Chapter 42
I heard voices through the haze. It felt as though I were coming out of a drug induced state. My breathing was constricted, like I had been very nearly crushed.
“She’s almost out of it,” I heard a male voice say.
“Just keep her still,” another spoke. I could identify that one. It belonged to Jericho.
My eyesight was blurry but little by little I could make out my surroundings. Way down below there was a fire in the distance.
As if my thoughts were being read I heard someone say, “Heather’s body will disintegrate with no trace left behind. I can’t say the same for the other one.”
“Stacey needs to be found,” Jeircho said. “Otherwise we are all in danger. And her daughter needs to have her remains.”
My eyesight was attempting to focus and I found myself staring straight ahead at Reece who was staring back at me as he sat with his back against a tree. He looked disheveled and disturbed. Pandora’s head was resting in his lap and she too was watching me. Right next to Reece stood Haven. Like the others, he was looking right at me. I couldn’t read his expression. He seemed as emotionless as Reece. I tried lifting my head but a hand pressed down on me. “If you weren’t a dormant little girl, you would be dead.”
I wanted to speak but I couldn’t find the means to. I saw the profile of the man who was sitting next to me. His hand was on me and I knew from the shock of blonde hair that it was Tristan. I couldn’t see everyone though; just those in front of me. I knew Jericho was there but where was Anne? What about Amber? I started to struggle in my new-found fear for their safety.
“Easy Willow...” Tristan cooed. “The more you fight the longer it will take.”
Longer what will take!
He stroked my hair and as soon as he did registration showed on his face. “They are fine. We took care of Amber, cleaned her up and the rest of us gathered evidence and then we set the house on fire. Anne called 911 with a story that was well rehearsed and the rest of us came up here with you. The last we heard from Anne is that she had taken Amber back to her house.”
What’s happened to me?
Tristan looked down at me until I felt the bond.
When Lacey was dying the rest of us felt it but we didn’t arrive in time to help her. Haven arrived around the same time that I did. Levi and Philip had come, too. We all felt it.
Felt what? I asked.
When one of us manifests we can feel the sensation run through us like a current. Her sensation was erratic and strong, which indicates a first time manifestation or a last one.
What’s wrong with me? I wondered. And how did she know Amber was in trouble?
You jumped into the thick of the fight and sustained quite the injury. If you were anything but what you are, you would be dead. You were knocked unconscious and you are regenerating. As for Lacey, she had marked Amber some time ago and felt her distress. Our kind will die to protect the ones we love. We often do.
Still caught in a silent conversation, I inquired further. Why did it happen?
Heather’s companion had initially gone after your Aunt but Jericho shot at him with his 9mm and he charged Reece instead. Every strong emotion you felt in that moment brought out your wolf, even if you weren’t able to manifest.
Tristan looked over at the others.
You have quite the canine protector, did you know that? After you had been thrown, your dog fought him. He ran off and that’s when Levi caught him and finished him, as he should have.
Where are Levi and Philip now? I asked.
They retrieved Lacey and took her somewhere private.
I could see the vision Tristan passed to me and I could feel his grief.
They won’t be back for a long time.
I looked over at Haven. He should be with them but he stayed. So did Tristan. I arched my head back as I felt a new wave of pain. No, it wasn’t pain. It was more like the sensitivity you get when your foot falls asleep and it washed over my entire body. I had no control over my extremities and felt myself burning up. How long was it going to take? Minutes, an hour, forever? I felt a sudden coolness as if a fan had been turned on. I opened my eyes again and could see farther than before.
“You’re back,” Tristan confirmed. “Good as new. You’re messy too.”
I sat up and looked at my surroundings again. Jericho was looking towards the fire, Reece was looking down at the ground and Haven was as before, his eyes fixated on me. Pandora got up and sauntered towards me cautiously. She licked my face and nuzzled up next to me.
I was weak, sore, dizzy and sick to my stomach but I felt like myself again.
“Another shifter came too,” Haven announced. “But he retreated when he saw us.”
“Another?” I asked.
“Oh yea,” Tristan laughed. “That was awesome. He watched from a perimeter before retreating like Omegas usually do.”
“He must have been scared. I know I was,” Reece sighed.
“Not him,” Haven said. “Don’t underestimate him. He escaped before, the night of the bonfire. My guess is that he was gathering intel and is reporting back what he saw. Where he’s concerned, it’s not over and the game has changed.”
“Everything has changed,” Reece stressed and silence followed. He stood up and walked over to me. He offered his hand and helped me up while Tristan took a step back. My legs were shaking so Reece swept me up in his arms. I put my arm around his neck for support. Jericho opened the passenger side door.
“Let’s take her home. We can talk more there and she needs rest.”
I had already found it. Relief had been found in the arms of the one who carried me.