chapter 21: danger

We were almost to the Scion when we both stopped abruptly. A group of men stood a good distance from us. There arms were crossed as they stood by our car, waiting for us.

"That's an unfamiliar scent." I breathed as I stared wide-eyed at the group.

"Unfamiliar but werewolves none-the-less."

"I didn't catch their scent."

"Me either." He whispered stiffly. "Probably because we've been locked on Emily, Ivan and Zane's scent. We weren't expecting anyone else."

"Hey!" One of them called over to us impatiently. He was leaning against the front of the Scion. "We've been looking for you!" A sly type of smile slithered across his face.

Shane let out a growl that came deep from his throat. It wasn't good that he was covered from head to toe in my shopping bags.

"I see you're still taking orders from Emily, Milo."

That was a strange name for him. Milo sounds like a name that should go with someone who's cute, adorable even, not with someone who looks big and brawny. Big in the sense that no one could possibly ever beat him in a fight. He was good looking in a way but of course not as handsome as Shane and didn't even measure up to Jacob either. I wasn't even going to compare him to Kale, Milo didn't stand a chance. Milo snorted.

"Orders. We both know that killing a vampire is no order." He let out, tauntingly.

All the bags dropped, Shane flung himself at Milo in a flash. My keen eyes were able to catch it, and even slow down his quick movement.

"Shane!" I called but was faced with my own problems. "Don't mess with me." I threatened between my teeth.

I felt myself tense as three of the six werewolves stood before me. I knew my eyes were quickly turning black. One of them laughed amused.

"Zane was right, she is fiesty."

"Too bad we have to get rid of her." The one beside him sighed, frowning mockingly.

"Fine." I growled at them. "You had your chance to leave."

All three of them burst out laughing.

"Our chance," The third one snickered. "Like a vampire could do damage to us."

With that last insult I lunged at him. With my fists clenched I hit him so hard he flew into a nearby car, sounding the alarm on it. A moment and I could see Shane not only fighting with Milo but with the other two as well. He seemed to be winning with one beneath his foot and the other he held tightly with one hand by the neck. Milo leapt at him as someone yanked my hair and flung me hard into the ground.

There was a crushing noise, it had nothing to do with my body but I layed on my back for a short second in shock. Then I realized my body had tore into the hard parking lot, leaving a large hole. I let out a gasp as a foot lodged down hard onto my throat. It didn't hurt like it should have though.

I grabbed whoever's leg it was. With all my strength I knocked him off of me. He fell back fast and hard. But another one was instantly on top of me. I caught sight of Shane for a moment, when I did each one of them in that distant fight changed forms, bursting into their true selves. The fight must have gotten bad over there. I didn't have time to keep paying attention to them though. The one I had flung away from me was yelling. I think he had been yelling this whole time.

"She broke my damn leg!"

The one on top of me glanced at his packmate, then at me.

"Broken legs take us hours to heal!" He snapped at me.

He grabbed my hair, pulling my head up to his face. Before my very eyes, right on top of me, he was suddenly a snarling, leathery looking K9. His clothes shredded and burst around me. He pierced his sharp claws into my shoulder. I let out a shocked gasp. It hurt. This actually hurt! His sharp claws penetrated deep into my marble body.

He still held my head up by the hair with his giant paw. Vampire bites and werewolf claws hurt me, that was a fact now. What if he bit me? Would it be just like when another vampire did? I looked at his teeth, twenty times sharper then any vampire's I've ever met. It would be worse. He knew this. I couldn't move, couldn't fight back. He yanked his claws out of me, standing up and holding me by the throat now. I gasped again, letting out a scream.

He dug his claws deep into my other shoulder now. My arms would be useless. They were even stronger then I expected. I regretted underestimating any of them. Just because Shane was gentle with me, didn't mean the others wouldn't be dangerous.

By some miracle I saw a flash and the werewolf was so far away from me now. I fell forward, not able to catch myself I landed with a thud on the pavement. From there I didn't move. I couldn't. The pain seemed to have completely silenced me. No one came after me, no one attacked me. Where had they gone?

