Thanks for being patient.❤

***
I was startled awake by something being poked into my side. My body went into immediate defense mode as I became aware of the obfuscated outline of my assailant hovering the bed.

Before I could advance, however, the haziness that had webbed my vision dissipated to reveal the obnoxious Mutt.

I groaned.

He analytically inclined his head to one side; flaunting a smug look on his face and clutching a stick in his hand.

"Are you fricking serious right now?" I swatted the stick away and stood to face him.

He rolled his sea-green eyes at me.

"You do realize that you're being a drama queen, right?"

Oh? A drama queen?

How would you feel if a bunch of blood-wielding hillbillies kidnapped you and your friends, had this goliath-looking guy shove you without mercy to their dingy little dwelling and then forced you all to stay against your will?

Exactly.

So pardon me if my panty was all twisted and bunched up!

Plus he had poked me with a stick.

A stick.

"How the hell am being a drama queen? You were poking me with a stick! A stick! Isn't it ironic that the animal is doing that?"

He shrugged, seemingly unconcerned, which frustrated me even more.

"Mother wishes for you to join us for breakfast."

I almost laughed.

"That's her way of trying to make amends? Really?"

I stepped forward and pointed a finger in his face.

"Listen, Mutt. I don't want anything to do with you cannibals. Haven't I made that clear enough? Or do I need to bark so you'll understand?"

He glowered down at me.

"No ones's trying to win your affections. The world does not revolve around you, doll. And if I had any say in this, you wouldn't even be alive right now. So if you don't want to join us, then you can just do the world a favor: Stay here and starve."

His aura was expelling a resplendent shade of red. He was a living, breathing, ticking time-bomb.

I was making him mad. I liked that. I liked that very much.

"Fine," I shrugged and plopped myself down onto the bed, "I'll stay here and starve."

To be entirely candid, I didn't want to actually starve or stay there, but my ego and obstinacy were putting on their boxing gloves and there was nothing I could do about it.

I didn't think that the flaming red color on his face or in his aura could intensify any further, but they did. I was amused at my ability to infuriate him.

I started to hum.

The itsy bitsy spider...

"Are you for real?" He cried incredulously and wrenched me upwards by my arm.

"Do not test me."

"Who the hell do you think you are?" I jeered, "Rambo?"

Without warning, I kneed him in the crotch, then the stomach for good measure. He doubled over in pain but somehow had enough strength to grab my leg before I could escape through the exit. I fell face-first and banged my chin hard against the ground.

He hauled me up angrily.

"You just don't give up do you?" He growled and squeezed my arm.

"That's a mighty grip you have there. Is your dick still intact? Surely cavemen like yourself only get pleasure by—"

"Shut. Up."

I did as I was told so that my insults could sink in his head, but mostly because my chin was killing me.

He closed his eyes and exhaled loudly in exasperation.

"Are you coming or not?"

"With the way you just behaved? I don't think so. You know, you should really work on your doggy manners or you won't get into heaven. Did you know that all dogs-"

"F*ck it!" He interjected angrily and released me.

"You know what? Starve in here! See if I give a shit! I don't even know why I agreed to f*cking babysit your stubborn ass in the first place!"

He acquiesced to 'baby-sit' me?

I didn't know what to say about that.

He angrily walked to exit.

"Just know that your friends will perish because of you."

I jumped from the bed in alarm.

"What? You can't do that!"

"Oh I can't?" He sneered, "Alright."

"Wait!" I cried out as he headed through the exit. He stopped and turned around slowly to face me.

"Wh... Where are they? Are they okay?"

"They'll be in the kitchen any minute now, but..." He smiled menacingly.

"That's all up to you now isn't it? As of being okay, mmm, I don't know. A little bruising never hurt anybody."

"F*ck you."

He gave me a pointed look.

"That's incest. Even if it wasn't, you're not exactly my cup of tea."

He began walking out again.

Shit.

Deflate ego...

Think about the others.

Deflate ego...

"Fine!" I shouted in defeat, "I'll come with you!"

I didn't have much of a choice. Who knew what delicacies those savages would make of myself and the others. Once again, mutt had me cornered.

"What was that?" He turned around and cupped his ear.

I rolled my eyes.

"I said fine you douchebag. Now are you going to take me there or not?"

A ghost of a victorious smile dwindled over his lips.

"Follow me."

I obliged and stepped out of the cabin.

Despite my horrible mood, the morning was undoubtedly beautiful.

Thanks nature, I thought sardonically, couldn't you have atleast been on my side today?

The golden sun was leisurely rising above the skyline, with its ray melting away evidences of snow on the barren trees surrounding the area.

I honestly didn't know what day or month we were in, but I could only infer that it was early December—my birth month to be exact. That meant that we'd been on the run for more than a month.

The thought made me shudder. We'd been through more in months than others have in years.

"Keep up," Mutt urged crudely, impeding my thoughts.

