I Will Be a God

Scarlett

S he releases me, stepping back to look at my face properly, smiling as she cups my face.

Does she know me? Why is she so emotional? Her eyes still glisten with tears.

"You look nothing like him, just that eye colour, if anything. I would never have made the connection."

I smile faintly, even if she is wrong about that. "I think I do, but thanks?" I reply.

"No. You do not. There is not an ounce of ugliness on your face. In those eyes there is life, love and feelings, things he lacks completely. I will not believe it," Candice whispers.

I appreciate that at least; I've always hated that I looked like him. Hated that I see him in the mirror every single day of my life.

"Goddess, you – you shouldn't be here. It isn't safe. Why would you even suddenly show up and risk your life?" Her smile fades as reality seems to settle in. "Why are you both here? You should leave, he is plotting something. There is no way he would simply allow you to just walk around. He is watching you. He is playing a game far more twisted than either of you can comprehend. Please return home."

"This is also my pack. I can't just turn a blind eye to everything that's happening here and just go back home. I have to do something for the people here."

Candice looks at Elijah. "Did you bring help? You are in grave danger. Don't you understand the Malone bloodline is far stronger than anything you could possibly imagine? Even if you are strong, he is stronger. Please, I beg of you, go back. Why did you even return?"

"Your concern is valid, but there was little to no option and Scarlett wanted to handle this herself." Elijah glances at me, a small frown on his face.

"And it was Zidane who found me first. He sent men after me and they ended up so close to where I live. I feared he knew the pack too. I didn't want to put others in harm's way. So, as he wanted, I came to him before he attacked our pack.

Candice looks at me, worried. "I understand, and that is valid, but I can assure you this is a mistake. You don't just walk into a monster's lair. I have no idea why he wants you now, but you best leave as soon as possible," she whispers.

Elijah steps closer to me, grabbing hold of my hips which sends a delicious wave of pleasure through me as he presses himself against me.

"Have a little faith. He might be strong, but I might be stronger than you think." Elijah's words do little to comfort her.

"We will leave. I promise we will be ok. But I want to know something. If we were to plan a takeover, how many of this pack would side with me against him?" I ask softly.

The older woman's eyes widen, her face paling as she clenches her fists.

"That is a dangerous idea."

"We know," Elijah replies, lightly winking at her. She shakes her head as she ponders on what I said for a moment or two.

"I'm not sure. I know many live in fear, and they would happily look to another leader, but they are too scared. Broken into submission, and many are just a shell of what they once were. Torture, abuse and fear do that to a person," Candice explains quietly.

"And everything I learn about this bastard makes it clear we need to end this." Elijah looks down at me and I nod in agreement.

Candice sighs as she pulls up her sleeves to show us her forearms. Her wrists are marred with deep horrific burn scars made from being chained with silver. The rest of her arms are also covered in wounds. "I am one of the few who is able to still hold my own, but not everyone is as lucky as I am, I guess…" She doesn't explain what she means, but instead shakes her head. "The warriors are mostly under his control. I don't think many would side with you."

"The ones he's created monsters out of," I add.

She nods. "Yes, the most brutal, ruthless and pure evil men who abuse the rest of this pack in the most horrific ways. Any who have tried to speak up have been killed in the most brutal of ways but more than them, everyone tries to make sure that the Alpha's evil gaze never lands upon them."

I frown, so we wouldn't have much manpower.

"Then we'll do this the hard way," Elijah says with a frown. I nod in agreement and Candice sighs as if realising we aren't about to change our minds.

"I forget how young folk can be as stubborn as us old ones. Very well, I will find out for you, I will gather whoever I can for this coup. We may die, but I do believe living like this just isn't worth it. You should leave though."

"We will, and we'll return with an army," Elijah reassures her.

"Make haste, is there a way I can contact you once I know what numbers we have? We aren't allowed phones here. I could steal one, but I'd be more worried that he is tracking all his men's phones.

"Wait, my phone," I whisper, pulling it out of my pants. "Keep it hidden and only turn it on if you have something to tell us. The passcode is 1234."

"Seriously?" Elijah scoffs as he looks at me. I give him a pointed glare.

"I don't have anything to hide," I retort, looking at him suspiciously. "Unlike you, right?"

He smirks.

"No, nothing really to hide, but I do think your next phone should have a better passcode. I think there'll be a lot to hide from here on out. And I mean a lot," he murmurs sexily, kissing my neck sensually.

My stomach flutters and I roll my eyes. "Mhmm."

Elijah smirks, flicking my ear with his tongue, that piercing I love hitting my earring.

