Winter's Guardian

by G. Bailey

  I find Jaxson hitting the shit out of a punching bag as I walk in. His back goes stiff as he notices me in the room, even if I didn't make any sound.

  "Winter." He says as a welcome as he wipes the sweat of his head and stares at me. His gaze dips down my body as his eyes darken.

  “I brought you a sorry gift, well one. The rest are for your family.” I say holding up the bag. Jaxson takes the bag, and he chuckles as he sees the food. He eats two of the brownies while I put my phone on the side and tie my hair up in a ponytail. I watch as he puts the bag of food on a bench and walks back to me. I suppose I’m not getting a thank you for those.

  "So, what have you got planned today wolfman?" I joke using the nickname he hates, as I try to ignore the building tension in the room between us.

  "Hand to hand combat only today, after you warm up." He says looking away from me, as I start stretching.

  "Come on then teach." I taunt him, as I step onto the mats he has laid out for us.

  "Sure." He growls running at me and I feign left before sharply turning right to avoid him hitting me. Not that he ever has, he always stops seconds away from me, like he couldn’t hurt me.

  "Good but faster," He says as he catches me around the waist and I slip under his arm, and out of his reach. We avoid each other a few more times before I see him move more to my right. I go to hit his midsection but I miss, and he flips me effortlessly onto my back. I swing my legs out as he grins and he lands with a bang on the mat next to me.

  Jaxson rolls on top of me, holding my hands above my head as he smiles.

  "That was good." His breaths heavily, as a wave of arousal hits me as I feel all of him pressed tightly against me.

  Jaxson growls before he kisses me, a kiss I wasn’t expecting and I don’t have the power to stop. The man kisses me like a man possessed and I can do nothing but accept him. My mind goes hazy as he tastes amazing and his kisses are perfection. A few seconds or hell years later, I don't know, Jaxson jumps off me and walks away swearing under his breath.

  "Shit, I'm sorry I shouldn’t have done that." He slams a hand into the wall. The wooden cabin shakes and the floor starts lightly shaking. I catch a glimpse of his glowing green eyes and I know he is close to losing it. I don’t think as I reply to him.

  "You’re sorry? You going to tell me I’m a mistake next?" I say tensely.

  "You should be sorry, fuck I don’t want this. This stupid fucking prophecy, I," He frowns at running his hand through his hair as he stops talking and the ground stops shaking. The door to the training room slams open and Fergus comes in with a frown on his face as he looks at us both. I’m sure with my swollen lips and Jaxson angry face; he can tell what has happened. I can’t forget the extra sense of smell wolves have.

  "I need a word, now Jax." He says walking out.

  "Come on, you can wait in the house while we chat," Jaxson says walking away from me, as my hand finds its way to my lips. I shake away the ground-breaking kiss and follow a very tense looking Jax into the house. He leaves me in the massive living room as he goes into another room in the hallway. After a minute I know I need to use the bathroom, so I go to the door I saw Jax go into and lift my hand to knock but then I hear,

  "You could smell the arousal from both of you a mile away Jax. Have you forgotten you’re soon to be mate?" Fergus shouts and Jax doesn't say anything as Fergus continues,

  "She is human! The prophecy makes it damn clear what will happen and it could be her, and for what? A good fuck?"

  "Don't speak about her like that brother. She doesn't have anything to do with the prophecy." Jax shouts causing me to flinch. A loud growl fills the house.

  “She could destroy us all!” Fergus bellows in a loud growl.

  "Do I have to remind you who your mother was? No one but me knows and you of all people shouldn't be around a human. You need to kill her. I'm certain it's her and the others will find her. If they haven’t already." Fergus says, muttering the end part. I hear the loud growling getting louder.

  "No one will harm her!" Jaxson shouts and I hear a large something or person slam into the wall by the door, making me jump back.

  "Put me down, it's too late. You’re already protecting her and you know it’s her, don’t you? I can kill her for you; it needs to be done before it’s too late." Fergus weak voice says like someone is cutting off his oxygen supply. I have a good idea who is.

