Forever His

Chapter Eleven

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The damage that had been done could never be undone, he knew that. He just couldn't come to terms with the loss that they all would have to bare and be reminded of for the rest of their lives. When he was younger he had lost some of the closest friends he ever had. At that time it didn't hurt as much because of how young and innocent his soul had been. But now, he realized that the result of this so called victory-as Nathaniel called it-was permanent.

The ride back to Nathaniel's house was silent. Jeremy sat in the back of his Jeep with his mate settled securely in his lap. And all of his focus, along with his wolf's, was centered on the small and delicate human being that he cradled. He listened very closely for every breath she took, for every heart beat. To keep himself calm he had to busy his hands and continuously smooth her beautiful, smoke scented hair out of her face.

He tried not to think about the bruises on her dainty wrists from the shackles that were put on her. But the one thing he was most concerned about was the wound close to her hairline that was an open gash. What had him feeling agitated was that their bond should have been healing her by now. It was taking too long.

His wolf was becoming antsy. And that was not a good thing.

He knew that there had been something wrong when she left early that morning. But he would have never thought that the outcome of what happened would have crushed him and his family. After he had called his brother Nathaniel had sent Seal to accompany Jeremy just as a precaution. One that was absolutely needed.

They had literally walked into a trap.

Jeremy had told Seal to wait outside, but if there was a chance that something went wrong Seal would be close enough to come in as quickly as possible. As soon as he felt Chandler fall from his grasp he realized that they were no longer the only ones besides Lex that had been in that house.

As he took a crouched and protected position over his mate he called out for Seal. Only Seal did not come.

The door had opened and Lex's mother came into the house dragging and an unconscious and bloody Seal behind her. "Gerald, I found him outside patrolling. And Lex was with him."

His eyes swept up the stairs to see Lex's father slowly coming down the stairs. The bald man held a gun aimed at Jeremy and flicked the safety off.

Jeremy's wolf went on the defensive. This was bad, very bad.

"Only two out of four. Well they will soon be here where we can finally take you filthy mangy mutts off the face of this God forsaken earth." The man stopped and smiled like a mad man that had his coffee pissed in.

Jeremy braced himself for the bullet. He would protect his mate until his very last and defeated breath. A growl rose from his chest as his eyes glowed a fluorescent shade of a gold.

Gerald laughed. "Don't be a hero, boy. You're mate won't die...yet."

And that's all Jeremy could remember and he came back to the present and kissed Chandler's forehead.

He remembered waking up on the grass and seeing Seal lying beside him and smelling smoke that was so strong that it burned his nose. Jeremy had watched as his brother heaved up Seal and placed him in the back of his Jeep.

As Nathaniel rolled to a screeching stop in front of the house Jeremy could see Alyson and Rex running out of the house. Rex had stayed behind as to protect the women of the family.

Alyson's four month old baby bump was small, yet noticeable as she thew herself at her mate.
Tears were streaking her face as she clung to her mate. "Where is she?"

Nathaniel instantly tried to calm her. "In the car with Jeremy. She's sleeping."

Jeremy took that as his cue and slowly opened the door and stepped out onto the ground. Alyson was swiftly at his side checking over Chandler to see her injuries. She flinched at the temperature of her body.

"Take her to her room. Lay her down and get her warm."

Jeremy needed no more instruction. He headed for the house, but something caught his eye. Gracie.

She stood by the door, her eyes cast down and arms crossed as if she was trying to hold herself together. Her lips quivered as small tears fell from her eyes.

Jeremy wanted to say something; he wanted to reassure her that her mate did not die in vain. He wanted to tell her his death was painless and swift. But he couldn't. And that pissed him off. If only he could have woken up. He could have stopped this. If only he was stronger.

They had burned Seal when the moon shone the brightest that night. It was an honor to be burned, for his ashes were to be carried by the wind to their great ancestors to dwell for eternity. The men were wolves, giving the greatest respect to those fallen comrade and brother. Howling into the night together singing a song of mourning. And the women surrounded his mate holding her close while she wept.

They had lost their Beta. And it was a great loss in dead.

After the dawn had begun to make its presence known they all returned inside. Jeremy left the others and went straight away to his mate. He opened the door softly and pulled the chair from her desk so he could sit by her while her body mended itself. But as he took ahold of her hand and felt the coolness of it he disregarded the chair and slipped under the mountain of covers that cocooned her.

Her rubbed her arms fervently, trying to bring warmth to her, while whispering sweet nothings in her ear.

Seeing Gracie so broken and lost without her mate made Jeremy's bloodlust rise. He had never felt such a desire for spilt blood in his life. But he had to reign in his wolf and keep reminding himself that Chandler was here with him, safe and at home.

He pressed his forehead to hers and that was when he felt a tear slide down his cheek and into hers. He was so close to losing her. So close. And that night before in bed he had told her that he would protect her from anything and everything. Some protector.

From now on, he vowed silently, he would never let her out of his sight. Nothing would ever harm her again. She was his everything. She would never be hurt because of him again.

He would make damn sure.

Because she was his.

WELL??!?? Cliffy;)