ALPHA(37)

I looked in Blake’s eyes for the usual signs that he was joking, but his expression was deadly serious, and I knew he meant every word he said. I smiled at him, and had a sudden longing to feel Jackson’s arms around me. I couldn’t believe I was finally getting my ‘me’ time, and I actually missed him. Jeez, I have got it bad.

“Look at you! You’ve gone red, what are you thinking about?” He winked as I blushed harder. Every one of my thoughts recently seem to have revolved around Jackson. I was about to respond when Blake was suddenly thrown backwards by an immense force I didn’t see. I fell sideward off of my seat and on to the floor, groaning as pain shot up my already injured arm.

I looked up in confusion as chaos rained down around me, with the few people in the street screaming, and trying to run with their children away from it. Glass littered the floor as tables shattered, and the sounds of animalistic growls sent 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, and my heart dropped 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, and my heart broke when I saw the fear in them. I cradled his head in my hands, and went to reach 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, and 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, and 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 have 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, and he was squeezing me as if afraid I’d disappear.