Fighter (Outsider Series)

by Micalea Smeltzer

  But in order to do that, I had to go to someone who knew how to lead.

  My dad.

  I slipped out of the bed, the sky still dark, and got dressed as quickly as I could.

  I wrote a quick note to Caeden.

  I need to do something. I’ll be back soon. If you absolutely need me, call. I’ll be safe. Don’t panic.

  Love you,

  Sophie.

  I put the note on the bed where he’d be sure to find it. I was sure, that even with the note, he’d call me in a panic.

  I glanced quickly at his peaceful, sleeping, face, before walking out of the bedroom.

  I quietly grabbed my keys and turned the security system off so that he wouldn’t hear the beep when I went the door.

  I had no doubt that the garage door opening would wake him, but I hoped to have enough of a head start that he wouldn’t be able to find me. I needed to do this, alone.

  I sped down the road and away from the house. I checked repeatedly for headlights trailing behind me but none appeared. Breathing a sigh of relief, I settled into the almost hour-long drive.

  I pulled in front of a modest blue siding house. I bounced up the three creaky steps and knocked on the door. A light flicked on and I could hear the soft footsteps of my mom walking down the hall. A moment later the door opened and she stood there in a purple robe and her hair sticking up in every direction.

  “Sophie? What are you doing here? It’s six o’ clock in the morning.”

  Whoops, I hadn’t really thought about how early I was showing up.

  “I need to talk to dad,” I answered her.

  “He’s still sleeping,” she said, softly.

  “I can wait.”

  “I’m already up,” he appeared, coming out of a door that I assumed led to their bedroom.

  “I’m really sorry for showing up this early. I didn’t think,” I apologized.

  “It’s fine,” dad said. “What do you need?” he asked, as my mom led me inside and to the couch. They stared me down, waiting expectantly.

  “I want…” Gosh, this was hard. I felt like I was admitting to being a failure. “I want you to help me with Travis. I want you to show me what I need to do. I can’t,” my throat closed up, “I can’t let anyone get hurt because I don’t know what I’m doing.”

  “Baby girl-” he started in a soft, comforting, tone but I held up a hand.

  “Don’t. Please, just don’t,” I said.

  “I don’t really know what I can tell you that would be of any help. I wasn’t Alpha for very long,” he reached for my mother’s hand. “Besides, this is something you have to learn on your own. I can’t tell you how to be a good Alpha, you have to learn.”

  “What if someone gets hurt, while I’m ‘learning,’” I snapped, holding up my fingers in air quotes.

  “Sophie, it’s part of the life we lead. When something like this happens, people can get hurt. You know that first hand,” his eyes lingered on my arm. I placed my hand over the scar, trying to hide it, trying to pretend it didn’t happen.

  “That’s exactly why this is so important. People shouldn’t be put through that. He’s killing humans. Humans!” I cried.

  He rubbed his face and looked at me blearily. “Sophie, I don’t know what you want me to tell you.”

  I pulled at the roots of my hair. “I just want you to help me. That’s it.”

  He sighed and sat back. “That’s not my responsibility. Helping you would be stepping on the Alpha’s toes.” He stared me down. “Caeden may be your husband, but he’s my leader before he’s my son-in-law. I can’t and I won’t step into his boundary. That’s not right.”

  “We’re just kids,” my voice came out all choked and high-pitched. “It isn’t fair that we have to be responsible of so much.”

  Anger flashed in my dad’s eyes. “Snap out of it, Sophie!” his voice bellowed. “Stop feeling sorry for yourself.”

  “I do not feel sorry for myself,” I was deadly calm.

  “You sure act like it. You’re a Beaumont; Soph. Being a leader runs in your veins, you just refuse to embrace it. You don’t need my help. All the answers you’re looking for lie within you.”

  The burden I’d been carrying on my shoulders only became heavier and I sagged under the weight.

  “I’m sorry I can’t help you more,” my dad said, softly, like he was afraid of frightening me.