I consentrated. Their scent was very slowly becoming distant. I was trying to consentrate so hard that I jumped when hot arms were around me. I cringed. But by the way they were being gentle I knew it was Shane. I couldn't tell which form he was in though. My vampire senses seemed to have faded slightly. Just like when I was too thirsty to think about anything else.

I heard a car door slam. A moment later I heard rustling, another car door slammed. More rustling and another car door slammed, but it was farther back. The tunk? Someone was beside me. Yet another car door slammed. He started the car, breathing heavily and pulled out of the parking lot with a jerk.

"Kale's going to kill me!" He spat angrily at himself. "At least they didn't take her...or worse..." He muttere to himself then he swallowed hard. "Jamie?" His voice came out terrified as he grabbed my hand. "Jamie? Ca-can you hear me?"

With effort I nodded, but weakly. Human or vampire, this was always going to happen to me! Never ending, that's all this was!

"Can you feel this?" He continued. I frowned. "My hand, on yours?"

With more effort I shook my head.

"Tell me when you can." He choked out.

A few moments passed and I let out another gasp. He was just below the wound on my shoulder. He pulled away quickly.

"Sorry!" He seemed to cry out.

I felt the car speed up. He touched the base of my neck. I nodded. He touched my face. I nodded again.

"I'm just making sure he didn't get you anywhere else." He told me in a nervous voice.

His hand came back past my neck, moving down and around my body. Kale was already going to be angry, he didn't need to find out about this. I cringed but nodded as he paused over every inch of my body. His hands shook slightly when he passed over certain parts of my body. He also left his trembling hands on those spots longer then nessasary.

"Shane..." I was able to let out once or twice weakly.

"Sorry." He would apologize.

I kept my eyes shut. He finally took his hand away from me. The pain wasn't subsiding. I still couldn't feel either of my arms.

"They will heal, I promise."

"The pain?" I breathed.

"I don't know, Jamie. Hours, days, weeks. You're a vampire, you heal much different then shapeshifters or us." He spit out, disgusted. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have attacked Milo and left you."

I was hardly able to shake my head.

"Don't blame yourself." I frowned.

He didn't respond. We drove in silence. Every once in a while he touched my face, to make sure I was still conscious. I would nod slowly. Finally the car came to a stop. My door flew open. I flinched.

"Jamie!" His familiar voice gasped. "You didn't tell me it's this bad, Shane!" He shouted.

Did Shane call him? While I was in the car? I was in more pain then I thought. I didn't even hear Shane dial his number let alone hear Kale's voice. I had no idea they had even talked. I tried to defend Shane and comfort Kale but trying to do both at once was impossible. I only ended up groaning.

"Be careful! Don't hit anywhere near the wounds!" Shane snapped as Kale pulled me into his arms carefully.

"I think I can refrain from hurting my wife."

The pain was terrible. I could barely concentrate on any of their words. I could hardly tell I was in Kale's arms. All I could think about was the sharp pain.

"Kale I don't think we should keep her here."

We stopped moving.

"I can't take her back to either clans." Kale muttered. He sighed. "Jacob, go get my truck will you?" He had used a question form but he was really just demanding. Jake didn't say anything but I knew he left.

"I'm not happy with you right now." I could tell Kale was frowning as he spoke. "But I'm going to have to trust you again."

What he was saying only confused me. I couldn't really think much about it, the pain was too much of an interference. Then we were walking again. Shane had said something. Kale responded but my pain had taken all of my attention now. Without meaning to, another pained groan escaped my lips.

"....us a few minutes." I caught the last of Kale's sentence.

A few seconds later we were in one of the white tents. I was placed on the bed. Kale growled.

"Even with a face like yours, men are still willing to hurt you. It makes me sick!"

I finally was able to open my eyes. The pain was blinding but I did my best to look past it, just for one glimpse of him. He gasped.

"Shane!" He let out full of anger. Shane burst into the tent. "Exactly which one of them did this to her?!" He spit as if what had happened really hit him suddenly.

