* * *
“Tori!” Brandon cried. “No. No. No. Tori, please. Please babe, stay with me. Don’t leave me. I love you too. Don’t leave me now.”
I relaxed as my body floated away.
* * *
“Tori, please wake up. Please,” Brandon whispered in a hoarse voice.
“I don’t want to wake up,” I whispered.
He nuzzled my hair and whined. “Tori.”
“I hurt,” I whispered.
“I know. I know it hurts, but we’re almost home.”
If I could just survive this I would never try to change myself again. I would learn to be happy with who I was and what I am and that would be the end of it. Why should I change anyways? I should have always been happy with what I am. So what if I wasn’t completely human? I was better than human! I could run faster, heal quicker and live longer. I was superhuman. I did not need to be a lioness or be able to change into different forms. Please god, or goddess or whatever existed, let me live.
“Hurts. So bad,” I whispered just before I blacked out again.
* * *
“What happened?!” My Dad yelled waking me up.
Brandon growled softly and I felt my body stop floating and land on something hard. “He bit her. Lost a lot of blood. In pain. Too far away. Ran fast here,” Brandon said in broken words as his lion side tried to take over. He rubbed his face with my hand and growled softly.
“Get back,” Dad barked. “Go get Mark and Sarah and the Doc. Now!” I felt Brandon release my hand and I whimpered his name, but he wasn’t there. “He’ll be back,” Dad whispered, “Just hold on, sweetheart. Just hold on.”
“What the hell?” Mark asked angrily as he came inside.
“M-m-mark,” I whimpered.
He dropped to the ground beside me and gingerly touched my shoulder. “Who did this?”
“That mutt from the Minters pack,” Dad whispered.
Mark growled. “I’ll kill him.”
“Too late,” Brandon said, “I already did.”
That thought made me smile, but the pain increased as Dad pressed gauze against my wound making me scream out in pain and then I fainted again.
* * *
I woke up and stared at the white ceiling above me. I felt tubes in my arms and could feel cold liquid being pushed into my vein on my left hand.
“She’s awake,” Sarah whispered loudly.
I started to turn my head, but cringed in pain at the bite wound on my neck. “Don’t move,” Dad ordered as he moved so that I could see his head over mine. “Your stitches are still fresh.”
I licked my lips and tried to swallow, but my throat was too dry. Sarah put a straw in my mouth and I swallowed a couple drinks of the water, letting it soak my parched throat.
“We were able to stop the bleeding and stitch you up,” Dad said, “But you have lost a lot of blood and it would be good if you stayed still.”
“It would be better if you went back to sleep,” Sarah said. “If you went into a healing sleep you would heal faster.”
I looked at their worried faces and whispered, “I love you both.”
Sarah smiled at me and Dad fought tears in his eyes. “We love you too little cub. Now go back to sleep.”
I closed my eyes and dreamed of days spent with Michael when we were little.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
I woke up and the bite wound was completely healed and scar free. I sat up and was surprised to find Sheila, the cubs and Paul sleeping on a mattress on the floor of my bedroom beside me. One of the cubs opened its eyes and looked at me. I waited for it to cry out in fear, but it simply yawned and walked towards me. I picked it up and pet its furry head. “Hey, cub.” It purred and rubbed its little head against my hand. I scratched its ears and felt the tears falling down my face before I realized that I was crying. Paul and Sheila had slept in here with the cubs while I was asleep to get them used to my scent. It was the best present I could have asked to wake up to.
“Vic? What’s wrong?” Paul asked as he got up to sit down on my bed beside me.
I smiled at him and said, “Thank you.”
He put his arm around me and kissed my temple. “I love you little sister.”
I turned my head into his shoulder and wiped my tears off on his shirt. “I love you too, Pauliana.”
“You made her cry again?” Sheila asked as she stood up, holding her other cub and sat down on the bed on my other side.
I kissed her cheek and reached over and pet the cub in her hand, which rubbed its head against my hand and mewed softly. “They’re so cute.”
“Of course they are,” Sheila said indignantly, “Have you seen me and my mate? We are gorgeous!”
I laughed and she wiped the tears off of my face. “What have I missed while I was sleeping?” I asked.
“Well your dad has been pacing a hole in the floor in his office while Mark has been pacing a hole in the floor in the living room. Sarah has been hunting every single night and then giving the food away because she is too worried about you to eat. And we have been keeping you company to wait for you to wake up,” Paul said.
“How long was I asleep for this time?” I asked.
Sheila whispered, “Two weeks.”
I gasped in shock and looked down at my body knowing that I was going to be a lot skinnier than before from not eating. “We need to get you some food,” Paul said. “Come out of your room so your dad and Mark stop pacing.”
I realized that they had not said anything about Brandon and where he had been. I wanted to ask, but I was too afraid that they would say he had moved on or something equally as sad. I handed Sheila the cub I was holding, stood up and Paul put his arm around my waist to steady me. My legs were incredibly wobbly and I could tell that I had lost a lot of muscle all over my body. I was definitely going to have to work out a lot to get my body back in shape.
