The Crescent (23 page)

Alex turned to stop Gavin. “I won’t let you do this.”

Michael moved closer to Brandon and helped him from the ground. I felt both of their strong hands on my shoulders lifting me. “I’ve got you.” Brandon whispered. “They won’t hurt you again.”

Thomas came through the door and Brandon shifted my body carefully into his arms. No matter how careful he was, the pain would not stop coming. I looked at him briefly to see he was covered in blood…
my blood.

“Get her to the healer.” Michael commanded Thomas.

“Leaving so soon Mistress?” Sophie was now positioned in front of the doorway. The other wolves from their pack were standing at point behind her.

Alex looked at me and I swallowed hard. His dark brown eyes told me how badly he wanted her to be lying. “I’ll die without her.” His tone was solemn as his voice cracked.

Sophie hesitated and then started laughing. “You started believing the lie?” She smirked. “How pathetic. Just like your father.” She growled. “Gavin.” Sophie extended one of her long red fingernails to Alex. Gavin sprung onto Alex wrapping his arms tightly around him.

Thomas’ arms rubbing against the open wounds on my back made me whimper. The pain wouldn’t stop and I doubted I would get relief anytime soon. Brandon was the only one who could take it away and Sophie was determined we would not get out of the house alive. Alex pushed and pulled to get out of Gavin’s grasp. I looked wearily over at Brandon; his eyes shown pain and remorse just as deep as my own.

I love you.
He pulled up one side of his mouth then looked back to Michael. They had a conversation with each other without speaking a word. Thomas knowingly moved forward and handed me back to Brandon. He gingerly placed one of his powerful arms across my shoulders, being mindful of the tears in my skin and the other under my knees. I curled my body into his praying our bond would be restored and he would take the pain away. Selfish, I know, but my skin was now really being ripped away from my muscles, there were no invisible hands to blame.

Brandon’s smooth lips brushed across my forehead then he nuzzled my face into the crook of his neck.
I’m sorry babe. This should have never happened.
He pulled my body slightly closer as I started to feel more lightheaded and queasy.
I should’ve come sooner.

Michael and Thomas stepped in front of Brandon and I. The other men from the Amana’s formed a V shape surrounding us. I could feel Brandon inching his way backwards towards the kitchen. I was holding my breath waiting for anyone’s next move, hoping someone had a plan. I’m not sure how much blood I could loose and still survive, but I didn’t really want to find out either.

“Go!” Michael screamed. Brandon was in motion before Michael finished the word.

My skin split and ripped further as Brandon jostled my body running through the kitchen and out the back door. In one quick leap we were over the fence and heading past the Jacobsen’s pool. Brandon held me securely against his chest as his breathing strained. Moisture started to gather against my collarbone- more blood. Then I realized, it wasn’t mine. Brandon had a large gash in his shirt, a puncture wound on his chest with crimson blood seeping out.

“You’re bleeding.” I tried to point to his chest but he was holding me too tightly for me to lift my arm away from my body.

“Don’t worry about me.” He looked at me briefly. “Right now we have to get you help.”

We ducked through several backyards, Brandon looking back periodically to make sure we weren’t being followed. He changed paths a few times and went over several different fences in opposite directions; I assumed this was to confuse anyone that could be tracking us. When we finally broke free from the yards to the street, we were on his street; it wouldn’t be long and we would be at his house.

TWENTY

FIVE

Serena was a petite woman with bright silver hair and wrinkled skin, but she had the most amazing, glowing green eyes I had ever seen. “Lacey…” she said kindly as Brandon laid me carefully down on the couch. She motioned for him to lift my side and he complied. I groaned and winced as my skin felt like it was ripping further away from my muscles and bones. Her careful fingers probed at the wounds on my back and then at the wound on Brandon’s chest.

“I think it’s best that the two of you have some
alone
time while I take care of these.” She motioned her head towards the hallway. More pain shot through me as Brandon lifted me into his arms and carried me down the hallway to the bedroom where I had first met Lily. Serena carefully placed a towel over the bed and Brandon laid me on my side with my back exposed to the side of the bed. I was barely aware that Serena had started to tear at the back of my shirt as Brandon claimed the spot on the bed next to me. Brandon’s head lay just inches from mine; his eyes gazing into mine.

My body trembled as Serena rubbed a cloth down one of my gashes. “You have to breathe honey.” She said as she took another swipe at the blood I could feel trickling down my side. I didn’t want to breathe, I didn’t want to move or feel my heart beating against my ribs. I just wanted the pain to stop intensifying and to stop being aware of what she was doing.

Brandon ran the tips of his fingers down my cheek and across my lips. “Do you remember the day we met?” He tried to distract me.

Mmmm hmmm…
I tried to control my breathing and focus on the first day we met.

He smiled. “Do you remember how we stopped the world?” I barely shook my head in response. Serena continued to rub at my back; the cloth felt like it was removing whole sections of skin as she twisted it up and down in the grooves left by Alex’s claws. Brandon touched my face again then twisted his fingers into mine and closed his eyes.

A door closed and Lily’s tiny voice to fill the room. “How is she?” Heavier footsteps echoed into the room.

“Can you take a look at Matt?” Michael’s voice joined the others.

“Sure…” Serena paused. “What happened?”

Lily giggled. “You should see the
other
guy.”

“Lily, don’t gloat.” Emile had entered the room. I could hear ice clanking against glass. “Would you like some water?”

“What do you think we should do now?” Another voice entered the room, one I didn’t recognize.

“It’s too soon to tell. It all rests on them now.” Michael responded.