"It was Ulrich. He always paralyzes his enemies when he feels threatened." He answered.

"Paralyzed?!" Kale hissed.

"Only her arms! It won't last long!" Kale growled again then turned back to me. He came over, pulling me carefully in a sitting position. I cringed.

"I hope you'll be able to forgive me." He whispered. I frowned.

"You didn't...do anything..." I tried my best to speak.

"I'm going to protect you, that's what I'm going to do."

It took me a long time to process this, longer then usual.

"No! Kale! No! No!"

With more strength then I really had, I managed to lift my arms toward him. The pain freshly ripped though me. I gasped, bursting into tears. He was leaving me again. How many times before he truly would keep his promise? Kale carefully pulled me into his arms.

"When you heal, they'll bring you to me."

I managed to glower at him, even in as much pain as I was in.

"You're my world, Jamie Vandera, I will do anything to keep you alive and from pain. Get used to this. I won't let anyone get away with hurting you."

"He's back." Shane spoke quietly. Kale looked at him and nodded, standing up with me in his arms.

We were back out of the tent and with a moment of consentration I noticed the packs weren't around.

"Where are they?" I whispered because I was too weak, even now.

"They went after them as soon as Shane called." Kale explained as we came up to his truck. He opened the car door and set me on the middle seat. Jake began to get out.

"No." Kale shook his head. "Take her to the ruins. Keep her safe. Don't you dare take your eyes off of her, one second of opportunity to chase after me she won't hesitate to take it, no matter how much pain she's still in." His eyes found mine. He winced. His eyes filled with pain and anger.

"Be nice to them, sweetheart." His smile was small and almost forced. What an ironic statement that was! I almost laughed but couldn't.

"I love you." He breathed, kissing my forehead as I breathed back;

"Love you too."

"I miss you already." His voice was overflowing with emotion.

"But I missed you before that." I only managed to say very softly.

I heard him chuckle a little then he kissed my lips deeply until it somehow numbed the pain. My body finally had relaxed, although I had no idea how tense and hard it had been before. I melted back into the seat as he came forward. Jacob made a noise, Kale pulled away from me. He took one last long look at me then spun around.

"If anything happends to her, you two will be next..." He took off before any of us could respond.

Shane jumped in the truck beside me.

"Let's go." He said slamming the door.

Jacob made a wide U-turn. We speed off without my whole world at my side again. It took only seconds for the pain to get worse and the emptyness spread all the way up into my heart. Once again, I was hallow. I tried my best to ignore the pain and tried to just listen to their conversation.

"Where are the Ruins?" Shane asked.

"Deep in a desert, a couple days away. It's hard to find unless you've already been there." There was a moment of silence. "Anya's behind us." Jacob muttered now.

Now that he mentioned it I recognized her scent but there was a faint hint of Emily's pack that made me cringe. I couldn't help the noise that came from the back of my throat.

"Are you OK, Jamie?" Shane asked anxiously.

"Isn't there anything we could do for her wounds?" Jake asked him.

"I wish there was. She's going to have to stick it out for awhile longer."

"Just how long is awhile?" I heard Jacob frown.

"I can't be sure." Shane muttered.

Hours began to pass. Anya followed behind us in a black two door car. The pain that once ripped through me slowly subsided. Soon I could finally even feel the tips of my fingers. Most of the time I kept my eyes shut, dreaming as much as possible because it made me forget the pain. They had the radio on but they still talked to eachother often, not that I was always listening to their conversations.

"Look! Her wounds are healing!" Shane let out ecstatic.

"But what about the pain?" Jacob asked directly at me.

"I'm starting to feel my arms again. The pain is less blinding." I was surprised that my voice was so much less strained then before.

"You're strong Jamie." Shane breathed to me. I smiled, keeping my eyes shut.

"You're surprised by that?"

He laughed. "More like greatful. If you weren't so strong I think you might be screaming from the pain, even now." He sounded relieved.

