Chapter 13: And so it begins...

Chapter 13

~Adrian’s POV~

A mating ceremony. That’s what we were all gathered in the woods for. It was a full moon, the wolves were looking a bit too excited and the night air offered nothing in the way of comfort. It had been a crazy few days and if I said I wouldn’t mind things slowing down just a bit, I would be telling the truth.

I was beginning to wonder if it was that this particular wolf pack had some serious issues with bad luck or if it was our presence that had triggered all the events of the past week.

As I reflected on the past seven days I really had to wonder. Fights had broken out among a few wolves within the pack, Carson hated me, Marcus hated me, Grady couldn’t even look at me and his mate wasn’t particularly helpful in that arena either. Scottie had broken his arm, Lucas couldn’t seem to leave my side and the fencing around the outer fringes of the territory had been torn down.

To make matters worse I found myself enjoying the freedom from my ‘work’, Lucas didn’t look like he wanted to leave anytime soon and  it was clear as day that Carson couldn’t wait for me to leave. Over all I couldn’t tell if I was enjoying my time in the camp or if I was hating every minute of it. It was all just a so much to take in and my mind was still reeling from the crazy turn of events.

Then after all that drama, Grady had gotten Laken grounded again, thereby pissing Carson off. Marcus had flown back to London leaving us all behind, one of the werewolves in Carson’s pack had claimed Scottie as a mate and the council of elders had it out for me. Maybe everything would make more sense if I started from the morning after I’d had my little talk with Rivers…

……………………………………….

He was watching me.

I could feel his eyes on me and it was a bit disconcerting to say the least.  I’d heard him enter the room fifteen minutes earlier and I couldn’t really say why it was that I hadn’t opened my eyes. Maybe I was feeling guilty about the way I had behaved. Maybe I just didn’t want to deal with his anger right then or maybe I was afraid of what I’d have to deal with when I did. Yeah me, the big bad shape shifter scared to death that his boyfriend would be mad at me. Manly huh?

“I know you’re awake Adrian.”

No point in pretending anymore then. I groaned, shifting slightly on the bed and cracking open my eyes so I could see his face. He was sitting on the uncomfortable wooden chair  and when I opened my eyes, his elbows came to rest on the sheets beside me. He propped up his head in his palms and stared, his expression was one of concern rather than anger which surprised me.

“How are you feeling?” he questioned in a low voice, his eyes coming to rest on my wrapped chest and his brows furrowed.

“After getting my ass kicked by a werewolf? Let’s just say my pride has seen better days.” I said trying to dispel his seriousness with a joke. He didn’t even crack a smile.

“You could have been killed.” He said instead and I snorted.

“Give me a break, I could have taken him, you’re the one who jumped in.” I said and it surprised me somewhat that I was so calm after his admission.

A year ago I would have been plotting my revenge on a wolf who dared to lay his hands on me and now I was actually planning to apologize to the beast. It was insane.

“It’s not something to joke about Adrian, Carson will kill for him and he’d have no regrets later. You don’t come into a wolf’s territory and attack his mate.” he was saying, looking all kinds of serious but he voice never rose.

I shook my head, “Your friend beat you to that lecture last night so you can save it.” I said getting annoyed now. I was usually not the one on the receiving end of someone’s scolding and I certainly didn’t like it.

His mouth didn’t tighten, his eyes didn’t narrow and his expression didn’t change. I had just shot him down and he was still looking at me as if at any minute I’d roll over and die. It was disconcerting to say the least. Where was my cynical and angry lover who blew up at the slightest sign of opposition?

My eyes narrowed, with him acting this way I wasn’t sure how to respond. I had expected anger, resentment, not concern. A moment of silence passed between us where neither of us uttered a word and I watched warily as he reached over to lift the blanket from my battered flesh, pulling it down to my waist. Then he trailed his fingers lightly over the visible bruises, his eyes focused on his fingers as they moved.

“He could have killed you…” he whispered brokenly but his eyes stayed fixed on my flesh.

I sighed. “Yeah so I gathered.” I said, then; “Why aren’t you mad? This isn’t like you.”

My guard was up, I was still waiting tensely for the ball to drop, for the Lucas I knew to rear his head, but  he just sat there, fingers still trailing and just when I thought he wouldn’t respond, his eyes met mine, flashing.

“I should be, considering how fucking stupid that move was.” He gritted and I grinned. There was the Lucas I knew.

“What? You think this is funny? I don’t think you understand what really happened yesterday Adrian!” his once somber mood had changed so fast my head was spinning. My smile disintegrated.

