Chapter 17

chapter Seventeen

*Caleb*

The muscles in Link's arm tensed as he brought the blade down. My body shivered as I growled and phased back. I dove over Ariya and grabbed Link's other arm.

"Stop. You don't want to do that." I told Link.

"Why not? She needs it doesn't she?" Link asked.

"She does need it. But doing what you're about to do isn't what you need." I told him.

"I don't understand"

"What Caleb is trying to tell you is that if you do what you're about to, you will make a commitment that you're not prepared for, Link." Drake said, nodding towards the blade that Link was going to use to cut his own hand open to complete the transition for Ariya.

"What type of commitment?" Link asked.

"Don't worry about it. Not only will it take a minute to explain, you don't need to be doing that. Do you understand?" Drake asked Link.

"Yeah, but if I don't" Link said trailing off.

"I will." I said.

"Caleb" Drake started.

"Drake, I know what it means. I'm fine with it. I understand and I can live with it." I interrupted him.

"But Caleb, you don't have all the information" Drake warned.

"Don't try to stop me DrakeI know what I'm doing." I told him.

I held my hand out to Link for him to hand me the blade. Link hesitated, unsure for a moment.

"Hand it over." I told Link.

Drake shifted closer.

"What Drake?" I asked, "What are you so worried about? I know the risk. I know the consequences. I'm prepared to take the chance and the consequences along with it."

"Calebit's justyou know it's getting hard to control myself right? You can't do it yet. I get that you are prepared for it. But have you really thought this through? Fully through?" Drake asked.

"Leave for a minute then, Drake. Take those two with you. They don't need to see this." I told him.

Drake nodded, "Have you fully thought this through, Caleb?"

"Drake, I've been thinking of this since we left that day. I had no idea when she would turn. I had no idea whenor if you were coming back. And if you did come back, would you be here in time? Drake I've thought this through. For the last 14 years, I've thought about this. My answer never changed. Not since day 1. I'm willing and I'm prepared to face the consequences. So let me. Trust me, Drake." I told him.

Drake nodded. Link handed me the blade.

"Get out of here." I told them.

"I'm staying." Mya said, holding Ariya's hand.

I looked at her. She was sure. She didn't want to leave Ariya. She probably wouldn't leave her. I could tell instantly that she looked up to Ariya. I wasn't completely sure why, but Ariya was an amazing person, it wouldn't be that hard to find a reason. Mya's eyes were made of steel. They were sure. Sure she could handle it, sure she wanted to be there. My eyes narrowed. I looked at Drake. He nodded at me to continue. Neither of Ariya's team were going to leave her right now. They were protective over her. I stared at Drake wondering if he could handle it in his state. Drake nodded at me in understanding, telling me he could and he had enough control to make it.

I nodded at Drake. Gripping the blade, I brought it up to eye level. I grabbed the blade with my other hand, letting it dig in, biting my flesh. With a quick movement, I pulled my hands apart, letting the blade dig deeper into my hand. I gasped from the pain. As the blood ran down my hand and arm, Drake's eyes narrowed, with his jaw clenched tight, Drake's lip curled over his canines as they turned into fangs. Drake stared at me, hungry.