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Chapter 9
“One section of the fence has been torn down along the outer perimeter so until the situation has been thoroughly investigated no one is allowed near the border.” He paused and scanned the crowd silently before he continued, “Anyone caught in breach of this order will be punished.” Carson declared to the silent pack.
“Let me remind you all that pack meetings are mandatory, if you don’t have a valid excuse to sit out then you should be in attendance and as is the usual practice; sanctions apply where necessary.” I informed them then looked down at the papers in my hand to see if I’d left out any important announcements, finding none, I glanced at Carson awaiting his instructions.
“Any questions?” Carson asked the crowd standing before us and a few hands went up.
“Yes I’d like to know when-” a member started but his words were drowned out when a loud shrill went up and everyone looked to the source of the sound; me.
Cursing silently under my breath I pulled my ringing phone out of my pocket prepared to turn it off; something I thought I had done before the meeting had begun. I absently glanced at the screen just as I was about to put an end to the noise but thought better of it when I saw Grady’s contact information pop up. He never called when he knew I had a meeting. Something must be up.
“I apologize, but I have to take this.” I addressed the crowd and ignored the glare Carson gave me as I walked to the back of the platform.
“Grady I’m in a meeting call me back in-” I started in a whisper.
“Thomas! I need your help!” he shouted before I could continue. His voice sounded breathless and strained and I instantly went on alert.
“What’s wrong?” I questioned.
I heard panting and the pounding of feet on the other end but he didn’t answer. I moved even further away from the platform, going to stand at the far side of the courtyard.
“Grady!” I hissed.
“I can’t ditch them!” he panted back and I could hear shouting in his background.
“Grady you’re not making any sense, what’s going on? Where are you?” I asked again. Then looked to the platform where Carson stood answering questions posed by the pack members then I spun around in a flash running toward the fence and jumping it rather than wasting time going through the gate.
I pounded down the street with the phone stuck to my ear and listened as Grady rattled off a street address. It took me no time at all to get to my car and I was off.
“I’m on my way, what’s going on?” I asked again as I maneuvered the car through the main camp gate.
“Some guys are chasing me!” he shouted into the phone causing me to cringe slightly. “Thomas hurry they have gu-“ he started but the sound of a gunshot sounded and the line went dead.
I froze in my seat and could have sworn my heart stopped the moment I heard it.
…………………………………
~Grady’s POV~
I ducked when the shot fired and my phone fell from my hand skating across the dirty cement-paved alleyway. Cursing my ill luck I continued running praying that Thomas would get here in time to help me out. I’d been running for about fifteen minutes but it felt like much longer.
They just wouldn’t give up! I skirted around another building and made the mistake of looking behind me to track their progress and ran straight into the solid frame of the second guy who had been chasing after me.
I guess he’d finally gotten fed up with all the chasing and decided to take another route. He grabbed me before I could fall backwards and spun me around so that I was facing his quickly approaching comrade, pulling my arms behind me and holding firmly.
Shit they caught me. I thought, panting. I bowed my head and my hair fell into my face. I’d learned a while back that it was best not to struggle with a guy with a gun and so I remained still waiting for whatever they had planned.
“I’m really getting sick of having to deal with your shit Grady.” The approaching guy said, sweating profusely from his run.
“Yeah I could say the same about you Paul.” I sassed, then groaned when he grabbed a clump of my hair and pulled my head up so that I had no choice but to look at him.
“I been putting up with that smart mouth a yers fer long enough, it’s time somebody taught you how to talk to those in power boy.” He drawled and gave me a cruel smile.
“Fuck you asshole.” I said, just because I could. Yeah I knew he had a gun, yeah I knew I was in no position to backtalk, yeah I knew this was serious but I didn’t like people talking down to me and so I couldn’t help it. So when he brought up his knee and slammed it into my abdomen, while it hurt like a bitch it wasn’t entirely unexpected.
I groaned out in pain, hunching over as far as I could while the other guy still held my arms firmly behind my back.
