The Nightmare Continues

RORY

~I’m in the woods again. I don’t know where exactly, or even if it’s a real place. None of the trees look familiar, but I know that this is the woods near the pack lands.~

~It’s night-dark, intensely so, the shadows pooling so thickly they look solid, and a chill wind is blowing. Yellow eyes watch me from between the trees, fading only to reappear in another place.~

~It’s Nemesis. She’s everywhere. It’s like she’s somehow possessed the entire forest. I can’t escape the feeling of her all around me, no matter how far I run.~

~As I run, I see rogues—rogues shaking with chill or pacing nervously or collapsed on the ground, unable to move. Some of them are muttering, but I can’t make out what.~

~I reach a clearing. There, I meet the rogue I saw in the real woods. Everything is the same, except his eyes. Instead of red, they’re the violent yellow of Nemesis.~

~He opens his jaws, revealing his fangs. For a moment, I’m afraid, but then a voice issues from his throat. It’s dry and rasping and it sounds painful. “I’m so cold.”~

~He shouldn’t be talking to me. He’s a wolf. His mouth doesn’t move, but the tortured voice continues to come from his throat. “Cold… tired… help me, Rory.”~

~I take a step back. It doesn’t feel right that he knows my name. Doesn’t feel safe.~

~More wolves appear, all of them with Nemesis’s eyes. They’re all rogues, and they’re all calling to me. “Help us, Rory. Help us.”~

~Their voices seem like they’re coming from the grave. They all move with that same, jerky, wrong gait that the rogue in the woods had. They all seem empty.~

~They press closer and closer to me, begging me to save them, to help them. “Your pack will be next,” one moans, right in my ear.~

I sit up in bed, covered in sweat again. My heart is racing, and my breathing is shallow. I try to comprehend what I saw in my dreams. It was like they were zombies. What was causing it?

Was it even real? Does it have to do with the sickness? There is still so much left unanswered. My dreams seem to just make everything more confusing.

The door opens, startling me, but it’s just Everett. His eyes light up as he sees me. I can tell he was worried. Did he somehow sense my nightmare? What time is it, even?

He sits on the bed and tucks my damp hair behind my ear. “Hey, little one, you’re up. Are you okay?”

I stare at him, still disoriented from my nightmare. “Yeah, I’m fine. Why wouldn’t I be?”

He raises a skeptical eyebrow. “Aurora, you threw up.”

I remember as he says it. My mouth still tastes sour, even. I’d just thought it was morning breath. But no, I was dizzy and nauseous after the meeting, and I got sick, and then…

I must have fainted. That’s embarrassing. I still feel kind of shaky and queasy, but I smile brightly for Everett. “It was probably just nerves. Really, I feel fine. I’m not even tired anymore.”

That’s true, more or less. I definitely feel better rested than I have in a long time. I’m not cold either, so Nemesis can’t be near. More importantly, I’m not giving Everett any excuses to sideline me.

He presses his hand to my forehead, frowning. “You don’t feel hot or cold.”

I take his hand and kiss it. I need to distract him. “That’s because I’m fine. And I had another dream.”

It works. He looks interested, and still worried, but that’s fine as long as it’s not about me. “Another one? What this time?”

“It was more about the rogues. I felt Nemesis, and I saw them getting sick. I also saw more acting all blank and weird like the one I met.” The more I talk, the more sure I am that there’s a connection.

Everett isn’t as convinced. He touches my cheek gently. “Sounds like it could have just been a normal nightmare.”

“Maybe,” I concede. There’s been a lot of stuff that’s been on my mind lately. But I don’t think it’s a coincidence. “But I think we should check it out anyway, just in case.”

“Check it out? What do you mean?” He looks suspicious, and I’m pretty sure he knows what I have in mind.

“We should go into rogue territory and see what we can find,” I say with all the conviction I can muster. “Maybe they’ve got the illness, too.”

Everett scowls. “I don’t care if rogues are getting sick.”

I lean forward. I need him to get this, to agree. “But it’s not just rogues! In my dream, they said our pack would be next. We have to go, we have to find them and see if it’s like what I saw.”

He’s looking at me like I’m crazy. “Are you kidding? We’ll be attacked on sight.”

“Whatever Nemesis is planning, it has to do with the rogues. Since when are you afraid to go after them?” It’s a cheap shot, and I know it, but I’m sure this is important.

Everett’s face darkens. “I’m not afraid of rogues. But stirring them up is dangerous. I’m not risking our lives and safety on a hunch.”

I grab his hand and look into his eyes. “It’s not just a hunch. Come on, at least ask your Beta and Gamma. If they don’t want to go either, I’ll back off, I promise.”

He looks at me for a moment, then away with a sigh. “Fine. I’ll see what they think.”

“Thank you!” I hug him. He’s a little stiff, but he hugs me back. Things are still kind of awkward between us. I hope it gets better soon.

EVERETT

Reluctantly, I call a leadership meeting and present Aurora’s idea to Lucius and Ace. They seem less opposed to it than I am, eyes lighting up with interest, so maybe it isn’t as bad as I think.

Lucius taps his chin, thinking over what we’ve told him. “So, basically, we’ll take a team into their territory and see... What?”

Aurora answers promptly. “If any of them are sick, or if we can find the rogue who was acting strange. Or if any others are acting like that. Or if I can sense Nemesis.”

