Chapter 11: Chapter 11

SCARLET

Despite further protests from Will and Jo, I creep through an empty street. Jo is at the shelter, keeping an eye on everything.

Will wanted to come along, but I told him it was better if I went alone. The more people involved, the harder it is to be stealthy. And I can’t afford to be caught.

Trash and debris line the unused sidewalk. Cars sit idly, unused and forgotten after years of having no owner. Stray dogs dig through a mess at the corner of another alley, one looking up at me and growling.

My wolf shines her aura through, and the dog whimpers and runs off. I can’t help but think of the differences between Crescent City and the Scourge.

From what I could see while in the city, the inner parts of the city have shiny new buildings and streets lined with fancy modern cars. Ruins have been cleared out to make room for everything new. But here is the exact opposite. Everything is old, rusted, in disrepair.

After a few more blocks, I arrive at an old brick building. Ray and his gang took this place for themselves, not wanting to share space with the rest of the packless, probably to hide their illegal activities.

Even though the Scourge lacks a justice system, most of us still have morals and wouldn’t let Ray cause too much trouble. If he really did kill those wolves, he’ll certainly be kicked out of the territory or executed.

Rogues have it much worse than packless. They aren’t allowed anywhere near the Crescent Moon territory. They have nowhere to call home and no one to turn to.

I use my enhanced hearing and sense of smell to see if there is anyone present. As soon as I deem it safe, I enter, careful not to let the old screen door slam behind me.

I cautiously move up the steps, keeping close to the wall and stepping over all the trip hazards that litter the floor. Following my nose, I find Ray’s room on the fourth floor.

The room has a bed, a small kitchen, and a single bath. Some necessities seem to have been left behind, but the space is in complete disarray and smells like rotting food and dirty clothes. My nose wrinkles in disgust as my eyes take in the room. Luckily, Ray is still nowhere to be seen.

Carefully, I begin picking through the piles of stuff scattered all over the floor. I dig through drawers and every other nook and cranny I come across. When I get to his nightstand, I find a scrap of leather with a white crescent moon on it.

My fingers brush against what looks like dried blood, and I lightly sniff at it. The metallic scent tells me that my assumption is correct. I look around before folding the piece of leather and sticking it in my pocket for safekeeping.

Ray seemed like the type to keep trophies, always looking for a reason to brag. I knew he would have some sort of memento if he were guilty, and I’m glad I was right. Surely, this would be enough to convince Ethan and his pack that Ray is to blame, and not the packless.

I search for a few more minutes, and find a floorboard slightly lifted, like it isn’t nailed down. When I lift the floorboard, inside is a bag of…herbs?

I take it out and sniff it, instantly feeling dizzy and a little sick. Kind of like wolfsbane, but a bit different. I steal one of Ray’s shirts and wrap the bag to help lessen the scent. I stuff it and the leather in my bag.

Unsure how much time I have, I decide I have enough evidence. I wish that I could mind-link with other packless. That would make things so much easier. I could have had people on the lookout to see if Ray and his thugs came back.

Unfortunately, wolves can only mind-link with members of their pack, and since we’re packless, we can’t do it at all. I’ve heard of rare instances where wolves from different packs were able to mind-link, but it was because their bond was so strong, or they once belonged to the same pack.

I sneak down the steps and begin the trek back to the shelter. Suddenly, I hear the crunch of footsteps coming toward me, and I freeze and go on the alert. The smell of earth, sandalwood, and whiskey floats through the air causing the hairs on the back of my neck to stand on end.

Shit. “~Get out now Scarlet! Run!~” my wolf urges, but it’s too late.

Ray is standing only a yard ahead of me. His hands are stuffed in his pockets, and he has a cocksure smirk on his face.

“Well, well, well, what do I have here? To what do I owe the pleasure, beautiful?” he asks as he strolls closer to me, my body tensing, ready for him to pounce.

“Not that it’s any of your business, Ray, but I just needed some fresh air,” I respond as I try to sidestep him.

“I find that pretty hard to believe. You never come around my part of town,” he insists, continuing his slow strut up to me.

