by Donna Flynn
“It looks great,” she said reaching for the syrup and pouring it over the pancakes piled there.
“Mercy this is Nina, Kirks sister.” He took his seat once more and grabbed his coffee mug his eyes pinned on the pretty blonde across from him.
“It’s good to meet you at last, I hear about you all the time from my brother.” She smiled and the warmth that radiated from her, put Mercy instantly at ease.
“It’s nice to meet you too. Kirk tells me all the time how amazing you are.” She took a bite of her pancakes and swallowed nearly choking when Alec walked in staring at her with an intensity that made her feel exposed. It was as if he read her every emotion and knew how she felt for him, which would not help things.
“Well Kirk is sweet, but really healing is a god given talent, you just have to know how to use it.” Nina told her noting the look that passed between Mercy and Alec before glancing to Lucan pointedly. “Of course I had a great teacher and if you want I will be more than happy to work with you.”
Mercy heard her, but could not take her eyes of Alec as he grabbed a plate from the oven and prepared his pancakes. The smell of him, the way he moved, and the slow smiles when he looked her way all held her attention and she was helpless to do anything more than to stare.
Lucan cleared his throat to bring her back to the conversation. “I am sure Mercy would love your help right?” He nudged her under the table with his knee and she looked to Nina with a slight pink blush.
“That would be great if you really don’t mind,” she answered feeling suddenly warm when Alec sat next to her.
“Good morning Angel,” he said softly.
“Good morning.” She stared down at her barely eaten pancakes avoiding everyone’s eyes afraid someone might see her desire for Alec there. Sweat beaded her brow as she forced herself to concentrate on her breakfast trying to ignore the rush of emotion that threatened her composure now that Alec was close. It had been easy to dismiss them when he was not near, but now that he was so close, she was finding it harder to deny her feelings for him.
His hand dropped under the table and he patted her knee as if sensing her unease, but it only fueled her already crazed hormones. Her fork dropped from her shaking fingers onto her plate and she stood abruptly, positive she needed to get away before she began to babble her feelings for him.
All eyes turned to her, Lucan’s questioning, Nina’s surprised, and Alec’s so sheepish it left no doubt he had known how she would react to his touch.
“Are you ready to go?” he asked standing and tossing down his napkin on his now empty plate.
She wondered how he could eat with so much tension between them, but said nothing.
“Mercy?” Lucan looked perplexed, but Nina watched knowingly which only made Mercy more remorseful.
“I have to go,” she reached for her bags, but Alec was quicker grabbing them from the counter, taking her hand, and pulling her towards the door.
“See you later,” Nina called out smiling as the door closed behind them.
“That was odd,” Lucan, said still staring at the door unsure what had set Mercy off.
“Not really, she’s torn between a guy she likes and a guy who makes her feel alive and draws her to him.” She stood and took the plate to the sink leaving him to think about her words.
“You should be angry. She’s going to hurt your brother.” He said, so close behind her she felt the heat of his body warming hers.
“I warned him and my father not to interfere, but they would not listen.” She turned suddenly coming face to face with him. “When a Bond Mate is found no one should come between them.”
“I agree, it is sacrilege to force someone to suffer without their intended mate.” He pulled her into his arms and kissed her as he had been longing to do from the moment he laid eyes on her.
*****
“Are you alright?” Alec asked as he drove to school.
Mercy turned and looked at him with a lost stare that reminded him of the first time they had met. It tore at his heart, he wanted to find the words to take that look from her face, but he could not allow himself to say them. If he explained why she felt the way she did, he would have to explain what they were, what she was going to become one day soon. How did you tell someone they were going to become something they feared?
“Alec what is happening between is?”
Her voice was desperate, he wanted so badly to make her understand, but he knew he could not. If he told her everything, he would be exposing not only himself, but also her brothers and his pack it was a chance he could not take. “I can’t explain it right now, but I would never hurt you. Please believe me the only thing I want is your happiness.” He tightened his grip on the wheel and waited for her to argue, but she surprised him by reaching out and placing her hand on his arm.
“If you can’t tell me the truth, how can you expect me to trust you?”
Her fingers tightened on his arm, she looked almost desperate, but he knew it was not the time for disclosure. Once she found out what they were and how it would affect her life, the chances were great she would run. If she did, he would not be able to control his beast, it would surface, force her to bond, and she was in no way ready for that to happen.
“Please don’t do this, not now, I swear when the time is right I will tell you everything. Until then just trust me when I say you are the girl I am meant to be with, the only one I want, and when I see you with Kirk it makes me …” He bite down on his lip fighting to keep his wolf in place. He needed to clear his head, needed to forget how he felt when he saw her with Kirk.
“Alec?” She scooted closer looking into his now amber eyes feeling unsure and more than a little afraid.
“Don’t… stay in your seat,” he warned afraid her proximity would only enhance the change.
“Pull over Alec,” she pleaded moving closer placing one hand on the wheel turning it towards the side of the road as he slowed down. He was shaking, so she moved close enough she was able to hit the brake with her foot, stop the car, then slide the gear into park.
