Falling for your Fate

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

‘Leora,’ a voice whispered at the edge of my consciousness and I pushed hard against the pull of their voice. I wasn’t ready to come back yet, something was telling me to stay hidden within the confines of my own mind.

‘Leora, you must wake up, please Leora,’ they begged, breaking through another layer of my subconscious and still I tried to keep them out.

‘You are safe now, my dear,’ they implored and I finally recognised who they were, but still it was hard to allow the voice enough freedom to finally pull me from my sleep. Could I really trust their words?

I felt a hand against my cheek and it was soothing for a heartbeat before the pain hit me like the fiercest wave on a stormy night. I let out a pain filled groan keeping my eyes shut tight hoping it would somehow lessen my suffering.

‘Oh Leora,’ Michael sighed and I felt a single cool tear fall and I wanted nothing more than to stop the others that were threatening to fall. I jolted and my eyes flew open as I felt something cool on my forehead before I realised that it was just Michael dabbing at the mess that must have been my face.

Seeing my eyes open I could easily recognise the relief on his face but I didn’t want his pity. Ignoring my protesting body and my pounding head I sat up, pushing his hand away not missing the look of concern that had filled his face.

‘How long have I been out?’ I managed to get out before closing my eyes tightly and resting my head against the wall behind me as another shock of pain ran through my body. I didn’t even want to think about what in my body had been broken or bruised.

‘Several hours I think. I would have been here sooner but I was dealing with the new pack members,’ he answered apologetically and I nodded dismissively. It wasn’t his responsibility to look after me. It wasn’t his obligation to care. Apparently, the only man who was bound to care for me was incapable of even the smallest kindnesses.

I couldn’t help the images from flashing through my mind of the two men who had lost their lives today, unnecessarily. I thought it was impossible for more of me to hurt but I was wrong as I felt  a sharp pain slice through my heart for the two lost lives and the loved ones they would leave behind.

‘I didn’t think he would hurt you,’ Michael continued softly, his eyes downcast and I could see the worry hiding in the wrinkles of his face. ‘I would have come as soon as I saw him run from the house in wolf form.’

‘Its fine beta Michael,’ I consoled gathering my strength and trying to stand. ‘It was my own fault,’ I sighed when the pain forced me to slump back against the wall. I shouldn't have challenged him, I should have understood that he was incapable of seeing his mistakes.

‘No, it wasn’t Leora,’ he answered gruffly, causing me to look at him in confusion. ‘None of this was ever your fault. This is a mess created by the fates and dare I say the moon goddess. They say she works in strange ways, but this is the cruelest trick she has ever played.’

I was about to reply when I stiffened at the sound of the door swinging open. Faster than my eyes could comprehend Michael was on his feet, his stance defensive as he eyed the Alpha who had just entered the room. I couldn’t see his face through my brave protector, but I could only assume he would be angry.

‘What have you done?’ I heard Michael growl and my eyes widened in surprise. What was he thinking? No one spoke to Alpha Wayland with such a tone.

‘What are you doing here Michael?’ Colby asked in a surprisingly flat tone.

‘Fixing your messes,’ Michael hissed. ‘How could you treat her this way? You remember what your father was-‘

‘Do not mention him in front of me,’ Colby growled and I felt the tension in the room build.

‘You know what your family was cursed with Colby, how can you treat her as if she is anything but a miracle?’

Silence fell between the two and I could only imagine the emotions playing out across Colby’s face. I wondered if he would allow any at all.

‘I’m disappointed in you Colby,’ Michael finally sighed and I watched as the older man’s shoulders slumped, his stance relaxing as he believed the threat was gone. Colby again said nothing and Michael spoke again. 

‘You don’t deserve her.’ I felt the ripple in the air before the growl rumbled through the room, setting the hairs on the back of my neck on end. What was Michael thinking? He may have been Colby’s beta but he wasn’t above his temper. ‘I thought you wanted to be better than this, better than him.’

‘Get out,’ Colby commanded in a deathly low voice. Michael stood his ground staring down his alpha for several more minutes before he did something I thought no wolf would ever do. He turned his back on Colby, the darkest wolf in existence, and he knelt down beside me, wrapping a supportive arm around my waist before pulling me from the floor. He supported all my weight as pain nearly spliced my body in two but I kept my cries trapped inside, never letting a sound escape.

In the space of a second Colby was beside us and had Michael slammed against the wall, his arm pressing harshly into Michael’s throat. I crumpled to the floor without his support and nearly lost consciousness with the pain that raced through my body.

‘Do not touch her,’ he growled, his body vibrating with anger. I watched with wide eyes as Michael simply shook his head.

‘When will you learn?’ Michael challenged, his eyes never leaving Colby’s and when I looked up I saw that they were flickering red and yet Michael still chose to provoke him. ‘You don’t need to be a slave to your past, to the stories you hide behind. I know you have light in you Colby. I’ve seen it. It’s the reason you were able to recognise Leora as you mate. You just need to fight it.’

Colby was silent as I gaped at the older man, wondering if maybe his old age was affecting his judgement. When I saw eyes as red as Colby’s my only thought was to cower, to stand down and hope to God that he could tame his anger. 

It felt like an eternity before Colby released Michael and he slumped against the wall, drawing in deep breaths as he ran his hand over his bruising throat.

‘Leave,’ Colby said in a soft voice and I looked to find his eyes had changed back to their cold brown before he turned his back on the both of us. 

In an instant Michael was at my side and pulling me to my feet again. I was about to say something but Michael quickly shook his head and I slammed my mouth shut as he helped me from the room, carrying almost all of my weight. Just as we made it to the door, I cast a quick glance over my shoulder to see Colby fisting his hands in his dark hair, still standing where we had left him, with his back to us.

As soon as we were several feet away from Colby’s room Michael quickly swung me up into his arms and began to move more swiftly through the house. He never said a word, his face set with determination as he raced towards the front door.

Suddenly, we were out in the dim moonlight and I felt myself letting out a breath I hadn’t known was locked up inside my chest. I immediately looked at the place where the grey wolf had been but all that remained was a dark patch on the grass that almost faded to nothing in the dim night. Glancing past the horrible memories I looked out at the dark forest longingly, wishing with all my heart that I could shift and run through the woods, run until my body gave out with exhaustion, until I couldn’t breathe another breath.

‘No, Leora,’ Michael said softly and my eyes quickly snapped to his, wondering if he could read my thoughts. I thought I had kept my mind locked up tight since coming here, keeping everyone out of my thoughts. I had been doing it my whole life, even keeping my own pack out of my thoughts to stop them from learning things I needed to keep hidden. ‘I know what you’re thinking, but it’s not the right time.’ I frowned at his cryptic message and was about to ask him what he meant but he shook his head again and I remained silent as he walked away from the house that had been my prison for so long.

I didn’t know where we were going, as long as it was away from there I felt safe to shut my eyes and let unconsciousness claim me again.