Authors: Leia Stone
On the flight to Arizona, Jake kept
tapping his foot incessantly. He wiped his palms on his jeans for the fifth
time as our plane prepared to land.
“Jake, it’s going to be fine.” I squeezed
his hand.
He let out a deep breath. “My mate is
dying of cancer. That’s not fine. She’s in pain. What if we don’t make it in
time?”
“Look at me,” I commanded him.
His eyes locked on mine. “I have seen
it. We get there in time. They give her two days left to live and we get there
in time.”
He swallowed. “Okay.”
Room number 314. We all stand outside
the door. The nurses were more than delighted to let us through after I
explained that I was college roommates with the patient in room 314. Jake
looked at me expectantly. I shrugged. This is as far as my vision goes. Kai
seemed to pick up on my apprehension. He looked at Jake. “Go introduce
yourself to your future mate while Aurora and I figure out a way to get her out
of here without alerting the police or the Scottsdale pack.”
Jake swallowed hard and let himself
into the room. After the door closed, Kai looked at me. “There are two ways I
see this going down. We take her out of here by force and anyone in our way
gets wolfed, or we try to create a lie.”
I snorted. “Wolfed?”
He smiled. “Your laugh is cute.”
“Focus,” I reminded him playfully.
He stared at the nurses’ station.
“You go tell the nurses you would like to take her home to pass on in peace. I
call the Scottsdale Alpha and tell him we will be leaving shortly with a
college friend of my new mate. What can go wrong?”
I took in a deep breath. “Let’s find
out.”
After getting all of the necessary
paperwork in order, the hospital staff was pleased to release Anna into our
care. Jake had found out her name was Anna after chatting with her and
explaining that he was here to help her with her treatment.
“You what?” I shouted, getting stares
from the nurses in the hallway.
Jake rubbed the back of his head
nervously. “I told her we were from a private research group and we wanted to
try a very risky gene therapy procedure to cure her cancer. Now she is willing
to hop on the next flight to Oregon.”
Kai groaned. “Well, it’s not like we
can
change
her here. Poor thing will be in for a scare when we really
tell her who we are and what we have to do to save her life.” A look passed
over his face. I knew he was thinking of when he bit me to save my life. I
could already see he was becoming protective over Anna. He was already
accepting her as pack.
After introducing myself to Anna as
Vice President of the research company, and Kai as President, we made our way
out of the hospital. Jake tenderly pushed Anna in her wheel chair.
“How did you hear of my case? Did Dr.
Pasternick call you?” She asked in a frail voice.
“Yes, he called us. Like I said, we
have a very high success rate. Once you get to our clinic in Oregon, we can
tell you more about our methods,” Jake offered. We all exchanged a look.
“Well, I am surprised my case passed
your approval. I had given up.” The look on Jake’s face was torture. Anna was
slumped in her wheelchair and her skin was translucent. Her hair was gone, even
her eyebrows, but her eyes were a deep hazel and there was so much life, so
much fight left in her. I could see that she would survive the
change
; she
had no fear of death. Maybe that was the key. Even in her sickened state, she
was beautiful. She was ready for a new beginning.
The Scottsdale Alpha had sent two
wolves to tail us from the airport, and they leaned against our rental car.
Jake let out a low growl. Kai motioned for Jake and Anna to hang back. I
approached the men with him, ignoring his gesture for me to stay back as well.
Kai stood tall, nodding to the men. “We
are just retrieving our friend and we will be on the next plane back to Oregon.
Give our thanks and respect to Steven for allowing us to spend the day in your
territory.”
One of the men, a tall, broad-shouldered,
thirty-something guy with a scruffy beard, nodded his head and locked eyes with
me. I inhaled deeply. Second in command, I could tell. He wasn’t looking away
and neither was I. I wasn’t sure what the protocol was for meeting other packs,
but I sure as hell wasn’t going to look weak in front of a stranger. ‘
Threat
,’
my wolf told me. Should I look away? I didn’t want to start a fight. ‘
Stare
for as long as you are able. Don’t look weak,’
Kai told me. With that
permission, I stood taller and took a step towards the man lifting my chin. The
man grinned and I could see tension creasing his forehead. I flared my nostrils
in anger. How dare he challenge me. I came with permission, with my Alpha to
retrieve a frail human. Who the hell did he think he was?
