~CARTER~
"Always sleeping. Weak ass can't even stay awake long enough for me to lecture his damn ear off."
You know? Sometimes I wish I could have a one-on-one match with you.
"And fail miserably? At least as of now, you can continue to cling to your false belief that you’re capable of delivering a single scratch to my flawless body. Your ass is asleep every damn day."
My body actually requires sleep, in case you’ve totally forgotten that minor mandatory detail.
"Your body, meaning OUR body, needs to strengthen the fuck up."
With a long groan, I gave up trying to have a peaceful few hours of rest. I sat up from my bed, resting my left hand on my knees while I began to rub at my tired eyes.
I still feel like shit.
"That's because—"
Can I get a break from insults for one moment?
"Stop assuming, stupid. I was going to say you didn't take that dose of energy recharge blah blah blah, the witch doctor told you to take."
Seconds passed as I scanned the small room, until my gaze landed on the clear cork bottle that held pink and purple pills I was originally required to take daily.
Originally, meaning I was supposed to take them daily, but I wasn't one who liked any type of medication. They made me even more sleepy, essentially rendering me useless, as my wolf loved to label it.
Taking a few deep breaths, I closed my eyes, wishing I could just go back to sleep and not take those dreaded meds.
The only way I took any type of medication was when I was in my wolf form and Harper would argue and "force" me to take them. I was impatient for her to recover. I wanted to lie in her lap and be on the receiving end of her long lecture as to why the pill she was about to administer to me would be beneficial and make me feel better.
Her lectures were a pain, but I loved them anyway. It meant that I got to spend time with her, and I wasn't going to lose any opportunity to do so.
Right. Meds...
"Stop being a baby and take at least one. I wanna see Harper."
We can see Harper without me taking one.
"Remember when we did that three days ago? Or do I need to replay that whole scenario in your mind: how you passed out, broke something with that heavy ass of yours, and Damien had to get Ian to help drag you back here where they injected you with that weird liquid stuff in those tablets? Oh wait, I think that's a good summary of what happened."
I need to ask the Moon what sin I committed in the past to receive the rudest wolf in the universe.
"Nope, the Moon knew you would be a stubborn, angry asshole. Your child days were all a phase, innocent and pure. You're lucky even Harper can tame you. I put you in your place, so that you stop acting like a weakling. Like right now with your 'sleeping-all-day-and-night nonsense.'"
With another sigh and a few slow inhales and exhales, I had the courage to get up. My body was stiff, and I decided to go for a run after checking on Harper.
One week had passed since Rogan attacked the sanctuary.
We had believed that Sam’s bullshit was over, but instead the situation had escalated; Rogan and a few of his friends had shown up to finish the deed and tried to burn down our property.
I had been with Harper, comforting her the best I could as she absorbed everything that had been revealed, from Sam's true nature to Dolly's reasons for "marrying" Sam to begin with.
To Harper, it had felt like her whole life was crashing down and filled with lies. I would have felt the same way, and a part of me still did.
I had known some things, but not everything, and that left me confused as to what to believe and what piece of information I was currently missing.
I hadn’t had the time to focus on putting together the puzzle pieces to see the full picture because the others were being ambushed by Rogan's men.
It was discovered later that Ian had tracked down Muffin, who had been acting strangely, racing around the back. Her confusing behavior had led Ian, Damien, and Levi to find the fire and the two wolf shifters who had been trying to spread it toward the main house.
When push had come to shove, Damien and Levi had handled the fire while Ian, who had been urged to notify the rest of us, had gotten hit with a magic blast, knocking him unconscious. It was a force of magic similar to what had been used during the multiple murders that had occurred around here recently.
When Harper and I had split up, I'd met the twins on the way. I had asked them to scour the property while I searched for the main culprit. I didn't think Harper would get involved, until my wolf took over; our instincts yelled at us that Harper was in peril.
Thank the heavens they did because Harper had been seconds away from being mauled by one of Rogan's henchmen.
The fight had been fierce, and I'd thought we'd won, until I watched in horror as Rogan shot Harper.
The simple thought brought back the memories of the chilling moment. How my heart stopped, and it had felt like the air in my body had disappeared, constricting my lungs and making it hard to breathe.
My eyes were wide as I witnessed the dark red liquid pooling out of Harper like a running faucet. The strong metallic scent of her blood had hit me like a wave. What hurt the most, though, had been watching the confusion that formed on her delicate facial features.