“Not so chatty now are ya Grady?” Paul sneered and I bristled but said nothing. I watched as he took a step away from me and lowered himself onto an empty crate, actually going as far as to cross his legs. I took a few deep breaths and waited for the pain to subside.
“You know the boss don’t like mistakes and he’s given you plenty a chances and whad’ya do? You spit on his kindness.” Paul drawled with a smile. He was enjoying himself.
“Yeah right, the boss doesn’t even know I exist.” I spat back.
“No but he knows that I do and when you do shit I get the blame moron and I aint willing ta die fer you so I guess you could call this…me firing you.” He said this time putting his hand under his chin as if in contemplation.
“Great, then let me go so I can be on my way.” I said even though I knew for a fact that wouldn’t be happening.
He laughed, a deep throaty gurgle that left me feeling both annoyed and disgusted.
“I let you go and you’ll either join the competition or run to the cops.” He said and got up from his perch, taking a few steps until he was right in front of me. “You think am stupid boy?” he asked, his face twisted in anger.
“Well…” I started only to be backhanded across my cheek. I tasted blood so I spat at his feet and he jumped back. I made the mistake of looking up only to have him back hand me again, this time on the other check and I swear I saw stars.
“I’m done with this shit” Paul roared and lifted his gun to point directly at my forehead. I tensed.
You know how they say when you’re about to die you see your life flash before your eyes? Well all I saw was Thomas; his face, his eyes, his smile; and I suppose they were right because Thomas was my life.
I watched as his finger moved to pull the trigger and I felt a calm come over me and so I smiled.
“You know I’m kinda sorry for you two.” I said in a calm voice and a knowing smile on my face.
Paul froze, his brow furrowing in confusion “Sorry for us? Ha!”
“Yeah because when my boyfriend finds out what you guys did he’s gonna hunt you down and rip you apart.” I said confidently.
“Boyfriend? Hahaha well aint that cute, he’s mouthy and queer. Well Juliet where was your so called Romeo when you joined this shit or when we beat your ass a million times before this?” Paul chuckled.
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” I answered and just the thought of Thomas kept me calm.
“Well get this you little faggot, he won’t haf to hunt me down cause I’m gonna find him myself and when I do I’m gonna make him wish he was straight.” Paul said in a low but deadly voice, then he pointed the gun at me again and this time I felt real fear course through my body.
“Save me a space in hell asshole.” He said and I closed my eyes tight, waiting for the impact but all I heard was growling.
Growling so vicious sounding it had be trembling and I was almost too afraid to open my eyes but when I did my heart beat stuttered at the sight of the magnificent beast standing in the dark alley not far away.
I could barely make out the outline of his body but his slanted eyes shone brightly back at us and it’s sharp looking white teeth had me pressing back into my captor in fright.
“What the fuck!” Paul exclaimed and jumped back, pointing his gun in the direction of the creature and firing. The beast lounged in our direction and the bullet missed him causing Paul to let out a scream and fire a few more shots in the beast’s general direction.
The guy who held me pushed me into the path of the creature and I fell onto my side, then scrambled onto my ass when I saw the animal standing in front of me, it’s head turned toward my captors.
“There puppy, eat him!” Paul shouted to the animal, his voice shaky and his now bullet-less gun wavering in his hand.
The other guy also had his gun drawn and I could see he was less than thrilled at the turn of events. All I could do was sit where I was beside the beast, my eyes wide with abject terror and my entire body vibrating with fear.
My mouth had gone dry and it felt as if my brain had turn to mush. I couldn’t even drag myself up off the ground to run away, I was just frozen in my spot waiting to be eaten by the massive animal standing next to me.
I unintentionally let out a whimper and the beast moved its large head to look at me. His head was probably twice the size of mine and his teeth? Oh sweet Jesus the teeth!
