by Lola Gabriel
Ferren almost couldn't believe how the wolf yelped in agony from only her touch. She grabbed hold of the wolf again, pressing her palm against its head, as she closed her eyes and looked away. The sounds of the yelps and painful cries were almost too much to bear, but Ferren knew it was the only way. It squirmed, and although it tried to escape the painful grasp that Ferren had on it, it just couldn't. It wasn't long before the wolf finally started to bleed from its mouth, and right before its body went limp, she took her hands away, gripped his neck, and broke it with a powerful jerk. Ferren waited a few moments before she opened her eyes and stared into the dead eyes of the wolf. The heaviness of its dead body weighed down on her and she threw him off. Kodiak was sitting on the ground, covered in blood, the other wolf nowhere to be seen, and Jett had Mike pinned on the ground. Mike was either dead or unconscious, as his eyes were closed and he wasn't moving.
Ferren scrambled to her feet and rushed over to Kodiak. “You’re bleeding,” she said and touched his blood-stained clothes.
“Oh, no. This isn't mine.”
“Where’s the other wolf?” she asked.
“Well, I can’t be sure, but I think a part of him is over there,” he pointed to the far corner of the cave, “and the other parts are over there somewhere.”
Ferren eyed the scattered parts of the wolf and dry-heaved a few times.
“Stop being so high and mighty. That’s what we look like from the inside,” Jett muttered with mock disgust and Ferren turned to her as Jett approached them.
Ferren smiled gratefully at her and stood up from the ground. She put her arms around Jett, hugging her tight. “Thank you,” she whispered to Jett.
Jett pulled out of her embrace and shrugged. “You’re a part of the pack now.”
Ferren smiled and glanced over Jett’s shoulder at Mike’s body, her smile fading slightly. “Is he dead?”
“The bastard doesn't have a pulse, so I guess so,” Jett said without a trace of emotion in her tone.
“So, that’s Mike?” Kodiak asked and stood from the ground.
“Yeah,” Ferren muttered with a tight smile.
“You had terrible taste in men,” Kodiak pointed out.
Jett glanced back at Mike’s lifeless body and shrugged. “I wouldn't exactly say that, Kodi. He was pretty cute, except for the manipulative way he controlled Ferren, and the fact that he’s a Crescent doesn't exactly count in his favor. I’d say he’s about a seven.”
“You’re welcome to him,” Ferren motioned toward Mike and Jett held up her hands in defiance.
“I’ll pass.”
Ferren scanned the cave and sighed. “You guys, why do we always make such a mess?” she asked as she motioned to the inside of the cave.
It once again resembled a scene from a slasher movie, blood on the walls, the ground and even in the water that ran along the side.
“We’re such animals,” Jett muttered, which made Ferren chuckle.
Kodiak put his arms around Ferren and held her for a few seconds. “Can we please go home now?”
“Absolutely,” Ferren answered, breathing in the scent of him, not caring that he was covered in another’s blood.
“Great. All this blood is really getting old,” Jett muttered as she walked to the waterfall, looking down at her boots. “These are my favorite boots, and look at them. They’re filthy.”
Ferren chuckled when Kodiak rolled his eyes at her, but as soon as she noticed movement out of the corner of her eye, she turned.
Even though it happened in a couple of seconds, to Ferren it felt as though time moved incredibly slow.
As she turned her head, she saw Mike coming toward them with razor-sharp teeth bared, ready to attack them. She wasn't sure whether she let out a scream—she probably did—but right before Mike could grab hold of Kodiak and Ferren to rip them apart, Jett shoved them out of the way and Mike sunk his teeth into Jett’s shoulder. Blood spattered through the air as Mike tore into Jett’s flesh, and Kodiak’s screams echoed loudly in her ears.
Something suddenly snapped inside of Ferren as Mike stepped away from Jett’s lifeless body, lying in a blood pool that rapidly increased in size.
“Jett!” Kodiak yelled and scrambled toward her.
