Chapter 9

The drive to this place of Natalie's was a pretty decent trip. It took about four hours, and in that time, none of the four of us said anything much. What was spoken was merely Farren giving Derek instructions. When we pulled up in front of Natalie's mansion, it was what I had sort of expected upon first meeting Farren. This mansion was not very well kept, and instead of wood, it was made of stone. Green vines climbed up the sides and wrapped around the pillars. There were broken flower pots on both sides of the chipped wooden door. "This place screams welcome," Spencer mumbled under his breath. Farren shot him a look, filled with both irritation and amusement, before opening her door and stepping out. Derek followed suit and opened my door, waiting until I got out before closing it a little harder than necessary. I didn't know what I'd done to piss him off so badly, but he was reminding me. I looked over where Farren was studying a piece of paper. Spencer nonchalantly had a hand against the small of her back, which she didn't seem to mind surprisingly. "Okay, well this should be it," she said, stepping forward, "Natalie should be here to greet us. Now Derek," she turned and gave him a grave look, "Victor lives here as well, like her pet. Please don't start anything." Derek growled angrily, hissing, "I was uncomfortable enough coming here, why the hell didn't you tell me Vic was here?!" "For this precise reason. I know, I know, rival Alphas and all that crap, but this matter is more important. Please try to behave yourself, I know Natalie is probably explaining to him the same rules." The growl didn't die, but rumbled again in Derek's chest and he reluctantly walked up the steps. There wasn't a chance in God's green Earth I was asking about why he didn't seem to like Natalie or this Victor guy.

Farren knocked loudly, and we didn't have to wait long before a deathly gorgeous blonde woman answered the door. She did not hide her fangs as she smiled at us, and more than ever I wished I wasn't human. She didn't appear to be kind, and what she could want with this war was beyond me. She looked like she'd enjoy torturing someone instead.

She somewhat warmly invited us inside, but when she closed the door, I felt the hair on the back of my neck stand up. Even with Derek and Farren here, I didn't feel in the least bit safe. I cuddled in close to Spencer as she passed us, and he in turn put an arm around my shoulders, even when I could tell he was afraid of her too. Every click-click of her stilettos made me feel worse inside. She led us down a hallway clothed in red, blood red, and stopped just before a large similarly colored door. "Please, step inside and have a seat, I'll have one of the dogs bring us some tea." Derek grimaced, and I felt enraged suddenly. More than ever, I wanted to remove this bitch's heart with my bare hands. I had the quick passing image of ripping her throat out with my teeth, much like Derek had threatened many people before. Although he hardly ever went through with it, it was still a promising threat. Hell, the first time I ever met him he crushed some guy's throat in. But I reminded myself, with what teeth would I do that? What was wrong with me? Although he was angry at me right now, I took a place beside Derek. I wasn't exactly sure why I felt like he needed my shelter, but I followed it and hoped he wouldn't bite my head off for it. I actually found it was quite a different reaction. Instead of getting more pissed, he seemed to mellow a little. It quickly left though when a very tall, and rather large, man with yellowed fangs, spun gold hair and red eyes stepped into the room right after Natalie. Derek sat on the edge of his seat, suppressing a fierce growl. I could only assume that this man was Victor, Derek's rival. Derek's eyes immediately flashed red, but he looked away, as not to challenge the other Alpha. After all, we WERE in Victor's territory.

