Ember

9. A Dimming Flair

Cold. Icy pain mixed with the burn of the wind on my face. Stalking threw the snow quickly assaulting the ground in thick balls.

The storm blinding our way in violent flurries so hard my eyes can not open, face frozen with fear. We could smell the winter coming, I failed to see how close it was and now we are paying the ultimate frosty price.

I stalk threw the frozen over hell in a simple tank top and leggings, Jacob in a t-shirt, jeans and his pride trudging into the monster storm. Wrapping my pups in all the clothes available shirts, extra pants, socks and all the long sleeved hoodies.

Nora clung to me so tight our shivers were in sync as well as our rapid heartbeats. Aleric was alert, scouting as far as his snow filled eyes could see. Jacob turns and starts walking my way. Wrapping himself around me. The heat radiates into my bare skin, Nora stopped shivering and relaxes against him

"Aleric is heavier but he is staying warm as am I. His wolf side is developing fast. Taking him will warm you and I'll warm her up" it was almost an order but I don't give a fuck my baby is freezing to death.

Swapping children quickly to avoid her anymore discomfort. As soon as my son wraps around me I feel relief and heat takes over my skin. I start to move once again a little more quickly and see that Nora is fast asleep on Jacob's chest. I smile for the first time in days seeing both of my children content for a moment.

Aleric pulls my face to his so fast it almost hurts forcing me to stop. Snow gathering on my head soaking me from the lack of movement.

"Mama I can smell" his eyes so wide in anger and a bit of fear

"Baby boy that's normal you are adjusting to this new power and" I stopped my sentence forgetting what I was even saying.

No. Not here. Not in this frozen shithole.

We are all stopped knee deep in hard damp snow. Jake's eyes meet mine with a threat to kill. An unspoken knowing, lowering the children to the ground.

"Aleric go to your sister and RUN!" I am in pure panic. My tough rugged son froze.

Before anyone could move I look to the left towards a familiar stench.

Bursting threw the dead forest in my direction. Zaden running in human form toward Aleric and I. Followed by others. Without a thought I pushed my pup out of the way and took the full blow of his charge landing on my back in the deep snow.

Struggling under his large frame with my weak neglected body. Bucking him as hard as can, his body slamming back into mine crushing my ribs. My face jerks to the side with the first blow. The sting spreads with another hard hit. I can't see beyond the pile of snow caving in on me and glimpses of Zadens scared skin.

The assault stops and I feel his ice cold hand run up my body. Groping my breast and holding my throat. Digging my claws into his skin, attempting to release my airways. He leans his face to mine, licking my cheek.

"You are mine. Your body is mine, your freedom is mine to take. Those pups are mine" He hisses drooling on my face forcing a gag from me.

"Mine" Ember snaps awake from her slumber of healing.

Everything is hot. Remembering the feeling from the lake all those week's ago. The heat and pain is quickly replacing fast with emense power trickling threw my veins like a dynamite wick. His hands on my body start to stick to my skin with black smoke flowing from me. He retracts his hands and sits up quickly allowing me to bend my legs and push my feet off his waist launching him back, successfully freeing my body, quickly getting to my feet.

My clothes begin to fall from my body in ashes whisping in the unforgiving wind, leaving me naked in human form standing in front of him. Flames fill my left hand warmth and power comes from my body in waves. An unfamiliar cool sensation trickles like water down my right arm like a cold rain. Embracing the new coolness. Water gravitates around my right hand. Bubbling power rushes me letting out a banshee like scream.

I search for Jacob who is fighting off the bastards following this waste of wolf fur. 20 feet away Aleric is guarding Nora with power of his own filling the air and clumps of what looks like rocks floating around his bulky boy frame. My instincts are not my own but those of my beast, letting out another scream into the air.

Fire engulfing Zadens followers and wind pulling them off the ground. Flames burning alive the levitating wolves, clothes mold to their skin. The smell of flesh attack my senses watching them writhe in pain in the winter air. Jacob runs to the kids watching me in awe and confusion.

We will reunite. Zanders turn. I turn to face my tormentor and joy spreads to see his afraid expression. I can smell his fear and it is satisfying.
My beast still in control lifts her hands. I don't know how I know what to do, I have no control.

Zadens wide eyes start to water and panicked gasps for air can be easily heard as fluid rises up his throat. A mix of blood and other liquid pour from his mouth and nasal cavity. Rolling on the grounds to find relief that he will not get. Looks like a dam letting loose. The trees have caught on fire. Mixing with the smell of suffering.

His eyes are bulging. Content with this view of him. The heat and power turning back into the cold storm air. The fire and water disappear leaving me shivering from my lack of clothes. Zaden takes a large fluid filled breath.

Sniffing the air not recognizing the strong mint and pine smell coming threw the trees along with the others that are mixed together. Someone of high rank comes into view. I try to concentrate on the large dark man in front of me, black thick braids trail down his shoulders. I squat in the snow to cover my body from the eyes around me.

"I am Beta Killian Blanch of the royal pack or as you may know the kings clan, I mean no harm but we are instructed by our king to bring Alpha Zaden Stiles and the arsonist to the castle. Looks to me both are present."
Killian spoke with power and respect.

He continues "You have traveled from Churchill to Vermont I must say I am impressed " with a small chuckle at the end

I am so exhausted and the need to get my small family out of this hell was great. Jacob is running to me kids in his large arms. I hear him whisper to the kids to keep quiet. Which from their expressions wont be an issue since I am sure they are traumatized.

My teeth chatter now that the heat of my wolf is gone. Ember is in a deep sleep in the far corner of my mind. Killian stalks to my crouched form, Jacob let's out a breathy growl.

"I mean her no harm wolf. Let me help you get this woman and pups out of this cold. I can smell you are not mates but I still want to help with your family." Killian spoke with authority.

I nodded at Jacob and turned my eyes to the dark stranger.

" No one touches my children but Jacob as my ribs are broken. We will go willingly with the understanding that I want to bathe, feed and stay with my family" I demanded

"Understood " He agrees and snaps his fingers.

A group of men came forward handing me a thick blanket to wrap in, boots for Jacob and wrapping the kids up tight before returning to Jacob's arms.

I stood and fell right back down to my sitting position. The pain was awful but the exhaustion was worse.

Beta Killian lowers his body to be eye level with me so slowly. His smile is so kind and gentle.

"May I?" His voice almost a whisper.

I nod and shift my arms to hold the blanket as he lifts my broken body into his arms. Jacob holding both kids snuggled in close walking behind.

I don't know what will happen, one thing for sure is I get to bathe my children, feed and tuck them in like they deserve.

Under the protection of The last royal pack.

Watching Zaden be dragged behind lifeless was oh so satisfying.