Ferren felt the drumming in her ears and she glared at Mike, feeling that manifestation of pain from inside her as well. Drawing from all her painful experiences in her life, she felt it build up inside her and her eyes flashed violently.
Mike looked at her, and his sinister smirk quickly changed into a pained expression. He narrowed his eyes at her as she took a few steps toward him, and suddenly his body contorted from the pain Ferren inflicted upon him through her rage and anger. She didn't even know that she could do that, and thought that she could only achieve this by touch. The pain increased inside her, and she saw all of Kodiak’s memories flash before her. All the feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, and never being good enough for his father. She felt the pain Kodiak had felt the night of the fire, when he lost not only his home and his parents, but also his brothers, his family. She also felt the pain he currently felt as he crouched beside Jett’s body, desperately pleading with her to wake up.
Mike growled out in pain, but Ferren kept going. She knew that she was the only one who could save Jett, but she also knew that she needed to make sure Mike was really dead. If he was being tortured to death in the most painful manner imaginable, then so be it.
Mike yelled something at her, but she couldn't make out what the asshole was saying, nor did she care. Blood trickled down from the two corners of his mouth, and Ferren could feel the lashes of pain she struck at him, each one more painful and intense than the previous.
Eventually, Mike spewed blood on the ground, fell to his knees and mouthed, “You’re going to pay for this,” at her, before he fell to the ground.
He was finally dead.
The air cleared as her ability simmered down and she simply stared at Mike for a few seconds.
“Ferren...”
Ferren whirled around and looked at Kodiak, who was watching her with wide eyes. He was crouched beside Jett on the ground, covered in even more blood.
“I can’t believe I did that,” she gasped, clearly in shock at what had just happened.
A single tear ran down her cheek and her knees gave way as she fell down on the ground beside Jett.
“Is she alive?” she asked, her voice merely a whisper.
“Barely. Her pulse is really weak.”
“I have to heal her,” Ferren said, but as she went to place her hand on Jett’s chest, Jett’s eyes slowly opened and she looked at them.
“Don’t...” Jett whispered.
“Jett, Ferren’s going to heal you,” Kodiak urged and took her hand.
“No,” Jett said and painfully exhaled.
“Jett, you’ll be okay,” Ferren assured her, but when she tried to place her hand on Jett’s shoulder again, Jett pushed her hand away.
“No,” Jett said simply.
“Jett, stop it,” Kodiak growled.
“I don't want to be healed. I am too far gone,” Jett stammered.
Kodiak scoffed and shook his head. “Don’t you talk like that. Ferren’s ability—”
“No, Kodi. Please. If there was ever a time to listen to me, now would be it,” Jett begged, each word more painful than the previous to say. “I did what you asked me to. You asked me to look out for you, to protect you, and to be there for you. I’ve done all that.”
Tears filled Kodiak’s eyes and he shook his head. “Jett, please. Don’t—”
“You have Ferren now, and from what I’ve seen, she can look after you way better than I ever could,” Jett stuttered painfully.
“I can't just let you die,” Ferren cried.
“Yes, you can.”
“No, I am not going to allow this,” Kodiak growled and grabbed Ferren’s hand.
Even though Jett was fighting for her life, she still had the power to control, and silently u
rged Kodiak to ease off.
“Jett…” Kodiak gritted his teeth.
Jett ignored Kodiak’s remark and turned her head slightly to look at Ferren. “You better look after him, okay?”
“I will. Always, I promise.”
“And if he gives you any trouble, you have my permission to kick his ass,” Jett whispered.
A tear rolled down Ferren’s cheek as she smiled sadly. “I will.”
“Jett...” Kodiak said and she turned to him.
“I’ll tell your mom you send your love,” she said, clearly losing her grip on her own consciousness.
“You do that,” he said, his tone thick with sadness. “I love you so much.”
“I love you too, Kodi.” Her voice was weak, but her words still held the most meaning. “You were a part of my family for a long time, but now you have your own family, with Ferren. Now let me go.”