Opening my eyes to the room around us, several people were standing over the bed, but I focused on Brandon; his eyes were closed and his shirt was off. The wound on his chest was cleaned and covered with gauze.

“How are you feeling?” Emile ran her hand down my forearm forcing my attention away from him.

“I’m in a lot of pain still. My back hurts” I said, trying to focus on Brandon’s face, his eyes rolling beneath his closed lids. I wondered if he was dreaming of me.

Emile turned to Serena. “How come she’s awake?”

Serena pulled Emile away from the bed. She lowered her voice trying to exclude me from the conversation. But it didn’t work; my senses were heightened and I couldn’t help but listen as she voiced her concern. “Brandon tried… but Lacey didn’t go.”

A tray full of glasses fell to the floor; the noise of glass shattering and liquid hitting the floor filled the room. Lily gasped and Matt started to comfort her. “Shhhh….”

Emile let out a deep breath. “So it’s happened. She’s not in love with Brandon; their bond is severed. Sophie succeeded.” Her words echoed in my ears.

Tears formed in my eyes as I focused on Brandon; he was staring back at me. The hurt in his eyes was a result of something much deeper than the wound on his chest. He warned me about Alex and I hadn’t listened- now we would both pay for my mistake.

I’m sorry.
I mouthed to him as I ran my fingertips down his cheek, wishing I had believed him from the start. His hand easily wrapped around my wrist and drew my hand to his lips.

No, this isn’t your fault.
He responded quietly.
It’s just going to take time… you have to trust me.
I haven’t lost hope. You’re meant to love me.

“Brandon?” Michael put his hand on Brandon’s shoulder. “How are you feeling son?”

Brandon shut his eyes, disappointed we were interrupted. “I hurt.”

“Michael, we need to talk.” Emile’s quiet voice pulled Michael away. I was thankful when Brandon’s attention came back to me. His eyes seemed to take the pain away and made me feel all the dreams could’ve been real.

Love me.
He whispered.

I do.
I responded easily.

Do you understand what it means to love unconditionally?
Brandon brushed a piece of hair off my cheek. His beautiful eyes shifted over my face like he was memorizing every contour.

I hesitated before answering. Looking at the gauze on his chest, thinking of the cuts in my back; I knew something deep inside me forced the fear away and made me throw myself onto him to protect him. I willingly offered my life for his. Regardless of the pain radiating through me, I’d protect him all over again.

Yes.

I never stop thinking of you, dreaming of you.

Tell me about your dreams.
I whispered, touching his face again remembering how I brought him to me just by concentrating on him when I needed him.

I’ve dreamed of us being together forever. Living among the Amana’s with our families, having our own family…
He grinned.
All the dreams you’ve had were real; I loved playing in the stream the first day you transformed. I loved teaching you how to accept it, how to become what we are meant to be.

Transform.
I whispered as he ran his thumb across my lips. The memories of watching him transform at the creek danced in my mind. I remembered how they tormented me that night, but now looking deep into his eyes, a quiet calm and peacefulness settled deep into my heart. His scent overwhelmed me; relaxing me and making my eyes feel heavy as he continued brushing his fingertips over my face.

Be with me…
Brandon pleaded as he inched closer to me on the bed never taking his hand off of me. In this moment I wanted nothing more than to give him the world

I am with you.
I replied as my eyes started to haze.

Always?
He matched my palm to his and rubbed his fingers up and down the length of mine.

Yes.
Reality started to cloud with real feelings and images of our first kiss and being in our secret place by the stream.

Emile and Michael were still talking quietly in the corner of the room. Someone was picking up the broken glass and Lily complaining about how many towels it was taking to clean up the water.

Everyone muted again when Brandon started talking, his words a soft melody in my ears.

Will you transform for me?

Yes.
I said softly, but just loud enough to draw everyone around the bed.

“Lacey?” Serena, Lily and Emile said almost in unison like they were oblivious to our exchange.

Lily climbed between us on the bed and grabbed my hand away from Brandon’s. She twisted my palm upward towards her face. “IT’S COMING BACK!” She squealed, almost exploding my eardrums and fully shaking me from my drowsiness. Pain instantly shot through the cuts in my back. I gritted my teeth to keep from crying out and screaming at her.

“What?” Emile yanked my hand away from Lily.

“It’s working! It’s working!” Lily squealed again.

Brandon and I both winced every time she bounced on the bed. Serena pulled at Lily’s shoulder trying to get her to stop. Emile finally pulled Lily away from us and Serena pressed a cloth to my back causing my whole body to tense at every touch of the rough material again.

Like he read my mind, Brandon claimed my hand again taking my attention away from the pain. Tears started to form in his eyes as he focused on my palm, pressing his lips to it.
It’s not too late.
It is working.

I turned my palm around to look at it almost not believing it was possible. The purple mark had started to come to the surface once again, it was faint, but it was there. It was real. I felt tears trickling down my face. The physical pain was no match for the emotions that flowed through me; I wanted to laugh, cry and scream all at the same time. Our eyes locked for less than a second when he lifted off the bed and pressed his lips to mine. My heart accelerated as he slipped his arm across my waist, securing it just below my cuts as he deepened the kiss. I hesitated and pulled back slightly; not wanting to continue making out with a room full of people watching, but not wanting the pain to come back either.

He put his hand softly on the nape of my neck urging me to come forward and brushed his cheek against mine.
I love you.

I love you.
I barely got the words out as he shifted his body to almost cover mine. His arms anxiously held my body to his, the pain in my back completely faded away.