Chapter 22: Mission: Imperare

Britt's POV:

I stared up at the ceiling. My face ached from the conflicted gaze that had forced my eyebrows to furrow, my eyes to squint, and my lips to frown for over two hours now.

My thoughts were troubled; not because Talon now lay naked in my bed, but because of my newfound problem. He had gone to sleep over a couple of hours ago, but I couldn't.

My mother had told us the entire mission against my father, but it was only spoken of privately, in the board room. The plan was set, but for the past few months it had been a waiting game for preparation.

We would send in two Soldiers at the beginning. I wanted to be one of those Soldiers, but just about all of my friends said that they didn't want that. Not to mention Mom wouldn't let me either. Thing is, the person she did want to send in is Talon because he knows a little bit about the facility; that's more than any of us know. Keith, of course, didn't protest, but I did. Mom had a talk with me and tried to explain that it was "necessary."

This new problem of mine completely conflicts with that plan, and I had to do something about it.

I slip Talon's arm off of me and grab a pair of clean clothes, putting them on. I glance at the clock: three in the morning.

I walk down the ghostly quite, dimly lit halls to get to the medical ward. This was the first time I've left my room since I woke up and I wanted to see Smith for myself. It would probably do nothing but give me nightmares.

I reach the white halls and keep going, looking through the windows of every room until I find Smith. I stop in my tracks when I see him laying in the bed, stiff, with some kind of supporter strapped around his chest to keep his back straight. He was asleep with a woman at his bedside, asleep as well, with her hand in his. She has a wedding band on... I didn't know he was married.

I look over to the nurses desk and she quickly looks away. I walk up to the desk and she cautiously looks up at me.

"Yes?" She asks.

"Smith, room 202. Are there any Wolves that have his same blood type?" I ask.

"I don't kn-" I interrupt her, "Then run some tests and find one with his blood type. Take a pint and do a blood transfusion. It will help him heal quicker and hopefully, with some luck, heal his back."

"I'll tell Doctor Crane in the morning." She nods and writes herself a note. I don't bother with a reply and head back to the elevator, leaving to my mom's room.

Once I get there I knock on the door but get no reply. I take a whiff and sense that the room is empty. I try heading to her office instead.

"Mom?" I call as I walk inside.

She looks up from her desk and rubs her eyes as she answers, "Hey, Sweetheart. Need something?"

"I need to talk to you." I cut straight to the point, sitting down in the red chair in front of her desk.

"Alright. What about?" She asks, leaning forward.

"The mission, Mom. I want to go." I demand.

"Brittany, I said no." She say's firmly, losing the once serene attitude she had.

"And I said yes. I need to go. And I want Talon to stay." I snap, standing up.

"Brittany, we've talked about this. I'm not arguing about it again." She crosses her arms, standing as well.

"Why won't you let me go?" I growl, already knowing the answer, but trying to build up to something.

"I already lost you for over ten years, and by some small chance of fate, got you back. There is no way I'll lose you again; and definitely not by sending you to a possible death sentence." She fights back.

"Ha! Possible death sentence! That means that's what you're doing to Talon, and Mom, I can't let that happen to him. If you don't want me to die, you'll send me! Not him!" I yell angrily.

"What are you talking about?!" She looses her temper.

"If he dies, I die!" I yell.

"Why?!" She yells, still confused.

"He's my Mate, Mom! If I go, and I die, sure, it'll hurt him, but he will live. If he dies, my Wolf might die and I lose to the d*** virus! And if not that, my Wolf will go rogue and turn me rogue! You have to send me!" I scream.

"Then just don't mate with him! If I send you you could still die! The chances are even and I'm not sending you!" She yells.

"We already mated, Mom! How do you think I know this?! He can watch from the base and tell us where to go! I can go!" I yell.

"No!" She screams back, tears gathering in her eyes. I begin to shake and tears form in mine as well.

The rebellious part of my mind forms a plan right then and there, so I tell her calmly, "Fine." But I can tell from the look in her eyes, she knows. She knows I wouldn't give in like that. I will find a way to go on the mission, and to keep Talon here.

