Chapter 12
TALIA
I opened the bedroom door in search of Declan and Trystan.
Sasha should have brought Celeste here by now.
I stepped out, closing the door behind me and turned around and smacked into a hard, but familiar body.
Lucas? How was he here? I wasn’t sure what I would say to him.
Not that long ago, we were casually fucking, and now I had a mate… one who was possessive already and an Alpha, one who had taken me from our pack into his home without allowing me to say goodbye.
“I was terrified sweetheart when we felt the portal opening and Trystan was gone.
We panicked.
But he had somehow sealed us inside the office.”
He whispered as he wrapped me in his embrace.
“I will kill him for taking you.”
He growled into my ear.
“This past week of not knowing has been hell.”
I pushed myself out of his embrace and asked, “Is Celeste here with you? I told Declan to get her.”
His green eyes searched mine, not sure what he was looking for but his brows furrowed as he spoke, “Um, yeah she is in the main living area with everyone else.”
“What do you mean everyone?" I asked him.
Concern evident in my voice.
I was trying to protect them by leaving them behind.
All except Celeste.
She was my ride or die.
“Well, Sasha came for Celeste, and Jericho and I hijacked her portal.
We needed to know you were okay, and Jericho was not done talking with you.
And I… I needed to talk with you as well.”
He stepped closer to me, his hand brushing the side of my cheek as he reached out.
So many feelings came with his touch, yet I no longer felt that urge to strip down and give myself to him.
“You had us all worried.
When we found you in the woods… Shit, Tals if you had died...”
His voice trailed off quietly.
“But I didn’t die, I am here and relatively safe now.
We are all in one piece, I won’t be as easy a target as I am right now once I know more about having a shield placed on me.”
I moved his hand off my face and leaned in and gave him a hug.
He wrapped his arms tightly around me and squeezed.
I went to release his body, but he kept me there.
Looking down at my face he whispered, “You could reject him you know… I know we never wanted commitment but we could be good together.
Chosen mates.”
My eyes widened in shock.
Declan and I… I wasn’t sure what would happen between us, but- “I ’ m sorry Lucas, I can ’ t do that.
I ’ m not sure where Declan and I stand.
We just met and it wasn’t under the best of circumstances…”
“I can wait, you are worth the wait.
I never told you how I felt, knowing it was probably unreciprocated, but I needed you to know.
If you want, you have another choice.
A choice that fate didn’t decide for you.”
Lucas said gently.
I looked up into his deep green eyes, wanting so badly not to hurt him.
He had been good to me, and I didn’t want to not have him in my life.
I was not ready to settle down with anyone, mate, or no mate.
I had to figure out who I was first.
I needed to find out what fate had in store for me.
“Don’t wait for me Lucas.
It would be pointless, and we both know it.
I don’t want to lose you though, you are too important to me.”
I whispered.
"Friends?" I ground out.
Shame filled me as I selfishly asked this man, this man who had trained me, and treated me as one of the pack.
Not just another conquest.
He made me feel as if I was a part of a family in the mountain crest pack.
“Just...
Can I kiss you one last time?”
he said quietly while stepping closer to me, I could feel his heart racing as his chest brushed against mine.
I knew I shouldn’t, yet some part of me felt like it was a way to end this and to say goodbye to the part of us that we had together.
Just as Lucas leaned down to kiss me, I noticed a pair of bright blue eyes glowing at the end of the hallway.
An angry pair of eyes.
Aimed at the man currently holding me in an embrace.
Fuck
Doing the only thing I could do to hopefully save Lucas from being killed, I shoved him out of the way and placed myself in between him and the brute of a mate who was now standing in front of me. “Move,”
Declan growled while staring through me at the man behind me. “No.”
I ground out.
“Little wolf, if you know what is best for you, you will move out of the way before I make you.”
I huffed at that, he thought I would just follow his orders? I hardened my voice and growled at him, “Make me? I thought you wouldn’t harm me, yet you threaten to make me do something I don’t want to do?”
“Fine, have it your way, mate.”
Declan bent down, picked me up and threw me over his shoulder like a damn sack of potatoes.
He turned and strode away from Lucas, who had the nerve to laugh at me.
“Declan you better put me down, or so help me god I will never stay here with you!”
Blood was rushing to my face as I kicked my legs and banged my fists against his back.
“No, I will not.
You apparently can’t be trusted to be left to your own devices so I will handle you how I see fit.”
Oh, this fucker had another thing coming if he thought I was going to be a docile little mate.
Hell no.
“I am not a piece of property to be handled , Declan.
Put me the fuck down!”
No answer.
“Please? I added reluctantly.”
His steps slowed as we entered the kitchen and headed to the living room, but he didn’t set me down.
“What the hell is the princess doing over your shoulder Declan?”
Trystan chuckled as we approached wherever he was in the room.
I couldn’t see very well, thanks to the fact I was still upside down in Declan’s arms.
Before I could answer Trystan, I was tossed onto the couch, I bounced off the cushion landing on the floor beside the couch instead.
He fucking threw me.
I was so going to make him pay for that.
Pushing the hair out of my face, I glared at the man before me and pushed to my feet.
I’d had enough of his territorial bullshit.
I pulled my dagger from its sheath on my thigh and threw it straight at his face.
I smiled as I watched the dagger fly, waiting for it to hit him.
Declan moved almost too fast to track, snatching the dagger out of the air with a chuckle.
“Really little wolf? This is the second time I’ve had a dagger near my head tonight, and I’m not very fond of it.”