  I shook my head. “It is what it is…” I took a deep breath. “It’s just the thought of someone dying because of my inexperience, tears me up inside.”

  “Sophie,” my dad leaned over and took my hand. “The fact that you care so much proves that you’re a great leader.”

  “I’m so afraid that something bad is going to happen,” I whispered.

  “Baby girl,” he said soothingly, “even if something bad happens, it will never be your fault.”

  I let his words seep into my skin and wished so much that I could believe them.

  A pounding on the door tore our attention away.

  “What now?” my mom sighed, exasperated. She strode across the room and opened the door.

  A very angry Caeden filled the doorway with a wiggling Archie under his arm. I could see the note I had left, scrunched in his hand.

  “What the hell were you thinking going off like that and leaving me a note!? Huh? I just about had a heart attack! Thank the Lord for the built in Sophie detector that is Archie,” he seethed.

  “We’ll give you two a moment,” my mom grabbed my dad’s arm, and they backed out of the room.

  Caeden waited for them to leave before giving me the third degree.

  His blue eyes were cool and icy as he stared me down, his jaw set in an angry line. “Did you stop to think for one second what I would think when I woke up and you were gone?”

  “Of course,” I said softly, wrapping my arms around myself. “That’s why I left a note.”

  “Damn it, Sophie,” he pinched the bridge of his nose. “That has to be the vaguest note ever written and the stupidest answer I’ve ever heard.”

  “I knew you’d try to stop me,” I snapped.

  “You’re right.”

  “What’s so wrong with me wanting to learn more? Huh? Why won’t you let me help? I’m not human, Caeden. I’m just like you. I’m just as much Alpha of this pack as you are.”

  “I love you too much to see you get hurt!” He yelled.

  I shook my head and snapped, “Really? I took out Robert and he was twice my size. I don’t recall having a scratch or bruise from that. I think what you’re really afraid of, is me being better than you. I think you’re afraid that I’ll be the one to end Travis and your ego won’t let that happen.”

  He sucked in a breath like he’d been punched. His voice came out deadly quiet. “That was a low blow,” he pointed at me, his jaw rigid, “and you know it.”

  He opened the front door and slammed it behind him.

  Archie looked at the closed door and then back up at me before letting out a little whimper.

  My mom and dad came into the room, both wearing matching stunned expressions.

  “What have I done?” I asked no one.

  * * *

  Mom placed a plate of scrambled eggs drenched in syrup in front of me. I’d finally stopped the horrible hiccupping cry I’d been doing since Caeden walked out.

  What was wrong with me?

  Why was I so determined to push the one person that I loved the most away from me?

  I grabbed a fork and shoveled the eggs into my mouth.

  I had wanted to go after Caeden but my mom told me to give him some time alone.

  Caeden and I never used to fight and now I felt like we were doing it all the time. Our fights never even had to do with anything normal. They all led back to Travis. He was the cause of everything. Now, he was not only messing with my pack, but my marriage as well.

  The tears started up again and I tried to wipe them away before my mom saw.

  “Oh Sophie,
” she said, reaching for a tissue and handing it to me. I swear, this woman never missed anything. I wiped my tears away as she soothingly rubbed my back. “It’s going to be okay, sweetie.”

  “No it’s not,” I hiccupped. “What I said… It was horrible,” my voice cracked.

  “Sophie,” she began to play with my hair. “Couples fight all the time, even mates, it’s normal.”

  “Have you ever said something like that to dad?” I asked her.

  She looked away and I knew I had my answer.

  “I’m a horrible person. Who says that to their husband? To their mate?” I asked, rhetorically.

  “Sweetie, you’re under a lot of pressure right now. Both of you are. People snap. It happens. Don’t get yourself so worked up.”

  I finished off the eggs and wiped my mouth clean. I turned to her and hoped I could make her understand what I was feeling.

  “I just feel so on edge knowing he’s out there and could attack us at any time. I hate that he’s killing humans and clearly up to something else, something bad. I hate feeling like I’m doing nothing to help. I hate that Caeden wants to keep me locked at home like some nineteen-fifties housewife. I need to be out there doing something in order to keep my sanity.”

