We circled each other slowly. The wolf’s dark fur almost shined in the night. I wasn’t sure what to do, but he I running was out of the question.
“What do you want?” I asked the larger creature.
We continued to circle each other, neither breaking eye contact.
“I. Want. Out.” The wolf snarled.
Before I could question what that meant, the huge animal pounced. It leapt high in the air and landed directly on my chest. The sheer weight of it knocked the air from my lungs. I tried to fight it off, but the wolf was too strong. It opened its mouth wide, revealing never ending rows of sharp teeth. Not a second later, it savagely dove every pointed canine into my exposed throat.
Chapter 36
Seb’s Dream
Seb
“SEB! SEB! WAKE UP!” A frantic female voice shrilled. I bolted awake, panting heavily. My hands instantly flew to my neck, searching for the gaping hole the wolf surely left on my throat. But all I touched was my smooth, sweaty, and intact neck; no hole…no blood.
“Are you okay?”
I snapped my eyes up and met the concerned face of Lily as she crouched over me. Confusion spread through my mind faster than a paper towel soaking up water. The moment in the forest with the wolf felt real; too real.
“What happened?” I asked, more to myself than anyone. I continued to my neck, seeking the wound I thought he had.
“I don’t know, dude! You ran out the house like you were on fire! So your sister, Simon and I came looking for you. We split up, and I found you here, on the side of the road, shaking and growling.” Lily had a look in her eye that was more than just concern. There was fear. What was she not saying?
Seb tried to shake off the wave of dizziness as I painfully stood, but my whole body ached. I could still feel the pressure of the wolf’s body pressing on my chest; could still even feel its hot breath that fanned against my face seconds before it ripped my throat out.
“Were you having a seizure or something?” Lily asked, still staring at me a bit wide-eyed. I honestly didn’t know what happened to me. One minute, I was going for a run, and the next, I was in the forest with a wolf trying to kill me. But it was more than that. The words the animal spoke to him was chilling. I want out. It had said. What did that mean?
“I-I, uh, just passed out, I guess… bad dream.” I offered as an explanation. There wasn’t much else to say. I would have to figure out what the strange dream meant on my own.
“Bad dream?” Lily questioned skeptically. “What was it about? I took a college psychology course last summer so I might be able to help.”
I studied her for a moment; debating if I should tell her. After all, who else would I tell? Lily did have an active imagination so she could be helpful. At least, she wouldn’t look at me like I was crazy. Maybe. Maybe not. After a few more moments of silence, I decided to tell her. What could it hurt?
“I, uh, was in a forest. And then this huge black…. bear…” I lied easily. Somehow, telling her the full truth would make the whole situation stranger because she’d only just accused me of being the very thing I tried to kill me.
“…approached me. It was strange and felt so real. And then it spoke. The bear said it wanted out right before it attacked me.” I explained, summarizing the dream, or rather, nightmare. The more I replayed the scene, the more I realized there was something so familiar about the wolf. Its presence was frightening but also so curious.
“Hmm,” Lily said thoughtfully, tapping her left temple and squinting her eyes as she mulled over my words. I started to already regret telling her. The girl barely took anything seriously.
I started to walk back to the house to loosen my stiff limbs.
“How did you feel in the dream?” Lily continued, falling into step alongside me. The pace we walked was slow, but it was beginning to help my sore muscles already.
“I don’t know,” I said, and thought about it again. “I guess when I first saw it, I was afraid, but there was also something familiar about it; like I already knew that wol-bear.” I corrected myself quickly and decided to stop right there as I was already feeling a bit crazy myself for saying that out loud. Maybe I just had the dream because I was feeling anxious. Ana was missing, and Jace was searching in who-knows-where. Standing around always made me feel useless because I was a man of action. The more I thought it over, the easier it became to convince myself that it was all just some weird version of a panic attack.
“Well,” Lily chimed, knocking me from my thoughts, “I think maybe the bear was like your subconscious, and it was trying to force you to accept something; you know, like force its way out. I learned that if you repress something, it can play out in your dreams in crazy ways.”
She ended up rolling her eyes and head in a circle to imitate a crazy person.
I stared at her as she bounced up and down the street. Lily was a bit eccentric and completely over the top, but could she also be right? Stranger things had happened. I stayed silent while I considered what she said. Was I repressing something? The wolf said it wanted out, but was that figurative or literal?. Of course, it couldn’t be literal! What was I thinking! There wasn’t a giant wolf inside me itching to break free. But even as the thought crossed my mind, a cold chill swept down my spine and a knot set in my stomach. Something, definitely, wasn’t right.
“Sebby!” A high-pitched feminine voice that I would recognize anywhere shouted. Not a second later, a small body hurtled into mine. Marie wrapped her tiny arms around my midsection and squeezed with all her might. I smiled and gently hugged her back. Marie surprised me by pushing herself out of the embrace and punching me in the stomach.
“What the hell is your problem?!” She yelled, clearly furious at me when only a moment ago she was thrilled to see me. I held my stomach not because the hit hurt but because I was so shocked she did it.
