Her Forever

Landon

I g*****d, being left in the dust by the king himself. He was absolutely terrifying and as much as I wanted to admit about him being wrong; he wasn’t. The head Alpha King Seth may be a beast, barely uttering a few sentences here or there from time to time only for the sake of protecting our species, but when speaking, wolves listen.

Maybe my balls have grown too small. All the years staying away from Stacy were catching up with me. When we were younger, I made fun of her in front of all of her friends from her confession, thinking it was a dare. Once her eyes softened instead of being the bright light, she always had. I knew I screwed up.

Stacy has always been attractive. Middle school awkwardness worked for her. She bounced around like a ball of sunshine, always with her blonde pixie fluttering from table to table. She made sure she was involved in every sport, club and if her hand wasn’t in something she was doing to contribute, she was there to cheer everyone else on. Stacy was different. Everybody knew it.

Stacy didn’t take my jokes well and the happy-go-lucky Stacy retreated. Once I had yelled at her, told her I would rather date a rock, crushed her spirit. She tried not to show it; she tried to brush it off like no big deal but the damage was done. Other guys picked up on what I did, thinking it was part of the bad boy vibe I radiated off of me. I wasn’t bad by any sorts; I was a loyal wolf and to my pack. I just didn’t have time for people playing with me, like I thought Stacy was doing. Why have a crush on the supposed bad guy of the town? She was the bubbly popular one.

Stacy’s involvement in activities faltered. The humans tried to stay away from her. Calling her names that didn’t want to remember. I branded her into something else, something lower. The guilt never went away all those years. She made one close friend, Elijah. He was the new kid that wasn’t aware of all of Stacy’s nicknames. He would always smile at her, be nice to her because the best of friends.

I should have been happy, but I wasn’t. I should have righted my wrongs, but I didn’t. I let everyone think I hated Stacy, and she thought the same.

On my eighteenth birthday, I went to patrol the town. Making sure bears were behaving, several of them liked to cause trouble because Alpha Scott never kept tabs on them. It was up to the werewolves to keep up the secrecy.

Stacy was walking to school one morning, her hair tied up in a ponytail. The sway of her h**s, carrying her books to her chest, had my heart stop in my chest. It wasn’t until then I realized the intoxicating smell of sugar cookies. My wolf howled ‘mine.’ Feet didn’t move, my eyes never left her fleeting back. My wolf begged and whined for me to follow her, but I couldn’t. I can’t. All because Stacy hated me. I had ruined her life.

Three years I went on fighting my wolf. Several times my wolf almost won out, but the torturous training I used on my human body held him back. Seeing her with Elijah as more than a friend on the little club outing was enough to get him riled up. He clawed, scratched the inner corners of my mind, watching Elijah pretending to enjoy what he was doing.

I knew, though.

I knew he didn’t care about her like I did. That made it worse. Elijah was using her, using her to get to Trinity. His eyes would follow her every move. Stacy being too elated to be getting some sort of attention from someone ignored that fact. In her own heart, I think she knew it, too. Her fake friends didn’t help her see his intentions. Trinity, the only one there with a heart, shot judgmental glances at Elijah when he wasn’t looking.

Running both hands through my hair, I stepped up to the medical ward door. I haven’t spoken to Stacy much at all since the cellar incident. I told her she was mine, and that was it. I haven’t had time to indulge in her like I would have wanted to. Maybe she thought I was ignoring her again. It’s just there was a potential war that would happen right in my backyard and if we didn’t win, I couldn’t have her at all.

The door swung open, and her beautiful blue eyes met me. “Landon?” she stuttered, running her fingers through her hair. “W-what are you doing here?” She backed up, getting ready to close the door.

“Let’s talk, just for a minute,” I almost pleaded. Stacy opened the door wider. I couldn’t tell if she was reluctant because of my sudden outburst holding her in front of an entire War Room Meeting or if she was blushing. She shut the door, leaving us in a cold room with tons of medical equipment. Tubes, refrigerators, gauze pads and the worst of all, needles laid out ready to administer b***d if we needed to our own b***d became contaminated.

“Listen,” I kept staring at the needles on the tray next to her. My mouth became extremely dry, but wet at the same time. My hands became sweaty. Rubbing my forehead, I tried to look at Stacy, but those damn needles were pointing at me.

“I… wanted to…” breathing heavily, I leaned on the table.

