Chapter 17

"I'll stay here the whole time." Emma promises me for the hundredth time while trying to convince me it'll be okay to leave Quentin for a few minutes. She walks around the room rocking a sleeping Otis in her arms, and I sit in the same chair as last night holding Quentin's hand tightly afraid somehow if I let go he will too. "He's strong Tessa." I know he's strong but I'm not. Leaving him to just go make one phone call is proving to be harder than I anticipated.

"I'm ready." I whisper letting Carl know. He switches the breaks on the wheel chair off and pushes me to the door. I keep my eyes locked on Quentin until Carl pushes me into the hallway letting the door close behind us. The only thing giving me hope at the moment is the fact that Quentin looked a tad healthier today when I woke up. Most of the bruising on his face is starting to fade along with the small cuts littering his body.

"Do you know what you're going to say?" Carl tries to keep my mind preoccupied so I don't think about Quentin so much that I forget my real purpose of leaving him at the moment. I need to call the council in order to ask them to reconsider their decision on revoking our recognition.

"Yeah I just need to make sure I keep my cool." I'm angry that they didn't help us in our time of need. Regardless of what they think of Quentin at the moment there are still families that could have used their help and reassurance but they turned their backs to us.

"You're going to do just fine." He wheels me back to our house so I can make the call from Quentin and I's home office where there's more privacy. "I'm going to wait in kitchen and make you something to eat for when you're finished." I sigh as he shuts the door behind him. He wasn't happy this morning when he saw the tray of untouched food in Quentin's room. It's hard to eat when your mate is teetering on the dangerous line between life and death and your pack is looking to you for guidance on how to move forward when all you want to do is curl up in the corner and bawl your eyes out.

I take a minute to breath and sort out what I'm going to say. The pressure that's resting on this phone call is close to crushing, and I don't have a backup plan  if this doesn't end in our favor. Looking around our office I think back to all the great memories Quentin and I made in here. Shaking my head I let out a shaky sigh as I pick up the phone dialing the one number that I'm allowed to call.

"I was waiting for your call." Ivan's familiar athorative tone filters through the line. I clench the phone in my hand holding back the urge to flip out at his cocky attitude.

"I would like to speak to all of the council members at once." I don't leave any room for debate since I don't exactly trust Ivan at the moment. Not all of the council members have the same cold rigid exterior as Ivan, so I'm hoping those with a compassionate bone in their body will be willing to help.

"You're on speaker Tessa." My palms start to sweat with nerves. This is it I need to get my shit together.

"I believe there has been a misunderstanding, and I'm hoping we can get this resolved peacefully." Closing my eyes I concentrate on slowing my pounding heart as I wait for one of them to respond.

"I beg to differ our sources have provided evidence that you mate was directly questioning our authority, and that my dear is a violation of your recognition grace period. Not to mention the treasonous aspects of this situation." Shit this isn't good. Treason isn't something taken lightly and punishments are harsh in order to set an example to others.

"I insist that wasn't Quentin's intentions. Recently I had expressed that I wanted learn more about my mother and he was only trying to help dig up more information about her. Your sources must have taken his motive as something else, but I can assure you he meant no ill will towards the council or it's members." The line is silent for a minute which doesn't help me at all. I desperately try to think of a back up plan just incase they don't side with us.

"Tessa I'm sorry." No no no. The room feels like it's getting smaller. "I'm not sure what Quentin has told you but we have proof of his doings. Until further notice your pack cannot be in contact with any other pack as we conduct our investigation." My anger flares at their complete dismissal.

"We we're attack and regardless of what my mate has or hasn't been up to you have a responsibility to help the families in need of help right now. Innocent people lost their lives in an ambush that you are clearly dismissing as nothing." I snap finally letting all my pent up emotion flow. "If you are suggesting you are going to turn a blind eye to a threat that has killed so many, then I hate to be the on to tell you that people won't forget this when it comes back to bite you in the ass. People look up to you for guidance but when they see the way you are ignoring innocent people's pleas they will remember this as the day you turned your backs to them." I huff trying to catch my breath after my long rant.

"I'm sorry you feel that way but the dicsion has already been made. You will be hearing from us again soon." Ivan hangs up and I throw the phone down on the desk.

"Fuck!" I suck in a sharp breath shoving my face into my hands hoping some how this will stop the tears. With bleared vision a look around the desk for some sort of answer on what to do next. I could call my family but I would be putting them and their packs in extreme danger. I've already dragged them into this mess enough as it is.

The light bounces off something gold partially hidden under a few papers. Grabbing it I realize it's the compass that Jasper gave me what feels like so long ago. The young boy who offered me help when he barely knew me.