Her teal eyes, lowering to see the damage that had already been done, had slowly realized what had happened as her body responded from the impact.
Her knees had buckled, and I’d shivered at the crack of bones breaking from the heavy drop.
How desperately I’d longed to be by her side at that very second; my eyes had been unable to continue seeing the blood of our mate steadily seep out and around her body that barely moved.
But Rogan had been aware of what I’d wanted, and he had threatened to kill her with a shot to the head. Every move that followed would either save Harper or destroy her.
I couldn't afford the second option, and that thought had kept me motionless as my eyes had remained trained on Rogan.
As he’d laughed and taunted me, I realized from Rogan's eyes that he'd stepped into the realms of insanity, so focused on acquiring that blade, one filled with power and the ability to give him the position he lost long ago.
A time when I was a mere baby.
I’d begged the Moon for one opportunity. All I needed was one chance, and I got it.
Rogan had turned and crouched down to retrieve the blade from Harper's tight grasp. She must have returned to consciousness because she had growled. It almost sounded inhuman, even to my sensitive ears.
Rare breeds needed a trigger to shift, and if Harper fell into that category as I’d hoped, I wished that what was happening was enough to cause her Wolf to break through the shackles that had prevented her from shifting for years.
Rogan had flinched when she growled.
I had taken advantage of Rogan's distracted attention and Rick's shock and confusion to pounce forward and throw Rogan as far as I could.
Distance had been the best option at that point, and I’d needed him as far away from my mate as I could manage. At least, until I could call for help.
It was a battle I knew I wouldn't win, but if I could stall them long enough for the others to come, they would be able to finish the job and save Harper.
Leaders have to make sacrifices, sometimes including life itself.
Hints of sadness and doubt had entered my mind at the thought of dying. Sadness had gripped me over the heartbreaking reality that I had never truly gotten to love Harper the way I’d wanted to. We'd lost years together, and I never got the chance to show her the other side of me.
A loving side that adored everything about her.
And now, I never would.
My doubt was due to our situation. If I died and Harper survived, the pack wouldn't be lost. I knew without a doubt that Harper would be an Alpha wolf.
It ran in her royal blood, one that I'd had to keep secret due to the oath I'd made when we were separated.
An oath I still regret taking, even now.
I could only distract Rogan for so long. His son Rick had gotten in the way and had allowed Rogan another chance to get close to Harper, who at that point had been unconscious. When I’d killed Rick, I’d known that I wouldn’t survive a shot aimed at me from the point-blank range of Rogan's gun. Even though a few bullets would have killed me, I'd rather have endured them all while trying to rip Rogan’s head off his body, than chicken out and give him what he wanted.
What he desperately needed for his own greedy salvation.
Just remembering what had happened next sent a trickle of pride and relief through me. The simple but fascinating memory of Harper's once-limp body shifting, her bones cracking, and the sight of her pure white fur that rippled out from her large form.
The surreal imagery of her mouth, full of sharp white teeth and stained with her own blood, chomping down onto Rogan's head, leading up to his last moments before death.
She had shaken her head furiously from side-to-side. Rogan's head was unable to stay attached to his human body. His body was flung away into the far depths of the forest.
She had spat his head out and backed away, her pain-filled whimpers reaching my ears.
I opened my eyes to escape from the memory. Her weak whimpers still echoed in my mind from time to time, even now as I stood in front of the dresser, my focus on the bottle of the witch’s energy pills. The pain and exhaustion that had flooded Harper's eyes at that moment still haunted my dreams.
She wouldn't have made it if we hadn't performed the oath, calling on the Moon for her gracious interference, even after Harper had ignored the Moon's call for so many years.
It wasn't her fault. There were many factors, some of which we'd contributed, that led to her staying indoors during the full moon for her own safety.
But no more.
She'd learn about her past and most certainly realize just how powerful a wolf she was. It would take time for her to gain the knowledge she must have been craving for many years. However, all that needed to start with her recovery.
I reached for the clear bottle, lifting it up to eye level to stare at the purplish-pink capsules with the most awful-tasting liquid encased inside them.
I absolutely hated this medicine, but if I didn't take it, whoever was on watch duty wouldn't let me see Harper.
Nuisance.
How would they know I even took this stuff? It made your tongue pink for a short period of time. Not to mention it tasted horrible. My disgusted expression would be enough evidence that I had taken this dreadful thing that would help boost my magic back to normal levels.