“Gosh, Landon, you are sheet white! Are you okay?!” Stacy’s hands went to steady me. Her warm hands had sparks fly across my skin. My wolf howled and my damn eyes looked back at the needles. The stimulation of passing out and my wolf screeching in my head had Stacy guiding me to a gurney.

“Here, lay down,” my eyes saw spots until I finally laid down. A cold towel rubbed across my forehead and neck.

“Sweet Mary,” Stacy whispered, my white t-shirt becoming drenched with sweat, becoming see through. Clearing her throat, she announced, “I’m going to go get you some apple juice and get some sugar in you, you will feel better.” My hand reached out before she could leave, pulling her back.

“No, listen. I’m sorry damnit.” Stacy’s eyebrows raised. “I said horrible things to you when we were younger and I ruined your life.” She came closer to the bed, looking over at me. Like the mighty Hera judging her own mate. “I thought it was a joke. I never thought someone as bright as you would care for someone like me. Everyone thought I was a d**k. I wasn’t normal like them. I didn’t play or joke around. No girl should have liked me. I did my work and went on with my life. I couldn’t understand why someone as nice and bubbly as you would care for a prick like me.” I tightened my grip on her hand, her head bowed to look at my fingers intertwining with hers.

“It was because you felt the bond before I did,” I muttered.

“Pretty sure it was because I thought you were cute,” she twisted her lips, blushing.

“No, you took the first step because I felt it, too. I liked you too Stacy, but I didn’t think you would like someone like me. You are a ray of sunshine. I was a grumpy teenager, and I pushed you away. Plus, I got mom and dad issues you wouldn’t believe,” I chuckled. “The point is, you are my mate, Stacy, and I’m going to fight for you.” Her eyes softened; a whimper came from her chest. “If you will let me, if you will have me, I’ll improve your life. I swear to the gods I will. I’ll even take you on as many dates as you want. Make sure you have as many friends as you want. Just give me a chance. My greatest fear for the past three years was for you to hate me when I told you.”

Stacy stood by the table, my fingers interlaced with her, my face color was coming back and a surge of energy came through me. Sitting up, I wrapped my arms around her. “I messed up.” My nose hit her shoulder, her body shuttered beneath me. I’ll use every part of the bond I could. The Alpha was right. I can’t let her go.

Stacy pulled back, her eyes glassy. “Okay,” she sniffed. “But I’m always right from now on in any argument,” she choked back a laugh. Smiling at her, I pulled her in my arms again, sobbing against me. My hand cradled the back of her head, rocking her slowly.

“I’m sorry about your family Stacy, I really am.” She burst into tears, gripping my damp shirt. “It will all be fine in the end. I’ll take care of you, love you and worship the ground you walk on until you forgive me.”

The door burst open, two wolves carrying a seriously injured wolf in putting him on the table. “We need b***d,” one shot out.

“I have to go,” not waiting to ask, I kissed Stacy’s lips. It was too short, too sweet as I let her go. Her eyes dried, wiping them away with her hand. “I’ll be back, when this is over,…” Stacy pushed her hand to my chest.

“Just go, I’ll be here. Kick some a*s,” she sniffed. Leaving her here was the safest place in the entire area. I just pray to the gods we can hold them back until Trinity and her mates return.

Trinity

“Can I get up yet?” I g*****d. My body was under the blanket in an old pickup truck. It was ancient and if a stiff wind knocked a branch into the side, it would have a dent in it. Rust and corrosion took the underside of the metal beast, but it was moving and moving faster than I thought it would.

“No, you can stay there awhile,” I heard the chuckle under Thaddeus’ breath. My head was laying in his lap, my feet by Theon. The thick wool blanket was unbearably hot, not to mention laying on Thaddeus’ crotch didn’t help. I was sure he would have a severe case of sweaty balls by the end.

Throwing the blanket off of me, I sat up, glaring at my handsome mate. “I said you could stay down there awhile, maybe find something to do?” His smile curled back so far I could almost see his white fangs.

“You are such a dork,” I playfully punched him. My left hand took Theon’s, which was sitting on the wheel. He quickly adjusted, so he drove with the other. His wolf purred and Eva purred back. It was a strange feeling. The vibrations in my chest ran through my body. Theon gripped my hand tighter.

