by KM Lowe
“We need to get her to Stracey. Her pulse is very weak. She doesn’t have long.”
Lelland looks over his shoulder and notices that my wolves and his vampires are okay. Every rogue is nearly dead. The bodies lay in a tangled mess littered on the ground like rubbish.
“I’ll get Kevin and you out of here. Leave Callum with us to clean up. When you get out of here, go straight to Stracey. Get her to heal the girl as best she can. We’ll do all we can to get her well again.”
As much as I don’t want to leave until the end, I know I need to get out of here with Kevin. My leg isn’t healing, and I’m more of a hindrance than a help.
“Kevin!” Lelland yells to get his attention.
Instantly, Kevin spots me and Lelland around the girl and he howls at us and bounds in our direction.
“Kevin, it’s fine. We’re going to help you get her out. You and I are leaving now. You need to shift because I can’t put pressure on my leg.”
His wolf’s body shakes, and within thirty seconds, he stands naked in front of us. He moves past Lelland and lifts the girl into his arms. Her lax body flops into him. Lelland lifts her arm over her chest and I hobble from my side of the table to catch up. Kevin stops and waits for me, but I wave him off. “Just get to Stracey. I’ll be right behind you. Lelland, have you located their witch?”
“Not yet. I’d be helping you back to Stracey if we had. I’ll take care of it. We have Callum on our side. If you think you can manage on the outside, send Jake back in.”
I’ve never felt pain like this before. But I grin and bear the pain radiating further up my leg as I try to catch up with Kevin. The walk back seems much longer than the way in. Each step feels like an eternity. The moment I get into the open space, air surrounds me and I shiver. I stumble over my feet and land on my hands and knees. My vision is blurring, my heart is racing, and my body is getting weaker. Why the fuck has a wolf bite done this to me?
I stumble back onto my feet and hobble on one foot, because it’s unbearable to put any pressure on my leg at all. I see Kevin up ahead, and I focus on his back. I’m not sure which one is actually him because I’m seeing double. My leg gives out again, and my body slumps to the ground. I’m not getting out of here unless a miracle happens.
“Jasper, what the fuck? Come on. Let’s get you up,” says Kevin.
“Get yourself and the girl out,” I mumble.
“Stracey has her. I’m not leaving you. Come on.”
Kevin hauls my body off the ground. My arm wraps around his shoulder, my energy draining from me by the second. I’m scooped into Kevin’s arms and we take off in the direction of Stracey and Jake.
“Talk to me, Jasper. Come on, you can’t fail on me now.” I can feel my eyes rolling in my head, and no amount of fight is keeping me here with Kevin.
“Stracey, let us out.” Kevin’s yelling startles me, but I can’t focus on what’s happening. My vision is practically gone. Everything is black with spots covering it.
“Oh my God, Jasper.” I feel Stracey’s hand on my cheek. I would know that touch anywhere. Nothing will ever make me forget her presence.
“Fix… the… girl.” I stumble over my words as I’m placed on the ground.
“I’ve done all I can for her. What happened to you? Jasper! I need to know what happened to you.”
“Wolf bite,” I gasp.
“No ordinary wolf bite would poison you like this. I need to stop the poison reaching his heart. Kevin, I need something tight. Anything that will stop the circulation from his leg. Quickly.”
“Strace… I’m sorry.”
“Don’t you dare give up, Jasper. Not now. I’ve just got you back. You keep fighting, you hear me. Jasper…”
“Jake’s belt, will that do?” asks Kevin, as he kneels down at the other side of me.
“Keep talking to him, Kev.”
As the belt tightens below my knee, I growl with pain. Kevin holds my shoulders flat to the ground to stop me hurting myself or Stracey. “Come on, buddy. You need to pull through this. I can’t go home without you. Lisa and Markus, fight for them. Joel will kick my arse if anything happens to you.”
I try to laugh at Kevin, but every breath is too much. My heart is pounding in my chest. It’s like it’s going to burst from my body.
“Look after…”
“Stracey, we’re losing him!”
