Resisting Fate (Predetermined) (25 page)

“I’m…sorry Em.”

“No, no apologies!” I growled my hold on his face grew tighter and he winced, but I wasn’t letting go, no matter what.

He went silent, but his eyes opened up again, enough to hold my gaze for another second. “Love…you…Red.”

I shook my head. He wasn’t listening to me! He was giving up! The stupid bastard was giving up! He was not going to push me away.

So I did the only thing that I had left to sway him to fight. I kissed him.

My lips were hard, pressured with a suctioning motion as I held our mouths together. I wrapped my arms around his neck, sending my message of survival from my mouth to his, finding that mating connection we barely shared, and pulling it to me with my need to heal him. I didn’t know if it would work, but I did know I had to try. I ran my hands through his grimy hair, needing the normalcy of the most abnormal moment possible, completely unaware of the crazy man speaking in tongues behind us this time.

Obviously someone up in the clouds had other plans, because at that moment, that one standstill second in time, Zachary’s mouth went limp. And then his body followed suit not even a minute later. I broke apart and scooted backwards, but I didn’t let him go. I attacked his already bruised body with my punching fists. He still didn’t stir.

“No, Zachary! No…don’t you dare leave me. Please, God, help him.” I fell to my knees, wrapping my arms around his legs and ankles as I attempted to make him move. I was desperate and lost. I was losing him.

“How does it feel there,
girlie
? To lose someone you love, hmm?” I felt his presence approach me from behind, and I gripped the dowel that had fallen on the floor, tightly within my fingers. “
Answer me, dammit
!
How does it feel?”
His rage didn’t scare me.

I stood up, locking my arms to my side, raising my chin up. The dowel practically burned in my hands as I pressed it against my leg.

When the dying mate’s heart finally stops beating or the bond is completely severed, than the craziness starts in on the mate that’s left behind. Fear, anxiety, hatred, anger…

“I’ll kill you…” I grumbled low in my chest. I barely recognized my own voice. The symptoms that Jack had spoken of only yesterday…or whenever the hell that was…played over and over in my head like a skipping CD that would never be fixed. “I’ll kill you,” I whispered again.

“No you won’t, you don’t have it in you. You wouldn’t dare kill the father of your one
true
mate.” He smirked crossing his arms across his chest.

“That’s the thing you crazy old man, I don’t give a shit who you are anymore!”

With adrenaline soaring through my body like it was all I was made of, I moved with a speed that I didn’t think was possible. Nope, it wasn’t super powers, just some fast as hell track legs from three years of participating in a sport that I was pretty damn good at.

The dowel connected to his head with a crunch, instantly knocking him onto the floor on his knees. He groaned, holding his hand over the new welt on his forehead. I threw the dowel to the ground with a smack, and luckily he didn’t stop to look up at me as I raced by him.

An object wailed on me from behind, hitting me square between the shoulders blades. I cried out, arching my back as the pain rushed through me. It was nothing compared to the pain of my chest and head, but it still held enough oomph to send me flying to the floor.

“There will be none of that, you little bitch. I’ve been patient with you, and I am
not
 a patient man.” With the flick of his fingers he shoved me back towards the door, approaching me at a scary, slow pace. He hovered over me, pinching his chin between his forefinger and thumb as I lied there, trembling on the ground.

“You’ve really done it this time…” he snarled, stretching his hands out in front of me as evil words spilled from his mouth. “I will take no pity on you, child. You…are done.”

I inhaled once, before I felt my body smash against a wall. My legs dangled in the air, the brick against my back burned my shoulders. I was being held hostage, but unlike Zachary, nothing was physically holding me there. No chains, no hands, nothing… I ignored the panic building, needing to fight this through till my last very last breath. But with a speed I couldn’t even begin to comprehend, he was there in front of me again, burning me with the end of a metal rod.

I roared, throwing my head back. The pain…it was unbearable, scorching me from the inside out as he placed the metal onto my hands, and then my shoulders, and finally my neck. “I’d say we mark that pretty little face of yours up, but this should do the trick,” he tilted his head to the side, “You see, I do have an ounce of humanity left in me after all. How dare you doubt me?” His laughed looking around at the emptiness of the room. Wow…he was truly insane.

Then, like a lightning bolt had crashed down on him, he fell backwards, landing flat on his back. I fell too, my wrist snapping as I caught myself. I gripped it, trying to sit back up, barely aware of the pain due to the fact that another horrific noise erupted at the door.