Kodiak squeezed her blood-soaked hand and Ferren watched as the life drained from Jett’s eyes, and her arms went limp.
Ferren’s eyes filled with more tears and she pursed her lips briefly. “I am so sorry,” she whispered as she placed her hand over Kodiak’s.
He lowered his face onto his hand and sobbed like a baby. Ferren knew that there was nothing she could possibly say to make him feel any better, so she sat silently beside him, holding his hand.
Then something happened that neither Ferren nor Kodiak could ever be able to explain. A flash of Kodiak’s entire friendship with Jett flickered through her mind and it broke her heart even more.
They were best friends not only when they were young, traveling from Italy to Massachusetts, but also as adults. They shared a friendship that was the envy of every wolf in the pack. A friendship built on mutual respect and trust.
Ferren suddenly hated herself for not healing Jett when she had the chance, despite Jett’s insistence that she didn't want to be healed.
Tears streamed down her cheeks as she squeezed Kodiak’s hand and he lifted his head.
“I am so sorry,” Ferren cried, sounding more emotional than she thought she would, and let out a sob. “I’m so sorry. I should have saved her when I had the chance.”
“It’s not your fault, Ferren,” Kodiak said quietly.
“No, it is. I was so angry at Mike for what he did. I wanted him to hurt so badly that I forgot about everything else. I disregarded everyone else’s chance to live just so that I could hurt and kill him,” Ferren sobbed. “I don’t deserve to be in your pack, or in your life.”
“Ferren, you did what you thought was right at that moment,” he whispered with sad eyes. “It’s not your fault, and I don’t blame you for it. Neither does she.”
Ferren stared at Jett, brushing a lock of dark hair off Jett’s face. “I’m sorry.”
Ferren stared at her for a short while still sitting beside her. Kodiak stood up and took his phone out of his pocket. She didn't really pay any attention to what he said, or even who was talking to. She just sat there, occasionally wiping her cheeks, wishing there was something she could do to bring Jett back. Even though she and Jett had gotten off on the wrong foot when they first met, she wasn't as bad as she’d first thought. Jett was loyal, snarky and witty, not to mention gorgeous-looking and dedicated. She knew right from wrong, and had been the best Beta Kodiak could have asked for.
It saddened her that she would never hear another witty comment coming from Jett’s mouth, or hear her sardonic laugh in the background. She’d especially miss Jett’s eye rolls; those were always entertaining. As she sat there, she silently made a vow that if she and Kodiak ever were to have a daughter in the future, she would name her Jett.
“Ferren?” she heard Kodiak’s voice behind her and she turned herself around.
He stood a few feet away from her, covered in blood but still as handsome as ever, looking directly at her.
“Moss and the others are on their way here.”
“Okay,” Ferren gasped breathlessly and looked at him with a frown. “Did you tell them about Jett?”
Kodiak nodded and lowered his gaze.
Ferren noticed there was something on his mind, and she stood from the ground. She walked up to him, taking his hand, and his gaze slowly met hers. “What is it?” she asked.
He stepped forward, looking down at Jett, and quietly answered, “I have to take her back home.”
“To Italy?”
Kodiak smiled sadly and shook his head. “No, her parents are still in Minnesota.”
“Okay. I’ll go with you,” she stated and squeezed his hand.
“Only if you want to.” He brushed a lock of copper hair from her face and tucked it behind her ear.
“I want to. She was a big part of your life, and even though we weren't the best of friends, I know she meant a lot to you. I’m your mate, and I will always support you and follow you, wherever you go,” Ferren nodded, her voice filled with tenderness, sincerity and selfless love.
It was a strange feeling for her, as she had never been in love before, but this—what she had with Kodiak—was much more than love. It was the deepest, most natural, forever-and-ever, always-yours kind of thing. She couldn't call it love, because it was so much more. Their wolf souls were now one, bound together by nature to forever be by one another’s side, regardless of time or circumstance.
Ferren smiled as she could not imagine a future without him in her life, and she made another silent promise to herself that there would never be anything that she wouldn't do for him, and her new family.
