Picture Perfect Love

Chapter 22- Bump in the Road

As soon as the Alpha knelt down to examine Kennedy's state, Benjamin linked his twin to alert him their Luna had been found and they would be heading back soon. The clouds overhead were beginning to disperse, but with several more hours of darkness upon them, he knew they would be vulnerable out in the woods with a crazed vampire still on the loose.

"Alpha," Ben began timidly, not wanting to disturb the moment, "we really should get back now. Jerry has the doctor waiting on us and I would feel a lot better if we got the Luna to safety."

Lucian just nodded his head. Yes, they did need to get her to their pack doctor- their future depended on it; but she looked so frail in his arms, so damaged; he didn't know how he could bare to risk moving and breaking her. He gently bent down and kissed the small puncture site, hoping to ignite the mark he had placed there once again, but as if on fire, Kennedy jumped back, baring her teeth and hissing at the man who dared touch her.

All three men watched in shock as she lifted herself to her feet and glared daggers at the trio. Her eyes were bloodshot, her hair a tangled mess from writhing in the mud and her stance showed she was anything but happy to see them. The one positive thing Xander noticed, however, was the venom was progressing the transition very slowly.

"Lucian, I know this isn't what you want to hear, but I need you to back up. Kennedy is using all her strength to fight off the venom, we can't risk getting her worked up."

Confused and conflicted, Lucian did as the vampire instructed, carefully backing out of arm's reach. His wolf whimpered at the loss of contact and how his mate was brushing him off, and the sound didn't go unnoticed by Kennedy's sensitive ears.

"You," she said, pointing a slender finger directly at him. "Touch me again and it will be the last thing you do."

There was no humor in her threat- and that's just what it was; an honest threat to kill him if he dared make contact with her.

Ben jumped back in horror at hearing her proclamation, torn between defending his alpha and trying to console his Luna. This... was not the woman he'd spoken to just earlier. This... well, he didn't know what this was- but it scared the ever-loving shit out of him. He quickly linked to his brother again, warning him the situation was a lot more than they'd prepared for and to lay off on all antics. He didn't miss how her scent had changed exponentially. No longer did she smell of her usual honeysuckle... No, now her scent had turned unrecognizable. They had to act fast before they lost her to this forever.

As much as he knew he shouldn't, Xander couldn't help but stare in awe at the woman before him. He'd never met her before the bite, never even a photo; but seeing her like this, dominant and unrelenting, he had to force himself not to take full advantage of the situation and her new found situation.

Just as he was about to speak, Kennedy's head snapped in his direction, faster than the wolves would've been able to register before she smirked at him and raised her head proudly. That did nothing to ease the desires floating around in the old vampire's mind, nor did her next comment.

"You. Come to me."

As if on their own accord, Xander found his feet slowing but surely advancing towards the feral woman before him. He too, had noticed the change in her scent... a scent that was changing by the minute.

"You'll be the one to take me. Let them run their tests. I'll be your good little guinea pig for now. But when they're done, consider yourself mine."

That was all Lucian could tolerate before his wolf took control, racing up to Xander and lifting him off the ground at his throat. "Mine!" Biceps shaking from rage rather than strain, Lucian squeezed tighter around his neck. He knew the vampire didn't technically require oxygen to survive, but it'd get his point across nonetheless. The threat to strangle him didn't last long, however; before he found himself in the same predicament. Flailing his legs aimlessly in the air, trying to find traction on the soil below him, he looked to the side to see Kennedy glaring at him from below. 

"I wouldn't do that, mutt," she began, cocking her head to the side, appearing almost bored with all of this. "I could end this little drama session by snapping your pathetic neck before your little friend over here had time to defend your honor or call for help."

"Mate..." he rasped out, fighting for air as he panicked the sparks were nowhere to be felt.

She laughed maniacally, shaking her head vehemently. "I'm not your damn-" her denial was abruptly stopped when she screamed in pain, her hands dropping Lucian harshly before flying up to tug at her matted hair. Lucian knew he should be helping her, taking her to the pack doctor, but all he could concentrate on was her utter hatred for him- how easily she about killed him while defending the vampire- and about how not only were the sparks gone, but so was the pain he should've been feeling while she rolled on the ground. Before, in his study, he'd felt the bite. He knew she was in trouble. Here, he felt nothing but shock. 

He didn't know if this was permanent, gods, he hoped not... but as Xander lifted her slender frame and began racing to the pack house Lucian stood dumbfounded...numb... not even a whimper from his wolf.