Colton's memory is of the last seconds before the fog, and I pull back to blink at him, aware that Leyanne broke the spell, but this isn't over. As much as I want to relish having him back, staring at the gorgeousness of his brown eyes and sweet face, I know we can't right now. Our witch and wolves are in that mountain and might need help to get back out.
"We don't have time right now, just trust me..... we need to get up and go get Meadow and the pack. They went into the mountain. The vampires won't let them go without a fight, and only half a dozen are there."
"The what?" Colton's eyes widen in shock, pulling back rapidly but not letting me go, and he darts a look up ahead of him at the looming rock in the distance through the dense trees as though trying to visualize a scene before him. His pupils dilate as his brain kicks into gear, and his entire body stiffens as I feed on his sudden panic and heavy confusion. Hesitating as he looks down at me and then to the armor before flicking a questioning glance at Carmen, who stands silently nearby watching us. It's only now, looking past him, that I can see human wolves wandering around, mumbling to one another, all with dazed expressions and questions. Talking, looking this way. None of them remember anything.
"What aren't you telling me? Why didn't you turn?" Colton hits my eyes with his, slightly ambering as his feelings spiral, and I can tell he's raking his memory for answers. I don't get a chance, just clinging to him to stop my body from shaking. Reassuring myself that his touch is real, that his warmth is real. I missed him so much.
"What the fuck is going on?" Cesar falls onto his knees at the side of Colton, cutting into our reunion with his tone of angry misunderstanding, and hauls him by the arm. "Cole, the entire fucking pack seems to be out here..... I have no idea why. And no one has any clothing, so we all came out here and turned?!!?!?! Why are you here, Luna? You left!" Cesar looks over me and then narrows his eyes on the fact I have clothes, yet they are blood-soaked and torn, and there's a lot of chain mail on show and a discarded breastplate that's seen better days. I can almost decipher the questions forming behind that sharp gaze.
"Get up. Cesar, Meadow is in the mountain with rabid vampires who fancy a wolfy munch for breakfast. We need to go get her." It's all the words he needs as his eyes widen and his expression tightens. Carmen's haughty way of explaining does a better job than my pleading lame commands could.
"Hell no, those fuckers touch my girl over my dead body." He's on his feet, turning in a flash, without hesitation or doubting what she says. He needs to protect his mate against all costs and, with a howl, seems to rally the troops around us and tears off in the direction of the mountain as Colton moves me to a seated position on the ground beside him. I can feel his indecision about leaving me. He's rattled because he woke to find me close to death, and something in him seems to be rooting him here instead of going with Cesar to take the lead.
"I... I .....Turn and stay on my tail, don't leave my shadow. We'll get them out. You can explain after. Just don't stray away, okay?" He makes a move. Lets go of me gently as I sit straighter and gets up onto his feet, but he stops when I hesitate and turns back to me. He has no idea how it feels to see him again, that he's here, and he's him, and the spell is gone, but at the same time..... my desire to stick to his ass and follow him isn't realistic.
"I can't ... leave me here... go ... I'll be okay. I can't keep up like this, and I don't need to now you're here. I'll follow, I promise. Go, please, save them." I plead, begging with my eyes that he stops delaying.
"I don't understand, Lorey... I'm not leaving you here after I found you like that. I never leave you. Get up, come with me. Mates stay side by side." He reaches a hand out to me, but I push it away, hating that I only just got him back, and I'm urging him to leave me. I must. Their safety is the priority now.
Without the wolves in the woods, there is no immediate danger here anymore for me. It's daylight, and a chunk of our pack is inside that mountain, fighting to get out again. Besides, despite Cesar taking off like a bat out of hell with everyone around this immediate area, Carmen still stands quiet and on guard, making it clear she stays with me.
"I won't be far behind you. I'm slower right now. Please, Colton, there's too much to explain. Just go where you're needed and bring them out. Carmen's here. She won't let any harm come to me." I point out with a bright smile, trying to soothe his unease.
