Raise vibe

Gainey

I'm in shock. I'm in complete brain meltdown. I keep blinking my eyes over and over, trying to make sure that I am, indeed, awake and hearing Alice correctly.
My fingers move to touch the scared space where a wolf marks their mate and I gasp out loud when I am able to run my fingers over two small, raw bumps on my neck. Somehow, even though they are the most insignificant of both my physical and emotional injuries, right now, they are the only thing I can feel.
Alice slumps down next to me in the dusty dirt pile behind a small dilapidated cabin, her hands holding her head, resting in her lap as she sniffs. Defeated. But still with a scowl on her dirty little face.
That makes two of us.
We are safely hidden for now, but soon enough they will be looking for us so we need to get Benji and the others and get the hell out of here.

Still, I can't seem to make my brain compute. I am too busy trying to navigate the jumble of half baked emotions and information rambling about in my mind, loose like a live wire that is now sparking to life between Alice and I.

I don't think anyone can say that what she did was not brave. It is. It could be simultaneously the most selfless and stupid thing anyone has ever done. Especially for me. I know I should be thanking her for saving my life. And I should be majorly pissed and offended that she even entertained the thought that she had interrupted something romantic between Gia and I.
But the implication of what she has done has rendered me immovable. The very permanent situation we find ourselves on the precipice of; it's blown my mind clear out of order.

A simmering of voices behind us, in the direction of where we left Gia, at least gives me a reason to leave the marking situation alone for now. Right this minute, I need to rally. I need to find Benj and the others and we need to get the hell out of this shithole.
Prioritise. That's what I need to do. Compartmentalise at least for now.

I snap shut the fizz in my brain that represents the seed of the mating bond. It's already in there, setting roots, trying to soothe my tortured mind with its calm and inviting presence. Even now, I can feel a lightness I haven't felt in years and to be honest, it scares me. Frightens the living hell out of me.

I'm can't be anything other than a burden for anyone else. And I won't do it. Let's be real, I can't do it. I can't be a good mate. Definitely not any kind of father. At this moment, I'm not even a good Beta or pack member. Or a good person.

I shiver at the thoughts running through my mind but I can't let it take over. I do what I always do. I shove it all down into the locked compartment that is my cold, dead heart and get on with it.
As i reach over, placing my hand on her shoulder, Alice stirs and looks up at me. Her eyes flash with the most fragile emotion I have ever seen in her deep blue orbs but as quick as it comes, it's gone. Covered again. Washed away with the steely reserve she carries as her daily weight.

"We need to move. We can deal with this.. situation, later." I say and inwardly cringe. That came off wrong, but by the look on her face, even if I had the perfect line, nothing would help right now.

She scoffs but nods slowly as we both get to our feet, crouching as we move towards the side of the cabin that meets the lake.

My head and chest feel as though they are heavily congested from the beating the wall gave me but my nose is still able to make out the distinctive scents of Benji and the three wolves we brought with us.
And they seem to be alone.

Finally a break.

Alice and I silently make our way over to where the scents are strongest, the opposite side of the where we just were.
I know we have mere seconds before the guards find out we are gone and alert Damon and his mother as to what has occurred.
When he figures out his mate is dead, we are all going to be at his full mental mercy.

As we shuffle towards the door, I put up my open palm to halt Alice and she scowls at me some more but nods her head. Stubborn as a stupid mule. Or perhaps it just because it's me giving her a direction. Either way, I can't speak out loud and give away our position.

The hatred pouring out of her is overwhelmingly obvious but I just ignore it for now. No point starting the inevitable talk we will need to have. It's going to be a long one. I'm already dreading it.

I head towards a window where the scent of my brother is strongest. Tipping my head forwards, I take a quick glance through the dusty glass window, taking note of what is in the small, square room.
Not much. It's practically empty and definitely dilapidated. A coffee table that has seen better days, a bar size fridge and a filthy cot on the floor. That's all that stands in the tiny, dusty space.

I'm the corner to the left of the window, I can see Benji and the guys, tied up by their hands, strung above their heads to an exposed beam in the ceiling. None of them seem to be able to scent us.

That's not the best sign.

I tap lightly on the glass, attempting to make it sound like a scratch of a branch or bird or something less obvious than someone knocking. Alice leans closer to my back, her body heat teasing my skin through the holes torn in my shirt.
My body comes alive at her close proximity and I have to reel that shit in to focus on the task at hand.

"Why don't you link them?" She asks, her tone almost berating me with her clear accusation.

She really thinks I'm that stupid?

I throw a quick glance over my shoulder. Surely she has figured it out by now.
I raise my brows and give her a few seconds, watching as the light turns on inside her head.

"You are not officially pack." She states, her frown deepening.

"That's a story for another day, you know, when we aren't at danger from being slaughtered." I spit out and again, immediately regret the way I am speaking to her.

She doesn't deserve it but I can't bloody help it. She brings out the worst in me. Yet another reason why we can't be anything more than what we are. Two people, stuck in a shit position.

