Chapter 17: Chapter 17

On getting into her room, Clara threw her mini handbag on the bed before crouching down to unbuckle her high heel sandals, kicking the shoes off her feet and sending them flying to different Corners in the room. She climbed in bed and pulled the covers over her head.

Meanwhile, Xander was driving at full speed, he needed to get home before he would lose total control. He tightened his hands on the steering wheel as his wolf whispered nothing but evil ideas to him.

He wanted them to go back and kill Clara for rejecting them. His eyes flashed between blue and yellow as Bardulf tried to take control of Xander.

"That slimy bitch had the guts to reject us? Xander scoffed.

"And who's fault is it? I told you to let us claim her forcefully. Now, you've failed, again.

"We'll do it my way this time," Bardulf snarled and Xander had no objections this time around. He had tried to be good to Clara but she just had to ruin things for herself.

When Xander arrived at the pack house, he stayed in his car for a few minutes more to gain some control over his raging wolf; he couldn't risk anyone finding out his secret. After gaining enough control, Xander stepped out of the car and headed straight to the entrance of the pack house.

He met his father, the Alpha and the councilmen at the entrance of the pack house, Xander bowed slightly before walking past them but he paused his steps when his father called out to him.

"Come see me later, I have something to discuss with you"

Xander gave a nod and continued on his steps after hearing what his father had said. well aware of what the man wanted to discuss with him. He had bribed the majority of the councilmen to help pressure his father, the Alpha, to hand him the pack and role of the Alpha.

Xander stood in front of his door, irritated by the dark presence he felt. He opened the door and walked inside his room. His eyes were glowing in anger.

"Why are you here?" He questioned but he got no response from the other person.

"Leave, now is not a good time." He said through gritted teeth, but he got no response still. Xander was on the verge of losing it. He took big strides to where the person was standing. His blue eyes have turned yellow, an indication that Bardulf is in control.

The person stood on the spot, unfazed by the werewolf's intimidating aura. she watched as Xander made his way towards her and closed the distance between them. Xander raises his hands, attempting to grab her by the neck when she mutters a spell, releasing a great force that sends Xander flying over to the other side of the room and crashing to the ground with a painful groan.

The witch took slow steps and she stopped right in front of Xander. She stared down at him as he groaned, unable to stand to his feet.

"You never learn, do you?" She said

Xander hissed, he spitted out a mouthful of blood and then he realized something had gone wrong. He couldn't hear or communicate with Bardulf. He couldn't feel his presence, it felt like he was only a human now, a powerless human. Quickly, Xander stood to his feet, panic and fear washed over him.

"What have you done?" he cried. "Was his greatest nightmare coming to pass?" He mutters to himself.

"Oh please. Your wolf is just weakened, not dead" she rolled her eyes.

Hearing the witch's words, Xander took deep breaths to calm his already raging nerves. He walked past Annette and went to sit on the sofa.

"What do you want?". He asked. Not liking the witch's presence, he wanted her gone as soon as possible.

"A little birdie whispered to me that you got dumped" she giggled. Xander hissed, not finding it funny. " And I don't suppose you came here only to mock me," said Xander, watching the cloaked figure as she took her seat opposite him.

"No, I'm here to help you".

"And how will you do that?"He asked.

"I can make you something that will mess up her mind and she wouldn't even know it, until you both are mated. She tells him but Xander replies with a "hmmm". He nodded his head as if thinking it through before turning to face Annette and he asked.

"What do you want in return?".

Anyone who knew Annette would definitely know that the witch doesn't do favors that have no benefit to her.

"Her hair" she said simply and Xander

narrowed his eyes at her before he asked.

"What do you need her hair for?"

"I need a strand of her hair to make the potion'' she lied.

Xander was unconvinced, but he agreed to fetch the strand of hair, he couldn't be bothered about a strand of hair, when he had better things to worry about.

