by Elissa Daye
“Killian?” she whispered as her head dropped to the ground.
~*~
“Damn it, Brina!” Killian scooped her up in his arms. “I told you to stay home.
“Killian?” Kam called over to him. “What should we do?”
Killian turned to look at his brother in anguish. He had never felt so helpless in his life. At this moment his alpha had turned off, as every inch of him mourned for the woman in his arms. She was still alive, but for how long?
“Killian....” Kam broke through again. “We can’t leave him like this.”
Killian looked over at the body they had just ripped to shreds. Kam was right. The only way to keep the pack safe was to keep their identity unknown. “Throw him in the shed and light it up.”
Marina fell to her knees. “Bring her here, Knight.”
Killian was loath to move her, but if the witch could help her, he would take his chances. Brina whimpered in his arms as he moved her. It broke his heart into fractured pieces to see her in such pain.
“Please....”
“I’ll do what I can, Knight. We need to stop the bleeding.” Marina ripped some of her shirt and held it tightly against the wound. “Hold this.”
More ripping sounded as Marina made small strips. She wound it around Brina’s shoulder, making it as tight as possible. “There will be questions if you take her to the hospital.”
“What do you suggest?” Killian held her tightly to his body, and kissed her head as she moaned in her state of unconscious.
“Bring her to the camp. We can help her.” Marina’s eyes met his. “I know you love her. She saved my life, and sent that thing back to the hell it came from. We’ll take good care of her.”
“Kyle.”
“Yes, Killian.” Kyle had just helped the others carry the body into the shack.
“Help....” For the life of him, Killian couldn’t remember her name. He had met her before, but right now his brain was having trouble focusing on anything but the woman who seemed almost lifeless in his arms.
“Marina,” she offered up her name.
“Help Marina walk. We’re headed to the camp.” Killian hoisted Brina up in his arms, holding her as close to his warmth as he could. She felt cold against him. They had to hurry.
“On it.” Kyle helped her up and supported her weight. When she stumbled slightly, he caught her. “Easy, Marina. There you go.”
The trek to the camp seemed to take an eternity. His wolf inside howled in despair, as if already mourning her loss, but Killian refused to believe it was over yet. If he had just stayed there, helped her with her quest to find the man who was torturing Witch’s Hollow, maybe this would not have happened. Instead of including her in their hunt, he had left her out. They had the same goal, both of them, but Killian had not let her in. If she died, he would never forgive himself.
When they made it to the camp, Marina pointed to a long table. “Set her there.”
Killian did not want to let her go, but he knew he had to. He lay her down as gently as possible, and shivered when she whispered his name. He ran his fingers through his hair and closed his eyes.
“Please don’t let her die.”
“I’ll do my best.”
Marina called for the others to come help her, and a flurry of activity bustled around the camp. A circle of women now surrounded Brina, blocking her from Killian’s view.
His fear took over and he ran to the edge of the forest. He shifted into his wolf and ran as fast and far as his paws could carry him. He stood on his haunches and lifted his head into the air. A loud mournful wail erupted from him as the two of them mourned for their mate. She was still with him, but her chances...she had lost so much blood. Their lives would never be the same.
Killian?
She called to him from across the void he was sinking into, like a whisper on the wind. Did that mean...? Please don’t let her be dead. He zipped through the forest, retracing his steps. When he made it to the camp, Brina was no longer on the table. He quickly shifted to his human form and called out for her. “Brina?”
“Relax, Killian.” Kyle held out his hand to calm him down. “They’ve just moved her inside.”
“Is she...?”
“Fine. She seems to be fine. They got the bullet out. No internal damage. They think the wound will heal.”
“How long was I gone?” Killian shook his head in disbelief.
“Four hours.” Kyle smirked at him.
Marina stepped out of one of the shelters. “Killian, she’s awake.”
The color left his face. “She’s awake?”
“Yes, and she’s asking for you.” Marina smiled softly. “Go easy on her. She’s done a lot for us, Killian.”
He felt his anger start to rise. “She shouldn’t have—”
“Done what you would have done?” suggested Kyle.