Cold fingers began to take hold of my body, but instead of relief, it only burned worse. I threw my hands up, trying to rid the pain, trying to extinguish the new grip from my body.

“Oh, God, we’re too late. Noooo!” A feminine cry that rivaled my own howled off in the distance, making me cringe. I curled into a tight ball, wanting to stay there forever, and then some.

“Keep it together, love. We need you. He’s going to be okay, I promise you! She was here with him. She saved him!” The male voice came from the man with the cold hands that wouldn’t let me go. And rather than fear, a sense of safety finally encompassed me and finally I leaned into his hold.

“Mr. Martin…it hurts!” I wasn’t sure which hurt more though, the burns inflicted onto my skin, or the pain in my heart from knowing that Zachary was dead.

“It’ll be okay, Emmy. Jack’s here now. He’s going to make it okay.” I nodded, sucking in the strength of his voice greedily, shouldering my way deeper into his hold as he cradled me into his arms and stood. I needed his comfort, I couldn’t freak out anymore.

 I stared over his shoulder. The picture of Mrs. Martin there at her son’s side, using her fingers to undo his chains would forever be engrained into my mind. Then a sloshing, wet sound entered my ears. It sounded like water dripping, but then I diverted attention, noticing a black wolf off in the corner. That noise…it was flesh ripping away from bones.

Everything around me ceased to exist as I watched on with weird fascination. Everything went silent, even though it was anything but. My comatose condition held my unblinking eyes to the back of Jack’s wolf.

Blood covered the floor, skin, pieces of flesh and hair piled in the center of it all. I couldn’t see where the mess ended and another began. All I knew was that Jack’s father had to have died long before his dismemberment began.

“Don’t watch, Emmy…”

I nodded, agreeing with him, but still unable to pull my stare away as we exited the room.

Dear sweet Jesus.

Jacks wolf had gone and murdered his own father.

Chapter Seventeen

“Take her, Kelsey. She’s in shock.”

“Jesus, what are all these things on her skin…burn marks? What the hell happened to her?”

“Mitchell Hartman happened to her.”

So the man that would forever have a permanently starring role in my nightmares had a name.
Mitchell.
Huh, who would have thought that someone so evil could have such a pure name, a pure, ordinary, and father-like name?

Mr. Martin lowered me to the hard ground, and my head lulled back against the soft form of my best friend. She wrapped a heavy fleece blanket around my shoulders, and as if on cue, I began to shiver. She pulled me into to her body between her legs, shushing me with soft whispers as she rocked me back and forth like a child. I was numb inside, no emotions took hold, but the external pain still continued to torture me.

“Hey, shh, you’re okay, Emmy, breathe. You’re safe now. He won’t hurt you anymore, I swear.” Her voice was hoarse, angry, almost as if she was fighting against tears, fighting too for control.

Her hand trembled ever so slightly as she brushed the matted, sweaty hair from my forehead. I couldn’t look at her yet, or anything else for that matter, due to the fact that the house seated one hundred or so feet in front of us was holding every single ounce of my attention.

From the outside, it appeared peaceful in the early morning sun. Like a place where one might go for a summer vacation. I knew what lurked on the inside…death, evilness, pain…loss.

The sun was barely rising over the roof, and the cold, October morning held a frosty chill to it. Steam filtered out of our mouths from our breaths, the crackling of nearby tree branches echoed eerily around us. Wetness slowly dripped onto my forehead, and I finally glanced up at Kelsey, only to see giant teardrops falling from her big, black eyes. She didn’t wipe them away as she stared down at me. She did manage a small smile.

“Jeez, Emmy, I was so scared! When Jack left school yesterday morning, he said he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong, so he came back and waited for you after school. Then you never showed up honey, and he was a mess.
I
was a mess. He tore through that parking lot on his black bike, like a bat outta flipping hell. Nobody was going to stop him from finding you. And I was right behind him.”

My brows drew together in confusion, hatred, “But he knew,” I swallowed and my already messed up stomach churned uneasily. I put my hand on the spot, willing the tightness to ease. “He knew that his dad was back, Kelsey, and he told me he was here to protect me from the very thing he already knew was lurking around us. Maybe he knew all along and didn’t tell me because he
wanted
me and Zachary to die.”

She sighed before she bit back at me. Her body stiffened in what I could only assume was defense of her ever-perfect Jack. “Yeah, you’re right,”

I blinked…I was?