Awhile later and I could actually move my arms. When I was able to, it was like my right hand was instantly drawn to my ring. Not even realizing it, I begane to poke and play with it, wondering just how far away Kale was and what exactly he was doing. It was almost like my thoughts could be heard, a few more hours later my phone went off. I jumped not expecting it.

"I'll get it!" Shane spoke, already sticking his hand in my pant pocket. He rested my phone in my hand. "Can you lift your arm? It's Kale."

My eyes shot open. With only a little effort I opened my phone and brought it up to my ear.

"Kale!" I answered breathlessly.

"Jamie?! Your voice! You don't sound in so much pain." He sounded relieved like Shane had sounded earlier.

"I can move my arms too. The wounds are healing."

"You have no idea how happy that makes me." I could hear his stunning smile.

"I'd be happier if you were here." I muttered. He sighed.

"Everything feels empty to me Jamie. I miss you like you wouldn't believe. We won't be apart for too much longer." He promised.

"Are you going to kill them?" I asked quietly.

Maybe just Ulrich..." He murmured. "But we're only trying to scare Emily back. I think it's working." He added quickly.

"Please be careful." I begged.

"I will. Don't worry about me, you need to consentrate on healing."

"I'm trying. It's hard to keep my mind from you though."

"I know what you mean." He agreed. "Try to dream later. I want to show you something."

"Something?"

He laughed. "Something that'll prove how much I miss you, Jamie Vandera."

"You don't need to prove it, Kale."

"I want to. There's a difference and besides, I think you'll like this dream." I could hear his cocky smile now.

I laughed now. "Oh! I'm sure I'll enjoy that."

He chuckled then sighed. "You distract me."

"Me? How?"

"Your voice, your face, your in my head constantly."

"Sorry...?"

"It's not a bad thing, I just wanted you to know."

"Well you can distract me all you want." I teased. He laughed again.

"I love being distracted by you. It makes my day."

"When will you come back?" I sighed.

"Soon--"

"Kale." Jason gasped in the background.

"I see them." Kale hissed. "I have to go. I love you Jamie."

"I love you too, Kale."

He sighed, almost frustrated then he hung up. I set the phone down and pressed my face into my hands. I felt like I was going to be sick. That didn't sound good. I felt Shane's warm hand on the top of my head and ran down the length of my long hair.

"You'll be OK Jamie. You survived when he left for five months and that time he didn't even call." He comforted me light-heartedly.

I dropped my hands, opening my eyes again. Shane looked smiled at me, anxious as always. I nodded with another sigh and looked out in front of me. The sun was starting to rise. The sky was tinted with pinks and golds. There was nothing but flat land on either side of us. Dark-brown, almost red mountains far off in the distance. My mind was only distracted by the amazing scene for a moment.

"I didn't like the way they sounded." I finally murmured, looking at Jake for the first time. He was about to speak when he looked back at me.

"Oh! Your eyes!" He let out, surprised.

"Are they black? I don't feel thirsty--"

Shane's hand took hold of my chin. The heat of his touch almost burned. He turned my face toward him, interrupting me.

"Awwe. You're green eyes are back." He smiled. I frowned.

"What?"

"They were red before." Shane explained.

"Crimson, really. And very bright too." Jacob corrected.

I thought about Kale gasping and wincing when he had met my eyes hours earlier. I didn't think too much about it at the time. I looked at both of them wearily.

"We can't worry about them, Jamie. We need to get you to the Ruins." Shane sighed.

"Kale's the strongest vampire I've ever met. Not even a werewolf could slow him down, especially now that he has someone to come back to." Jacob assured me as Shane nodded.

"Just do yourself a favor and try your best not to think about him. Your face is forever frozen into worry whenever he leaves." Shane ran his finger tips across my forehead. My face relaxed even though I had no idea it was even tense until he just did that.

"I can't help it..." I murmured. They looked at eachother.

"Stubborn as ever." They both teased in unison. I smiled, shutting my eyes and drifting into a dream.

I was by myself at first, wandering around an unfamiliar place. At first I was in my same clothes. Not too much time past and my jeans and shirt suddenly melted being replaced by a sheer green sheet. I'm not even sure if dress or gown was what was suddenly wrapped around me. I gazed down, wondering why my outfit had changed dirastically.