  I back away not wanting to hear anymore and run to the training room to get my bag. What the hell so they think I am? What is the prophecy about, that makes them want to kill me? I wouldn't harm anyone let alone destroy them like Fergus said.

  I grab my bag and turn to see Esta, shutting the training room door behind her.

  "I'm leaving, I can’t deal with you right now." I say to her and going to walk past her when she shocks me by pushing me hard. I fly across the room, hitting my side on the floor. Fuck that hurt. My head bangs off the floor and the room spins as I hear her boots clicking on the floor as Esta walks over to me.

  "You think you can have my mate?" She screeches, as she paces in front of me. I lean up on an elbow feeling pain radiate through my side. That is going to bruise, I think or maybe it’s a broken rib or two. She rants on before I start listening to what she is saying.

  "If I kill you, I can say you attacked me. They would believe me." She says to herself, as she pulls off her coat.

  "I'm leaving and you won’t kill me because you don’t even believe your own words. You know they won’t believe you, they will know you acted in jealously. Is Jaxson even worth this, killing me? Risking your own life?" I say getting to my feet and walking around her as fast as I can.

  "Wait." She says too sweetly and I turn in time to see her body convulse before turning into a grey wolf, as pieces of her clothing go flying in every direction. The wolf growls loudly at me as it lowers its head and stretches its paws out, looking ready to jump on me. If she wasn’t trying to kill me and I wasn’t shaking so hard, I would say her grey wolf is really a beautiful sight.

  By the time I realise I’m being stupid by just standing here, I scream out for Jaxson and run to the door. I see Esta jump and I fall to the left as she slams into the wall by the door, knocking her head. I run the final few steps and pull the door open. I run fast as I can outside. I realise straight away how stupid it was to leave the room full of weapons for an open field.

  "Jaxson," I scream again, as I run toward the main house. The loud growl behind me is all the warning I get before something strong knocks me to the ground. I roll over after I fall, to see a jaw full of large teeth growling at me. I hear noises around me but everything goes blank as she leans back to bite my neck and finish my life. Then the ground starts shaking underneath me and Esta stops for a second, her eyes meeting mine and the fear is clear throughout them. I close my eyes when I see her mind is made up.

  A whoosh of air hits my face, as I open my eyes and look over to see Esta over by the tree on my left. I watch as she shifts back and I turn my gaze to the massive black wolf standing in front of me. The wolf is huge, maybe four times as big as me and his massive face turns to me. I shake as he comes over and nudges me gently with his mouth full of sharp looking teeth. I look up into his eyes recognising Jaxson and I sigh, just being near him is relaxing me. The ground stops shaking and Jaxson licks my neck, I can’t help the little chuckle that comes out of me as I stroke his face. Despite being terrified, being around Jaxson is like a false sense of safety. I should be scared of him after what I heard but I’m not. I know he would defend me and I’m not sure if I want him to. What if he gets hurt trying?

  "Jaxson, she is dangerous. Let me kill her!" Esta screams as I tense up. Jaxson wolf shimmer’s slightly before a very naked Jaxson is sitting in front of me, with a worried face. My face turns red as I try not to look down at him, as he turns to face Esta, who is annoyingly perfect in her naked human form. I do sneak a look at Jaxson’s perfect ass before looking away.

  "She is my pack, I protect
her and you won't hurt her Esta." He warns, a low growl coming out his mouth.

  "She isn't yours. I'm to be your mate, not some human!" she shouts. Her words causing a pain my heart like no other.

  "I don't have to explain myself to you. Don't cross me again Esta, you won't like it." He replies, not denying that he is still going to mate with her. Her eyes meet mine across the grass, sorrow and pain are written in her eyes. As well as a lot of heartbreak, it’s never really crossed my mind that Esta really might love Jaxson. The thought doesn’t sit well with me, I never wanted to hurt anyone by falling for Jaxson, but it looks like I have.

  Esta shifts fluidly into her wolf, she whines at us once before running through the woods, away from us. Jaxson thanks Anna, who comes running over with some jeans and a top for Jaxson. As he changes, she rushes to me, helping me up.

  "Are you alright? Do you need a hospital?" She says quickly while checking me over for injuries.

