FULL NOVELXO Chapter Chapter Twenty-Seven: Crane
Author's Song of the Chapter: You're Somebody Else by Flora Cash
I sit in my chair as I gaze out the window and into the forest, Danny’s words at the hospital play over and over in my mind continuously like a movie loop. What if he is right and things could go differently than I think they would? I close my eyes as my heart beats loudly in my ears reminding me that I know exactly what would happen. I would be killed, slaughtered on the spot. Danny will be killed too, I’m sure of it. Even now I wait for his body to turn up or maybe it will be just his ashes.
“Are you thinking about Danny?” Caroline asks from my bed where she lays curled up in skin-tight jeans and a loose-fitting shirt.
“I keep thinking his body is going to turn up any time now,” I answer quietly her eyes flickering to mine.
“It was his choice Crane, he chose to betray us…” Caroline starts but is cut off as my door bursts open and in strides Tucker.
“What is this about betrayal?” He questions as he pulls a sucker from his lips while shooting Caroline and I concerned looks.
“Caroline is talking about the fact that I’m going to go into the woods to try to talk to the Hellhound, maybe there is a way to see this out that doesn’t end in all of us turning to ashes.” Danny’s voice explains clearly causing me to turn my eyes from Tucker to where he leans in my doorway looking at me with a clear challenge in his eyes.
The challenge makes my nerves stand on edge, I thought he was just going to leave and do it, not challenge me on the topic again. Damn, Danny is smarter than that, he is going to try and talk us into going with him. Danny knows how I feel and still, he will push my position, he will test the fact of my status in front of our other pack-mates. I level a glare at him at this dirty play and Caroline pops up from the bed.
“You talk to the Hellhound? Danny man it’ll kill you.” Tucker gasps as his mouth pops open the sucker almost dropping to the ground.
“Maybe, or maybe I’m on the right track.” Danny simply replies showing that he has a hunch and we clearly do not.
Caroline is moving as she goes toe to toe with him causing something to boil in my chest.
“Feel like letting us in on this information or are you really a traitor?” Caroline asks him pressing her body into his trying to intimidate him.
Caroline is trying to act as an alpha female and fight my battle which I don’t appreciate.
“I’m sure you can figure it out on your own Care unless you really are just the pretty girl without the brains that you portray yourself to be for Crane here.” Danny’s voice is clear and smooth causing Caroline to frown at him as he moves her a few steps back, he outranks her in dominance and she can feel it now, Danny has been holding back on us.
“You better watch yourself, Danny!” I snap getting my body in between the two of them, my body coils tight as it reads anger, but my eyes plead with Danny not to do this.
“Why Crane? What are you going to do? You are just as scared of this thing as the pack, at least I am willing to try something other than waiting and dying.” Danny snaps at me pushing my buttons which causes me to decide.
“I’m not scared Danny, I’m smart. I want to live and going to the Hellhound directly is not going to keep me alive. Hell, you don’t even know if you’ll find it, you could die in the forest before that ever happens. If you shift you will die because the pack will send assassins for you.” I snap back at Danny shoving his chest sending him back a bit putting Tucker and Caroling at my back.
“A real alpha would try everything to keep his pack alive, not just himself!” Danny throws at me really making my blood boil as Tucker and Caroline stiffen behind me.
“Don’t make me do this Danny,” I growl as my voice comes out a little gravely while I grapple with the control that I am supposed to have over myself.
“You are a coward Crane, you are no alpha, in fact, you are an omega. Dusk was the alpha and we both know it!” Danny growls back at me as he is also battling the need to shift and rip into me, though he doesn’t need to shift as his words just did the job.
I throw a punch before I really understand what I’m doing. My fist slams into Danny’s nose causing a loud crack and blood to spurt everywhere as the momentum slams Danny back and out my bedroom window. I watch in a sort of haze as Danny grabs for the window and then he is gone his eyes blazed into my mind as thunder clouds looking at me. We rush to the window just in time to see Danny pull himself up and hobble into the forest. I know in my heart I’ve wrecked things between him and I. A deep sadness settles in my heart as this is not how I wanted to leave it between me and my cousin, he was my only blood relative left and I just ran him out, and for what? My status, I guess. Confusion swirls in me but I don’t have time to figure it out as I need to show my alpha vibes for Caroline and Tucker.
“Damn dude, did you really have to throw him out the window?” Tucker demands to turn towards me.
“He is a traitor Tucker, he wants peace with something that is murdering us!” I throw out causing Tucker to flinch as Caroline smirks and I feel gross.
I watch as Tucker blows by me out of my room. Dread settles into me as I wonder if he will follow Danny. Caroline moves to touch my arm, suddenly her touch disgusts me. Caroline can’t see what truly happened, hell, she can’t even begin to understand what I am going through right now. I move away from her and go to the broken window watching. To my relief, I don’t see a second figure following Danny’s trail. Caroline runs her nails along my back and I flinch away from her.
“Caroline, I need you to go find something or someone else to do!” I snap, it sounds meaner than I meant it to, but I just can’t deal with her right now, I just ruined everything.
Caroline gives a huff as I feel her storm off behind me which gives me relief as I let out a sigh. I put my head into my hands and for the first time in a long time, I allow myself to feel more confused than ever bringing myself to tears. For the first time in a long time, I question what Dusk would do if she were here, how would she handle this mess?