WASTE

Four

I flinched as Nash cleaned my wound. The antiseptic stung and he wasn't gentle at all. He didn't seem too happy about being back at Northgate.

I had followed them obediently back to the 'base'. They had been decent to me on the way back, but as soon as the buildings of their home came into view Nash and the red haired man had immediately become stoic and brooding. The light, careless mood had vanished, replaced with a reasonless tension. It was subtle, but I noticed the looks that my 'saviors' had received. They were not well liked among the older inhabitants of the base.

"Would you just be still already?" Nash finally spit out as I flinched again. I glared at him. My eyes were no match for his dark, angry ones.

"If you wouldn't be so rough," I managed to say, looking away from his face. He didn't seem to like that because he made an odd noise and dropped the antiseptic and bandages to the floor. Quick as a flash his hand shot out and grabbed my jaw, making me look at him.

"You will learn to respect me," he hissed in my face. I opened my mouth to give him a piece of my mind about 'respect,' but I snapped my jaw shut when I saw the red haired man shaking his head from across the room. Dex would've never touched me with this malice. At that simple thought, my eyes teared up and I slapped Nash's hand away. He raised his hand. To slap me, perhaps? I hopped off the table and picked up what he had dropped before he could even make a move. I looked back over my shoulder as I slammed the door. That man had a hand on Nash's shoulder, his lips moving, probably trying to calm the jerk down.

That odd, menacing feeling seemed to grasp at my being again, clawing for a hold. It made me feel reckless and unbeatable. My fists clenched as I stomped down the dusty, dark hallway. The windows had been latched shut for the night, but oddly the doors hadn't been barricaded. When I opened one I found the reason why. Three men lounged on the steps, playing dice. They had all looked up when I opened the door, but quickly went back to their game as I went to the building Maggie had brought me to. It was different from the last time. The women and younger children had left. Only older boys and men had remained.

At least that's what I thought, until I saw Maggie with a group of women in the bleachers. Just when I was about to go over to them, she saw me and her eyes flickered strangely. Quick as a whip she skipped the stairs and jumped over the rails. Her feet hit the ground with a thump. A few of the younger men were watching her. Seems she had some admirers... Before I had a chance to open my mouth and say this, she had grabbed my arm and towed me to the bathing room.

"Let me explain something to you Josie Highlander. Around here we have rules. We have barriers. We have borders. As long as you stay within those three you are protected by the Northgate Pack. Once you step outside you are subjected to the harsh punishment that other packs or creatures will provide if they find you trespassing on their land. Do you understand?" She growled into my face and slammed me against the wall. "You are our responsibility. You will ruin treaties if you go running off like that again. You are a liability."

"I didn't ask for this." I shoved her away from me. "I didn't ask to be brought here. I didn't ask to be saved. And I surely didn't ask to be kept alive." She bounced back quickly and pushed me again. "I will not follow your rules. This is not my home." Before she could say anything else I slipped away from her and stalked back to the main room. I could hear her following me.

I pushed through the crowd of of men and boys. They moved, whether they were willing or not. At the center of a crowd was a blur of fighting. The meaty thumps of fists on flesh, viscous growling and whistling wind surrounded the three people on a dusty, beat up mat. It was amazing and fast and wild. The adrenaline and tension in the air was thick enough to choke on, and the onlookers were only silent watchers of the battle in the middle.

The motion of the battle wasn't filled with anger or hate. It seemed like it was an obligation, and like every blow felled was not in malice but for survival.

An overwhelming power filled the room and on instinct my body tensed. The fight sped faster and faster, a blur of limbs and fierce determination.

Snap.

It was over. The body on the floor was not dead, but merely unconscious, and the other opponent was kneeling before the winner. A thin line of blood dripped steadily from his lip.

I'm not sure if that's what set me off, or if it was the pure feeling of submission, but I felt that change. But this time it was different, quicker. The world slowed to an almost complete stop and I walked over to the kneeling man. I stared at him, and he at me. Minutes passed, only a few milliseconds in the natural, I would find out later. I grabbed his chin in a firm grip and turned his head up to me. His eyes glazed over and flickered to behind me. The beast in me wondered what he was looking at that was so much more interesting than me. And so I turned, just as a wave of power hit me square in the chest.

