I couldn't tear my eyes away from Eric's lifeless body as the sun began to set beyond the trees. I didn't know how or when he died, but that didn't matter. All that mattered was that he was dead. The young boy's body lay covered in scratches and blood, but it was the large open wound right under his collarbone that had been the fatal blow.
"Alpha?" Lucy's voice sounded shaky and scared. Glancing up at the seventeen-year-old, I noticed she too had several injuries though hers were more superficial than anything. "He was trying to protect us," she said staring down at the boy. "We attempted to make a run for it, but that rogue was just so fast. He grabbed Lisa by her shirt before she could shift. The boy, Erin I think." Eric, his name was Eric, I thought not bothering to correct her. "He shifted and attacked the giant wolf without hesitation. He even managed to kill him before the other rogue came out of nowhere," she paused her eyes full of tears. "He didn't even know us. Why didn't he just run and save himself?" Her tears finally broke free as she wept over the sacrifice this young alpha to be, made for them, but quickly wiped them from her face before walking over to her distraught sister.
'Griffin,' I called my beta, finally being able to focus enough to get a message out through the link.
'Logan, when are you getting back here. I don't think I can keep...her here much longer. She is determined to find her brother,' Griffin's voice came through with a mixture of relief and frustration.
'I found him,' I replied after a long silence.
'That's great. Get your ass home and calm down your....mate?' The last word almost came out as a question. I found myself struggling to find the words to tell him of the boy's death. Speaking the words would make it real. It would mean Izzy would lose her younger brother. It would mean war and the guaranteed destruction of my pack.
'Logan?' He asked now sounding concerned. 'What's wrong?'
'He's dead,' I blurted out. Griffin's silence only heightened the despair I felt inside. He was always the one you could count on to lighten the mood or say something reassuring, but there was no good that could come of this, only more death.
'Well, shit,' was all Griffin said when he finally spoke. 'Should I tell her?' he asked.
I sat there peering at the two young girls trying to console each other, as they cried over the loss of someone they hardly knew. The way the clung to each other for comfort was both endearing and heartbreaking.
'No,' I eventually answered. 'I will tell her when I get back.' Already I could feel dread building up in my stomach. I wasn't sure if it was from knowing the pain his death was going to cause her or the guilt I had for not being able to protect him.
'Send some men to the South East border. We need to deal with the bodies, and please make the Jacobs' aware that two of their daughters will be heading to the medical building to be checked out.'
'Two?' He asked. I knew what he was asking. Was the third girl dead? I hadn't asked the girls about their sister's absence yet, but from their fragile state and the aggression I witnessed from the rogues that held them, I was sure that was the case.
'Yes, two.' Standing from where I sat among the carnage, I limped over to the girls. Lucy looked up at me as she continued stroking her sister's back soothingly.
'We need to head back. Can you shift?'Â Wiping the tears from her face, she gave me a slight nod. 'Okay, help your sister onto my back. We need to get back before it gets any darker.' I didn't want to leave Brandon and Eric behind, but I didn't see any other option.
"Lis, hey we need to get going," she said speaking to her sister warmly. The young girl on curled further into her knees continuing to sob silently. "Lis come on. Mom and Dad must be worried out of their minds. You don't want to keep them waiting do you?" This got Lisa's attention. Shaking her head she got up and dusted off her jeans.
I winced as Lucy helped her younger sister onto my back. I wasn't really in any shape to be running back to the packed house especially not while carrying a teenage girl on my back, but I didn't want to risk waiting for help to come. I didn't know if there were any more rogues out there.
After Lucy had shifted, we headed home. Typically, it would have taken no time at all to get back, but I was barely able to stay upright. With every stumble, Lisa's arms tightened around my neck making it hard to breathe.
'Alpha, are you okay?' Lucy asked. She was a few paces ahead of me as I struggled to put pressure on my injured leg.
'Yeah, I'm all right. Let's keep going,' I replied continuing to limp forward. The sound of Lisa crying had me pushing forward. I couldn't begin to imagine what these poor girls had gone through these last few days. I wanted to get them home to their parents.
Every step sent a new wave of pain through me. I didn't know how bad the bite on my shoulder was, but it felt like a hot iron was being continuously jabbed into me every time I moved it in the slightest.
'Logan, I'm sorry. She tricked me. I didn't me--,' Griffins voice rang in my throbbing head.
'What are you talking about?' I asked cutting him off. I stopped walking as I found myself finding harder and harder to focus.
'Izzy, she's gone,' he said. I wish I could say hearing that gave me a new sense of energy, and sprinted home to find her, but the truth was I was spent. I let out a soft whimper before collapsing onto the forest floor.
As I laid on the ground I almost wished to sink into unconscious. Sadly that didn't happen; I just stayed crumpled on the ground unable to move. Lisa got off; her tear stained face full of fear as she kneeled beside me.
"Is he dead?" she asked. I let out a low whine to let her know that I wasn't because anything more was more than I was capable at the moment. I could see Lucy's wolf pacing back and forth out of the corner of my eye. She was on edge, and I couldn't blame her. We were sitting ducks out here. Lisa's head whipped around to she peered at her sister.
"What's wrong?" she asked. I could hear the distant sound of leaves crunching. Someone was quickly approaching. I needed to get to my feet, to protect these young girls. It took every last ounce of strength I had, but I managed to get finally to my feet. I wasn't going to be able to fight anyone off, but at least, I could distract them long enough for the girls to get away, I hoped.
'Alpha?' Joshua's voice called out. My body slumped to the ground as relief washed over me. They were safe. We were safe. I let out a grateful howl that echoed through the forest. Joshua quickly approached followed by Alex, who was in his human form. I was surprised to see Lisa run up to Alex and wrap her arms around his waist. From his expression, he was too.
"Logan?" Izzy called out. I whipped my head up to see her running towards me, instantly regretting it. I yelped and laid my head back down. "Are you, okay?" she asked kneeling down beside me. I nodded even though I felt anything but okay. Without warning, she slapped me on my side.
"What the hell were you thinking running off like that, and leaving that big mutt to act like my guard dog?" she shouted at me. Wincing at the blaring sound of her voice, I whimpered hoping to convey my apology.
"Alpha? We need to get going. Can you walk?" Alex asked looking concerned. Nodding for the second time, I forced myself off the ground. As I limped home, I kept sneaking glances at Izzy. She had a smile on her face as she walked beside me. My heart sank knowing that that smile would soon be wiped off her face. How the hell was I going to tell Izzy that her brother was dead?
~~~~~Author's Note~~~~~~
So I know it has been forever since I updated, and I can't apologize for enough. Big things have been happening. Living With Loss is now a featured story thanks to all of you wonderful readers, and I have just posted a small preview of book two in the Living With Loss series.
How do you Izzy is going to handle Eric's death?
Do you think Logan will be able to prevent Phillips from declaring war on his pack?
Please remember to vote and comment =D