Paul helped me walk to the restroom and after the longest pee of my life he helped me to the living room where dad and Mark were sitting down on the couch together. “Sleeping Beauty has finally awoken,” Paul said with a wide smile.
Dad stood up off of the couch and grabbed me in a tight hug, squishing me against him and breathing deeply. “How do you feel?” he asked me.
“I feel okay,” I said, “Some of my muscle was eaten so I’m not too steady on my feet at the moment.”
Mark took me from my dad’s arms and hugged me against his chest. “It’s about time you woke up, princess.”
I laughed and kissed his cheek. “A girl needs her beauty sleep.”
Mark picked me up, carried me to the kitchen and set me down on one of the stools. “What would you like to eat?” he asked as he opened the fridge.
“Whatever you want to make me,” I said with a smile. “I could eat an entire cow right now.”
Mark spun around to face me with fear on his face and Dad asked, “Do you feel like you could change?”
I shook my head and patted his hand which was on the counter next to me. “I was being sarcastic guys. I am just really hungry.”
They exhaled in relief and Mark pulled out three kinds of meat and two cheeses and made me three sandwiches. I ate all three and asked for more. Mark and Dad laughed. Dad said, “You’re supposed to gain muscle back, not fat.”
I stuck my tongue out at him and he started making me a large steak while Mark made me a large salad. I ate the food and then stretched my arms up over my head. My body was so sore and stiff that it hurt to stretch my arms over my head. “Would someone be willing to help me get outside?” I asked. “I’d like to sit on the grass for a little while.”
Mark nodded his head and picked me up in his arms.
“Here, drink this,” Dad said as he handed me a bottle of water.
I took it from him and Mark walked outside, setting me down on the grass. I lay down on my back and closed my eyes, enjoying the warmth of the sun on my skin. “So, no one has mentioned Brandon to me,” I whispered. “Is there a reas
on for that?”
Mark sighed. “I wondered when you would ask.”
I opened my eyes and leaned up on my elbows. “Just tell me Mark. Just spit it out.”
“He visited you the first few days that you were in the healing sleep, but seeing you asleep on the bed, not moving and barely breathing became too much for him to bear. He blames himself for you getting hurt and believes that he was not strong enough to protect you. He told your dad that even though he was an Alpha he did not feel that he could be the Alpha of our pride because if he could not even protect you how was he going to protect two hundred lions.”
“Where is he?” I asked.
“In his house. He hasn’t left it in four days.”
I stood up and Mark grabbed my shoulder to steady me. “I’m alright,” I said, “My body is working to fix itself.” I took a few steps and then turned to him. “I need to see him alone. I’ll be fine.”
He frowned. “I don’t like the idea of you going alone. You are very vulnerable right now.”
“Mary is dead and she was the one letting them onto our property. I will be perfectly fine,” I said seriously. “I have to go by myself. Please.”
He sighed and nodded his head. “Okay, just scream if you need help.”
I nodded my head and started my slow walk towards Brandon’s house. The forest was eerily quiet and it made me wonder where the rest of the pride was. I ran my hand along the trees and watched where I stepped since I was barefoot. The last thing I needed was to step on something and get hurt and have to call for help. I past by Paul and Sheila’s house and continued walking, deeper into the forest towards Sarah’s house. Brandon’s house was about half a mile before Sarah’s and I stopped in front of it, staring at the outside. For my entire childhood the house had been Michael’s and his parents. I stared at it now and felt conflicted. Part of me wanted to cry over the loss of Michael while most of me wanted to run away in fear about Brandon’s reaction of me.
I took a deep breath, preparing to walk up to the house when I heard movement behind me. I turned around and Brandon stopped in his tracks, staring at my face in shock. All of my emotions spun out of control as I fought with myself not to run forward and kiss him. He looked tired and sad and as he stared at me he looked conflicted.
“Hi,” I said softly. He continued to stare at me without moving. I could not even tell if he was breathing. What could I say to him? I needed to say something light hearted and funny, but I was drawing a blank. “This wasn’t exactly the reaction I was hoping for,” I whispered.
He disappeared from the spot he had been and appeared in front of me, staring into my eyes. “Are you a…”
“No, I’m not a werewolf,” I said. “The werelion DNA I had killed off the werewolf ones. I’m still the same me.”
He wrapped his arms around me and squished me against his chest. “I am so sorry,” he whispered as he rubbed his face against me and kissed my cheeks.
“Don’t be sorry. There was nothing you could have done,” I whispered as I hugged him back. He pulled back from me and I took his hand, leading him inside of his house.
I sat down on his couch and he sat down beside me. I turned and set my hand on his cheek. “Talk to me,” I whispered. “Tell me what you’re thinking.”
“I’m thinking how beautiful you are and how crazy I had been to ever think I could live without you. I have been going crazy since that night.” He grabbed my face between his hands and pulled me forward, kissing me roughly and passionately. I wrapped my arms around him and felt a smile on my face. He pulled back and whispered, “I missed you.”
I climbed onto his lap and rested my head against his chest while he wrapped his arms around me and held me tightly. “I would have missed you too if I had been awake.”
He pushed me forward and stared into my eyes. “I love you, Tori.”