“He did know, but Jesus Christ, Em, how could you think that he wanted you dead? He loves you for shit’s sake! Sure he might have some weird ways of showing it, but he does…honestly. I Cross my heart, hope to die.” I shook my head at our old childhood pledge. She was wrong. She had to be! “Besides, half the reason his dad found out you were here was because that numbnuts brother of his turned you in. Jack’s in the wrong for trusting him, but he’s also not in the wrong because he was doing everything in his power to keep you safe all along. He swore up and down to me, and everyone else around us, that Adrian was trustworthy. I had my doubts then when I saw him that day in class. I knew something about his wasn’t right.”

“So what, you’re a witch and a fortune telling one at that?” I scoffed, my strength finally regaining as I laughed humorlessly at her ridiculous assumptions.

“Guess you could say that, and…what? Quit laughing.” She playfully pushed against my shoulders as a sad smile plays out on her face. Then I felt her shoulders tense as she stilled. I followed her gaze as it focused on the house. I couldn’t look up because, well, let’s face it; nothing worse could possibly have happened at that point. Whatever was irking her must not be too terrible because she sighed seconds later, placing her chin on top of my head as she pulled me into yet another hug.

I sighed, definitely not wanting the silence of the early morning to overrun me again. If I let it, I’d have to think about Zachary, and I didn’t want to do that. “Jack betrayed me! He told me that he’d never let anything happen to me, and he even told me that he loved me,” in a roundabout way. “All he did was lie, because if you loved someone, or even cared about them deeply enough, then you’d keep them safe in every way you could.”

As if they understood me, my burns began to singe my flesh again. I cringed, sitting up quickly, only to hold my arms out to the side to try and reign in some sort of comfort. I bit my lip, fighting the scream that was building inside my throat.

“Shit, you’re hurting Em! Don’t worry. Jack will be out here soon. He’ll make it better.”

I shook my head, leaning out of her comforting hold. I needed to distance myself from her, from all of this actually. “No, he can’t touch me,” I fell to my knees, “The bond, it’ll only get stronger.” I fell forward onto my hands and knees, my wrist protesting severely as I pushed myself into a standing position. “I didn’t want that. I don’t want him.” She sighed, letting me slip away. Not before she stood up herself. She reached out and grabbed my hand, bringing me closer to her side. She nodded sadly at me. Finally, she must have gotten it. I lifted my chin, “I don’t love him. I will
never
love him again.” My lies smacked loudly around inside of my brain, but I held firm to my answer, unwavering.

She sighed; exasperation was in her voice as she spoke, “Keep trying to convince yourself Em, because I get it, I really do. Besides that, wolf boy isn’t really dead,” she shrugged, dropping my hand as she stared back at the house. Her hands fumbled out in front of her, and my jaw practically hit the ground as I gawked at her.

“Don’t look at me like that, Emerly O’Connell, I’m serious. Check it out for yourself.” She flicked her hand carelessly towards the house, her face held solidly with its frown.

I crossed my arms, holding in my cry of pain as I turned towards the nothingness she was referring to. I wanted to yell at her, to scream in anger at her, but I couldn’t, I didn’t. Call it lack of energy, or call it an inkling of hope, I didn’t know why I let it go.

And then I stopped breathing…again. No, no way!

“Zachary?” I cried out on a whisper, grabbing my throat as the familiar reddish brown wolf came trudging down the front steps.

My heartbeat exploded in my chest, beating well over a hundred beats per second. I rubbed my eyes with my palms, seeing the unbelievable come to life before me. It really was Zachary, with his head held high, and a ridiculously adorable, wolfy grin smothered across his hairy muzzle. I stumbled forward, tripping over a few random branches along my way to get to him.

Then he picked up speed too, sprinting wildly towards me, his big, red paws hit the brush at a booming pace. My legs shook as I raced to meet him halfway. And finally, he was there; wolf Zachary, licking my hands, rubbing his head against my leg like an everyday puppy.

“Zachary? Is that you really you?” I knew it was and I smiled, but I had to ask anyways.

In his doggy sort of way he nodded, absolutely one hundred percent finally understanding me, like Jack’s wolf had done in the beginning. I stiffened at my thoughts; it wasn’t the time to think of Jack. I had Zachary alive and at my feet.

I lowered myself onto my knees before him gripping his muzzle with my hands, forcing him to look me straight in the eyes so I could catch proof that it was really him. And sure enough, there they were, golden and beautiful eyes, utterly and completely Zachary.

