by Sarah Beth
* * *
❖
Wesley
He thought he was losing her right before his eyes. No matter how hard he pounded on the invisible barrier between them, he couldn’t get to her. They couldn’t get into the damn circle, no matter what they tried or how hard Claire chanted behind him. Nothing was working.
“Alex!” He had never heard his own voice sound so raw and scared before, not even when he was a terrified little boy and his father had gone mad.
His father was beside him in an instant, palms laid out flat on the force field keeping Abby from them. The Alpha’s eyes looked wild, yellow creeping into the edges of the usually warm green. In the corner of his eye, he could see Warren and Kyle moving around the room. He was vaguely aware of Tori sticking close to Claire’s side, in case the witch needed anything. For a moment he wondered where Ephram had run off to, but then the woman inside the circle gasped.
He could see her turning blue as she clawed at the warlock’s invisible hand on her throat. The warlock in question stood a few feet away from her, laughing like a madman. His eyes were shining with joy as he squeezed the life out of the most precious thing in Wesley’s world.
And then, just as suddenly as everything had happened since meeting Abby, things changed. The room was bathed in bright light, blinding him and causing him to look away for fear of damaging his sight.
A pulse sent him and the others flying against the walls. As he opened his eyes the light faded, and it was then that he noticed it had come from his Mate. Abby was now laying on the ground outside of the circle, with the warlock on the inside. Neither of their bodies were moving.
With more speed than he could ever remember using, he was by her side. Gently turning her onto her back, he brushed her hair away from her face. Her lips were blue, and he couldn’t hear her heartbeat. He could hear Alex yelling orders at the others, could hear him and Claire walking closer to Abby. As he pulled her into his arms he growled at them, warning them to stay away. He didn’t want anyone come close to his Mate.
“Wesley…” Claire spoke softly, like she was trying to not spook a wild animal. “She isn’t dead — not yet. You need to wake her.”
He almost laughed, but was afraid a sob would break out if he opened his mouth. He rested his forehead against her hair, breathing in the scents he had come to depend on. But they were tainted with blood and terror, not the usual light scents he associated with his Mate.
Claire took another step closer, and he pulled Abby against to his body. She spoke quietly again but firmly, “Wesley. Wake her.”
Wake her. Wake her. How the hell was he supposed to wake her? He couldn’t hear a heartbeat, and she wasn’t breathing. How was that not dead? But Claire believed the words she spoke, he could hear that in her voice. He took a deep breath of lilac and rain and did the only thing he could think of — he offered up his own life, his life force, to his Mate.
Nothing happened at first, then his body filled with a warmth that he hadn’t experienced before. He heard her heart give a single beat before she took a gasping breath, her eyes snapping open to meet his.
She smiled weakly at him, raising a pale hand to his cheek, “You came.” Her voice was hoarse, like she hadn’t had anything to drink in days.
He leaned close to her again, tears he couldn’t bother to hide sliding down his cheeks, “Of course I came. I’ll always come.”
Chapter Thirty-Four
❖
Wesley
The one thought that kept invading Wesley’s thoughts over the following days, was that he had become dangerously close to becoming his father. Just the thought of losing Abby sent his wolf into a frenzy and his heart racing. They weren’t even mated yet, not in the literal sense, and yet he knew that if she had died in that warehouse he wouldn’t have survived the night. His father going mad after his mother’s death made much more sense.
A soft noise beside him caused him to look down at the woman sleeping in his arms. He’d barely left her side since they arrived back at Alex’s house in the wee hours of Wednesday morning. She slept so soundly, so deeply, for the first full day that he was afraid she would never wake up. But then her ivy eyes had fluttered open and all of his fears vanished. She was in and out of consciousness since then, but her sleep wasn’t as deep anymore. She made another sound, almost strangled in her throat, her brows pulling together. Pulling her closer against his chest, if that was even possible, he gently placed his lips to her forehead. “It’s alright, you’re safe. I’ve got you.”
