by Lecia Bester
Marc's wound was superficial, and the bullet grazed his shoulder. The wound already started to heal, and by tomorrow, it would be nothing but a memory. My wound is a different story. The bullet is definitely lined with silver and stuck somewhere inside me. Luke straps me up while Marc arranges our early departure. Nobody is too stressed. I'm an alpha, and killing me requires more than one silver bullet. It's just fucking uncomfortable.
Two hours later, we are being picked up by a helicopter. The pain is becoming a tad bit more than uncomfortable, but the bleeding seemed to stop. Halfway home, the silver started leaking into my bloodstream, causing me to shiver. The sooner Doc can take the bullet out, the better. My wolf is beginning to take the strain.
I must have passed out at some point because the next time I open my eyes, Luke and Marc each have an arm around their neck, busy dragging me to the packhouse. Black. Something pokes at my side. The fuck, that hurt! I see doc standing at my side, busy digging into my flesh with pointy objects. Triumphantly, I watch him pull out the bullet and chuck it into a kidney dish.
"There we go, all done. The residual silver should be out of your system by tomorrow, and then the wound should start healing. Take it easy until then, Connor." I hear my father and mother speaking outside the door. Then my mother enters the room and walks over to kiss me on my forehead like I'm her baby boy.
"I'm happy you all are safely back. Next time be more focused. I don't like it when you get injured. You aren't invincible, you know." She's giving me a lecture...a loving lecture, but still. She leaves, giving my father room to enter. I doubt his lecture is going to be as loving as my mother's.
"Son. I'm happy to see you are all home safely." Okay, that wasn't too bad. "The wolves that ambushed you have been traced back to Erin's personal guard. We found traces of enhancers in their blood. Erin must be jacking up his guard with black magic." That made sense. Marc hasn't seen his own blood in years, and he got injured, even if it was just a flesh wound. Before I get a chance to answer, the door flings open. Its hinges threatened to detach Emily standing on the other side. The golden rim in her eyes was shining so bright, it almost looks like rings of fire.
Chapter 21 - The Gift
EMILY
Jess was at the packhouse, trying her best to keep me calm. It's not working. My wolf immediately warned me Connor was injured. I was barely two steps out of my door, not bothering to get out of my pajamas, when I heard people in the packlounge discussing an extraction. I stood at the top of the stairs watching his father pace up and down in front of the fireplace. My uncle was making phone calls, and then I felt the warm embrace of my aunt as she wrapped me in a hug. I'm grateful my aunt decided to stay at the packhouse for another week. Jess offered to be my roomie when she leaves, but I'd rather not think about that right now.
My uncle seems relieved when he puts his phone down on the coffee table. "The heli was dispatched, and pick-up ETA is in 1 hour. All of them are fine. Marc has a flesh wound, and Connor has a silver bullet lodged in his abdomen. I'll go wake up, Doc." Leaving, my uncle looks up and sees me. He gives me a reassuring nod before he continues down the hallway.
"See, honey, everything will be fine." She's rubbing her hands up and down my arms. I didn't realize I was shaking until she did that. Jess bursts through the front door.
"What happened?" She's frantic. Spotting me at the top of the stairs, she bolts up towards me.
"Emily? Talk to me about what happened? Luke? Connor?" I pull myself together, and my aunt releases me. I focus on Jess, and tears are staining her flushed cheeks.
"Luke is fine, Marc has a flesh wound, and Connor was shot." I'm whispering and shaking my hands, trying to control the trembling. My wolf wants to see Connor right now, but I can't seem to move my feet. Eventually, we sit in front of the fire. My aunt made us hot cocoa while we wait for news. Minutes feel like hours. Both Jess and I, paralyzed on the couch, staring at the fire like it holds answers. Finally, we hear helicopter blades outside. They're back, my wolf is anxious, but I refrain from sprinting outside. Jess and I wait silently for someone to give us information. What seems like half a century later, I hear my uncle call my name and see him come back down the hallway.