“How is this possible, Kelsey? I saw him breathe his last breath. I saw him…die.” I lowered my face to the top of his now bowed head, marveling at the softness of his fur on my cheek.

“Well, he had you there obviously to keep his heartbeat going strong, even after he stopped breathing. Guess it has something to do with that magical wolf bond thing you two share,” Bitterness laced her voice as she flicked a nearby stick carelessly towards the edge of the gravel drive. I studied her profile, noting her jaw clench tight as her eyes pulled together. She didn’t turn to look at us. She kept kicking and kicking until the spot by her foot was bare. Obviously the animosity she felt towards Zachary was still there, a near death experience hadn’t even swayed her apparently. “Then his mom came, and she’s a witch with some healing powers, so, ya know. He’s gotta stay a wolf for a bit longer to heal the internal injuries, but he’ll be as good as new by tonight.”

My hands buried deep into his fur, but I couldn’t stop looking at Kelsey's stern face. All traces of her earlier sadness was gone, in its place was irritation, anger. I didn’t understand how she could like one wolf, but completely despise another. Zachary had never
personally
done anything to her as far as I knew.

“Hey, sweetie, how’re ya doing?” Mrs. Martin’s voice startled me out of my wandering thoughts as she kneeled down next to her son, scratching his ears and head. His head was currently sprawled out across my lap, with his jaw hanging wide open, his tongue lagging out to the side. His eyes were shut, whether it was out of contentment or sleepiness, I wasn’t sure.

“I’m okay,” I cringed, as my burns singed across my skin. I knew they weren’t going to go away on their own, only an extended hospital stay or something that I didn’t even want to consider right now was going to fix me up.

“Let’s get you to the car. I’ve got gauze and some antibiotic lotion we can swab on there if you’d like. That might help the pain a bit.”

“No. I’m not leaving him. I mean…I can’t leave him.” I nibbled on my lip and she smiled sadly at me, nodding as she stood. Her gaze left mine, only to focus on the new person walking towards us. I held my breath, not wanting to look because I was scared of who it might have been.

“It’s taken care of, but the elders…they’ll need to come for the uh…mess.”

“I understand. And how is–”

“He’s hurting… It’s going to take some time…maybe a lot of time…but he’s tough.” My back stiffened up as my ears took in Mr. and Mrs. Martin’s conversation. I knew exactly to whom Mr. Martin was referring, but I didn’t pretend to listen. I wasn’t supposed to care about Jack and how he was feeling. I made my choice to walk away from liars like him and I wasn’t going back.

“Hey, Emmy, we need to get you back to your place. Your mother thinks you stayed with Kelsey last night, but since you have school today and you’re not in any shape to go, we’re going to have to come up with a reason for the marks on your body. She won’t be pleased.”

I jerked my head up, finally focusing on Mr. Martin, realizing once again that I completely forgot about my mom and Jamie. C
rap
. I lowered Zachary’s head to the ground, but like a live wire, he was up at my feet before I could really even stand up fully myself. His eyes looked up at me with adoration, and he whined. I smiled down at him, scratching his head in reassurance behind his little brown ears. He whimpered as if silently trying to communicate something with me. I frowned slightly, why didn’t the whole mind-talking thing work with him?

“She’s got to go, Zachary, but your mom’s going to take her home. How about a run…just the two of us?” Mr. Martin slipped off his shirt and my face flushed as I turned from his face, to his wife. Crap, I totally ogled Zachary’s dad. I had to admit, I’d never seen a forty-eight year old man with abs that fantastic before.

Holy crap…

I shook my head, refocusing on Kelsey’s, “Hey, I’m uh, leaving too. See you guys later.” I had almost forgotten she was there. I moved to go say a private goodbye to her, but I found a wolf at my heels, emitting a low growl instead.

“Hey, I’m fine, Zachary, its only Kelsey.” He looked up at me, face losing the snarl, but the low grumble of disapproval was still there in his throat. I scratched his head to calm him before leaving him behind.

My footsteps faltered as I neared her. A sad, distant look was there on her face as she stared over my shoulder. I glanced back to see what she was going all doom and gloom about, only seeing Zachary as a wolf and nothing more. I cleared my throat, and she jumped back, startled obviously. Right away her frown diminished, turning into a smile that was anxious, fake even. Totally not Kelsey like at all.