My eyes fluttered open quickly and I realized that I was still in the cell. There were no guards standing outside the door, and I couldn’t hear anyone within yards of me. Sliding slowly off the cot, I do a once over of my body. Most of the minor cuts and injuries had already healed, but there were a couple that needed to be looked at by a doctor because I could tell that they were inflected by something made of silver.
Looking down at my wrists, I winced when I saw the burnt skin. Straining against the cuffs, it takes me several tries to break them. Walking swiftly to the door, I push against it and watched in surprise as it swung open. “Stupid mutts don’t know how to even lock a cell door properly.” I mutter as I make my way down the corridor towards the exit.
As I pushed the door open, sounds of fighting hit me. My eyes scan the clearing in front of me and I spotted several of my warriors along with bodies of dead rouges. A soft breeze floats by me and my head snaps to the right. Narrowing my eyes, I soon catch the cause of the scent. The boss of the rouges was sneaking up on one of my pack members. Letting out a growl, I shift and race towards him.
He heard my growl because he froze and looked at me. I knew that he knew who I was but I didn’t give him a chance to do anything. I jumped onto him and the fight commenced. I had to admit that he was a decent fighter, but even though my body was weak from lying in a bed for almost three months, I was a better skilled fighter than he would ever dream of being. Right before I killed him, I looked him in the eyes and smiled. “I told you that they would come and that they would wipe every single one of you mutts out.” With one blow, I snapped his neck in half and let his body fall to the ground.
Looking behind me, I notice that most of the fighting was over. The rouges were either dead or being rounded up to take back to Dylan for their punishment. “Gamma Fox, she’s not in the holding area. She managed to escape.” Justin shouted and I turned around. Standing in front of the door stood Dan, Justin and my father; shifting back, I run towards them. “Dan! Dan, here I am.” I call out as I got closer to them.
The three of them whirl around at the same time, shock and disbelief written on their faces. “Tami!” Dan shouts as he sprints towards me, a smile on his face that looked like it would split it in half if he smiled any harder. My legs gave out but before I could hit the ground, Dan’s arms wrapped around me and picked me up. “Justin, get that doctor up here now!” Dan yelled as he held me tightly against his chest. “Oh, Tami. I thought I had lost you, my love.”
Feeling my father’s eyes on me, I look over Dan’s shoulder. “Daddy…I’ve missed you and Mom so much.” I couldn’t manage to speak past the lump in my throat. I felt tears welling up in my eyes and swarming over the dam I had built so many years ago. He wipes his own tears away as he gives me a wobbly smile. “We’ve missed you too sweetheart.”
“Dan, I’m so sleepy.” I whisper as I laid my head on his chest. He chuckles a little and his arms tighten around me. Placing a kiss on my forehead, he hands me to my father as the doctor opens his bag. It didn’t take him long to clean my wounds and patch me up. Dan was helping Justin gather the remaining rouges together, so my father started carrying me back to the pack house. I knew that we were a long way from it, but before I could tell my dad to set me down and let me walk, sleep claimed me.
Rolling out bed, I make my way to the bathroom and strip. Stepping under the hot water, I realize that I’m back in my room. After a quick shower, I dress and hurry down the stairs. I walk into the kitchen and grab an apple before I head to Dylan’s office. I was just about to knock on it when I heard Dylan and my father talking. “I know she’s the Captain of your warriors Sire, but her mother and I want her to come back home with us. And the only way she would do that is if you stripped the position from her. I know that you’re not only her alpha and king, but you’re her friend. She’ll listen to you.”
“Jessica is happy her Thor. She hasn’t been a part of the Righteous Goddess pack since she was 18. If I know her, and I know her rather well, she wouldn’t want to go back to them as long as she’s alive.”
“I’m sure it’s just a misunderstanding Sire. I’m sure Jessica would love to be back among her family once again.” Dylan growls softly at my dad and I couldn’t help but smile softly. “A misunderstanding?! That excuse of an alpha, Charles Brook, used to be Jessica’s first mate. But he rejected her because when she was still in mourning for the loss of her parents, he saw her as weak. He told her that she was not Luna material. He marked and mated another, and he has pups with that femme now.
“If you want what’s best for Jessica, let her stay here. She’s a grown wolf Thor, and she has a life here with us, in my pack… The only way I’d strip her of her position would be if she gave it to another or told me that she no longer wished to hold it. Do you know how she became the Captain of my warriors?” Dylan asked my father after a moment of silence. He didn’t answer but I knew he shook his head no.