“Jesus Lucas, get over it will you? A couple bruised ribs and a busted lip is nothing. My whole life is made up of hit and misses, I flirt with death every day I get out of bed, and a bunch of angry werewolves is the last thing you need to worry about.” I told him seriously then watched his jaw tighten and his eyes flash.

“Get over it?” he replied, and then he was out of the chair in a flash, his eyes flashing, “You fucking bastard you don’t even care do you? We were surrounded by them,, they could have taken us down without a second thought and you don’t even care!’ he shouted and I watched in surprise as he grabbed the only vase off a nearby table and threw it in my direction.

I instinctively covered my head with my hands and unconsciously flinched when it shattered against the wall directly above my head, causing the broken glass to scatter around me and the water to soak the sheets.

“What the fuck is your problem?” I roared, ripping the blanket from my body and shuffling on the bed to get up. “Okay so you’re pissed about Laken, it was a little push, the kid’s fine for god sake!” I shouted and if it was possible his eyes blazed even more.

“This is about you almost getting yourself killed because you’re too bloody stupid to think!’ he shouted and I felt the heat course through me at his words, I was off the bed in a second, aches and pains forgotten as I advanced on him.

“What did you just say to me?” I said, the anger building inside me. Nobody spoke to me that way. Not even him.

“You think because you’re some big bad shifter that nothing can get to you? That there’s no one better and no one can hurt you?”  he shouted “Get your fucking head out of your ass, you’re not indestructible, one day someone’s gonna get the best of you and I won’t be around to watch I happen!” he continued, he looked ready to kill but his words had struck a chord and I found myself launching across the room.

I grabbed the front of his shirt fully prepared to let my anger do the talking but he reached up and ripped my hand from the material, shoving me so hard I slammed into the wall opposite us. The pain was immediate as it expanded in my chest and along my spine. I gasped for air, clutching at my chest it sparked through my body, but before I could catch my breath he was upon me again.

“What? You think you’re so tough? You think I’m afraid of you asshole? I’ll fucking kill you myself!” he screamed into my face and in an instant he had he hand in my hair, yanking my head up  and slamming it into the wall, when he let me go I stumbled forward and he shoved me away from him.

“Lucas!” I gasped, putting my hand up to ward him off but he hit it away and shoved me again until I was right up against the wall. His expression was murderous and the pain was so intense I saw stars.

“Wait!” I managed to gasp out again and he yanked my head up again, but rather than a fist, his head descended and my mouth was trapped in a bruising kiss. I could feel his anger as his lips punished mine and I pushed weakly against him, the pain and the lack of air just too much for me to put up much of a fight, but just as he started he stopped, pulling his lips from mine and I breathed again as he dropped his head onto my shoulder. All was silent after that save our combined breaths. Then he spoke.

“You don’t know how it feels.” He began and even over our pants I could detect the tears in his voice. “I can’t lose someone I love again. I won’t.” he said and the only thing I could do was to nod.

My chest was screaming from the excruciating pain and the only thought that entered my mind before my knees buckled and everything went black, was that the doctor must have fucked up because bruised ribs didn’t hurt like this.

……………………………………..

When I woke next it was to Scottie’s smiling face and not one bit of pain.

“Lucas called the doc, turns out you had a few cracked ribs as well, can’t believe he’s really a professional.” He told me with a disappointed shake of his head and I nodded, the events of what had happened earlier assaulting my mind.

“He gave you something for the pain, I didn’t expect you to wake up so soon.” He told me and when I felt the pressure on my hand I looked down to see that he held it.

“Where’s Lucas?” I whispered in question and the corner of his eyes tightened.

“He left as soon as the doc came, I wouldn’t be surprised if the entire camp heard you two up here. What is it with you guys?” he asked with genuine curiosity but I shook my head in answer.

“Where’s Marc, did you two get everything sorted?” I questioned instead. I was just about ready to get out of this place; suddenly I didn’t feel very welcome.

“Actually, Thomas is working it out so we don’t have to leave right away.” He spoke, “well unless you want to.” And I could see from his expression that he wanted very much to remain here.

“We need to-“ I started but the knock at the door drowned out my words and a second later it opened and I had to say I was more than a bit surprised by who walked in a second later…

AUTHOR'S NOTES

IT HAD TO BE SHORT GUYS...CAN'T UPLOAD TOO MUCH AT A TIME CAUSE IF EXMAS LIKE I MENTIONED BUT NOW THE EVENTS LEADING UP THE THE MATING CEREMONY ARE UNDERWAY...IT'LL SPAN A FEW CHAPTERS BUT IT SHOULD BE INTERESTING. THANKS FOR THE SUPPORT! I LOVE YALL! <3

-DoUbLe.A

-unedited.