowed. "No. They just went through his pockets. Mom found some letter on him. When she read it she laughed."

"What did it say?" Vivian demanded.

Ulf flinched. "I do not know. But after Rafe read it he said, 'I'd rather be there at two o'clock.' "I gripped his shoulder tightly.

"Shit! It was Peter," I face palmed myself mentally.

Gabriel stared at Viv. "Was he your boyfriend? "

"No, he was his friend. He brought me a message from Aiden. Astrid and Rafe were across the street when we talked. They must have followed him. What time is it?"

I checked my phone quickly. "It's 15 till two."

"They're going to meet Aiden." Viv turned to Gabriel. "You've got to stop them. Please. Go after them."

"Where," he asked.

"The river behind our house," I told him grimly.

"How did you-"Viv began.

"I talked to him before we left. He said I couldn't always protect you. I guess he was right."

Gabriel turned to Gregory, "See how many pack members you can find. Willem, you and Ulf see who's still at Tooley's. We'll need some strong teeth tonight. I'm calling a Judgment." The boys took off.

"What are we supposed to do?" I asked him with a worried look.

"Vivian, you get that kid out of there before Astrid shows up. I'll round up whoever's at your house, and then I'll be right behind you in time to meet Astrid. Cyn you patrol the area. Try to stall them if I do not make it in time."

"Okay let's go." I started to walk away.

"No," cried Vivian "I can't go."

Gabriel stopped in his tracks. "Why, for the Moon's sake?"

"He's frightened of me," she said. "He will not listen to me."

"Well I can't do it. I'm sorry but he was always kind of scared of me anyway.

"You told him," Gabriel said. His tone was resigned, as if he'd already guessed.

She nodded miserably. "But only about me, no one else," she explained in a rush.

"It doesn't matter. He knows how close we are. He will not come within 15 feet of me." I sighed.

Gabriel took a deep breath, "Not good, but not the worst of our problems right now. We can't risk another body showing up in our territory, especially if there are others who know that he was meeting you. Chase him out of there if you have to." Vivian nodded her head lightly.

"But what if he's going there to kill me?"

"If you do not, he may be the one to die. Do you want that, Vivian? You wanted him as a mate, remember. We do not abandon our mates." I couldn't help but see the pained look Gabriel sent me.

"Come on," she said. "We're wasting time."

It didn't take long for me to spot Rafe and Astrid I ran after them trying to stall them like Gee asked. Rafe made it to Viv and Aiden still though.

"Can I join the party?" Rafe's voice came from behind Vivian, and she whirled to face him. His hair was a shaggy mane down his naked back, his nails were talons, and his eyes glowed red. I ran at Rafe sharply still not transformed I smashed into a tree using all of my force ducking away from his claws.

"Playing with guns are we?" said Astrid. "You know bullets can't harm us, meat-boy." This bitch is stupid.

"Aiden, get the hell away from here," I told him as I moved towards Astrid.

Aiden stood his ground, slowly moving his gun in an arc between Astrid and Rafe. I was somewhere in the middle of said arc. Sweet moon why?

"If you leave now, Vivian, you will not have to see them suffer," Astrid offered.

"You really think you can beat me and a silver bullet?" I growled. Aiden stepped back some.

"You get out of here," Vivian growled. "I will not let you hurt him."

"Viv go get Gabriel now!" I demanded trying to get her away; trying to protect her.

"Oh he can't stop me little head Bitch," the malicious in her voice was obvious.

"I meant so he could stop me from killing you before your judgment, but you know what I'm sure he will not mind."

"Come on, Viv, he's nothing to you," Rafe said. "The stupid little creep was going to shoot you."

"Oh, but he is something to you, isn't he?" said Astrid. "That's why I shall take such pleasure in killing him."

"Try it," Aiden managed to say. He didn't sound convincing.

"Down boy, I'm the only one allowed to be snarky here," I informed him.

"If you can't get off two shots fast, do not do it," Vivian whispered.

"He knows who we are now, Vivian. He's got to die," Rafe taunted.

"Rafe what happened to the little boy I was forced to give my first kiss to during spin the bottle?" I asked sadly.

"He died when you decided you were too good for him."

"I never meant for you to leave me," I let a single tear fall for me friend who was long gone.

"Why did you set me up?" Viv asked.

"Clever Vivian, you figured it out," Astrid answered. "Give the girl a hand, Rafe. Oh, but you already did, didn't you?" She shrieked with laughter.

"Puns really? You are the definition of a cartoon villainess," I mocked.

"It was a joke, Viv," Rafe said. "You were being such a pain, acting like a meat-girl. We would have told you."

No one missed the scornful look Astrid shot Rafe. "Why did you really set me up, Astrid?" Viv questioned.

"Because I hate you," Astrid spat. "And I think I'll kill you, too. Oh, dear," she continued in a singsong voice. "We came upon her slaughtering the boy and had to stop her. She must have been the rogue."

"They already know it was you Astrid," I smirked.

"Hey, come on," Rafe said, starting to look worried. "It's a joke, right?"

"You're such a tool, Rafe," Vivian said. That wiped the grin off his face.

"Yes, well your cousin isn't so great herself. Are you Cyn?" Astrid snarled.

"I find myself to be rather entertaining."

"Oh please, you are just a little girl who has still yet to climb off her high horse."

"I found that Gabriel didn't mind it so much," I countered with a shrug.

Astrid growled lurking forward. She was getting pissed and I wasn't quite calm myself, but I was somewhat composed. No claws had shot out yet at least.

Astrid snarled, "You took Gabriel from me."

"He was never yours to begin with, and even if he was I would have always had him first," I replied coldly. Yes, that sounded childish, but Astrid is somewhat of a child.

