Chapter 25

Jocelyn and Landon held each other for several minutes before Olivia interrupted them. She apologized for intruding and reminded them the pack was assembled and waiting for them both. Landon was upset by the intrusion and then relieved Olivia had in fact reminded him of the pack’s presence. He had forgotten. Jocelyn ran into the bathroom quickly to splash water on her face, then together they walked hand in hand downstairs and toward the river to meet the pack.

Once they reached the river, Jocelyn seemed surprised to find a small stage. He led her up a couple of stairs to the stage granting her full view of the werewolves present—over three hundred at least.

Oh gosh! What if they don’t like me? I’m taking away their alpha, and there may not be one to follow. He heard her thought, then watched as she glanced toward Jenna, Lucas, Cain, Jacob, and Benjamin—the only family she had ever known.

Jenna nodded showing her support as his mind whispered, They’ll love you like I love you. There will be alphas to follow as soon as I get you pregnant.

Her eyes drifted toward his. He was staring at her grinning mischievously. She attempted to let go of his hand as they reached the podium, but he pulled her forward with him.

You have to come with me. They’ll want to get a better look at their queen, his thoughts told her. Reluctantly, she stepped forward with him, and a blush crept through her cheeks.

“Good evening,” he addressed the pack. “I know this meeting was a bit unexpected, but I have wonderful news to share with you. This is Jocelyn, your queen,” he said then turned to face her. A smile spread across his face.

The crowd of werewolves erupted in cheers, surprising Jocelyn. He leaned in to her and whispered, “I told you they’d love you,” and a smile claimed her.

“Jocelyn is an Elemental. Her sister, Jenna, is here with us tonight along with her mate, the demon king, Lucas and his brothers in arms—for lack of a better word.” He paused briefly as murmurs spread throughout the crowd. “I’ve been working with Lucas who created the Guardians along with several leaders of other immortal breeds for several months now.

“Together, we’ve combated Malums, who were responsible for several deaths within our pack. We are all immortals fighting for a safer world for all our breeds and for humanity. There have been no deaths in our pack within the last two months. I am convinced, as should you, that it is because I have allied us with other breeds fighting for the same cause.”

He paused again letting his words sink in as he lightly squeezed Jocelyn’s hand. “I know Kingston has briefed you already, but I will say this again. We, werewolves, have always isolated ourselves from other breeds. This stops now, under my rule. I cannot force you to accept this. I cannot force you to socialize with other breeds. It is up to each of you individually, but I want you to understand that females and males from other breeds will be accepted by me and within our territory.

“I am convinced that many of you know werewolves who have deserted us, choosing to roam without a pack, and I know it’s because of our prior refusal to accept partners from other breeds. Please advise them that they can return to us. They will not be punished. They will be welcomed. Any—”

His words trailed away as he caught a glimpse of a shiny object spiraling in the sky. In a split second, he glanced toward Jocelyn wrapped his arms around her, pushed her toward the floor behind the podium, and away from harm. Pain sliced through him as she yelled. Fear and panic coursed through his soul. He placed his hands on each side of her face then he skimmed over her body as more arrows landed beside them.

He stared into her eyes, “Where? Where does it hurt?” he asked her as he noticed her eyes glaze over. “Lucas! Jenna!” he screamed.

Jenna was standing behind Jocelyn creating a barrier of wind surrounding them.

“Oh God!” he heard Jenna scream as he noticed an arrow protruding from Jocelyn’s arm.

His heart plummeted as terror consumed him. She can’t be too hurt from this, right? It’s just her arm!

“Landon! Landon!” Jenna bellowed, but he didn’t gaze her way until she snapped her fingers in front of him. “Pull it out! Now! Pull it out!”

He stared at Jenna blankly, unsure he had heard her correctly. “What if it—”

“I feel it...it’s hurting her! Pull it out! She’ll heal, but do it fast!”

He focused on the arrow protruding from Jocelyn’s forearm as Jenna squatted behind Jocelyn holding her up. He placed both hands on one side of the arrow and broke it in half. A wail escaped Jocelyn, and he glanced at her briefly before quickly pulling it out. She yelped in pain.

