Connors Pursuit (Amber Woods Shifters) (16 page)

“I know we can get your wolf back Lizzy. I have been having discussions with your alpha and Luke who have told me about your gift. Have you had any more attacks like you did a few nights ago?”

Clearing her throat she suddenly felt embarrassed that everyone knew of her little hiccup. But it was time to put the big girl panties on and face the music.

“No, but I have been feeling restless, I put that down to the journey over here, but when I stepped into the forest all that anxiety disappeared”

Connor sharply turned to look at his mate. When she just shrugged her shoulders he rolled his neck to ease some of his own tension.

“Ah yes, when Duncan bound your wolf, he left almost a magical mark on you, his energy is part of the order. In essence it was pulling you to us, which is why you must also be feeling like you have been called home do you not?”

“Yes that’s exactly how I feel”

Wow this guy was good.

“What you have to understand Lizzy is that Duncan made his choices and was no longer a part of the order the day when he turned to the dark magic. It is not what this order is about or ever has been and I am so sorry that you have suffered for his greed for power. Which brings me to my next point. I can sense you gift within you and it is strong, once we release your wolf there will be a surge in your power. I cannot guarantee that any harm will come to you once this happens, you will feel pain but our magic can help ground you until the energy stabilises again. I know that Michael has also brought his more conventional approach with him as a precaution”.

Michael took two steps forward.

“How did you know that?”

“It is my business to know everything that we are involved in. So, Lizzy with all that in mind
do you wish to proceed”

Taking a long deep breath in she looked up at Connor, his eyes had changed to deep amber and she could feel the raw protective energy coming off him.

“Connor I have to do this, you know I do, I will be safe, besides you promised to always protect me and not let anything happen to me”

“Damn right baby girl, and you just have to say the word and we will leave right now, wolf or no wolf as long as you are safe that’s all I care about right now”

She looked at Tristan, Luke and Michael all standing awaiting her answer.

“I have to ask something of you three”

“Of course” Luke answered for all of them.

“No matter how much distress I appear to be in you do not step forward and you keep my mate back”

Connor growled loud, staring her down.

“No Connor, this
is really important to me and if I have to experience a little pain then so be it, I want my wolf back”

Her eyes caught the sharp edge of his claws by his side, unsheathed and ready to shift fully.
She knew he was hanging on by a thread. Gently she stood on her tiptoes and kissed his lips, slightly colder by the snowfall and drop in temperature. He closed his eyes, she heard the inhale of his breath, a sign that he was taking in her scent soothing his wolf. Finally she planted both feet back down, awaiting his answer.

“Ok baby, I would do anything to make you happy, but know this, it will take more than those three wolves over there to stop me getting to you”

Lizzy looked over her shoulder at three disgruntled men.

“Hey, I take offence at that Beta” Tristan grumbled.

Rolling her eyes she walked toward Samuel.

“I’m ready, what do I need to do?”

Standing in the middle of the circle she felt as if she was going to be sacrificed
, the cold was beginning to creep into her, even though she was a wolf since being bound some of her abilities were lacking, which included temperature control. As the order formed a circle around her she had a sudden flashback, the memory of Duncan chanting his words, taking away the purity of her wolf, her very existence being contained. The memory so raw she could almost taste the hatred and bitterness, hear the laughter of Lawson as he enjoyed her fear. Her limbs began to shake as she relived the past. Movement to her right, caught Connor trying to get to her, with the three enforcers holding him back.

“I’m ok, just a memory honey”
she called out.

Amber eyes
locked onto her, she could see the anger and hurt deep within their depths.

“Lizzy
, we are ready to begin, I must ask that you do not cross these stones until the ceremony is complete”

Samuel
relayed that message to the enforcer’s also, waiting for their response of agreement before turning back to her.

He asked her to close her eyes and focus on her inner wolf, watch how she grows from strength to strength, pushing her way to the surface. Words were spoken, so old, she did not understand what was being said, but she felt it. A slow burn began in her stomach, spreading through her body until her entire body felt warm, beads of sweat broke out on her forehead. Each time the burn ended at her fingertips, it started again in her stomach getting hotter each time.
Come on wolf, come forward, I know you can, please come forward
. Over and over she repeated the mantra in her head. She thought she heard her name being shouted loudly but it was too distant, like an echo. The burn was starting to become painful, she felt as if her body was going to combust. Instinctively she placed her hand to her abdomen, a simple gesture to calm the heat, which did not work. Breathing became ragged, her mouth dried up, words were being spoken louder and more aggressively and still she kept her eyes closed. Lizzy knew she could not take any more pain, it was excruciating, like someone ripping out all her internal organs. Then, an awful sharp searing impact shattered in her head. Screaming she grasped her head and fell to her knees, trying to gasp for air, she was sure someone had stuck a blade in her head.

“No more, please…….”

Her voice was raspy, as her silver eyes searched Samuel.

“It’s nearly complete Lizzy, hang on in there”

“You have to be shitting me, I cannot take the pain anymore”

“Lizzy be strong, hang on in there”

Her eyes rolled and caught the site of her mate. Luke, Tristan and Michael were rolling on the ground with him, trying to contain him, she could see he had partially shifted and the howls of anguish pierced her heart. Across the circle she called to him, her voice hoarse.

“Connor, please
, stay there, I love you”

Connor roared as Lizzy fell to her knees
, clutching her head, to hell with his promise he needed to get her out of there, every instinct was screaming at him to go to her, but his enforcers, as promised were not letting him go, and that just pissed him off even more. His wolf howled as she screamed again and then he heard her voice, faint but there.
She loved him?
For a second he stopped struggling, trying to process what she had just said.

