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My hands slid from my stomach while I took a deep inhale and let it out slowly.
“This man was betrayed by so many people and yet he somehow still carries an ounce of selflessness. He’s still willing to go above and beyond for his own, and it's the most un-demon-like thing, and I can’t wrap my head around it,” I quickly admitted. “I’m secretly hoping that maybe he outsmarted Lauren in some way and he won’t give up on Demon Valley because I can’t run this world on my own. I… There’s so much I’ve yet to discover and know, and I think Alpha had amazing plans for this place but he got so overwhelmed with saving as many as he could that the idea of expanding and making things feel like a place to call home slipped from his priority list, but it was still there. I’m… I just wish the other demons could see that.”
Colton nodded before he reached out to lightly lay his hands on my shoulders.
“I may not have been here for long, but I think a lot of the demons see exactly what Alpha has done for them, but in order to do what Alpha wishes, we need to get rid of the betrayer and anyone else who thinks the way Laura does. I don’t think the other demons are thinking of betraying Alpha. They have no connections to the outside world since their packs abandoned them for good, but with Laura in the picture, she paints a fabricated image of false hope which I’m sure her posse goes along with,” he explained. “However, I think even they just listen to what Laura has to say but know better. They may revolt and be chaotic on purpose, but I don’t think there’s any hidden merit to it.”
His cocky grin was back as he seemed determined about what was to come.
“At the end of the day, each of us here in Demon Valley knows that it's thanks to Alpha that we’re alive. I was hand-picked by Alpha to be sacrificed, even though my own pack deemed me useless because I enjoyed being a puppeteer for the kids injured by the increase in battles between territorial packs. I was useless to them and paid the price with my life, yet here I am. He knew from a simple file that I had far more potential than I was leading on, and in the return, I’m able to be partner up with a badass chick with a cute familiar and a fleet of voodoo dolls!” He couldn’t look any happier as his wide grin was priceless. “So we’re going to do everything we can to bring Alpha back here. Even if he can’t be the ruler of the valley, that doesn’t invalidate his role as our Alpha in this pack. All the demons here see him as an Alpha who can help them get better, so he’ll still be a leader in our eyes.”
“What if someone tries to paint otherwise?”
“We’ll just get Bishop to use them as a chew toy for a few weeks. See if their opinion changes.”
No fucking remorse.
“That sounds like blackmail.”
“What kinda a monster would I be,” he began and dramatically gasped. “If I didn’t blackmail anyone. It's either that or I’ll just toss them back in the forest and encourage them to go back the way they came from to their savage packs and see if they’re accepted.”
“That’s a good punishment,” I praised. “If we hadn’t gotten rid of Laura, I’d do something like that.”
“That collar your voodoo doll side put on her neck hasn’t disappeared, FYI,” Colton noted as he moved his hands from my shoulders but reached out to stop my hand from reaching for my own neck which I realized was bandaged in a new set of pink bandages.
“Ah. Sorry,” I quickly apologized. “The word makes me think I’m still wearing one and well. You get it.”
“Don’t apologize,” he assured me and let go of my hand.
“As for that whole thing, I did that on purpose.”
“Why?” he dared to ask but I felt like he already knew.
“Wanna find out first hand?” I offered back. “We gotta go get our loyal fleet and save Alpha.”
“Then let’s stop talking and get cracking,” Colton cheered. “The faster we move, the quicker we can get to Alpha, and then we have to go back to the surface.”
I was heading to the door but paused at the last bit. “What? Why do we have to go back to the surface?”
“Remember? The lead to your family member,” he stressed once again. “If Baker plans to initiate shit now, he’s going to be trying to hit two birds with one stone.”
“He’s going to try and target me and my sister at the same time so we won’t meet,” I summarized.
“Would be smart if you ask me,” Colton admitted as took a final look at his outfit of black cargo pants, white top, and black bomber jacket. “Now that we know Travis has a Maleficent Astra, he can be at two places at once. Doubt his Astra is called Travis or Baker, but we’ll get cracking on that after.”
“Got it,” I declared and reached the door but paused. With a steady breath, I spun around and gave Colton a tight hug.
“Oh?” Colton seemed surprised. “You like hugs?”
“You don’t?” I asked which was kind of stupid since I was already hugging him.
“I love hugs,” he assured me first as he hugged me back in return. “But I’m unclear as to why you’re hugging me.”
“Thank you for not only watching over me with the fleet but helping me through that panic attack,” I whispered. “On the outside, the world sees me as some cold-hearted, badass bitch, but I have… a lot of issues. More than I like to lead on, but one thing that has been helpful is entering this valley and knowing I had someone behind me.”
Pulling away, I used my hands to sign something to him which had his eyes twinkling with joy.
“I’m happy my sign language helped you back then too,” he gleefully stated. “And we all got skeletons in our closet, Lexiboo. Skeletons, traumas, shit we just don’t want to confront. Life is filled with a whole lot of problems, but it becomes more manageable when we support one another. Don’t hesitate to be yourself around me. I’m a loyal friend.”
