by Jade Royal
“She rejected the bond!”
Maddox leaned over the chair gasping for air but paused when he heard my outburst. “She what … how?”
“At the hospital, I opened the mating bond so that I could heal her. She rejected me. She said no. She doesn’t want me!”
“There’s no way … nobody is that strong.” Maddox said.
“Obviously she is.” I cursed the entire situation. Leave it to me to have the most difficult mate known to wolf. I’d asked myself a million times how it was possible for her to deny me.
The door burst open and Alice rushed in breathless. “Seuss, we have a problem. The wards around the pack grounds have been breached. Whoever’s done this is much more powerful than any spiritual being I’ve ever encountered.”
“Where are they?” I stood waiting for her response.
Alice’s eyes turned white as she reached out to the pack lands. “They’re on the east and …” Alice gasped, then her eyes turned back to normal. She struggled to breathe, and I held her head trying to soothe her.
“What is it Alice?” She seemed to be fighting something internally.
“She’s back …” she gasped. “And she’s got Justice.”
I growled knowing exactly who it was. She’d killed my mother, but I would not let her kill my mate.
“Alice, call my father and brothers.” I didn’t say anything else as I shifted and raced through the house and out the doors. Maddox was hot on my trail as we headed to find the strongest mage I’ve ever known. And this time, she wouldn’t get away.
Justice
Everything hurt. my body, my heart and my soul. When I’d left the pack, I had no idea that I was pregnant. It made me wonder if it was what Alec saw. That still plagued my mind to this day.
Ms. Sandy brought me beef broth and crackers to help with my stomach. I couldn’t keep anything down, and I had this ache that I couldn’t get rid of. I’d lost weight and I’d broken out into crying fits that would last for hours. I couldn’t control the amount of loneliness that I felt. One would think that the reoccurring dreams that I had would suffice. Each time, I saw that I was carrying more than one child.
Ms. Sandy paced often and kept silent. I couldn’t tell her anything, and the lack of communication was hard on our relationship. I wanted to tell her, but how could I explain the last three months of my life? “Hey, I’m really a wolf that spent the past few months healing my mate through a bond that he didn’t want. And oh yeah, I’m pregnant with his babies. Ms. Sandy, did you know healers, wolves and shit existed? Because I’m pretty sure that if wolves exist some of the other super naturals probably do too.” No, thank you.
Lately, I’d been weak and hadn’t been able to move from the couch. I feel like death is lurking, and I don’t know what to do about it. Ms. Sandy keeps trying to get me to sleep, but that only lasts for a few minutes at a time. I’d hate to see myself in a mirror. I probably looked like crap.
“Justice, I really need you to try to drink the broth and keep it down. It’s been days since you’ve kept anything in. Are you sure that they didn’t do anything to you where you were staying? You’ve been … getting sicker since you came home.”
“No, I’m fine. Just tired,” I told her. It was the truth. I was extremely tired but every time I closed my eyes, I saw Seuss.
“Justice, maybe we should get you to the doctor,” she pressed for the hundredth time. She exited the room to bring me something to drink.
“I told you, I can’t go to the hospital,” I yelled out to her. The urge to pee hit hard and I struggled to stand. “I’ll be fine.”
I moved to go to the bathroom and grew lightheaded. I reached for the wall to steady myself but missed it by a long shot. I saw Ms. Sandy run towards me, but it was too late. I hit the floor hard. I saw a blast of light around me before darkness took me under.
Seuss
There were bright red beams of light that came from the ground and reached toward the sky. The circle of light was blinding to stare at, but I could hear her voice loud and clear.
“Dearest Seuss, it’s nice to see you again.”
I growled as I paced the circle looking for a way in. I could feel wolves approaching from different angles. Eight of them. I shifted to speak to her.
“You have some nerve coming back here.”
“Do I?” she chided.
“You should have died with all the others.” I was growing restless. I could feel Justice and she wasn’t well. What had this fucking mage done to her?
“I told you then and I’ll tell you now. I didn’t know …”
I turned, feeling the arrival of the wolves. Anna, Beth, Tina, Ree, Ms. Kento, Lisa, Ms. Cordell, and … Mandy? I hadn’t seen her since … suddenly I remembered her. She was the sister. The quiet one. She hadn’t been around since I’d imprisoned the mage. I leapt toward her and more beams came from the ground creating a larger circle.
Cut off before I could reach the beams, Maddox pummeled me to the ground and rolled away from the light. I growled at him, but he held steady.
“Those beams will burn you alive if you touch them, Seuss.” Maddox rolled off me and stood.
Yes. He’d probably just saved my life, but that didn’t make me feel better.
“What in the hell is going on?” I watched the layers of beams as they circled one another. There were nine force fields keeping me from the woman that I loved. Each woman was inside a different layer like a protective fold around this goddamn mage.
“Sandy!” I yelled.
“You could make this stop at any moment, Seuss.”
“What’s going on?” My brothers and father suddenly appeared. Alec stepped forward trying to gauge the situation.
“It’s that crazy mage, Sandy. She’s got Justice and she’s killing her.” I let the power dancing along my fingertips grow into a powerful ball of energy before I threw it at the force field.