Her hand came up to rest on his chest, fingers fisting into his shirt. But no more noises broke the silence of his room. God, what he wouldn’t give to have the ability to quiet her mind. He knew she was having nightmares about what she had been through, and that knowledge nearly broke him. He didn’t like seeing her in pain. He was so focused on the heart beating against his and the soft breaths against his skin, that he wasn’t aware of Alex coming downstairs until he was almost to the bedroom. Looking towards the door, he saw Alex pause at the threshold, a tray in his hands. “How is she?”
Wesley looked back down the slight woman in his arms. He was fairly certain she had lost weight in the last few days. He could feel her ribs prominently through his old shirt she wore, her cheekbones looked sharper. Her hair splayed out over her back, having fallen out of the braid Tori had done. He gently racked his fingers through the waves of fire. “Hasn’t woken in a while,” he paused to think, glancing at the clock by his bed. It was close to lunch time, no wonder Alex had brought him food. “Last time she woke up it was before sunrise.”
Alex hummed in the back of his throat, walking into the room and setting the tray on the bedside table. “She has a lot of healing to do, my boy. Her body doesn’t heal like yours or mine.”
Letting out a frustrated groan, Wesley tossed his head back into the pillows, “But does it have to take this long? Do humans really heal this slowly?”
Alex chuckled, but before he could say anything, a muffled reply vibrated against Wesley’s chest. “Not human.”
Running a hand through her hair, Wesley couldn’t help but smile. The feeling of having a fist squeezing his stomach eased, his heart skipping a beat at the sound of her voice. Abby sighed, reaching up to rub her eyes before leaning away from him. He immediately missed the feeling of her against him.
“I hope we didn’t wake you.” asked Alex, a small smile on his lips as Abby sat up beside Wesley.
A soft sound escaped her lips as she shook her head slowly. Wesley was quickly becoming aware of how addicting those little sounds were. “No, I don’t think you woke me, anyway.” She lifted a hand to her head, brows pulling together.
Wesley sat up quickly, reaching for a glass of water by the bed. “Does your head hurt?”
Taking the offered glass, she took a sip of water before answering, “Not really. It’s — I’m just a little light headed.”
“Do you think you’re up to eating something? That would most likely help a great deal.”
Abby looked to Alex, as if just fully realizing he was in the room. “Uh, I think so.”
Alex nodded, resting a hand on Wesley’s shoulder for a brief moment before heading back out of the room. “I’ll bring you some broth then.”
Wesley watched the only father he really had retreat out of the basement and then turned his attention back to the woman sitting beside him. The glass of water was held in her hand, forgotten, as she stared out the large window at the end of the bed.
“It’s snowing.” She spoke softly, just above a whisper.
Wesley scooted closer to her, laying a warm hand on her knee. “Yeah, started last night. We’ve got a few inches already and more coming.”
She nodded her head but said nothing else. Although she hadn’t exactly been talkative the other times she had woken, this time felt different. Wesley wasn’t sure why. Squeezing her knee, he asked, “Are you alright?”
Her shrug was so minuscule, he almost missed it. What
he didn’t miss was the tear falling down her cheek. He pulled her back into his arms, the glass put on the table, as quickly as he could. Tucking her head under his chin, he wrapped his arms around her and held tightly. She didn’t sob, not like he had been expecting since finding her in that place. But her silent crying was somehow worse. All he heard was the occasional sniffle, and he was certain his own shattering heart. “I’ve got you. You’re okay. You’re safe.” He repeated the words, over and over, until he felt her breathing steady. But he never loosened his arms. Putting his face to her hair, he could barely distinguish where her scent began and his ended. It calmed him more than he would ever admit out loud.
A gentle push to his chest made him loosen his arms just a bit, enough so she could move her head and look up at him. Her usually bright eyes looked dull and tired. “I’m sorry…”
His brows creased, “No, don’t apologize. Abby, you have nothing to apologize for.”