Alec stared out of the window hating himself for losing control in her presence. It was amateurish, and so beneath him, but around her it seemed to be a constant problem. As long as she denied him, his wolf would fight for her and he was not sure how much longer he could wait for her to realize what they were to each other.
Mercy watched the play of emotions on his face and knew what had to be done. It had taken courage to admit he wanted her, he had bared his soul to her and she could not longer deny him. Sliding onto his lap, she laid her head against his shoulder wrapping her arms around his trembling body.
“Don’t,” he pleaded. His wolf wanted its mate, it called to her and she responded unable to deny it. That was all it was he told himself.
“Kiss me Alec,” she whispered.
“No you do not want this,” he told her his voice heavy with desire. “I won’t force this on you.” He felt his spine tingle, knew he had to get away before he shifted in front of her and ended the charade they had been playing for so many years.
Mercy would not be thwarted though, she pulled his face to hers staring into his strange amber eyes without fear. “I want this, I want you to kiss me. I’m begging Alec.” She lowered her face and nipped at his bottom lip feeling his body quiver under her. “I’m pleading with you…Kiss me.” She nudged his lips apart, but still he hesitated. “I thought this what you wanted.” She stroked his cheek, but still he denied her. “I’m sorry I guess I misunderstood.” Her voice trembled as she began to climb off his lap, hurt and rejected. Had she misread him? Did she let her own feelings push her to believe he really wanted her?
He grasped her hips in his hands and turned her back to face him. “I can’t lose you Mercy, it would kill me. I need to be sure you are ready for this and right now you are confused.”
She brushed her hand over his cheek murmuring softly as she settled back in his lap to listen.
“Ta
ke your time. Do not let me or Kirk push you into anything.” It killed him to say it, but he knew it was the right thing to do.
“Are you sure? I don’t want you to be angry anymore, it makes me sad.”
Tears glistened in her eyes and he knew it was hurting her as much as him, so he nodded. He anticipated her gratitude, expected her to hug him, but instead she wound her fingers in his hair and pulled his head close kissing him as he had always dreamed she would.
Her kiss was demanding and he had no problem returning her passion, but all too soon he found himself on top of her pressing her down on the bench seat as his hand crept under her t-shirt, her soft skin under his fingers. “No!” he snarled pulling his hand away. He respected her too much to take advantage of her scattered emotions.
He sat up and backed away ignoring the desire in her eyes and the tempting amount of skin that showed where her t-shirt had crept up over her belly. She had no idea how close she had come to being seduced into a choice she would be stuck with forever. He slammed his fist down on the dashboard hating that life was so complicated for them. In the normal world, he could kiss and cuddle her with her without fear, but until she was ready to claim him, it would never be safe.
“Stop!” She reached for his hand, but he pulled it away quickly and she stared at him shocked by his reaction. “Did I do something wrong?” she whispered straightening her shirt and sitting up in the seat.
“Oh god no Angel you didn’t, it’s just…” He turned to face her, holding his hand to his sides afraid one touch would be too much temptation. “You’re not there yet and I don’t want to rush you.”
“Your right.” She let out the breath she had been holding and forced herself to smile. “I need to think about this and I need to talk to Kirk, it is not fair to lead him on when I have feelings for you I do not have for him.”
He was stunned to hear her admit it at last, a gift he had not expected, but her next words cast a shadow over his happiness.
“I do need time and answers though, because I cannot help but feel that you are hiding something from me and until I know what that is you and I can never have a real relationship.”
He had not expected she would make such a demand, but could not blame her for wanting the truth. “Your right, there is so much you need to learn and I promise I will work to ensure you know everything as soon as possible.” His cell phone rang and quickly noting the number, he answered. “Hey dad what’s up?”
“Get the hell out of the pack is following is a wolf in your location and its closing in fast. Get home now!”
Alec looked around sensing for the first time, the stillness of the area around them and knew they had to get away quickly. “Get your seatbelt on,” he screamed at Mercy, starting the car, slamming his foot on the gas pedal, and turning the vehicle around so he could go back the way had come.
“Alec what’s going on?” Mercy screamed as she hurriedly buckled her seat belt.
A dark fury shape shot out of the woods barreling towards them and he hit the gas hoping to avoid it all together, but it was too late.
“Watch out!” Mercy screamed as a large wolf launched itself at the windshield. One large paw broke through the glass, its razor sharp claws slicing into her neck and down the front of her chest.
Alec heard her terrified screams and hit the brakes. The wolf’s body flew off the hood and he turned to Mercy horrified to see blood seeping from the gauges left behind. Mercy looked down at her tattered t-shirt where blood rand freely down her chest to her lap with shock. Alec, seeing how dazed she was pressed his hand to her neck where the blood was gushing, hit the gas, and high tailed it out of there.
The wolf got unsteadily to its feet and gave chase, but the old car made for speed outdistanced the injured wolf easily.
Sensing her detachment from all that was happening Alec knew he had to take charge. “Mercy listen to me, place your hand over mine.” She did as he asked and he pulled his hand free then ripped his shirt off with his free hand while driving at break neck speed. “Good angel, now slide closer so I can help you.” She managed to get closer and he pressed the soft cotton to her throat trying to staunch the flow of blood.
