Golden: A Paranormal Romance

by Ellis Marie

  For the first time in a long time, I take a deep breath and feel nothing but peace flow through me. Sure, my body is still a little sore from the blast, and at the back of my mind, I’m terrified that there are people after me, but standing in this house, being surrounded by all these incredible people . . . I feel safe.

  “Yes,” I whisper, trailing my fingers over a picture of Trent that’s stuck to the fridge, his grin shining up at me and causing my own to break out. “I do owe you.”

  ***

  Seeing Cole is difficult. Seeing the bandages covering most of his body, the scarred tissue peeking out from underneath, and the pained expression on his face is even harder, and it makes the reality set in.

  Someone tried to kill us.

  I shakily stand beside his bed and take his uninjured hand. Feeling how hot it is underneath my skin gives me some comfort—at least it isn’t ice cold.

  The pack doctor that is checking his vitals glances at me with an unsure smile. I softly give her one back, trying to not look so scared. She’s Scarlette’s mother after all.

  “Hi, I’m Elle,” I say to her, startling her as she wipes her hands on her sides and rushes over to me. “You’re Deli, right?”

  “Uh, yes, Lu . . . I mean, Elle. I’m Deli.”

  I’m a little shocked at how nervous she seems to be, but as I take her hand and shake it lightly, her nerves seem to settle.

  “Thank you for looking after Cole and checking up on me the last couple of days . . .” I trail off. “I apologise for not talking to you when you were. I was just a little shaken up.”

  She gasps and shakes her head, squeezing my hand before letting go of it.

  “There is no need to apologise. You were in shock, and you didn’t need to speak to me. You had other things going on.”

  The way she bows slightly as she says all this makes me a little uncomfortable, but I smile nonetheless, looking over at Cole.

  “How is he?”

  As soon as the conversation switches to medicine, she loses any sign of uncertainty and changes into a woman of confidence, hovering her hands over his body gently—checking charts and readjusting tubes.

  “He’s healing and he’s making good recovery; however, there’s only so much that our regenerative cells can do. I’m worried that his mind is going to be the place of issue. His head was badly damaged in the blast, and it’s not sending all the right signals to the rest of his body.”

  My heart breaks as I sit down and look at his chest rising up and down slowly. Worry floods me, pulling the pit in my stomach deeper.

  “Is there anything else we can do? Any witches or—”

  “No,” she interrupts sternly but quickly catches herself, widening her eyes in panic. “I apologise, I didn’t mean to—” I wave off her words and motion for her to continue. “Witches . . . all their magic isn’t always correct, it can have a lot of side effects or things can go wrong that we can’t prevent. Werewolf bodies aren’t predictable.”

  Suddenly, the small pouch on my lap feels like it weighs a tonne and my heart beats a little faster.

  The wolves don’t like us interfering, but we know best.

  I clear my throat and give Deli a smile that I hope hides the tension I’m feeling through my body.

  “Would you give me a couple of minutes alone with him?” I ask, ready to make up an excuse. “I just want to—”

  “Of course.” She bows her head again and I’m dumbfounded. “I’ll make sure no one disturbs you.”

  Without another word, she turns and walks straight out the door, the clicking of her heeled shoes echoing through the house as she leaves me alone with Cole. I hear her telling people in the hallway to leave us in peace too.

  “Well, that was weird,” I say to Cole’s unconscious body, confusion running through me. “I guess I don’t look guilty at all.”

  I sigh and take his hand again, running my fingers across his skin as I look up at his face, the pain on it hurting my heart.

  “I don’t know if I should do this,” I tell him, pulling out the small vial from the bag. “I don’t know much about werewolves and witches, but magic saved your life, so there has to be a reason that they gave me this vial. So I think I can trust them.”

  I turn the object over in my hands, the dark violet liquid looks as though it’s sparkling in the light. For a moment, I wonder if it could do him more harm than good.

