Chapter 9

It took all my control not to just burst from my clothes as I ran into the forest. The fact that I might need them later was the only thing that stopped me. My hands were literally vibrating as they fumbled frustratingly over the button and zipper, taking me twice as long. I snarled, almost ripping them off.

As soon as my clothing was firmly tied I exploded from my human body without a moment's hesitation. I shook myself and stretched a little, releasing some of the tenseness in my muscles before digging my claws into the ground and taking off towards the council building, electricity charging my veins.

It was like a switch had been flicked in my mind. A protective instinct that cried for the playing field to be equalled, that screamed for the blood and pain of those accused, that wanted revenge, and it was willing to gain it by any means no matter what the consequences. It was like the raw monster in me was fighting for control. This should have worried me but it didn't, because right now the monster inside was offering me exactly what I wanted.

Behind me a wolf howled long and high.

It was Leah and she was obviously alerting the others of my arrival.

So they had planned for this. I growled out loud. Unbelievable.

With that thought now in mind I turned sharply to the right, I was going to loop around the council building and come from the opposite direction because no doubt Sam would be sending someone to intercept me now. I thought hard about going in the opposite direction however, so if any of the pack were trying to find me it would hopefully stall them for awhile.

I tore through the forest, leaping over fallen trees and snapping branches in my way, the whole time listening and smelling for a following Leah or an approaching other. My mind was buzzing too loudly with anger to hear or see them in my mind.

I felt my brow narrow even in my wolf form as I realised the whole day had been set up to keep me away and in the dark. At Billy's, Quil had been determined to keep me in the house and now that I think about it, that was probably the only reason he had stuck around, to watch me and make sure I didn't go anywhere, to babysit in other words. Then there was Paul, as soon as he phased and realised it was me he had phased back so I couldn't see what was really going on. Even my mother and sister had been asked to keep me busy, but I had been lucky and caught them out.

Who need enemies when you've got this lot?

"Seth!... Seth!"

It was Leah's voice faintly in the back of my mind. I ignored it still fuming over my recent realisation.

"Seth! Come home right now!" Leah continued, and so did I, ignoring her.

"Seth, stop being stupid, you're bigger than this!" She urged getting angry.

"Why should I listen to you Leah, or any of you for that matter?" I whipped back aggressively which faulted her for a moment. "Instead of talking to me and including me you flat out lied and hid things from me, things that concern my imprint!"

"Seth..."

"No, whatever Leah, I'm done with this conversation." I said, coming to grinding halt before phasing back. I couldn't listen to that anymore.

I ran the rest of the way in my human form, although it wasn't as fast it was at least Leah free, in fact the whole journey was problem free as I came across no one. Maybe I was better at this than I thought.

As I finally hit the fringe of the forest I hid myself in the shadows of a pine tree, taking in the council building that finally stood before me. I had seen it hundreds of times, passed it almost every day, but this was the first time I had ever really looked at it. I now noticed that is it was easily the biggest building in the street, somewhat massive compared the few stores that stood meekly beside it. Like many buildings in the area it was made out of large logs with several square windows dotting its walls, and thick, hand-carved wooden doors standing at its entrance. What made this building different to the rest though, was the tall totem pole that stood by its entrance. It had various animals incorporated into it, the most significant being the wolf that was perched at the top.

As I looked back down my attention was turned to those that stood around it. My eyes narrowed. Paul, Embry and Jared stood arms folded by the doors, their eyes probing the forest for a certain werewolf.

I huffed quietly, my fists still shaking by my side. Well this was it. I didn't know exactly what I was going to do now but I sure as hell couldn't stand keeping still any longer. I walked determinedly out of the shadows and into the light, quickly catching the eye of all three that stood outside the council, a look of surprise flashing across their faces. I guess they hadn't expected me to get this far. As I crossed the street I watched as they moved forward a little, closing ranks around the entrance, their arms all folding as they frowned at me.

"Seth, what are you doing here?" Embry sighed as I slowly approached them. He was standing in the middle, slightly in front of the other two.

"And here I was thinking you simply forgot to invite me." I said sarcastically. I made to go around them but Paul jabbed me in the chest with his fingers and pushed me back slightly. I glared at him, "No way pup." He said shaking his head.

"Seth, this isn't going to do any good." Embry spoke up again. I ignored him, continuing to send daggers at Paul. "Just go home." Embry pleaded.

I finally looked at Embry, his face was torn.

"I'm just making sure they get what they deserve. Now get out of my way Paul." I said glaring back at Paul. The longer these guys put up a fight, the more persuasive the monster insides ideas were becoming.

"But will any punishment they receive satisfy you?" Embry said quietly. I sighed dropping my gaze, staring instead at the building like I could see through its walls at the hunters. They would probably only get away with a fine.

"Probably not." I whispered bitterly with a frown.

