Fight for Me

Somewhere in a distant forest

The man stands near the edge of the cliff, looking out at the moon.

He looks back at the man standing not that far behind him.

“Do you have any idea what it is you’re telling me?” He says in a deep, shallow voice and an annoyed smirk on his face.

But the man seems restless, yet agitated. “You know, there’s a rumour saying that all of us are just puppets in some mastermind’s ridiculous plan of war. And quite frankly, the more time I spend with you, the more I’m starting to wonder whether the rumours are true.”

“What? That you’re a puppet?”

“You clearly know far more than what you’re letting on.”

“Oh Graden. As right as you may be, it seems that even I’m still learning about things.” He gives a death glare at the woman standing to his right.

She flinches at his scowl and quickly lowers her head in shame.

“Yeah. But you know what she is. Don’t you, Alpha Erickson?” Graden continues.

"Please. I'm no longer an alpha. Tell me, how reliable is your source though?”

“She was there. Saw it with her own eyes. She barely even made it out alive.” Graden wipes his face with his hand in frustration. “We all thought she lost it with all the nonsense she kept going on about. We only kept her alive because she was still handy in the labs.”

“And what convinced you to tell me about it, and now only?”

“Because she said that woman is apparently Alpha Nicholas’ mate.”

A sinister silence fills the air, followed by the sudden loud laughter of Erickson.

“I thought you hunters were just chasing stories. But to think that the Michaelson heir is actually real. And that she’s the mate of a wolf.” He says with a pleased grin.

“She’s ours.” Graden gives Erickson an annoyed look. “We were looking for her first.”

“Oh really?” Erickson says threateningly. “You were only looking for a child hoping she would help you with a math formula. You didn’t even know what she was. Still don’t.”

“Erickson. I’ve been helping you and your wolves for years. I only came here so you could shed some light on this matter. Or have you already forgotten? You were after the Michaelsons for years. But they never gave in to you. In fact, it’s clear they’ve been keeping a whole lot more from you than you were expecting. But now I’m here. As I was back then too. I helped you to get rid of them.”

“Clearly not all of them. It seems you were keeping things from me too.”

“She wasn’t part of the deal. You wanted her parents dead for going against you. And I did just that. Anything else wasn’t of your interest, right?”

“And so what now? You want me to tell you what she is? That she’s not human?”

Graden’s eyes widen. “So,…..it could be true then, that her mother did experiments on her? Turned her into something.”

But Erickson snorts. “No science experiment can turn someone into a supernatural. No. But both Elizabeth and Harry were human,……” He looks at Graden curiously. “Are you sure she’s their biological child?”

“What? Well,….we’re not too sure of that. There is no official record of it. But when they came to us for refuge, the child was with them. They seemed like a family. If not, then she must be a foster child. What does any of that matter?”

“Oh it matters.” Erickson takes a few steps closer to Graden, looking down at him. “You don’t understand what a rare breed she is.”

“Then tell me!” Garden grunts out.

“You think you can give me orders?” Erickson growls as he snatches Graden by his collar, striking fear in his eyes. “The only reason you’re alive is because I tolerate it. It's thanks to me that you became a captain of the hunters. Don't forget that.”

Graden gulps as he straightens up, trying to maintain composure.

“Too many of the men that we’ve sent after her have wound up mysteriously dead. And now countless of our labs have been burnt to the ground……..” Graden struggles to pull himself free from Erickson’s tight grip. “It’s clear you want her just as much as we do. Just tell me then how to do it. I’m sick of losing more of my men. There is a bloody war coming.”

“The answer is quite obvious, don’t you think?”

“What?”

“Just follow the trail of dead bodies.”

Graden gulps at his words.

“But if you ask me, you don’t need to do much to find her. I’m sure she’ll come for you eventually. The way I understand it, is that she wanted to run away from all of this. But you and your hunters pushed her into a corner. You can’t expect her not to fight back.” Erickson smiles.

“Sh-she’s just a girl.” He stutters.

“Mmhm.” He hums out amusingly. “Word to the wise,…..don’t fight her in close-combat. Once she gets her hands on you, you’re already dead.”

Erickson turns to leave with the woman accompanying him closely behind. But he slightly turns as he looks back at Graden’s confused face. “Oh. And don't forget to call me if you find her. Or when she finds you.” He turns and leaves Graden alone in the dark forest.