The Wolf In Me novel Chapter 33

Jake's POV

I was ordered by my alpha to find a few omega wolves to assist in gathering up our dead. I could barely look at the bloody scene that looked like it was something from the theatres and not something real. I assisted in collecting the bodies which we placed in large body bags and were taken to the mortuary. Some were people I recognised and some werewolves from my pack which I knew well.

"The war is over now beta," Marcus said from behind me.

I kept ogling, playing back the fight, watching all these wolves being massacred in my head.

"We are lucky we survived," I answered holding my hand above my forehead.

"We survived because you helped us get healthy again and trained us hard every day," he approached me and placed his arm around my shoulders, trying to make me feel better, not that he succeeded.

At that moment I see a movement coming from one of the bodies lying on the floor. Was it possible that someone survived? I rushed to where I spotted the movement and there she was, all bloody and pale.

"Bring help! Hurry!" I yelled to Marcus, lifting half her body, cradling her in my arms. "Stay strong ok? You will make it through. I'm sure of it!" I mumbled as I warmed up her body against mine.

That night was a sleepless one as I kept thinking of what we could have done better. It felt like I was somehow accountable for their death. All I visualized was the families that have forfeited their loved ones. I know how it feels not to live with family. I have survived the previous war with the vampires a long time ago, but my parents and my older brother did not make it, so I ended up living in the wilderness, homeless and deserted half of my life.

Thanks to Mei, she gave me a purpose to survive and not just exist, but live. Steph was just ten when we found her abandoned by her family and so we brought her in to live with us. We all had something in common, no bloodline to turn to, so we were each other's company and family. Being the oldest from the three I felt responsible for hunting and bringing back food whilst Mei cooked. At the age of twelve, Stephanie was showing interest in cooking and later on, she took over.

I switched on the lamp beside me and sat up on the bed inhaling deeply. I took my time to bring myself to get out and walk the hallway to let out my stress and get some sleep. Yawning, I strolled down the stairs and noticed that there was light coming from the entertainment room. Lylah was sitting by herself sipping some whiskey as she flipped through the pages of a book. She sensed me coming in and turned her head for a moment to check who was behind her.

"Ah, beta Jake. Finally, we get to have some time to chat a little. Please, have a seat," she said gulping down another mouthful of the drink.

I placed myself on the couch opposite her and was offered a glass for company.

"I couldn't get myself to sleep. I'm having nightmares." I explained.

"Damn vamps. They ruined my family and other people's families too. Thank the goddess, we got rid of them."

I took my first taste of the whiskey that soothed my throat.

"You know what? I couldn't make myself sleep either. I was hoping someone would come down just for some company. I kept thinking in my head, my last few years and how lucky I was to end up here. You see, I have no place to go. No family, no friends, no lover. Just a boring job in the human world."

Lylah stood up to place the book back in its shelf. "But I believe that everything happens for a reason. For instance, the reason why something made you come here."

She smiled and rested herself back on the comfy velvet red couch.

"Oh? What do you mean?" I said raising my eyebrows at her, taking another sip of whiskey.

"I had a vision of you before I came here. I didn't know who you were of course back then, or that you were going to be here, but it is important to let you know..." She paused for a moment and eyed me intently. "Your life is more special then you think. Becoming the beta of the moonshine pack was just half of it. The other half is yet to come. In my vision, I saw a young lady holding a silver cup. She drank blood from it and then passed it to you. You also drank from it but the blood turned into water. The blood symbolises pain, and water symbolises purity. What you are enduring right now is pain coming from your past, and the battle, but that pure water is something from your future."

She paused and raised the glass of whiskey to her lips, enjoying the warm sensation running down her tongue.

"I hope that you are right." I chuckled, feeling a sense of relief.

"My visions make no mistake, my friend. I have a good feeling that whatever it is that will come next for you is not far from your present." She smiled and continued, "To our better future," half tipsy from her third helping of whiskey, she raised her glass.