Collecting the Pieces of the Shandhi Sword (Book 2 of Mark Series)

Chapter 18

Working with only Carter and Chase meant that we got to the area a heck of a lot faster than we had with the whole group. They listened to what I had to say, kept pace with me, and did not slow me down.

I stopped at almost the top of the mountain and looked at the two men. "Stay here," I said. "I need to take the rest of the way on my own."

Carter sighed in relief and sat down, taking the bag off his back and setting it down beside him. "Thank God," he said, dramatically, and I raised an eyebrow. "Do you know how hard it is to keep up with an Alpha Wolf, especially when they are on a quest to save the world?"

I looked at Chase and raised an eyebrow, hoping that he would translate his friend's weirdness.

"He means that he was complaining silently to himself," Chase replied. He rolled his eyes at his friend before he looked at me. "Basically, he was trying to be an asshole and get on your nerves."

"I was not," Carter said, and I rolled my eyes. "I-"

"Please, don't argue," I said, interrupting him. I gave him a pointed look, and Carter smirked and held his hands up in mock surrender. I scowled and shook my head. "I am not in the mood. Keep an eye out and make sure to stay hidden. I do not know if there are any more of those beasts about, and I don't want to come back down here and save your asses."

"Hey, we can take care of ourselves, Princess," Carter teased. "We'll stay out of sight and out of mind. Just get the next piece of the sword so that we can get back. This is the only other piece you need before getting your pack, correct?" He gave me a pointed look and waited for me to answer his question.

I nodded my head, my heart pounding in my chest in anticipation. "Yes," I said. I cleared my throat, hating that my voice shook. "Yes, this is the last piece I need before I get my pack."

Chase nodded his head. "We'll help you get your pack back, Alpha," he promised, gesturing to himself and Carter. "They're your family, and we understand having ou-"

"Ok, let's let her go and get her sword piece," Carter said, interrupting his friend. He sent him an annoyed look before he looked at me. He gave me a coy smile, and I rolled my eyes, annoyed. "Have fun and stay safe, Princess," he said smoothly. "We don't know if we can get you or not. I would not like to try and upset whoever guards your sword." He sent me a wink.

Again, I rolled my eyes, and this time, I let my head roll back as well. Annoyance filled my body, and I scowled at the now laughing male.

"You remind me so much of a teenager," he teased, giving me an "award-winning" grin. "It is not even funny."

I gave him a blank look, wondering if he was either stupid or joking, the latter one winning. "I am a teenager, Carter," I said. "I'm nineteen."

Carter stared at me in shock. "What?" he asked.

"I'm nineteen," I replied. "I am a teenager." I shrugged my shoulders and grimaced. "At least for the next year."

He stared at me with an open mouth and shook his head. "Impossible," he said finally. "You are not nineteen. You are lying. There is no way in hell that you are nineteen."

I shook my head, annoyed that he didn't believe me. "I wish I were, but I am not," I replied coldly. "I am nineteen-years-old, and I have no idea why you are acting like it is such a big deal."

"It is a big deal!" Carter exclaimed. "Y-"

"Ok, can you go get your sword before you two start an argument?" Chase asked, interrupting his friend. "That is what Carter wants to do. He wants to get into an argument with you, even though he knows what you are saying is true."

"I do-" He stopped talking when Chase gave him a look and shrugged his shoulders. "Ya, I am just messing with you, Princess," he said. "Have fun getting your sword, and don't get killed." He winked. "We don't need you to get killed. I think we'll lose if you do."

I rolled my eyes and looked at Chase. "You're in charge. Make sure that he doesn't do anything stupid."

And with that, I left, ignoring Carter cussing me out and wondering why I didn't let him be in charge. Apparently, he was older than Chase by a year, even though he didn't act like it.

***

Getting the sword piece was easy, as well as getting back to base. Apparently, after I had gotten the sword piece, I was transported back to Carter and Chase, unconscious and clutching the piece of the sword close to my body. They took turns carrying me down the mountain, making sure that I was still clutching the sword piece until they reached the bottom and contacted Malena for extraction.

Thankfully, they hadn't had to go past those creatures again, and while they were waiting to be extracted, I woke up groggy with my head pounding in pain. I let out a groan and closed my eyes again, not even caring that someone was carrying me.

The person holding me chuckled, their body shaking from the laugh. "Hey," he teased. "Sleeping Beauty is now awake. We should call you Aurora, Princess, and not Jasmine."

I groaned again and furrowed my brows. "Don't," I warned, my voice cracking. I cleared my throat and noticed that my mouth was dry, and it felt like I had swallowed a whole desert. "I'm not in the mood, Carter," I said.

"And that is the best time to make fun of you," Carter teased. "And, you can't do anything about it unless you want to be dropped. Now, do you want to be dropped?"

I didn't reply because I didn't want to be dropped. However, that didn't mean I wouldn't get my revenge. I just needed to plan accordingly and make sure that he didn't expect it.

If he did, then I was sure he would do something to retaliate, and I did not want that to happen, especially when I wasn't feeling good at all. "Did you ask them to extract us?" I asked, changing the subject.

"Yes," Carter replied. "Keep your eyes closed because the gate has been open. Once you open them, we will be back at base and ready to see what the sword looks like. I think you should at least let Samuel see you put one together to make sure that he's happy."

I silently agreed and kept my eyes closed. I would let him see me fix this one sword and then do the rest without him. I knew that he didn't mean to, but he got on my nerves, especially when he was the reason that my mate got hurt.

Hopefully, I'll be able to heal Cameron when we get back because I needed him at my side while we collected our two packs from Bane's grasp.

Hang on, Guys. We're almost ready. We'll be there soon.