A Werewolf Fantasy
Chapter 56

Morning came with the harsh reality of their situation. The tension had returned to Nikjin's rigid shoulders even though he didn't say a word to her.

He left her on the bed and went to the outhouse to relieve himself and take a shower in the open. It was just two of them in the place, so he didn't have to worry about being seen by someone else. When he was done, Erin took her turn in the primitive bathroom. She felt naked even after wearing her sarong and the cool morning breeze made her shiver.

"I have a woolen cloak you can cover yourself with," he offered. "It's tucked in between the wooden bars under the roof."

"Thanks," she murmured.

He ignored her expression of gratitude. Instead, he busied himself with strapping on his weapons. Erin tried not to notice what he was doing but she couldn't look away.

These were the weapons that he would use to end the lives of her future family. What was taking Devon so long? Couldn't they figure out a way to come here?

"Are you coming with me this time or not?" he asked her gruffly.

"I am," she said quickly. She had to go with him. Perhaps, she could replace a way to help the others somehow.

"Good. It would be a shame for you to miss out on all of the fun."

"You call killing innocent people fun?"

"Innocence is subjective."

"It's not. Neither Vak nor his sons have done anything to you to deserve the untimely death that you are about to unleash on them," she said sharply.

"They deserve to die because they are in the way of my destiny," he replied stubbornly.

"If it were your destiny to be Prime Alpha instead of Vak or Devon, then you will be. But that will not happen if you keep killing off the people that might give you a chance to be what you want to be." "You sound stupid," he blasted her. "I wouldn't expect more from a teenager anyway."

His dismissive tone stung. "I am not a teenager. And for your information, what you are about to do won't change anything. The past is the past. You can't change it!"

He grinned slowly. "When I said you are stupid, I didn't mean it as an insult. It was a fact and it is still a fact."

She felt like slapping that annoying grin off his face but she clenched her fists instead and glared at him. If looks could kill, Nikjin would be dead by now.

"You clearly do not know the history of your werewolf ancestors whom we are supposed to be now," he said with satisfaction.

"What's your point?" she snapped at him. She was getting tired of being on the receiving end of his insults.

"If you know their history, then you would know that Nikjin and Edvana never met each other until the night of that bloody battle in Ketjuok. But here we are, aren't we?" Erin remembered it vividly. It was the night that Olna Raven died at the claws and jaws of this same Nikjin. It was indeed the first time that she set her eyes on him.

If that was the case, then why was she here with him? How did he manage to reverse time and manipulate reality to meet her years before their original first meeting? "Shit," she whispered.

"What was that?" he asked. His grin was growing wider. "Didn't you say that the past cannot be changed?"

"How... how did you do it?"

He threw back his head and laughed. "You and your beloved Devon do not understand the power of the dream stone or what it is capable of."

"It doesn't make sense," she said slowly. She was in a daze. She was confused.

"Don't try to understand it, my dear," he said smugly. "I don't want your head to explode as you try to grasp something beyond your imagination." "Nikjin, what did you do?"

He shrugged nonchalantly. "I learned a few things about the dream stone from my friend, Zokman. He was a gifted guy but his foolishness was his undoing." "What did you do?" she asked again.

"Don't worry about that," he said dismissively. "Come now. Destiny awaits."

She reluctantly followed him. Erin couldn't wrap her head around what was happening. Had Nikjin somehow succeeded in manipulating the dream stone to become something else?

Was Zokman someone she knew in Fairbanks? Had the two friends reunited in the future and done something crazy to the dream stone?

Did that mean that Devon and the rest of the clan wouldn't be able to come here to save her? Was she on her own this time?

They walked through unfamiliar paths and eventually, she began to hear voices of people talking and going about their morning routine. She instinctively knew that they had reached the Smallchief camp. "Don't do this," she whispered shakily.

"Hush!" he replied impatiently. "If you try to distract me, I kill you first. Now, keep quiet."

Erin swallowed the rest of her protests immediately. If Nikjin could manipulate reality, then he could kill her and she'd be dead everywhere; past, present and future.

"Follow me and keep your mouth shut," he instructed her.

She nodded and obeyed him. As they entered the camp, they were greeted by guards standing around the perimeter.

The place was lively and filled with people and domestic animals. They were greeted with smiles and waves as they passed. Erin recognized Olna Raven instantly. She was much younger and sitting in front of the largest longhouse in the camp. "Nikjin, you have decided to grace us with your presence today," she said with a chuckle. "What a pleasant surprise."

"Is it?" he asked her. His question sounded like a challenge.

She ignored him and transferred her attention to Erin. "Who is this?" she asked.

"Someone you will never know," he said ominously.

Olna Raven was puzzled by his response. "What does that mean?"

It was his turn to ignore her question. "Where is my brother?" he asked her instead.

"He is inside," she replied.

"And your sons?"

"Out and about. What do you want with them?"

"Just asking," he replied. He looked at Erin and said, "Wait here."

He strode past his sister-in-law and entered the longhouse.

As soon as he disappeared inside, Erin moved closer to Olna Raven and whispered, "Get your sons and run away right now." "What?"

"You have to leave now," she added desperately. "Get up, please. Get your sons and run."

"I don't understand - "

They heard loud noises from inside the longhouse, followed by male voices shouting and fists connecting to bones.

"What's going on?" Olna Raven screamed. She stood up and attempted to run inside but Erin stopped her.

"Let the Prime Alpha defend himself," she said to the Luna. "Get your sons and leave this camp right now!" "Why?"

"Because Nikjin is here to kill all of you."

The guards too had heard the noise, so they ran inside the longhouse to save their Alpha. Olna Raven sprang into action immediately.

She summoned one of her Betas and told her to replace the Alpha's sons quickly.

"They are inside the longhouse with the Alpha," said the Beta.

"What? When did they return?" Olna Raven asked shakily.

"While you were in the outhouse. They returned with a large moose and went inside to show it off to their father."

"Oh, no," she gasped.

The women exchanged worried glances before dashing into the longhouse at the same time.