Stay For Me

Chapter 5

DECLAN

Declan fought to keep Colton from tearing his way through his barriers and forcing information from Rani. Her body, as thin as it was, was literally black, blue, and purple everywhere. Cuts, old and new, were in various stages of healing.

"Rani!" He screamed, as he realized she was running away. *I got this, Dec. Let me go after her. She is my mate too, man.* Declan gave in to Colton and shifted in seconds, His massive gray form immediately shot off into the night, tracking again that sweet scent of blackberries.

RANIELLE

Ranielle stood and turned around slowly, trembling violently. Blaze stood before her, smiling viciously. Jackson stood to his left. "Hello, little Omega. It's time to come home now."

Ranielle shrunk back against the tree and shuddered as Blaze reached out to touch her skin. With a loud crack, Ranielle was flung to the ground with a slap across the face.

*Grr, let me at them, girl! * Miley yelled in her mind.

*Not yet! They don't know we are one.* At that moment, Ranielle heard the panting of Declan's wolf. How she knew it was him was beyond her. But instincts took over and she curled into a tight ball, protecting her body from the beating that was about to follow.

"No one will save you, Omega." Blaze sneered and kicked her chest. She bit her tongue to keep from crying out and spat as the taste of metallic blood filled her mouth.

"Please....Alpha, don't......" She protested weakly, which ended up in her receiving a kick to the face.

"Don't talk back to me, you pathetic worm. You don't even deserve to be called a werewolf." Ranielle saw stars. Her nose gushed blood. It was most likely broken. With her last ounce of strength, she let out a soft, pain-filled howl that could barely be heard.

BLAZE

Blaze laughed at her pitiful attempt to call for help. Out of nowhere, a gray furry mass toppled him to the ground. He shifted and threw the other wolf off of him. Six other wolves appeared by the larger gray wolf.

Blaze bared his teeth. There was no chance he was leaving without the traitorous Ranielle.

"Shift back, wolf!" The other wolf had shifted back to human form, and was commanding using an Alpha's tone. Blaze shifted back and grabbed for the clothes his men handed him.

"Declan!" His face broke into a wide smile. "I'm sure you didn't recognize me, so I forgive you for crashing into me. I also have you to thank for finding my traitor Omega. I apologize for her trespassing on your territory.  You can rest assured she will be punished according-"

"You will not lay a finger on her, Blaze." Declan's voice was quivering with fury. Blaze cocked his head. "Why, when she has so clearly hurt both you and I?"

"You will not lay a hand on her!" Declan roared. "That 'traitor Omega' is my mate, you despicable beast! She is mine, you hear that?! MINE!" He launched himself onto Blaze.

DECLAN

"MINE!!" Declan roared as he flew at Blaze. He had arrived just in time to see Blaze kick Rani's face. He had heard her pitiful howl for help. Colton had taken over and nearly torn Blaze's head off.

"YOU WILL OBEY US!" Colton's voice blended with Declan's to produce the ultimate Alpha tone, and it forced Blaze and his men back across his borders.

Fleeing back to Rani, lying on the cold ground, Declan began to feel a growing sense of panic and emptiness in his chest. He knew instantly. "No, no, no Rani. Stay with me, baby. Stay with me!" He searched her body, and discovered a large, gaping wound in Rani's stomach.

Rani was staring blankly off into space as she whispered "You'll find her again, Declan. You'll find her." Her eyes produced a single, diamond like tear.

He grabbed her hand and kept pressure on her abdomen. "Rani, don't you dare close your eyes! Don't close those beautiful eyes."

Rani smiled faintly at him. "Don't lose heart, Declan......You'll be okay.....just...don't.....forget......me..." Her eyes dulled, fluttering shut as Declan screamed. She was fading away.

Janice arrived just in time to see Declan collapse over her, sobbing in a way Janice had never seen him weep.

Declan looked up to see the elderly woman, who knelt beside him and felt Ranielle's neck. The look on her face caused his chest to seize up. He didn't need to be told twice.

"RANIELLE!" He howled into the night. He felt the mate bond snap in his chest and he crumpled to the ground.

Janice wrapped her arms around him. SHe knew there was nothing she could do. He had only just gotten her, and as quickly as he had found her, she was gone.

Declan touched her face as he watched her grow blue. Her red hair gleamed in the setting sun.

He gently lifted her, and began to walk back to the pack house

MATTIAS

Mattias sat in the council room, when his son marched in, solemn, quiet, tearstains on every inch of his face.

"What's the matter, Declan?!" The other twelve members of Council stood up, instantly worried by their leader's son's appearance.

Then they all saw the girl in his arms.

Two fainted instantly. Mattias rushed over to his son. "Who is this Omega?" He asked in confusion.

"Dad, this is Ranielle. This is....was...my mate..." Declan's voice cracked.

Mattias quaked in fury. "Who did this?!"

"Frostbitten pack's Alpha Blaze Thompson...Dad, she's gone..." Declan broke into tears again.

Someone stepped out of the darkness. "Mattias, can you smell that?"

The Council sank to their knees in reverence. Dressed in solid white, with a golden crown of leaves circling his head, King Jerad of the Wolves walked out of the darkness. "Mattias, check that girl's left hip..."

"Your Majesty?"

Declan stepped back away fromt his father. "No one touches her but me." Declan said with his teeth bared.

"I expect nothing less, Declan, dear boy." Jerad said to his best friend's son.

Declan lifted Rani's bloodstained shirt and exposed her side. There was a red, angry, two inch scar there. The Council collectively leaned forward and gasped in pure shock.

"Ranielle?" Jerad asked with a quivering voice.

"That's her name, how did you..." Declan asked, confused.

"That's my daughter....she was taken when she was three....." Jerad reached out for the girl for whom he had been searching for years.

"That would explain the silver wolf..." Declan said. "Can you bring her back?" He asked hopefully. Mattias knew his son, and his best friend. Both were hoping from the impossible. Ranielle wasn't coming back.

"Bring this Blaze to me!" Jerad roared at the messengers. They nodded and swiftly departed the room.

Mattias sank into his chair. This wasn't going to end well.