by Elisha Bugg
Watching her, he whimpered quietly.
Never would he have guessed how much she would come to mean to him, but sitting here now he couldn't bear the thought of not having her in his life. He needed her.
He would not give up on her.
Thane forced his attention away from her, and back to Duncan who hadn't moved from his spot several feet away.
What if Bjorn was right and Hugh was setting a trap for them? Thane didn't care. He would happily risk being caught, or even killed if it meant he got to Keri first.
Since the attack, it had been quiet. No more hunters. No more Guards being tailed around town.
It made sense that Keri had worked alone, promising some new recruits there first kills just like Hugh had when he snatched Anya.
If Richard had known, he would have sent in more hunters by now, attacking them whilst they were weakened. But like Hugh, Keri had sent in novices to do a real hunters job. Not one of them had survived.
The only living hunters that knew of the attack were Keri, and Hugh.
Thane turned to Hugh, watching on as the rest of the meeting continued without his input.
He was restless, his eyes flitting to each Guard around him, terrified, and rightly so.
Any one of the men and women surrounding him could kill him in seconds, before he had a chance to even blink.
There was no way the boy was that good an actor just like Lucas had said. He also wasn't that smart.
Thane doubted that even Richard would have set up something quite so elaborate.
Hugh noticed his staring, blanching of colour and trying to look anywhere but his eyes.
Thane wondered what he saw as he looked at him. He knew the wolf was riding close to the surface, but could he see it?
"There's no point going over and over the same points," Edwin grumbled loudly, drawing Thane's attention once again as he pinched the bridge of his nose and tapped his foot on the floor.
"We need some direction."
"We need to concentrate on our defences, " Bjorn insisted, glaring in Hugh's direction.
"That's pointless. We've seen no signs of another attack. We need to attack them whilst they're distracted," a witch Thane didn't recognize called, speaking up for the first time.
Thane's head was hurting as each side argued what should be their priority, but so far as he could see, they were all wrong.
Thane was sure the death of so many new recruits wouldn't have gone unnoticed by Richard, but it made sense he wasn't in the loop. Not yet.
"You're all missing the point," he sighed.
Each of the Guards turned to him and waited, a huge smile on Edwin and Lucas's face. Hell, even Duncan smirked at him as he finally joined in the debate.
"Once Anya is well, the priority should be finding and silencing Keri."
"Just let her die so we can get on with it. I doubt the antidote will work anyway, after all it was sourced from a hunter."
Thane leaped across the room, knocking Bjorn flat on his back, pressing down on his neck with all his weight.
Lucas and Edwin both growled, jumping to their feet.
"The antidote will work. We've already begun to see progress, even if it is slow," Heleana commented calmly, trying to hold Lucas back.
"Be careful what you say, bear," Lucas snarled. "If I didn't know better, I'd say you wanted her to not pull through."
While those around him continued to argue, Thane saw red, all logic leaving his mind. All that mattered to him was starving the air from Bjorn's body as he applied more pressure.
Muffled sounds tickled at his eardrums, but it didn't matter, the wolf was in control. He could feel someone tugging at his arms as all colour drained from the bear shifter’s face. Still he didn't stop.
Deep down, Thane knew he should let go, but the wolf ruled him now and no one would get away with talking about his mate that way. She would pull through and she would show everyone here just how strong she was.
"Thane," someone's familiar voice echoed in his ears, "don't do this. He's not worth it. Think of Anya."
Thane blinked several times, his vision fading in and out of focus as he continued to stare down at Bjorn's discolouring face.
"Don't become the monster you fear you are. You're better than this. Stronger."
The voice was Heleana trying to calm him and make him see reason, but why should he care? If Anya didn't make it, he would become the monster he'd always tried to rein back.
Suddenly Thane felt a caress inside of him, surrounding his fracturing heart as it squeezed gently. There was no mistaking the powerful touch of a mate's embrace.
