The Wolfs Maine (20 page)

"Fine.  Let’s load up and go."  

We all piled up in Daniels Escalade and began making our way to where ever the hell Nicholas was holding John and Andrew.  So many emotions were flooding through me right now.  I was scared, worried, anxious, but mostly I was just pissed off.  I always knew Nicholas was an asshole, but this!  How did I not know I was
with a vampire?  I mean seriously!  Now my ass of a vampire was holding my soul mate hostage until I got there, but I know damn well he is not going to just let John and Andrew go.  He is just going to kill them anyway.  I am glad everyone is going.  I would not stand a chance. 

As we drive, it is completely dark.  The sky is clear thank goodness, but it is so still out there.  No sign of life or time really, just darkness.  I cannot help but let my mind journey back to mine and John's first night together.  That was the happiest night of my life.  I finally felt like I belonged somewhere.  I didn't understand it at first, but I do now.  I belong with John.  I can only pray we get out of this alive, and then John and I can go back to Portland and Cape Elizabeth and live happily ever after like we are meant to. 

Yes, we will make it through this.  That is what I need to keep telling myself.  There is no place for fear right now.  If I am going to save him, I have got to be ruthless.  I can be scared later.  Suddenly, I see a car on the side of the road. 

"Wait!  That is John’s car! Pull over!"  We pull over and sure enough it is Johns.  They must have had the same idea as we do.  It looks like they parked their car and ran the rest of the way.  As I look in the window, which is extremely hard given how dark it is, I can barely make out their clothes lying on the back seats. 

"This is his car all right.  They must have run the rest of the way."  Michael walks up and opens the door with a spare key. 

"She is right.  There are their clothes, and John's cell phone is right here with the same directions on it as what I have."  Victor steps out and walks over to Michael. 

"Okay.  We know we are close now.  Let’s park somewhere farther up and then start running.  We need to take care of all of this tonight."  Everyone seems in agreement, so we pile back in the Escalade and drive up another couple miles. 

Once parked, we all get out of the car.  Michael and Lena waste no time shifting into wolves.  I am getting the feeling that this is the preferred animal for most shape shifters; although, I am sure other animals come in handy as well.  Wolves can see perfectly at night and can run extremely fast so it makes sense. 

"Alright Ava, let’s see you change!"  Jaci was too damn excited for this.  I am still a little nervous about shifting on my own.  Victor could tell obviously. 

"Just think about the wolf, Ava.  It will take over.  Watch me."  Just like that Victor shifted into his black wolf that wou
ld scare just about anybody. I sat and thought about the beautiful white wolf I shift into, and before I knew it, my body was not my own anymore. It is crazy how your human instincts tend to drift away and your animal ones kick in.  You are still you but better.  I could hear Jaci laughing in the background.  I ran up to her and nudged her with my nose. 

"Okay,
Ava. Okay.  I am coming.  Keep your panties on, oh wait, you don't have any."  She breaks into laughter once again as I nudge her with a slight growl this time. 

"All right, Ava. Damn. I am coming. Race ya."

Just like that Jaci takes off with Daniel right on her heel.  I have never seen anyone move that fast in my life.  Well, maybe Nicholas, but it was strange seeing Jaci move that fast and gracefully as well.  I take off after her as fast as my legs would take me.  I caught up with everyone, and I would never forget this sight as long as I live.  There were two gray wolves, two vampires, a black wolf, and myself, running together through the wilderness.  It was a sight to see.

I am sure we made it to the house in record time.  I was expecting a much nicer house.  I don't know if this could even be called a house.  It looked more like a rundown shack.  Why would Nicholas come here?  Maybe because it is hidden?  I don't know, but frankly right now, I do not care.  I want John out.  I feel a nudge against my back, and when I turn, I see Michael.  I know he wants me to start walking up to the house.  I am feeling extremely nervous about facing Nicholas again, but I know I must do it in order to save John and Andrew.  I give a slight nod then Jaci comes up and hugs me.  I can sense the fear in her.  If only I could explain that things would be fine, but I am not even sure of that myself at this point.  I start to make my way out of the woods and up to the house feeling every muscle in body tense more and more as I got closer to the house. 

