Try Me

Chapter 14

I was being followed. I knew those Vir wolves that had gotten caught with the root had stuck around the city, having seen them here and there but they never approached. I heard their punishment was that they were banned from all Temples, which in our world that could mean life or death since Temples were the only places we could get proper medical attention for our kind. They didn't start following me until I left the post office, a couple of letters for the Solaris family in hand.

They were in a black Hummer and once we left the city, headed back to the Temple, three more Hummers joined. I was in some deep shit. I sped up and began racing against them, but the roads were still slightly slick from the ice melting. They had me boxed in on both sides and behind. Then a Hummer a little ahead pulled out from where it was hiding in the trees. Shit. I saw a small window of chance to speed up faster, pushing my bike to it's limit, and get ahead of the hummer on my right and swerve in front of it, and as I'm about to try and go around the Hummer that was blocking the road, my back tire hit some ice and I lost control. I let go of my bike, hitting and rolling on the ground before it crashed into some large pine trees. I got to my feet, my body protesting. They were all getting out of their vehicles. There were about twenty or so of them, and only one of me. I took off, running through the woods. They weren't the woods in Alaska that I knew like the back of my hand, so I wasn't able to run through them with ease. Especially while injured.

They caught up to me easily, one grabbing me by the back of my jacket and throwing me into a tree. I hit the ground hard. Two of them each grabbed one of my arms and held me up. "You ratted us out to those damned Bestias," one sneered as he approached me. "You're the reason we're banned. You're such a traitorous bitch." He back handed me. I tasted blood in my mouth. "You're a disgrace to Virs."

I looked him in the eye then kicked upwards, the heel of my boot catching him in the jaw causing him to stagger back. I made my arms ignite in flames, causing the other two to let me go. No more flight, it was time to fight. One against twenty weren't very good odds, but I had to try. I didn't feel like dying here today.

Jacey's POV

Willow should be back by now. It was only twenty minutes to drive to the post office. She's been gone three hours. Anytime she takes detours in her errands she always sends me a message letting me know to keep me from worrying. I haven't gotten anything.

"Everything okay Jacey," Terroce asked me as I sat a crate down harshly, my thoughts lost in my worries. "Willow should be back by now," I told him. He looked at the time on his watch. "You're right."

JACEY! SOMETHING'S HAPPENED TO WILLOW! Ebony screamed with worry in the mind-link.

There are four hummers, one of them smelling like those wolves who got busted for root. We were on our way back from the mall when we found them by the side of the road, her bike completely totaled into a tree, Jade said in the mind link.

Terroce and I ran to the Jeep and got in, as my other brothers went to theirs. There was only one road to take from here to the city. There were too many trees for us to land in our dragon forms plus it's daylight out, so who knows how many humans could see us.

You girls don't engage, our father instructed them in the mind link.

They tried to protest but there was no use. They wouldn't be much help and who knows what they will find. We got to them quickly and followed the trail of footprints. We got to an area where many men were either dead or knocked unconscious. Willow was facing off with two more, one holding a knife that already had a coating of blood on it, most likely from one of the several wounds she had. When they heard us approach, they turned to face us, turning their backs on her. She used that opportunity to send well placed blows to their necks, knocking them out. She staggered backwards and I ran to her. The others began to inform our parents of the situation.

I scooped her up in my arms. "You left home without your jacket," she whispered to me. "Save your strength," I told her. She then coughed, blood coating her teeth. My heart clenched in my chest. Jax and I took her back to the Temple, straight to the mountain where my mom already had the doctor and medical supplies waiting. I was forced out of the room, forced to sit outside.

My father approached and sat in silence beside me, offering his support. Eventually all of my siblings were here, having finished dealing with those who attacked my mate. "How many total," my father asked Ethan. "Twenty. Seven dead, the rest still breathing," Ethan said. "For now at any rate."

"If she dies, so do they," I growled softly. "Jacey we do not murder," he said to me. "Revenge will only blacken the soul." I growled and went to say something else, but then the doctor came out. "She had received many serious injuries, bleeding internally in a couple of places, two broken ribs, and a minor concussion," she told us. "She lost a lot of blood, but she's strong. She'll pull through."

I felt relief slam into me, and I was thankful I was sitting or my knees may have given out. "She's awake and wants to see you Jacey," my mother said when she came out. I nodded and went in.

Willow gave me a soft smile, "Hey handsome." I fucking broke at those two words. I sat on the side of her bed, tears falling down my face. It had been the first time I cried since I was a child. "I'm sorry I wasn't there," I said to her. "You came when it mattered most," she said to me. "Had I fallen unconscious in the snow, I may not have lived." I gave her a soft kiss and she cupped my face, her thumbs brushing away my tears.

"What happened," I asked her. She explained what happened, by the end of it she was yawning. "I tried to get back, but it was clearly premeditated. They were just waiting for the right moment. Probably why they stayed in the city, waiting for me to come out on my own." I kissed her again, "Get some rest." She nodded and I stayed with her till she fell asleep.

I stepped out of the room and looked at my mother. "Did you know about them being in town, waiting to strike," I asked her. "We only ever get the mail from the box on Saturdays." "Of course not Jacey," she snapped at me. "Did Willow put that thought in your head?" "No, I'm looking at the fucking facts. The wolves we busted stayed in town, then finally see she's alone leaving the post office and follow her. As she hits the city limit, two more join the Hummer following her. As she's trying to race back here, another pulls out from the woods and blocks the road like it had been waiting. It was like they knew she'd be on her bike and be alone," I snapped at her. "They could have spotted her entering the city and made phone calls," she suggested.

"But why have her go to the post office today," Maria asked her. "Usually I do that run." "You were busy and we're expecting our Temple license renewal form any day now," she answered. "I don't want to be late getting it sent in like we were last year. That was a nightmare to deal with," my mother said. "I didn't have anything to do with this. It's possible those wolves have someone they trust, staying in the Temple that hasn't been banned and are communicating with them. She parks her bike out front for anyone in the guest house to see when she comes and goes so it could be anyone." "Not anyone," I said, as I realized something rather important. They wouldn't work with my mother because she was a Bestia. "Only a Vir. They had attacked Willow for not just the root, but also declared her a traitor to Virs."

"How many Virs do we have staying here currently," Ethan asked while crossing his arms. "Nine. But I only see three possible suspects. The other six haven't given us any issues, one of which having just recently given birth to a cub," my father answered. "We'll look into it Jacey, you be with your mate."

I nodded and went back into the room. She was no longer pale looking and that had me feeling better. Luckily our kind heal at a rapid rate so I know she will be fine in a few days. It doesn't help me from being worried though. This feud nearly cost me my mate, someone who has been on both sides, yet holds no grudges. I am not so kind. I hold a grudge with all who take part in this pathetic feud. It nearly cost me, my mate. I refuse to let it happen again.