Having achieved what she came for, Annette gave a small smile and then she disappeared from the room without another word. Leaving Xander alone to his frustration of not being able to communicate with his wolf. His eyes scanned the room and only then did he realize that the dead she -wolf had been disposed of. He got up from the sofa and climbed in his bed for a rest.

On the other side of Mystic Falls, preparation was busy going on as regards to freeing Skyler from the rogues den.

Landon & Liam have been spying on the rogues' activities for about three days now and they are able to grab enough information that will be helpful to their plan.

Drake has also been sneaking in and out of the Mystic Shadow territory. Sending and bringing messages from Lucas to Skyler and vice versa.

Walking into the underground dungeon, he held the tray in his arms as usual and walked into the prison where Skyler was held by silver chains that continuously burnt his wrist.

Drake dropped the tray on a flat surface before turning to look at the man who was staring back at him with silver eyes. The eyes exuded power.

"I can see someone has been missing me" Said Drake jokingly. But Skyler rolls his eyes at the red head.

"You wish". He snorted.

Drake muffled a laugh.

He had grown closer to the silver eyed man for the past few days and Skyler didn't seem to mind at all. He sometimes would make silly jokes or even tease the red head for his clumsiness.

Drake brought out a small bottle containing a bluish liquid, he emptied it in Skyler's mouth. The liquid was given to him by Lucas, it helps to purify the werewolf's blood by flushing away the silver in the bloodstream.

Although Drake had stopped injecting the liquid silver into Skyler's body, And he was gradually regaining his strength. Skyler wolf was yet to surface. He had been weakened for so long, he would need time to regain consciousness.

"What message did you bring?" Ask Skyler.

Drake craned his neck to look at the entrance of the prison before looking back at Skyler. He informed him of the progress Lucas and the pack warriors had made so far and if everything went as planned then he would be free in about a week's time.

Skyler nodded, impressed by the progress of the plans, he just couldn't wait to be out there, he wanted to see the sunlight and he wanted to see his poor old father more than anything else.

"We will be…." Drake paused. his wolf hearing had picked on sounds of incoming footsteps. He and Skyler exchange a look before he moves quickly away from Skyler, he lifts the tray of food from the flat surface, he grabs the cup of water and splashes the water on Skyler.

"Drink that, loser," he growled at Skyler.

Emmet, who had just stumbled upon such a scene, held a smirk on his face.

"Well, well, well" He strolled into the prison and Drake froze on the spot. He was pretending to be shocked by Emmet's sudden appearance. Emmet walked to him and patted Drake's shoulder.

"You did well" He whispered and then he signaled for him to leave the room.

Without wasting another second, Drake scurried away from the room, leaving Skyler and Emmet alone by themselves.

He sighed in relief when he got to his duty post. "That was so close," His wolf whispered and Drake couldn't agree more.

Meanwhile, Emmet had his arms folded around his chest, watching the drenched Skyler as water dripped down from his head to his face and down to his exposed chest.

"Loser" Emmet clicked his tongue, liking the sound of it but he failed to get any reaction from that person. Skyler totally ignored him, sparing not even a single glance at him and the rogue wondered if he had suddenly turned invisible.

Releasing his folded arm, Emmet walked to where Skyler was chained down and he landed a heavy punch on his jaw. Skyler's grip tightened around the chains, ignoring the burning pain that came from the silver chains, he wanted to rip the rogue apart and the stench that came from the rogue help triggered his werewolf instinct that demanded him to kill any rogue that was on sight.

"I swear on the moon goddess that I'm going to kill you and I will make it a painful one" Skyler said through gritted teeth, his fist clenching hard on the silver chains that continuously burnt his flesh.

Emmet laughter roared in the four walls of the prison. " You have to first survive my wrath before you can think of killing me," he spat, landing one more punch on Skyler's abdomen before strolling out of the prison. Skyler writhe painful, blood dripped down from the corner of his mouth, he couldn't wipe it off as his hands were bound to each side with silver chains.