Within a few feet of the house, I see Nicholas.  He is waiting at the door for me.  This is going to suck. 

"Why Ava, dear.  How nice o
f you to come visit."  I growled at the comment.

"Now now, Ava, calm down.  Won't you come in?" I walk in the door and see one other guy standing by the window.  I could tell he was trying to keep his eyes on me as well as watch outside.  He was one ugly guy, short, and skinny, with stringy hair.  If he was not holding a gun, I could take him down by myself. 

"Avalon, this is Mat.  Mat, Avalon."  I nod. 

"Mat here has some clothes of yours from the house.  Why don't you put them on after you change into human form.  I am not going to sit here with a wolf."  I

walk over to the rest room and change back into myself.  I put the clothes on and walk back out into the living room.  I just hope the guys found their way around the house to get to John and Andrew.  I would give anything just to let them know that we are here, but I know that is out of the question.  Hopefully, they will find out soon. 

"Ah, there is my wife."

"I am not your WIFE, Nicholas.  I never really was." 

"You are mine, Avalon.  To do with what I wish."  I take a step towards Nicholas.  Rage coursing through my veins.  I hate this man. 

"And what is it that you wish, Nicholas?" 

"I do not know what I would like more.  Killing you while your heartthrob watches or killing him while you watch.  Either way, I will kill you both.  You should have never betrayed me." 

"I will agree that I should not have met JOHN while we were together; however, would you have let me leave had I asked?  Never mind, I know the answer to that already.  No, you would not.  I wanted away from you." 

"That was not your call, Ava." 

"DO NOT CALL ME AVA!"  Nicholas began to stalk towards me.  My blood was boiling now, and I could hear nothing but the pounding in my ear from my heart that was about to leap from my chest.  I was ready to end this now. 

As Nicholas got right up on me, I was not backing down.  I was looking him right in his ugly red eyes.  He could feel the heat coming off of me, I was sure of it. 

"You dare to yell at me?  I will call you whatever I wish.  Do you understand?"  That is it.  I have had it. 

"Fuck you!"  I slapped him as hard as I possibly could
,  I was ready to attack.  Actually, I was ready to rip his damn head off.  I lunge at him, as he takes a step back just then I hear a crash.  I look over and there is Andrew, Lena, John and Michael.  YES!  My John is okay.  He is okay and is here! John jumped in front of me as soon as he saw where I was, and then it was him and Nicholas staring each other down. 

"How in the hell did you two get out?"  John answered with a snarl, and before we could blink Nicholas was around John and had his arms around me.  Shit! 

"Well Ava, I guess my decision has been made.  I will kill you and then John and after that every single one of your friends."  John leaped forward.  At the same time, Jaci and Daniel came right through the wall of the house.

Chapter Seventeen

Everyone froze at the sight of Daniel and Jaci, even Nicholas. 

"What do we have here?  So I see your little friend survived the turn.  How about that?"  Jaci was fuming.  Her red eyes almost looked as if they were on fire. 

"I am only going to tell you this once, Nicholas.  Let. Ava. Go."  Nicholas let out a small laugh then tightened his hold on me. 

"Now dear
, why does this girl get to call you Ava and I do not?  That does not seem quite fair does it?" 

"It is because I have always loved her.  I might have thought I loved you once, but obviously I did not."  That pissed him off, and he tightened his grip on my throat. 

“Oh do not sit here and deny it. You adored me.”

"Then why did I defy you, as you put it?"  That did it.  I had pushed him over the edge. 

I managed a look up at Nicholas and could only see his bright red eyes burning brighter while his fangs were out, ready for the kill, but before he could bite me Jaci pounced right at the same time as John.  I was thrown back against the wall while Jaci and John took care of Nicholas.  I could see the others across the room fighting.

