Quiver

6

Roman

My eyes were round with shock at the scent of her and as I drifted closer in all the chaos, I saw her. Her matted hair was longer and she was so very thin, scars were on the skin that was visible and my blood boiled at the thought of the Jaecars harming Rori. I wanted to kill them for even taking her, but right now I couldn't be bothered as I watched Rori take Cole from someone new. Someone else who was Lupus and strange. I felt a growl surge up my throat and spill out causing Rori to jerk her head in my direction. Her sea green eyes widened and she stood, though glanced worriedly at a moaning Cole. I could feel her reluctance to come to me and my eyes fell back on the strange Lupus to her, but Rori shook her head before returning to gaze at Cole. I had noticed Bree near me and she looked ready to fly at Rori as tears streamed down her face, but I gripped her and held her back. Bree made an irritated noise until Rori's eyes skipped to her briefly, before returning to Cole once more. Bree's face crumpled, but she seemed to understand and slipped away, further into the house.

Feeling better that she had made no ties to the new Lupus I crept closer and realized I could smell another Lupus. I gazed around in hopes of finding the other one, but stilled as my eyes came in contact with Cole who was groaning on the couch.

No...

I inhaled deeply and I could smell it, Lupus mixed with Cole. It was true my sense of smell wasn't fooling me at all. Cole was a Lupus now and it had happened by either Rori herself or the Jaecars. I was guessing by Rori's concerned gaze that it was the ássholes who took her and the fact she'd never learned how a human was turned wolf. It was a simple process, but it required a well aimed bite with one's wolf canines, much the same way we marked our mates. However our bite to human's was deadly, you had to have a strong soul to survive like Trevor and Cody. No matter what Claire and her minions did to turn Cole, he still had needed the soul for it.

My eyes never left Rori's face as I thought all of this and I wanted to go to her, but I didn't dare come any closer. I had wanted to scoop her up the second I'd smelled her, but I could see just how tense she really was so I stayed away.

Annalise and Aurora came rushing back with things for Cole and promptly eased Rori away from her brother, making her sit on a sofa. Her eyes slowly eased away from Cole once more and landed on me. She looked unsure and I tried not to feel the hurt there. I had hoped she'd want to hug me or something, but the distant look on her face said the opposite. Her eyes broke from my face and I watched her gaze at the unfamiliar Lupus in the room who was rather tense in the pack environment. Nevertheless as Rori waved him over to sit beside her, he did. They began talking quietly, so quietly I couldn't hear and it angered me. I had wanted to be that person comforting her. I was her mate. She was mine.

But this isn't like the old days, Roman. Every Lupus can love who they wish...maybe she just gave up on you since you never came and he did.

The thoughts wounded me further and despite her saying she wasn't with the Lupus in her own way, it still stung. I was still jealous and I couldn't stand and watch them anymore. I tore my eyes away from them and ignored the way the wolfish side of me who had already claimed Rori as my own screamed in protest. I stormed out the door and even in the chaos I heard people shout my name, but I knew no one would come... it was important to tend to Cole and Rori. I just needed space.

**

Rori

I could feel Roman's eyes burning into me within seconds of me being in the house, but my concern was solely on Cole. The growl Roman had made when I took Cole from Elliere had me looking up briefly, but I quickly looked back to my brother after confirming Elliere was not a replacement for him. I had looked back over that way when I seen movement and spotted Bree, my best friend and Witch. Something about her being here and comfortable made me feel weird, distant, and I quickly looked away. Out of the corner of my eye, I seen her walk away...probably hurt and I felt bad, but only until my focus was back on Cole who moaned.