“Nooooooooooo!” Maddox yelled at me.
The ball bounced off the field and blew all of us backward onto the ground. “What in the fuck are they?!”
“Guardians.” My father stood up and dusted off his hands. “They are protectors. Question is, are they protecting Sandy or Justice?”
I didn’t think I wanted to know the answer. “What do you want from me, Sandy?”
“I want you to save her. I want you to believe me. You can’t have her without me.” I heard her sniffle and that caught my attention.
“What’s wrong, Sandy?” I tried to see through but couldn’t.
“She’s … dying …”
I roared. “Let me through!”
“You’ll kill me. If I die … she dies.”
“What?” I looked at my father hoping that he had answers.
“Guardians are blood bound. If she’s used her blood at all to heal Justice, the moment that she dies, so does Justice.”
“What is it that you want me to believe?” I asked. I felt doom closing in around me. Should I let my mother’s killer walk freely to save my mate?
“Christophe came to me for the spell. That’s true. I made it. But only because he threatened the life of my sister. I didn’t know that it was for the queen. I’d never hurt her. She’d protected the nine of us for so long …” Her voice trailed off. “I didn’t know it was for her until your guards arrested me. I still haven’t forgiven myself for that.”
“Why did you run?” I asked.
“Justice was coming of age, and somebody needed to watch over her. I’d been around off and on over the years, but she was growing stronger. I was set free to protect her. She needed me.”
“Who set you free?” I asked the question but already knew the answer.
“I did.” Mandy spoke the words easily.
“Treason,” I barked at her.
“I’m sworn to protect Justice at all costs. Justice needed Sandy.”
“I’d never hurt Justice, Seuss,” Sandy said. “If you promise not to try any funny business, I’ll show you.�
��
“Then you’ll let me heal, Justice?” I asked.
Sandy hesitated. “Yes.”
I saw a burst of light come from the center and then heard gasps from Justice.
“Fine!” I roared. I didn’t know what the hell she was doing, but I could feel Justice more than I could before.
Everybody stood behind me ready to attack.
“Tell them to back away,” Sandy said. I could see her through the light advancing toward us.
“Move back!” I yelled. Everyone stepped backward but Maddox.
“I’ll stay here.”
Sandy emerged from the light and looked over at Maddox. “I want to cause no harm to your Alpha, but I know what it means to guard someone with your life, but stay back Beta.”
Sandy kneeled on the ground in front of me. She was smart. Coming to me without Justice ensured that she stayed safe.
“I know you read memories, Seuss.” She kept her head bent, waiting.
I lifted her head and rested my forehead against hers. Bright light welcomed me, and I shielded my eyes from it.
“Guardians of nine, you’ve been chosen because you are the fiercest and strongest in the lands. You’ll guard my lineage to the end of time. No matter the consequences.”
The man was tall and strong. The crown upon his head spoke of his royalty.
“You’ll guard our lives with your own making a sure path for our future.”
The king wore garbs that molded to his chest and extended down to his waist. His pants were burgundy leather that matched the dress of his queen. She sat beside him rocking a beautiful baby girl. While his skin was tanned from the sun, hers was bronzed naturally. Her hair was a bright red like sparks from a fire.
“You’ll protect Justice’s future before Simi’s and mine. She’s the most important.”
Flashes of pictures followed until I watched a fight in a court yard. The king was fighting a man but the energy around him was dark and filled with hatred. I saw the spear, cursed, as it flashed in the air before going straight into the king’s heart. The guardians were already headed for the queen who was holding the baby. She was collapsing, but Anna held her upright. They tried to usher her away from the balcony where she stood, but she was trying to get to her mate. The pain and despair couldn’t be ignored in her cries.
Time moved forward again, and I saw Simi laying in a bed. She wasn’t moving but Ree stood in the room holding Justice close to her chest.
“You know what we have to do,” Ree said.
Time sped up, and I watched Justice grow up under the watchful care of Sandy. Then, Sandy stood in a room beaten and shackled to a wall.
“I know that you don’t care if you die, but what about Mandy?” the man asked. “What about that girl that you go into town to see? I could easily kill them.”
Sandy wasn’t worried about Justice because of the protective wards around the house. She’d made sure that the house was protected long ago. It was Mandy that she worried about. Christophe was different, stronger than he’d ever been. If he could manage to evade Sandy’s powers, Mandy would be doomed. Her abilities weren’t as strong as her sister’s.
I could feel a dark energy surrounding Christophe. A hatred that ran so deep it’d latched onto his soul, feeding it the energy it needed to thrive. A glow from his right arm caught my attention. He moved into position to strike her again, and that’s when I saw the charm. It had to be the reason why he’d been able to overpower her.
“I’ll do it.”
“Say it again.” He slapped her so hard that her lip split.
“I’ll do it.” He let her loose and pushed her into the corner where her supplies sat. “Who is it for?”
“The less you know the better. Just know that the bitch deserves it. She meddles in business that isn’t her own.”
Time progressed again, and I saw Justice laying on the couch. She’s pregnant! I saw her fall and how Sandy tried to heal her with light, but it didn’t work. Justice was hurt badly.