She looked at him for a moment, her eyes never leaving his, until she nodded with a sigh. Laying her head back on his chest, she said, “I’m so tired and yet all I’ve done is sleep.”
He ran his thumb up and down on her bare arm, “I know.” God, how could he make her feel better? “Claire called this morning, checking in. I bet she’d love to hear your voice.”
He felt her smile against his chest, a soft chuckle against his shirt, “I’d like to hear her voice too.”
Wesley probably would’ve stayed just like that for the rest of the day, if Abby had wanted to. But then Alex was coming back down the stairs, his bare footsteps distinct on the hardwood floor.
Abby lifted her head as he approached, a soft smile on her lips. “Thank you, Alex — really.”
The old wolf waved off her words, a caring look crossing his face as he set a bowl of vegetable soup on the table beside Wesley’s untouched food. “Nothing to thank me for, my dear. Nothing at all.” He smiled as he leaned over and kissed the top of Abby’s head ever so briefly, “We’re just very happy you’re here.” He left the room without another word.
Abby watched him leave for a moment before setting her head back on Wesley’s chest.
“We should probably eat, before you fall asleep again.” He said against her hair, a lock of it tickling his nose when he spoke. She nodded against his chest, but took a few moments before she sighed, pushing off his chest to sit properly. She motioned for the bowl beside him, and as he handed it to her, he couldn’t help but feel concerned. He knew it was written all over his face. Hell, she could probably feel it herself.
His thoughts were only confirmed when she took the bowl and offered a small smile, “I’m okay, really. I — I’m just tired and I –,” she shrugged, looking down at the bowl between her hands, “I just want to move on and forget it every happened.”
He knew that was never going to happen, not really. She would always remember what happened to her in those six hours, while he had been desperate to find her. He knew that those memories would probably plague her for centuries. But he was going to do his damnedest to help her through it.
He reached a hand out and rested it against her cheek — it was warm under his palm. She lifted her eyes to meet his, a smile playing on her lips. He didn’t say anything, but somehow he knew he didn’t have to. Everything he was feeling was transferred from his palm and into her. Her eyes brightened just a bit. He removed his hand slowly, turning his attention to his own food. But every time he looked up, she would meet his gaze with a small smile and dancing eyes.
* * *
❖
Abby
The second time she woke that day it was near dinner time, and she was alone in the bed. Abby squished her face into the pillow beneath her for a moment, taking a breath in. She wasn’t about to admit how much sleeping in Wesley’s bed, surrounded by his personal scent, helped ease her aching body. But as she stretched out sore legs, flipping herself over onto his pillow, she could at least admit it to herself.
With a sigh, she sat up and looked out the picture window on the far wall. The snow was still falling, in bag fat flakes past the glass. The trees beyond were covered in a blanket of white, branches beginning to bow under the pressure. Alone with her thoughts, for the first time since everything went down, Abby apprehensively allowed the memories of that night to flood her brain.
Back at the warehouse, after she had woken up in Wesley’s arms, the stench of decay and blood all but suffocating, Alex had told them to go home. The pack would call in a crew and take care of the girl’s body. She was too tired then to ask where they were going to find a clean-up crew for a dead warlock and two squished vampires. Not to mention the room — it had been a miracle the building was even standing, after a magical bomb went off. The ceiling had threatened to cave in, the walls all but blown apart. But it was the giant tree branch that reached into the building, hovering over Abby and Wesley, that would pose to be the biggest problem.
Abby had been vaguely aware of Tori standing close by, off Wesley’s right shoulder. She had looked so concerned that Abby had mustered the strength to smile just a bit. It was worth the effort when Tori’s shoulders visibly relaxed.
“Go on, take her home. There’s a first aid kit in the Humvee, take it with you. Just in case.”
With effort, Abby tried to sit up in Wesley’s arms. Alex sounded close by, but she wasn’t able to see him. She wanted to make sure he was okay too. That they were all okay. But Wesley’s arms were strong, far stronger than she was in that moment. He held her still against his chest. “Easy, don’t move. I’ll carry you to the car, don’t worry about it.”