CHAPTER 16
Stracey
The man I love is lying on the ground, dying in front of me. My heart is breaking at the thought of never laughing with him again. Never touching him. No, he can’t die on me. He won’t.
“Come on, Jasper.” I lay my hands over the bite and try to use my power to syphon the poison from his system. If this was any normal person, any normal circumstances, an amputation would work, and that’s my last possible option.
“Do you need my energy?” Jake says as he crouches down beside me.
I look up into his eyes, but I can’t see properly as tears cloud my vision. “I’m losing him, Jake. Nothing is working. I don’t know how to counteract the poison. I’ve never seen this before.”
“Stracey, it’s a spell only black magic will cure.” Lelland kneels beside Kevin.
“How did you get out?”
“The witch… she’s here. She can help.” I look up to see a young girl, no more than nineteen, her dark hair like rat’s tails, but her eyes are the purest of blue. She kneels at Jasper’s leg, but I hold my hands out to stop her. My protective instinct kicks in, and my body and senses are on a super high alert.
“How can I trust her? She did this,” I sob.
“She won’t take another breath if Jasper doesn’t pull through. I trust her, Stracey. She was forced into this to survive.”
“Strace, we need to save him.” Kevin places his hand over mine and I relent and let her do her thing.
I watch as black balls of energy pour into Jasper’s leg. The thing with most black magic spells is that the witch that sets the spell has to be the one to break it. I have no way of saving Jasper. She’s our only option.
“His heart rate is slowing down.” Kevin sighs with relief.
“The wound should be fully healed within a few hours. His body will need lots of rest and nourishment,” says the young witch as she sits back on her heels. “Karina just needs a lot of TLC. Her shifting ability will help her heal since you healed her internal injuries.”
“Karina,” whispers Kevin as he glances to the side to see his mate lying lifeless beside Jake.
“How do you know the girl?” asks Lelland.
“I was close to her in the cave. She doesn’t have any family. She left her pack a year ago after her parents were killed. I did everything I could to protect her, but they had me performing too many spells and I couldn’t keep up.”
I release my hand from Jasper’s thigh and place it over the girl’s cold hand. Immediately, she looks confused at our contact. Her eyes widen and lock with mine. “Thank you,” is all I whisper.
“I don’t deserve your kindness. I should have let them kill me. I-”
“No. You did what you had to in order to survive. Don’t ever apologise for that. Will you come back with us in case we need any more assistance?”
“Of course. I don’t have anywhere else to be.”
“You don’t have any family?” asks Kevin.
She shakes her head softly, and a tear falls down her face. She looks so young and vulnerable. “My family were hunted down many years ago. My grandmother was killed a year ago. I was staying under the radar. Well, I was, until these wolves showed up at my cabin.”
Suddenly, I feel a connection to this girl. She was in the same boat as me. Parents out of the picture, grandmother raises her, only to pass away later.
“What’s your name, sweetie?” I ask her softly now my sobbing is controlled slightly.
“Darcy. My name is Darcy.”
“Well, Darcy, it’s your lucky day, because our pack in Scotland would love to have you join us. We take
in lots of strays, or people who have been affected by rogues like this. Jasper here,” I look back and place my hand over Jasper’s cheek. “Jasper works for the council, and he looks after people in your position. He’ll be appalled if he wakes up knowing we let you go off alone.”
“I don’t want to impose.”
“You wouldn’t be,” says Lelland. “Stracey is right. But we need to get you out of here. Lavina, Ashley, and Callum are rounding the girls up in the cave. We’ll get Jasper and Karina back to my house and I’ll come back up here with Jake. I have a mini bus in the garage that will be enough to get the girls out of here. I’ll lift Jasper. Kevin, you can lift Karina. Jake, will you go on ahead and bring the vehicle to the foot of the mountain?”
“Of course.”
I watch everyone jump to their tasks, and I stand beside Darcy, feeling slightly in the way. I was never so glad to be leaving this godforsaken place. I don’t think I’ll ever return to Canada. This has broken me in more ways than one, and I’ll never forget seeing Jasper close to death’s door.
Now, I just hope he returns to me with no lasting effects from the poison. The council would hear me if anything happened to Jasper. They still might, depending on the mood I’m in when we return.