The oath we'd sworn also demanded from each of us a portion of our blood, and with the strongest mate’s permission, it would initiate a connection between all of us. I didn't know the details, and I was sure Ian didn't either.
The Oath of the Moon was what some packs did to, well…create their packs. It sounded simple enough, but it was a decision that shouldn't be made lightly.
To witches, blood was as powerful as the magic they were granted, and it was no different for us wolf shifters. Blood meant power, and with that power came responsibility for not one, but many.
Sacrificing a small amount of blood to an individual meant you trusted them with your life. That blood created the strong connection, like an Alpha being linked to the wolves in his or her pack.
The connection would transfer a bit of our energy, and even magic, to the individual we'd chosen to lead, and that's what gave Harper the strength to live long enough for us to transfer her to North Sanctuary.
Or should I term them by their true name, Blessed Lake Pack?
Their real pack name wasn't known by many. It was categorized as a sacred word, one that very few dared to mention unless they had a strong enough reason to refer to them as such.
Our pack did get along with North, but we knew the second generation wolves and they were aware of very little of their own pack history.
Only the Alphas really knew who ran the show, the true Alpha of the North Pack, but the oath I'd made to keep my mouth shut had stopped me from sharing that information with the others.
In fact, it was powerful enough to hinder me from remembering from time to time. If it wasn't for the mention of Harriet's name, I would have completely forgotten about her existence.
That's how rare and ultimately difficult it was to meet any of the first generation wolves of the North Sanctuary Pack.
The blood oath we'd made connected us to Harper, and now it almost felt like she was the Alpha of our newly formed pack, if we could call it that.
I remembered the Moon's appealing voice, the sing-song tone that made your ears crave more and your body relax even in our nerve-inducing situation.
“Carter. You need to initiate it," Ian encouraged.
"The mate does," I argued, a little peeved to admit it. Ian mating Harper had been an annoyance to me for years, but I pushed my bitterness to the side and focused on the current situation.
"You're the stronger mate and magic user," Ian protested.
"Wasting precious time. Suck up that pride of yours for two seconds," my wolf growled.
"Fine," I grumbled, more toward my wolf than Ian.
I took a deep breath and concentrated on what had to be said; the words flowed into my mind like a scripture being read from a screen.
“Oh sacred full moon, hear our nightly plea. Our own has fallen and is knocking on death's door. We gather as one, with the combined blood of our kind. Six individuals with the aim to heal our beloved from the wounds she endured. Please accept our blood offering to mend her wounds and secure her life until we can find one better to preserve it. Use the magic inside me to seal this new bond created by all of us, and as her mate, let it be set in stone.”
The power that pulled from my body had made me grit my teeth in agony, but I'd stood my ground, the desire to save Harper more prominent than ever.
My magic manifested into a shimmering gold and turquoise wave of energy and began to wrap around Harper, outlining her limp frame as she struggled for breath.
I watched in amazement as the blood that poured from my wrist started to glow metallic silver.
Lifting my gaze to see the others’ reactions, I could tell they were just as shocked as I; the streams of blood that poured generously from the self-inflicted cuts they had made on their left wrists glowed silver as well.
Magic wrapped around each of the guys: Ian’s a bright teal green, Damien’s a sapphire blue, Levi’s a vivid purple, Hayden’s a bright orange, and Heston’s a brilliant red.
Our energies poured into Harper's open chest, and we all looked up to the Moon in unison, as if she'd called all of us by our names and demanded our utmost attention.
Her serene voice reached our ears and we stilled in blessed admiration.
“Magic at the price of love. I come to your call and ask you this. Is it worth this sacrifice to save this Wolf Tamer who ignores thy calls, when she most likely won't survive?”
I understood the bitterness that laced the Moon's words, but I had to be Harper's voice, for she wasn't the problem or cause of her ignorance.
The Moon would always see things both ways, and even with her bitter response, the sorrow it held was noticeable.
She pitied Harper, and as underhanded as it sounded, I'd take advantage of it.
“She ignored your calls because of our interference. She will survive this, and she's no longer a Wolf Tamer," I declared with as much strength as I could muster.
Every second that passed contributed to my growing weakness, but I couldn't pass out now. Not when we were this close.
The Moon was silent, and we waited, taming our impatience and worry.
"This decision will lead you all onto the same path. Whether my child rises or falls, all of your fates will be woven together. Is that a sacrifice you are all willing to take for this Wolf Tamer?"
