But then Ethan slowly broke into a grin. “I did say that. Might as well.” He lowered his head until they were at eye level. “Don’t stray away from me. I couldn’t forgive myself if someone even hurt a strand of your hair.”
“Loud and clear,” said Sookie.
“Good.” Ethan showed too much teeth and he unnerved her a bit. He then straightened his imposing figure. Even though Max and one other guy were taller than Ethan, his presence was oozing with primal power that dwarfed the rest of them. It was like he had an aura of a super demon beast around him, a grand predator among predators. A marauder being that even made a dark deity like Cthulhu pale in comparison. Sookie could see why Ethan was rightfully called as the king among the werewolves. Ethan lifted his palm. “Show me where,” he said to Max.
Sookie fell behind Ethan, shadowing his steps with the rest of them. Grayson threw an amused smile at her. She pretended not to notice. Max took them into the depths of the factory. She tried to remember the way to the bowel of the building where Cain had held Jesse prisoner. She only had been allowed to visit Jesse a few times during her captivity. Usually as a form of reinforcement to make her submit to Cain’s wicked plan.
Along the way, she tried hard to not recoil to see the carnage up close. She understood now why Ethan had wanted her to stay outside. The walls were smeared with blood and gore. The smell of death so pervasive it was offensive, even. Bits of men and beasts splattered the surfaces. Deep claw gouges covered the walls, floors, and ceilings. She spotted a broken tooth deeply embedded in a wooden trim as they walked by. The sheer brutality of it all made her nauseated. As they ventured along the main floor, Sookie reeled in her urge to retch. If she puked now she’d lose her cred. She didn’t want to. She needed to find out what happened to Jesse. She simply must know.
The main floor was where Cain conducted his experiments. The whole floor was basically divided into many labs. There were doors labeled with signs like “Genetic,” “DNA Sequencing,” “Cultures,” “Cryo Storage,” and many more. Each was more sinister than the last.
Ethan abandoned the elevator and chose the stairs instead. By now Sookie breathed through her mouth. The air quality was poor even though this place supposedly had a fancy-ass HEPA air filtration system. It might be broken, she didn’t know. The air became dank as they descended deeper into the bowels of the factory.
Sookie started to recognize the passage. Jesse was kept three levels down in the sub-sub-basement. She herself was locked in the highest story where Cain lived. A center penthouse with no direct access to open windows or sunlight. The only way out was either up to the roof or down to the ground floor.
The guide—a were militia with mismatched eyes—didn’t lead them to the sub-sub-basement. They headed toward the back where they kept the computers and servers. As much as she hated Cain, she wasn’t interested in seeing that bastard right now. Jesse was her main priority. As everybody was wrapped up in the situation, Sookie inconspicuously fell back and peeled herself from the group. She doubled back toward the stairs to find Jesse.
She covered her nose as she hurried down the stairs. The smell went from awful to worse. She didn’t see anyone on her way there. Well, the live ones anyway. She constantly had to thread her way so as not to step on something disgusting. She wondered how quickly she got used to stuff that ordinarily would traumatize a normal person. Humans were resilient creatures. She couldn’t afford being normal right now. Her brother depended on her.
She ignored the other floor and went straight to the lowest level. The lights were dimmed to the barest she could navigate without stumbling about like a blind mole. She passed a series of gated doors that usually were manned by Cain’s goons. Nobody was guarding it right now. They were left unlocked.
Sookie pushed forward.
This level always gave her the creeps. Even without a soul present, she felt as if someone was watching her. Sookie looked down and picked up a piece of bent pipe to arm herself.
She drew a deep breath and almost gagged. The air was ripe and fucking awful. She coughed twice and pressed forward. Jesse was imprisoned in the third row to the left. Cell number six. In the past, when she came down here the cells were filled with wild snarls, howls, and ramblings of men who had lost their minds. Some were fully transformed like Jesse. Some weren’t. A few looked like a science experiment gone bad, but all were no longer sentient. She had hoped and hoped that Jesse’s transmutation was only temporary. If Jesse got his permanent antidote just like Cain had promised her, Jesse would return to normal.
They would leave all this behind and forget it ever happened.