I close my eyes for a moment, enjoying his touch before I slowly nudge Elijah to behave and pass Candice the phone. She turns it off and slips it into the pocket of her battered skirt.

"Ok, I will do that. If you have a day, you can drop me a message. I'll check it every night. We will try to steal some weapons. I will do my best." There's a fire in her eyes as she speaks furtively, and I smile. She's a strong woman. "You have been here too long. He might get suspicious. I should go hide this phone somewhere, too."

"You're right; we should get going, don't want him getting suspicious," Elijah says.

"And I mean it, leave the pack quickly, too." Candice reminds us.

We nod, but we can't just yet.

"Take care of yourself dear, I am proud of you," Candice whispers. I smile, at least an elder from my pack is proud of me even if I've done nothing for them.

We bid her farewell, and I go to the kitchen to bid farewell to the women, feeling a bit guilty for growling at them, but they all are so polite.

I promise I will do my best for you guys.

We leave the house, and I sigh heavily.

This isn't going to be easy, and people will get hurt , I say quietly through the mind-link. Elijah pulls me close.

We'll handle it . He places a soft kiss on my forehead, promising me hope and safety.

I look up into his eyes, unable to stop myself from asking him the question that burns in my mind. "What are we, Elijah?" I whisper quietly.

Deep down I had feared once he got what he wanted he would simply start pulling away, but he has become even clingier if you can say that. Loving and tender. I've never seen him like this with anyone. What is this and why?

"Do we need to put a name to it right now?" he asks softly, becoming serious. I sigh, glancing up at the sky before looking back at him.

"We will be going home soon, Elijah. Things can't be the way they are here," I remind him quietly. " This . It can't continue. You know that right? What happens will have to be behind closed doors. This is something that can never come to light. Ever. You are my stepbrother, and we aren't meant to be together in any way."

I fear he's forgetting that.

"Let's face that when the time comes," he says dismissively, running his fingers through my hair. Did you feel her aura? he asks through the mind-link, changing the subject.

Candice's? Yeah, she's a strong she-wolf and I was thinking she has to be strong as she's still alive despite being kept a prisoner for a while too. I don't think Zidane is the prisoner-keeping type; I feel he's the type to kill them straight away.

Yeah, no shock there, Elijah replies, his voice full of contempt.

Well, she's not bad, I'm definitely sure of that.

Agreed, Elijah replies before slapping my ass. I blush and he smirks. "So, tell me, Kitten, what do you want to do? Look around some more?"

I nod and he takes my hand as we continue to make our way through the pack grounds. They are rather deserted. No young wolves are playing or walking around. It feels more like a boot camp than a pack. I stop when my eyes fall on a woman I recognise, the Latina who had been unzipping Elijah's pants.

"Fuck," Elijah mutters, and I raise my eyebrow at him, still feeling annoyed and jealous.

The woman smirks slightly. She is pretty; I have to admit. With her large brown eyes, plump lips, gorgeous tan skin, and thick glossy locks. Dressed in a lace bodysuit and leather pants, she is the definition of sexy; something that only makes my frown deepen.

"Alpha… it's good to see you again," the woman murmurs, completely ignoring me as I glare daggers at her.

"Stay the fuck away from him," I warn icily. The woman smirks, flashing her pearly teeth.

"The question is, will he stay away from me?" she asks, stepping closer. She takes my chin in her hand. "You really are a beauty too. We could all have fun together." Her thumb brushes over my plump lips, taking me by surprise.

Elijah growls menacingly, pulling me out of her hold.

"Don't touch her," he snarls dangerously.

"And stay the fuck away from us," I say, wiping my lips where her repulsing touch lingers. The woman smirks before walking off, swaying her hips sensually. "That's just fucked up. Isn't she like Zidane's woman?" I grumble.

Elijah smirks. "You're damn cute, but yeah, it's fucked up, this entire place is fucked up."

Our eyes meet before he threads his fingers into my hair and tugs my head upwards, kissing me roughly, possessively even. We break away when I need air, and I stare into those cobalt eyes of his.

"Jealous?" I ask, batting my eyelashes, earning a cold glare from him.

"What do you think, Red? I said you're mine, and I meant it."

Those words make me happy but at the same time, I know I shouldn't get carried away. Elijah Westwood is a dream and after all, dreams don't last forever… or could they?

We had explored the pack a little more, Elijah observing the layout and patrol, before we returned to the mansion, deciding to ask Zidane what he wanted and state that we would be leaving the following day. Both of us know that Zidane probably won't allow us to leave so easily, and we were planning to leave tonight, but he didn't need to know that.

Rafael, Elijah's friend, has agreed to help us too, and when we leave, he will have back-up there for us just in case Zidane sends someone after me.

