Twelve of us were running through the forest in the direction of the Imperial Shadows pack. My dad was running faster than the rest and I was running the fastest. He was running in anticipation of finding our enemy and laying his life to rest today. Me? I was running in desperation of reaching the man behind my restless nights and putting his life to safety first. We both were on the same side, him as a fighter and I? A lover.

Shrieks, wails, growls, and sounds of melancholy were thick in the air. I can also hear bodies colliding, swiping of claws, anguished whimpers, and numerous thumping heartbeats. We were not too far now. I can smell the putrid scent of blood, taste the chaos and sense the panic of all those present in the crusade.

Fuckers! I will kill them, my mind screamed.

Fuck! Please, be safe Chris, my heart cried.

"Stop! Dima!" my dad shouted. I didn't listen. He tackled me from behind and we both fell. Thrashing I tried to free myself of his hold but he didn't let up.

Seeing no other way, I burst at him - "What is wrong with you, Dad? They are fighting there, we need to go help them. The...the enemy is there. We...we need to...um to catch him. Let me go."

"It stopped."

"What?" I asked, confused.

"The fight stopped. The attackers ran away."

Frustration seeped inside me. "And how do you know that?"

"Because of their howls. Do you remember we decided the howl as a signal in the meeting that took place on neutral ground?" Yes, I remember now. I nodded quietly.

Although the threat was no more surrounding us, I was restless. The veins in my arms were protruding out due to my hands clenched into fists, there being tension lines on my forehead, and my breathing was erratic. Only one thing could calm my nerves; I need to go see Chris. There is no way Dad will allow me to go check on him or will appreciate my care towards a werewolf. But if I..., I trailed off thinking. Yes, that could work.

"Dad."

"Yes?"

"You go home, Mom must be worried. I will go to the pack and gather the information on what happened."

"But..." I put my hand up, stopping him from speaking further.

"Hear me out first. I will not be able to calm down Mom as well as you can. She must stay calm because you and I both know that you'd flip if she gets worried."

"OK, you can go and investigate but tomorrow." I opened my mouth to protest but he said a clear 'no'. "And you will not sneak out of the house; I know how curious you can be. I am serious because I would know if you even try to."

Begrudgingly, I went back with my dad to our home. I didn't sneak out either. Do you know what I did? What I had to do? I had to wait for thirty-four hours. I swear I never ran so fast in my whole life. By the time I reached their border, I was feeling a little dizzy but not even one warrior who came to escort me to the packhouse could say that Dimitri wasn't in his full element.

"Where is Chris?" I voiced the question that started building home inside my head as soon as I saw the Beta greet me and not Chris himself.

"He is not well," the Beta answered after clearing his throat.

He is lying.

I tried to keep my voice even while speaking, "Not well. Did he get wounded?"

"Yes, just a little."

I let out a 'Hmm' and decided to pry further because I was very sure there was something fishy. "Can you take me to your Alpha? I want to discuss yesterday's events and our future strategy with him, Mr..."

"Mitchell. Sorry Dimitri, but he is resting. You can talk to him tomorrow maybe."

"Right, then I must not disturb him." I had no other choice than to concede, but now I am worried out of my mind. I barely registered his next words that said we were going to the office and he will tell me the events that took place yesterday.

Remembering the hallway of his office from the last time I was here, I didn't need any guidance. I quietly followed the Beta nonetheless. It was then that I heard it - someone sniffling. The sound was coming from Chris' office. The door to the office flung open and came out Elio. He looked disoriented, to say the least. His eyes were red and swollen, his cheeks blotchy. The Beta stopped short at the sight and called out his name. Elio looked up at the Beta and then at me. He started running towards me. I don't know why I didn't move. It was either because I knew I could handle him or because he was dear to Chris.

The Beta shouted - "NO ELIO." Elio didn't stop and when the Beta took a few steps ahead of me and tried, he got a kick to the nuts swiftly in return.
"Not again."

Oh! He is that Mitchell.

The little body that flung itself at me broke me out of my wandering thoughts. Elio hugged me tightly to comfort himself or me, I don't know. It couldn't be me; I don't think Chris told anything about us to this little demon who was crying and sniffling. I didn't return his hug, just let him get it all out. When he stopped crying and was only letting out a few hiccups here and there, I began grilling him for Chris' whereabouts.

He didn't say anything, not that he could. He just took a hold of my hand and pulled me to Devil knows where. We left the poor Mitchell on the floor, staring at the ceiling and sighing like he gave up.

It was outside a simple brown-colored double door where Elio stopped. He pushed open the doors and there Chris was –

Lying on an iron bed with wires and machines hooked to his body.

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