"Emily, I'll take you to go see Connor. Jess, Luke is in the kitchen if you want to go see him." Jess didn't need to be told twice. She bolted towards the kitchen. So much for not liking Luke, I thought. I follow my uncle down the hallway and then I smell it. Copper or metal. Blood, Connors blood. A pit forms in my stomach and I rush past my uncle towards the smell.
My whole body is shaking now. I fling open the door where my mate is lying injured. My wolf has taken over, and I'm in the backseat. Connors father leaves the room, giving us our privacy. I walk over to him, unsure what to do but I feel like I should be doing something. Connor is on the bed, shirtless, with a bandage covering his abdomen. It's blood-stained. He gives me a weak smile, and I force myself to give one back.
"Hi..." I'm whispering again. Sitting next to him, I can't help but stare at the bandage.
"To be honest, I'm a little upset with you for getting shot," I meant it lightheartedly, but my wolf didn't. She's pissed off.
"I promise, it wasn't my intention. If you don't mind, you can keep the punishment for when I'm healed." His laugh is cut short when it causes pain over his stomach and he curls inward, grabbing the wounded area. I want to help him. I want to fix him.
"We didn't find him, though...your brother." He lowers his head in disappointment.
I should probably tell him about the encounter at school, but I haven't told anyone except Jess and I don't think now is the right time either. I asked if she saw the boy standing in front of me, but she said she's pretty sure she didn't see anyone. I described the man to her, but she didn't recall anyone who fit my description at our school and the scent he left behind wasn’t familiar to her either.
"It's okay. I'm sure we will find him." Before I realize what I'm doing, I shift forward and place my hands over his. My wolf took over control again, and I feel heat building up from my core. Like its muscle memory, I start focusing all my energy on Connor's wound.
I feel the heat moving from my core through my arms and towards my hands. My eyes are closed, but I hear Connor gasp. Less than a minute later, the heat left me completely, and I'm a little out of breath. It feels like I just ran a marathon. Opening my eyes, they find Connors. His eyes are wide, and his pupils dilated. He seems a little shocked.
"Your eyes Emily... It looks like, like... They are completely golden and glowing." I close them quickly and give my head a shake before opening them again. I'm still holding on to him. Both of our gazes drift towards his abdomen. Without another word, he slowly starts moving his hands away and unwraps the bandage. Nothing. There's not even a trace of a wound. It disappeared. Did I do that? Cymera answers me.
We did that, Emily. It's our gift.
"You just healed me..." It's not a question.
"I'm...I don't know what just happened. My wolf...she just took over." I'm starting to get a little woozy now, dots blurring my vision. Everything is spinning, I hear Conner call my name a few times, but it sound far away like he's standing on the other side of a tunnel. I'm going to pass out again, aren't I...Then darkness.
Chapter 22 – Prophecy
CONNOR
What the fuck just happened?
One minute Emily was placing her hands over mine, light filtering through her, and then I notice it bleeding out through her hands into me. I felt heat over the bullet wound and saw the light hover there, then nothing. No pain. I felt like all the silver left my system, a breath of fresh air entering me. It was Emily. She healed me. I can't believe it. When she lifted her eyes towards mine, they were shimmering gold, but it faded out after a few seconds. I remove the bandage and start looking for any evidence of being shot. Not even a scar lingered on my skin. Emily began to going paler and paler, and then she collapsed onto the bed next to me.
"Emily.Emily!"
; I couldn't wake her. My father and mother burst through the door. That door wouldn't be able to handle another abrupt opening.
"What happened?" My father's all business, all the time.
"She...she healed me, and then she collapsed." I'm busy getting up to swap positions with Emily. My mother's eyes roam over my body, looking for the wound. She won't find anything. I get why Emily was so upset seeing me in the clinic's bed. I don't like it one bit. I hear her heart beating steady and strong. Why is she not waking up? My father went to get Doc while my mother keeps scrutinizing me from head to toe.
"Mother, I'm fine. Let's focus on Emily. She's not waking up, and I don't know why." I try to get my wolf to connect with hers, but we haven't mated yet, so the connection is poor. Finally, my mother moves over to Emily taking ahold of her hand.
