Quiver

34

I blinked awake, feeling like I'd overslept way too long and my whole body ached slightly. The bright light stung my eyes to the point of them watering and I questioned where I was because the scents that hit my nose were odd. Some were familiar and others weren't. As my eyes adjusted, I came face to face with blue eyes. I blinked back and recognized Roman and his curly brown hair, a worried frown on his face that morphed into a relieved grin.

"Oh, Fenrir. You're awake," he breathed and I smiled, then frowned as I struggled to recall everything that had happened.

"What happened? Where am I?" I asked, voice hoarse with misuse.

A hand shot out with a cup of water and I took it gratefully, glancing up to see Annalise with Yorik sitting off in a chair.

"We beat Claire and the Jaecars...but she took our Elders' before we got back to save them," Annalise began to explain. She opened her mouth to continue, but I held up a hand as the memories of the battle that took place slammed into me.

I gasped and immediately questioned about Lilith, Cole and everyone else who apparently wasn't present.

"Relax," Yorik murmured in a soothing tone. "Everyone is fine, they all healed well. We're currently staying in a hotel right now while people repair our pack house as you know, Claire had destroyed it."

I sagged with relief and moved to go see them until Roman pressed a hand to my shoulder. "Whoa, whoa. Where do you think you're going? You just woke up."

"I need to see them. Just because Yorik said they were all fine doesn't mean I believe it. I need to see proof," I said, stubbornly and attempted to move again.

"You stay, we'll bring them to you," Annalise said firmly as she and Yorik moved out of the room to go get the rest of the pack.

I slumped back into the mattress with a huff and winced at the soreness in my body. I must have slept quite some time. Roman smirked down at me, having caught my wince and I rolled my eyes.

"How long was I asleep?"

"About three days," he murmured, running a hand through his curly hair which I seen looked less bouncy and more flat meaning he probably hadn't showered in those days. In fact, the rough stubble peppering his face confirmed it.

My eyes widened. "Three days?"

He nodded, lips thinning out while his blue eyes darkened. "The weapons were all enchanted as you know... and they were apparently bound with a spell to make the Wolf's Bane work faster... you were barely alive, Rori. I- we- you weren't even breathing when we began pulling the poison from your system. You had been on life support for two of the three days before your Lupus genes finally kicked in and worked properly."

I was stunned into silence and shivered, now offically hating the herb and poison known as Wolf's Bane. I carefully reached a hand out to cup Roman's crushed looking face and he swiftly leaned into my touch.

"It's okay," I soothed after a few seconds. "I'm here. I'm alive."

I held my arms out and he dove into them, squeezing me gingerly. "I love you."

"And I, love you," I murmured, kissing the side of his face and inhaling his scent deep into my lungs.

I heard the stamping of feet and then the hotel door crashed open, banging against the wall.

"Sorry to break up this touching moment, but we all need to have our own with this brave Lupus," Bree said, pulling Roman away from me, causing him to growl a bit.

He eased up though and I watched as everyone flooded in, all of which had grins on their faces.

"We're so happy you're awake!" Eva exclaimed, taking me by utter surprise as the normally resentful she-wolf swooped down and gently hugged me.

"We really are. Without you, those vile humans and their awful complex wouldn't be destroyed in this area and neither would the supernaturals in the complex be free," Winter said and hugged me next.

"Uh, hello. I'm the best friend, get out of the way!" Bree nearly shrieked and both Lupus laughed as they backed away and Bree grabbed me in a suffocating hug.

"I.. missed you too, Bree!" I gasped, trying to pull in air.

"Ohp! Sorry! I've just been so worried about you."

I smiled. "Well, I'm fine."

"Good because I'm here to hug you next, daughter," Luke grumbled and his large arms were around me, squeezing carefully. "Couldn't have you dying on my son, now could I?"

My eyes welled with tears at his touching statement, but I dashed them away quickly as he pulled away and Damion replaced him. I was continuously hugged by everyone. After Damion was Aurora, then Trevor and Cody followed by Lilith, Chloe and Garrett who had me tearing up again at the sight of them okay. Elliere was even there and he had swooped in to hug me, releasing me from our temporary bond, giving me his phone number and telling me he'd forever be in my debt and grateful. I shook my head at him, but didn't protest.

The last to reach me and the one who had me exhaling a giant breath of relief while causing my eyes to brim with tears -- yet again -- was Cole. His mop of dark hair was messy, his hazel eyes had bags beneath them and he had a few scars from all he had endured, but he was in one piece. I squeezed him roughly and heard him wheeze, making me grin. I pulled away just enough to scan his face again up close.

"You okay?" I asked.

He frowned and said, "I should be asking you that."

"Not when the last thing I remember of you, is you a bloody mess," I scolded, frown deepening.

"Okay, okay. Rori, I'm fine. Now please, smile. We did it! There are no more Jaecars here!" He cheered. "And no more Claire!"

A round of cheers went up, everyone thanking me again even though it was Elliere too, though the Lupus didn't seem to mind. I grinned, sagging back in relief. It was finally over with and we could all begin our lives anew, without worry and without fear.