"If you ever need help don't hesitate to find me." When we made that promise I never thought I would be the one to reach out to him. I don't know how a teenage rogue will be able to help but my gut instinct is leading me in that direction. I need to find Jasper.

Looking down at my leg I tap the cast against the side of the desk deciding how to get this off and to the border without anyone seeing me. I open all the drawers until I find a pocket knife at the bottom of one. Flicking it open I start to saw at the cast desperately needing it to come off. Parker said that they would take it off today but I don't have time to go to the hospital. I'm a little past halfway down the cast when Carl swings the door open, shooting straight up I put on my best poker face so he doesn't see what I'm up to.

"How'd it go?" He asks with a hopeful smile setting a plate of food down on the desk, slipping the knife under my leg I try my best to hide the half cut open cast from him. There is no way he'll agree to my plan so keeping him in the dark is the only option.

"Not good but I have a plan." It's not a lie I do have a plan just not the one I'm going to tell him. "Could you go check on Quentin while I call Della and Aidan. I'm just worried." He nods smiling down at me as guilts fill my stomach.

"Of course, link me if you need me. I'll even ask Parker to check him over so I can give you an update." I bite my lip looking down. He probably thinks it hurts to think about Quentin in the hospital, which it is, but it hurts more to know I won't hear the update until I get back.

"Thank you." I whisper as he leaves the room. Waiting until I hear the front door shut I quickly get back to work sawing at this stupid cast. I almost cheer out loud when I get all of it off. Standing up slowly I take a few delicate steps making sure I'll be able to run on it. Thankfully it doesn't hurt when I put pressure on it, so I race down the hallway into our bedroom to grab a backpack and some clothes to change into just in case.

Lastly I grab some waters out of the fridge and a map out of the office before slipping Jasper's locket around my neck so I don't lose it. No one has been out and about since the attack which makes me feel guilty since I can't give them any answers right now, but hopefully I'll be able to once I get back.

I open the back door making sure no one is lingering before racing towards the tree line. If any of the warriors see me they will link Oliver and my plan will crumble. Keeping a steady pace I race through the woods doing my best to not over work my fragile leg. Just because it healed doesn't mean it's back to what it used to be. The sun beats down on me as I near the border, picking up speed I here shouting coming from behind me.

"Tessa!" Julia is following me along with two other warriors but they are still quite a distance away. Sweat drips down my face as I leap over a fallen tree landing on the other side of the border. Trying to catch my breath I spin around holding a hand out to stop Julia. She motions for the warrior who are now in their wolf form to halt.

"I promise to be back soon. Tell Oliver and Carl that I needed to do this, and if Quentin wakes up tell him I'm sorry." I don't wait another second worried that they'll see the tears pooling in my eyes. The thought of Quentin waking up without me by his side breaks my heart in two, but I can't sit around and watch our pack fall apart knowing I could have done something.

* * *

The sun set hours ago, my legs feel like rubber, and I have no clue where I am. I ran all the way to and around Dark Mountains to where I ran on my birthday but my memory wasn't vivid enough to be able to pinpoint which turns I took that led me to Jasper.

Sitting down I pull out one of the water bottles downing the whole thing in seconds. My stomach rumbles with hunger but I ignore it taking out the map again to figure out my location. I don't know why I thought a map would help when I didn't have one the first time since I simply just followed my instincts that day.

I sigh deciding I should get a few hours of sleep so I don't pass out. Sleeping in my human form is out of the question, it's way too dangerous and leaves me vulnerable. Any number of characters could pass by with numerous types of motives. My only problem is that I still have this stupid cast on my arm. The doctor never mentioned he was going to take this one off today since it was pretty mangled but it can't be that bad. I didn't bring that knife with me like an idiot so my only option to get it off is to shift and hope it comes of without issue.

I take off my clothes not wanting to shred them like last time and throw them into my bag. I shift without hesitation wanting to just rip the band aid off figuratively and literally, yelping as I land on all four paws I roll onto my side before examining my front right leg. The stitches are shredded and the wounds gush blood, but what's worse is I can tell already the bone isn't fully healed either by the throbbing. Tentatively I walk around in circles limping the entire time but with no other choice I'm going to have to just power through it until I get home.

The wind howls through the trees as rain seeps into my fur chilling me to my core. I lay here trying to fall asleep but all I can think about is the nightmares that plagued my mind these past few weeks and how they would linger on my mind all day. I thought somehow they were insights into the future or past, but now I'm pretty sure they were only to prepare me for the true nightmare of my reality. Never could I have predicted that our perfect little bubble would disintegrate right in front of us in a matter of hours. Pushing it all to the back of my mind squeezing my eyes shut I force myself to fall into the darkness.