  “Have you talked to Caeden about this?” she asked.

  “Of course. He just doesn’t want to listen,” I murmured.

  “Sweetie,” she began to braid my hair to the side, “I think Caeden hasn’t and probably never will, get over what happened to you. As your mate, he’s going to blame himself. It’s natural. His wolf instincts are bound to be taking over his human common sense. I’m sure his wolf is screaming at him to protect his mate. He already lost his dad, the last thing he’s going to want is to lose you too.”

  I let her words sink in and felt very insensitive to what Caeden must be thinking and feeling. He wasn’t trying to control me, only protect me.

  “Marriage is about give and take,” she continued. “You and Caeden are young, you’re just now learning a lot of things and then you have the added stress and pressure of the pack. You have to learn to talk things through. You are not always going to be right Sophie Noelle and neither is Caeden. Instead of walking away or getting in each other’s faces you need to speak calmly and rationally.”

  “You’re right,” I breathed, feeling like the worst wife on the planet.

  I rinsed my plate in the sink and turned to her, crossing my arms across my chest.

  “I’m going to head out and see if I can find him,” I said.

  She smiled and kissed my forehead. “Good luck sweetie.”

  twenty-one.

  I sat in my car staring straight ahead.

  If I was Caeden and I was mad, where would I go?

  The answer popped into my head, courtesy of our bond and binding, and I headed in that direction. It was honestly, the last place I would’ve ever thought to look for him.

  On the drive over, I took deep breaths in order to calm myself. I would not fight with Caeden. If necessary, I’d bite my tongue, literally.

  I reached the end of the driveway and sure enough there was his Jeep.

  I parked and tucked my keys into my pocket before starting the trek into the woods. The ground scrunched under my feet and the sun bore down on me, coating the back of my neck with a thin layer of sweat.

  Despite the fact that I’d only been there once I instinctively knew the way. I began to hear the roar before I reached the clearing. I pushed away a branch and there it was, the waterfall. The place of my first shift and one of Caeden’s favorite places in the whole world. A place of his own.

  I stood, just out of sight, and watched him.

  He was standing in the water, letting it rush around his knees, and staring at the sky.

  He began to speak, at first, I thought to me, and then I realized he was talking to his dad.

  “I don’t think I’m cut out for this,” he whispered over the roar of the water. “You left me this huge responsibility and I’m just not right for the job. Maybe ten or twenty years down the road, but not now. I’m too inexperienced. There’s so much you never taught me.” He rubbed his face and let out a groan. “But you’re gone and this is my pack. My responsibility. I’ll do everything in my power to end this. To kill Travis. That’s my duty to you and to them, even if they deserve so much more than what I can offer.”

  I moved and twig snapped. Caeden whipped around to face me.

  “What are you doing here? How did you find me?” He asked, his face scrunched in puzzlement.

  “I came to apologize,” I said while I tucked my hands in my back pockets and swayed back and forth. “Finding you was actually pretty simple. Now that we’re bound, I don’t need Murphy to be my built in Caeden detector,” I smiled. “I can find you anywhere on my own now.”

  “How much did you hear?” he asked, softly.

  “Enough,” I shrugged, and stepped into the clearing. “Caeden,” I took his hand in mine. “What makes you think you’re not a good Alpha? Have I ever said or done anything to make you think that?”

  “No, of course not,” he answered vehemently.

  “Then, what is it?” I questioned.

  He swallowed and his jaw flexed with tension. His body was so tightly coiled I was surprised he didn’t snap in half.

  “Stuff like this never happened when my dad was Alpha. I can’t help feeling like this is all my fault,” he looked down at the ground.