She shook her head slowly, “I want — where’s Alex?” She grasped at Wesley’s shirt with weak fingers.
A shadow blocked out the light above her, and Alex had smiled warmly down at her, “I’m right here, child. Stop your worrying about us, we’re more concerned about you. You just go home and rest, we’ll be along soon.” He nodded briefly, “I promise.”
Before she had a chance to say anything, Wesley’s arms tightened around her as he lifted her up. She remembered resting her head on his chest, right by his heart, and took comfort in the steady beat. Warmth bloomed in her chest at the sound, and she could feel it as it reached through her and into him. She wanted to ask him if he could feel it too, but hadn’t the energy. Wesley began walking towards a blown out section of the wall, Claire stood by and smiled. “We’ll talk soon.”
Abby nodded slowly, speech beyond her in that moment. Her eyelids felt heavier by the second. She felt Wesley chuckle, before he tucked her head underneath his chin. “I’ll get you home. Sleep. Nothing else is going to hurt you, I promise.” She knew he was telling the truth, or at least he believed he was. Abby hadn’t thought there was anything that could hurt her in that moment, not with Wesley’s arms securely around her.
As the memories faded back slightly in her mind, Abby was pleasantly surprised to not feel anxious or scared. In this room, in this house, nothing could touch her. She was safe. She smiled as one more memory floated through, of asking Wesley to take her to his bedroom, not the guest room. Her brain was still foggy when it came to the drive home, but she was fairly certain she had rendered him shocked for a moment or two.
She sat there for a few minutes, enjoying the warmth of the bed and watching the snowfall out the window. Although her body felt like it could stay in that bed forever, her stomach made it apparent that she needed to eat. The broth that Wesley had made sure she drank hadn’t been much. But she passed out again on his chest before she could eat anything more. Actually, she was sure that it had been the only thing she’d eaten in two days. No wonder she felt so weak. With a little more effort than should have been necessary, she pushed the maroon colored covers away. Slowly lifting herself out of bed, her legs only wobbling for a moment, she padded barefoot across the wood floor to the stairs. Wearing a long shirt, one she was fairly sure was Wesley’s, and sleep shorts, Abby was insanely grateful that Alex had turned the heat up. Even though W
esley would likely know she was awake, she still walked as softly as she could to the kitchen.
Tori was lying on the couch in the living room, a book between her hands. Her face lit up at the sight of Abby walking into the room, but she didn’t say anything. Wesley stood in the kitchen, lounge pants and no shirt. His hair hung wet around his head, falling into his eyes as he worked. He must’ve gotten up to take a shower. She could smell coffee brewing and was fairly certain Alex must have been baking cookies that afternoon. She leaned against the island to watch him for a moment before he turned and smiled, his eyes lighting up like a Christmas tree. “Sleep better this time around?”
She shrugged, holding her arms around herself. She had mostly slept for two whole days since they got back from the city, but her dreams weren’t very kind to her. Alex mentioned he knew someone, a shrink who would happily talk to her if she wanted. But as Wesley walked across the kitchen and put his arms around her, pulling her close, she figured she could hold out on her own for a while. She stood there, content in his arms and surrounded by the scent of pine and fresh-baked cookies. The moment only broken when he sighed and put his hands on her shoulders. Placing a kiss on her forehead, he whispered, “I thought I lost you.”
Abby hummed, “For a second there you did.”
His hands held tightly to her shoulders, his eyes full of concern. It was practically the only emotion she had seen in those pools of blue for days. She smiled softly at him, reaching a hand up to run her fingers lightly over his brows and down his cheek. She wanted to wipe the concern from his face. “Don’t worry about me, I’ll be fine.” She glanced behind her to the living room, “I’m guessing someone has talked to the Canry’s?” She had been in and out of consciousness in Wesley’s room, vaguely aware of people coming in to check on her, until that morning. All of her energy had been focused on resting and healing. Abby hadn’t let herself think of Jessie.