Somehow, she was clinging onto him, letting him know she was still there. Maybe she was more aware of what was going on around her than they thought.
As quickly as he'd leapt across the room, Thane was back on his feet, heading back to Anya's side to hold her hand in his. The pull inside of him to return to her side overwhelming the wolf's need to kill.
"Perhaps you should leave now, Bjorn," Edwin growled, pulling him to his feet and pushing him toward the door, “We'll talk about you stepping down from your position later."
"What? He's the one-"
"Don't test me," Edwin snapped, his eyes changing to a hollow white that only happened when he was really angry.
"Nobody would have blamed Thane for not stopping after the remark you made."
"She's my daughter too, bear. I hear you wish her dead again and I'll finish the job myself."
Once more, Thane drifted into his own world as he stared helplessly down at Anya's pale face.
How could she lay there so peacefully with all this commotion around her?
He cupped her cheek in his hand and rested his head against hers, listening to the steady beat of her heart.
A single tear fell from his eyes as a gentle hand squeezed his shoulder.
"She'll pull through, you'll see," Heleana whispered, moving to the other side of the bed to check on her vitals for the third time today.
"I know she will. She's a fighter," he replied, hoping he was right.
Thane's eyes grew heavy as he lay his head beside Anya's, watching as the rest of the meeting continued without him.
He didn't want to fall asleep, afraid he might miss Anya awaken, but all the events over the past couple of days were beginning to take their toll.
He closed his eyes and just listened to the steady beat of her heart, lulling him deeper into sleep. He squeezed her hand and brought it up to his face, resting his cheek in her palm. So delicate and small, but it was warm and comforted him more than he could have imagined. Holding onto her seemed to anchor him, calming the wolf.
Thanes eyes snapped open, the sounds of shuffling and heavy footsteps waking him.
Everyone was leaving, filing back out of the room as quickly as they'd entered.
"Duncan?" Thane called, as he went to leave.
Duncan spun on the spot, and stepped to the side, snatching Hugh by his collar when he tried to leave.
"You want info?" he asked, still holding onto Hugh as he stepped closer.
"When she wakes. I am going to find Keri, and I want you two with me. You know where to start looking."
"You want me with you?" they asked in unison, looking to each other and raising their brows.
"I thought you still wanted to kill me," Hugh spoke first, straightening his collar when Duncan finally let go.
"Part of me still does," Thane admitted, stretching his arms above his head to loosen his tightening muscles, "but you've already proven useful, and I don't agree with what Bjorn says."
"I'll help all I can. It's the least I can do."
"Look, Thane. I respect you and believe you'll be a great leader, but do you really think we'll be able to work together? We've never really seen eye to eye."
"No, we haven't. But that needs to change," Thane sighed, placing Anya's hand down gently on the bed beside her as he stood.
"If we're to beat the hunters and keep thi
s alliance going, we need to work together. You're strong, and you're smart, but you have a big mouth."
"Thanks," Duncan snorted, crossing his arms over his chest.
"You'd be a good alpha if you weren't so pig headed."
"Yeah, yeah," he dismissed, waving his hand in the air, "So, what's the plan?"
"Same as before. Wait for Anya to wake, then our search for Keri can begin."
Chapter Thirty Six
Thane hadn't slept in two days. He just kept waiting and hoping Anya would wake up any second since Heleana gave her the all clear, insisting that she would recover soon.
He could feel her energy and her life force growing stronger, but still nothing happened.
A week after he'd found her poisoned in the woods, Thane finally drifted to sleep.
He dreamt of Anya. Dreamt of how they had shared a kiss in his room, except the dream didn't end there. Instead of him walking away like he had, he stayed and began to undress her, caressing her soft body beneath his fingers.
A light touch against his fingers interrupted the image, just as she was pulling his shirt over her head. He growled, the sound rumbling in his chest as he nudged whoever was trying to wake him. He didn't want this dream to end, not yet. Whoever it was could wait.