“I’m sorry, baby,” he said as he discarded the arrow, then wrapped his arms around her lifting her off the floor. He ran as fast as he could unconcerned with anything other than getting Jocelyn inside the safety of their home.

“Landon! Landon!” Jenna yelled at him trailing behind him still creating a barrier of wind blocking them from further attack.

Once he reached the patio doors, he flung them open and finally turned to face her. “What?” he barked.

“Here’s my phone. Call Matthew. He’ll know what to do. He’s been testing our blood. I’m going to search the premises with Lucas and the others. Please keep her safe,” she pleaded.

The worry in Jenna’s face touched him, and he regretted screaming at her. She was just as concerned for Jocelyn as he was. He quickly took the phone. Before he could apologize, she was gone.

He quickly retreated to his room. Once inside, he lightly placed Jocelyn on his bed. He dashed into his bathroom and retrieved hydrogen peroxide from under the sink then rushed to Jocelyn’s side. His fear set in when he noticed she was still passed out and pale.

How much blood could she have possibly lost? How could I let this happen? Again! Oh God, I’ll never forgive myself.

He reached for her arm, pain and anguish sliced through him as he gazed at the puncture wound, a gaping hole. He lifted it to his mouth and licked her wound from both sides. The taste of her blood reminded him of those moments of heated passion they had shared. He reached for her face, placed his hand over her cheek, and caressed it.

“I love you so much,” he told her then licked her wound again. Relief overwhelmed him as he noticed her skin was starting to mend together, slowly, but surely.

But why? Why did this happen to her, his precious, stubborn, and gorgeous female? He licked her again then remembered what Jenna had told him. He quickly retrieved Jenna’s phone from his nightstand and flipped it open searching quickly for Matthew’s number. He dialed, and Matthew answered on the first ring. Landon explained briefly what had occurred and advised him he was needed as quickly as possible, then hung up.

Jocelyn stirred, beads of sweat on her forehead and chest. He ripped his shirt and used it to dry her. He sensed somebody nearing and he glanced behind him, stunned to find Marisa.

“Marisa, please get me a wash cloth with some water,” he asked her, not bothering to glance in her direction again.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered.

He heard her mumble but didn’t turn to face her. Then pain ripped through him, and he feared for Jocelyn. Was he feeling more of her pain? No! It can’t be. Her eyes lids flipped open, and she attempted to sit up as he felt liquid pooling down his back.

He turned, found Marisa with another knife in her hand ready to strike him again, but before he could disarm her, flames ignited around her body. She crumbled to the floor disintegrating before his very eyes. Sweat beaded across his brow as pain radiated through his chest. He turned to see Jocelyn perched on the bed, her eyes aflame, engulfed in red rage.

His female had saved him. With difficulty, he pulled out the knife protruding from his back.

Jocelyn mumbled, barely audible, “Shift. Please…you promised…last…time…”

“Shhh!” he silenced her then quickly shifted, tearing his jeans into shreds and replacing his muscular manly build into that of a seven-foot wolf, fur covering every inch of him. His eyes blazed with yellow fury, guilt, fear, and concern. He strode toward Jocelyn and licked her wounded arm again just as her eyes fluttered open then closed. He shifted again, grabbed a pair of shorts, donned them, then sat next to her.

He leaned into her, wiping sweat off of her once again and whispered, “Don’t worry, baby. I’m fine, and you are going to be fine, too.”

He studied her face, as pale as the clouds, and dread claimed him again as he wondered what if? What would he do without her? Surely, he wouldn’t survive an hour without her. He would follow her to Heaven, he decided.

Panicked and grieving, the thought occurred to him. What if he gave her some of his blood? Werewolves saliva had healing abilities as did their blood. He opened a drawer in his bedside table and pulled out a switchblade knife then pierced his skin. Blood oozed from his wound, and he immediately placed it over her wound, letting his blood pour into her.

“Landon.”

He quickly turned to gaze at a demon standing near the door.

“What took you so long?” he yelled.

“You called me less than five minutes ago,” Matthew explained as he rushed to the bedside avoiding the remnants of Marisa’s ashes.

He considered his words. “I’m sorry. It just seems like it’s been years since—”

“I understand,” he said already examining Jocelyn.