“Yes, well, I needed a change of scenery, and I heard you hadn’t been around.”

“Indeed. But neither have you. Last thing I heard, you were stabbed in the gut,” he remarks, now standing right in front of me. His stale breath makes my nose scrunch in distaste. “And now here you are, looking as fine as ever.” He reaches out, slipping his hand under the hem of my shirt and brushing his fingers over the spot where I had been stabbed.

I quickly swat away his hand and take a step back before speaking.

“What’s it to you anyway? Just get out of the way, Ray. Jo is expecting me to help with dinner.”

I go to push past him, and he snatches my wrist, bringing it up to his face. He closes his eyes and inhales deeply.

When his eyes open, his gaze hardens suspiciously at me, and he jerks me toward him, smelling my ear and neck. His closeness is making me feel nauseous, and I take a slow, unsteady breath, trying to calm myself.

“You were in my room,” he states in a low growl. “What were you doing there?” I shrug and try to back away, but his grip tightens on my wrist causing me to grimace. “Answer me, Scarlet.” He twists harder, forcing a whimper to escape my lips.

“Damn it, Ray! Let go of me!”

He glares at me for a moment before he snags my bag, and unties the knot, shoving his hand in and pulls out the leather scrap. He grins triumphantly as he holds it up for me to see. “Did a little snooping, I see. And what did you find?”

I angrily yank the bag back and take a step back. I’m thankful he was too distracted by the leather to dig further.

“You’re the reason the Crescent Moon Pack attacked us. You’re the reason innocent packless died. Why, Ray? Why did you kill those men?” I question angrily.

He sneers at me. “Maybe because they deserved it. Maybe I just felt like it,” he seethes as his lips twist in disgust.

“You’re insane,” I spit at him. “You killed those men! You murdered them! You’re not going to get away with this. Not this time,” I state bravely though my body is itching to make a run for it. Even my wolf is begging me to get the heck out of here.

“Oh yeah? And who’s going to stop me, princess? You?” he scoffs.

“Why not?” I question defensively.

He lets out a big laugh that makes my face heat with anger. “All right, honey. Let’s see what you got,” he states as he gestures with his hands to come at him.

I know it’s a bad idea. He’s just trying to get me worked up. I growl in frustration.

“I think I’ll let the others decide what to do with you,” I spit.

“Too late for that now, sugar,” he teases before swinging at me.

I raise my arm to block before he swings with the opposite arm, connecting with the same spot where I was stabbed by my mate. Luckily, the spot is already healed since enhanced healing abilities come with being a werewolf.

I stumble back and dodge another blow. He’s swinging at me so quickly that I have to use all my strength to avoid getting hit again. Suddenly, he kicks out his leg, causing me to fall backward before straddling my hips.

His fingers elongate into large claws as he swipes at my chest, tearing my top in two and leaving a long gash across my skin. I cry out in pain before managing to block another attack.

His eyes darken as he looks down at me, grabs my wrists, and pins them above my head. I buck my hips and squirm underneath him as I try to free myself, but it’s to no avail.

He leans down so that his lips are next to my ear as he begins to speak softly to me, “Has anyone ever told you how heavenly you smell? I think I may want to have some fun with you before I kill you…” Without any other warning, he licks my neck with a deep, throaty moan.

Fear and disgust bubble inside me as I realize what he’s saying.

“GET OFF!” I yell as all the anger builds in me and a burst of white light shoves him off me. For a moment, I lie there in shock.

~What the hell just happened? Did I do that?~ I shoot up into a sitting position, and my head swivels around to see if there is anyone else around, but it’s still just me and Ray.

Unfortunately, my confusion allows him a moment to jump on me again, and he backhands my cheek so hard that black spots begin dancing in my vision.

I groan in agony, and he hits me again. He has the upper hand, and I can’t seem to summon enough strength to get out from under him. I don’t know what to do as I blink my eyes trying to rid them of the stars that I’m seeing.

All I wanted was to protect the packless and bring this asshole to justice, and now I’m going to die on the streets at the hands of a monster.