I ignore the hurt that crushes me a little and scratch at the window again. I can't see anyone else inside but I can't be sure.

This time, Benji lifts his head enough to look around for the sound, locking eyes with me and then softly rousing the others.

They seem lethargic. Weak. They must have been given something. I turn to Alice, trying to keep my voice as low but as even as I can. No need to poke the bear.

"I'm going in to get them, stay here and keep watch. Knock three times if you see something." I say and then, I pause to add a quick, "Please." And head in before I have a chance to hear or see her response.

I'm positive I hear a low grunt and possibly some cursing as I move to open the door but I can't be sure.

As I give the door a hard shove, I hear shouting voices coming from the lake side of the cabin and I know we are running out of time. One glance at Alice tells me she thinks the same.

We need to hustle.

I push the door again, my ribs twinging as I do but I don't stop. On the third shoulder barge, the door breaks open and I get a better look at the guys.

The stench of body odour and fluids is stifling. Everyone is in really bad shape. Benji has one eye completely swollen shut. His head has dried blood all over it and his hands that are hung above his head, are very obviously Wolfs Bane burned.

The other guys seem to be in similar circumstance and all of them are showing signs of extreme dehydration.

I waste no more time. I use as much force as I can with my own two hands and pull down on the ropes binding them all to the ceiling. Fuck. They don't move at all. My ribs scream with the effort and no matter how much I try, I just can't get them to snap.

Shit. I need her.

Moving quickly back to the door, I poke my head out of the door and tip it in the direction of the guys.

"I need your help. Now." I blurt out, moving away from her towards the men before she can utter whatever smart ass remark she has to offer.

To my extreme surprise, she silently follows me in and takes hold of the ropes below where I hold and together, we pul at them until the knot at the top gives way and we get the line loose.

As a unit, we make short work of getting everyone free and Alice slings one of Benji's arms around her shoulders to help him up as I make my way back to the door, trying harder than I like to not let the zing of jealousy that I feel seeing them like that affect me.

What a pussy. I shake it off and check the exit, making my way out as the rest limp behind.

Alice and Benji are right behind me and as I pause to consider our next move, she leans in close, so that when I turn to face them, she is right in my face.

She flushes a violent red before getting herself together and the asshole in me gloats about the fact that I affected her that way.

I try to hold in the smirk threatening to escape. This would be more than poking the bear. The bear would likely rip my throat out.

I clear my throat and look away. She leans in again but I don't turn around this time.

"Uh, before I crashed into the wall, I saw some other cars parked around the left of the building you were in. Just outside the main entrance, think we could get to one?" She whispers, avoiding actually touching me at all costs.

No one else seems to notice the awkwardness.

I take a step back from her, already moving in that direction.

"It's the best shot we have. I don't think any of the guys can shift." She nods at my reply and we head off. Im praying to whomever is listening that the rogue group looking for us is going to be heading here via the lake side whilst we retreat through the tree line.

Alice continues to half drag Benji along with her whilst I make sure to keep everyone moving.
As I hoped, we hear the disorganised chatter of the rogue group as they pass us by. Damon doesn't seem to be here because I know for certain that if he was, he would have been on my ass immediately.

Especially if he knew about Gia.

Small wins.

We still need to find a car that works and fire on out of here because these guys cannot walk any longer. Benji seems to be coming in and out of consciousness and things between Alice and I, as the only able wolves, are extremely strained. What a half baked rescue team we make.

We trudge on, hiding from the stragglers here and there before we finally come across three cars in different states of disregard. Dropping the guys and Alice behind a small camper that is intact, except for any tyres, I make quick work of checking the others for something that we can start and that will actually drive us out of this hell.

The third vehicle, a beaten up old state car, gives me a little grief as I hot wire her but as she coughs to life, she shows me the tank is full, the doors are intact and her tyres are all present. Bonus!

I'll take it! I nod to Alice and we all but drag Benj and the guys over, piling them all in the back as I take the drivers seat and Alice jumps in next to me.

As we roll past the pile of brinks and concrete that is Gia's last resting place, I find myself staring at the profile of my mate as she watches the building pass by. A single tear lets loose it's path down her dirty cheek and before I can stop myself, I lean over and swipe it away with my thumb.

She shivers at the contact and leans her head back against the seat, tipping her face to look at me.
Her eyes are red and she looks so forlorn, I can't even form any words to say to her.

"She didn't deserve that, being alone at the end." She barely whispers and although I don't agree, I can at least offer this she wolf some comfort. Besides, the other did not deserve a single thread of emotion. From either of us.

"She wasn't." I say, without another thought, ignoring the small groan that comes out of her mouth as I say it.

I Push the accelerator as far down as it will go, taking us away from this mess as fast as this shit box will take us.
It won't be the end. We all know that. Damon will re group and come for us. It's a when and not an if.

It's not til an hour later, as we continue to ramble down the lonely dirt road towards home, everyone else asleep and quiet in the car, that I realise the accidental meaning in my words to Alice about Gia.

Fuck. I am an idiot.