Killian turned on his brother. “That’s different. I’m—”
“An ass?” suggested Kyle.
“Kyle!” His hair started to rise at the base of his neck.
“You can’t ask her to give up something that you wouldn’t give up. It’s only fair,” Kyle pointed out.
“I....” Killian paused as Kyle’s words sank in. He was right. The lesson of his life was right there in front of him. If he wanted to keep Brina safe, if her happiness mattered to him, he couldn’t change her. “You’re right. But don’t let it go to your head. One day, you’ll find a woman who will drive you insane.”
“I should be so lucky.” He patted his brother on the back. “Now you can go to her.”
Killian followed Marina into the shelter and saw Brina on one of the beds. She looked so small against the pillows, and her face was incredibly pale. “Brina?”
Her eyes fluttered open. “Killian.”
He knelt down beside her and kissed her softly on the cheek. “I thought I’d lost you.”
Her lips wobbled slightly. “I’m sorry, Killian.”
“You’ve nothing to be sorry for, love.” He stroked the tears away from her face. “You can’t stop who you are any more than I can stop myself.”
“Is he…?”
“Gone. Yes. He won’t be bothering anyone in this life again.” He brought her hand to his face and kissed it softly.
“So is the demon, Brina. You’ve managed to destroy his claim over Witch’s Hollow,” Marina interjected from the side.
“Marina...are you all right?” Brina turned to look at her.
“I’ll be right as rain soon, dear. As will you. I think you should rest here a few days and let the healers help you,” Marina suggested.
Brina turned to look up at Killian. “Can we go home, Killian?”
“Love, it’s better not to move you. I won’t leave you,” he promised her. They would have to pry his dead body away from her first. Killian was not going to let her out of his sight any time soon. “Rest, Brina.”
Brina’s eyes fluttered closed and she sighed softly. Killian turned to Marina with his eyes filled with tears. “Thank you.”
“There’s nothing we wouldn’t do for your pack, Knight. And now, your mate. You’ve chosen well.”
“Yes, yes I have.”
Killian would never regret his decision. She might make his hair grey before its time, but that didn’t matter. Life without her was impossible. He had never realized how little living he was doing until she walked into his life. She had wrecked any of his plans of bachelorhood right from the start. His brothers would be infinitely grateful to her, for that he was sure, but he was the lucky one.
Chapter 22
Brina sighed to herself as she glanced down into the gardens below. She was a very lucky woman. If Killian and his brothers had not come when they had, her life would have turned out differently. Walking to the mirror, she looked at the pink scar that was a reminder of how close she had come to losing her life. The women at the camp had done miraculous work. She would forever be thankful for their healing hands.
Brin
a looked herself over one more time. Her white dress flowed around her like a soft cloud of lace. Her hair was pulled up on top of her head and woven with small white flowers and sprigs of fresh lavender. With spring now in full force, it would be a beautiful day, with memories she would treasure deep inside her for the rest of her life.
Today, her world would change forever. Killian’s too—he just didn’t know it yet. She picked up her bouquet and the small box she had wrapped earlier—a gift that she had just discovered, one that would probably bring a tear to his eyes.
“Are you ready, Brina?” Kenton asked her from the hallway.
“Yes, Dad.” She walked into the hall and kissed him on the cheek.
“You look beautiful.” He smiled at her. “Killian’s almost out of his mind.”
“I’m not too late, am I?” She bit her lip.
“Not at all. You’re right on time. He was just early. He’s been barking out orders since he woke up this morning. He wanted everything to be perfect.”
“But it is. I have everything I’ve ever dreamed of. Including a family to love.” Brina smiled secretly.
“I think you’re up to something,” accused Kenton with a gleam in his eye.
“Always,” she giggled.
“Go easy on him, Brina,” cautioned Kenton.
“I’ll be good.” She held up a hand in promise.
“There you two are.” Amber rushed over to her and took her other arm. “Can I hold this for you?”
Brina was holding the small bouquet and the box in one hand. “Yes. But I’ll need it back after the ceremony. It’s a gift for Killian.”
