Sandy
My beast caught up to Wyatt and his Wolves, but Cam was nowhere in sight. He was one of the largest and fastest Wolves I knew so I wasn’t surprised he was leading the way. If I knew him, he’d be first to reach the rogues and attack.
The Goddess herself wouldn’t be able to help them once he had them in his sights.
My wound was healing, but not fast enough for me to join Cam out in front. I was only just keeping pace with Wyatt and I had to concentrate to do that. Pain for my mate overshadowed the pain in my body, but the weakness in my hind leg was hindering my speed.
Belle’s scent grew stronger with each stride and that spurred me on as we ran. The fact that I couldn’t reach her through our bond scared the hell out of me, but I was also aware of the crippling effects the silver around her wrists would be having. I hoped that was all it was and not that they’d knocked her out somehow. My beast snarled at the mere image that thought brought.
I couldn’t wait to rip that bastard’s throat out and hold Belle close in my arms. I swore I’d never let her out of my sight again. Well, not until I’d gotten her back home to the Highlands where I knew she’d be safe. We didn’t have rogues running around wild and playing havoc with people.
No. We dealt with lone rogues harshly and they never had the opportunity to grow into any semblance of a Pack. Belle would be safe, secure, and protected by our Pack and that’s what I kept thinking as I plowed through the forest.
I knew we were close, I could hear her heart beating, slower and slower, until I felt her fall into unconsciousness. How I knew that I wasn’t quite sure but I was certain my Belle was out cold. A moment after knowing that fact I heard Cam’s distinct snarl, the sound full of deadly intent.
He’d found them.
Wyatt picked up speed and despite my injury, so did I. Seconds later we burst through to find Cam squaring off with two Wolves. Belle lay discarded on the ground as if she’d been tossed away like a sack of garbage.
Cam spoke directly to me, his tone icy cold. “Go to your mate, she needs you. Get that damn silver off her before it’s too late.”
I paused, wanting nothing more than to join him and tear the rogues apart, but I could also sense my Belle slipping away. Damn it! It hit me what Cam meant: Belle was dying of silver poisoning.
Although silver weakened and hurt us all, a few were far more susceptible, and silver could kill those in a very short time. I had to get it off her. Now.
I sped toward her, not bothering to watch the fight that was now ensuing; my only thought was to save Belle. My beast slid to a stop beside her, her face white as snow and her heart barely beating in her chest. I knew I didn’t have long to save her and I wouldn’t waste any time transforming.
My Wolf had razor sharp teeth and I’d use those to break her bonds, regardless of the pain it would cause to my own mouth. I would heal. She would not if I didn’t act now.
I nudged her over so I could gain access, snapping my teeth to gain some purchase on the chain around her wrists. My mouth exploded with pain as the toxic metal touched my sensitive gums and lips, but I merely clenched my teeth harder and continued to work the chain into position.
Once I had it firmly between my teeth, I bit down, careful to only break the chain and not to damage her skin in any way. It hurt. Hurt like hell, but I couldn’t stop, couldn’t waver, I had to get that silver off her.
Or lose her forever.
Belle’s heart slowed, the beats reverberating in my ears as I honed in on them. I shut out everything else: the fight going on behind us, the snarls, growls, and whatever else a forest ripe with critters had to offer. I focused solely on my mate as my own heart beat wildly as I tried to tear the silver from her wrists.
It had embedded into her skin, showing me how allergic she was to the poison the metal wielded to our kind. Normally it would take hours, days even, to reach such a stage but Belle was hovering between life and death as my teeth tore at the chain.
I could taste my own blood as the silver did its unholy damage to me, but I carried on. No thought in my head, my heart, and my very soul but to save the most beautiful creature in existence: my mate.
Finally, it tore free, taking chunks of skin with it as I spat it out with disgust. I transformed immediately and grabbed her up in my arms. Holding her against my chest as I pleaded with her to return to me.
“Belle, my bonnie lass, wake up.” I didn’t recognize my own voice, so full of despair as I carried on. “Please, baby, wake up.”
I jerked as a hand landed on my shoulder, gripping me hard, glancing up I saw Cam a second before I felt his healing magic flow through me and then into Belle.
He said not a thing, his eyes and actions speaking far louder than mere words as he tried to heal us both.
“Thank you,” I whispered, knowing how much he hated to reveal his Witch side to strangers.
