Chapter 10.
When I woke up, my ears were ringing, and my vision was blurring. I placed my hand on my ears, and after covering them completely, the ringing stopped. However, when I felt something wet touch my hand, I looked to see red covering my fingertips. My eyes widened in fright, and I tried to let a scream escape my lips. The pain was utterly unbearable, and it was difficult to not shout again.
I couldn't hear anything but the sound of my breathing as I tried to stand up, my vision finally clearing. It was hard to tell how long I had been out, but it couldn't have been more than a few minutes. My legs wobbled, and I tried to grab the split tree beside me for support. The ground was moving, and it was like I had spent my entire day on a merry-go-round.
After looking up from the ground, I spotted Lucian on the ground not moving. I shouted his name, at least I think I did since I couldn't hear, but I hoped I did. I ran towards his wolf form, which wasn't very far and assessed his blond body. It looked like what ever had hit me, had struck him as well. A large chunk of his fur was missing, completely burned off revealing crisped skin.
"Lucian?" I asked, placing my hands on his chest and feeling for a heartbeat. "Lucian wake up!"
I could feel his heartbeat, but it was slow and light. It wasn't the powerful thud I was used to, and that scared me the most. When I had been shocked by the witch, did she do the same to him when he ran over to me? Was the figure trying to kill both of us?
Wolves snarled around me, but the group of witches were diminishing. It was scaring me how none of the wolves came to help me, it was like they didn't even realize we had been shocked by someone. None were running after the retreating figure in the woods, and I couldn't find the energy to do just that. It was like the life had been sucked out of me and then forced back in. I was physically and mentally drained.
I shook Lucian's body, but he remained unmoving. His breathing was labored and tears were beginning to form in my eyes. He can't be dying too, not like Clayton. My brother and my mate have already sacrificed too much, I can't let them lose their lives too. A sob shook through my body as I realized that all the lives that have been lost today are my fault.
"Penny!" A voice called to the side of me, and I turned to see Rylan running over to me in just shorts. I hadn't even noticed Lucian and I were completely bare until my brother tossed his shirt so I could cover up.
"He's dying." I trembled, pressing my shivering hand against Lucian's soft bare chest. "What do I do?"
"You can't do anything." Rylan shook his head, bending down so he was beside me. "We wait for Sheila, our pack doctor, to come and help."
"We don't have enough time." I cried placing my hand on Lucian's decelerating heartbeat. "This witch came out and struck me, but I think the person him harder."
"Alpha's heal faster, that's why you were able to recover quickly." He explained in concern. "Give him time."
By now Oliver and Kory had come over, noticing the commotion. My dad was quick to follow, along with my cousin and uncle, all who were in their wolf forms. They looked calm, as if my mate being electrocuted was normal, but it wasn't. I had been locked up my entire life, and Oliver didn't have time to explain the limits wolves had to life and death. He never told me what could kill us.
"Out of my way!" A voice called, and I caught sight of Sheila running through the miniature crowd. "Penelope let go of him please."
"No." I growled, wrapping my arms around Lucian's body to prove my point.
"I can't help him if you don't move." She rushed, crouching down in front of me, which was on the other side of Lucian. "Please."
I was about to argue once again before someone wrapped their arms around my waist. At that moment, I wailed as I was ripped from my mate's body. My claws had extended, something I had never done before, and began scratching at my perpetrator. The pitch of my scream caused the person dragging me to wince, but didn't lessen their grip.
"No!" I bellowed kicking into nothing but the air. "Let me go!"
"One Cent, she's trying to help." My brother soothed, carrying me as he walked backwards, my heels still digging into the ground as he did so.
I watched as something was placed on either side of Lucian's chest, Sheila holding onto the pads firmly. All of a sudden, his chest rose, and a shock ran through my body. The link had connected our body almost physically, making me feel what she had done. She was electrocuting him with that thing. But, if I was able to feel the jolt, than he must've felt me get hit. If that had caused him pain, then maybe our link had been the reason to damage him more in the first place.
"She's hurting him." I defended, dragging my ankles to make it harder for him to carry me.
Another shock ran through my body, and by then I was crying. Why wasn't my wolf fighting to save him? We both knew that Sheila was hurting him, she was doing exactly what the witch had done. I didn't want to lose him, we had just gotten to really know each other and understand each other.
"Penny, you need to calm down." Rylan was struggling to hold me now, and I was hopeful that I would be able to get to my mate. That idea made me squirm even more.