  What if they aren’t actually friends of Maggie’s? What if they are the ones that tried to kill us?

  The thought flashes through my mind so quickly that I almost don’t catch it, but it sends a chill to my spine. This world is unknown to me. I don’t know how deep betrayals run or if long-standing hatred is ripe, but I saw the way that glares were thrown between the two species and, maybe, that was enough to tell me.

  “What if this is the one thing that’s going to help you?” I whisper to Cole. “What if I don’t do this and then you never wake up? or you do wake up but you’re different? What if I could have done something? I’m the reason that you’re here already. I don’t know if I can be the reason that you don’t recover.”

  I groan and lean forward onto my knees. “How do I know that I can trust them?”

  The pouch falls off my leg and on to the floor, but the photo within it slides out as it does. I pick it up and turn it over in my hands, looking at the smiling faces of my family, the love between us prominent that it could be written across our faces.

  “I wish you were here so I could ask you,” I mumble to Mrs. Grenway.

  Slowly, I turn the photo over and reread the message written on the back of it in her cursive writing.

  From one family to another

  She’s here, and she’s telling me exactly what I need to know.

  “Cole, I’m trusting Mrs. Grenway and I’m going to give you what the witches gave me. I’m sorry if it’s the wrong decision, but she trusted them, so I trust them.”

  I quickly get up and go to the drawers that Deli had been in earlier before I lose my nerve, finding a syringe immediately like it was waiting there for me.

  “Okay, a good sign,” I mumble, shrugging my shoulders as I try to settle the twisting in my gut. “I can do this.”

  Glancing at the door, I let out a breath before I open the vial carefully, making sure not to spill it anywhere.

  Damn werewolves and their sense of smell.

  “Cole, I don’t know what this is, but it smells really florally and strong and like nothing I’ve ever smelled before, so if there was anything at this moment that you wanted to tell me, then now would be the time.”

  Again, silence from him.

  “Okay, then we’re doing it, I guess.”

  With my hands shaking, I fill the syringe, replacing the cap on the vial which is still over half full.

  “They did not say how much to give you,” I mumble, panic filling me. “I guess I’ll give you one and see what happens. If this kills you, I’ll never forgive myself.”

  I mumble a plea under my breath as I close my eyes and look at him one more time, waiting for him to stop me.

  “I’m really going to do it this time,” I whisper, putting it into the tube connected into his arm. “Like right now, Cole, so if you wake up, I won’t.”

  Silence.

  “Should I be telling Trent about this?” I ask myself out loud and then shake my head. “No, I’m doing this, okay.”

  Without waiting for my head to change its mind again, I quickly push down the syringe and watch as the clear tube going into his hand changes to purple.

  I wait for a second and watch as the colour flows under his skin and into his veins like they’re illuminating them as it travels through his body. I shove my belongings into my bag and place them on the chair before I hover over him, waiting for something to happen. The colour glows for a moment and travels up his arm and into his neck before disappearing.

  I expect it to appear again, but it doesn’t.

  I don’t know how lo
ng I stand above him, watching for even the smallest sign of something happening, but eventually, all the air leaves my body and I fall into the chair again.

  “Well then, at least it didn’t kill you.”

  Before I can finish speaking, his finger moves the tiniest amount and I freeze.

  Did I just see that?

  “Cole?” I whisper, leaning over him and watching for more signs of movement. “Cole, can you hear me?”

  Behind his eyelids, his eyes seem to be going crazy, moving from right to left so rapidly that he looks like he’s vibrating.

  Oh wait, he is vibrating.

  His body has begun to spasm, arching his back off the bed as his legs flail. I jump back out of the way, my heart hammering in my chest. I watch his neck thrash around, his muscles beginning to bulge and strain.

  Oh my god! Is he dying?

  “Help!” I yell, running over to the bed. “Someone, help!”

  Oh, why did she tell everyone to leave!

  He’s going to do more harm to himself if he keeps doing this. I can already see the bandages coming off his body and the skin underneath stretching.