“Connor it’s nearly over, a little more time” Michael said.

Silence descended in the clearing, as her hands dug into the snow. The pain had stopped and a new energy had begun, a one she recognised, her wolf. Gasping she stared as her hands transformed into paws, the unmistakable blond of her wolf. Her snout whipped around to see a furry blond tail.
Holy fuck I have her back, your back she wolf!
An elated feeling washed over her as she stood on all four shaky legs. Everything was so detailed just as she remembered and underneath that a strong bergamot scent wafted toward her. Her nose followed the scent to her mate. He was standing on the outside of the circle in awe, mouth hung open, just as a huge grin appeared on his face.

“You are so beautiful Baby, you take my breath away”

Okay so if she was in on two legs she would do the coy think and flutter her eyelashes at him, nibble her lip, but since she was on four legs the best she could do was sit on her hind legs and loll her tongue to the side, hardly the same, or attractive.

“Lizzy you must not leave the circle yet you still have to shift back and this is when your suppressed power may come to the surface”
Samuel asked.

Shift back? I don’t want to shift back!
Huffing she whined at Connor.

“I know baby girl, but you have to listen to him, now you have your wolf back we can go for as many runs as you like, all our lives, but for now you have to shift back”

Padding on four paws she resumed her place in the middle of the circle.
Uh oh
. She just remembered, her clothes were shredded, hopefully someone brought some spares. As an age old instinct kicked in she allowed her body to shift back, but as she did she felt an incredible surge of power scorch her within. Crying out she looked down at the ground she was human again, her hand pink from the snow pushing up between her fingers. The power charged through her to the point where she did not know how to contain it, static charges pulsed out of her skin. Chanting began again, she knew they were trying to ground her. Somewhere deep inside she wanted this power, needed it like her next breath, a darkness began to spread. Hazel eyes turned to silver as she looked to the sky, storm clouds had formed, every season swept across the winter sky. Strong winds echoed in the clearing, but all she could hear was a rhythmic energy pulsing around her, crawling through her veins, demanding to be released. As the gentle snow turned to a blizzard her eyes watched in amazement as the SUV rose in the air and then there was silence. Time stood still, every snowflake every tree branch, frozen in that moment.
Am I doing this?
  Carefully she turned to the order who had lowered their hands to their sides.

“Yes Lizzy, you are doing this”

“Wait, I did not speak that out loud”

“Yes but when your power released that energy acts as an echo to our order, we can only hear your thoughts when you are
In this state of mind”

“Oh, that makes sense……….I think” she whispered.

Then the world when dark, the light went out as she felt herself fall to the ground.

15

“Fuck!”

Connor raced across the clearing as he watched Lizzy in slow motion drop to the ground, even his wolf speed was not quick enough. Throwing himself to the ground he pulled her limp body into his arms, someone, somewhere draped a blanket over her, a gesture he really appreciated right now. Despite the cold she was burning up.

“Lizzy, open your eyes, come on baby, wake up”

He stroked her hair, gently shook her shoulders but she remained unconscious.

“
She will be ok in a few hours, that was an energy on a massive scale like I have never seen before”

Samuel knelt down with Connor
, he reached to touch Lizzy but stopped as Connor growled low in his throat.

“I mean no disrespect, I am just giving her some of my energy to help speed up the healing”

Connor glared at the leader, his canines had descended to the point where they hurt, he cradled Lizzy to him, careful not to hurt her with his sharp claws. Michael placed a hand on his shoulder.

“Connor, this type of healing needs expertise, I have never seen anything like the power she had. Let him help her, then I will take over from there”

Connor looked up at the healer, then to Tristan and Luke, all of who wore the same expression of
what the hell just happened?
Kissing her forehead he nodded once at Samuel.

“Very well, but I am watching everything you do, if you harm her I will not hesitate to attack you”

“Fair words Beta”

Samuel smiled, showing that his canines had descended a little, but retracted them quickly as he lay his hand on her head. The sound of metal hitting ground startled everyone, all males crouching low ready for any attack.

“Don’t worry guys, it’s just the SUV hitting the ground after its maiden voyage” Luke laughed.

Tristan stood and walked over to the car, scratching his head. His expression was confused as he faced everyone again.

“Don’t ask me, but we will ask Lizzy, that was unreal”

“NO! Luke. Not until she is fully rested, I do not want her upset at all, questions can wait”

Luke nodded in respect.

“Sorry Beta, I meant no offence”

Connor sighed as he calmed a little, his claws and canines retracted. Samuel took his hand away and Lizzy stirred a little.

“Baby?”

“Too tired” she grumbled.

Smiling with relief he stood with his precious bundle in his arms.

“I know baby girl, let’s get you home”

Facing the order, words were not enough, what they had done was make Lizzy complete again.

“Thank you for all of your help, we are in your debt”

“No we are in your debt Connor, to undo the damage that Duncan has done has healed us more than you can know. Lizzy will need help to control her powers and we are offering to do that. She could make a powerful seer if she wanted to be. When she is well again get her to ring us, this is not the end”

Connor nodded, pulling the blanket tighter around her as he walked through the snow covered forest floor. Tristan held the passenger doors open and he climbed in the back never letting her go. Michael got in next to him, in case he was needed. Luke switched with Tristan to drive home. One last glance back and the order had vanished, almost like what had just happened was an illusion.