Picture Perfect Love

Chapter 20- Delving into the Dark

-Unedited-

Never in her life had Kennedy been in so much physical pain. Even childbirth felt like a paper cut compared to the excruciating burning searing through her veins. She could vaguely remember a black eyed monster charging at her, attacking her venomously, but who? The only person she knew with eyes as black as night was Lucian. Had he tried to kill her? Where was he now? Had he just left her there to die or was she already dead?

Her surroundings were nothing more than a gray blur; everything melding into each other and indistinguishable. The only sound she could hear was the ferocious pounding of her heart, her blood rushing through her veins. She was vaguely aware of the torrential, unrelenting downpour shrouding her body, but the cold she should have felt never came. Unless she had been left in purgatory, she had to still be somewhat alive. The only indication she was, however, was the constant fire igniting her body.

Why had they just left her to die? She was certain that was what was happening. Eventually the pain won and she succumbed to unconsciousness; happy to have the reprieve.

-)(-

Back at the pack house all hell had broken loose. Xander, their vampire ally, had demanded the twins restrain Lucian before he hurt himself or someone else. He was chained to the wall in their dungeon, ripping and clawing at the metal that restrained him from seeking out his mate.

The pain was unbearable for him, he couldn't imagine how the full impact felt for her but he knew she was in serious danger. His wolf demanded to be let out, only one thing on his mind- blood. Blood for whoever dared to touch the one thing that mattered most to him. Multiple times he had tried in vain to mind-link his pack; mainly the twins, but both he and his wolf were too hysterical to make the necessary connection.

"Let me out!" Lucian bellowed at the top of his lungs in a furious roar of power.

"You know we can't do that, Alpha," Benjamin carefully explained as they walked in the door. "Xander gave us strict orders to keep you here until he arrived."

"Is he your Alpha, pup?" Lucian countered. "I demand to be released!"

Both boys whimpered, their wolves wanting nothing more than to obey their leader's request, but the vampire made it very clear he was to remain there until he arrived; otherwise the alpha would not only put himself, but his pack in danger. That was the only thing that allowed the men to oversee his command. If Xander was right and their Alpha wasn't in the right mindset to handle his responsibilities of looking out for the pack, they were next in line to call the shots.

"Forgive us, Alpha. He should be here anytime now," Jerry pleaded.

He hated disobeying a direct order from Lucian, but he had no choice. Not even the twins were allowed outside to look for their Luna. The vampire had said the circumstances were too critical they remained inside. He apparently knew more than he was letting on, but the pack had known his coven for decades without ever questioning his motives and they couldn't start now.

Another roar erupted, this time followed by a long, drawn out howl. The twins instinctively whimpered again, this time afraid of the worst for their Luna. The pain Lucian exuded in his tone was unmistakable. Something went horribly wrong. Either their Luna was dead, or their mating mark had been severed; leaving Lucian completely alone.

The thought of losing their newly formed trio crushed Benjamin and Jerry, and no longer able to stand it, Ben pushed himself up off the ground and began walking in determined strides to the door.

"Where are you going? You know we aren't supposed to leave!" Jerry cautioned, getting more frantic with each word.

"I'm going to find Kennedy. I can't sit here any longer when she needs us!" Ben protested adamantly. This wasn't right. If a pack member is in danger, they were supposed to ban together and help, not abandon them, and definitely not their Luna.

"She needs me, pup! Me! Don't you go near my mate!" Lucian shouted while testing the strength of the chains once again. The cuffs cut into his wrists, releasing a slow, steady stream of blood onto the cobblestone floor but he couldn't care less. Those would heal before he got back upstairs.

His wolf was rapidly taking control, all reason gone from his mind. He saw the two men in front of him as nothing but threats trying to keep him from his mate and he wasn't about to go down without a fight. Even if he could no longer feel her, sense their connection, he wouldn't believe she was gone until he saw it for himself.

Images flashed through his mind in rapid succession; her petting him in wolf form in the woods, their first kiss before she slapped him, meeting the parents, meeting the pack for pictures and finally marking her. In a last attempt, he fed off those emotions and yanked on the restraints with every ounce of power and fury in his body.

The twins stood shocked and mortified that their alpha had managed to snap the industrial chains and the only thing between him and the door now, was them.

Just as Lucian ripped open the door to his cell, the door to the dungeon burst open, sending all three heads snapping to attention at the intruder.

At the top of the stairs stood a man, cloaked in a dark hooded robe, features unrecognizable through the shadow of the hood- but the smell was undeniable.

Vampire.

"Xander," Lucian growled out, stretching his neck from side to side, itching to fight the man who ordered him down here on his own territory.

"Pleasure to see you again old friend," Xander replied unfazed by the young man's temper. "Though I have to say, circumstances have been better."

Neither man moved during their introductions. Lucian's wolf seemed to be sizing up the competition while Xander looked like this was nothing more than child's play. The twins turned their heads back and forth between the two, debating on where to hide from the upcoming battle.

"Move," Lucian ordered in his Alpha tone. Both Benjamin and Jerry were happy to acquiesce, turning and running toward the corner of the room.

Regardless how deranged Lucian might be at the time, they would never leave him alone and unprotected. The vampire however, knew the wolf was referring to him and not the pack mates.

"Listen here and you listen good. You may be their almighty alpha. You may be able to use your command on then and they follow without question, but I am no wolf. I don't listen to you or anyone else for that matter. You would do good to remember that, boy. I have an infinite number of years' experience on my belt compared to you. With that comes power; power you could never truly imagine. You can try to lunge at me, take me down; but that would be entirely counter-productive. I am here to help, Alpha and trust me, right now you need it."

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Sorry it took so long! I had a lot going on I'm sure none of you want to hear me complain about lol. Good thing is I'm back and ready to write!

Look for more soon! (before the weekend!)

Thank you to those of you who haven't given up- this chapter is for you! :)

XO- Carly