“And where did you find that dagger? I thought I hid it quite well.”
Declan laughed.
He is fucking laughing.
Second time? My bet was on Celeste.
“Stop manhandling me and then maybe I won’t try to stab you again, and really? Under the baseboards is such a cliché hiding spot.”
I scoffed.
I most definitely would not be telling him that’s where I hid my dagger at home…
Declan strode towards me, leaned in, and whispered in my ear so quietly I doubt anyone else heard, “Next time I find you in the arms of another male, I will tie you to our bed and fuck you until you can no longer remember the touch of another but mine.”
I leaned forward, letting him think I was going to kiss him, I let out a soft moan for added effectiveness, and slightly pushed my breasts against his chest.
I softly pressed my hand against his stomach, staring into his eyes as my hand slowly trailed downwards… His eyes widened, pupils dilating as he took in a deep breath.
His body tensed beneath my touch, and that arousal turned to shock as I fisted his balls within my right hand and squeezed tight.
“You’ll never know what it’s like to be inside of me, especially when you can’t even show me basic respect”
I snarled.
Slowly releasing my grasp, I stepped around him and headed for Celeste and Sasha.
Both were leaning against the fireplace, huge grins on their faces.
“You’ve met your match, Declan.”
Trystan chuckled.
A deep voice spoke then, “Looks like all those fighting lessons have actually paid off Lucas.”
My head snapped to the side, and I saw Jericho standing next to Lucas.
Relief filled me instantly.
I had no idea what had happened.
If they were all safe.
Unharmed.
Lucas spoke then, “They sure have.
And that’s not even her most impressive skill set.”
Ignoring Lucas I walked over to Jericho, “What happened? Is everyone alright?”
Silence surrounded us, waiting for an answer for Jericho.
After a few moments his eyes met mine, sadness filled them, “We are rebuilding, but the shifters who attacked us did significant damage.
Many families suffered a loss, enforcers were knocked unconscious from the blast and the ones who shifted to attack the threat were hit with a sleeping agent… this allowed the men who attacked us to get to the dungeons.”
My heart stopped.
Eyes widening, I turned to Declan, “I need to leave, I cannot stay here.
They will come for me.”
Sweat began to form on my brow as my breathing turned into small, panicked gasps for air.
Declan stepped towards Jericho and I, his hands landing on my shoulders, as he looked into my panicked gaze and said, “Talia, you have been here for a week already, they have not tracked you here yet and you are unshielded.
The shield Sasha and her coven have placed over my territory seems to be keeping you hidden.
This is the safest place for you right now.”
My breathing slowed down, a sense of calmness rushed over me at his touch, his scent invaded my nose as he rested his forehead against mine.
“I will not let harm befall you, mate.”
He said gently.What was I doing? I couldn’t get close to him.
I did not need a mate.
I took a couple steps backwards and distanced myself from him and turned my gaze towards Sasha.
“Can you place a new shield on me? Another layer of protection in case they can find me through your wards?”
She nodded, “I should be able to yes, but it could be painful.
A shield of this magnitude takes a great deal of effort to place and is not easy to maintain.”
She moved to where Declan and I were standing and looked at Declan for instruction.
She also had a fondness in her gaze as she stared at him.
His eyes briefly connected with her before landing on mine and asked, “Sasha is the best bet we have, let’s get this shield placed then we can all get some much-needed rest.”
I nodded and held my breath as she turned to face me.
She placed a hand on each side of my face while closing her eyes in concentration.
“Declan, I need you to stand behind her.
I am not sure how her body will respond to this.”
Sasha told him.
Declan gaze held mine and he moved towards me, he walked behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist as Sasha began to mutter what sounded like a spell, but I couldn’t make out the words.
Was it Gaelic she was speaking?
“A Bhan-dia feuch sinn, tha solas timcheall oirnn, thoir dhuinn do dhìon agus do stiùireadh.
Sgiath a' chorp so o chron, thig cron oirre 'ga d' chuartachadh nad sholas.”
The space between her hands began to glow a bright yellow, and when she opened her eyes, they were no longer purple but instead solid black.
She repeated the words as she reached out to place her hands on my body.
Her left hand rested above my heart and her right was pressed against my forehead.
She began to speak faster.
“A Bhan-dia feuch sinn, tha solas timcheall oirnn, thoir dhuinn do dhìon agus do stiùireadh.
Sgiath a' chorp so o chron, thig cron oirre 'ga d' chuartachadh nad sholas.”
My head began to pound, my chest felt tight.
My breaths coming out in short pants.
Declan’s arms tightened around me.
My body began to weaken, my vision blurred.
I couldn’t hear anything over the pounding in my ears except muffled noises that sounded from afar.
My knees gave out and I fell, Declan’s arms catching me before I could hit the floor.
A searing pain shot through my chest, spreading throughout my whole body like wildfire, a scream tore from my lips, “STOP! Please make it stop.”
Tears streamed down my face as images started to flash before me.
A woman with long red hair, blood dripping down her mouth, and arrow sticking out of her stomach.
She was screaming at someone to run, to get her daughter to safety.
A blurred figure came up from behind her and they drew a sword.
Blood poured from her throat, soaking the earth as her body slumped to the ground.
Darkness surrounded me, my vision blurring at the edges, the figures disappearing.
As I closed my eyes, I heard someone speak, “You thought I wouldn’t find out? You callous wench.
I will find her and give her the same respect you have given me.