Love
Suddenly, it became quiet, and warmth returned to the area before I felt a rustling of leaves, and my heart leaped in my chest. I turned my gaze and noticed Ellis' impressive lycan appear from the forest. I felt fury rush through me, and I turned my face away from him.
I heard him shift into his human form. He took a tentative step towards me. I so wanted to glare at him, but I didn't want to look at him... My eyes would venture to his rippled body.
" Hey, Lovely girl," His lips moved lower and pressed against my back in a kiss. Something within me stirred to life.
" She just came unto me, I swear,"
" Vee," he called. My lycan snapped at him, and my eyes immediately inspected him. He looked delectable, and his skin glowed under the moon.
' You don't owe me an explanation, Ellis. You can fuck whomever you want,' I snapped.
" Nothing happened between Charlotte and I," My heart raced at the sincerity in his voice.
' Why are you telling me this?' I kept my voice indifferent.
" Because I love you, and I want to be with you. I don't want you to think I am still with her," he said. I was surprised he'd say that so casually.
' Well, did you reject her?' I asked, and he shook his head. Looking hurt. I rolled my eyes, it's five years ago all over again. He couldn't reject her because her wolf was a weakling and would die. I should accept that he'd never reject her! She'll always be the woman he can't get away from.
" I will the next full moon when the mage gets here, I promise," he said. I frowned. Ellis involved a mage? He didn't want her to die.
' Ellis, this is-'
A scream erupted not far from us, and Ellis and I shared a glance before we both took off to the sound.
Lying on the ground under a huge tree, twenty feet from us were two young adults, a boy and a girl. They were lying in a pool of blood, with their throats ripped open. The boy's lifeless eyes peered lifelessly towards the girl, lying next to him. I touched the bodies, they were warm.
" Their bodies are still warm," I looked up to Ellis who was busy mind-linking.
"Whoever did this is still in the area," his voice was chilling and low.
" Go, I'll be fine," I assured him. He was hesitant to leave me alone after a murder, but he knew I could take care of myself. Go, I mouthed him, and he was gone in a flash. Ellis was incredibly fast for his large size.
I listened closely to the faint sound of a ... Heartbeat. The girl was breathing, but barely. I put pressure on her open wound with my hand.
' Ellis, the girl is breathing, but narrowly. I need help,' I mind-linked him.
' Coming. So is help,'
The girl's breath was slow. I tried to comfort her, but I doubted she heard me.
" You'll be fine," I assured her. Her amber eyes were terrified. Ellis was back, and he got on his knees, assessing the young girl.
" Where the fuck is the team," he growled.
The patrol and paramedic arrived in the clearing in three minutes. I was given a sweater to wear. I watched as Ellis shouted orders to his men. He was furious that this happened within his borders, and no one noticed.
" We don't know how this could have happened, Alpha," A man with an extremely large build said. He was of high rank in the pack.
" I want to know who did this, and I want them caught," Ellis all but growled.
Paramedics put the body of the boy in a black body bag and loaded it into the ambulance. The girl wasn't too stable. I heard the doctor say it was a 50/50 chance. She lost too much blood, and her wounds were serious.
Ellis stood to the side talking to his men, and when our eyes met, he dismissed them and walked towards me.
What happened in the clearing was a scary situation. I can't imagine being in the shoes of their parents. It is the worst news any parent could receive.
" You good?" Ellis asked, putting an arm around my shoulder as we walked away. I nodded. I cast my gaze on my bloody hands.
" Ellis, before you came to the lakeside, I felt like I was being watched," I told him.
" Why didn't you tell me," he growled.
" Don't be mad at me, please,"
He took in a breath, " Baby, I'm not mad at you. I'm worried, it could have been you hurt or killed," he said gently, noticing I was emotional.
" Could it have been a rogue?" I asked quietly. Rogues were outcasts in our world. They had no packs of their own because others were banished for crimes or lost their packs to wars. Rogues had no anchor to an alpha or pack, so they lost their sanity and relied on their animal instincts. However, a few were strong enough to live happily amongst humans.
" I don't know. The scent was concealed," he answered my question after a moment. Only a few shifter could hide their scents as it was a difficult thing to do. So whoever attacked those kids must be strong.
We discussed the attack for a while, and the rest of the way, we went back in comfortable silence. Ellis was mind-linking. He would have a busy night ahead. Rogue attacks weren't uncommon amongst shifters, but never this close.
We arrived at his home, and a sigh left my lips.
" It's going to be a long night for you. We should go," I said, and he nodded.
Everyone came out to see us off. David already left when we got back, and so did Charlotte. Luis and the kids were already by the car after they said goodbye to CC and the rest of the family. I was the last to get in, but before I did Ellis grabbed my wrist.
Our gazes locked, and he caressed my skin gently.
Butterflies bounced around in my stomach at his touch.
" Love," his deep voice gentle and sexy.
It instantly appealed to me. I couldn't help but glance down at his lips before meeting his sterling grey eyes.
" Yes,"
" Love, it's always been you... Invariably," he said as he kissed my cheek.
My heart thundered in response, and he heard it. Ellis smiled slightly and scrutinized me in the depths of my eyes.
" Have a lovely night," My voice came out in a whisper. Not looking at anyone else, I got inside the car, and he closed the door. I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding and rubbed my chest.
' It's always been you,'