Amber squeezed my shoulders. “Trust that, trust him and give him a real chance.”
Smiling I said, “That is why you’re my best friend Amber. You never judge me and always support me.”
Amber opened the door. “You too, but we should go. Come on. I am afraid your dad won’t survive the way Ivy’s been staring at him. I think she actually might jump him if we weren’t all here.”
“Ugh… don’t tell me that. He’s my dad, that’s just gross. ”
Laughing Amber pulled me out of the bedroom towards the living room.
Chapter 13
Ivy was sitting on the couch with her leg tucked under the other conversing with my father. In the entryway sat Ivy’s leopard print luggage.
“Where’s Enoc?” I asked.
“He is in the bathroom. As soon as he gets back we’re taking off.”
I watched Amber walk over and sit down next to my dad. The doorbell rang, Ivy jumped up, “I got it. It’s probably my neighbor coming to get my key. I asked them to house sit for me while I was out of town”
I watched her head to the door. “Just a sec!” she shouted out.
The moment Ivy opened the door a large ash wolf came charging down the hall. Ivy was knocked to the ground.
“Ivy!” I screamed.
I headed for her but was intercepted by Jeremy heading straight for me. He was growling and his gums were drawn back teeth extended. Chloe and Jason followed also in wolf forms. I frantically looked around for something to use to defend myself. I didn’t stand a chance as the weight of Jeremy’s wolf pinned me to the ground. Struggling to breathe I watched my Father shove Jason hard enough that he went flying into the kitchen. My father shifted so fast, his taunt muscles rippled under his chocolate fur coat. His teeth extended snarling at Jeremy who had me now on my stomach.
My father’s attention was drawn away from me as he looked towards the entryway to see Caleb sauntering in slowly. Caleb held Ivy by her throat, his claws extended cutting into her collarbone. Drops of blood were staining her blouse. Ivy’s eyes were huge and filled with fear. I tried to speak but Jeremy dropped his nuzzle into my neck and bit. Not enough to draw blood but enough to let me know he was in control. My father’s eyes turned brilliant amber.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Caleb said speaking directly to my father. “I will kill her and Jeremy will kill Olivia. You have a choice. Either way I am excited to see what you decide.”
With a flash of light my father shifted and stood once again in front of the couch.
“What do you want Caleb?” James asked directly.
While they glared at one another I looked around the room. I could see Amber in an embrace by Chloe. Amber’s eyes glowing sunset orange. Chloe’s claws also extend to Amber’s throat, her eyes glowing bright green.
My father shifted his gaze towards me and before I could nod my head Caleb said, “Jeremy.”
I felt his teeth slide into the curve of my neck drawing blood. It wasn’t too deep but I could smell the iron from my blood as it ran down my neck staining the beige carpet. The odor made my stomach wretch and the pain was awful. My reflexes kicked in and I tried to turn away. Every move I made, Jeremy just bit harder tearing more into the tendons in my neck. The tension in the room grew thick.
“Jeremy that is enough,” Caleb said sounding bored.
Jeremy pulled his teeth out of my neck but still hovered over my body. I could smell him and his fur was course against my skin. Where is Enoc? I tried to look for him but my strength waned. A flash of light went off and when I blinked Jeremy has shifted from wolf to human. His solid legs pressed into my back and hip bones. The smell of cloves was overpowering.
My father stepped in my direction but I pleaded with him to wait. I couldn’t let anything happen to Ivy, she had done nothing wrong. Jeremy pulled me to my feet. My back now pressed into his firm chest. His arm was wrapped around my belly holding me in place. He drew circles around my ribs. He leaned over me and licked drops of blood as they fell freely. I turned away from him and grimaced as he laughed in my ear.
“There is another wolf here; I can smell him on her.” Jeremy spit out forcefully.
Caleb howled, “Jason.” His patience was decreasing by the seconds.
I watched as Jason walked slowly from the kitchen. His shirt was torn and I could see where my father clawed him. The skin was shredded from his left shoulder down to his right hip bone. I could tell he was hurt by the way he moved slowly and stiff. I was so angry with him.
Jeremy spun me around and growled. He leaned into my neck and inhaled. His eyes shifted to full anger. Jeremy pulled his arm back growling in disgust and punched me hard in the stomach. I dropped to the floor coughing. I tried to make eye contact with Jason to help us but he wouldn’t even look at me. I focused on breathing since it had now become difficult.
I turned to look at Amber and tears were in her eyes.
"It will be okay,” I mouthed, even though I didn’t quite believe it.
“Go find the other wolf!” Caleb commanded Jason.
Jason raised his nose in the air. His eyes turned a shimmering green. I watched as he turned to walk down the hall, I gasped when I recognized my mark on his back shoulder blade. What the crap! How does he have my mark? That was why he said he could tell me more about my mark. I was furious. Why wouldn’t he tell me he had the same mark? Because he was a freaking liar and …Ahhhh I shouldn’t have been so stupid.