Sookie stepped cautiously. Her ear pricked at some noise. Heavy breathing. Close. Behind her. She turned around suddenly ready to swing her pipe.
“Find what you’re looking for?” asked a gruff voice.
It was Max the Frankenwolf.
Sookie relaxed. “Don’t sneak up on me like that.”
“I did no such thing. I’ve been following you since you decided to disobey the Alpha’s order.”
“Does Ethan know?”
Max gave her a “duh” kind of look. “Why else would I be following you?”
“Huh.” Sookie snorted. “He doesn’t miss a trick, does he?”
Max was waited on something. “Well?”
“I need to find my brother first. He was locked in one of these cells. Where are all the prisoners in here?”
“Who knows?” Max shrugged casually. “Dead or still loose somewhere. You need to go up to the Alpha right now. Posthaste, if you will.”
“Fuck that. I need to find my brother first.”
Max growled unhappily. “Listen, the way I see it, it’s either you come peacefully or I’ll drag you kicking and screaming. I don’t care either way. You have three seconds to decide. What will it be?”
Sookie deflated. There was no way she could kick this man’s ass. “The peaceful one. Not the kicking and screaming.”
Max flashed rows of too-sharp of teeth. “Wise choice.”
They returned with Max herded her like unruly cattle that itched to bolt if he didn’t guard her carefully enough to join the Alpha’s entourage. They climbed up three levels to the ground area. The Alpha and his merry-shit-kicking men were in a computer lab where Cain kept servers, hardware, so that the operation in the Factory ran smoothly.
Loud screaming greeted her as soon as she stepped onto the threshold of the Data Center. She slipped in between Ethan’s men to see what was going on. What she saw surprised her.
Cain.
Sprawling on the floor was a miserable-looking lifeform that seemed to have been put through the wringer. Twice. Cain who usually dressed like he was about to strut his stuff on the catwalk, brimming with confidence and arrogance, now had been reduced into a simpering pathetic creature.
The creature before them was nothing that resembled the man called Cain. Silver bullets made Swiss cheese out of him, molten silvered liquid mercury oozing from the wounds. He trembled from the bullet shock, but his eyes were the epitome of hatred.
Sookie pushed a little closer to get a better view. There was no doubt about it. This pathetic creature was Caine.
They glared at each other. Cain reacted first. “That bitch!” With lightning fast reflexes, Cain snatched her throat and used her as a human shield against his enemies.
An inhuman growl reverberated through the ceiling. Sookie would recognize that growl anywhere. It was Ethan. But the owner of that growl wasn’t looking like Ethan. He was neither wolf nor man, with long snout and slouching arms passed his hips. He snarled at Cain, warning him.
Sookie couldn’t help to wag her tongue. “Hey, Cain, I thought silver bullets couldn’t do you harm since you’re a pureblood direwolf. What’s up with that?”
“Silence! A mongrel like you isn’t allowed to—”
“Cain isn’t a pureblood like he claimed to be,” said a voice. Sookie turned to Max the Frankenwolf. “We just found out that he was sired
out of wedlock. Damian Hunter dallied with a kitchen maid and resulted in him. To cover up the scandal, his father installed him as a true heir of the Hunter House.”
Sookie couldn’t help but laugh. For weeks Cain had belittled her and her brother as sub human creatures because they didn’t have impressive lineage like he did. How did he like it now that the table was turned?
“Shut your mouth, cunt! Shut your mouth or I’ll—”
“No!” Sookie screamed from the top of her lungs. When she realized she still holding the pipe in her hand, she jabbed the end of it into Cain’s broken ribs. Cain howled in pain. Sookie used the opportunity to yank herself free from his grip. Sookie whacked the pipe on him again. This time, it rendered Cain down to his knees. “You shut the fuck up! I’ve had enough! You don’t have power over me anymore.
“I really…”
Sookie swung the pipe on his head. Whack!
“Freaking…”
Whack!
“Hate…”
Whack!
“You!”
Whack!
“Where’s Jesse? Where is he? Where’s my brother?”
Whack!
“Susan!” Ethan grabbed her arm to restrain her. He was still at full transmutation, making his speech garbled. A snout wasn’t equipped to speak conventionally. “Enough! You can’t interrogate him if he’s dead.”