Her words surprised Rafe. "She didn't take Gabriel from you."

"I could have had him if it wasn't for her."

"But he didn't want you," Rafe said, hurt and rage in his voice. He no longer faced Vivian and Aiden. Instead his gaze bounced between Astrid and me.

"Rafe is right Astrid. I'm sorry, but you have to stop this. Walk away, please."

"No, I could have changed his mind," Astrid reasoned.

"But you've got me now. Why should it matter?" Rafe cried.

"Rafe stand down. Gabriel will not hurt you if you walk away now." I told him warmly.

"You do not know that! Just shut up! Astrid answer me," He demanded.

But none of it mattered a bullet rang and a wolf sprang loose. Time stopped, and feeling was lost and I all could hear was my own scream. "Rafe!" I ran to his body weary of his poisoned blood. "Rafe I'm sorry. I never meant to turn my back on you."

"It's okay Cyny," he rasped out before shifting and subsequently dying. I stared down at the pelt of the boy who though recently I wasn't quite fond of, once meant so much to me. He had been tricked by love and for that I was so terribly sorry. The use of my childhood nickname made my heart clench. I almost missed the brawl going on behind me, almost.

I lunged forward slamming Astrid into a tree causing it to creek. I heard Gabriel and the others approach, but it didn't matter. Nothing seemed to matter anymore.

"Are satisfied? Huh, have you destroyed enough lives?" I screeched at the she wolf even as Gabriel ripped me away from her stating it was his job to judge.

"Where the hell were you?" Vivian rasped. I wasn't sure I could speak yet. All I saw was Astrid being restrained in a semi-wolf form by Tomas and Rudy.

"Removing a carpet from your front porch," he answered.

Aiden looked around wildly as, one by one; others of the pack made themselves known and formed a semicircle on the riverbank. Some were in skin and some were in fur, others were in between; eyes blazed red, golden, and green in the light of the sinking moon. I knew mine had turned into the unique shade of gold and silver that they tended to be.

"You have condemned yourself with your own words," said Gabriel to Astrid as he approached her. "You killed humans for the joy of it. You deliberately endangered the pack and tormented one of your own." He stood in front of her now. "You will always be a danger to us. We have no prisons, we have no jailors. This is the only sentence."

He swiftly reached out with both hands and snapped Astrid's neck. She fell to the ground and kicked a few times, then lay still.

As Gabriel turned from the corpse I saw pain in his eyes, not pleasure, and understood the burden he took on as leader. I reached grabbing his hand and squeezed it sharply, but his lips tightened and determination veiled his sorrow. "This is the Law," he cried.

"This is the Law," the shout from all rang out. Those in fur set up a howl. The others joined in. Ulf was crying into his fists, and Willem and Finn on four legs nudged in close to comfort him. I couldn't howl or shout because all I could hear were Rafe's final words to me and all I could see was his heap of limp fur.

Gabriel called for silence.

Aiden crouched on the ground, retching. "It's okay now," Viv told him gently. "You can go."

Gabriel came closer, offering his hand. Aiden flinched and raised his arm. He still held the gun.

"No!" Vivian cried. "He's letting you go." She stepped in front of Gabriel as the shot exploded.

"Vivian, NO!" I ran at her catching her body as she tumbled. My jacket was off in seconds wiping away at her wound. I could hear Esme scream and Persia send Bucky for her bag. "Vivie, Baby Girl, do not leave me please. Oh moon not you. Come on stay with me." I begged as I gripped her shoulders tightly. Gabriel had restrained Aiden somewhere behind me.

"Do not hurt him. Please Gabriel," Viv said to him.

"Viv stop. Do not talk.' I told her through my sobs.

"But that can't be the last thing I say to you," she whined.

"It isn't because you are going to be just fine," I promised stroking her hair. I felt Esme wrap an arm around me as she sobbed over Viv.

"Look at what you've done," said Gabriel. "You have shot the only one here who cares about you," Gabriel said, and his fangs had grown. I looked back to Viv hearing her whimper again.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," Aiden whispered. "I didn't mean to hit you. I thought I could kill you when I came here, but when I saw you I knew I couldn't. Now I've done it anyway."

"Oh you better hope she doesn't die because if she does I will not hesitate in ripping you to a million pieces and no one will be able to stop me," I growled out.

"No do not, Cyn. Will you promise me something?"

"Of course, but it doesn't matter. You ARE NOT dying." I insisted gripping her hand tightly.

"Promise you will be happy with Gabriel and stop trying to protect everyone. We are not worth it."

"You ARE worth it and so much more."

Vivian had to speak. In a gasp of air now, "Let him go," she said.

"Cyn I need room to work," Aunt Persia spoke softly. I simply nodded before walking to Gabriel and gripping his hand tightly while glaring down Aiden.

A flicker of tenderness crossed Gabriel's face. "Boy," he said harshly. "There are more of us than you will ever know. If you breathe a word of this, it will get back to me. There is nowhere you will be safe."

"None of that will matter though because if she dies you will to. Look at all of their faces," I gestured to MY pack around me. "You will not ever need to worry about them. You see none of them would ever go against me. If she does not make it I will ruin you and no one will be able to stop. Now go!" I yelled out sharply.

Aiden looked around the assembled pack, his eyes stricken and huge. He nodded, unable to talk. My gaze then shifted back to Viv's pale form.

"Vivian, my darling," said Aunt Persia. "It would help me if you took on one form or the other."

"Will she be okay?"

"I do not know, Vivian choose a form." Persia insisted.

Suddenly my lungs contracted and I felt the life drain from my face. My knees became weak as I gripped on to Gabriel's arms that had warped around me.

She was stuck in between.

I felt my world swim and blur around me, but at least I had my towers.