Retribution

I shouted for our medics, who wasted no time in coming to her aid. They transported Janelle into one of the medical rooms within the base and all we could do was wait.

At least four hours had passed since Janelle had been rushed off, and we were all on tenterhooks. David had been beside himself and hadn’t uttered a single word since our quick exchange earlier.

Nora was quiet and wouldn’t look at either of us and I presumed she was blaming herself for

whatever caused this to happen.

I refused to play the blame game, especially as I had no idea where Janelle and Nora had gone and why anyone would want to shoot her.

For a split second I wondered if Nyakesh had been responsible, but I knew Nora would have revealed that straight away if it had been the case. So no, the bullet hadn’t been anything to do with her. Which only left one other option, and that was, it was connected to her mysterious past.

When one of the healers finally emerged, we were all standing in a moment, she came straight over to me and gave her permission to check on Janelle, but the same courtesy was not offered to the other two.

I knew that decision was going to eat away at David, but I wasn’t going to refuse just to spare his feelings, I wanted to, but Janelle needed someone to be with her and I was the only one who was permitted.

It only took me a few minutes to get to her room and I had been so relieved to find her sitting in a bed with a scowl upon her face.

“Marcus you need to tell those idiots to release me, I do not have the time to waste away in a damn bed,” She stated, the growl coming through with her words.

“I will do no such thing. Janelle you could have died, it’s a miracle you’re still here as it is.”

“Don’t be so dramatic, it was just a flesh wound,” she claimed, but we both knew it was far from the truth.

I picked up her chart and browsed through it before returning it to its spot.

“It punctured your lung Janelle, you’re lucky our healers are so skilled at what they do. You wouldn’t even be here if it had been your heart.”

Her scowl deepened, but it also lost its edge. She knew what I said was true, even though she would’ve never admitted it to me.

“You once said if I told you my secret, you would reveal yours, unfortunately there isn’t much to tell. But I hope what I have will be enough for you to trust me with yours.”

She didn’t utter a single word, but she did lock her eyes onto mine and with a deep breath I began.

“Nora said I was not from this world, and someone else seemed to hint at that. I didn’t want to believe them at first but I’m starting to piece together a few things and it’s getting harder and harder to deny. The fact I have more power than your general sorcerer or that my mother shut me out the minute my father died. But worst of all is I don’t have many memories from before that moment where he died. Every time I try to recall them it’s like I’m beating against a steel wall, I never questioned it before but now I wonder if my memories have been blocked for a reason.”

I left my tale there and waited for Janelle to say something in response to my confession, I wasn’t expecting her to jump straight into her own confession but that was what she did.

“I was mated at the age of sixteen, it seems young I know, but age works differently within the shifter community especially if you are a wolf. My father was the Alpha, and he was beloved by everyone within his pack or so we all thought.

I fell pregnant with Jonah’s child and we were so freaking excited, my mother had started to create little wonders for our child and I couldn’t wait until I got to hold her in my arms for the first time.

Fast forward a year and I got my wish, she was a little beauty, so content and happy no matter what was occurring around her.

It was on my eighteenth birthday that my world collapsed around me. Me and Jonah were looking forward to going out for the evening when the summons came, every wolf was there, accept from my father.

I learnt right there and then that the man who I had idolised had been murdered and as tradition dictates I was to become the new Alpha. I didn’t care about the title, all I wanted was to have my father back with us but I’d no intentions of doing anything that could have disappointed him.

I was ready to accept my title, when a scream rang out. It had come from our home, so we shifted to our wolf forms and pounded the ground as hard and fast as we could.

The sight devastated me, our home was a blazing inferno, our daughter had been inside with my mother. We didn’t assume they were dead until the fire was put out and two charred remains were pulled free.

We howled into the night sky together, joining our heartache. But that wasn’t the end for me, we’d just shifted back when my father’s brother appeared from around the side of our home. He looked so smug and righteous, Jonah backed us up a little bit, but he kept on coming closer.

The other wolves were getting nervous, but I don’t think any of us were prepared for what Alexander was about to do. He shifted to his wolf form and pounced at Jonah, I tried to stop him but two of Alexander’s friends held me back.

He tore his throat out and all I could do was stand there and watch, as my uncle feasted on my husband. I cried out my anguish and his two buddies were pulled from me. Many of the wolves stood behind me but he’d acquired too many allies for us to fight him.

“I will take my rightful place as Alpha, I would rather die before I let such a title fall to a child, and a female no less.”