"Oh, honey. I think this was the first time she used her gift. It must have depleted her energy. Give her time. She'll come around. I remember the stories of the other healers. After they restore the packs' healing ability, they are weakened. It took a toll on her body. That's why the Moon Goddess blessed us with the fire moonstone. It allows the healer to draw energy from the stone instead of herself." I forgot my mother was a fan of the histories of our pack, but that makes sense. Silly wolf, using her energy to heal me. Also, now that my mother mentions it. Where did Emily put the fire moonstone?
After the Doc makes sure Emily is okay, my mother and father leave the room. Now that we know the prophecy is true, I can't help but wonder if Erin was aware his niece had the gift. To our knowledge, he has no idea Emily is even alive. I fell asleep about an hour later in the chair next to her with my feet propped up on the bed. Suddenly they are pushed off and I wake up with a jerk.
"You snore." Emily is sitting up in the clinic bed and staring at me with a smirk.
"Your awake, finally." I sit up straight, unsure if I should kiss her. The Moon Goddess knows I want to.
"The only reason I woke up was because of you snoring like a thunderstorm." A pillow to the face shortly follows the insult. I haven't experienced Emily's playful side, but I found it beyond attractive. I don't miss a beat. Jumping on the bed next to her, I start tickling her side. She counters with her own attack, and we end up tumbling off the bed in a mess of sheets and pillows. Not the kind of bedroom action my body craves, but I'll take it.
She's straddling me on the floor, and I'm 100% sure she feels how excited I really am. Her eyes go slightly wider, pupils dilated, and the brim of her eyes shine gold. Her wolf making its presence known. Her cheeks flush red, and before I can say or do anything, she leans forward and presses her lips to mine.
I don't need a lot of coaxing. I kiss her back, my hand fisting into her soft curls, keeping her lips connected to mine. My other hand makes its way to her hip. I put a bit of pressure there, pulling her hips slightly forward. I really wish I'd changed into sweatpants right about now. A low growl escapes me. Emily pulls back slightly, taking my breath with her. Her lips are a little swollen and pink. She looks flustered and it's adorable.
" May I?" She motions to my shirt, and I just nod at her. Slowly she lifts my shirt until my entire midsection is exposed. Taking her index finger, she traces over the part where a scar should have been visible. There's no evidence of a wound. Her hand trails further up, outlining my muscles. I grab onto the sheets to ensure my hands stay next to my sides. Goosebumps are erupting all over my body. Her palm goes flat just over the center of my chest, and her eyes focus on mine.
"Your heart is beating really fast." If only she knew what else she's doing to my body right now.
I grab her wrist and pull her back down to me. Kissing her with more need than before. I hold her one arm above us, and my other hand takes her by the hip. In one smooth motion, I flip us so that she's lying on the floor with me bent over her. Her legs automatically pull up to my sides. We fit perfectly and all we need now is a whole lot less clothing. That and a more comfortable surface. She's biting her bottom lip, making me almost lose it.
"The only person allowed to bite that lip is me." It's meant to sound cheesy and funny, but it comes out as a threat. She releases her bottom lip and instead purses her lips together. Before I can say anything else, the door is thrown open again. This time a hinge breaks, and the door is now barely hanging onto the wall. The poor thing has been abused all day.
"Ah fuck. I didn't mean to do that, I promise." Jess is staring at it like it's a pathetic excuse for a door. "Pathetic excuse for a door if you ask me." Yea got that one right.
Chapter 23 - Strangers
EMILY
When I woke up in the clinic bed, the last thing I thought I'd see was a snoring Connor next to me. I just sat there looking at him for about five minutes before I decided to wake him up. I don't know when exactly I fell in love with him, but I did. No going back now. It's not uncommon for people to fall in love so quickly. I just never thought I'd be one of them. If this were three weeks ago, I'd have believed its fate. Now I know it's the Moon Goddess who controls these things and I really should be thanking her.
I'm actually happy, or I think I am. I still miss my family every day, but before all this, they were all I thought about every day. It's not healthy. They would've wanted me to live my life. I have a chance at that now, and I plan on doing everything I can to do just that.