“You are progressing well with Eva. Maybe soon?” I hummed, not wanting to talk about it. As exciting as it was to shift like my mates, I was more worried about the danger I was putting the pack in. It’s selfish of me to not go to the Kitsune to save them all, but really, would he let them all go? My mates would fight tooth until they had me back and Seth did not look like a person to give up on family. Even if he was a big pin cushion.

In the end, if I had to choose, what would I do? What would I do when a wolf lost their life because of me? Someone’s b***d on my hands would wreck me. It could be someone’s mother, father, sister, brother, friend and how many will we lose? I shook my head, taking my thoughts away from the inevitable. There was nothing I could do. We would have to take it play-by-play.

“What coven are we going to?” I tried to distract myself. Theon, gently banging his head on the headrest, continued to drive.

“Black Raven, they hopefully know we are coming. Bodhi is supposed to send a message as soon as she woke up.” I hummed, watching the signs go by.

“So what’s the plan, then?” Thaddeus’ eyes were looking out the window, not acknowledging the question. His eyes were skimming quickly in all directions.

“Get there, grab some bags, and go. It should be a quick transfer, no formalities. Dad gave the order and the Interim King and Queen of Vampria are quite close to mom. They pretty much do whatever the Moon Kingdom tells them to do since the war. I just hope the coven listens,” Theon’s voice worried.

“Why wouldn’t they?”

Thaddeus interrupted, “Earth is a different world, literally. Just because what mom says doesn’t always fly around here. You saw those bears. The Alpha Bear led his entire pack into danger. An Alpha in Bergarian would have been beheaded on the spot. Earth is more liberal with their rules because they are so far away from the center of the kingdom.”

“Great,” I gritted my teeth. “I don’t think I’ve met a vampire before. Please tell me, do they sparkle in the sun?” I snorted, throwing my head back to laugh.

“Please no,” Thaddeus whined. “Don’t ask me that.” Theon laughed along with me, my head resting on his shoulder.

“Oh, I’m kidding Bambi.” My hand went to his, rubbing my thumb across his knuckles. I put my feet up into his lap. He automatically took my shoes off and rubbed them.

“Oh, good gracious right there,” I m****d as his hands gripped my feet. The shoes I wore made them feel heavy. The powerful urge to go barefoot all the time was strong. Keeping them off would be for the best anyway, so I could kick some a*s if I needed to.

“Hey Theon, found a new spot!” Thaddeus burst into laughter.

“But tell me what they are like? Are they really so evil as people say? Do they drink human b***d?”

Thaddeus leaned over where my head was resting on Theon, pecking my cheek. “Just like a human can be evil or good, so can a vampire, werewolf, bear, dragon, fae or fairy. There are the stereotypes but that doesn’t mean they are all true. In fact, we are good friends with the temporary king, Bastian and his mate Olivia. Mom saved Bastian, and he liked her so much asked for her to make him her second mate.”

My head shot up, “no way! Your dad…”

“Punched him in the face,” Theon laughed. “Bastian got what he deserved. You don’t go ask the future queen of a nation to take you as a second mate. Anyway, mom felt sorry for him so she pulled all the money she had saved up over the years, gave him her Jeep and he drove across the country so he could find his mate on Earth.”

“Aw, that’s romantic,” I cooed. “Sounds like he found her.”

“He did, and he does everything mom says to do. Bergarian has accepted this until the actual king can come to power, but Earth has not. They don’t like that they take orders from the Moon Kingdom. We will have to see what happens when we get there.”

Thaddeus’ hair stood up on his neck.

“We are here?” he questioned. Not long after, we pulled up to the small town we were supposed to be arriving at, only that we arrived three hours early.

“How did we get here so fast?” Theon said. “I was only going twenty over?”

“You little speeder.” I hugged his arm. “Breaking the law like a bad boy.”

“Do you like a bad boy, because I can give—”

“Shh, guys,” Thaddeus interrupted us. Thaddeus’ eyes shifted to the woods. It was just beyond the sign of ‘Benton.’ “That’s the road we need to head down if we are really here. We all turned in our seats.

“Well, should we go?” The dirt road was wide enough for just the truck, only one way in and a crazy drive backwards to get out.

“Got no choice.” Theon put the truck into gear, veering off the road. The truck slammed in a few potholes, shaking the entire truck. My grip held tight to Thaddeus since Theon needed two hands to handle the corroded tanker. We continued to drive deeper and deeper into the forest, finding it getting darker and darker.

How far did this rabbit hole go?