Until the very last day of her, and his, existence.
12
One Month Later
Kodiak glowered at Ferren from the other side of his Mustang, which had been repaired a few weeks after the accident. Kodiak had been more relieved that Ferren was safe, obviously, but he was happy the car was back to normal. It had been tough without Jett, but he knew that it was because of her that he and Ferren were safe.
A few days after Jett was killed, he, Ferren and Moss had traveled to Minnesota to inform Jett’s family about her passing. It was incredibly sad when they received the news, but Kodiak knew that it meant the world to them to hear it coming from him. He clearly saw the gratitude beneath the sadness in their eyes.
Kodiak and Ferren, along with Moss, stayed at their home for a few days, and after Jett’s parents held a burial for their daughter, Kodiak, Ferren and Moss made their way back to Washington.
Saying goodbye to Jett was hard for Kodiak, but he knew that she wouldn't want him to be miserable, especially if she wasn't there to experience it and mock him relentlessly. He knew he’d miss her every day for the rest of his life, and he was truly grateful for what she had done. He also knew that Ferren wouldn’t be angry with him if he grew quiet on the occasions that he did miss her. She completely understood, even though she and Jett hadn’t seen eye to eye most times.
Kodiak appointed Blaze as his new Beta, and Blaze seemed to fit in well in his new rank. He was strong and reliable, and he definitely helped with matters relating to tracking. The attacks on the humans stopped, but Kodiak knew that it would be only a matter of time until the Crescents would retaliate.
“Stop looking so worried,” he heard Ferren say and his jaw clenched.
“I should be worried,” he muttered as he closed the door.
Ferren rolled her eyes at him and shut the door of his Mustang. “No, you shouldn’t.”
“It’s not like they have guns,” he shrugged and looked at her. “Do they?”
“You’re being ridiculous, you know that?” Ferren laughed heartily and shook her head.
Her copper hair was lightly curled and her eyes were bright and clear. Her dark purple jacket brought out the color of her hair as well as her eyes, and Kodiak could spend the rest of his life marveling at just how beautiful she was to him. A proud smile formed on his lips as once again he realized that she was his, and he would spend the rest of his life with her.
The past few months had been a time of both recov
ery and healing for him, but also a time of growth for him and Ferren, and they were in a really good place right now.
“What’s the matter with you?” she asked and raised an eyebrow at him.
He had been staring at her wordlessly for longer than he normally did, which usually meant he was either planning something, or thinking harder than he was supposed to.
He walked around the car and took her hands in his. “Have I told you how beautiful you look tonight?” he asked with a smile.
“No, you haven’t,” she answered simply.
“Well, you do. You’re the most beautiful thing I have ever seen in my life, and I’m the luckiest wolf in the world to have a mate like you.”
Her smile grew as bright as his and she put her arms around his shoulders. “You’re sweet.”
Kodiak smiled and kissed her on the lips. “Can we go home, please?” he whispered against her lips. “I promise that I’ll make it worth your while.”
She chuckled with amusement and placed her hands on his chest. “Nice try, Wylde. Neither your intense green eyes nor your sexy smile is going to persuade me into leaving.”
“Not even my butt?”
“Not even your butt,” she chuckled. “Besides, they’re expecting us.”
“Just send them a text to cancel. I’d much rather be—”
“I bet, but we’re already here,” she interrupted his comment and gazed over his shoulder at the house. “I can see them through the kitchen window.”
“Dammit,” he muttered jokingly under his breath.
“Come on; it’s going to be fun,” she encouraged him.
“For you, maybe,” he muttered again and she gave him a look that quickly made him change his tune. “Sorry,” Kodiak apologized, feeling a little more nervous than he’d care to admit to anyone, himself and Ferren included.
She led him to the front of the lavish house in Bellevue, and it made Kodiak feel a little inadequate. He wasn't sure why he felt like that, but he had been dreading this night ever since Ferren had told him about it.
