Chapter 24 - Sara
The trip home passes by in a blur, and the only sensation I really notice is Shawn’s arms around me. He carries me most of the way, even after I start to protest that I can walk.
When we arrive back in town, there is a crowd of people gathered in the park, and most of them turn and head towards us when they see us coming.
“Oh my God, Sara!” Scarlett yells, running up to me. “Are you alright?”
“Yes,” I answer, accepting her hug. “I was a bit roughed up, but I think it’s mostly healed now.”
Alisha and Grace come over as well, and both of them share a look when they step back.
“What is it?” I ask.
“Your aura, it’s changed,” Grace says. “I never thought to ask before, but have you ever had trouble shifting?”
“All the time,” I reply. “I barely even try anymore; it’s always been so difficult for me.”
“Well, I think you’re a witch,” Alisha says, tilting her head to look at me. “And from what I can see, you’re supercharged with power.”
“What happened out there?” Scarlett asks.
“I killed Father’s men.” The words are soft as they leave my lips, but I see a few people in the crowd look towards me, and I know it’s time.
Time to take over the pack, just as Talon would have wanted. No more shrinking into the shadows. It’s time to stand in the light.
“I killed Father’s men!” I say in a firm voice as I step forward ahead of the others. “Father kidnapped me this morning, with his friends Bruce, Axe, and Rafe. They planned to kill me, and Shawn, and take back control.”
“Your Father was better to us than any alpha!” Morrow says. “He has always been true to us, while Talon and your husband here shun the folk of the town.”
“Father was lying to you!” I shout. “He had a connection to the human world this whole time—his father wasn’t dead. He’s been keeping advancement from you, to keep you all under his control.”
The crowd begins to mutter. I take a deep breath and go on.
“Father got Talon killed by tricking him into attacking Eccles. He was going to take over the pack and rule it, but he didn’t count on the other packs coming up here to help.”
“We want to help,” Rex says. “If you come with us, you can see how our pack lives, and we can bring you into the same comfort. You won’t need to struggle anymore.”
“And what about the old magics?” a sly, grating voice asks.
The crowd pulls apart, and I see Melanie standing in the center.
“What about them?” I challenge her.
“You just want to use us,” she says. “We know the stone needs sacrifice. Up here, we’re safe. All Jackson wanted was to keep us away from that carnage, and now you think you can lead us down there to our doom?”
“Give it up, Melanie,” I say. “He’s dead—really, actually dead—and we’re in charge, now. I know you’re lying, and so does everyone else.”
“Am I?” Melanie asks with a smile.
Rex makes a gesture, and Luke hurries over to grab her.
“Apprehend everyone who was loyal to Jackson,” Shawn says. “Do it now.”
Rex, Brad, and Dan wade into the crowd, grabbing anyone who was associated with my father. A lot of the crowd scatters, but by the time the dust settles, it looks like we have them all. To my surprise, I see Leah at the edge of the crowd.
“Leah,” I call out to her. “Are you alright?”
“Yes, dear,” she says, coming over to squeeze my hand. “Jackson’s really dead?”
“Yes, he is,” I answer.
“I’m relieved, dear girl. I knew from the beginning he was bad for the pack. I prayed that Talon would kill him, but Talon really was gentle at heart.”
“I know,” I say, hugging her. “The only reason they attacked Eccles is that Father convinced him they had kidnapped me and some other women.”
“Tragic.” Leah shakes her head. “I have faith in you, child. I think we can finally conquer our fear and reshape our world.”
“I do, too,” I say. “But first, we have to deal with these criminals.”
Even though I’m tired and still recovering from my injuries, we shuffle over to the hall to try the townsfolk for their crimes. People from the poorer quarter come to watch, some of them shocked by the news of my Father’s betrayal, and others obviously validated.
So, he was losing support here. The pack would have turned on him soon, anyway. His reign was coming to an end, and he didn’t even know.
I decide to keep it to myself that Father knew about the snake and the stone. He’s dead now, and there’s no need to bring it up. Melanie’s words continue to echo in my ears, though, and when it is her turn to be tried, I’m very curious as to what she has to say.
“Melanie,” Shawn says. “You were not involved in this morning’s acts of violence, and for all we know, you are innocent of all Jackson’s schemes. If you come clean, we may let you live.”
She sneers at him and spits in the dirt. I look at her without compassion, this woman who has tortured me my entire life.