“Uh, this looks like a family matter. Later!” Lily broke in before dashing off as fast as her short stubby legs could take her.
Seeing Marie so angry had me wishing for a moment I could run off too. I gazed down into the burning eyes of my little sister. Only, she wasn’t so little anymore. She looked strong and fierce, and that made me so proud, I almost smiled.
“Don’t smile! I’m seriously mad at you.” She yelled, hitting me again.
This time, my smile was full even though I was getting beat up by a girl half my size
“Seb, I get that you’re under a lot of stress with Ana. I mean, we all are. But this whole running off stuff isn’t helping.” Her voice cracked a bit at the end and my heart sank.
Now I felt like a jerk for storming out and not confiding in my sister. It was just that we had been through so much together, and I knew it was my job to protect her; not worry her with my problems.
“You’re right, and I’m sorry.” I admitted.
Making Marie upset was never my intention. From now on, I vow to stay involved and focused on my sister and finding Ana.
“Please forgive me.” I added, giving her sad puppy eyes.
Marie tried to hold a firm, mean face, but her lip was quivering. She was fighting a smile. I turned up the antics by adding small whimpers too. That was all it took to push her over the edge and into a fit of laughter. A few moments later, our combined laughter died out as we strolled back to the house with my arm playfully wrapped around her shoulder. When we were only a few feet from the porch, Marie suddenly got out of my light grip. She jumped right in front of me with a face lit up like a Christmas tree.
“Oh my goodness! I almost forgot! I have to tell you about Ana’s mate.” Marie said excitedly.
My heart tightened in my chest at the mention of Ana’s mate. It was a subject I wanted to avoid all together if I could.
“Marie, please, I don’t want to deal with that right now.” I stated flatly while pushing past her to go inside the house.
Jace was Ana’s mate, and that was a fact. I knew the odds of her being mine was a long shot, but the amount o
f love I felt for her grew every day, and I was helpless in stopping it. But what I couldn’t deal with was hearing about it constantly. Too bad, Marie wasn’t going to let me brother walk away from her so easily again.
Her small hand clasped around my large wrist, preventing me from taking another step towards the house. I sighed deeply, releasing the air slowly from my parted lips before I turned to her. The pained look on my face should have been enough to keep her from pushing this conversation, but she only showed me with determination shining in her eyes.
“Look, I know you don’t want to have this conversation, but trust me, I’m not about to tell you something you’re expecting to hear,” she said, holding my gaze steadily.
I was genuinely impressed by my little sister’s persistence. And with a clenched heart, I gave the tiniest nod for her to go ahead with the news; just wishing whatever she was about say would not make matters worse.
“Okay, I’ll just say it. Ana has three mates!” She practically squealed; her voice a bundle of excitement.
I, however, only tilted my head in confusion; not quite understanding what she was really trying to tell me.
“Listen.” Marie said firmly. She held both my forearms to make sure she had all my attention. “Jace isn’t Ana’s only mate. For some reason, she’s different from other vampires and has three mates. Of the three, she gets to choose the one to complete her bond with.”
Marie ended with a huge smile on her face.
I could feel my once confused expression slowly change into a bright and beaming one. It was as if someone turned on a light behind my eyes. All the tension in my heart just melted away.
“Ana has three mates…” I said slowly as if testing the words.
Marie nodded eagerly.
“That means she isn’t destined just for Jace.” I added, and my voice was filled with more happiness this time. A smile so wide spread out on my face. I was overcome with so much joy, words couldn’t describe what I was feeling. I scooped Marie into my arms and spun her around the way I used to when she was little. We both laughed in blissful glee as I continued to helicopter spin her in the air.
Before she got dizzy, I placed her gently on her feet, but the smile never left my face, and the feeling love spread its way through his heart. For the first time since Ana left, I felt something besides guilt and uselessness.
“Do you think I’m one of the three?” I asked; my smile faltering slightly.
“Yes! Of course you are! You and Ana have this connection that is just unbelievable and amazing. You belong together, and if she doesn’t choose you… well, she’d be a fool if you ask me.” Marie’s encouragement made me feel good, but her words also raised new questions in my mind like what if she didn’t choose me. After all, she had three to choose from.
I knew I hadn’t made it easy on Ana to see my true feelings. Every time I wanted to tell her how I really felt, something or someone interrupts us; almost as if there were forces working against us being together. Yes, this three-mates thing took off some of the pressure, but it also added more. Most importantly, if Jace and I were two of the mates, then who was the third?
“How do you know this? And who is her third mate?”
Most of my earlier joy had now been replaced with trepidation.
“Simon told me. It’s the truth, Seb. Plus, Ana knew about it too. I thought she would have told you, but maybe she didn’t get the chance. As far as the third guy, though, no clue.”
Marie wrapped her small arms around herself when a cool breeze brushed over us. It was nearly dark now, and the temperature was steadily dropping. I had more questions but thought better of it. The most important thing was getting Ana back safely. The rest would be figured out eventually.
“Thanks for being you,” I said, draping an arm over Marie’s shoulder and ushering her to the front door.
“I got your back, Sebby; just like you’ve always had mine.” She replied, looking up to my hulking self.