I see the torn decision in him, the way his eyes shift from me to her, and the obvious mistrust that what I say can be true. I mean, for him, Carmen is a sobbing mess whose mom just died and hates me, right? How can I trust her to be my bodyguard when I have powers stronger than hers? Why am I not just turning white wolf and savagely kicking Vampire's ass by his side? I can see it all spinning through his head, trying to combine the pieces and understand nothing.
His inability to choose between the need to go and do what I ask. To save his pack from whatever he doesn't understand, but also the need to stay with me because waking up to me like that has shaken him to the core. He's afraid of what he doesn't remember has happened. Afraid I'm not safe, he can't fathom why my gifts are failing me.
He doesn't need to make any call as a howl ahead is followed by a link, and in a blink, the decision isn't required, and he turns instantly. I hear it too. The call for help from our wolves inside the mountain and the alpha in him takes over. Wolf materializes before me as he leans in and rubs his huge face against my head in a show of tender affection. It's his way of saying, I love you, but I need to go.
I trust you. Follow. If you need me, link... You know I'll come to you.
In a flash, he's gone, hightailing after Cesar in the direction of the call, and I pull myself up to recover. I need a moment to let all this catch-up, and I instinctively check my body for any signs of wounds and find nothing at all. Colton has fully healed every tiny scratch and abrasion, and I can already tell I'm so much stronger from his attention. His return has brought back my safety, security, and peace of mind. Inhaling heavily and shaking my limbs to test them, I'm still not letting it sink in that he's okay, and this is almost over. We have them back, our strongest – our alpha. Our sub pack. We can't fail now; we outnumber the vampires this way too.
"You okay? Really?" Carmen comes to my side, kneeling beside me, and takes a minute to check for herself, pulling my underclothes from my breastplate aside to check my neck and chest. She has a stern expression as she meticulously looks for herself and seems satisfied by her examination. She pulls the shield piece over, bends it back to the shape it should be, and swiftly slides it to my body to clip it again to the chain mail.
"I don't need it anymore, and yes, I feel healed and......" I can't put into words how much my soul is soaring. My heart is swelling, and my sanity is returned. Healed and reborn as my love was returned to me fully. There's no other feeling like this; adrenaline overtakes me with squealing happiness. It feels like the past week of heavy depression has gone, and the sun is shining brighter than it has in days.
"Good, and don't argue. It still serves a purpose, and vampires can't splice metal as we can." She's stern and bossy, and despite my being HER Luna, she puts it back on me and tugs the straps into place to secure it. I gaze at her stubborn little face and can't help but begin to smile at her, warmth overtaking me.
"You're so...... don't change." I sigh happily, ignoring how she squints at me and then tosses her hair back like she doesn't care. I see it, though, the soft little flicker in her eyes, and she turns away and looks to the mountain with a nod to evade the moment.
"We should go. Meadow needs us." She reminds me, avoiding any further bonding and dodging my words. I nod, knowing she's right, give myself a two-second pause and then haul off the ground with a little help from her before I smooth my hand over my stomach to check for any pain or discomfort.
"Hold on in there. Not much more, and we're home free. Daddy is okay. We guys are okay.... hold tight, babies." I smile to myself, feeling Carmen's gaze, but there's no hint of envy, jealousy, or even heartache. She stares at my belly, and a smile touches her face that chases away the pointed, cold, aloof that is always present. A hint that if she ever let someone remove that icy wall, a beautiful and warm soul exists inside. I sense only her desire to do what she said. Keep my unborn safe. The promise she made me.
I turn on my toes and sprint after Colton at hyperspeed, following his scent. I know my energy will lapse again, but for now, I have his power in me too, with the efforts of his healing, I can run faster than before. Once again, in control, chasing vampires and kicking the ass of the right creatures instead of us.
Let's see how they fare now we ruined their plans and reunited our pack.