I held my tongue in response, taking a quick glance at the others. My eyes locked onto each of them, our silent exchange sharing our acceptance of this decision.
They had each come to realize what this action would mean, and not a hint of hesitation rose in their eyes.
Our decision would lead us to whatever the Moon and destiny had in store for Harper.
“She will be a Wolf Seeker, and together as a pack, we'll seek those who dare try to take her away from you, the Moon, these lands of her heritage, and her future throne. I, Prince Moonshine, declare this on these sacred lands, with the elements of earth, water, nature, air, and fire as my witnesses. Heed my words, our mother the Moon, and accept them as a contract with the blood we pour into the woman we so desperately wish to survive and experience her rightful future.”
There was a long pause, and my words echoed through the forest.
The air passed by us while the crackling sound of burning firewood reached my ears. Soil crunched beneath us and frigid water soaked our bare feet.
The elements had answered my call and approved of this decision, giving me the courage to take a final glance at Harper as she was wrapped in a rainbow pod of our combined auras, before lifting my head to face the Moon with utmost confidence.
"You stand with confidence in this Wolf Seeker. I will grant your wish and with it, the future you all seek. The journey will not be easy, and the trials you will be forced to face will hit you head-on. However, together unity can conquer any task, just as you've come together to aid the woman it seems you all love and cherish. Your combined love is what allowed her to escape the claws of death. Remember that in dark times. The oath has been initiated. Make haste, for the time granted is nothing but a window of opportunity."
"Thank you." My voice was thick with emotion, my heart beat rapidly, and my eyes blurred with gratitude.
We didn't waste any time then; the twins shifted back into their wolf forms and raced ahead to get the car ready.
Levi had shifted and made his way in the opposite direction, heading to the North Cardinal Pack to warn them about our impending arrival.
Damien and Ian took the role of carefully picking Harper up, and my duty was to keep my magic flowing, allowing it to wrap around Harper like a life capsule that kept her breathing.
I'd done just that until we'd arrived at the North Sanctuary, and once Harper was deemed stable, I'd finally let go.
That put me into the land of unconsciousness for three straight days. I had knocked myself out again when I’d ignored witch's orders by attempting to check on Harper.
Wasn't going to make a fool of myself again.
My wolf liked to be harsh and tease me, but deep down our current weakness was an honorable one.
I was thankful that I'd trained vigorously over the years and ensured such training included my magic.
I was one of the few lucky wolf shifters who could manipulate most of the elements, and even though many wolves disliked dealing with witches, I kept in contact with the one who continued to train me.
The one who insisted I take these stupid pills.
With a sigh, I popped the cork open and shook out one pill. Plopping it into my mouth, I cringed at the subsequent pop and introduction of liquid that always happened the moment the pill's outer membrane touched the surface of my tongue.
I walked over to grab a bottle of water on my nightstand, drowning down the taste the best I could while fighting not to spit it all out and puke.
"Disgusting," I grumbled as I squeezed the now empty plastic bottle in defiance.
"See? You survived another day."
You know what? Maybe you should come forward and enjoy the taste.
"Nah. That's on you. I'm out."
I held back my growl, wishing I could strangle my wolf just a little bit so he'd be less of an ass.
I'd have to remind myself to mentally record every "kind" action he took, for the sake of my sanity, seeing as the level of "nice, kind, encouraging" words that left his mouth was starting to drown in the endless "mean, annoying, and irritable" remarks he loved to serve like a full course meal, seven days a week.
With a sigh and a tiny cringe at the disgusting taste that lingered in my mouth, I gave up on my wolf, who had moved to his space in my mind and curled up in a ball and relaxed.
At least he'll leave me alone for a bit. I hope.
Deciding to take advantage of my current strength, I gathered a fresh pair of underwear and a change of clothes from the dresser and headed straight into the bathroom.
My on-and-off exhaustion had made it difficult to bathe, but if I timed it right, I could get the most out of my limited energy. It would take me at least three to six weeks before my magic was back to its normal level, but I could focus on my wolf abilities, such as strength training, if I wanted to feel productive during this long recovery stage.
Stepping into the shower, I turned the knob and allowed the hot water to run down my body, helping my achy, sore muscles to loosen up a little.
The multiple shifts I'd done the last couple of weeks prior to all of this were taking their toll on me, reminding me that I'd need to get a massage soon.