He had also contacted Dad to let him know we are ok, not wanting to get them worried either.

Cade had given Elijah a shirt and although I felt sticky and dirty, we didn't have any extra luggage, so I just had to settle for washing my face.

It's now dinner time, and it's as unpleasant as lunch was with neither Elijah nor I trusting anything served by Zidane. Although we are all served from the same platters, after the stunt he had pulled with Elijah earlier, neither of us is going to take a risk again. With Zidane, one thing is clear, expect the unexpected.

Every passing moment raises my anxiety.

There's silence in the room, and unlike earlier at lunch we are not alone this time. The woman from earlier is sitting on Zidane's right, right next to Cade, who looks uncomfortable. The marks my claws had made are still there, and clearly, he has not tried to keep them hidden, much to my disappointment.

He's one who won't be on our side. As Zidane's Beta, if he helped us, it would help sway many to our side to stand with me. Rain falls outside the window, pattering soothingly against the glass, but to me, it offers no calm. The tension in the room is so thick it could be cut with a knife.

"How did you find the pack?" Zidane asks me, his cold voice making my stomach churn. I hate the effect he has on me.

"The truth?" I ask, stirring my food around the plate as I look him dead in the eye.

"Of course, I would want nothing less," he says, his eyes glinting as they burn into mine. He knows. Knows that I'm different. I can tell from the excitement in those mad eyes of his.

The room is silent, only the sound of the woman refilling Zidane's wine glass fills the room. The sploshing of the liquid is extremely loud.

Remember, don't anger him, Elijah says soothingly through the link.

He's right, I'll try not. But somehow, I know he wants something from me. I don't see him killing me.

"Terrible. The way some pack members are treated is disgusting. The ethics your wolves are given is appalling. The stuff they seem to get away with reminds me of my past here." My sharp eyes meet his, but he simply smirks coldly.

"Well, I am the Alpha. My word is law," he reminds me, his eyes full of a darkness that would make even the blackest of nights shame in comparison. "Ah… Cade here seems to be sporting some rather interesting marks and it's clear your nails aren't laced with wolfsbane. I had the scratches checked. Care to share your magic trick?"

His dead eyes burn into me, and I shrug. "No, not really. It's a secret I don't want to share," I reply casually. Zidane's eyes flash, slamming his fist on the table.

"You are at my table, you will answer me!" he hisses, standing up and everyone at the table tenses, readying for anything.

"We could leave the table then if that's what you want?" Elijah offers, his voice calm, yet with a clear warning in it. Zidane sneers, rage flaring around him. His gaze darts around us as if trying to find an outlet, his heart racing wildly. It's insane how he gets angry so quickly. He suddenly grabs the woman, who is sitting silently, by the neck, brutally dragging her out of her seat.

To my horror, he smashes her head into the table, the sickening crack ringing in the room.

Her eyes widen, but not a single sound escapes her.

I jump up, horrified, as I step back from the table. "What are you doing to her?" I yell.

"Let's test a theory out, shall we?" Zidane says breathlessly, his claws extending, digging into the woman's neck. Cade remains emotionless whilst Elijah is on edge. Assessing everything carefully, his hand is inches to the knife on the table.

"What theory?" I ask Zidane resentfully.

"I want you, daughter, to make one simple scratch on her, and if you do, I will let her live. Or if you refuse, then I will tear her to shreds right here." The woman's eyes widen slightly but she still remains silent.

I frown. As much as I hate the woman, I am not going to be the reason for her death.

You have nothing to prove, remember she chose to kill her wolf for power. She is not a good person you need to save, Red, Elijah says quietly through the mind-link.

I can't let her die, I mind-linked back.

Coming from someone who was telling me to rip their throats out? Really, Red? he remarks. I shoot him a glare,

I can't. It's just not who I am.

He seems to understand that, and I step forward, dragging my nail down the woman's arm, leaving a thin scratch.

"Happy?" I growl. Zidane smiles coldly, his eyes fixed on the woman. I watch too, seeing the marks his nails made on her neck begin to heal despite being so much deeper than the one I made. He then makes a scratch alongside mine, almost as light, but it begins healing over within seconds, making me uneasy.

He's testing it out… just as he tested out how fast I healed as a child.

What does he want with it? My stomach churns and I can barely stand the smell of food. I watch as his eyes grow manic, excitement and madness shining in them.

He presses his finger against my scratch. "It's perfect," he breathes, now turning those dark green eyes on me, as if I am something he wants to devour. "You can mortally wound wolves and even their healing abilities will not be able to save them. With you by my side, under my command, I will be a god."