I pulled away, “I believe you.” I said.
Sandy stood and held out her hand. “We’ve wasted enough time. She needs you. She needs her mate.”
I took her hand and hesitantly followed her through the light.
“Seuss, no!” Maddox ran after me but stopped short when I disappeared.
I could feel the heat of the light, but it didn’t burn me. I knew it didn’t because of Sandy. Once we were in the middle, I ran to Justice. I tried to heal her completely, but her body rejected it. There was only one way to heal her, but what if she rejected me again?
“Seuss …” Justice looked up at me through heavily hooded eyes.
“Justice.” I kissed her cool lips.
“We’re losing the babies,” she whispered.
“I know … I can feel it.” I didn’t know if I could save all four of the babies and her.
“Save them,” she said before she passed out.
Shit! I opened the bond between us and began healing her. I felt the healing power of another, and I looked up to see Sandy offering me her power to use. I latched on and said the words that scared me more than anything. I couldn’t lose her again. I need to be whole, and only she could complete me.
“Mate of mine, the choice is yours, but I give to ye the whole of my heart and the depths of my soul. Accept me as yours and I shall be, wolf and all.”
Justice didn’t respond. Her body was slack, and I sent more power her way. She jolted a little and looked up into my face. I repeated the words again with much more conviction. I bared my heart to her with each word spoken.
“I love you, Odysseus,” she whispered.
“Accept me as yours, Justice,” I pleaded.
“I do. I already have.”
The words soared through me, and I gave her my all as I healed all the damage to her body. Sandy reached out and healed the babies. I felt her over reaching and giving more than she should. Justice was healed and more beautiful than I could remember. She was healthy and vibrant, but my happiness was short lived when I saw Sandy fall to the ground.
“Sandy…”
Sandy burned brighter as she gave her soul to heal the defects of the babies. The mating fever had caused damage to them as well. She slumped to the side, and the beams around us burned brighter, then one by one they collapsed. I looked to see the guardians on the ground exhausted but breathing. All but one. Sandy laid on the ground burned to the bone.
“Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!” Justice screamed.
I held her as she mourned loudly. I rocked her, but she fought to get to Sandy.
“Noooo, noooo, nooooooooooooooooooooo!”
Justice collapsed against my chest. “She’s all I have … she can’t …”
The wind blew hard and the bones turned into dust swirling around us. I saw a face take form and I held Justice closer to me.
“My dear girl, I’ll always be here. Your children are the future and must be protected at all costs. I gave my life for theirs. You have to carry on for them.”
“Ms. Sandy …” Justice sobbed.
“Be strong, my dear girl. Seuss will take care of you now, and you’ve got the others.” Sandy started to fade and then she looked behind us. I turned to see Mandy on her knees crying and saying a prayer. Sandy closed her eyes and repeated the words with Mandy.
“Life of mine. Clear the path of life. Life of mine. Clear the path of death. Sacrifices have been made. Chance are born. Lift thy spirits. Make it so.” Mandy stood up and held out her hands in the shape of a heart. The dust evaporated into the space of her hands until the winds were calm and there were no more traces of Sandy.
I held Justice close and motioned for Alec. He moved forward and touched his hand to my shoulder. We moved through space until we were in the master suite. Alec left us immediately, understanding the need for us to be alone. I walked her to the bed and laid in the center of it with Justice.
“I can’t believe she’s go
ne,” Justice said.
“I know …” I caressed her back not knowing what to say.
“If one of the babies is a girl … can we name her after Ms. Sandy?”
“Yes. Whatever you want.” I sighed into her hair. I kissed her forehead and waited.
“I thought you were claiming me.”
“I did.”
Justice looked up into my eyes and I searched hers wondering what I’d missed.
“I thought wolves claimed their mate with a bite.”
I laughed at her wholeheartedly. “We do.”
“Then …”
“You’re with child.”
“It can hurt the baby?” Her expression of confusion was cute.
“No, but the sex could.”
“Oh …” Justice relaxed against me again, and soon I heard the sweet sounds of her sleeping.
After the time she’d had, I was glad that she was getting peace, even if it was for just a second.
Seuss
Justice was lying in bed asleep. I brushed her curls aside and kissed her cheeks. Motherhood looked good on her, or maybe it was that everything made her beautiful in my eyes.
The mating fever was riding me hard. I’d had to be drugged for the first few weeks after she’d had the babies. Her scent was strong, and she was responding to my need to mate her. She needed to heal fully before we could attempt it because I didn’t know how much I could hold back. She’d had to have the babies in her human form since she couldn’t shift.
The half bond that I’d created in the hospital created several issues. Justice hadn’t been able to shift because of it except when her wolf felt threatened. It was time to grant her the things I’d taken away.
Justice lay in our bed completely bare underneath the sheets. I kissed her smooth skin. That sweet scent of her breached my nose beckoning for more. I followed her scent with my tongue, tasting more and more of her.
Justice gasped.
A deep chuckle resonated before I delved between her legs. Gripping her legs tightly, I held her still. She was trapped, and I could smell her excitement as it perfumed the air.