It was quiet. Too quiet as I walked in the woods. So quiet my footsteps in the snow echoed around me like I was in some sort of acoustic room. My breaths were very visible in the air and there was a certain chill surrounding me like a bad omen. I was really missing my room right now.
The closer I got to the cliff the tighter I pulled my coat in. I kept thinking about what to do. I tried calling Isaiah and Isabella but nothing went through. Maybe Alaia tapped their phones or something.
I made it through the treeline and spotted a cloak figure near the edge of the cliff. I could tell it was Alaia by the swell of her belly. I surveyed the area and didn’t see Victoria anywhere. Maybe she was lying. No, no. She had her phone right?
I watched as she walked along the edge of the cliff. This is your chance. Voices in my head whispered. All you have to do is push her. I flashed back to the dream of me being pushed over the cliff. All I have to do is push her.
“Where is Victoria,” I yelled while stepping closer to her.
Alaia didn’t move. She continued to stare over the cliff as if something had entranced her. She slowly took off her hood and turned to me. Her eyes were back to their normal icy blue.
“I see why this place is so special. It’s beautiful,” Alaia whispered more to herself. “I would be a little jealous if I cared, even a little.”
“Is that what this is all about,” I asked while moving a little closer to her. She raised her hand and jumped back, prepping to be attacked. She yawned before returning her gaze to me.
“If I wanted to hurt you Zira, I would’ve done it by now.”
“And who said you haven’t already?”
She kept walking along the edge as if she was tempting fate. The voices in my head started speaking again. She will hurt us if we don’t do anything. Push her. Keep us safe. I couldn't tell if these voices were my thoughts or Nina’s or the baby’s.
I felt myself moving closer to her, only two arm lengths away. The prospect of this actually working was tantalizing. Getting rid of her might do me some good. But did I really want to do this? Is this who I really am?
“Why would I hurt you, Zira, when you’re having the prodigal son of the Black Moon Pack? Why do you think I care,” Alaia asked sarcastically.
She hates you. She hates the baby. She will hurt the baby. “Because you hate that I’m having his first child, his first son. You attacked me when you heard I was pregnant. So why not try to get rid of me?”
“That’s just it, Zira,” Alaia sighed. “I can’t get rid of you even if I tried and believe me I tried. Many times but you seem to always find a way out.”
She admitted it. This-this witch. All this time, all the things happening to me was because of her. Make her pay. Push her. I grabbed my head as I started to feel a headache growing. The voices were starting to get louder. I can’t do this. I can’t become a killer. Nina, where are you?
“I don’t understand. You have Isaiah. You have a pack that’s willing to love you. Why are you so threatened by me?”
“Threatened? By you?”
Alaia laughed and not an innocent kind of laugh. More like a bone chilling crackle. I didn’t hear anything that funny but I stood my ground and concealed my anger. Alaia’s face twisted for a moment like she couldn’t believe what I just said.
“You were never the problem. Oh no. I didn’t care one bit about you, but your baby. Now that’s where the problem lies. Not only are you carrying his son but a white wolf.
Of all the people in the world, only I should be carrying his child. I should be the one with the white wolf,” she yelled at me.
I could see her anger shaking her body. She took a few deep breaths to calm herself before looking back at me. “You might play ignorant, Zira, but I know deep down you want what I have and I won’t let you take it away again.”
I looked at her confused. “What are you-”
Alaia jumped at me with a knife in her hand successfully cutting a hole in my jacket sleeve as I protected myself. The force made me fall to the ground. I crawled away from her and backed into a tree.
She hurled the knife at me and I dodged it quickly as it lodged itself into the tree. I tried grabbing it but the moment I touched it my skin started to burn. Silver.
“See what happens when you touch what is mine,” Alaia yelled and lunged for me again.
This time I stayed put. I wasn’t running away from her anymore. Though I felt weak I could feel my anger turning into rage. The only time I felt this angry was when Nina was angry.
Nina?
I didn't hear anything but I felt something stir inside of me. My nails elongated and I swiped up at a charging Alaia. My eyes were closed but I felt the contact and heard a small thump afterwards. I slowly opened my eyes and saw Alaia slumped over near the edge.