Thane swatted at their hand and rolled his head to the side, trying to get comfortable as he leaned against the bed Anya slept in.
Again he felt a brush, this time with a little more force, yet still weak and delicate.
Thane cracked open his eyes with a grumble, about to shout for whoever it was to leave him be when he realised whose hand was resting on his.
"Anya?" he called, his throat rough and gravelly, squeezing her hand in his.
She stirred, moaning quietly as he leaned over her.
"Heleana," he bellowed, knowing she wouldn't be far away.
Seconds later she burst into the room, closely followed by Lucas, Edwin and Tynan.
Lucas rushed to her side, grabbing a hold of her other hand whilst the others remained at a distance. Heleana checked her over, opening her eyes to see if they responded to light and checking her reflexes.
"She's waking up," she called, smiling wide and placing her hand on Thane's shoulder.
Thane couldn't help himself. He took a hold of her and crushed her in his arms, spinning her around and nuzzling her neck.
"Thank you," he whispered against her, "thank you so much."
Heleana just smiled, stroking his cheek before resuming her position by Anya's side.
When Thane turned back to Anya, he saw her eyes were open, glowing just as brightly as her father's next to her. Her teeth now sharp and her claws protruding from her fingertips.
Thane crouched by her side, taking her hand in his once more, bringing it up to his lips and resting her palm against his cheek.
Her eyes seemed to flash brighter, but her claws retracted, as did her canines.
Surely that wasn't jealousy?
Thane couldn’t help but smile.
"Hey, hun. I need to check a few of your vitals, but as soon as I'm done, they're all yours," Heleana smiled, motioning to all the men around her.
"Be gentle guys, especially you two," she added pointing at Thane and Lucas.
Anya's eyes followed Heleana's finger from him to her dad, freezing when she spotted him. Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked up at a man she must have thought she would never see free.
Tears flowed down her cheeks, her eyes now burning a pale green.
"Shh," Lucas cooed, placing his hand on her forehead before moving his head close enough to lean against hers.
Her tears continued to fall as she closed her eyes and remained still, biting on her bottom lip.
"Can you feel this?" Heleana asked as she began to test each of her reflexes, seemingly happy with her progress, only frowning once.
“Your leg is taking a little longer to heal than usual. It’s most likely because of the poison still working its way out of your system, as well as healing all the other cuts and scrapes you had. Just keep it rested for a while, alright hun,” Heleana smiled, placing her equipment back into her pockets.
Anya didn’t hesitate to try and sit up as soon as Heleana left the room, swaying when she lifted her back off the bed.
Thane was there, ready and waiting, holding her arm to keep her steady.
“How long was I out?” she asked, her voice hoarse.
“Almost eight days ago now,” Edwin replied from behind, causing everyone to turn to him. “We were afraid you wouldn’t make it.”
“I never believed that,” Lucas and Tynan said in unison.
“She’s too stubborn like her mother,” Lucas continued, smiling wide when he turned back to her.
“I know someone else like that,” Thane muttered, causing Lucas to smirk.
Anya took her arm back from Thane and wrapped them around Lucas’s neck pulling him closer, burying her face against his chest.
Thane felt at a loss, wishing she would hold onto him, but could he blame her for not? He'd pushed her away for so long. Could she ever be happy being his?
“I’ve waited such a long time for this,” Lucas whispered, holding her tight.
“We’ll leave you two alone for a while,” Edwin announced as he turned to leave.
“Wait,” Anya argued, gripping hold of his sleeve before he had chance to move far.
“I never told you that I forgave you, and that I’m sorry. ”
Edwin cupped her cheek in his hand and smiled, stroking his thumb across her cheek as more tears fell.
“I know child. I’m just glad you’re safe. All I ever wanted was to protect you.”
He leaned forward and placed a kiss on her forehead, whispering “I love you,” as he squeezed Lucas’s shoulder and ushered Tynan and Thane out of the room.