I refocused on Ivy as she whimpered and tried to pull away from Caleb’s tight grip. His claws extended cutting into Ivy’s arm drawing more blood. Tears fell from her blue eyes as she cried out in pain. Caleb sliced through the buttons on Ivy’s shirt exposing her fair skin. Ivy crossed her arms in front of her chest attempting to cover herself.
“Are you ready to obey James?” Caleb taunted not waiting for a response. “I am taking Olivia with us,” Caleb growled through clenched teeth. “You can leave alive, or we will kill you now.”
We were all startled by the house shaking. The wall to the living room cracked from the force of someone hitting it from the other room. The light fixture shook and a picture frame fell from the wall shattering as the glass hit the floor. The sound of wolves growling and teeth snapping could be heard. Enoc and Jason must be fighting. I thought. I started to struggle but Jeremy continued to hold me tight. I heard a yelp and then silence. My father was barely controlling his wolf.
While Jeremy was distracted he mouthed, “Wait.”
The smell of sandalwood brought my attention to Jason who was standing a few feet away from me dragging Enoc’s still body by the arm. Enoc’s body was covered in blood and his clothes were torn in multiple places. His once blue shirt was now drenched in blood. Jason dropped Enoc’s arm and then kicked him making his body roll. Enoc didn’t make a sound. My heart broke in that moment when I realized I loved him.
“Enoc!” I screamed! “What did you do?” I yelled at Jason in disgust!
My words were cut off by Jeremy squeezing my neck. I looked at my Father with pleading eyes please help him. I shook my head back and forth. He can’t be dead, he can’t. I looked up to catch a glimpse of Chloe’s red hair fall in front of Amber’s cheek. As Chloe whispered something in Amber’s ear. Amber’s eyes grew big and I was perturbed by what she could have said.
“It is time Jeremy,we’re leaving,” Caleb said.
As quickly as he spoke he bit into Ivy’s neck, her blood sprayed the coffee table and beige carpet. Ivy’s small body fell to the floor. Her eyes held a look of pure terror. Her hands quickly covered the wound as blood poured through her small fingers.
“No!” I screamed.
Jeremy started dragging me towards the front door. Caleb walked over to Chloe and Amber.
“No!” my heart worried for Amber.
In the moments that followed everything seemed like a blur. Everything seemed to happen simultaneously. My father shifted charging Caleb moments before he reached Amber. He leaped over
the table, his teeth extended growling. I was surprised to see Chloe grab Amber and take off with her through the kitchen.
My body was flown back into the wall. I watched as Caleb shifted into wolf, his wolf quickly protecting himself against my father. Caleb bit into my father’s shoulder. My father didn’t make a sound but whipped around biting into Caleb’s leg.
I could hear them continue to fight but was drawn to Jeremy being attacked by a massive black wolf.
“Enoc!”
Can it be true? Two flashes of light followed each another. A large brown wolf stood next to Enoc’s huge black wolf. Jason stepped back as Enoc bared his teeth in warning. This fight was between Jeremy and Enoc.
Enoc’s black fur was thick and his muscles tight as he prepared to launch at the gray wolf standing before him. Jeremy was quick and moved out of the way as Enoc’s body slammed into the wall. Jeremy reared his head back biting into Enoc’s back leg. Blood seeped onto the floor as Enoc turned using his weight to knock Jeremy off. They danced around snapping their teeth at each other their eyes bright with fury. Enoc faked right and swung around gripping Jeremy by the neck. Enoc sunk his teeth into Jeremy’s flesh breaking his airway. I watched as Jeremy choked on his own blood.
The quickness in which Caleb pulled me off the floor and into his arms was shocking. I stumbled as Caleb wrapped his bloody arm around my breastbone.
“She will be mine, one way or another.”
Caleb shoved my head to the side and bit deep into my shoulder. I felt the tissue tear and his canines dig into the muscle in my shoulder. Caleb tossed me to the hard floor. I saw a blinding light and as if in slow motion the glass fell and shattered on the floor. Caleb jumped through the back window. His ash fur, coated with blood.
I looked away as my body collapsed into itself. My body was numb and all I could think was I am going to die. Enoc and Jason came over and kneeled next to me. I shifted away from Jason moving closer to Enoc. Enoc reached out and grabbed my hand. My eyes grew heavy and in the faded distance I heard my name.
“Olivia.”
I didn’t know who spoke it. I tried to keep my eyes open but they were so heavy. I stopped fighting and let them close. Darkness that once felt scary and unknown now felt comforting and peaceful. I tried to reach up and touch Enoc one last time but the weight of my arm was too much. Something warm was against my lips and I smiled inside at the thought of Enoc kissing me one last time. I tasted something sweet on my tongue, the texture like honey.
Then like a dream I heard my mother’s voice as clear as day. “You have a choice my little dove. What will it be?”
The Choice (The Choice Series Book 1) Page 15