Then the scenery very suddenly melted around me. Now I was standing on the white beach, staring out over the ocean. My whole mind was oblivious as to what was about to happen next but my heart seemed to know exactly what was going on. Even though it hadn't beat in over nine months, this was a dream, anything was possible. My heart burst to life, it drummed hard in my chest

"Dreaming already?" His voice rang out behind me.

I spun around. He was real to me in my dream. That was almost enough for me. My eyes met his. He smiled.

"Me? What about you?" I asked him.

"We managed to push them far enough back. Jason's keeping watch. I just needed some time to myself." He explained.

"I miss you." I didn't move as I spoke but I didn't have to. He was in front of me in a flash, taking my hands in his. "I wish this wasn't a dream. I can't tell how much of it is real, how much of it is yours, how much of it is mine."

"It's hard to tell." He shrugged. He gazed down at me for a long time. "Are your eyes really green again or is that just me?"

"They're green. I didn't even know they were any other color until a little while ago."

"But what about your wounds?" He touched my shoulders that were woundless. His hands ran down my arms as the question lingered for a moment. I shook my head.

"Healing, but still visible."

He sighed then touched under my eyes.

"At least the black circles are gone."

I grabbed his hand. His eyes didn't have to move far to meet mine. His hand moved into my hair, pulling my face to his. Even in my dream I could feel his warm breath against my lips. Then his lips pressed against mine...

I woke with a start. I don't know why, but he had suddenly disappeared, leaving me alone on the beach. I let out a frustrated groan.

"Are you OK?" Both of them asked anxiously.

"He left." I sighed, noticing that Shane was now in the drivers seat.

The sun was just beining to set. I had been dreaming all day but it had only felt like a few minutes.

"He left a long time ago." Shane muttered. I shook my head.

"No, I mean in my—where's my phone?"

Jake handed it to me.

"I just got off the phone with Anya. She called your phone. She was in the middle of a conversation with Jason when she heard Emily's voice in the background." He explained.

"What did she say?" I asked anxious now.

"She wanted to know if they wanted to fight them." He muttered. I had kept my eyes locked on his.

"Jake." Shane frowned.

"We can't keep her in the dark forever." He frowned back at him.

I lifted my phone to my ear, calling Anya back who still drove a few feet behind us. My wounds had gotten smaller and I only felt pain if I thought about it. Both wounds did constantly throb though. I heard a clicking noise, I didn't wait for her voice.

"Anya! Are they really going to fight them?!" I cried out.

"Jamie it's okay. They have both packs and both clans. There's only 12 weres in Emily's pack."

"Numbers don't matter! I've seen how strong they are!" I was frantic.

"They're going to be fine." Her calm voice was starting to calm me now. "I wouldn't have left Jason or our friends if I didn't think they would be alright. I told Jason to have Kale call you when things calm down."

I took a deep breath. "Thanks Anya." I spoke quietly.

"No problem Jamie. Do you mind giving the phone to Jake?"

Without saying anything I handed the phone to him. Shane took my hand and sqeezed it in comfort.

"We're almost there." He looked over at me. If I wanted to, I could hear what Anya was saying. "I know. She's overly worried, but she's always been like that..." He laughed. I glared at him. He smiled at me.

It didn't take long after that to get to our destination. Jake directed Shane to take a turn down a small, nearly invisible dirt road. We drove off the main road and into the desert. The red mountains I had seen in the distance had gotten closer and bigger. They didn't look like red mountains anymore, they were the Ruins I had heard so much about. We pulled into a nearby opening. There was more desert. We didn't head deeper into the dry desert. We winded around the Ruins and pulled into a cave.

"More caves?" I murmured.

"Not really." Jake opened his door as Anya pulled in behind us.