“Just call me guilty,” she says. “I was part of it, and I’m not hanging around to be banished. You can all go fuck yourselves. Kill me, if you’ve got the guts.”
The men look at each other, and I know they’d prefer not to kill. So far, a couple of people have been banished, others put on good behavior, and they haven’t had to use the death penalty.
“You could save your own life if you would just cooperate,” Scarlett says.
Melanie laughs. “I’ll tell you this!” she shouts.
“Jackson found out the truth of the wave of fire and the great quake. It comes from the serpent and the stone, and it is buried in the heart of Eccles. They own it, they control it, and it thirsts for innocent blood. Our ancestors knew it, and they kept us safe up here. All Jackson wanted was to keep us within our boundary, hidden from the world, safe from the fire. Now it’s here—you’ve invited it in!
Each and every one of you will be sacrificed—”
Rex appears behind Melanie suddenly. He grabs her head and, with a sharp twist, breaks her neck. She falls into a pile at his feet.
“She was raving,” he says. “Out of her mind. We gave her a chance.”
I look around at the others, but instead of shock or surprise on their faces, all I see is grim acceptance.
What the fuck is all of this about? Father knew something about the stone…did he tell Melanie? What was that about sacrifices?
We finish the trial, with Melanie being the only one to suffer the death penalty.
Luke and Dan went out to search Father’s place while we decided the fate of the criminals, and they found a huge shed where he kept a massive store of supplies.
Luxuries are handed out to the entire pack, and even after such a difficult day, I can feel people’s spirits lifting.
Shawn takes my hand, and we walk back to the house, the heat making the late afternoon light shimmer.
“I don’t know about you, but I’m dying of thirst,” Shawn says. “Why don’t you sit down, and I’ll get us some drinks?”
“Sounds like heaven,” I say, heading for the living room. The house is shadowed and cool, and as soon as I lay down on the couch, I feel exhaustion flood through me.
“That was a long day,” I say when Shawn comes in with the drinks.
“Yeah. I just didn’t feel comfortable leaving anyone who was loyal to Jackson running loose,” he says, sitting on the floor next to me.
“Melanie was weird,” I remark, sitting up to take a drink.
“Yeah,” he replies. “We don’t need to worry about that now, though. It’s over.”
I tilt the glass back, hearing the ice clink against the glass as the tart brandy and lemon pour across my tongue. Sighing with pleasure, I lean back, closing my eyes and enjoying the cool rush.
“Sara,” Shawn says softly.
“Hmm?” I mutter, not opening my eyes.
“I want you to know, you’re free to go.”
“Excuse me?” I ask, opening my eyes.
“This morning, when I saw that you were gone, I thought you might have left me. You know, like you said you wanted?”
“Running away to the big city,” I say.
He nods. “Yeah. I was frantic with worry, because I was pretty sure your father had something to do with you disappearing, but there was this thought in my mind that maybe you had left.”
“Shawn,” I say, leaning forward to touch his face.
He shakes his head, taking my hand. “No, let me finish. It’s important.
I realized that I don’t care what happens—the only thing I want for you is happiness.
I think it’s the first time in my life that I haven’t been selfish, because I want you to do whatever you need to do to live your life, exactly as you want.
You’ve been a prisoner here, and I won’t let you be caged, ever again. ”
“Oh, Shawn.” I lean forward and kiss him, softly at first, then deeper.
“I love you,” I say, stroking his cheek as I look into his eyes. “And the only place I’ve ever felt safe is right here, in your arms.”
His big green eyes shimmer with emotion, and he grabs me, kissing me hard. I wrap my arms around his shoulders and kiss him back, and we slip onto the floor.
“So, you really want to stay?” he asks. “I’m ready to do the right thing here, no matter what. This pack needs some serious repair, but I won’t hold you back.”
I shake my head, laughing. “Sorry, you’re not getting rid of me that easily. I want to help the pack, too. Finally get this place back on track, just like Talon would have wanted. And no matter what else happens, I’m sticking with you whether you like it or not.”
“Hmm,” he mutters, through short, firm kisses. “Lucky, I like it, then.”
I grab him, giggling as we roll across the floor. I come out on top and pin his arms, kissing him deeply. Shawn wriggles under me, and I can feel him getting hard.
“What is that?” I ask, sliding my hips back and forth. “I didn’t think you carried a weapon.”
“I have one built in,” he says seriously. “It’s a multi-use tool.”