"I understand how your feeling... "

"No you don't!" I interrupted enraged, "You have no idea!... none of you do!" I half yelled looking at all of them. "None of you know what it feels to find your imprint and then have them almost taken away from you... none of you... so don't even try that." I finished through clenched teeth, my eyes burning with rage.

They were silent for a moment, all staring at me.

"Now let me through." I demanded in a forced calm voice.

"We cant." Jared finally spoke up.

"What? Why not?" I questioned, my anger bubbling to the surface again.

"Sam's orders."

I huffed loudly, running my hands through my ruffled hair. "I haven't even done anything!" I yelled.

"Yet." Paul added quietly. "It's not what you've done, it's what you might do."

"Funny, I'm not the one with the control issues." I said bitingly, looking directly at Paul. His face hardened at my words, must have hit a nerve.

"Listen pup, why don't you do us all a favour, and just go home!" his said moving closer to me.

"You know Paul I am getting pretty sick of you calling me pup..." I said also moving forward.

"Oh really? Because last time I checked you looked and acted just like one."

"Oh Yeah?"

"Waa waa waa, everyone's against me, waa waa waa, you don't understand... Just grow up and stop being so selfish!"

A low growl rumbled from my chest as the monster inside prepared to take full control.

"Okay okay guys that's enough." Embry said stepping between us and pushing us back. We continued to glare at each other when something in the window caught my eye. Sitting turned in his seat inside was Sam, his frown slowly deepening as he watched me.

I turned my attention back to Paul, an idea in mind.

"Grow up hey? Oh I'll grow up..." I muttered and I lunged forward, tackling Paul to the ground before the others even realised what was going on. We scuffled around in the wet gravel for a bit, where I managed to get one descent punch in before Embry and Jared pulled us apart.

"I said that's enough! Calm down! What's gotten into you?" Embry yelled as I tugged against his firm grip on my arms. Paul was doing the exact same thing as his body started to vibrate, growling things like, "Let me at the little shit... thinks he can do whatever he likes... Bloody deserves it!"

"Seth and Paul stop this at once!" Both of us ceased struggling as Sam walked over to us, the council doors banging behind him. "Does someone care to explain to me what the hell is going on?!" He yelled looking from me to Paul, who was glaring daggers at me.

"Don't look at me, drama queen over there was the one that started it." Paul said bitingly, shaking Jared's grip off of him and dusting himself off.

They were all looking at me now, a variety of emotions displayed on their faces, including the new ones that watched from the council windows.

"Well Seth?" Sam questioned, drawing back my attention. When I didn't say anything he sighed and continued. "I think you've answered your own question as to why we didn't involve you..."

"None of this would have happened if you'd just involved me in the first place." I stated angrily, clenching my fists harder as my trembling worsened. I was getting pretty sick of Sam.

"How do I know that Seth when you pull a stunt like this?!" Sam suddenly said loudly, "How do I know you wouldn't have done the exact same thing to those hunters?" he asked exasperated, his alpha eyes boring into mine until I was forced to look away. He sighed again and ran a hand over his tired face. "Seth I know this is hard for you..."

"Sorry if I'm interrupting, but we were kind of hoping to wrap things up here sometime today."

We all turned to see five men walk down from the council's entrance. Two of them I recognised as elders from the council, as for the three in front, I had a pretty fair idea. The monster inside purred with delight.

"Yes, sorry about this, I had to sort a few things out." Sam said the last part looking directly at me, but I continued to stare at the three in front, my eyes glued like a predator on its prey.

They all seemed to be your standard hunter. Middle aged, of average build, all clad in timeless flannelette tops with jeans.

"Oh yes, we saw," said the man that had spoken up before "That was quiet a tackle." He added looking at me with a chuckle, the men by his sides joining in.

I barely felt my nails pierce the palm of my hand as I clenched my fists even tighter, glaring at them with utter most hate. Hurting Allira obviously hadn't affected them in the least. Make them pay, the monster urged, make them pay.

"What's got you so riled up anyway kid?" The guy on the left questioned.

I took one purposeful step forward but was stopped by Embry's arm.

"Easy." he breathed, so only I could hear. "He's ah, pretty passionate about the wolves in this area. The one you shot was ah, pretty close to him I guess you could say." Embry explain. I now turned my glare onto him, which he simply shrugged at.

"Not trying to be rude or anything son, but are you sure? I mean, we all saw it and well, were not even sure if that thing was a wolf." questioned the hunter on the right.

"Was more like a bear." The one on the left added. "Ruddy great thing it was." He said looking off into the distance, obviously remembering.

"Either way it was a monster and a danger to everyone in the community." The middle hunter stated matter-of-factly.

I was clenching my jaw hard and breathing heavily through my nose trying to hold myself together, which was becoming a painful and almost impossible task.

"Okay Seth, I think it's time for you to go." Sam said quietly nodding at Embry who tried to turn me around. I wasn't budging.

"Really, I think we did y'all a favour. You should be paying us." The arrogant hunter continued.