Her eyes shuttered, then closed, which he knew was a bad sign. “Stay awake damn it!” he shouted. She opened her eyes and stared blankly as if unsure why he was shouting. “Mercy listen to me! I need you to help, place your hand on the t-shirt and press as hard as you can so I can drive faster.”
Again, she followed his directions laying her head on his shoulder to keep upright, giving him the chance to hit speeds he never would have with her in the car on any normal day.
“It hurts,” she cried out her voice barely audible.
“Angle listen to me, it’s going to be alright. I swear I won’t let anything happen to you.” He flew down the road towards her house ignoring all traffic laws, barreling into the driveway and slamming the brakes before bounding over the hood in one leap, lifting her into his arms and running toward the house.
“Stay awake!” he screamed as he ran to where Lucan and Nina waited on the porch.
“Get her upstairs, I need to work quickly,” Nina instructed following behind as he rushed past a startled Kirk towards her room.
Once there he laid her on the bed where Nina went to work placing her hands over the wound and closing her eyes. Blood flowed freely over her fingers making an eerie red puddle on the white comforter under Mercy and Alec watched with growing horror as the crimson stain widened. His body shook with fear, he felt his entire life slipping away and all he could do was watch helplessly.
“She knows what she’s doing, Mercy will be fine,” Kirk said next to him resting his hand on his shoulder in a show of support.
“I can’t lose her,” Alec told him his voice broken, his face agonized. “She is everything to me, without her I have no reason to live.”
“She’s not going to die man, Nina will save her,” Kirk said realizing he never had a chance with Mercy, not when there was another who loved her so thoroughly.
“Alec maybe you should go and cleanup,” Lucan said noting the considerable amount of blood that covered his bare torso leaking down to soak the top of his jeans.
“Not until I know,” he said kneeling down next to the bed, resting his head on, Mercy’s blood soaked hand.
Lucan watched as Nina worked over his sister, her body vacant as she repaired the damage from the inside out. The blood had stopped flowing and the wounds mended leaving behind large puckered scars that covered her neck and chest. Time ticked by as they waited, uncertainty filled the room with each passing minute. No one said a word, the room stilled as if in limbo, the only reminder of time passing was the clock on the wall that ticked loudly reminding them of each passing minute.
After an hour or so had passed, Nina came back into her own body with a gasp rising unsteadily with Lucan’s help to look down on her patient. “I need to clean her and see how much damage has been done on the outside,” she told him sitting in the chair Kirk pulled next to the bed for her before he went to the bathroom and got her a washcloth and a basin of water.
“How is she?” Gregory asked walking into the room his body taunt with concern.
“I mended her internally, but the gauges were deep, the only thing that will heal her completely and help avoid scarring id to shift,” Nina said as she finished wiping away the last of the blood from Mercy’s torso then pulled the blankets over her.
“No!” Alec protested immediately.
“Son, we have to do what is best for Mercy. The shift will heal her quickly and there will be no scaring to her skin.” His father looked to Lucan for help knowing his son would listen better to him who loved as much he did.
“Alec if we don’t so this she will be scarred for the rest of her life. If there were any other way I swear I would not ask this of you, but it is the only option.” Lucan sat on the bottom of the bed placing his head in his hands worry for Mercy consuming him.
“I
f she is forced to shift what happens when the next full moon comes?” Alec asked desperately.
“We can face that when the time comes,” Gregory answered calmly.
“Have you thought about the changes she will experience ? Don’t you think she will notice she is stronger and faster than her friends are? Do you really believe she will not notice the effects the change will have on her? Have any of you considered these things?”
“We are not taking this lightly son, but it has to be done.” Gregory placed his hand on Alec’s shoulder. “You are her mate only you can make this choice.”
“You can’t ask me to do this she will hate me for it when she finds out.” He lowered his head in shame, but his father placed his calming hand on his shoulder.
“She already is one of us. It has always been a matter of time before she began to shift,” he reminded him.
“But it could have been years before that happened.” He looked into his father’s eyes seeing the compassion and love he held for him and knew he was running out of excuses. Mercy needed him to be strong, to make the decision for her, and he had to accept that role even if it meant she would despise him for it later.
“Fine just do it.” He turned away, but his father stopped him with his next words.
“I can’t son, she’s not pack, at least not mine, this would take her sire or her mate and since we obviously can’t call on Mather you are the only option.” Alec turned snarling low in his throat so quickly Gregory took a step back unsure how to react. The obvious rage his son was experiencing was of no concern, Alec might be strong, but he was stronger. It was the fact he had dared to turn on his Alpha that was very telling of his feelings for the girl on the bed.
Alec’s jaw clenched, the muscles in his arms bulged as he stared at his father angered by his revelation, enraged he would have to be the one who made Mercy the very animal she loathed.
“Alec relax now.”
His father’s voice spread calm through him despite the anger that had taken hold, a sign of how truly powerful Gregory was as an Alpha. Alec let it flow through him knowing it would do no good to Mercy to challenge his father, not when all he wanted was for her to be well again.