It jolted me and the beast. She wasn't happy that someone was stronger than her. She didn't want to be weak.

The man who stared me down was not like me. Whatever I was he was not. And he was not like the others in the room or the vampires outside. He was something different and new and strong. The power in his glare warned me off of my victim. I backed down. But you see, I am not the one in control. My body made an odd noise, like the call of a wild dog to a stranger. It questioned for a challenge, a test, yet not to the death. A mock battle.

He seemed to contemplate it. He did not have a beast in control. Then he shook his head and turned his back to me. To us. She didn't like that. Was she not worthy of this strong opponent? Did he think her weak? As I tried to find a grip on her, she leaped. It was graceful and fast and so far from human. He shouldn't have been able to avoid it. But he did. I don't anything will surprise my beast as much as that did. It was just enough of a shock for me to gain control.

And just in time to be slammed forcefully to the ground. The air left my body in a whoosh of wind and I gasped to try to get it back. It didn't work, and only because a large hand was wrapped around my neck. In a panic I clawed at it, desperate for breath. I think by this time the man noticed that I was myself again because he loosened his hold enough for me to breathe normally.

He growled in my face and the beast that lay behind the wall of my mind cowered. He seemed satisfied with that.

"Watch yourself deliciae or she will run you ragged." The man slowly let go of my neck and stood to his full height. He offered me a hand up and I ignored it. Instead I pulled myself up and rubbed my neck. Just another bruise to add to this week's collection. Just then I heard the door open and in came Nash. He didn't look happy. My beast bristled and I couldn't help but curl my lip partway to a snarl. Nash stomped his was right into my personal space, and got right in my face.

"Is this all you do? Cause trouble?" His voice was low and dangerous. Nash doesn't like people ignoring him. I'm guessing he's a leader or king or something of whatever I am.

"Is this all you do? Invade my space and be an ass? Because if it is I've had enough." I don't usually curse or backsass, but this man, just like Maggie, seems to know just what buttons to push. Or maybe I've changed so much I just don't know how to control myself.

"I'm trying to help, you ungrateful cub. You don't know how to control the monster. It is my job to teach you." Some of his anger dissipitated. I don't know why.

"What if I don't want you to?"

"Your options are limited, girl." He looked away and backed up a step. Everyone around us was uninterested in what was going on.

"To who?"

"To me, and me alone."

"Why?"

"Because I am the only one who can control your beast, girl. Rage and Wendigo are not as strong as I." He impatiently turned towards the door, expecting me to follow.

"Well, I don't think that would work."

"Why?" He was getting angry again. I could smell it on him.

"Because."

"Because is not an answer, girl." He was grinding his teeth now.

"Because I personally can't stand you. I would take anyone else over you. Even him." I pointed out the man who held me down.

"Hadrian? He isn't qualified for that position, girl." That was annoying me.

"Stop calling me that."

"What?" He was genuinely puzzled.

"Girl."

"Why?"

"Because I'm almost one hundred percent sure that everyone in this room is aware of my gender. After all, I have breasts. I don't think I can be mistaken for a man." A few people snickered. I watched as he finally gave in to his anger, and in turn his beast. A low growl came from his throat.

"I told you. You will respect me." I knew it wasn't Nash speaking just by his tone. This voice sounded superior and curious where Nash was angry and loud. I blinked and he stood before me, head cocked to the side as he slid a finger along my jaw. My beast did not like him this close. She came close to breaking out of her wall.

"Nash." That powerful voice made him turn around and the beast fall away. "I will teach this... girl." There was soft humor in his voice as well as an underlying warning. He brushed a hand through his shaggy blonde hair before gesturing for Nash to leave. Nash did so with one last glance at me from over his shoulder.

"Hadrian." He held his hand out and I shook it.

"Fly."

"I hope you're a quick learner."

Got some inspiration today. I hope the beast thing confused you and I hope you guys like Hadrian. I sure do. ;) Short chapter, sorry. I'll make the next one a little longer and will hopefully write it before I graduate. XD