"Come on Seth." Embry urged, still trying to pull me away.

"Are you hearing this?" I hissed furiously at Embry, I started to feel my body twitch, "He's not even sorry!" I roared.

"Sorry? Son, why would I be sorry? That 'thing' was running rampant in the forest, it was only a matter of time before it attacked someone." He tried to justify.

"So you thought you'd shoot first and ask questions later then did you?" I yelled, "Yeah, you're a real hero, saving us from a harmless creature that hadn't even done anything, congratulations!"

"Kid, I don't know why you care so much, it's just a stupid animal." the hunter on the right stated. I growled noisily, the monster inside getting riled up.

"Sir please, you're not helping." Sam said to the hunters with a slight edge to his voice.

"It was either 'us' or 'it', okay." The middle hunter continued aggressively, ignoring Sam.

"I'd rather 'it' had gotten 'you' " I spat. Embry was literally tugging at me with all his strength now.

"Seth, go. Leave!" Sam ordered, his eyes flashing dangerously at me.

Although it physically hurt my body to do so, I slowly let Embry pull me around and drag me away, because an order was an order and I didn't have a say. As I was steadily dragged away, my entire being fuming, the arrogant middle hunter couldn't help but speak up again.

"I don't regret what we did kid. If I had to do it over, I would do the exact same thing." He shouted after me.

I turned my head to look at him and shook my head with disgust.

"Except maybe this time I wouldn't hesitate. I'd shoot to kill."

Suddenly something inside me snapped, a profound ringing filled my ears and a deep snarl ripped from my throat as the monster inside finally took full control, though it wasn't the one I expected.

Without thinking I had thrown Embry off of me and made my way inhumanly fast to the hunters. I saw looks of great surprise on each of their faces before I raised my fist and punched the middle hunter square in the nose with a deafening crunch. He fell back from the hit, hitting the ground with a dull thump, warm blood streaming from his nose.

I turned to the remaining hunters which without warning grabbed both of my arms attempting to restrain me. Well they tried. With little effort I swung my right arm, sending one of hunters flying back into the council building wall. He hit it with a thud before crumpling on the ground unconscious.

Finally I set upon the final hunter. Grabbing him by scruff of his shirt, I lifted him so his feet were barely dragging on the ground and pushed him up against the totem pole. I growled at him, my face contorted in rage.

"Please..." he whimpered his eyes wide with fear and hands raised.

I stopped, suddenly shocked. No one had ever looked at me like that before. This full grown man was shaking from head to foot, scared for his life because of... me.

I instantly released the man and almost at once, was grabbed and dragged away by the others. I put up no fight. The intense rage I had felt before had but completely evaporated, replaced instead by a numbing shock of what had just happened.

As I was dragged away I couldn't stop looking at the scared hunter as he slide down the totem pole onto the ground in complete shock and relief, his astonished eyes never leaving me.

What had just happened? I asked myself again and again. I had just attacked two, nearly three full grown men and almost done some serious damage. Me...Seth... the mellowest of the group. What's more is I had done it in my normal form, even though I'd lost control... I hadn't phased. What the hell was going on?

Sam suddenly grabbed my face with one of his hands and made me look at him. Apparently they had been talking to me.

"... I said are you hearing me Seth!" he half yelled, frowning at me.

On any other day, the look Sam was giving me now would have had me cowering in a corner, today though I had way bigger problems, so I didn't say anything.

"I said, get out of here!" Sam finally yelled, beyond frustrated, "I don't care where, just stay the hell away from here, and the hell away from them!"He ordered, pointing in the direction of the hunters. I looked back over to them. The hunter who had been by the totem pole was now trying to wake his friend who lay crumpled by the wall. I swallowed hard.

"That means now Seth!" Sam yelled again. I tore my eyes away to look back at him, he was shaking his head.

"I-I'm sorry..." I whispered thickly before turning and running away into the forest.

I ran slowly, my feet almost dragging as my mind continued to replay in my head what had just happened. I couldn't believe it.

What had happened to me? The funny, bubbly Seth everyone knew and loved, the Seth that avoided confrontations and enjoyed hanging out with his pack brothers...? Who was this angry, possessive monster who replaced him, making him turn on his friends and attack random people? where had he come from?

I clenched my fists as I started to breathe heavily, the lump in my throat aching. Allira.

I just wanted all of this craziness to stop! Every since I'd met her it was like my world had been flipped upside down and set on fire. I didn't have control of anything anymore. My feelings, my actions... I couldn't trust myself! I'd had enough, I was emotionally and physically drained and I just didn't want to do it anymore, I couldn't... she was bringing out the worst in me and she was meant to bring out the best.

I finally stopped where I was, sighing heavily and rubbing my face.

I needed time away to think.

So I took off through the forest ignoring the uncomfortable feelings that had settled in my stomach as I ran further away from her, the whole time thinking that maybe it was better for the both of us if I kept it this way.