"Penelope, enough." My father turned to me, his alpha tone shocking me to the core. "Go inside with your brother, and relax.
"I can't relax, Dad." I barked, continuing my attempt to bring less distance to my made. "I...I love him."
It was the first time I had even admitted my feelings out loud, and I wished I had said it to Lucian first. Instead, I had blurting my thoughts and feelings in front of my entire pack including my family. It was the truth though, I loved Lucian with all my heart. He not only has helped me through the hard times, but he has made me feel loved for the first time in my life. I couldn't lose something like that, not after I finally grasped it.
"Inside." My dad seemed unfazed by my confession for my mate, and Rylan began to drag me away. This time, my body was limp as I tried to comprehend that no one seemed to care about how I felt.
Rylan had tossed me on the couch like a ragdoll, and I glared up at him while he tried to look for a comfortable armchair. The fighting had long been over, and all the witches had been killed. All, but that witch that had attacked me and my mate. Whoever the person is, will pay a horrible price for hurting both of us.
My brother let out a sigh of relief when Kory walked in completely unharmed. They still had tension, but it was slowly going away. I knew my friend was trying to understand and accept that he was mated to a boy, and I was thankful for that. It was only a matter of time before they would finally end up together just like the current Moon Goddess proposed.
Kory walked up the stairs, obviously determined to take a shower like the rest of the warriors that had fought today. Women were gradually coming back into the house, carrying children with them or running into their mate's arms as they were reunited with them. Tears welled in my eyes as I realized I was the only mated woman who wasn't experiencing the relief of their mate making it through the battle.
My mother walked in, her eyes searching until she found me sitting on the couch alone, with my knees brought to my chest. Rylan gave her a warning look, obviously telling her to be careful what to say around me. She didn't utter a word as she sat beside me and brought me into her arms. The tears that had been threating to spill were now flooding down my cheeks and onto her dark green sweater.
I gripped her shirt as I cried, the fear and frustration built inside had broken down. The comfort my mom offered didn't feel like enough. How many people did we have to lose until this is over? This feud over my family and the witches has gone for nearly three generations, and it needs to end.
"Penny..." We all turned to look at Oliver who was standing at the door with Lilura at the door. He beckoned for me to follow them, and briskly walked out the door.
I followed after them, moving my mom gently off of me and running out the door. The snow crunched on my bare feet, it taking long for me to realize that I was still in my brother's shirt. If everyone noticed, they didn't show it as they kept their eyes trained anything but me as I passed.
We approached the clinic in silence, Oliver being spectacle when I noticed my dad waiting for me. I knew he didn't trust Lilura around my dad, but it would have to do. Whatever was going on with Lucian was all I cared about. I waited patiently for someone to tell me how my mate's condition was, and when no one said anything I pushed past them and towards to room where Lucian's parents were standing.
"Penelope, you can't go in there." Trixie told me, raising her hand so it was directly in front of me.
"Why?" I grit my teeth together in annoyance. All I wanted to do was see my mate.
"He's in surgery, and that's the best thing for him right now." Jeremy explained, placing his hand reassuringly on my shoulder. "Everything will be fine."
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I sat down on the chair at his bedside, my hand snaking its way into his. He gripped it lightly, obviously weak from the way they had forced him to shift so they could check the damage done to him. Getting electrocuted had obviously damaged him, and his skin was no better. His face was unrecognizable and if it hadn't been for his green eyes I wouldn't have been able to know it was him.
"How are you feeling?" I asked, brushing a hand through his burn blond hair. He will surely need a haircut after this.
"Never better." He chuckled, and winced when his quick healing skin was stretched from laughing.
"I'm sorry this happened to you Lucian." I mumbled, squeezing his thankfully healed hand.
"Don't be, witches are unpredictable." He breathed, and went to close his eyes. Not long after did I hear the sound of his soft snores.
I left his small sanitized room and exited, determined to check on my brother Clayton since I hadn't visited him since I arrived. His room was in a private place from what I had learned, and only close friends and family could visit. Hopefully I would be able to talk to him about how I've been feeling lately, since Oliver had told me that my brother can hear me when I talk to him.
As I was walking down the hall, and came to my brother's door, I saw his mate London step out of it and close the door softly. From our previous encounters, she has proved to me that she doesn't like me. I don't blame her, if I wasn't alive her mate would be with her and walking. I felt more than guilty about that, but I couldn't change the past.