I smiled warmly because I felt lucky to have a sister as kind and supportive as Marie. Even if her tactics to get my attention were getting a little bit more aggressive, I knew she only wanted the best for me like I did for her.
We quietly entered the small old home of Cora and Zara. Lily was sitting in a plastic-covered chair, playing a game on her phone. Simon was engrossed in the book Helia had provided about the supernaturals.
When the door closed behind us, Simon glanced up from reading; his eyes going directly to Marie. The two of them locked gazes as if in a world of their own. I could see now what Lily meant when she spoke of the attraction between my little sister and Simon. Judging from the slight blush of Marie’s cheeks and the sparkle in Simon’s eye, Lily was right.
I eventually had to clear my throat to break up the staring contest.
“Any movement from Jace?” I cut in, bringing the focus to me.
Simon became slightly flustered before setting his book on the repaired coffee table and walking towards Jace’s seemingly sleeping body on the far couch. We all stared at the unconscious witch as he took long steady breaths; chest rising and falling at an even rate.
“Nothing yet.” Simon replied with a hint of worry in his tone.
The witch had been in this astral projection for hours now. The worry for both him and Ana seemed to be taking a toll on everyone. With the room silent and each person stuck in their own thoughts, my mind started to drif.
Images of Ana over the last two years bombarded me. From the first moment she opened those bright blue eyes, she trapped me. I almost laughed out loud thinking of the memory that followed when she nearly choked me to death. So much had happened since then, yet it seemed that time had passed in a blur. All the time I spent training and watching her change into this fierce, strong vampire with a sense of humanity changed me. After what Talon did to my family and the years of abuse by the vampires, I always thought they were just inhuman violent creatures. But not Ana. She was so human and natural that I forgot most of the time what she truly was. I tried to force myself day after day in Marcos’s hell house not to get attached to her, but it was always a lost cause. She stole my heart and it took me two years to realize it and too long to accept it.
A deep sigh tumbled from my lips. The next time I saw her, I had to tell her how I felt. Hopefully, it wasn’t too late. I didn’t think my heart could take the pain of not having her.
Mine…
A deep growl murmured somewhere from the depths of my mind. It startled me a bit but it didn’t feel foreign. Instead the voice felt like it belonged within me; as if it was a part of him, but at the same time, it wasn’t. I shook it off. The attention needed to be on more sensible things such as what will we do if Jace didn’t wake up? I knew I had to form a backup plan because leaving Ana in the hands of a merciless king wasn’t going to happen.
Suddenly Jace’s body twitched once, alerting everyone’s attention. We all rushed to his side, waiting for another sign. Jace’s body began to spasm rapidly out of control and sheens of sweat coated his forehead.
“What’s happening?!” Marie asked in a panicked voice.
No one responded. None of us knew what was going on or what it meant. His body continued to shake for a few more seconds before he bolted awake, panting heavily. Jace’s fast movements caught them all off guard, and everyone jumped back a step with a gasp except for me. I instead latched onto Jace’s shoulders and tried to coach the witch into calming down and catching his breath. Jace’s pupils were still eerily wide, and he was breathing as if there wasn’t any air in the room.
Cora appeared out of nowhere, easing her way through the crowd to Jace. Cora had a plant or root in her hand that was lit on fire. She began waving the smoke on his face. The brown thick root burned quickly, coating the room with an earthy scent. Jace inhaled the cloudy white smoke deeply and gradually began to relax.
“There, there, let your soul settle.” Cora cooed gently while still waving the root under his nose. After a few minutes, J
ace returned to normal. He stood up looking like a man with a plan, glancing briefly at each of us. A slow grin crept up the corner of his mouth.
“I found her.” He announced.”But there’s something we must do first.”
Chapter 37
Uneasy Alliance
Kim
The students of Mercy Heights were drawn to me like a moth to a flame. And I loved it. I leaned back smoothly on the cold metal lockers and smirked at all the onlookers’ stunned faces. They were stunned by my new appearance, no doubt. I felt confident, sexy, powerful, and most importantly, dangerous. I decided to return to high school when the trails after Talon got cold. For days, I searched for the vampire that gave me a purpose and immortality, but after about five hundred miles of running, I completely lost his scent. Now, I stood in the hallways before classes began, basking in all the attention.
The tight black leather skirt was riding so high, it threatened to spill my Victoria Secrets. I paired it with a black halter top with two sparkly cherries over the breast area. The shirt allowed all my former classmates to witness my flat, toned stomach. It was no secret I became a heavy drinker after Ana ran off and Jace dumped me, resulting in an unflattering pudgy midsection. Now, that was gone too, along with her long hair. The questions were fired at her quicker than lighting striking the earth. In true diva fashion, I remained tight-lipped about my transition. I kept my cool and just ate up the attention.
Josie came, shoving her way through the throng of people and not bothering to apologize for her rudeness. When my shorter, sunny blonde friend caught sight of me, her mouth dropped.
“Kim! You look wow…” She started but caught herself and regained her composure.
Pure: A Paranormal Romance Page 39