* * *

The next day dragged on as I search desperately for any indication that I'm near where I found Jasper. Defeat starts to set in as the moon rises high in the sky creating a haunting glow throughout the forest. My leg is numb at this point and the skin is raw with dry and fresh blood coating the fur because the wounds open back up every time I run.

Trotting over to a stream I dip my leg into it hissing as the cool water touches my wounds. I look up and realize I've see this scenery before, so I cross the river dropping my bag and shift slipping a shirt over my head. Carefully slipping the backpack on my back to avoid my injured arm I stumble through the bushes hoping to find the clearing where Jasper found me.

A half an hour later I find it but unfortunately it's empty with no sign of anymore being here recently. Groaning I walk over to the familiar rock and hoist myself up laying back counting the stars and hoping Jasper is still out there somewhere. I can't even fathom going home with nothing to show for it, and worse only to admit I don't have a back up plan.

I can start to feel the effects of the blood loss as the stickiness of it soaks through my shirt and onto the rock next to me. Even if I can't find Jasper soon I'm going to need to find help which is going to be insanely tricky and dangerous considering my status at the moment. There is no way I'll be able to make it home without some kind of medical attention, my arm is to banged up and it'll be a miracle if it doesn't scar.

"Who are you?!" A deep anger voice shouts freezing me to my spot. I sit up slowly holding my one good hand up while keeping the other bloody arm close to my chest. The world around me spins for a moment but I can still make out the two young men standing a few feet away from me. One is tall with light hair and dark eyes watching my every movement waiting for me to make a mistake so he can pounce and eliminate the treat. I have no doubt he's a warrior, but I don't know any packs that would have their warriors out this far. The other guy is shorter with dark hair maybe a bit younger by his baby face and the innocence I can still spot in his eyes. If he's also a warrior he's very new, but either way it doesn't matter they are not my concern.

I could ask them about Jasper, but that could backfire in many ways. First they could know nothing about Jasper and kill me before looking for Jasper themselves and killing him. Second they could be an enemy of Jasper's and use me to get to Jasper, although I don't see such an innocent soul like Jasper making enemies. The pain in my arm is starting to really have an affect on me and I'm running out of time.

"Do you know Jasper?" They both blink not showing any emotions or indication they know who I'm talking about. "He's young about this tall." I use my hand to show them. "And has black hair with hazel eyes." He's quick at masking it but I see the recognition pass through the shorter ones eyes.

"Who are you?" The taller one steps forward repeating the question with a bit more authority in his tone. I unclasp the compass from around my neck cringing at the blood smeared all over it. Throwing it to the tall one closest to me I shift on the rock hoping it will help with the pain.

"Tell him it's Tessa." I wheeze coughing at the pressure in the back of my throat. Having run out of water hours ago I know I'm definitely dehydrated. My eyelids feel heavy but I'm not stopping until I have found him. The tall one hands the compass to the short one as his eyes glaze over, and the short one takes off into the brush.

"What happened to your arm?" He remains stiff but I can see a hint of concern behind his tough guy exterior. If I were him I would be started by my state as well since I probably look like a victim of a brutal attack when in reality all I did was reopen my stitches.

"Opened old wounds." I move my arm to show him the few long slices around my arm. He turns pale clenching his jaw, and I have to bite my lip to not chuckle at his reaction to the blood. I hope he doesn't have any dreams of becoming a doctor.

"Tessa!" I let out the biggest sigh of relief as Jasper runs into the clearing clutching his compass. With wide eyes he takes a step towards me with outstretched arms. "Oh my god Tessa, what happened?!" I move to jump off the rock so I can pull him into a hug but my vision in consumed by darkness before my feet even hit the ground.

***************

Song: Far From Home (The Raven) by Sam Tinnesz

Thank you all for 500 reads! It's amazing to see such a positive response to my work, and if you've followed me for a while you know how shocked I get at each milestone. It feels like just yesterday I was celebrating Rogue To Luna hitting 500 reads. These books wouldn't be where they are today if it wasn't for all of you guys so thank you from the bottom of my heart! In honor of the achievement I want to reflect and look back at our favorite moments through both books so far. Some of mine were  the final battle, all the breakfast scenes, and the epilogue in the last book. Along with Tessa meeting Quentin for the first time, her introduction to the pack, and the second chapter in this book. I could never choose a favorite character but Emeric will always hold a special place in my heart. I would love to hear all of your favorite moments and characters in the comments! I hope you all enjoyed this chapter and if you did don't forget to vote and comment! Stay safe and stay home, until next time.

~Stella Gordon