I giggle as I hold him down, and he struggles against me, going limp in my grip.
“You got me,” he says. “You overpowered me. I’m helpless.”
“I doubt that,” I reply, kissing him softly. “But I definitely have got you.”
I run my hands down his arms, sitting up as I trail my fingers across his chest. I shove back the loose, sleeveless robe he threw on when we arrived back in town, and he stretches his arms above his head, flexing for me.
I smile, digging my nails in just a little as I stroke his chest, watching goosebumps fly across his skin. Leaning back a little, I reach up and pull the straps of my mostly ruined dress off my shoulders.
Shawn’s eyes widen, and he stares at my breasts. I rock forward, capturing his hands again as I smother his face with my breasts.
I hear him moan under me, wriggling and turning his head as he tries to find my nipples with his mouth. I writhe above him, gripping his waist with my knees as I keep his hands pinned to the floor.
Heat builds between my legs, making me thrust my hips back and forth. I can feel his hard cock teasing my pussy as I move. The throbbing ache begins to obliterate all other sensations as I let go of his hands and lean back to try and put more pressure on my clit.
“Thank God,” Shawn whispers. “I was about to run out of air.”
“I didn’t hear you complaining,” I giggle.
“Oh, don’t get me wrong,” he says. “I was going to die a happy man.”
I lean down and kiss him, holding on to his shoulders while rocking my hips back and forth. I can feel his cock sliding against the slick folds of my pussy, teasing my clit and getting close to the opening.
“Sorry if this is teasing you,” I whisper against his lips. “I’m just experimenting.”
“I’m all kinds of good,” he chuckles. “By all means, use my cock any way you see fit.”
I grip his shoulders even more tightly, shifting my hips back and forth to change the pressure from my clit to the lower lips. Both parts of me are throbbing and aching with an intensity I’ve never felt before, and the anticipation is almost as good as the absolution.
“That’s it,” Shawn says. “I changed my mind.”
He grabs my shoulders and hooks one leg over my hip, flipping us over. I let out a short shriek as he slams me against the floor, pinning me and kissing me hard.
“Can’t wait,” Shawn says breathlessly, reaching down between our legs.
I feel his cock pressing against me, and with one sharp thrust, he slides inside, joining us together. A wave of pleasure slams through me as I throw my head back, opening my hips as he pins me against the floor with his body.
Deep within me, my muscles coil around his, the throbbing ache inside meeting the pressure of his cock and causing waves of pleasure to run through me.
Shawn presses his hips forward even further, and I wrap myself around him, gripping him with my legs and arms as I accept him into the deepest part of me.
“I love you,” he whispers, and the waves of pleasure that run through me make me lose all my strength. I cling to him desperately as my inner muscles spasm, clenching his cock while I cling to him, my body trembling from the intensity.
“I love you, too,” I whisper against his cheek, wrapping my arms around him as my strength begins to return.
Shawn leans back, looking into my eyes as he starts to thrust in long, slow strokes. I feel every single inch of him as he controls his body, sliding all the way out and then back in, drawing out every single moment of pleasure and never breaking his gaze.
I touch his face, bringing our heads together as another wave of pleasure builds inside me. My inner muscles clench around his cock, and even though he shudders and groans, he doesn’t change pace or look away from my eyes.
As the intensity builds, my legs come up, wrapping around him as the intensity builds inside me. Even as I start to tremble and gasp, I don’t look away, and the pleasure breaks, a massive release that cascades through my entire body.
Tingles run across my skin as the orgasm subsides, and Shawn smiles. I smile back, feeling his cock swelling inside me and my body answering his.
“There are so many ways I can bring you pleasure,” he says. “And I can’t wait to discover every single one.”
I kiss him softly, all my words lost to the sensations in my body. The kiss deepens, then becomes almost urgent as my body grips his deep inside. He rocks forward, pressing his body hard against mine until I cry out from pleasure.
With a deep groan, Shawn collapses against me, his strong arms winding around my body as he buries his head on my shoulder.
His hips move in long, hard strokes, faster and faster.
His entire body hardens, and I feel his cock thickening with every thrust. When it feels like my body is completely at its limit, I feel him shudder from head to foot and cry out as his cock shudders and blows deep inside me.
We cling to each other, our breathing in perfect sync. His hand brushes my cheek lightly, and I turn my head to his caress, knowing that our souls are just as entangled as our bodies and that this is what it means to be loved.