  “Caeden, they killed your dad. Stuff like this was happening, you just didn’t know about it. Do you really think this is the kind of stuff your dad would tell you? No one wants to talk about the bad things. They want to sweep it under the rug and pretend it’s not happening. Granted,” I chuckled humorlessly, “I haven’t known about this world for long, but from the bits and pieces I’ve picked up, it sounds to me like the Grimm’s have always been trouble. You need to stop trying to turn everything into being your fault, because it’s not, Caeden. None of this has ever been your fault. It’s just the course our life is meant to take.”

  “When did you become so wise?” he asked with a chuckle.

  “When I finally realized what a bitch I’ve been,” I ducked my head. “I can’t believe I said that to you. That was horrible,” my voice cracked.

  “Yeah well,” he stuffed his hands into his pockets and looked off into the distance, “I haven’t exactly been very accommodating. I’m sorry.”

  “I’m sorry too,” tears coated the back of my throat.

  He reached up and cupped my cheek, rubbing his thumb in soothing circles. “I need to stop underestimating you. You’re not some fragile piece of glass that will break if I drop you. In many ways, you’re stronger than me. Travis isn’t just my problem. He’s yours, too. Ours. We take him down, together, or not at all.”

  I wrapped my arms around his chest and pressed my ear against the spot where his heart thumped.

  “That’s the best plan you’ve ever come up with,” I murmured.

  He brushed his fingers through my hair. “It’s not much of one but it’s a start.”

  * * *

  The house was dark and silent when we came in from the garage.

  “Is Nolan here?”

  “I guess not,” Caeden shrugged and turned on the hall light. “I’m not the only person here that he knows. He probably wanted to find a drama-free-zone.”

  I scrunched my nose. “I guess we haven’t been the most gracious hosts.”

  “No, we haven’t,” he adjusted his baseball cap. “Follow me,” he nodded down the hall.

  He pushed open his office door and collapsed onto the couch with a sigh. I sat on the floor and leaned my head back against the cushion.

  “Your dad and Jeremy think they’ve found where Travis is hiding out. They don’t want to get too close because they don’t want Travis to catch their scent. I want us to check it out tomorrow.”

  “Just me and you?” I asked.

  “Yeah,” he looked up at the ceilin
g. “If we agree that he might be there, then I think we should attack when the sky is darkest.”

  “The next new moon?” I scooted up onto the couch and placed his head in my lap.

  He nodded.

  “That’s only two weeks from now,” I said in disbelief.

  “I know,” he answered in a surprisingly calm tone.

  “Will we be ready?” I asked.

  “We have to be.”

  * * *

  Stay close and follow me. Caeden commanded in his wolf form as we ran through the forest.

  My paws thumped into the dirt, kicking up fallen leaves and branches, flinging them behind me.

  It had been way too long since I’d been in my wolf form and I pushed my body to its limit. Being a wolf, the speed, the strength, just the overall feeling is indescribable but I think it’s a lot like freedom.

  We were deep in the forest but I knew we were near the shack Peter and Travis had taken me to when I was kidnapped. This was Grimm territory.

  Caeden’s gray fur flashed far ahead of me and I pushed my muscles to carry my body even faster. The distance closed between us and I slowed down, just a bit, in order not to go skidding past him.

  We’re almost there. He said and slowed to a walk. We have to be careful from here.

  I followed behind him and sunk to my stomach when he did.

  He crawled under some brush. It tangled in my fur and painfully ripped out a patch. I let out a yelp that was cut off by a human hand gripping my snout.

  “Shh Soph,” Caeden put a finger to his lips. “Hold still,” he whispered and quickly untangled my fur and helped me through. “Keep quiet,” he scolded once more before shifting.

  There’s a cave ahead. He nodded.

  What is it with Travis and caves? He must enjoy squeezing himself into small dark places.

  Caeden snorted.

  Quiet Caeden. I scolded jokingly.

  This-

  A high-pitched scream cut him off.

  My eyes widened and met his. They blazed like twin blue fires.

  Running towards the scream would be stupid so we crept quietly forward, shimming under a bush, so that we could see below.

  Travis dragged a girl, no more than sixteen, by her hair through the dirt. He was shirtless and his jeans hung dangerously low on his hips.