“She went to the council in Cleveland and asked to be considered for a spot in my ranks. All she wanted was one chance to try to join them, and it was granted. But only after a rigorous fight with my Gamma, who was also the Captain as well then. The councilmen asked her what she would do if her mate led an attack on me and tried to kill me. Her reply, and I was told that she didn’t even stop to think about it, was that she would protect her king at all cost and if that meant she had to kill her mate to make sure I would stay alive, then so be it.
“After defeating Jordan, he handed her the title and she’s been with us ever since. Only recently; however, I just learned that Jordan and Jessica are second mates. They had a little misunderstanding, but I think it’s all straightened out now.” I could hear my father pacing. “Please Sire, I know it’ll be tough on her at first, but she’ll get over it. My little girl has always been a fighter.” He said something else, but I couldn’t hear it. The familiar burning sensation erupted in my chest.
Gritting my teeth, I made my way to my office. In a matter of seconds, every little personal item that I had in my office was in a small box beside my desk. Justin, I need to see you in my office ASAP!
On my way Captain. He answers and I close the link. I knew that he would make a great Captain. Rubbing my face, I clear the computer of everything that related to me. The office was now bare of any influence I had place in it. My door opens and Justin steps in. Standing up, I walk in front of my desk and wait for him. Taking a small blade from the holder, I hold my hand up. “I, Jessica Ellie Kent, Captain of warriors under King Dylan Colt hereby give the position of Captain and all that comes with it to Jonathan Justin, my successor.” Making a deep cut down the palm of my hand, I make one down Justin’ palm as well.
“I, Jonathan Justin, accept the position as Captain of warriors from my predecessor, Jessica Ellie Kent, and all that comes with it.” As we shook hands, I felt the power and authority slip from me to Justin. Smiling sadly at him, I place the knife back in its holder and lay it down on the desk. Picking my box up, I look him in the eye. “I know you’ll make a good Captain Justin. Don’t let me down for placing my trust in you. Protect the King with everything you have in you and be kind but firm with the warriors.”
“I won’t let you down Tami…Can I ask why you gave me your position? I know how much you loved it.” Sighing, I stop just in front of the door. “I gave it to you because you were the only one who I thought was worthy of it. And it was time for me to step down. Good bye Captain Justin.”
“So long my friend.” Walking out of my, Justin, office I quickly make my way to my room. As I passed Dan’s room, I couldn’t help but notice the scent of Belle spilling from the room. Reaching my room, I wanted to scream until I had nothing left. But I didn’t have the time to waste. Wiping my room clean for the third time in my life, I sit down at my desk and pulled out a few sheets of paper and a pen.
Dear Dylan,
If you’re reading this, then you’ve figured out that I’m no longer coming back. I made Justin my successor, and I think he’ll do a great job. Just give him a chance and I’m sure you’ll see it as well. That misunderstanding that Dan and I had never did get figured out, but that’s alright. He’s happy now, and I’m happy for him. It wasn’t him who made me figure out it was time for me to leave.
Don’t worry about me, I’ll be fine. After all, I’m a warrior and a fighter. It’s time for me to be moving on. It was an honor severing under your command Sire. I wish you the very best. And if you ever need any help, just send a message through the Council. They’ll find a way to get it to me one way or another.
So long friend. Stay safe will ya, at least for my sake.
Tami
Picking up my only bag, I take the rest of my things and leave them in the closet to be used by pack members as the need arises. Slipping by Dylan’s office, I slide the note under the door when I’m sure that no one’s in there. I walk out the front door and down the drive before turning back to take one last look. When I left the first two times, it didn’t hurt as much as it did right now. Blinking my eyes to keep from crying, I make my way to the southern border.
My heart felt like it was made of solid stone and ice. I was empty of all emotion now, and Jess was barely there. I was made that Dan did that to her, broke her spirit to where she didn’t care if we lived or died. The nearest Council was in Edinburgh, and I could be there before dark. Jumping across the border, I felt the already weakened bond with the pack snap, break and crumble. It wouldn’t be long now until everyone knew I left. As I ran through the forest, I had one goal in mind. Make it to the Council and request training as an assassin. That job no longer sounded like something I couldn’t do.