‘Stop it. Calm down. You’re shifting,’
Kai told me. Shit! I could feel my
fingers turn to claws. The man broke his gaze and I took a cleansing breath.
Kai stepped forward. “Now that we
have had a little fun, I think we will be going.”
I stepped forward to get in the car
when the second in command took a deep breath. “She smells new and unmated.” He
grinned, licking his lips. Kai’s arm flew out faster than my eye could track
and grabbed the man by the back of the head. He slammed his head into the hood
of the car.
“Did I give you permission to smell
my mate? Do you want to start a war? We asked your Alpha for permission and it
was granted, safe passage for the day. You were curious about my mate and how
dominant she was, so I allowed you to have a little fun. Your fun stops here.
If you want to fight, I would be happy to oblige that request.” Kai released
him and opened the door for me. I stood there in shock for a second and then
sank myself into the seat. Holy crap! This possessive mate thing was real.
A few more words were exchanged
outside the car and then the two men walked off. Anna looked shaken but allowed
Jake to hoist her into the car. He tenderly buckled her next to me. She leaned
into me and whispered, “You’re not cancer researchers, are you?”
I gently held her hand. “You’re going
to be okay.” An edited version of the truth was best.
“I’m too tired to care,” she said a
little louder and leaned her head on my shoulder, falling asleep. Her hand was
clammy. I didn’t let go.
We flew back to Oregon in a private
jet. I was going to have to ask Kai what he did for a living. Once we had Anna
back at the house and asleep in my bed, Jake, Devon, Emma, Max, Sadie, Kai and
I were in the kitchen whispering.
“How do we
change
her? Who should
change
her? What if she doesn’t survive?”
Jake stepped forward. “She is my mate. I am
changing
her!”
Kai nodded. “If you want to be the one, I
will grant it.”
“No.” I spoke through the hushed voices. I
stared at Jake, holding his gaze. He started to argue, but I spoke first.
“Jake, this is the woman you will spend the rest of your life with. Have
children with. Do you want her to remember you as a monster or a savior? Take
it from me. Being the one to
change
your mate isn’t always a positive
thing. Some images you can never get out of your head.”
I could hear Kai’s breath leave him
in a rush. The look of hurt that crossed his face was undeniable. I knew it
would hurt him, but I wanted better for Anna. I didn’t want her to see her lover
with shreds of flesh in his mouth and yellow murderous eyes.
I placed a hand on Kai’s shoulder, but
he brushed it off. “I’ll
change
her then. I seem to have no problem
being a monster.”
Dammit. That didn’t go as planned.
Note to self: Talk less. We all agreed that a quick attack was best. We
shouldn’t tell her of our kind until after her
change
. No use in
frightening her more. Kai had a few private words with Jake and then took a
sleeping Anna, draped in his arms, to the basement.
We all waited anxiously upstairs.
Jake was pacing back and forth. Maybe Kai would forget what I said and we could
talk about when my mom could visit.
‘Do you think I enjoy this?
Enjoy attacking a young, innocent
girl? I’m doing this to give her life!’
Kai screamed into my head. Well,
there goes that idea. He wasn’t letting this go.
‘
No, I don’t think you enjoy it!
I’m sorry. It was scary for me and I didn’t want that for Anna… for her to see
Jake like that,’
I responded. No reply.
