Chapter 27

The girl is hooked up to all kinds of machines pumping hydration and fuel into her body – since she had been days from death. She's already tried ripping out the instruments multiple times, so now she's shackled down. While I hate seeing a child of my Kind – restrained… there is nothing I can do but wait until she's conscious again, so I can try to calm her down about the situation. So far, I couldn't get a word in.

Deep down, I was extremely proud of this girl for being so resilient and feisty. She wouldn't give up her values. She reminded me of me.

But, it also staggered my role as Lunette Ryder – briefly in my heart.

I was closing off, and retreating back into the shell of what I remember.

A starving, lonely survivor, always prepared for murder. My eventual murder.

And so I go from staying by her side, to standing and surveying the Wolf Dominion encampment above Ryer Valley, within their safe territory. It was more a base than an encampment actually, a warehouse built into the crater, full of war supplies and beds where Zrot Company were being monitored. I was surprised so many Helpers remained here to run the place.

I walk out to the canteen area where food is being administered.

I do not approach alone because the looks I receive are extremely rude, edging on violence.

So, I wait on a communal bench, hands clasped, as I watch Skye's family slowly come back to their bodies in a transparent room over.

First, they're paralysed for a few minutes with their eyes open, then they're able to get up from their beds and roam.

Mila is up first, while Vastian is looking on, helping her stand. Raygar and Skye come back together.

Soon they're all talking with one another – except for Skye, who's looking off into the distance, forlorn.

No one looks too happy about the first day of warring.

Perhaps they lost ground.

Feeling repulsed by their war games for a moment, I stand to go back and check on the girl, and to my surprise, through the window, she is entirely conscious. However, she is quickly pretending to sleep when she realises I'm checking in.

So, she was pretending to be down, waiting for a moment to escape.

I knew that kind of plan.

I open the door as I enter back into her space, "I know you're awake – girl, stop trying to get yourself killed! You need to listen to me before you do anything else crazy," I hiss this as I shut the door and keep any others out.

"My name is Fyre," the girl opens her eyes and she speaks to me through gritted teeth, "I am not girl."

"Well, listen to me. I am your only friend here, so you must listen," I do not know why I am so panicked as I walk up to her side, my hands anxiously trembling in the air, "Please –"

"Better dead than a slave," Fyre speaks like she's a fully grown adult, refusing to meet my eyes as she simply stares anywhere but at me.

But then Fyre's eyes spot another at the door, on the other side.

I turn – and I see that it's Skye, tentatively looking in, his scarred lip is crucial in his identification as the dictator and Alpha of Wolf Dominion. He is infamous – and Fyre must recognise his face and handsome mane of black wild hair, because she starts screaming.

Non.

Stop.

I turn around and she thrashes at her restraints, while Skye isn't moved by the screaming, but his eyes do slowly rest on me, and he looks fed up, if anything.

Disappointment?

I turn to Fyre, to try and calm her down, but as I take a step toward her – she spits at me.

I barely dodge it, and then I turn around and move from the room, while Helpers rush in, to sedate her.

Now, I simply go out to confront Skye's bitter look.

I open the door, flustered and angry – while Skye simply looks me over and states.

Cold.

Ice.

Cold.

"You're a failure," Skye murmurs down at me, "Is that the best you could do, worm?"

He's dead serious.

I immediately shove him in the chest, or at least I try to – but a Helper already has my reaction covered.

I'm stunned down – tazed to the ground and I drop heavy.

Skye roars in response, "Back off, how dare you, with your foolish impulses, idiot!" it's directed at the Helper for interfering when they weren't called upon, but it's the last thing I hear and witness as I pass out on the floor, too exhausted to recover quick enough.

****

That night.

The worst humiliation I've ever experienced, descends into my life, right now.

I'm in a box with holes, being sent back to Wolf Dominion, like a caged fucking animal.

I can't stand up, I'm curled up inside, with a digital phone my only way of communicating out, with one button to ring Skye.

As a vehicle moves under me as my transport, bumping me along the way, I call Skye straight away. He answers almost immediately – laughing his head off.

"WHAT'S SO FUNNY?" I scream out, I can't help it. My only light source were beams of light from the Genesis Moon through small fucking air vents.

"I was joking before, you silly girl!" Skye rumbles back through the system, while I hear Raygar cackling along with Mila in the background, "I sent you back, you've had enough fun this time."

"Joking? About what?! You called me a failure!" I snarl back.

Raygar and Mila laugh even louder.

"It's called sarcasm, Ryder – I was proud of you for finding even one," Skye snarls back now, effectively shutting me up, while I gulp and go quiet, and he pauses to breathe, and then he explains further, "Oversensitive worm… I will teach you a few lessons upon my own return. Until then, settle in the new worm. I sent her back with you. Lemeri will help. Do you understand?"

Fyre?

I say nothing and Skye ends the call.

"I'm in the crate next to you," Fyre speaks up, actually calm, and very close by, "Sorry for before, I didn't realise you were their enemy – I thought you were on their side. I don't like any Human Kind that bow to Genesis."

"You speak far too old for your age," I murmur back, "I don't know how but I will protect you as best as I can, I'm sorry. For everything that's happened so far."

"I don't need protecting," Fyre fires back, and I find an air hole where I can gaze out and see her in the crate next to mine, "I'm deadly on my own."

"So am I," I whisper it back, in unity, "We're lone wolves – Fyre."

"I've never needed help," Fyre agrees, "But I hate wolves –"

It is at that moment I hear a guilty whine, a baby sound… or a pup.

I turn to the other crate, "XRAT?" I call out in joy. He barks once – so loudly it almost bursts my ear drums, "Oh, you naughty beast, they sent you back too?"

His answer is now a low annoyed and gruff growl.

"Ugly beast, shut up," Fyre growls at him.

"Take my advice, Fyre," I try to hold in a laugh, "Keep that kind of language for my ears only – and those you can trust. The Genesis don't take kindly to… disrespect… they get butt hurt."

"Thanks so much," Fyre replies, but even though she's sarcastic as all hell, I feel safe now that she is talking to me, "…so… what's going to happen to me?"

"You'll have a home for the first time," I explain, "You just have to be loyal to Wolf Dominion."

"I'd rather die," Fyre chuckles afterwards, but she speaks seriously and it's expected.

"It's a work in progress, but if you can trust me – we can start a revolution," I speak quietly, "We can save our whole kind."

"I'm not interested in saving Humans," Fyre answers quick, yet again, "We're already dead. Are you stupid or something?"

She was also infuriating. Just a tad.

"…then what do you want…?" I gulp, already knowing her answer is going to match mine.

It's deep down in my chest.

Fyre doesn't say it, but I meet her gaze through the holes of the crate and we share the same look.

Revenge.

Murder.

Of them.

An eye for an eye.

I understood that motivation, and part of me still wanted to pursue that retribution.

First, however, to see if that was the right path, I needed to get more of my Kind into the same space.

Even if it was under Wolf Dominion's roof.

Then… and only then, we might be able to try something.