Thane wanted to stay by her side, determined to never leave it again, but Anya and Lucas deserved some time alone.
He sighed, allowing Edwin to move him outside in silence, not daring to look back over his shoulder in case he changed his mind.
Now Anya was awake. He had other things he needed to take care of.
#
Anya couldn’t believe her dad was finally here, by her side where he should have been all these years.
Her heart broke as she held onto him, knowing how much suffering he’d been through. How much he must miss her mother.
“I’m sorry,” she mumbled against his soft mahogany hair.
“Shh,” he whispered, stroking the back of her head with his large hand, “you have nothing to apologise for. You’re here now and you’re safe. Without you, I’d still be stuck in that place with none of the Guards knowing where I was.”
Lucas pushed her back, holding her at arm's length, smiling down at her from his superior height as he sat beside her on the bed.
“I hear you’re tough as nails, just like her.”
“I don’t know about that,” she grumbled, looking away from those eyes that saw too much.
Anya could barely remember her mum, but she knew she had fought for her safety as hard as she could, risking her life to save that of her child’s. Anya doubted she could ever be that strong.
“I was there when you told Richard no, remember? People don't say no to him very often.”
She remembered how she told him she would never join them, the look of disgust and disbelief contorting his evil face.
“I hear you even put Thane in his place a few times. How many people can say that, I wonder?”
Anya smiled, remembering the shock on Thane’s face when she stood up to him that first time, but he didn’t get angry. No, he smiled, proud of her backbone. His words still sent shivers down her spine as she remembered how closely he whispered them in her ear.
“How did they get you out?” she asked, trying to change the subject before her face turned scarlet, “I was on my way to the meeting when-”
“Shh. Don’t think of that now. Just concentrate on getting
better,” Lucas interrupted.
“Thane and an unexpected friend broke me free, using a powerful spell to destroy the chains binding me,” he smiled, pulling out her chain from under his t-shirt, revealing the ancient looking key dangling close to his heart.
“This truly was one of the best gifts I have ever received, after the gift your mother gave me. Thank you, my daughter.”
Her heart jumped into her throat, tears pooling in her eyes as she looked into his mournful face when speaking about her mum.
She knew the gift he spoke of was her, she could tell by the way he looked at her with undying love.
Not caring about the pain or the healer's advice, Anya leapt into his lap, wrapping her arms tightly around him. Her vision blurred and her lungs burned from over exerting herself, but it was worth it just to hold him close. The only thing that would have made this moment perfect was if her mum was here too.
“I’ll be sure to thank Thane and your unexpected friend later,” she murmured against his shoulder.
After another forty-eight hours rest, Anya was going out of her mind.
She was more than ready to get up, and out of this room.
A few visitors had stopped by since she awoke, mainly her dad and Tynan.
Even Oleander, the vampire who'd taken Keri away had come to see her, apologizing for not noticing the poison and for allowing Keri to escape him.
She couldn’t believe Keri was still out there, just waiting to try and get to her again.
Everyone gave her their perspective on what had happened, explaining how the hunters had attacked Edwin's home whilst she was unconscious. A few of the Guards had fallen in combat, and the person responsible was Keri.
She didn’t understand it. How could she have ever felt guilty for thinking less of her? Keri was not her friend. She doubted she ever truly was. Even now her blood boiled as she thought of what Keri had done, what she'd put her family through.
Then she thought of Thane and how he had not come to see her by himself, even though everyone told her that he hadn’t left her side once Lucas was free and the battle was won. Why was he avoiding her?
Anya was through with waiting. She wanted answers, and she knew exactly where to get them.
As soon as Heleana finished her exam, checking over all her vitals for the fifth time today, Anya pushed the covers off her legs, slowly spinning them over the side of the bed. Her head was still fuzzy, her legs tingling from lying still for so long, but she couldn’t keep still any longer.