A few moments later, a hair-raising
scream ripped through the house. Anna. Jake began changing into wolf form on
instinct. I changed instantly into my wolf. If this went wrong and my vision
was wrong and Anna didn’t survive the
change
, then I had to protect Kai
from Jake. I was already in full wolf form and in front of the basement door
before Jake was halfway changed. Jake bolted for the door with his hackles
raised. More screams. I prepared to pounce. Sadie stepped in front of me facing
Jake. “Jake, you aren’t thinking clearly. Kai isn’t hurting her. Not in the
long run. I know how you feel. I’m going mad sitting around while we get your
mate
changed
, knowing my mate is a three-hour drive away in Seattle. He
is so close! But I have to be patient. It has to be like Aurora’s vision. The
timing needs to be right. You have to be patient. Trust her vision. Anna will
survive the
change
, and she will be your mate. You wouldn’t know that if
Aurora hadn’t told you. She’s on our side.” Jake whined and rolled over
exposing his belly. My inner wolf was pleased. I relaxed and approached Jake,
giving his muzzle a nudge. He stood and we both began to change back.
We all decided it was best to wait
outside. Once I had put on some clothes, I met everyone out back. After a
couple of hours of idol chatting, Kai spoke into my mind. ‘
She will survive
the change. Bring Jake and Emma.’
A huge sense of relief washed over me. I
still wasn’t even sure about being a werewolf, or if I felt confident being a Matefinder
and having visions. This was confirmation that my vision was correct. It gave
me chills.
“Jake, Emma, we are needed,” I told
them. Akash and a few others had joined our backyard party and now everyone
looked at me expectantly. “She will survive the
change
,” I said,
grinning. Jake picked Sadie up and swung her around as she laughed.
Kai had just showered and greeted us
at the door to my bedroom. His hair was still dripping wet and he wouldn’t meet
my eyes.
“Her wounds are already closing and
her hair is growing. Her blood tasted like poison. The chemotherapy, I assume.”
He scraped his tongue against his teeth.
“Jake and Emma, would you keep watch
by her side and get me when she is coherent?”
They nodded and went into the room
quietly.
Kai met my eyes. I paled and stared
at his chin. “Anna will be using your room for the night, so you can either
sleep on the couch or with me. Let me be clear that sleeping is all I intend.
And maybe some kissing.” He grinned. All was forgotten from our earlier
argument. I stepped closer. “Well, I will only share your bed if there is a
promise of kissing AND snuggling.”
Kai put his finger to my lips. “Shhhh!
I have a reputation to uphold. Alphas don’t snuggle.”
I tilted my chin up and crossed my
arms defiantly. “Then I’m not coming.”
He scooped me up in his arms. I
screamed in delight as he walked me into his room, setting me down at the foot
of his bed. Looking at his soft blue sheets, I felt my stomach drop. I didn’t
want to go too fast.
“Just a kiss or two and then to bed,
my darling. I’m tired, and I wouldn’t do THAT until our wedding night anyway,” he
stated.
“Ugh! Get out of my head.” I smiled
while kicking off my shoes and jumping into his bed, wondering if he was
serious about waiting until marriage. True to his word, three toe-curling kisses
later he was snoring beside me with his arm tightly around my waist.
I took a moment to just reflect on
all that had happened. I couldn’t believe the transformation that had taken
place within me. I couldn’t believe I was lying in bed with a man I just barely
met. He was my Alpha and my Mate. Normally, I wouldn’t rush into things so fast
with a guy. I wouldn’t trust so easily. I would have my guard up. Maybe that
was my problem. Being a werewolf gave me new senses and instincts I never had
before. I could sense a deep connection to Kai, like I had been waiting my
whole life for him, that we had been created for each other. Oh man, I had it
bad. I was falling in love for sure. With a sigh, I drifted off to sleep.
“Meri Pyari,” a husky voice whispered
in my ear before kissing my neck. I opened my eyes to see a sexy Kai with dark,
tussled hair inches from my face.
“Is that Hindi?” I inquired.
“Yes, now get showered so we can take Sadie
to Seattle before she bugs me to death.” He sat up rubbing his head.
“You know she is going to leave our
pack and join his, right?” I saw it in my vision. The look Kai and her share as
she walks towards her mate, it was a look of goodbye. “Will you miss her?” I
add delicately.