I smiled at him and said what I knew to be true, “I love you too.”
He kissed me again and then asked, “Does this mean that you will agree to be my mate?”
Here was the final decision, the one that would shape the rest of our lives. I had to word this carefully to avoid any misunderstandings and to ensure we made the right decision today. “If you are positive that you can have me as your mate and won’t end up resenting me for keeping you from having a lioness as a mate, then I would love to be your mate.”
He smiled and laid me down on the couch, kissing me and rubbing my hair. “I could never resent you. You are the reason I can smile and feel like there was a reason for my life.”
I kissed his cheek and whispered, “I feel the same way.”
He stood up off of me and walked to his bedroom. I rolled onto my side and waited to see what he was doing. Even if I had agreed to be his mate I was not ready to sleep with him yet. I looked at his bookshelf and smiled when I noticed the kitten I had gotten him from the tickets I had won. My rabbit was hidden inside my bag in my room. I would have to take it out and put it on my desk. He came back out a minute later with something in his hand. I sat up, feeling nervous at his quietness.
He got down on one knee in front of me and stared into my eyes. “Victoria Anne Crown, will you do me the honor of becoming my mate, my wife and my best friend for the rest of our abnormally long lives?” He opened his hand and showed me a beautiful diamond ring that had to have cost more than my car was worth.
I started crying and he frowned. I threw my arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. “Yes.”
He kissed me and then put the ring on my finger. “I love you so much, Tori. You have made me happier than I ever thought would be possible.”
“Ditto,” I said with a smirk.
He gave me his famous smirk and laughed. “Come on, we have to tell everyone.”
I stood up and immediately sat back down, my legs wobbly again, but this time from the pure excitement and adrenaline rushing through my body. He picked me up and whispered, “Don’t worry little rabbit, I will take care of you.”
I bared my teeth at him. “I still have teeth.”
He smirked again and said, “Which is part of the reason you are perfect for me. Toothless girls are very unattractive.”
I rolled my eyes at him and we ran towards my dad’s house to tell everyone our good news. I leaned my head against his chest and smiled. Even though I would never forget Michael, I knew that he would want me to be happy and for the first time in a very long time I was happy. It did not matter that I was different. Different could be good and it was time that I accepted who I was permanently and learned to love myself as much as I loved Brandon.
EPILOGUE
THREE YEARS LATER
“Do you take this man to be your husband? To have and to hold until death do you part?” the minister asked.
“I do.”
Tears started to leak down my face and Brandon rubbed his thumb across my hand to soothe me.
“Do you take this woman to be your wife? To have and to hold until death do you part?” asked the minister.
“I do.”
“By the powers vested in me, I know pronounce you Mr. and Mrs. Steven Crown.”
Everyone stood up and cheered happily as Dad and Sarah turned to face us, finally married. I cheered and Brandon whistled loudly. Sarah beamed with pure joy and Dad looked truly happy for the first time since I was a child.
We watched as they made their way down the aisle hand in hand and then the rest of us started heading towards the gazebo where the reception was taking place. Brandon tugged on my hand gently and I followed him as we joined the others.
“Auntie Vic! Auntie Vic!” called the smallest child among the group that had gathered.
I walked over to her and smiled. “Yes, Anne?”
She said, “Do we get to eat cake now? Please!”
Paul sighed from the other side of the group of children where he had been sitting. “She loves her sweets,” he said.
I smiled at him and said, “There is nothing wrong with liking cake.”
Brandon walked over to Paul and said, “She is lucky she is a hybrid or she would be very fat.”
I stuck my tongue out at him and then pet Anne’s head. “Not yet, we have to eat food first.”
She sighed and said, “Okay.”
“Go on and play.” Paul said. “Work off some of your excess energy.”
She rubbed her head against my hand a second and then the entire group of kids ran off to play together. “You hungry?” Mark asked as he wrapped his arm around my shoulders.
Brandon and Paul stood up and we all headed into the gazebo. “Of course,” I said as I poked his side. “Where’s your mate?”
“She had to work,” Mark said sadly, “But I figured you would be willing to dance a few songs with me.”
Brandon watched me from across the gazebo and I smiled at him. “I don’t know if you can keep up with me, old man.”
Mark snarled. “I am not old.”
We stood in line to say our congratulations and moved slowly forward. “I think I see a gray hair,” I whispered as I leaned towards him with my hand raised towards his head.
Mark snarled at me and swatted my hand away. “You’re a brat.”
We made it up to Sarah and Dad and I took turns hugging them both. “It’s about time!” I said cheerfully.
Sarah laughed. “You’re telling me! So, any chance you and Brandon might tie the knot soon?”
Dad snarled. “She’s too young to marry.”
I rolled my eyes at him. “He’s already my mate, Dad.”
“Yes, but it’s not officially on paper yet,” he said, “I can still consider you my cub for now.”
Mark put his arm back around my shoulders and said, “She’ll always be our little cub.”
I snarled which made Dad and Sarah laugh. Brandon said my name just loud enough for me to hear and pulled out the chair beside him. I kissed my Dad’s cheek and walked over to sit in the chair he offered me.
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