CHAPTER 17
Stracey
The last three days have been torture. I don’t know how I’m still sitting here, watching over a comatose Jasper. He’s barely moved an inch since we arrived back at Lelland and Lavina’s house. We have Jasper in this room and Karina in the room next door. Kevin hasn’t moved from her bedside, and I haven’t moved from Jasper’s. I just can’t bring myself to believe that he won’t wake up. I can’t.
I lift his hand to my lips and place soft, gentle kisses over his knuckles. “Come on, Jazz. I need you to come back to me, baby. We all need you.”
While I’ve sat here, I’ve gone through every situation Jasper and I have found ourselves in. His tone of voice when we shared many peaceful nights together. The way he held my hand when I was upset. He’s always loved me, it was just his head that had to catch up with his heart.
“Where is he?” I hear shouting from the hall outside. Before I can move, our door barges open and in walk Markus, Lisa, and Joel. They stop in the doorway as they see Jasper’s lifeless body on the bed. Lisa lifts her hand to her mouth to stifle a sob. Markus makes his way into the room and takes up his place at the opposite side of Jasper’s bed. Thankfully, the bed is there, because Markus’s legs give out and he sits on the side of the bed. He lifts Jasper’s hand in his and tears slide down his cheeks. Lisa and Joel keep back and gave him his space, but I can’t sit here and watch him shatter. I round the bed and place my hands over Markus’s shoulders and squeeze them softly.
“Why hasn’t he woken up?” he sobs.
“He’s stable. I’m not going to lie, if it wasn’t for another witch we rescued, he wouldn’t be here now. He was nearly…”
“No. Don’t say it. He can’t. He needs to wake up.”
“He will. I have faith that he will. He’s got too much to lose, Markus. Kevin got him to me, and I did all I could, but it wasn’t enough. All I can do now is send him my healing power, let him rest, and hopefully he’ll wake up soon. His wound has healed nicely. We were concerned at first, but his shifting ability helped him.”
“Where is Kevin?” Lisa asks from Joel’s arms.
“He’s next door.”
“Why? Why isn’t he here?” She straightens her back and looks out of the door she just walked in.
“You haven’t heard, have you?”
“Heard what? Is he hurt? Oh God, not him too.”
“No. He’s fine. He’s…” I sigh. “He’s found his mate. She was one of the girls in the cave. She was in grave danger when he brought her out. Her name is Karina, but she too hasn’t woken up yet…”
I’m not quite finished but Lisa is already heading to Kevin’s room. Joel and I follow her because we can both see she’s upset.
When we reach the bedroom, Kevin has Lisa in his arms. She’s saying something but I can’t make it out.
“How is she doing, Darcy?” I step up to the bed and place my hand on Darcy’s shoulder.
“Just the same,” she says softly.
“Darcy, this is Lisa, Kevin’s sister, and Joel, a member of our pack. Remember I told you that Jasper helps people in your situation? Well, Kevin, Lisa, Joel, and Markus, who you’ll meet later when you come next door, they were all in your position.”
“Hi.” Lisa holds her hand out to Darcy, and she accepts it.
“Nice to meet you. You’re Jasper’s son?” She looks past Lisa to Joel, but he hasn’t moved or taken his eyes off Darcy.
“Aye. No. Well, not biologically. He saved me when I was a bairn. He’s as good as a dad.” Darcy nods and Joel remains still. “Kev, it’s good to see you, brother. I… I… I’m glad you found your mate, but I need to be next door with Markus. I’ll come back later.”
Joel races out of the room before Kevin can speak. We all look at one another and I frown at the empty door frame. What was that all about? Joel is one of the kindest shifters I know. He usually welcomes any paranormal being into the pack, but he’s yet to welcome Darcy.
I shake my head. “Joel’s just preoccupied. I’m sure he’ll speak more with you later. Jasper means a great deal to him and Markus. I better go to them.”
I leave Lisa and Kevin with Darcy, but when I get outside the room, Joel is sitting on the floor with his hands in his hair. I close the door and sit down beside him. I know I should be with Jasper, but Jasper wouldn’t forgive me if I left any of his sidekicks without the motherly figure they clearly need at the moment.