I observed that the villagers were already up and about. Some were practicing their abilities, others were bustling about with fishing rods and hunting gears and others were just staring at me.

When they caught me staring back, they quickly averted their beady little eyes.

I grunted. Savages.

Mutt led me towards Anna's cabin.

I hesitated at the entrance and decided to duly prepare myself.

After doing some mental stretches and high jumps, as well as a recapitulation of my list of insults, I was pretty sure I was ready to take on anything or anyone.

Mutt guided me through a series of beaded curtains before we entered what looked like a dining area.

I was beyond relieved to see the others sitting around a flimsy-looking table, looking greatly uncomfortable and fatigued.

At least they were alive.

I felt a surge of anger when my eyes landed on Anna. She sat at the head of the table and was speaking animatedly with a young boy.

"Mom," Mutt cleared his throat.

Everyone turned to face us.

The guys all bore similar looks on their faces when they saw me— similar, sympathetic looks.

It annoyed me. I didn't need anyone's pity. All I needed was to get the hell out of there.

"Good morning Aeja," Anna beamed and waved the small boy away.

"Slept well?"

I grunted. "Aside from the bugs, the stinky bed and Mutt here—"

I gestured towards Mutt.

"—spreading rabies? I slept like a beaut."

She frowned and admonished me to take the seat beside her. I took the one across from her, next to Lani. She looked much better than she had yesterday.

She reached over and squeezed my hand in reassurance. I smiled at her, grateful to know she was there for me.

Anna made a whistling sound and instantaneously some boys waltzed in with steaming plates of food and glasses of water.

"Are you still fond of fish?" Anna asked sweetly.

"Are you still a whore?" I asked in the same tone.

Lani almost choked on her water.

"Trout and sweet herbs," she ignored my blow and told us, "Prepared by one of our very best herbalists, Greta."

"Herbalist?" Lani spoke up, "She's a wielder of plants?"

"Yes," Anna beamed, "The most powerful I've ever seen. Is that your area of wielding?"

"Yes..." Lani smiled, "As well as healing, although I haven't had much practice in a while."

"Really? How coincidental. Greta is a very advanced healer. I'm sure she wouldn't mind having a student. You could learn a whole deal from her."

To my annoyance, Lani's face lit up.

"Really? Thank you that'd be awe-"

"That won't be necessary," I interjected their little bonding session, making sure to display my discontentment, "We'll be leaving soon."

"Aeja," Lani frowned and shot me a withering look.

I held her glare. "We will be leaving soon."

She opened her mouth to say something but thought better of it and shook her head.

"You guys could learn a lot here," Anna prompted and gave me a sideway glance.

"We don't need your help."

"Aeja bear..." She began.

"Don't. Call. Me. That."

"I'm sorry I -"

I stood up from my chair.

"Come on guys we're leaving."

"Right now?" Cade queried.

"No Cade, next year," I snapped, "Of course I meant right now."

"It's not safe out there Aeja," Anna stood up from her chair as well, "Some unknown men have been spotted in the area."

"We'll take our chances."

"At least let Noah escort you..."

Mutt, who had been standing in a corner of the room twisted his face in disgust and rolled his eyes.

"We're fine." I growled and headed towards the beaded curtain.

"I'm so sorry," I heard Lani apologize to Anna before they got up to follow me.

"Kitten are you sure this is the right decision?" Cade asked me when we made our way out of the cabin.

When I didn't reply, he grabbed my arm and spun me around to face him.

"She's your mother," his face softened.

"A dog can give birth, but that doesn't make it a mother." I flashed him off.

"At least try to-"

Aiden interrupted. "If she doesn't want to stay then we can't force her to."

Cade grinded his teeth together and balled his fist.

"I wasn't speaking to you," he turned to Aiden and growled menacingly.

Aiden glared at him, clenched jaws and all.

I had absolutely no time for them being on their men periods so I walked away, towards the forest.

"Aeja, wait up!" I heard Lani call out. I just kept walking.

I was bubbling with fury.

Who did Anna think she was? Did she really expect me to just jump into her arms after she left me like that?

Hell no.

She could shove her apologies up her vagina.

I pushed through the cluster of leaves and headed in the direction we'd come from.

The clearing with the stream was right up ahead.

A low hiss caught my attention.

"Who's there?" I shouted and almost face-palmed myself.

Aeja , a voice rode on the wind.

I whirled around, but I was alone in the clearing.

Aeja, the voice beckoned again, clearer this time. So clear that I immediately recognized it.

Shit.

A boot crunched on the ground behind me.

I closed my eyes and exhaled slowly.

"Nadiesha."

A hand gripped the back of my throat. I couldn't tell if it was a physical hand or Nadiesha's mojo.

"God, and I thought I was doing such a good job at being obscure."

"Not at all," I muttered, "I have a bitch radar."

I was rewarded with a hard kick in the back, which sent me flying to the ground.

I groaned and spat leaves from my mouth.

A heavy combat weighed on my spine.

"Where is the Electi?"

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