If Harper was awake and well, maybe we'd be able to go to one together?
The returning thoughts of Harper reminded me of my current worry. So far, she'd been healing well after the swift treatment she'd received from the North Sanctuary medical team, which consisted of two wolves and two witches.
The witches normally didn't interfere in wolf matters, but while I’d been recovering in the medical ward, I’d overheard that it was a request from the higher-ups.
Higher-ups meaning the first generation wolves or the Alpha...
Harper's wounds had healed, but the oath hadn't only taken its toll on me, but on her as well. From what I'd gathered from different medical reports shared with the head nurse during my "very convenient naps," Harper's magic was super low and would require time to heal.
Add to that the loss of blood, which they were slowly restoring with blood transfusions, and she'd be in a weakened state for an estimated three months.
That was what they had gathered when we'd first arrived here seven days ago. However, the progress of Harper’s recovery varied drastically in a positive way. At least, that's what Damien had told me through our pack bond yesterday before I'd fallen asleep on him.
It was completely by accident. Sometimes his calm tone combined with a flood of information created the perfect lullaby.
At least after I finished showering, I could get an update from whoever was watching her. I picked up the pace, lathering my body with an extra amount of soap, and started the tedious task of washing my hair.
By the time I was done, I already felt drained, but I fought through the tired fog, my compulsion to see Harper growing stronger. The urge to see her progress was in the back of my mind as I moved out of my temporary room designated for guest Alphas, and headed toward the room where Harper recovered.
I dreaded the big possibility that I'd have to deal with Ian. We didn't get along.
No, that wasn’t accurate.
We could get along if we wanted to, but Alphas, or anyone close to becoming an Alpha, normally didn’t, especially if they were of the same sex.
Put a group of Alphas in a room, and ninety-nine percent of the time an argument would break out in seconds. Look at an Alpha funny, and it would seem like an act of war had been declared rather than merely annoyed, judgmental glances.
I'd known for a long time that Ian had Alpha qualities in him, and he was our Beta for that reason.
Just because we disagreed and had issues in multiple departments, didn't mean I wouldn't acknowledge his strength within the pack.
I only dreaded the idea of him being there because I wasn't in the mood to argue. I just wanted a quick report on Harper and to enjoy maybe a few minutes snuggled next to her.
I'd requested for her bed to be king-sized, just so I and the others could sleep next to her. I also advised the others to shift to their wolf forms if they sensed Harper was waking up.
None of us wanted to freak her out when she woke, nor did we want to frighten her with this new change.
We'd introduce everything slowly, and I had confidence that Harper would catch on quickly. This was what she’d always wanted, to really feel included where she subconsciously knew she'd belonged all along.
Now we could love and comfort her the best ways we knew how, both in our wolf and human forms.
All of it requiring our patience and time.
I turned the corner and noticed the small kitten sitting patiently in the hall, right in front of the room I intended to enter.
My eyes locked onto Muffin's curious ones, blue and gold that almost matched mine, while her black fur was the complete opposite of my wolf form’s white coat.
"Meow."
Muffin waited till I was closer before she cautiously approached me. I stopped for a moment, knowing what she wanted to do.
She reached my feet and inspected them for a few seconds, her paw rising up to strike them playfully. I didn't know what was with the kitten, or how her small body stayed that way for years, but she loved annoying me in either human or wolf form.
It was like it was engraved in her being, which was irritating.
However, her company was fun sometimes and I'd grown a soft spot for her. It could have also been her absolute love for Harper that made me want to be kind to her, even though she loved to scratch and tackle me at random times. Her tackles were ineffective, but those scratches hurt.
My annoyance seemed to amuse her, but cats were known to love mischief, and I gave up on trying to reason out her actions.
Even now, as she continued to pat at my feet, I didn't let it get to me. Maybe I was too exhausted to care or just needed to keep walking.
Muffin finally stopped and glanced up at me with pure joy in those eyes of hers, and I sighed.
"Are you done?"
"Meow."
She nudged her head against my feet in a loving gesture and turned around.
Moving her tail, she took three steps forward before looking back at me, a sign that she wanted me to follow her.
"Coming," I replied, stepping forward to walk again while Muffin ran the remaining distance to Harper’s room and darted inside.
I stopped before the doorframe, taking a deep breath to calm my mind. My wolf was still awake, his worry as strong as mine in terms of how Harper was doing.
Until we knew she was okay, we'd continue to fight off sleep.