The Unnatural

Ethan Stiles

I hold the gun in my hand as I take deep breaths. The wolf I had taken aim at falling on the ground, lifelessly.

I don't know who is who. All I know is that the black one with a little little spot in between its ears is Max and I'm shooting at the one Max is signaling me to.

The moment I had stepped on this ground, I was frozen. Everywhere, as far as my eyes landed, wolves were fighting. The blood shed everywhere, wolves jumping and attacking each other.

I knew what was going to happen and I thought I was prepared for it. I thought I would be able to look at the sight of beastly animals tearing each other apart.

I wasn't.

I drove here in Ares' car, parking it a little distance before walking here with quiet and cautious steps. The moment I saw the first wolf, I sucked in a sharp breath and hid behind a tree. I could barely see clearly from the distance I was standing but I knew I had to find Max soon.

My eyes scanned the place carefully before they landed on the black wolf with the white spot on his forehead. My eyes widened when he got attacked by a wolf in his leg. The black wolf whimpered, before freeing himself from the other wild and backing away a little, limping.

My doubts faded when the wolf looked in my direction and howled.

I looked through the scope and aimed at the wolf Max was fighting with before pulling the trigger.

Last night when Ares left the house without another word, I didn't cry. I wanted to. I felt the pain growing in my chest, I felt my heart twisting and churning but I didn't cry.

I wanted him to come back and hold me in his arms. I wanted him to know that I knew what marking was and how important it was for werewolves. I wanted him to see that I really wanted to be marked by him. I wanted to be in his arms and inhale his pheromones.
But instead, I was all by myself of being.

Last night, I was the most insane I could ever be while being in my senses.

I wanted to break in tears, scream out at my lungs but there was nothing left. I was numb to my pain. Not a single tear left my eye and I would think that maybe I have gotten stronger and braver but only I know how much weaker I have become. How incredibly broken I am.

The little well that contained the drops of my will and hope got cracks on the wall. Who knew those little, unnoticeable cracks would hold the power to turn a whole wall into a pile of dust. Who knew it would be enough for a wall I had taken years to build to crumble like a castle of sand.

I was surprised to see Max at the door but it wasn't unexpected. Ares had sent him to witness how well I was taking his rejection.

It was nothing. The rejection was nothing.

And it could not stop me from what I had to do.

"Ares told me his brother was shot but wasn't that bullet made of metal too?" I hand Max the cup of lemon tea as I take the seat across from him. He raises an eyebrow before he looks down at the cup.

"What tea are you trying to get out of me?" He asks, getting intrigued before taking a sip from his cup.

"I want to know what exactly can hurt your kind." I admit confidently. Max's eyes go slightly wide as he stares at me, confused and baffled. "I don't know what Ares did but I think you should try talking to him instead of killing him." I roll my eyes at his suggestion.

I did it many times and I'm tired of it.

"It's not for him. I need to do what I can for the war tomorrow and for that, you will help me." My voice doesn't waver for a second. Max spits out his tea, coughing before wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.