"Ah, Derek, how nice to see you again." Victor gave a toothy, or should I say, fangy, grin. "I'd say likewise, but I prefer action to lying." Derek growled. Victor's glassy eyes went cold, but his smile did not leave. "Boys, boys," Natalie chastised, "may I go on, or do the ladies need to leave the arena?" "Please proceed my lady." Victor said respectfully, backing down but keeping his eyes zeroed in on Derek. "Good boy." She reached over and patted Victor on the knee, "Now, I presume you are here on account of the letter I sent. Am I correct?" "Yes, Natalie," said Farren, "we are in desperate need of your assistance. Your alliance would mean a positive push forward in our fight to gain rights for the werewolves. As you know that, I can see that you haven't thought about changing your ways." "Why of course, if it meant my precious pets got a few more freedoms, why not fight for them? Hmm?" She said, but her sickly sweet voice dripped poison. I could almost feel the acidity from her words. I shivered, drawing closer to Derek. Victor's eyes flew to us, and I stilled, scared he might launch himself at us. I didn't want to look at him, but I did, and he held my gaze, a smile beginning to play on his lips. I saw him nonchalantly run his tongue across his canines. My heart sped up, but I attempted to get my attention back on what Natalie had to say. "Natalie, you do understand that you'll be fighting for their release, right? If we were to win, you couldn't refer to them as yours or even pets. They are to be individual and independent people." "Yes, yes, but for the time being, they are still my servants. I own them," she said wickedly, "now, in order to move this conversation into one of more comfort, I will give a sort of bonus check. Use it as you wish."

Farren looked very confused, but got up, motioning to Derek, Spencer and me to stay put. Derek swallowed his rising growl and settled rigidly back into the seat. Farren left with Natalie, closing the door. Victor looked more like a guard dog than a person, as he caught my attention again. "Well, well, well, what have we here?" He said suddenly, making Spencer and me jump. "What do you mean?" I heard myself ask, since he had been looking at me when he asked. "I mean, when is he changing you? Huh?" He bobbed his golden head toward Derek, who in turn hissed through his teeth. "Victor, let it be." Derek's voice was unlike I'd ever heard it. "Aw, you've got to be joking. Even you know, and yet you've done nothing about it?" "I said: Leave. It. Be." Victor chuckled, "You're an idiot. Here you are, the Alpha of Alphas, but your poor widdle broken heart won't let you acknowledge-"

He didn't get to finish that sentence.

Derek flew from his seat, grabbing a handful of Victor's throat and slamming him against the wall. My hair was beginning to settle once again on my shoulders when I looked up to see their jaws snapping, each of their teeth getting dangerously close to the other's face. I wanted to cry out, beg Derek to stop before he got hurt, and I don't know why the thought of him being in pain shattered my heart, but it did. Derek lurched forward, taking a raw, bloody hunk from Victor's shoulder, who in turn angrily howled and sunk his claws into the back of Derek's neck. I couldn't put a lid on my verbal cry before it left my mouth. "Stop! Derek, please!" But my words did nothing to console Derek. By this time, the pain had turned him fully wolf, and boy was he pissed. Victor kicked out, sending Derek hurling across the room, and he crashed into a small decorative table settled against the wall. The wall was now indented, the sheetrock crumbling inwards, but it did not deter Derek in his quest to kill Victor. Derek stood immediately, launching himself again at Victor, who absorbed the blow, but the force took them both through the next wall and into the hallway. "Oh boy, that's not any good!" Spencer spoke for the first time since it began. I didn't reply, but instead ran out the door…and unfortunately into the waiting arms of another werewolf man, who had apparently been expecting me. "Got her!" he yelled to his comrades. I watched as three other male werewolves went forth and grabbed Derek, wrangling him off of Victor, who once could, stood and landed a strong blow into the soft part of Derek's stomach. "You're going to pay for that you bastard," Victor said coldly. "Oh, Victor, darling," Natalie's voice came from behind us. When I was able to turn and see her, I was horrified to see Farren lying on the ground behind her, evidently unconscious. "You really outdid yourself, once Derek's power has been given to you, we will be able to help the King even more! How delightful! All of my pets shall be rewarded greatly, but first," she said, turning her cold eyes on the three of us, "you will have your fun with them. Take them to the torture chambers, and for goodness sake do be quiet about it! I don't want their screams to interrupt my plans with the King's right hand man."

I was horrified. Torture chambers? What the hell had we gotten ourselves into? Farren was out cold, and Derek was to be killed. I might have had to face the fact that today…

Today was the day I died.