Chapter Sixty-One - Jessica

The pain in my face had begun to clear, but not before Jamie strapped me down to a silver-lined table.

I’d never been told by the pack our weaknesses, but I knew when I touched the silver that it was on the list. Plus, I'd read too many werewolf novels not to realize the pain in my back was from silver on the table.

The cabin she took me to was in the middle of nowhere, tucked away in the back corner of the field. I blinked back the tears lining my eyes, listening as she

rummaged around the room.

My wolf sensed the pack was near, but it didn’t stop the fear in my body. I had no idea what she would do to me. What if I fought her? Would she beat me? Kill me and collect my blood that way? Did I need to be alive for her to get what she wanted from me? “What do you want from me?” I asked into the noise of her moving around.

“It’s a funny thing how bloodlines work, ya know? I grew up in Slade Springs. I lived not too far from your mother. Did I ever tell you that?"

“You knew my mother?” I asked.

“Mm-hm. She was a nice woman. She was always kind to me in school, your dad too. Ah-ha,” she said standing up with a giant needle in her hand. “You see, I was obsessed with your dad growing up. No one knew it of course, because he was in love with your mother, but I watched them closely. So closely that I unfolded the entire pack.”

She moved over toward me, staring down at my face with kindness in her eyes. “I grew obsessed, found out more than I ever thought I could when I went away to college. Supposedly there were royal bloodlines.” She chuckled. “It skipped your mother, and Jacob. Then you showed up and I knew. I could sense something in you, Jessica.”

I blinked, trying to retain all of this information. “I don’t understand. You’ve always been a lycan?”

Jamie shook her head. “No, I was human just like you thought you were. During college, I dug deep, deeper than I should and stumbled open a pack of rogue lycans in the area. I was attacked, left for dead, but I survived, barely. I graduated, got a job here, and then you came.”

I shook my head back and forth. “What do you want from me? Just let me go. The pack will come for me. You don't have any way to fight against five of them."

“I know they will,” she said, lifting the needle. “As they should, you’re Mason’s mate and Jacob’s cousin. They won’t leave you. Pack members never leave one of their own behind."

I watched Jamie’s gaze shift from normal to red as if she struggled to keep herself together. “Now, I need you to hold still. It won’t hurt as much if you’re still.”

She pressed the needle deep into my thigh swiftly, catching me off guard, and I screamed at the top of my lungs.

Stars danced along my vision from the pain as she drained my blood and silver sizzled warmly against my skin. Swiping her palm over my head, she smiled down at me in a motherly way that felt so, so wrong. There was a crazed woman inside of her. It was evident on her face.

Then the door burst open. Mason’s wolf leaped from the front steps, breaking he door and causing the wall to tumble apart. His golden eyes swirled, and our wolves connected mentally. She howled in relief of him showing up. Her submission worked through me.

He was afraid. Hurt. Scared that Jamie had hurt me beyond recognition. I could feel it tightly between us like a stretched rubber band.

She jerked the needle from my leg, making me scream and my back arch. The stars in my eyes danced as strong arms grabbed me. Dad’s face was contorted into absolute fear as I heard fighting behind me.

Dad carried me out of the cabin, sunlight brightened my skin and I felt my entire body relax into his arms. The sounds of fighting drew on behind me, loud roars and bits of pain but I let it go. It was the only thing I could do.

I briefly wondered what happened to my blood, but then again, I wasn’t sure it mattered it they killed Jamie.

Dad placed me on the ground, leaves and debris as my mattress. “I’m going to help. I’ll be right back.”

I reached for him but he ran toward the field and shifted into midair. I turned, trying to get up, but Joey walked over beside me. “You’re ok,” she said softly.

I blinked up at her. “You were a lycan this entire time?”

Joey frowned. “Yeah, I’m sorry. It wasn’t my idea.”

I chuckled. “I won’t hold it against you if you help me up.”

Joey fumbled to help me to a sitting position. The cabin looked overrun with wolves. Aaron stood on the roof, looking out for any lycans that we missed.

The other slowly broke the house piece by piece, while they fought Jamie. “What was her plan?” I asked.

Joey sighed heavily. “She didn’t think there was a way to cure the lycans she created, or she didn’t think you all knew about it. Now her army is gone and… she’s not getting your blood like she wanted.”

The cries settled and silence enveloped the field. It felt too good to be true. She was gone. No more new lycans. No more plans to get my blood. I rested my head against Joey’s thigh as she sat back on her heels.

“How many lycans are there?” I asked.

“More than the festival. She’s been turning them every night.”

I closed my eyes, feeling the relief of Mason’s wolf nearing. Seconds later, he bent down and scooped me into his arms.

His naked body was covered in blood. I tried to reach for him but he only kissed my fingers. “Don’t worry about that. You’re safe. We’re safe.”

A silent tear cascaded down my face. “Joey said there are more lycans…”

“We’re going to hunt them out tonight or attempt to kill any we encounter along the way,” Jacob said. “We need to make sure you’re ok.”

“I’m fine,” I said, honestly. “Tired but fine.”

Mason scooped me into his arms and stood up. Jacob said something to Joey but I let myself rest against Mason’s arms.

He carried me until we were in a full-blown run through the woods. I felt like Bella in Jacob’s arm, and laughed at myself.

There was nothing funny about the situation, but a thankful feeling covered me. Despite the worries of being of royal bloodline, and random lycans roaming the woods, at least no one wanted to kill me any longer.

When we made it to the house, Mason took me directly upstairs to the bed. I grimaced when he sat me on the bed amongst the clean sheets. My body felt relieved at the rest.

It was my wolf's first battle.

She did good. I was proud of her.

“I’m tired. Why am I so tired?”

Mason stroked his fingertips against my face. “The silver lining the bed will weaken a wolf. You just need a little time to recover. It won't take you as long as a normal wolf."

I blinked. “Jamie knew so much about us. She wanted to make lycan hybrids with my blood. She was turned and left for dead.”

Mason nodded. “Well, she’s dead now.”

Part of me felt sad for the person I knew. It was a façade, but I liked Jamie and her ability to write a good story.

It was the lycan dominating her that was evil.

“We couldn’t have saved her?” I asked.

Mason shook his head. “She didn’t want to talk, unfortunately. You don’t need to worry about it right now. You need to sleep, Jess."

I blinked, feeling suddenly so tired I couldn't keep my eyes open. “Will you stay with me?”

Mason touched my cheek. “I’m not going anywhere.”