Picture Perfect Love

Chapter 19- It Came with the Storm

Not Edited-

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"Ben, what's going on? It feels strange out here."

Benjamin had felt it too; the sudden disruption in the air, the way everything quieted down to unnatural levels. He didn't want to frighten the woman, so he stretched the truth to console her. "There's a storm coming. It'll be here any time so I'm sure that's why you feel weird; probably sensed the air changing."

But she didn't fall for it, not for a second. She could see the clouds rolling in, blocking out the fresh sunlight. She knew a storm was coming already, could feel the humidity and smell the rain in the foreboding clouds.

This was something different.

If he wasn't willing to talk to her like an adult then that was fine, she'd figure it out herself. Thunder boomed in the distance, the sound resonating across the trees and frightening birds in its wake. At least she hoped it was the thunder; she wasn't so sure. Every step she took to look for clues as to who had been on their land Ben followed behind watching her every step like she was a toddler learning to walk for the first time. If there was one thing Kennedy hated more than liars, it was being coddled like a child.

Too many times Mina and her coworkers had made that mistake. They walked on eggshells around her, afraid she would cry, lash out or break down if they said the wrong thing. They were trying to be nice, but she found it offensive them treating her like she would break. Now Ben was doing the same thing!

Yes, he was just protecting her from danger, making sure Lucian wouldn't have a reason to annihilate him, but she hated it regardless.

"Careful!" he hollered, right as she tripped over an exposed tree root and fell to the ground. Her knee instantly stung and she knew she had scraped it open. Nothing life threatening, but just another reason to be pissed off at the world. First Lucian leaves her after telling her about working with vampires, her battery dies after finding out Colby was back now this shit! Seriously?

Kennedy screeched and pounded her fist into the dirt, pissed off at everything that breathed today. Why couldn't she just have one normal day to smile and relax?

"Are you alright?" Ben asked nervously, seeing the blood beading on the kneecap and shin. Alpha Lucian was going to tan his hide for this, he just knew it.

"I'm fine! I'd be even better if you'd stop treating me like a fucking China doll! Just-just stay here. I'll be right back."

He started to object, not wanting to leave her alone, but she didn't hesitate snapping at him again, "Look dude, I have to pee! Unless you plan on wiping for me, give a girl some privacy."

Benjamin back peddled, nearly tripping over his own feet at her words. He looked completely mortified and if she weren't in such a bad mood would've laughed at the look on his face.

"Thank you! I'll be back in a minute; gotta clean up my knee too."

He shook his head in acknowledgement and shooed her away with his hands. Kennedy wasted no time disappearing into the lush trees. She really did have to pee, so after taking care of that as fast as possible, she began searching around for clues without Ben shadowing her every move.

The rain began without so much as a warning sprinkle, relentless and heavy. In seconds it went from pouring to a dark, torrential downpour. Kennedy's vision could only stretch about as far as her hand could reach and the cold water nipped at her exposed skin.

She might not have been able to see, but she could instantly feel panic kicking in. She would never be able to find her way back to Benjamin now.

What an awesome day this had turned out to be.

Just as she was cursing herself for feeling adventurous, a twig snapped just a few feet from where she stood shivering, followed by a loud hiss.

"Well shit, a rattlesnake. Just what I needed right now!"

But as she stretched her neck to spot the poisonous reptile, she realized she couldn't have been farther off. A blood-curdling scream ripped from her throat as a crazed man with solid black eyes lunged towards her with impossible speed and fangs bared for the attack.

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Lucian was sitting in his office hosting his video conference with Nightshade when Xander informed him of the situation over there. According to him, they'd had the exact same issue. Members would suddenly lash out, become unusually violent before losing it altogether and going on killing sprees. Thirteen had been affected so far, causing Xander to use any means necessary to destroy the savage beasts.

Yesterday, one more, making fourteen, had came down with the illness; this one managing to escape. Xander and his men tracked him as far as the sun would allow them, but he had gotten away with the dawn. Last the vampire knew, he was headed directly into Lucian's territory, but with the daylight and not having permission to cross the border, the coven had stayed back to warn the Alpha.

Vampires were ruthless creatures. Most suffered from bloodlust, having no desire for anything but sucking the life from unsuspecting victims; but with this infestation going around, they'd be even worse. Sure, there were exceptions; ones who learned to control their cravings like Xander and his men, but they were rare. Having a coven as his ally was a blessing for Lucian.

As long as they stayed away from his mate.

The thought of Kennedy's beautiful face had Lucian tapping into their link to see if she was having a good time with the twins. Confusion and fear were the only emotions he could feel and Lucian held his hand up for Xander to see the conversation could wait a second.

About that time a loud, insistent pounding sounded at the door of his office. He instantly knew it was Jerry and desperately tried to reign in his wolf while he told Jerry to enter and explain why his mate was still outside with only his brother for protection. Xander watched on the camera feed as Jerry frantically explained the campsite and Kennedy's persistence to stay there and wait for a camera battery.

Lucian growled loudly throughout the room, enraged his mate would be so foolish to stay out in the open at a time like this. Benjamin was a damn good fighter, but Lucian didn't know exactly what they were up against and wasn't satisfied she was safe.

Jerry relayed the location of the campsite as lightning struck the premises. Xander's video feed flickered, trying to stay connected. He may not have been part of their pack, but this could be vital information to the case and he needed to hear it.

Benjamin broke Lucian's thoughts shouting through the mind-link he couldn't find Kennedy. The rain had started and not only could he not see her, but it was dissolving any scent she carried as well.

Lucian's growl ripped through the air again, hurting even Xander's sensitive ears. He shouted across the screen, demanding to know what had happened. Jerry had been linked immediately after and explained in three short words, "Luna is missing."

Even if he'd wanted to explain more, he wouldn't have been able to, for seconds later Lucian yelled at the top of his lungs in agony tightly clenching the side of his neck.

He knew in the back of his mind it was Kennedy's pain he was experiencing, but that made the torture even worse. Whatever she was going through, it was pure hell.

"Fuck, it burns!" Lucian ground out through gritted teeth right before he fell to the ground panting. His wolf was going insane in his mind, destroying any logical thought but to get to their mate. She was in pain, in danger, and he needed to shift and get to her.

Xander was stunned as he watched the Alpha drop to his knees, and though he hated to think he knew the cause, there was only one explanation.

The vampire had traveled with the storm clouds blocking the sun's rays and made it into Dark Storm territory. He, unlike most, was born into a long line of vampires, and wasn't familiar with the pain associated with the bite; but his followers explained it as fire searing through your veins, engulfing every nerve ending in intense pain.

"Young man, Alpha Lucian, listen closely. I'm afraid your Luna has been bitten. With permission, we will travel at dusk. Until then, this is what you must do..."

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Okay readers-two updates in one day, I'm an over-achiever! :) Yay me!