“If we find any rogues who seem empty, like in Aurora’s dream, we’ll take them in for questioning. By force, if necessary,” I say. Aurora makes a face, but Ace and Lucius nod in agreement.

“What about evidence that they’re working with Nemesis voluntarily?” Lucius asks.

I nod, glad he said it. I can always count on my Beta for the practical things. “We should be on the lookout for that, too.”

Aurora looks stricken. “You don’t really think they’d do that, do you?”

“They’re rogues, Aurora. They’d do anything,” I say grimly. I’m still not happy with her, and her kind nature isn’t as charming when it’s directed at rogues.

“A mission into rogue territory… You know, we haven’t been able to search there,” Ace muses. “Could be a lead.”

“You think Xander’s body might be there?” I ask, surprised. It hadn’t occurred to me. But, if they are working with Nemesis…

Ace shrugs. “Hey, could be. Might as well look while we try to find sick rogues.”

“We should have warriors with us to watch our backs while we search,” Lucius adds.

“How many do you think we need?” I ask. I want to bring them all, but I know that would be overkill.

Lucius doesn’t even need to think. “Four for each of us. We can’t take any chances.”

“Okay, twelve,” Ace says. “I’ll go round them up.”

I stop him. “No, sixteen. Aurora is coming. We might need healing.” The words are sour in my mouth, but I make myself say them.

Ace nods his head and walks away. I almost wish he’d questioned me on it. I hate the thought of putting my mate in harm’s way, but I don’t have a choice.

She has proven that one way or the other she will do whatever it takes to save the pack. The last thing I want is for her to do it alone again.

RORY

“I get to come?” I say, not quite believing it. I mean, I was going to insist on coming along, but I wasn’t expecting Everett to just invite me.

Everett turns to me and says, “Like you said, little one. You are my Luna. I need you with me to do this.” He doesn’t look at all happy about it, but his eyes are sincere.

I can tell he’s sorry he tried to forbid me from going to Mariah’s. I grab his hand. “I won’t let you down,” I promise. ~And I’m sorry, too~, I think. He smiles, and I think he understands.

It doesn’t take Ace long to gather the warriors and return. A combination of excitement and fear bursts inside me. I try to hide my nervousness but I know they see it.

“You are a wonderful Luna. You will do fine,” Ace says with a reassuring smile.

“But if you don’t, Ace and I will be there to cover your ass,” Lucius adds with a wink.

“Stay close to her,” Everett tells Ace before we leave the pack house. “Those men are great warriors but I don’t trust anyone as much as I trust you and Lucius.”

“I will make sure she stays safe, even if it kills me,” he replies, and I know he means it. My stomach tightens. I pray that they’ll all be safe. ~And if they aren’t, I’ll heal them,~ I promise myself.

Everett claps him on the back. “I appreciate it. Try to keep yourself alive though.”

“Of course, I have someone of my own I’d like to see again,” he says with a worried smile. I think of Freya, sick and so far away in New York. This is for her.

We meet the warriors outside. Everett and Lucius go talk with them. They seem relaxed, like they are going hunting. Everett especially is so calm, so in control.

“It’s time,” Everett says, walking toward me. “Are you ready?

“As ready as I’ll ever be,” I retort.

He kisses me on the cheek. “We’ll be with you. You’ll do fine.”

He turns to address the warriors. “All right, this mission is in rogue territory. You know the risks. We’re on a search and capture mission, related to the announcement I made to the pack earlier.”

“Everyone stay close and watch your backs. We don’t want anyone getting hurt while we’re here. And remember…if you see any rogues showing symptoms of being affected by Nemesis, don’t hurt them.”

One of the warriors, Nathan, I think, raised a hand. Everett gave him permission to speak. “Why not, Alpha? If we’re not hunting rogues, what are we doing?”

“They may not know what they’re doing,” he tells them. “We need to bring them safely back to the pack house so we can study them, question them.”

I nod. “We need to learn more about this or else we’re no better off than when we started.”

The warriors accept that and at Everett’s signal, we head out. Everett and I walk at the head, as befits the Alpha and Luna. He catches me whenever I trip, so at least I never fall down.

We enter rogue territory, ready to fight until we get what we came for. The warriors with us were the best we have. I know they can handle themselves. But I can’t help feeling jittery.

This was all my idea. Whatever happens today, if anyone gets hurt or even dies, it will all be because of me. ~Because of Nemesis,~ I tell myself, but I don’t quite believe it.

“You okay?” Ace asks, snapping me back to reality.

I try to smile. “Yeah, I’m fine. I’m just a little nervous. Does that ever go away?”

He laughs. “Not completely, but it decreases after a while. Don’t worry too much. We’ve got your back and his,” he says, glancing in Everett’s direction.

That does make me feel better.

Until we come to the clearing.

A huge group of rogues is waiting, at least thirty. It’s a trap. I’ve led them all into a trap. ~Maybe Nemesis sent the dream~, I think, stomach dropping.

Everett motions to Lucius, “Get her out of here!”

I know he’d save me himself, but he has a rogue cornered.

But as soon as Lucius nods and turns toward me, a rogue sets his sights on me as well.

I hear cracking bones as my pack shifts—including Lucius. He springs forward to protect me, but the rogue matches his every step.

Lucius and the rogue are both sprinting toward me, in perfect stride with one another. I freeze, flinching as I close my eyes—unsure of who will reach me first.

I hear screaming and it takes me a second to realize it’s my own voice crying out.

A blast of air rushes over me as I feel my body being swept up and carried away.