“He’ll be okay, pal. I know it’s hard keeping a vigil at his bedside, but he’ll be glad to see you all here.”
“Who is the witch, Strace?”
I tilt my head to the side so I can see his face clearly. He looks like he has a war going on inside his head. He looks like he’s in pain.
“I don’t know much. She helped save Jasper’s life. It was her that put the spell on the wolf that bit Jasper…”
“What? Why the fuck is she here then?” He jumps up to re-enter the room, but I stop him.
“It isn’t what you think. She was seriously messed up in there, Joel. She was violated, abused, tortured, all to do their dirty work. She had no choice until the bastards were killed. As soon as she was unlocked from her cell, she came to my aid. Are you okay?”
“No. Yes. I’m fucking peachy.”
“Joel. What’s going on?”
“Nothing.” He backs away from me, enters Jasper’s room, and takes up my seat opposite Markus. They both sit tight at his bedside and I sit on the chair at the bottom of his bed. None of us are planning on moving until he’s awake.
CHAPTER 18
Jasper
I don’t think I’ve ever felt at peace like this. I don’t know where I am, or what I’m doing. I don’t feel or see my body, but the world I’m in is like no other. Every so often, I hear Stracey or Markus talking to me, but I can’t tell where their voices are coming from. I try to search for them, but they’re just too far away from me. It doesn’t matter what I do, I can’t find them. I just feel and hear the stress and pain in their voices.
“What if he doesn’t wake up?” I hear Markus say.
“We have to think positive,” says Stracey. “He will wake up. I just don’t have a magic ball to see when.”
What? What’s going on? I try desperately to reach their voices, just to show them I’m okay.
“He’s been out of it for nine days. How can you be so positive?”
“If I wasn’t positive, I’d be a mess, Markus. I can’t believe he won’t come back to us.”
I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.
“He just squeezed my hand, Stracey. He just squeezed my hand!” Markus shouts excitedly.
“Jazz, can you do it again, baby? Squeeze one of our hands.” Stracey’s soothing voice sound
s like an angel. I could listen to her all day, and I try to squeeze their hands as much as I can. I need them to see I’m here.
“Did you feel that?”
“I did.” Stracey sobs. “Jasper, can you open your eyes? Come on, honey. We need to see you’re okay. Please. Come back to us.”
I feel her hands on my cheeks, and I feel my body for the first time in what seems like forever. I move my toes, wriggle my fingers, move my head. “Open your eyes, Dad.”
My eyes flutter open and I have to close them quickly because it’s too bright. “Markus, close the blinds. Jasper, honey, open your eyes again.”
I do as is asked of me, and hovering over me is my beautiful girl. Tears are streaming down her face; she looks exhausted.
“Hi,” I stutter through my dry mouth.
“Hey, sweetheart. Here’s Markus, too.” I look to my left and Markus is clutching my other hand. He too looks exhausted.
“Hi, son.”
“You have no idea how good it is to hear you say that. Joel has just gone for a shower. He’ll be pissed he missed this. We’ve sat glued to this bed for days, but Stracey chased our backsides for a shower. She said we’d keep you in a coma if we didn’t wash soon.”
I chuckle slightly at the thought of the guys being bossed around by my girl.
“How are you feeling, honey?” asks Stracey.
“I don’t know. I feel tired. Weak. But I’m okay. What happened?”
“You were bitten by that bastard in the mountains, but he had a spell cast on his saliva, and it poisoned you. It was a close call, but here you are.”
“The girl. I can remember leaving the cave with Kevin and the girl.”
Stracey shakes her head and I think the worst. Is she dead? Is that why Kevin isn’t here? “She hasn’t woken up yet. Kevin and Lisa are with her at the moment. It’s a waiting game.”
“What about everyone else?”
“All got out. We lost three girls, but they were gone before we got there. Twelve girls have been returned to their families. We’ve been left with a witch who saved your life, and three wolf shifters. We’ve offered the witch and the wolves a place in the pack, but only the witch has agreed to come home with us.”