“Let’s go, dear.” The door leading out to the garden was already open.
Brina looked down at the ground and saw hundreds of red petals scattered over the white roll of fabric that marked her path down the aisle. A gentle music played in the background, and the people before them rose to greet the sight of her on the steps. While Brina did not have a family of her own, over the past few months the witches of the camp had become her makeshift family. They had included her in their fold, and surrounded her with kinship and love. They were here to support the next step in her life.
Brina’s eyes looked up to the front, where Killian was watching her with the most adoration she had ever seen in her life. His face was filled with so many emotions at once. She smiled at him and saw the light flash in his eyes. He was hers for eternity, or even longer if the fates had their way.
When she finally made it to his side, Killian reached for her hand and brought it to his lips. She smiled at him as her flesh trembled against his lips. Their eyes met and Brina’s breath caught in her throat.
“Killian,” she whispered.
The ceremony seemed to last forever, and while Brina enjoyed every single detail that Killian had painstakingly planned, she was anxious for it to be over. When he finally leaned down to kiss the bride, Brina was having trouble containing herself.
“You’re up to something,” he whispered in her ear.
“Yes.” She smiled secretively. Brina reached for the box and held it up for him. “I have something for you.”
“Brina, this isn’t necessary—”
“Just open the damn box, Killian,” she ordered him. Brina had learned that sometimes she had to use her bossy voice in order to get him to follow her directions.
“Fine, but I didn’t get you anything, Brina.” He gave her a guilty smile.
“But you did. Just open the box.” Brina was bursting at the seams. Now, everyone else around them was starting to talk in slow whispers as they tried to figure out what was going on.
Killian untied the ribbon and slowly slid off the cover. When he looked inside his eyebrows rose. “Is this what I think it is?”
“Yep.” She waited to see his reaction. Would he be happy? Or would he want to lock her up in a tower and protect her?
He held the small slip of paper in his hand and almost howled his joy. “We’re having a baby!” Killian scooped her up in his arms and swung her into the air. Brina kissed him hard on the lips and held on tight.
A loud uproar sounded around them as everyone congratulated them. When Killian set her down, Brina turned to find his brothers were pulling out their wallets. They each handed money over to Amber Knight, who winked at Brina.
“You know I only bet on a sure thing.”
Brina grinned at her and turned to look at her husband. “So, are you going to lock me up?”
“Nope.”
“Really?” Brina was surprised.
“We’re a team, Bri. I support you; you support me.” Killian looked as if those words were killing him.
Brina decided to let him off the hook. “Killian, my love. My days of heading into the fray are over. I’ll be more of a couch detective from here on out.”
Relief washed across his face. “I love you, Bri.”
“I love you too, Killian.” She put a hand to her stomach and rubbed it gently. “Besides, this one’s going to be a handful.”
“How do you know that?” asked Killian.
“Have you met her father?” Brina grinned.
The men reached into their wallets again, and this time Kenton opened his hands. Brina shook her head. “Kenton Knight!”
“Hey, it had to happen eventually.” He winked at her, and they all started to laugh again.
Brina snuggled against Killian and sighed. “Thank you.”
“For what?” Killian kissed the top of her head.
“For choosing me.”
Brina looked around her at all the blessings he had brought to her life. She would be forever thankful that her car had stopped working that night, although she was fairly certain Kenton Knight had something to do with that, seeing as how he had fixed it up right as rain with very little effort. She sighed in contentment as she snuggled against Killian.
About the Author
Ever since childhood, Elissa Daye has enjoyed reading stories as an escape from life. When she was a teenager she started to write her own stories that kept her entertained when she ran out of books to read. When she was accepted into Illinois Summer School for the Arts in her Junior year of High School, she knew she wanted to become a writer. Elissa graduated from Illinois State University in December 1999 with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and began her teaching career, hoping to find moments to write in her free time.
After seven years of teaching, Elissa decided to focus on her writing and made the decision to put her teaching years behind her so that she could create the stories she had always dreamed of. She is now happily married and a stay at home mom, who writes in every spare moment she can find, doing her best to master the art of multitasking to get everything accomplished.