Heaven Sent
Page 1
Heaven Sent
M. L. Chesley
Copyright 2015 M. L. Chesley
Other Titles by M. L. Chesley
Adversarius, Shadow of the Rose: Book One
Coming Soon:
Veritas, Shadow of the Rose: Book Two
Oliver lifted his nose to the scent of Seluna and suppressed a growl. He slowly lowered himself to the ground, his back against a tree, letting the shadows envelope him as he rested. He could almost feel Seluna breathing down the back of his neck, and it made his hackles rise. Oliver looked down, saw the blood seeping through his shirt, and applied more pressure to the soaked bandage. The acrid, metallic smell would draw Seluna, and the rest of the pack, right to him. He could fight the others, but he wasn't too sure he could take on Seluna, even if he wasn't injured.
Oliver leaned back and closed his eyes. Jaelyn was out there, searching for him, and if the others found her first, they would kill her. Oliver had gone against pack rules. He had refused Seluna as mate. But how could he change his heart? he wondered. Where was Jaelyn?
As if in answer to his thoughts, he felt a whisper-like breeze across his cheek, felt her feather-light touch.
“Oliver,” she whispered. Her voice had a chorus of angels behind it that only he could hear, and it made him smile.
“You shouldn't be here,” he scolded, the words coming out as gasps of pain. He opened his dark brown eyes and gazed at the pale face he had come to love. She was a half-breed, part angel, part human, and his heart always skipped a beat when she was near.
“You know you cannot keep me away. I'm part of this too.” Her voice was low as she chastised him. “This is as much my fight as it is yours.”
“Jaelyn –” he broke off as the gash in his stomach burned with a sharp pain.
“Shh! Lie back and let me heal you, at least,” Jaelyn said.
“No time! We need to get out of here.”
“You are in no shape to move. At least let me stop the bleeding,” She said as he tried to rise. She scowled, pushing him back. Her hands hovered over his stomach, a soft glow emanating from her palms. She wasn't quite touching his skin, but he could still feel his face flush. As she worked, her wings unfurled, wrapping around them like a protective shield. Her scent always changed when her wings were out. Right now, as he inhaled, it was indescribably sweet, like cookies.
“There,” she said. “That should do for now.” She tugged at her long, red braid. “What?” she asked when she caught him watching her. He smiled as her cheeks flushed a bright pink.
“I love you,” he said.
“I love you, too,” she replied, smiling.
“You still shouldn't be here.”
“Oliver,” she said, exasperated. She threw her hands up, then let them drop back to her lap. “We've been through this. I love you, I worry about you. We're in this together if we want to be together.”
“I don't want something to happen to you.”
“Nor I you,” she said. She gently brushed a strand of his dark, unruly hair off his sweaty brow. “But we cannot help who we love. I don't regret falling in love with you, and if something happens –” he placed a finger on her lips, cutting her off. Jaelyn removed it and kissed each of his fingertips. “I know I will be with you again, somehow. Somewhere.”
Oliver moved in to kiss her, he could smell her sweet, warm breath. Their lips had barely brushed when they heard the howl permeate the night.
“Come on!” he said, hearing how close the pack was, he motioned to her for help. She took his hand, pulling him to his feet, and held him firmly about the waist as he leaned on her. Oliver glanced around, looking for a way out of these dense woods. The two of them moved as quickly as they could, he could feel the blood seeping through the bandage and down his side. As they entered a clearing, Seluna dropped from a tree, effectively halting them.
“There you are, my love,” Seluna said, her voice a low, sultry growl. “Time to come rule the pack with me.” She held a partly transformed hand out to Oliver. Her hands were covered in fur, her fingers ended in razor sharp claws. Oliver looked her in the eye. Moonlight shone through the branches, high above, and her eyes caught it, reflecting it back like a cat's. Her face was twisted, slightly elongated, and fur covered her cheeks. Her nose twitched as a breeze skipped through the clearing.
“I can't do it, Seluna. I already told you.” Oliver stepped away from Jaelyn, glancing over his shoulder. The pack had surrounded them silently. He placed his body protectively between Jaelyn and Seluna, shielding one from the other.
“You do not understand, whelp!” Seluna said with a snarl as she took a step forward. “You do not refuse me. If I offer you something, even a trifle, you take it, and be grateful.”
“I love her, Seluna.” Oliver said simply. His voice was steady, but his body shook slightly from fatigue and anticipation. He fully expected the pack to rip him apart in a matter of seconds.
“Fine.” Seluna snapped. “Then she'll just have to fight me. For you.”
“No!” Oliver shouted, but before he could move, two werewolves grabbed and held him from behind. They twisted his arms back, pulling at his wound and making him cry out in pain.
Jaelyn stood straight and tall, her wings tucked behind her.
“I'll fight you,” she said with a defiant lift of her chin.
“Good.” Seluna nodded. Her body twisted and shimmered, leaving a silver wolf standing in the moonlight, baring her teeth. Jaelyn spoke something in Latin, and a silver pike appeared in her hand.
“You fight to the death,” the pack said in unison and they all stepped back, pulling Oliver with them. He knew it was useless to struggle. The pack leader had spoken and no one else would go against Seluna.
Seluna barked in response, circling, her hackles raised. Jaelyn stood still and calm, her arm wrapped around the pike, waiting for Seluna to make the first move. The wolf leapt into the air and Jaelyn spun around, not taking her eyes off her, and swung her weapon. She caught Seluna in the ribs, and knocked her to the ground. Seluna gave a yelp and quickly scrambled to her feet, lunging again.
This time, Seluna caught Jaelyn's shoulder, her teeth sinking into Jaelyn's flesh. Jaelyn screamed and Oliver struggled against his pack mates. Jaelyn dropped the pike, grabbing Seluna by her scruff. Her wings unfurled and stretched high behind her. With very little effort, Jaelyn flung the wolf away like a rag doll. Seluna recovered quickly and jumped to her feet. She launched herself high into the air, landing on Jaelyn's chest, solidly, with both front paws. The two women fell to the ground, grappling for the dominant position.
Jaelyn pushed against Seluna's chest as the wolf snapped at her throat. Seluna's breath was hot in her face. Jaelyn reached for her pike, her muscles straining, her breath coming in short rasps. Her fingertips barely brushed the pike, so she stretched further. The fur of Seluna's snout brushed Jaelyn's throat, and with a grunt, Jaelyn forced both hands under the wolf's chest, shoving hard. Seluna fell back enough for Jaelyn to twist and grab the weapon. As Seluna fell, Jaelyn rammed the pike into her chest, hot blood spurting in her face.
Seluna howled as the fur melted from her body, her features blurring back to human form as she crumpled to the ground, dead. Jaelyn held the silver weapon tightly, struggling to her knees. Behind her, Oliver broke free as his pack mates released him, and ran to Jaelyn's side.
“Jaelyn,” he whispered. He fell to his knees and held Jaelyn, gently prying her hands loose from the pike. “Okay, it's okay. Let go, Jaelyn.”
The weapon fell, clattering to the ground, and she leaned against Oliver's chest. Her hands wound around his neck as he held her close. The pack surrounded them, regarding them quietly.
“I won't leave her,” Oliver told them as he held her.
“We won't
ask you to,” one said. Oliver nodded as they all shifted into wolf form, melting into the woods, leaving them alone.