My breath was coming in harsh gasps now and my heart was working over time. I watched as the beast cocked its head to the side as if wondering what was wrong with me but it wasn’t until I met his eyes that I realized this wasn’t any ordinary beast! It was a werewolf and it wasn’t any ordinary werewolf! It was my werewolf!
Even in the dark alley it was hard to miss those familiar eyes. Eyes that I’d felt like I could drown in a million times before.
“Thomas.” I whispered in awe and watched as the he moved his head back to the men and growled once more. I shivered at the sound but didn’t move. My eyes were still trained on my lover. I’d seen him in his wolf form before but that felt like so long ago and he certainly hadn’t looked so threatening.
“Don’t just stand there you idiot, shoot it!” Paul shouted and his companion raised his gun; his hands trembling slightly. In a flash Thomas had moved and was running towards the other guy, despite the fact that he held a gun.
He managed to let off three shots before Thomas knocked him down and the sounds of the man’s blood curdling screams wasn’t something I would ever forget. I was too shocked as I watched Thomas rip at the guy’s flesh to do anything when Paul turned on his heels and ran away from us, his frightened screams piercing the night as he went.
I knew the guy laying flat on the ground was dead when I no longer heard his wet gasps for air and I felt almost sick to my stomach but I couldn’t look away. Blood, there was so much blood!
I watched as my wolf backed away from the body and made his way over to me, his mouth bright red and dripping. He seemed shaky on his feet and it wasn’t until he dropped his massive frame in front of me, his breathing ragged, that I realized that it wasn’t just the guy’s blood that matted his fur, but also his own. He’d been shot!
Breaking out of my shocked trance I got up and moved around him so I could inspect the damage.
“No no no no.” I whispered in fear. I watched as blood erupted from two separate wounds. One in his hind leg and the other in his side. They looked serious and very painful, something I confirmed when I touched his leg and he whimpered.
“This would be a perfect time for you to have some super healing ability huh?” I joked, trying to make the situation not feel as serious as it probably was. All he did was stare at me with his big glassy eyes. “Do you think you can change back into a human?” I asked him.
He raised his head slightly off the ground then let it fall. “Guess that’s a no huh?” I said.
I had to get help and quick. I rose, planning to search the dead guy for a phone but when I moved away from him, I heard Thomas shifting and I looked back at him, watching as he got up, standing on three legs. He took a step towards me and whimpered before falling to the ground once more.
“It’s okay Thomas, stay right there.” I instructed, then walked over to the dead guy, turning my head way from him so I didn’t have to look at his ripped throat. I moved my hands over his still body, shivering when they came in contact with something wet and sticky. I found his phone the instant I dipped into his right pocket and I moved back to Thomas, kneeling at his side as I dialed Carson’s number.
I couldn’t call an ambulance for obvious reasons.
Someone answered on the third ring and I sighed in relief. “Carson-” I started.
“No this is Laken, who’s this?” the voice asked.
“Give Carson the phone quick.” I answered, looking over at my wolf who was no longer looking at me but staring at the dead guy not far away.
“He’s busy, do you wanna leave a message?” Laken asked politely.
“Listen Laken it’s Grady, Thomas has been shot, I need Carson’s help!” I shouted into the phone.
“Thomas? Oh my God, what happened?” Laken asked, his voice giving away his fear and anxiety.
“Laken give Carson the phone!” I shouted again, then listened as silence descended on the line.
“Grady? What’s going on? Where are you?” Carson said when he came on the line.
I rattled off an address and told him to hurry, then ended the call. I pulled my shirt over my head and ripped it; with some effort, in two. Moving quickly I carefully lifted his injured leg and ignoring his whimper of pain I tied the cloth around the wound, hoping to staunch the flow of blood. Then I pressed the other half against his other wound, feeling the slow rise and fall of his body as he breathed in slow painful breaths.
“Please don’t die.” I whispered brokenly and lowered my head to place a gentle kiss beside his wound.
Thomas turned his head to look at me then and what I saw in his eyes caused me to get up from my spot and sit beside his head with my feet curled under me. I shifted closer and lifted his heavy head and placed it into my lap then ran my fingers through his fur in a soothing motion until help came.