Moments passed and Alaia didn’t move. I started to panic. What should I do? What should I do? I stayed still for a few more moments before walking over to her. I stayed a few feet away, thinking she would jump up and attack me. My heart was pounding in my ears so I couldn't tell if she was okay.
“Alaia?”
Silence. Only the sound of the wind could be heard. I took cautious steps toward her body. I bent over as my hand shook to touch her shoulders and she lunged at me.
She pushed me to the ground, pinning one of my arms with her foot and one of her hands. She used her free hand to bring the knife right under my throat. My claw mark across her face turned into black ink as it healed. Wolves, even half wolves don't usually heal like that.
“Now look at what you made me do. I have to use magic to heal faster, you little bitch,” she spat in my face. The knife dug deeper in my skin and I could feel my skin breaking. I struggled to get out of her lock. “I was going to make this quick but I think I rather feel your life being sucked away.”
Alaia threw the knife aside and wrapped her gloved fingers around my neck. I used my own hands to try to pry her off but I felt weak. I was praying for Nina to come back and do something. I can’t die like this. I refuse.
I watched Alaia’s eyes turn black as the force around my neck increased. Black veins decorated her face to the point where I couldn’t recognize her anymore.
“Please don’t-”
I could feel my lungs burn from the lack of oxygen. I closed my eyes, welcoming the darkness that never came. Instead I heard a scream. I opened my eyes as Victoria helped me up.
“Zira, are you okay,” Victoria asked as I struggled to get my breathing under control.
A few feet away Alaia laid slumped over. I moved away, not trying to fall for that trick again. Victoria got me on all fours, going through the breathing motion with me.
“Just breathe, Zira. I have to check on Alaia,” Victoria said, moving away.
I tried to stop fearing a repeat action from before. Victoria walked over to Alaia’s body and turned her over. My heart stopped for a moment and nothing happened. Alaia laid on her back, not moving.
“Is she…dead,” I asked, afraid to find out the answer.
Victoria touched Alaia’s neck and after a few moments she nodded. “She’s alive.”
I let out a breath of relief and focused on making sure my baby was okay. I still felt the warmth from him, so that was a plus. Nina was still a no show but hopefully with Alaia out of commission Nina might come back.
I don't know what is holding her back but I knew she was trying. She was more of a fighter than me. I was so focused on myself I didn't hear the person walking behind Victoria.
“Get your hands off my mate.”
I looked up in time to see Isaiah claw Victoria in the back. While his claws were embedded in her skin, he picked her up as she screamed in agony and threw her into one of the trees. I could hear an audible crack before her body fell to the ground.
I was frozen in fear. No, not fear. Confusion. What just happened? I could barely comprehend what Isaiah just did. I watched him help a now conscious Alaia up to her feet. We then heard the sounds of howling in the distance. Thank the Goddess. Maybe there’s hope to save Victoria.
“You better leave while you can. It’s going to wear off soon.” I heard her whisper to him.
I ignored them as I crawled over to Victoria. I could feel her spine was fractured in some places and I knew it would be hard for her wolf to heal it. Something made me place my hand over her back and I felt a warm glow emanate from it. The light covered her back and I could hear her spine starting to snap back in place slowly.
Before I could finish, someone yanked me back by my hair. I looked up and saw it was Isaiah. Alaia walked over to Victoria and did something to her. Victoria screamed then nothing.
I tried to pull away from Isaiah but he didn’t budge. It didn't make sense why he would treat me this way. He dragged me to the edge with Alaia coming to stand by him. He held me teetering over the edge by my throat.
“Isaiah, this isn't you. Don't listen to her. She’s been manipulating us this whole time,” I screamed at him. What was wrong with him? “Please,” I begged again.
He finally turned his head towards me and something about him looked different. What was it? I was too busy trying to keep myself from falling to focus.
“This is for Danny,” he said before letting me go. I had enough room to keep myself from falling over as I kept my gaze on him. What was different?
“I guess you should’ve left when you had the chance,” Alaia said while pushing me over the edge. I was in such a shock that nothing came out of my mouth. No scream, no cry just silence shock.
“There can only be one.” Just like my dream I went over the edge watching Alaia looking down on me.
Her frame was getting smaller and smaller until it disappeared through the fog. I reached out for that invisible hand to catch me but it never came. Is this really it? Is this how I really die? I wondered as my body dove through the air. Getting closer to the raging water below.