We locked eyes, and she averted her brown eyes to the ground, her face slightly sullen. She began walking towards me, but quickly slipped past me, however, I could still see the tears falling down her eyes. My route changed, and I followed after her, her curled brown locks swishing along her mid back.
I lost her the moment she turned a corner, but I was determined to follow my oldest brother's mate. She needed to understand that I want to be there for her through her hard time. With everything going on, she needed to be as relaxed and anxiety free as possible. When my brother woke up, he wouldn't want to see his mate shattered into pieces.
My enhanced senses took me to a part of the hospital that I was unfamiliar with. When I turned a corner I caught a glimpse of brown hair and immediately approached her. London was looking into a window, her face scrunched up in determination and sadness. As carefully as I could, I planted myself next to her and looked into the mirror.
It was filled with infants, newborns that couldn't be older than a few hours old. Men and women were working in it, taking care of the squealing children. Some would disappear, carrying a boy or a girl, most likely to give them back to their parents. It finally clicked to me why London was even here.
"How far along are you?" I asked her softly, looking at the baby bump she had unconsciously cradled.
"Two months." She mumbled looking down at her slightly enlarged stomach.
I smiled gently at her, and turned to look back at the sleeping or wailing bundles. "Is it a boy or a girl?"
"Boy." London let out a sniffle and let out a breathless laugh, a small smile gracing her full lips. I could see the pride evident in her face.
"Did you and Clayton decide on a name?" By now the tears had stopped, and London actually looked relieved to be able to talk to somebody.
She nodded eagerly and locked eyes with me, sparkling with a flicker of happiness. "Felix Bryce Pierce."
"I like it." I told her honestly. "A strong name for my nephew."
She twiddled with her fingers as she thought, a small frown sewing its way onto her face. London looked up at me again, and back to the cradles where the infants were. I smiled, watching as they would throw their legs and arms in the air. They looked absolutely adorable.
"Have you thought about having pups?" She asked, and I realized it had been the first time she had ever started a conversation with me that wasn't hostile.
I shook my head. "Lucian and I haven't talked about it."
"But do you personally want kids?" London pushed her brown locks to the side and remained looking at me.
"I can hardly handle myself, and I still have a lot to learn about the world." I explained, trying to help her understand that there are things I don't know. "A kid would just complicate things."
"I agree." We stayed in a comfortable silence for a while until London spoke again. "What do the witches want?"
"Me." I grumbled, hating the new change of topic. "They want me dead before the Moon Goddess leaves so that there won't be another one born for another millennium."
"The Moon Goddess already planned our death from the moment we were born, they couldn't change it even if they tried." She looked at me with confusion.
"Changed fate will make the Moon Goddess appear wrong, and it will weaken her." It was something I was beginning to realize as I noticed their determination. "Weaken the goddess, weaken her worshipers."
"So this is all about power?" She raised an eyebrow at my conspiracy.
I didn't answer her, and she knew what my statement would have been anyway. We watched the infants being carried off to their parents for about an hour, London looking more in thought as it passed. My mind began to wander as well.
The figure in the woods had been determined to hurt both me and Lucian, which means we must've been targets. The witches were obviously after us, but the way the person had suddenly appeared was a lot more advanced than the ones that had to run and travel through car. The hooded figure had appeared, attacked us, and had vanished.
Rylan claimed he didn't see me get hurt until he saw me clutching onto Lucian. He said both of us had vanished, me first and then Lucian. He looked everywhere for us, but didn't find a scent to trace. Then all at once we had appeared, making him more confused with the magic used.
The witch must've put some spell on us that made us invisible to everyone but their eyes. It explains why no one had come to help me, nor did they hear my pleas. However the witch was had tried to kill the two of us but failed. The witches were trying to kill me, that I knew, but the way the person had attacked us was almost vengeful.
Like something a witch that knew me would have done.
"London, when I got attacked today, the witch had disappeared right when the deed was done." I tried to process my thoughts. "What if it had been Ayana?"
"That witch can do many things, you'll have to ask your parents about witchcraft." She convinced, stepping away from the window and turning to me.
"They don't know Ayana's next move, we need intel." I couldn't believe what I was thinking.
"Are you saying that..." She paused, looking at me as if I had grown two heads. "The pack should kidnap a witch and interrogate it?"
"That's exactly what I'm saying."
______________________________________________________*(A/N)*
Happy update and Happy Sunday!!
Penny is actually planning on kidnapping someone!! Has she completely lost it? Leave your thoughts down below of her little suicide mission! <3
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