…………………………..
Hours later I had stood beside him, holding his hand as they tried to dig the bullet out of his flesh. The pack doctor had gotten him to shift back into his human form but for some reason he wasn’t responding to the pain medication.
As they dug, he had been completely silent as he endured what I was sure had to be excruciating pain, but as was expected of the Beta, he showed no sign of weakness.
The only sign of his ordeal was how tightly he held on to my hand and the fact that he was deathly pale. At one point the pain got to be too much for him that he asked Carson, who had been holding his other hand, to just knock him out.
I thought Carson would just dismiss his statement as just the pain talking but I had watched in surprise and horror as he reached over, put a hand on a spot on his neck and pressed down with his thumb. Thomas was out like a light, his hand loosening in mine.
That had been hours ago. The pack doctor had explained to me that werewolves did indeed heal at a faster rate than humans. The healing process, according to him wasn’t instant but it was faster and that was the reason, after conducting a few more tests on him and expertly extracting the bullets, he had wrapped Thomas up and sent him on his merry way. Now he was laying on the couch with about a dozen blankets piled on top of him.
When they’d brought him in, he had told them that he wanted to stay on the couch rather than go up to his room and so the reason he lay on his couch at present was explained.
His friend Rivers was in the kitchen rattling around. I was virtually certain that he and Thomas had once had a thing going on once just by the way Rivers looked at him and had pretty much gone crazy when he’d heard what had happened but as much as I wanted him to just disappear and never come back I was grateful for his help; I didn’t want to leave Thomas’ side for anything, not even to go fix him some food.
I squeezed the water out of the cloth again and dabbed it along his forehead.
“Grady like I said before, the only time you need to do that is if a person has a fever.” Thomas said, his eyes watching my face.
“Look Thomas, you’re the one who’s sick here, so you need to shut up so I can take care of you.” I told him, the continued to press the rag to his forehead.
“You’re telling a sick person to shut up, how comforting.” He spoke up again, this time a smirk on his face and I lowered my head, and planted a soft kiss on his lips.
When I moved my head away and looked down at him again, he was grinning and I rolled my eyes.
“You sure you don’t wanna rest in bed, you gotta be uncomfortable here.” I said but he shook his head.
“Oh the doc said it should take you about a week to heal so I’m not going to school this week, imma stay here and take care of you okay?” I told him but he said nothing, his eyes still trained on my face.
His stare was seriously starting to creep me out “Why are you looking at me like that.” I finally asked.
“Because I love you.” He said simply with a smile.
I looked at him briefly and despite the warmth flowing through my body at his words I turned my head to the direction of the kitchen and called out to Rivers; “Hey Rivers, you done in there? because I think the hunger is going to his head!”
AUTHOR’S NOTES
YOU GUYS ARE GONNA GET TO READ WHAT HAPPENS EVERYDAY OF THAT WEEK THAT THOMAS IS SICK!!!
SCHOOL IS HECTIC TO THE POINT WHERE IT FEELS RIDICULOUS BUT I WROTE THIS DURING EVERY FREE TIME I COULD MUSTER. I DOUBT THE NEXT CHAP WILL TAKE SO LONG BECAUSE I SHOULD BE GOING HOME ON THURSDAY SO I’LL BE ABLE TO BREATHE ALITTLE. THANKS FOR YOUR PATIENCE I JUST LOVE YOU GUYS!!!! <3 <3
NB: FEEL FREE TO INBOX ME AND ASK WHATEVER YOU WANNA ASK.. or if you just wanna say hey that’s fine. I WANNA SAY THANKS TO ALL THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN DOING SO AND I WANNA SAY HEY TO ALL THE NEW FRIEND’S I’VE MADE ON THE CHAT..YALL ARE FUNNY I SWEAR!!
KEEP SWEET GUYS!!
-DoUbLe.A
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