Landon watched anxiously as distress claimed him again, torturing himself with his wandering mind. What if? He waited as patiently as possible as he watched Matthew hook her up to an IV. He waited and waited; soon enough Jenna barged through his bedroom door.

“How is she?” Jenna asked.

Landon shook his head, signaling he didn’t know as he paced relentlessly, his eyes fixed on Jocelyn. Her eyelids briefly fluttered open, her gaze on Matthew.

She sat up suddenly. “Landon…Landon,” she called as her panic-shrieked eyes searched the room.

Landon was beside her a moment later soothing her worries. “I’m here, baby. I’m fine. You are going to be fine.”

“Jocelyn, please, you need your rest. He will not leave your side,” Matthew assured her.

“Check on him…Marisa stabbed him…” she said as her eyes drifted closed.

“I’m fine, baby. Remember, I shifted,” he reminded her.

“It doesn’t matter…Matthew, check on him…I won’t rest until…”

“Shh, baby. Don’t worry. He will as soon as he’s done with you. I promise,” he said then helped her lay down again.

Moments later, she was asleep. Landon reached for her hand and firmly grasped it in his, then softly kissed her forehead.

Lucas and Cain entered their bedroom, concern for Jocelyn apparent in their expressions.

“How is she?” Lucas asked.

Matthew turned his attention to Lucas then Landon. “She was poisoned. What struck her?”

“It was an arrow,” Landon replied.

“Made from?” Lucas asked.

“I’m not sure…I removed it and dropped it on the stage,” Landon said.

“I’ll get it,” Cain offered and dematerialized quickly.

“Whatever it was, it has poisoned her,” Matthew said. “She will be fine. She needs rest, plenty of it.”

Cain materialized minutes later, an unreadable expression on his face. “It’s gone.”

“That’s a shame. It would provide us with some lingering questions about Elementals,” Matthew said.

“We should keep quiet about this,” Lucas said. “Whoever the culprit was removed the arrow and if they discover it is poisonous to Elementals, we—”

“Of course, it doesn’t leave this room,” Landon affirmed. “Marisa was involved somehow, although I do not know why or what possessed her or if she was working alone.”

“My apologies.” A deep voice drew everyone to the doorway where Kingston stood. “She had mentioned certain concerns to me a few days ago; however, I would have never imagined—”

“No one could have imagined this—” Landon said solemnly as his gaze drifted toward Jocelyn once again.

“We should check Marisa’s belongings,” Cain said. “Does she have a room here?”

Landon shook his head, his gaze still frozen over Jocelyn’s sleeping figure.

“I can take you,” Olivia volunteered. “We should leave quickly before...I mean if someone else is involved then—”

“You are right,” Lucas affirmed. “Take Jacob and Benjamin as well just in case.”

Olivia nodded and they disappeared.

Over the next couple of hours, Landon allowed Matthew to check his injury as he had promised Jocelyn, then he had lain still and immobile watching his female breathe as the pallor on her skin dissolved and her cheeks began to flush. His eyelids grew heavy every so often, exhausted from his fear for his female, from his own injury, and from the day’s events. He shook his head each time hoping to rid his fatigue away.

Jenna’s sudden movement spiked his attention, and he turned toward her remembering how rude he had been to her earlier. “Jenna, I’m sorry, I barked at you earlier. I was—”

Jenna walked toward him and placed her hand on his shoulder comforting him, “I understand, Landon. There is no need—”

“But there is,” he cut her off. “You were worried, too. You didn’t deserve it. I’m sorry.”

Jenna’s eyes widened, then she said, “Apology accepted.”

Lucas lingered in the far corner of the room watching the exchange, then he said, “We didn’t find anything when we searched earlier. Your council may be right about the magic or someone outside the pack being involved somehow.”

“I—” he began, but he was too tired to speak, his eyelids drifted closed briefly. He shook his head again and rubbed his eyes.

“Landon, you should get some rest,” Jenna advised. “Jocelyn will be fine. You need to recuperate from your injury. We will stay here on the lookout in case anything happens.”

With those words, Landon finally lay next to his female, turned toward her, and allowed the weariness he had been fighting off for hours claim him. He slept.