Chapter 12 ~ Enemy Territory

The drive over to Wolf territory seemed to take forever. I couldn't fathom why Kellan would make this trip every day for so many years, just to sit at my bar in silence. He drove the beat up old pick-up, Freya in the passenger seat beside him her head resting on the glass and her fingers tapping an erratic rhythm on her leg.

Tia sat in the back with me, a calm radiating from her that I was starting to think was more magic. The panic that had been building for the first twenty minutes of the car trip had started to waned almost immediately, once she told me to relax. Much as my ears had picked up more sound when she'd told me to listen. I hadn't seen any green tendrils snap from her aura however, so I couldn't be certain.

"Did you do this?" I asked her after silence had reigned too long. She shifted her gaze from the misty trees outside and focused back on me. A smile lit her whole face and she shrugged her little shoulders.

"I just thought it might help. I can stop if you like." I shook my head, I hadn't felt this peaceful since... I wasn't even sure when. Back before the bite probably. The calm made it easier to process the thoughts running through my mind. I could wind their racing back to a slow crawl and examine each one for its credibility.

I didn't know Kellan all that well. But in the years he had been coming into the bar, he had never once tried to hurt me. He had respected my wishes and helped me even when I refused to help him. He was probably one of the only people I trusted, despite the fact that he was not only a Mythic but a Wolf.

"I thought you would be too young to know so much magic," I said, unsure how she would take the question. She laughed, the sound like music dancing through the air.

"I'm not supposed to know them yet. We're only supposed to start our official training once we turn thirteen. But I've been teaching myself. I figured out where mother hides her grimoire." She giggled, "But I only try the basic ones. They'd know if I tried anything that required a lot of energy. And I probably wouldn't be strong enough yet anyway."

"Well, I'll make sure I don't tell anyone how you helped me today then," I whispered to her sliding my eyes around the car, though we both knew that the two Wolves up front had heard the entire conversation. She giggled again and shook her head at me, her thick curls bouncing around her face.

The sound of tires crunching down an unpaved gravel road alerted e to the fact we were getting close. We had turned off the main highway an were weaving our way through thick forest. The monstrous trees lined either side of the narrow track and mist shrouded the path ahead in mystery. The headlights of the truck did nothing to cut through the heavy fog and Tia's magic lost its grip as fear spiked deep in the depths of my soul.

I shouldn't be here, I thought. my hand reaching for the door, for any means of escape. It was locked and that simple fact had my breath coming in ragged gasps that I couldn't control. "Delilah," Kellans calm strong voice reached into the depths of my mind, somehow managing to soothe the fears that were taking control, "Breathe," He murmured. I nodded my head trying to focus on the air entering and leaving my lungs.

"Look at me," he said, once my breathing had become more regular. I forced my eyes up to the rear vision mirror to see his storm grey eyes focused on me, "It's going to be okay." I could only nod, but the words calmed the restless urge to flee that had taken control. I had to trust him.

Even as the thought entered my mind he slowed the truck to a roll and then a complete stop. A glance outside showed me a village of timber cottages circled around one much larger multi-story house. In some ways it reminded me of my village, a multitude of small cottages close together surrounded by dense forest. But our houses had been woven from living trees not dead ones and there was probably nothing left of it now.

Wolves, milled around outside the small cottages, their attention directed at the vehicle that had just pulled into a parking space directly in front of the large house. The rumble of Kellan's growl vibrated through me and I watched bemused as everyone of the Wolves turned from us and continued on with whatever they had been doing prior to our arrival. One Wolf remained focus on us, he jogged down the few short stairs and across the empty gravel car spaces to the passenger door. Kellan jumped out as the young blonde haired man pulled open the passenger door and peered in at Freya.

She remained in her seat eyes on her lap until Kellan rounded the car and helped the other man pull her from her seat. She stumbled from the truck her feet barely holding her upright. Kellan sighed and pulled her up into his arms, I gasped as he took the first step away from the truck my eyes searching back and forth amongst the multitude of houses and Wolves all around us. Kellan hesitated glancing back at me. The doctor stepped forward as if predicting his next move an lifted the motionless Freya fom Kellan's arms into his own.

Kellan moved back towards the ute, opening my door for me and waiting as I stepped out, hesitation present in every movement. I heard Tia open and close her own door, stepping from the car and moving around to grab my hand. Kellan placed a hand on my lower back and steered me toward the main entrance of the house.

We followed the the man carrying Freya, he moved through the entryway and up a flight of stairs, then all the way through to the back wall of the building, the room he entered contained a narrow moveable bed, and there was medical equipment in neat rows along the silver benches around the outside of the room.

He placed Freya gently down on the bed and turned to Kellan.

"I'll check her over, take some blood, see what I can come up with. I'll let you know as soon as I have something." Kellan nodded, running a hand through his hair.

"Okay Doc, I've got to get to the Hall to meet with the others. I'll be back to check on her once we've dealt with the humans who did this." He growled. The doctor dipped his head and turned back to Freya. Kellan lead us from the room and I started to wonder what he was going to do with us while he was at the Hall.

"You're not going to leave us here are you?" I asked him, attempting to mask the fear in my voice. He sighed heavily and ran his fingers through his hair once again.

"I told you, they aren't going to hurt you." He growls, "Costas. Diana. Get here now please." Moments later, two more wolves appeared at the top of the stairs.

"Sir," They said in unison.

"This is Costas," The male Wolf nodded, "And Diana," the female dipped her head, "They will stay with you until I get back."

"Don't leave us here," I jerked back out of Kellans grip and away from the two new Wolves. "I don't even know them." I growled at him. He huffed a deep frustrated breath.

"It won't be for long. I just need to meet with the other leaders and decide what our next actions will be."

"Let us come." He shook his head staring down at me with tired eyes.

"Only members of the Council, Mythic leaders, can enter the Hall. You'll be safe here.""Well, who is representing the Fae?" I asked. The deep rumble of a growl that echoed through him sent a shiver of fear down my spine.

"The Fae don't have a seat." He rumbled, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"Fine," I snapped back, "What about the Fae Wolf Hybrids. Who represents them?" His hand swiped through his hair and clenched into a fist. Maybe I shouldn't have pushed my luck, but the concept of staying in this building, surrounded by Wolves I didn't know all of whom likely knew I was a Fae... I couldn't do it. I just couldn't.

He grabbed my arm, Tia still attached to my other hand and jerked us further down the hallway passed the two Wolves who were watching the exchange with confusion written clear across their faces.

He didn't say a word as he dragged us back to the car and opened the door. Waiting only until our limbs were out of danger before slamming the door closed and stepping into the drivers seat. It was a much shorter drive to the Hall he'd been talking about, but the silence that filled the space between us made it feel like an eternity. By the time we got there I almost wished I hadn't argued with him and had just stayed behind at the house with the multitude of Wolves.

Remember to vote/comment if you liked it!! :D