  "No, I'm just going home," I say looking away from them both, as I remember Jaxson and his brother talking. I should stay away, no matter what I feel for Jaxson. I can't be around him knowing that they think I’m someone I’m not. Jaxson stares at me and me at him. We don’t talk as he opens his mouth a few times to speak but no one voices any words. I turn and leave my heart breaking as I know I have to leave him. He won’t be happy with me around and he can’t be with me. I don’t want to hurt Esta, it’s different for her and at the end of the day I’m just a human.

  "Wait, Winter." Jaxson shouts as I get into my car. Not wanting to talk, I lift my eyes to see his as he runs over to me. I start my car and drive off. The tears fall, as my heart breaks, the thought that one kiss will never be enough runs through my mind. I try to stop it; I have to remember that he isn't mine. Jaxson will never be.

  Chapter Sixteen

  "Where is she?" A man cries, making me flinch as I open my eyes to the chaos before me. Elissa is in the tight grip of a brown-haired man; he is tall and built like a guy that loves the gym. They are both wearing the strange clothing from all the dreams but he has a crown on his head. The crown is the matching one to the one Elissa wears but it’s a dark blue colour. I can’t see his face from where I am, but it’s clear he is older than me. It's the same bedroom as before but everything is ruined, smoke fills the room from the empty archways. The sounds of screams fill the air as I glance back at the large man. He is covered in blood and shaking Elissa, who looks defeated but not scared.

  "You’ll never find her, she is safe from you. The prophecy will come true because of you." She smiles gently at him.

  It can't be the same one Jaxson was talking about, what the hell? These can't be real.

  The man growls loudly, as the sound fills the room, so does the smoke from the empty archways. I spot a wolf running past in the corridor, covered in blood.

  "She is my child, mine! You are my queen and my mate but I will kill you if you don't give her back to me." He shouts into her face. Elissa is far braver than I ever thought, as she doesn’t back down, in fact, his words make her face harden.

  "I have seen it all, you would kill her and me regardless. I will save my child." She whispers as the man lifts the large sword at his side.

  "Then rot in death Goddess and know that I’m the last God on this earth. She will be mine and we will rule." He says before pushing the sword through her stomach. I watch in horror as he slowly pulls the sword out, holding it high at his side as her blood drips onto the floor from his hand. The man lets her drop to the floor, before walking out not looking back once at the beautiful women he just killed, I never get to see his face.

  I try to push against the hold I have to get to her because for some reason I’m desperate to not let the stranger die alone. It doesn't work as I watch the blood pour out the woman onto the cold white flooring.

  Her eyes meet mine as we stare at each over the room and her voice fills my head.

  "She is safe." Her voice filled with happiness as she stares at me when her eyes turn empty, I feel her soul leave the room before I start to scream.

  I wake up screaming and battling my quilts off me as the only sound of my pounding heart fills the room. My door slams open and to my surprise, Wyatt runs in with Alex on his heels.

  "Are you ok?" He asks, looking around my room for danger.

  "Sorry yeah, just a bad dream," I say trying to calm myself down. He comes over and gives me look over and kisses my forehead.

  "Oh honey, they have never been this bad before," Alex says, coming over to give me a little hug.

  "I know but I'm really ok," I whisper to her and she gives me a nod. A ringing noise beeps in the background, sounding worrying like the fire alarm, as Alex runs out the room shouting,

  "Shoot, I forgot the pancakes."

  I shake my head at the thought of my best friend attempting to cook anything edible, she and I are the reason takeaways make so much money. I suddenly remember Wyatt is here in my apartment and I smile at him.

  "So what are you doing here? I have class in," I check my clock on the wall.

  "Two hours," I say, cringing at the fact I’m wearing an old tatty shirt that is stuck to me with sweat. I pull my covers closer around me and Wyatt just smirks like he can read my mind. Wyatt looks good today in black shorts and a black shirt, his sunglasses slipped in the top of his shirt.

  "I was invited to breakfast but I think I might pass now." He laughs and I enjoy the nice sound. I get out of my bed and flinch at the pain of my ribs on my one side, where I was thrown yesterday. Wyatt, never missing anything about me, strides over with a worried face.