  I reach over and hold the uninjured side of Cole down and then try to reach across and grab the other. As my fingers touch him, his eyes flash open and his mouth snaps, his teeth barely missing me.

  But I don’t miss the ferocious way his mouth snarls and the look his eyes have in them.

  “Trent!” I scream, glancing at the door as I beg for someone to come through.

  Cole’s body begins to morph, his limbs stretching and his mouth elongating as a low growl leaves his chest, his back bending over in such a way that I know it’s not human.

  He’s not human. F*ck.

  I scramble back from him, my body hitting the floor as I trip over the chair behind me. The noise echoes around us, bringing his attention straight to me.

  Oh my god.

  The wolf in front of me lifts its head, watching me as if daring me to make a move. The colour of it is so similar to the colour of Cole’s hair that I almost want to laugh, but the terror at seeing a wolf this up close prevents me from finding the humour in it.

  “C-Cole?” I ask cautiously, trying to move back as slowly as I can, my butt sliding along the floor. The movement causes a snarl to leave his snout. I stop trying to move at all. Instead, I freeze like a statue.

  Why am I not wearing my necklace? Oh right, because Kristie said it didn’t go with the outfit.

  “Cole, it’s me,” I whisper, but it’s like he doesn’t even hear my words as he moves towards me, his large body coming to the edge of the bed where he stands above me, his hot breath fanning my face.

  The rumble from within his body makes my breath catch and sweat begin to run down my back. He sounds like he is getting ready to pounce.

  “Cole?” I try one more time. “It’s Elle.”

  For a second, I think that I’ve gotten through to him, that my shaking voice has made something register in his animalistic brain, but the moment passes in a blink and his growl begins again, his body shifting, ready to leap.

  I should not have given him that vial.

  “Please,” I beg as his lips roll up and show his teeth.

  I’m going to die.

  As his nose gets so close that I can almost feel it on my own, I close my eyes, praying that maybe he won’t see me as a threat anymore.

  Because I know so much about wolves obviously, like that’s going to—

  “Cole!”

  The shout comes from my right, the anger and strength in it making me jump as well as the wolf in front of me who looks to the door immediately.

  Oh, thank god.

  “Elle,” Trent says calmly as he walks through the door, his eyes never leaving Cole. “I need you to stay still and not move, okay?”

  I nod in response, but the action causes Cole to look at me again and a whimper leaves my lips.

  “Cole!” Trent warns. “Look at me, not at her.”

  The growls still emit from him in a low hum.

  “Hey! Eyes on me. I’m your alpha, and I’m telling you to back away from your luna, now.”

  Trent’s face is stone cold and his eyes are glowing in a way that I’ve never seen before, the glare of them almost blinding as his body swells up seeming to double in size.

  Or maybe that’s just my imagination or the fact that I’m sitting on the floor.

  The animal cowers back slightly at the power radiating from Trent. I feel his presence only a step away from me as he towers over us, his hand reaching and pushing me away from Cole a little.

  “Submit,” he orders, stepping in between us and blocking Cole’s view of me. Relief floods through me at the protection that he provides. “Change.”

  There’s silence for a moment and then I see the wolf slump away from the bed and over to the other side of it, disappearing.

  In a flash, Trent is bent down and checking me, his eyes flashing with worry.

  “Are you okay?” he asks softly, pulling me into his arms and lifting me off the ground. I bury my head into his chest and breathe deeply, my lungs now functioning.

  “I’m fine,” I assure him, pulling away and smiling shakily. “That was pretty terrifying though.”

  I don’t miss the look of relief that passes over him and the way his body relaxes as he leans forward and kisses my forehead before placing his own to it.

  “I’m so sorry that he did that. I don’t know what got into him.”

  Guilt begins to rise in my stomach as I glance over at my bag containing the vial that I had injected Cole with.

  “Um, Trent?” I clear my throat as he looks down at me. “I might know . . .”

