Nature of the beast (book 1 of the Beasties)

Found

Liam's pov

Who ever took Skyler will pay. The chaos of three days ago plays in my mind. Brandy woke everybody up with a piercing scream. We all ran to her aid. She was standing in a tent's entrance, by then she was crying. I look past her to see a man tied to a chair and lifeless. A large pool of blood flooded at his feet, trickling from his neck.

"What is going on?" I demand. Gavin saddles up next to me.

"He was a spy we found in our camp. We were going to question him, but I guess his partner in crime, silenced him. Now we have no way of finding out who's been putting road blocks in the way of our freedom." Gavin informs with frustration.

A horrible feeling takes over suddenly. It's so intense that I can almost feel a tear begging to be shed. Skyler floods my mind. Somethings not right. "Sky?!" I call out. She should be here by now, comforting Brandy. "Sky?!!" I shout. People start looking to their left, then right, but Skyler still hasn't apeared. I head to her tent, before entering, I notice a needle on the ground. Picking it up, I take in the sent, borrachero (a dangerous tree in northern South America with mind controlling properties). My mind buzzes with evil, ugly images involving Sky and a faceless person. I drop the needle and barge into the tent. I don't care if I wake her up, making her angry. I need to know she's alright.

There was no one inside. Her cot was still rumpled as if she had just rolled out of bed, but Skyler isn't here. My wolf cries out, starts touching every mind in the camp. Skyler has vanished. In shock, my wolf takes over.

Wolfs pov

I pick the needle back up, then follow the sent of the borrachero, luckily it doesn't effect shifters. Gavin appears, winded. "Whats wrong Liam?" He looks at me funny before he realizes it's me instead of Liam. I motion to the needle, than the direction the sent is coming from. My eyes wander the camp, returning to Gavin's watchful stare. He nods his understanding and runs to gather a search party. My teeth ache to tear into the flesh of my mates kidnapper.

Liam's pov

The memory only brings more frustration, so I return to the task at hand. The sent has remained on Crescent Blood's territory. We've been traveling deeper and deeper into the woods, up thier tallest mountain, along side this peaceful river. The river has steadily been growing wider, flows a bit faster as we elevate higher. I can smell the fresh rush of water in the air. We must be getting close to a waterfall. Shivers of freezing fingers run up and down my back. My wolf wants me to pick up the pace.

The rush of the waterfall is gradually getting louder. Soon it is in view, but that isn't what I'm heading to. In my bones, I can feel a weak trace of Skyler near by. Reaching the base of the waterfall, a small lump of wet, black, and blonde, lies on the shore, Sky!

I quickly make my way to her. I touch the side of her neck, hoping she's alive. Her pulse is weak, but it's there. A sudden flash slices across my forearm. Skyler tries slicing me again in her delirium. I grab her arm, stopping her from cutting me again. I pull her into my chest, being sure she has her back to me, and I wrap my arms securely around her. She growls out in frustration like a rabid animal. My wolf is proud and impressed with the strength she has to fight on, despite her condition. Finally Skyler gives up. She drops the knife and cries.

"Shhhh........ You're safe now Sky. I have you." I sooth, rocking us gently back and forth. I keep repeating those words until I feel her relax. I look down to see she had fallen into a deep sleep, her body is still shivering like a gitter bug. Taking a better look, I notice all the bruises, cuts, and odd shaped marks. My wolf growls, searching the woods, ready to kill. The rest of the search team finally catches up.

My wolf and I have become one. We won't let anyone near us. We hold Skyler tighter in a protective embrace. Our hackles are up. Right now, everyone is our enemy. Gavin is the only one brave enough to slowly approach us in this state. I growl menacingly. He reaches one slow hand towards my shoulder. I bark threateningly and almost take his hand off. He jerks back, but regains his composure. His head is down, bent to the side to bear his neck to me in submission, while on all fours. My wolf calms a little at the trusting gesture.

"You have to let us help or she will die." He emphasizes solemnly to the ground. We weigh his words, seeing the truth in them. We whine sadly. My wolf retreats, knowing that I'd do better at healing her than him. I sigh resigned to the help. Gavin has a nervous burst of a relieved laugh. "For a minute there, I thought the old Liam would be back to stay." Brandy shows up by Gavin's side. He sits up, reassuring that it's ok to tend to Sky now.

Brandy lays Skyler flat on her back on the ground. Does all kinds of routine checks, than some odd ones involving stones, bones and sticks. When she was done, she hides behind Gavin, pale as a ghost. We look at her funny. She shakes in fear of me. The news must be terrible. "Do you love her?" She squeaks. I nod 'yes' at the odd question. Brandy braves a peek at me, then continues "is she your true mate?"

"Yes, yes! Just tell me what's wrong and what I can do to help!" I exasperate. She returns to her hiding place behind Gavin.

"You have to mark her or she'll die! Please don't kill the messenger!" She shouts back. I'm stunned to silence. She musters up another glance at me. Pitifully I stare into her eyes.

"Is there another way with out taking her choice away?" I whisper. She shakes her head 'no'.

"She wont be able to make the three day journey unless you mark her." Her voice was quiet from sadness. I bend my head in sorrow. My choices are take her freedom of choosing who she wants to be with for the rest of her life or letting her die. It's that awful double edged sword again.