Fade [Formerly titled "Rejected"]

Chapter 17

That price is your life.

Those words have been haunting me for the past three hours.

After the horrific experience with the creepy cloak dude, I woke up in a far part of the forest. I didn't know where I was and the shock from what I had endured rendered me practically useless. Words failed to find their way out of my mouth, I couldn't successfully mind link anyone, I felt too weak to shift, and worst of all I couldn't scent out anything. Luckily, I soon found my way back to the path which my brother most probably was still lying there dying.

After a long trek and me fighting myself not to pass out, I finally reached my brother. I checked his pulse, and it was barely there. Mustering up all the strength I had, I called desperately for Cody.

My voice was barely able to go above a whisper, but somehow I think he felt the mate bond between us because he soon came running up to me, his face an utter mess.

His lip was busted and bleeding and he had a giant cut across his left cheek. Not to mention the red eyes and bruised nose.

I figured that dude had beat him up too, in order too scare me. Well it worked. I was terrified.

"Skye!" He ran up to me and hugged me tightly.

"C-cody...... Lucas." I whispered and turned my head to look at my still bleeding out brother.

"Oh my god....." He trailed off in a worried voice.

He picked up Lucas and motioned for me to head back towards the pack house.

We ran as fast as we could, Cody in human form because we can't risk dropping Lucas, and me, finally gaining strength back, in wolf form.

When we got back, looks of horror came from other pack members' faces. Probably because Cody was beat up and carrying a bleeding out stranger.

We rushed into the pack doctor's room and he immediately took in the boys. He looked me over once to make sure I didn't have any wounds. Just a few bruises from when I fell on my way to Lucas.

I wasn't feeling as weak anymore so that was a plus.

Soon Cody came out with a giant band aid thing on his cheek. Still, no matter how much my mate tried comforting me, the few last words I heard from the cloak guy kept repeating in my mind.

My price is your life.

Fricking psychos these days.

As I rocked back and forth with my knees pressed against my chest on a sofa in the pack doctor's waiting room, Cody examined me worriedly. It's now been six hours since we got back here.

"Hey, Skye?" Cody asked quietly, his voice sounding concerned.

"Yes?" I muttered.

"I think we should get to bed. It's almost midnight." He said and touched my arm.

I pondered on wether I should stay here and wait or go get some much needed sleep. After a minute, I nodded and stood up, suddenly feeling dizzy. Cody noticed and picked me up bridal style.

"We can spend the night in our room here tonight if you would like." He offered. I just nodded again.

I know it's weird I was thinking I hated him but yet loved him the same time just over 24 hours ago, and now we're going to be sleeping in the same bed, but I realize now that he's my mate and I need him more than anything in the world. I also realize that I love him deeply and I don't intend in giving him up.

By the time we entered the room, I was already really drowsy. He turned on a lamp then set me down on the bed.

"You can wear one of my shirts to bed if you want." Cody offered with a smile.

"Okay." I smiled back.

"I'll be right back." He said and then left the room. I heard him open a door about three rooms down.

That price is your life.

That sentence played over and over in my head and I couldn't help but feel like the cloaked dude himself was making it do that, just to try driving me practically insane. I let out a shaky breath from the thought of how bad this could get. I recalled him saying something about killing my mate and I felt dizzy.

No matter how scared I may be of the current situation, there is no way I will let that creature touch my mate. My wolf yipped and howled in agreement.

Cody came back with a shirt for me. He put it next to me on the bed.

"Hey, Skye?" He said shakily.

"Yeah?" I curiously replied.

"I, Cody Rodgers, accept you, Skyelen Hamilton, as my mate and love for the rest of eternity." He said and sat down next to me, taking hold of my hand.

"I, Skyelen Hamilton, accept you, Cody Rodgers, as my mate and love for the rest of eternity." I beamed and he kissed me passionately. Almost immediately I felt the mate bond between us strengthen and I returned the kiss and I wished we could go on like this forever. However, after about five minutes of making out we had to break apart. We were both breathing heavily and smiling.

I stood up an grabbed the shirt Cody brought to me and went into the bathroom. I closed the door and flicked on the lights. When I put his shirt on, his scent engulfed me and I loved it. I decided that it would be better to wash my face considering I had a small cut on my forehead I didn't know about but apparently it bled a lot. I turned in the sink and splashed some cold water on my face. I scrubbed my face and got rid of the dried blood that went down from my forehead to my cheek.

I walked out and Cody was already in bed. He turned to me and smiled widely. I returned the smile and climbed into bed with him. He immediately wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me close to him so my back was pressed against his chest. The sparks were everywhere and I snuggled into him, enjoying every second. I fell asleep quickly.

-------------------------------------------

I felt a sharp pain in my right wrist that woke me up. The pain was almost too much, and my hand was shaking violently. I whimpered and Cody jolted awake, instantly hugging me tightly and asking me what was wrong.

I sat up and looked at my wrist. I cried because of the pain and also because of what was there and who I knew had imprinted it on me.

There, in silver letters engraved in my skin creating a massive burning pain, were the words The Price Is Your Life.

I was overcome by dizziness then everything went black.