Andrew, Lena, and Victor were all over the one vampire Mat, while Daniel was being pinned by the other.  I had to help him.  I jumped up off the floor and phased as quickly as I could.  It is getting easier and easier every time I do it.  The sounds of the room were horrifying.  All I can really hear is yelling and things b
eing smashed. 

I honestly don’t
know how much of this the house can hold.  I run to go help Daniel as quickly as I could.  I had no idea how to fight.  I have never fought ever in my life, but John was right.  My instincts were taking over, and somehow, I just knew what to do. 

I managed to get the vamp off of Daniel then between the both of us we ripped him in half making sure to decapitate him as well.  When I look over, I see John being pinned to the wall by Nicholas with Jaci on the floor trying to recover from whatever blow she just took.  I have to get to John! 

I jumped across the room within seconds and knocked Nicholas to the ground.  Suddenly, I felt every eye in the room on me, but I could not hear a thing.  All I could hear is my heart pounding in my ear.  I was furious.  This man or I should say this vampire that I now hold down is responsible for everything bad that has happened in my life.  This vampire is the reason I grew up with no parents, he is the reason my aunt took me in and gave up her life. He is now the reason I have no actual family left.  He is the reason that my best friend is now a vampire.  He is also the reason I have felt like such a failure.  Up until now seems like such a waste.  I could have been happy, but he seduced me and for what?  Revenge?  For fun?  What was the purpose?  At this point, I did not even need answers from him.  I no longer cared.  I just wanted my life back.  I wanted to be able to be with John and be happy.  I wanted to know that my friends, my remaining family was safe.  I wanted to finally live. 

The more I thought the harder I pressed him to the floor. I was now standing on top of him with one of my paws at his throat.  I had no idea how I was holding on to him since surely he could have broken free at any moment or so I thought.  As the red slowly started to drain from his eyes I could finally hear Nicholas. 

"Avalon. How? You. Cannot. Kill. Me."  He was choking out every word, but I did not care.  I was done playing his games.  I snarled at him, as my weight on him grew heavier, I could feel Jaci on one side of me while John was on the other. 

"Ava.  Let us take care of him."   She placed her hand on my back. 

"Avalon, this man turned me into a vampire.  I want him.  I deserve to kill the man that basically killed me." 

That I could not deny.  I dropped in defeat.  She was right.  I would not be able to live with myself if I killed him, plus Jaci did have the right to kill him herself given how he has taken her life away.  There is probably no way she could go back to being a doctor now.  If my aunt and parents were here, I would have let them do it, so I gave in.  As soon as I let go, I could hear Nicholas as Jaci and John take him outside. 

"I knew you couldn't do it, Avalon.  I knew it!  You can be as strong as you want on the outside, but on the inside, you will always be the same weak little girl that I made miserable!" 

Those were the last words I heard from Nicholas.  Daniel and Victor went after them to help while I just stood there in the crappy living room, looking out the window.  A small part of me was sad.  A very small part.  Nicholas was the first man in my life.  My parents had died wh
en I was so young that I didn’t really have a male figure in my life.  Nicholas stepped up and took that position, and for a short while, he was good to me up until I moved in with him that is.

As I look out the window, I can feel Lena and Andrew next to me.  I can see John, Jaci, Daniel, and Victor walking back up towards the house, and finally I am beginning to feel free.  I was about to turn to walk out towards John, when I hear cracking sounds.  It sounded like wood cracking and splitting.  As I look around, I see one wall crumble down while the ceiling threatens to go with it. 

Shit!  We have to get out of the house!  Lena and Andrew jump through the window.  As I begin to follow a huge piece of wood from the ceiling falls and lands on my leg.  I am pinned down.  I try to push the plank of wood off of me, but it is no use.  It is too heavy.  How ironic.  I nailed Nicholas to the floor, and now so am I.  I howl as loudly as I can manage.  The house was falling apart around me, and all I could think of was John.