I turn on my heels, a few tears falling in the process, and swing the door open, slamming it shut. I gasp in surprise when I run straight into Keith. He had been leaning on the wall, listening. He stares down at me, a stone cold look on his face. Just like was when I'd first met him.

I suddenly get overloaded with stress and just shove past him, knowing I won't be able to properly or maturely handle anything right now.

I go back to my dorm and carefully shut the door behind me. After covering Talon's lower-half with the sheet I go to Jenny's bed, on the opposite side of the room, and sit down. I guess she decided to stay somewhere else for the night. No doubt with Ashton.

By now it's four thirty in the morning; I'm pretty sure some people are already going to their work stations. I rub my eyes and debate just staying up. I doubt I could go back to sleep after all of that, anyway. I need to apologize to my mother later. I don't like leaving things unsettled when it comes to Mom...

I need a run. That's what I need; to clear my head.

I change into some shorts and head out to the indoor track. There is a weight room next to it, but I'm more of a cardio person. Smith, however, had been making me lift weights everyday. I guess I should keep it up, but I don't feel like doing it right now.

I grab the lever to the lights and push it upwards, causing them all to flick on, illuminating the dark red track.

While I take off at a paced jog, by thoughts wander. The mission, Imperare, which means dominate in Latin, was going to be put into motion in two weeks. I knew exactly what I was going to do. I may need a bit of help from some people to get access to some things, but that's all I will need at the least.

At first I wasn't sure I would be able to do it, and I'm still not fully convinced, but in the simulator, I was able to take down Smith. With no gear. I guess it was because my mind was set on the fact that I thought that winning the fight meant my actual life.

One hundred meters into my fifth lap and I have to stop. Just because I like cardio doesn't mean I'm that great at it. I was lucky to get that far. I guess my thoughts kept me occupied. So much for clearing my head...

I take a seat on the track and take in short breaths.

"Hey." I hear someone announce their presence. I jump and turn around to see Jenny.

"Hey." I reply, slightly winded, and turn my head back around.

"You alright? You look tired. I mean, except for the fact you must have just ran." She takes a seat next to me.

"Yeah, just didn't sleep much.." I trail off when I get a whiff of Ashton all over her.

"Yeah me neither. That's why I'm in here; looking for something to do." She picks at her nails.

"Uh.. Did you have sex with my brother?" I stare, a bewildered gaze etched on my face.

"Uh, what makes you say that?" She shifts uncomfortably.

"Because I can smell him all over you. I'm not gonna be mad, I just want you to tell me." I try to convince her.

"You're not mad at me are you?" She asks anyway, and holds her hands to her chest nervously, as if she's trying to comfort herself.

"No, I'm just... more surprised than anything else. I'm kinda glad he lost it to someone who has some sense." I shrug.

She giggles and asks, "He was a virgin?"

I laugh and reply, "We were in our early teens when we got kidnapped, so he better have been or else I'll shove my shoe in a place where he can't reach it."

She dies with laughter and falls backwards onto the track, holding her stomach. I shake my head and laugh a little.

"Oh God, I'll never let this go." She laughs some more.

It's nice to talk, to laugh with someone. Considering my situation, this is one of the best things that's happened in a few days.

"Hey, Jen!" I hear Ashton call from down the hall.

"I'm on the track!" She yells back, her words echoing through the large room.

He rounds the corner, coming out of the weight room, and comes to sit with us.

"What are you two talking about?" He asks casually.

"How you used to be a virgin, and if you weren't, how far my shoe is going to go up your-" I reply just to screw with him, but Jenny cuts me off with a bark of laughter.

His eyes get wide and he glares, 'You told her?' He lips the words to me.

"Don't talk like she's not in the room." I reply with an innocent smile.

"You little-" He interrupts himself by getting up to chase me. I get up as well and grab Jenny's arm; we both take off running, dying with laughter.

It's not a bad thing he was a virgin, I mean, it's actually a good thing, but it's fun to tease him about it.

You know, I think I've realized something.

I've made a decision. For these last two weeks, which could be my final, I was going to be happy. I wasn't going to mope around and wallow in the fear of my unknown future. I was going to spend it with my friends, my family, my Mate.

I will live these two weeks like they're my last.