  "Lift your top." He demands. I raise an eyebrow at his demand, not sure how to take this serious Wyatt. I am way too aware I don’t have any bottoms on and if I did what he asked, I would be showing him my terrible yellow knickers.

  "Just so I can see where you’re in pain." He chuckles.

  "I fell in self-defence class last night, it's nothing," I mutter.

  “I’m not leaving until I see how bad it is.” Wyatt crosses his arms.

  “I’m not showing you my knickers.” I glare at him. I suppose I could just put some trousers on but I really don’t want to be moving right now.

  “I won’t look at those until you invite me to take them off, trust me.” He asks moving closer and gently running a hand down my arm. The thought of him taking my knickers off, has me blushing redder than a tomato.

  I sigh watching his stubborn face before pulling my shirt up and he takes a long intake of breath.

  "Winter, fuck you look like you've broken a rib." He says. I don’t look up at him as I pull my top down.

  "I'm fine." I wave him off, as he looks at me with a slightly angry expression.

  “You’re not; I have some cream that works wonders on bruises. I'll bring it to you after I go home.” He tells me and I nod.

  "Your phone has been ringing like mad, some people called Jackass and Harris. I picked it up to bring it to you before you screamed." He offers me the phone. I don’t answer his unsaid question about the jackass number; I can’t tell him I put that in there for Jaxson, before I got to know him. I should really change it back before he sees it. I'll end up having to buy him more than a couple of brownies for forgiveness. My heart contracts as I remember that I can’t see him anymore, I honestly forgot about everything that happened. These dreams are doing a number on me, and intensely hot guys coming into my room first thing in the morning. That doesn’t help.

  "Thanks, Wyatt,” I say.

  I accept my phone from him to see there are a ton of missed calls and voice messages from both Harris and Jaxson. I don’t want to listen to them because I can’t hear his voice, no matter what he has to say.

  "They are some guys from my class; it's likely they haven't done the paper due tomorrow," I say trying to keep my eyes on the floor. When I look up, Wyatt’s eyes narrow at my lie but he just groans shaking his head.

  "I'm going to help your friend." He walks away looking dejected.
/>   "Are you ok?" I ask reaching out to stop him leaving.

  "I don't do relationships but I'm incredibly jealous at the moment. I've only felt this way once and I don't know how to be around you Winter." He pulls me gently into his arms and places a kiss on my head.

  "Who was the other person?" I ask being nosy, but at the same time, I don't know what to say to him about feeling jealous. We aren't in a relationship and he hasn't asked me for anything other than a few kisses yet. It was him that suggested we take things slow.

  "My childhood friend turned girlfriend for a short while. She passed away a while ago." He says, looking so sad that I go to him. I wrap my arms around his waist and rest my head on his chest. His arms tighten around me.

  "I'm sorry," I say squeezing him tightly.

  "I put her in danger, being near me is danger and well, I don't know how to push you away." He says with a frown.

  "What do you mean?" I ask looking up at him in confusion.

  "Hey guys, we are going to the café in town for breakfast. I'm not trying to cook again." Alex shouts down the hallway before she gets to my door. She smiles fondly at me from the doorway. I try not to chuckle at the black ash on her cheek. Her hair is all over the place and she looks flustered.

  "Babe, you could have let me help," Drake says coming behind her and wrapping her in his arms. She melts against him, reminding me how I'm in Wyatt’s arms and I somehow forgot because it feels right.

  "Shush you." She mutters to him. I watch as he wipes her cheek clean and she looks up at him adoration. They both seem to have forgotten we are here. I read about this kind of love, a love that makes you forget anything else in the world. A love that can stop time for you and them. I feel lucky just to be able to see it.

  "Sounds good, we can meet you there. I'm sure Winter needs to get ready." Wyatt says, his warm breath moving my hair. I look up at Wyatt as he talks, everything about him draws me in. I know I’m falling for him, even if I don’t want to, I don’t want to be vulnerable. I finally pull my gaze from Wyatt to Alex and Drake.