I followed behind him and so did the others. We went to the very end of what I considered to be a cave (even though Jacob didn't.) In the corner was a dark opening filled with stairs which we proceeded to climb. We finally came up to a room the same color as the outside. It smelt dusty. The smell was overwhelmingly strong. I understood why Kale chose the Ruins. The smell was so strong, it had to of been much harder to catch our scent. There was nothing in the room, it was completely empty.

"And now we wait..." Jake murmured. I frowned. Was he serious?

"I know we came all this way but I'm healed now, can't we go back to Kale?"

Anya had a sudden smile on her face. Both Jake and Shane frowned at me.

"He'd kill us!" Shane crossed his arms.

"He'd tear us apart!" Jacob added.

"He said when she healed--" Anya began.

"What was the point of coming here then?!" Jacob growled at her.

"To let her heal without interferance..." Anya continued to grin.

As they discussed about weither or not to leave, we heard a noise from downstairs, but no scent of anything. Without warning, William was suddenly in front of us.

"What are you doing here?!" I asked excited.

He smiled, looking at me carefully before answering.

"I heard what happened. I had to make sure you're OK."

"Where's Anabelle?" Jake asked.

"Waiting just outside the Ruins. Is this where you'll be--"

"We plan on going back. I just needed time to heal." I interrupted him.

"Then what are we waiting for?" Anya asked anxiously. "Let's go!"

"Anya." Shane and Jake groaned in unison.

Before anymore discussion could come out, we all looked at eachother with wide eyes.

"They're almost here." Shane gasped.

"This was obviously useless!" Jacob hissed.

My phone went off. Surprisingly, making us all jump. Before I could speak, Kale was already rambling on.

"Get out of the Ruins. There scenses are alot stronger then I thought."

"But Kale, I'm healed. I can fight--"

"I'm not going to risk that!" He snapped.

"Kale." I complained.

"This is so much worse then I had assumed. I've...I've never really encountered werewolves when they're in their true forms, and using their full strength. I need you to stay away. Please. For me?" He begged.

"I can't promise you that." I muttered. I heard him growl on the other end of the phone.

"Give the phone to Shane." He sounded as if he were thinking through clenched teeth.

I sighed deeply. Shane already had his hand out-reached toward me. I gave him the phone, pressing my ear to the back of the phone. Shane rolled his eyes, flinging me to his other side and pinning my head against his chest. I listened and could still hear him. Kale sighed.

"I need your help Shane. I know you'd prefer not to see Emily, but..."

"I know." Shane said quietly. "I can get there within hours--"

"Just make sure she doesn't follow you. I love her too much to have that happen to her again." Kale interrupted him.

"No problem." Shane's grip on my tightened. I growled at him.

"Tell her I'm sorry, and I love her." Kale spoke quickly.

"Will do." Shane nodded.

The phone went dead. Shane slide it shut. He let me go.

"You heard him, Jamie. Don't follow." He handed me back my phone. "Don't give in this time, Jake. It's her life at stake this time."

"Shane, wait!" I gasped as he moved to leave. I waited a long moment before continuing. "Protect the others, don't let anything happen to Kale. And don't let yourself get hurt either." I gave in reluctantly.

He smiled at me as if relieved that he didn't have to fight with me as much as I really wanted to. I rolled my eyes at him. He spun around, taking off before I could change my mind. I turned to Jake. He looked away frowning.

"Come on. We'll leave the cars here for now." William grabbed my arm. We went back out into the open air. The werewolves scent was getting closer still.

"They're only a few hours away." Anabelle informed us.

"Time to leave then." Jake urged. With that, the five of us took off.

As we ran further into the golden desert it accured to me that if they caught up to us, then so would Kale. My mind was instantly pondering as to how I could delay us just long enough...As I began to have these thoughts, the reality hit me. If I let them come even the slightest bit close to us, my friends would have a greater chance of getting hurt.

My feet tore forward. As soon as I did this all of them matched my pace. It was at that moment, that for the first time, I chose Jacob and William over Kale. The thought made me wince but in a way it was true. I didn't have time to think about it though, I had to keep running. We had to get as far away from the appraoching werewolves as possible...

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The picture in this chapter is Emily