He nodded as Wyatt joined us, looking strangely at Cam then down at Belle and me.
“So that’s how you can track just about anything.” Wyatt smirked. “Isn’t that cheating?”
Cam shrugged. “Whatever it takes.”
“True.” Wyatt nodded. “How is she?”
“She was on the brink,” Cam confided. “She must be truly allergic to silver and it was killing her, fast. I think we got to her just in time.”
“Thank the goddess.” Wyatt heaved a sigh. “She’s a pain in the ass at times and one sassy Wolf, but she’s a good one. A good heart beats in her chest and I’d be devastated at her loss.”
“Tell me about it.” I shook my head, asking my friend. “Cam, are you sure she’ll be all right?”
“She should be. She’ll need to transform and allow her beast to heal her fully though.”
“I’ll make sure of that. I’ll carry her back, nearer the Pack, so we can ensure she’s safe.”
“Good idea,” Wyatt agreed. “We’ll stay with you until she’s fully healed. Then, Sandy, we need to discuss things. It looks as if Belle has a decision to make and as her Alpha, I want to help her as much as I can.”
“Aye.” I inclined my head, rising with Belle safely in my arms. “Cam, can you be at the scenting ceremony? If things go as I hope then I’d like you to perform our mating ceremony.”
“Aye, I’ll be there.” Cam gave me a smile which quickly turned into a frown. “Wait. Does that mean you want the full ceremony? As in . . .”
“Aye, I do,” I said as seriously as I could. “The Alpha Dance is part of it, Cam, so I hope you’re not rusty.”
“Rusty?” he exclaimed, his eyebrows shooting up. “Seems like it’s every other week that I’m having to perform that damn dance. It will be the death of me, either that or I’m going to end up roasting my balls.”
Wyatt looked confused, as well as he should. The Alpha Dance was sacred to our Highland Clans, both here in the US and in Scotland, and it was a glorious sight to see, especially if you hadn’t witnessed it before.
As we started back, Wyatt changed into his beast form, he and his Wolves guarding us as we walked. It was a few minutes before I thought to ask. “Hey, what’re you doing here anyway?”
“I came to visit and see how you were doing,” Cam replied, cocking an eyebrow. “I arrive and straight away Wyatt’s ready to go hunting some rogues so I joined him. Then I felt your distress and I take it was around the time Wyatt felt your mate’s because he took off like a bat out of hell. I took over him quick enough though. You know the rest. I’m just glad we got to her in time.”
“Me too,” I admitted. “I’m not sure what I would do if I lost her. Probably go crazy with grief.”
“You didn’t lose her. She’s in your arms and she’ll heal once she transforms. Then maybe you could introduce me to the lass that’s got the bachelor of the Pack’s guts in a twist and obviously captured his heart. You’ve got it bad, Sandy, I can see it and feel it.”
“I love her, Cam, with every fiber of my soul, it’s raging inside of me to make her mine and keep her safe.”
“I know, lad, I know,” Cam replied, his tone telling me he did indeed know.
“I can’t leave here without her,” I said, admitting for the first time to myself that was the case.
I loved my home with a passion only a Highlander could know but I’d leave it all behind for Belle. In a heartbeat.
“You won’t have to leave here without me,” Belle whispered weakly.
I stopped, staring down into her pale face, relief flooding my system and making me lightheaded. “Belle, my beauty, you’re going to be all right. I promise.”
“It’s okay, I’m just a little weak,” she exhaled softly. “Maybe more than a little, but I have to tell you something.”
“Shush,” I scolded. “Don’t try and talk just yet.”
“I have to,” she whispered. “I need you to know you were right. I know it now and I was an idiot for not allowing myself to recognize our bond. I love you, Sandy, and I’ll go anywhere you do. Anywhere, anytime, forever.”
Her words had my heart soaring, flying high as I leaned down and kissed her softly on the forehead. She smiled before her eyes fluttered shut causing fear to lap inside me once again.
“It’s okay,” Cam assured me. “That’s a normal healing sleep now. She’s no longer unconscious, so once she transforms she’ll heal quickly.”
“Thank the goddess,” I huffed, air exploding from my chest as I let out a breath I hadn’t known was being held.
“Indeed,” Cam agreed as we closed in on Grey Paw Pack camp.