Sookie was beyond rational thinking. “I don’t care! I’ve got bones to pick with him! I want revenge! Revenge!”
Ethan let go of his hold.
Sookie’s face wet with tears. “You had no idea what he did to my brother. Jesse is only sixteen. A kid. This bastard tortured him every day. He electrocuted Jesse with cattle stick to wake him up. He forced Jesse to eat the carcass of rotten animals. He put Jesse in a cell with other infected persons and watched them fight to the death. Your cousin doesn’t deserve to be treated like a human. He’s trash and I’m going to take out the trash like I normally do.”
Ethan’s gaze intensified. “Why not? Do as you wish, beloved mate. Besides, this is more entertaining.”
“She got spunk!” commented one of Ethan’s men.
Sookie roared like a wild animal and swung the pipe high. Cain had shrunk against a lab door. He lifted a hand above his eyes, bracing for the impact.
“You won’t find your brother if you kill me.”
“That’s fine. I’ll hire a physic and haunt you in the afterlife.” Sookie brought down her pipe fast. It clanged against the metal handle. Cain had jumped backward, pushing the doors open and into the darkened lab.
Cain wheezed; his eyes red and wild. The silver and mercury bullets had weakened him considerably. “Ethan!” he croaked. “Control your woman! Bitch is crazy!”
Ethan only shrugged and laughed. “Why should I? I’m enjoying this too much. It’s not every day I got to see you get whaled on by a girl.”
“Cain!” Sookie screamed. “Don’t you run like a little girl! Come at me like a man, don’t tell me you ain’t got no balls anymore?” She swung the pipe but hit an empty space.
Cain staggered back then froze.
Sookie was about to lift the pipe when she saw a clawed hand puncture through Cain’s chest, holding his still beating heart. “C-Cain?”
Ethan and his men acted fast. Ethan pulled Sookie out of the room. His men aimed their weapon at the unknown beast in the lab.
Cain mouthed in agony. “Help…” he said.
No one inclined to do what he asked. Then, all of a sudden, Cain’s body was lifted from the ground and tore in half. Blood and gore sprayed everywhere.
Sookie wasn’t fazed this time. Something nagged in her head. “Don’t shoot! Don’t shoot! Hold your fire. That wolf could be my brother!”
Ethan’s men turned to the alpha for affirmation. Ethan nodded.
The newcomer wolf dropped what was left of Cain’s body and stepped over it. His transformation was similar to pureblood direwolf. Bipedal, fur covered human form, snout, with large erect ears. He sniffed and spoke in a guttural voice. “Sis, is that you?”
“Jesse!” Sookie wrenched herself from Ethan’s grip. “Jesse, do you remember me?”
“Susan!” Ethan warned.
His men responded with ready-to-fire rifles.
Sookie whipped her head back. “Don’t you dare start shooting at my brother. Put your guns away.”
No one heeded her, of course. Sookie stepped forward and held the werewolf’s shoulder. “Jesse, are you okay? How did you get out? Did they hurt you more while I was gone?”
Jesse struggled with his words. His eyes were full of confusion. “Sorry. Sis. I’m sorry. If I only listened to you we wouldn’t be in this situation.”
“What are you talking about? We were saved. We’re gonna be okay.”
Jesse shook his head. “Sis, I’m hungry. So hungry.”
“We’ll get you something to eat.”
“I’m really hungry… sorry, sis…” Jesse opened up his jaw as wide as he could. Before Jesse could clamp his teeth on Sookie’s arm, Ethan pushed Sookie away and forced Jesse to chomp on Ethan’s own arm instead.
Jesse grunted as his fangs sunk into Ethan’s flesh. Blood dripped. Then there was the sound of satisfied eating.
Sookie watched with horror. She knew too well what Ethan’s blood could do to a werewolf. “No!” She looked up. “You can’t do that. You’re killing him. Stop it.”
Max and Grayson pulled her from Ethan and Jesse. Sookie became enraged. She kicked, writhed, cursed and pleaded but her pleas fell on deaf ears. Finally, she slumped. The fighting spirit inside her was no more.
