Forever Yours

12: Dead Wolf Living

 The sounds of wolves engaging in battle did little to dent Oliver's attention. He was locked in a staring contest with the red-haired vampire. The fur along his back standing on end as unease shifted his paws in the dirt. Xavier suddenly meant very little to Oliver in that moment as the woman started to stalk him. Moving at her slow speed Oliver walked in the opposite direction of the female twisting in a circle that was riddled with so much tension, fear, and confusion Oliver felt sick to his stomach.

 Something was more than off with this. He didn't just know her, he felt physically familiar with her in the worst possible way. 

 Nothing felt right, every step was off instinct and yet Oliver felt like even his instinct wanted to leave. Every fiber of his body made him want to turn and never look back. Watching the woman as she growled at him, she lunged once. Pulling back just as quickly as Oliver's teeth snapped at her hands, deja vu swimming freely through the wolf's body. 

 She lunged again, and again she pulled back. Her movements felt practiced. Like every twitch had been done before.

 As the confusion on her face grew so did the rage, and her fear. Her nose wrinkled as she hissed at the black wolf. "How is this possible?" Despite the swirling emotions on her face, and the fighting of Oliver's pack and the rogues around them. She spoke low, her voice shaken and she and the wolf continued their tension filled dance. 

 "How are you here?" Flicking his ears forward Oliver curled his lips back more, he didn't understand her words or where her confusion came from. "Answer me! How are you here! How are you alive!? I killed you, you died protecting that pathetic pet of yours!"

 Oliver felt his head pulse with her words, the pain making it feel like his head was going to explode as the memory broke free from whatever dark corner it had been locked in. 

 ~ "Jasper run!" My voice rang loud in the trees, fear for my mate throbbed over my body as I struggled to keep her down. This woman I didn't know, but the horror on Jasper's face was enough to move me. Her writhing body pinned to the ground under me as I growled desperately at Jasper, but he was petrified. His eyes wide with a fear so haunting it froze his body in a marble-like state. Curling harshly around our bond. The cackling woman under me snapped her teeth as she screamed and clawed at me. The noises that left her throat were evil. Rubbing my fur the wrong way. Her strength was beyond anything I had handled before, and I knew the outcome of this fight would end in her favor. Still I struggled against her, feeling her nails ripping at my arms. Her head snapping from side to side, the thick mess of orange-red hair was wild around her face. Her crimson eyes rolled threateningly and landed on Jasper's frozen body, a wicked smile pulling her lips back as she shrieked loudly. Her fangs dripping with saliva, she laughed as her feet hooked on my hips and she threw me off her. My body twisting in the air until I hit a tree so hard it cracked and shook violently. Breathing hard against the pain I looked up at her, sliding my feet in the dirt when she pulled herself up. Wild eyes locked on my mate. Pushing forward with all my strength I moved as she lunged for him, my body barely managing to get there in time. ~

Oliver gasped as the memory flared, pulling a fresh panic through his chest. His breathing spiked, he couldn't stop the memory as it dragged his mind back into the moment. He couldn't hear his pack, he couldn't feel his own body. Nothing but being torn between the instinct to run, and the instinct to protect what was his. Even knowing he would lose. This panic and need made him reach unconsciously through the bond for his mate. Desperate to make sure Jasper was unharmed, that he was safe.

~ "CEZAR!" The scream echoed over the roaring of blood in my ears. The cold hands that held my face were unfamiliar, the body of the female vampire was curled over my shoulder. Her teeth ripping into my throat. My eyes were locked on Jasper, his fear was so thick I could taste it on the back of my tongue. It made my instincts itch to put it to rest. My mate should never be so scared, but I couldn't move. Pain made my eyes flutter as the vampire ripped herself off me, taking my ability to breath with her. I had seen it coming, the end was no shock to me. I simply wasn't strong enough to win a fight against her. Still, I had a mate to protect, turning my eyes I felt my wolf's power burst with every last bit of will we had left. Her red eyes widening as she stared at me, doubt calmed her wild gaze. Stepping back an uncertainty filled her eyes. The moment lasted for what felt like a long time but was probably only a second before she vanished. My wolf's strength quickly faded as I hit my knees. Lungs burning for air I knew I wouldn't get, "NO!" Arms caught me as my vision blurred over, my stomach churning with the pain. "No, no, no, Cezar! Cezar please, Cezar! Please no! Look at me, please. Don't leave me, Cezar. I love you, please don't leave me!" These hands were familiar, running over my face and into my hair repeatedly. The sensation eased the pain, even if I couldn't see him I knew it was Jasper. I had spent every night for the better part of 20 years with him. "Cezar?" His small fingers curling in my hair tightly, "Cezar please..." I could feel his body shaking with his sobs. I couldn't bring myself to react, all I could do was let myself relax in his hold. Pleased that he was still there, I hadn't lost. Not really, because I had protected him. "Forever mine. You promised.... YOU PROMISED!"~