The Wolf

Ch. 26: The Truth and The Struggle

"It was nothing, just got a little dizzy. Still not used to walking around is all."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm fine!" I snap, sick of the same question. I gasp afterward, feeling guilty.

"Okay, okay, I get it. You're fine. Sorry for worrying." Alex scoffs, looking away.

"Well, sorry for not being the damsel that always needs saving! I don't want pity and I don't need you to worry about me all the time, OK? I can take care of myself!" I retort, raising my voice.

"You can take care of yourself? Have you looked in the mirror lately?" Alex inquires, "Because you look like a hot mess. I'm just trying to be a good friend by worrying about you!"

"Well I don't want your worry, and, hell, maybe I don't want to be your friend!" I spit.

Alex's eyes widen and then narrow. "Fine, I see how it is. See how well you can fare by yourself. Because you're Nico. Someone I don't know! And even when I try, it's pointless. So go on keeping to yourself, you won't get very far!"

Alex and I stand there, breathing hard. I'm glaring at him and he's glowering at me. This is what happens when I open my stupid big mouth, but I can't deny the truth. Taking a final breath, I prepare to say the thing that I know will end this.

"Why don't you just run to Kayla, that little tramp, and hang out with her. Instead of standing around here fighting with a no-good loser? Huh?" I fold my arms preparing for what is to come next.

"Don't you dare say that about Kayla!" Alex growls, his eyes starting to glow.

"Say what? The truth? That she's a little pretentious bitch that just wants an alpha's dick?"

Alex grabs me by the front of my shirt, seething right in my face. "What's your problem with Kayla?"

"Hm, you think after you find your mate that she'll settle with an omega?" I look up in false thought.

Bam. Alex's fist meets my cheek and I go sprawling on the snow. That's going to leave a bruise. His chest is heaving as he stands over me.

"Listen, Nico, if you come near Kayla, I'll beat you up," Alex spits.

"Yeah, just like everyone else does eventually..." I mutter, staring up at the grey skies.

Alex flinches but he doesn't say a word. I don't bother to watch him walk away. When I hear his footsteps fade, I pull myself out of the snow. Everything is slowly building up. I run towards the woods, about to burst. As soon as I reach the snowy interior, everything washes over me.

I stumble further into the woods as the memories repeat themselves in perfect clarity in my mind. Tears streak my cheeks. I just want for this pain to end. I'm not sure how far I walk, but it begins to snow. I sit in the middle of the storm, clutching my chest, sick of hurting.

"Ah, poor little Nico, it seems you've been hurt again. That spell doesn't usually work that well, but it seems you're a troubled individual." Nyx purrs, sitting next to me.

I glare at her through the tears and the pain. "You did this to me!"

"I was just simply reminding you of what your life was truly like," Nyx says innocently.

"Undo this stupid spell, you bitch!" I hiss.

"Tsk, tsk, language," She teases. "I'm afraid I can't take the spell off until you've overcome it."

"What?" My jaw drops in disbelief.

"You need to accept your past, blah, blah, blah. Suffer until you break or you harden. Either is fine with me." Nyx reaches out a pale hand toward my face, I move away, but she holds it firmly in place. "Let me give you another gift."

"I'm good," I say through clenched teeth, desperately trying to break away from her numbing grasp.

"Let's see how accustomed to the cold you can get. You're going to need it when dealing with me." She places her lips on mine once again.