I looked up in confusion as chaos rained down around me, with the few people in the street screaming, trying to run with their children away from it. Glass littered the floor as tables shattered the sounds of animalistic growls sending chills down my spine.
"NO!" I screamed as I saw Blake struggling underneath three wolves that were brutally attacking him. My heart was pounding in fear as I screamed in my mind for Blake to shift so they didn't have so much of an advantage. He was trying valiantly to keep them off him, even kicking one away with a strength I had no idea he possessed, but his struggles were becoming weaker and I was terrified by the amount of blood coming from wounds I could see on his throat and chest. The street had become eerily deserted and without thinking about the consequences, I picked up the nearest thing to me - a mug - and threw it at one of the wolves. Oh great, a mug! That will help! It didn't hurt the wolf - bouncing straight off it - but it drew his attention towards me, my heart dropping as he started to stalk towards me, the intention to kill clearly in his eyes. He was getting ready to pounce, when suddenly he halted, a strange whining noise coming from his throat. The other two wolves that were attacking Blake stopped also, making the same noise before turning and running straight in to the trees, disappearing from view. I didn't stop to think about what had made them run away; my entire focus was on getting to Blake. I ran over to him, before dropping beside him, sobbing when I saw the extent of his injuries. His throat and chest had gaping holes with blood pouring out. His eyes were open and focused on me, my heart breaking when I saw the fear in them. I cradled his head in my hands, reaching in to my jeans pocket to grab my phone, when he touched my hand to get my attention. His breathing was erratic and I could hear the struggle his lungs were going through to keep him alive. He can't die, it's not fair! I tried to shush him when he went to speak so he conserved his strength, but he touched my hand again, so I leant my head down so he could put less effort in for me to hear him.
"Don't cry," he said and it was only then that I noticed the tears covering my cheeks, as they fell on Blake's face.
"I got to protect my new sister."
I couldn't hold back my sobs anymore, as Blake's face paled, his eyes closed and his breathing slowed. I didn't even notice when hands tried to pull me away from him; I just clung on for dear life. I was aware of movement and panicked voices around me, but it wasn't until I found myself on the sofa in Jackson's living room, that my full awareness returned.
****
I couldn't breathe. I felt like my heart had been ripped from my chest, my lungs were failing to work. I'd been sat, curled up on Jackson's sofa for so long that my legs had gone dead but I couldn't bring myself to care. Jackson was the man I was in love with, but I loved Blake and the pack like family. This community of shifters had managed to worm their way in to my hearts and they really were being honest when they said that being part of the pack is more than blood. The invisible ties between everyone were so strong; I would die for any one of them. Blake proved they felt the same tonight.
My chest physically hurt as I recalled Blake's last words to me before he fell unconscious. I got to protect my sister. And that right there was why I would never be able to leave this place; family. It really did mean everything. Many people had tried to talk to me since sitting there, but it must have been obvious I didn't want to talk, as they soon left me alone. I checked my watch to see that three hours had passed since the nightmare in town. Three hours since my world had been turned upside down. Jackson! It suddenly hit me that although my heart was breaking, Jackson had lost a brother, and would need me more than I needed him. I would have time to grieve and cry once I'd made sure that Jackson was okay. I understood how selfish I was being, and stood on shaky legs to go and find him, when he walked through the door, a grim expression that would forever be carved in to my memory. He spotted me walking towards him and his pace quickened; before I knew it, I was wrapped in his strong arms, squeezing me as if afraid I'd disappear.
He rested his cheek on the top of my head, breathing in my scent as I tried to conjure the right words to say to make this whole situation better. It turned out he managed to get there before me though.
"He's going to be okay."
My heart stopped beating - literally stopped - as I tried to process what Jackson had just said. I pulled away slightly, looking up in to his face with wide eyes, terrified that I'd read in his eyes the truth; that Blake was gone.
"He's sore, and he's going to be a lot quieter due to damage to his throat and voicebox; but he's alive."
I cried out in elation, throwing myself in to his arms, wailing in to the crook of his shoulder with joy.
"I thought he was dead!"
Jackson continued to hold me, using one hand to softly stroke the back of my head.
"A few people came in to try and talk to you about what was going on, but they didn't have much luck."
I laughed but it came out as more of a sob. "I was kind of lost in my own world, I'm so sorry! He's really going to be okay?"
"Apart from the pain, he's going to be absolutely fine sweetheart."
My heart rejoiced as my mood did a complete 180 from where it had been just five minutes ago. I'd already begun grieving for Blake, when he was going to be okay!
"I'm so happy," I said in to his shoulder, as he squeezed me even tighter.
"It will take more than that to get rid of Blake. He said about five minutes ago that he has to stick around to keep annoying us."
"He's awake?!" I jumped out of Jackson's arms, rushing towards the door. I heard Jackson's laugh following me down the hall as I headed towards the bedroom at the end of the long hallway. Noah, Jasmine, Isaac and Ethan were all standing outside the door, smiling at me as I bounded towards them.
"Can I see him?" I said, as Jasmine came over and gave me a big hug.
"Of course, he's been asking about you too."
As I headed towards the door, Ethan grabbed me and pulled me in for a hug, kissing my forehead at the same time.
"Good to have you back in the land of the living, pickle." He ruffled my hair, like one might a child.
"Hey!" I pulled away, smoothing my hair back down. "Isn't pickle what you call Annabelle?"
"It's really a universal name." He laughed as I slapped him playfully on the chest, my heart feeling so light I couldn't help but smile. I opened the bedroom door, starting to cry again as I saw Blake sat up in bed and tapping away on his mobile phone; proof that he was going to be okay. He spotted me in the doorway and I ran over to the bed, pulling him in for a hug before I remembered his injuries and loosened my grip. I pulled back to see him smiling at me and perched myself on the edge of the bed.
"I thought you were dead!"
"Please," he scoffed. "Gonna take more than those mutts to put me down."
I winced when I remembered how he looked on the floor of the street, my eyes widening when I saw that he was pretty much fully healed, bar from a few bruises. The bruises were all across his chest and neck and looked painful, but the gaping holes I saw just hours ago were completely healed.
"How the hell?"
"Accelerated healing comes in pretty useful sometimes."
"I'll say."
"How are you feeling?"
"Epic. Shifting was not fun, but it really does help in the long run. I ache a bit though. I'll probably need a massage if you fancy it?" He winked and I laughed when I heard Jackson's growl through the bedroom door.
"You'll have to get through the big, bad wolf first."
"Jackson? He's a pussycat."
"You know he can hear you, right?"
He laughed and I felt elated at being able to hear it. I never thought I'd hear his laugh again. The world would definitely have been a darker place.
"Exactly! Told you I couldn't leave this place. Who else would take on the role of winding everyone up?"
"Well, that's true."
"How are you, anyway? Did those mutts get their hands on you? I kind of spaced out after a while."
"They didn't touch me. You protected me."
"Well," he said, with a smug grin on his face. "What else are big brothers for?"
I leaned over and gave him a quick hug, before standing next to his bed.
"You're the best big brother a girl could ever ask for. Now, do you need anything? Food or drink?"
"Nah, I'm good thanks. A guy could get used to being waited on hand and foot though." He winked and I laughed, feeling on top of the world that Blake was fine. Oh yeah, with comments like that I know he's back to his old self already. My mind conjured a vision of how different today would have been, had we lost Blake, but I pushed those thoughts away. Blake was alive and with us, which was all that mattered.