The following week passes in a blur. I was called into a meeting with Connor and his father on Wednesday. Walking into his office, I felt my palms starting to sweat. Get a grip, Emily. You are a royal. Cymera is a very proud wolf, and she's been scolding me every time I doubt myself. Connor and his father are sitting on the leather sofa. There's an armchair to the left, and his father, the Alpha, motions for me to sit.
"Thank you for joining us, Emily. How are you holding up?" He oozes superiority--power radiating from him in waves.
"I'm okay. Thank you so much for everything you and Connor have done for me." He waves a hand in dismissal.
"Nonsense. You are family, or will be family soon." Will be family soon... What does that mean?
"I wanted to talk to you about your gift. My wife, the Luna, has spoken to you about the history of our pack?" Yes, she cornered me yesterday. Disguising a history lesson as a coffee date, but I learned a lot. I'm also not taking off the fire moonstone again. Passing out isn't exactly fun.
"Yes. It was enlightening to say the least. Everything is new to me, but I understood the just of it." He nods his head. I've never seen Connor this quiet. His gaze is focused on me.
"Good. I'm more than thrilled that the prophecy is true, but I don't want to place you under any stress. Your gift is new, and so is this world. I'd prefer we keep it within a trusted circle only. Your aunt and uncle, Connor, myself and the Luna, of course, and then I'm to understand Jess also knows?" I don't get a chance to answer. He turned towards Connor, who doesn't speak. He only nods his head. Something is up with Conner.
"Good. Then that only leaves Doc, nobody else. We try and keep it that way. Gossip will travel, and we don't want Erin or Rogues to get wind of this. Your Uncle still believes you are dead. Let's keep it that way. They arrive in three weeks, so I'd like us to focus on Tristan." This man is all business all the time. Tristan that reminds me.
"I... If I may?" Both of them turn their heads towards me.
"Yes, Emily? Do you have a question?" Breath, just breath.
"I met a stranger. I mean, a stranger was at school, and he greeted me." I see question marks flash across their faces.
"I walked into school, and while Jess was greeting someone, a man appeared out of nowhere. he seemed familiar to me somehow, even though I know for sure I've never met him in my life." Connor's father folds his hand, waiting for me to get to the point.
"He had dark hair like me and blue eyes. He was built like, well like you. He told me that he would see me soon, then when he saw Jess make her way over to me, he disappeared." I see Connor go rigid, but his father remained calm and collected.
"It might have ju
st been someone in town that has seen you before." Logical, except that...
"He called me Amelia, not Emily." I see it register on both their faces simultaneously. His father stands, and Connor follows, walking back towards his desk. I'm left just sitting there while they continue the discussion. Cymera is getting irritated, and before I know what I'm doing, I clear my throat and stand up with my arms crossed. Connor looks back at me.
"Do you think it might be Tristan?" There's no way I'm letting them exclude me. It's technically my family, and I want to know what's going on. Connor realizes that I'm upset. His father remains oblivious.
"Yes, we lost his scent at the coast. He's very skilled at hiding it, and we couldn't track him. Maybe he came to find you. He is family, and his wolf might have realized you are alive after your awakening. The family link between royals is strong, strong enough to lead him directly to you." That could have been my brother? I met my brother. That's probably why Cymera didn't feel threatened by him. He is my family.
The rest of the meeting didn't involve me. They made plans to keep an eye on the school and the pack border. I'd spent the rest of the afternoon doing homework. Jess came over just before dinner and hauled me out of my room.
"You need to eat. We've been doing combat training every day. If you don't eat more, you're going to crash and burn. Wolves have a much higher energy demand."
"Okay, okay. Let's go have dinner." I'm cranky, mostly because I haven't seen Connor since the meeting, and the school doesn't count. I still have to get used to pack members eating dinner together. Most or almost all of the wolves live on the reserve. Like my uncle and aunt, some families, who are part of the pack, but originate from other packs, live close to the packhouse. Jess's family wanted their own house, but she's here all the time anyway. It's one big-ass family of well-built and short-tempered wolves.