  He frowns at me, clearly confused by my confession, but before he can ask anything else, there’s movement behind him. I watch Cole’s head appear, his eyes darting around the room as though he’s lost.

  “What am I doing on the floor?” he asks as he stands up.

  I could almost cry with happiness when I hear his voice; it has been days. He looks at us, his eyes zoning in on Trent’s chest and his mouth pulls up into a smirk as he scoffs.

  “And why are you wearing such an ugly tie?”

  I laugh at his words, but it quickly dies in my throat as Cole steps forward to us and out from behind the bed, his full body coming into view.

  Oh wow.

  “I’d rather wear the ugly tie than be naked, Cole,” Trent retorts flatly.

  It takes a second for Cole to catch on, but when he does, he quickly covers himself with a pillow from the bed and gives an awkward laugh, nodding at me with a wink.

  “Just thought I’d give Elle a treat,” he teases. I flush red, trying to stifle my laugh.

  Trent looks at me from the corner of his eye before making a step towards Cole—the animalistic growl now coming from him.

  “He’s kidding!” I intervene, pushing in front of him as I walk up to Cole and hug him. I try to ignore the fact that I’m touching his bare chest. “I’m so happy you’re alright.”

  He wraps the arm not protecting his dignity around me and kisses my temple, his body sighing.

  “And I’m glad you’re alright,” he mumbles, squeezing me tight. “The last thing I remember is trying to get you out of the way.”

  “While I’m glad you tried to protect her, I’m also glad that you didn’t push her too far away from you,” Trent states as I move out the way to let him come in for a hug. “If you’d pushed her any further, then who knows the damage you would have had.”

  There’s a commotion outside the door. Trent quickly excuses himself to go and deal with the pack before they all burst in, leaving Cole and I alone.

  “I’m going to put clothes on,” Cole says, pointing at the drawers to the side of him. I nod, quickly turning around so I can’t see him. “What did Trent mean?”

  I stare up at the blank wall in front of me, listening to him rifle through clothes. I have to admit that I’m a little nervous to turn my back on
him after what has just happened, but I focus on the cracks running through the roof to keep me occupied.

  “Mrs. Grenway had a protection spell around me, that’s how half your body was unharmed in the blast. You were close enough to me that it protected you as well.”

  “I’ll have to thank her then, for saving my life.”

  His words feel like a punch in the gut, the thought of her causing my lips to tremble.

  “You can’t,” I state softly. “She used too much power doing it, and she . . . she . . .” I trail off, not able to finish the sentence so soon after I’ve watched her body burn before me.

  There’s silence behind me and then I feel Cole’s hand on my shoulder. It causes me to jump a little, but I quickly shoot him a smile and turn to face him. He’s fully clothed now.

  “I’m so sorry, Elle,” he murmurs. “I know she was like family to you.”

  “She was family,” I correct him. “She was the only family I had left.”

  He gently holds me and wraps an arm around as we head for the door. “I know how special she was to you, and I know nothing can make it okay, but I want you to know that you’ve got a new family,” he states “And we look after our own.”

  “Yeah,” I scoff, rolling my eyes. “When you’re not trying to attack me.”

  My words make him stop walking. He looks at me in shock, anger growing in them. “Someone tried to attack you?” he growls. “Who? Has Trent already done something about it?”

  Confusion must be clear on my face because he stops rambling and stares at me, waiting for me to speak.

  Does he really not know?

  “You don’t remember?” I ask. “You had a seizure and changed into your wolf. If Trent hadn’t come in and ordered you to stop, then . . . I mean . . .”

  The air around us hangs heavy as Cole processes my words, widening his eyes with horror as he realises what happened and what could have happened.

  Did he blackout?

  “Elle, I’m so sorry. I would never harm you, ever. What happened to me?” His words are littered with panic as we open the door into the hallway. “Why did I do that?”

  “That’s what I would like to know.”