Ethan let Jesse feed until the young wolf had enough. Jesse unlatched and slumped on the floor, curling into the fetal position.
Then something miraculous happened.
Slowly, Jesse transformed from a werewolf back into human. His snout shrank. Hair disappeared. Claws turned back into fingers. Jesse snorted like a baby and sucked his thumb, sleeping peacefully.
Sookie couldn’t believe her eyes. “W-what happen?”
Ethan wiped his punctured arm and the bleeding stopped immediately. “My guess is, Cain had perfected the Alpha Strain after all, but he failed to make the effective antidote.”
“Cain isn’t a pureblood direwolf,” added Grayson.
“What does that means?” asked Sookie. “Is my brother going to be okay?”
Ethan crouched next to her. “I suppose, yeah. I have a feeling the recovery won’t be a cakewalk but Jesse is a fighter. Your brother is going to be okay.”
Thank God. Sookie couldn’t hold back her tears. She hid her face on Ethan’s arm and cried her head off.
Epilogue
Seven Months Later…
“You wasted unnecessary movement, Jesse. In a real fight, you don’t fight fancy. You use every opportunity, every tool at your disposal to your advantage. Even a little thing can be the difference between life and death.” Ethan offered his hand to Jesse to get up. The two of them had been sparring in the Lunar Manor inner courtyard since three in the afternoon. Both Ethan and Jesse had stripped to their boxers even though the ground was still covered in light snow. Both of them sweated from head to toe. Their skin glistened in afternoon sun. Jesse took his hand and they were at each other again. Jesse was Ethan’s pupil now and he taught him martial arts.
After Jesse recovered from the Alpha Strain virus, Ethan had taken his brother-in-law under his wing. It turned out Jesse adored Ethan. Sookie suspected that Jesse found the father figure in Ethan that he desperately needed. And Ethan was quite happy to have adopted the impressionable teen-ager as the younger brother he never had.
Watching the two most important people in her life bonding over martial arts made Sookie all warm and happy.
Jesse adapted to his life as a werewolf. He still had difficulties with his transformation. He couldn’t control it properly and Sookie knew even if Jesse didn’t want to admit it, the transformation itself was an excruciating experience for him. B
ut luckily, Jesse was a happy kid. He took it in stride and smiled, not once complaining about it.
He had changed drastically ever since the accident. He became more mature, no longer stuck his nose where it didn’t belong. He studied and he helped around the manor without Sookie having to beg or yell at him to do it. He also kept his room tidy. Gasp! Apparently, Jesse remembered his incarceration in the dungeon of the factory. Well, mostly. He battled constantly with himself over compulsions of rage and hunger. He couldn’t control what he did. It was as if someone had taken over his body and he was forced to watch from the backseat.
Ethan was a good influence on Jesse. And Jesse idolized him in return. Jesse embraced his new life. He thought being a werewolf was gnarly—whatever kids’ lingo meant these days. Sookie was happy that everything went well in the end. She and Ethan got married a month later in a quiet, intimate ceremony.
Sookie blew a little breath. Her back was killing her and her feet swelled if she stood a bit too long. The pack physician warned her that carrying a werewolf pup was hard on the mother, especially because she was human. Human females were more delicate than female werewolves. Doctor Hartman assured her if she took days
easily and got plenty of rest, she would be fine. Human-wolf interspecies marriage wasn’t uncommon. Besides, she received plenty of help from the pack members. Ethan was incredibly supportive and protective and Jesse swore it was his turn to take care of her from now on.
Now, each time Sookie saw Jesse’s earnest face, she no longer felt like she had disappointed her mom. She kept her promise, keeping the family together. And now the family was growing…
“Sookie,” called Chloe from the door. “Didn’t Dr. Hartman warn you not to stand too often? Why don’t you sit down for a bit? I’ve made you some lemon tea.” Chloe was Grayson’s mother. She’s assumed the role of the female alpha for the pack since Ethan’s mother’s passing. Now that Ethan had taken a wife, Chloe was teaching Sookie the ropes. In a way, Chloe was like her substitute mother. Sookie couldn’t be more grateful.
Soul of the Wolves Page 10
