Chapter 51

The world is very fuzzy.

I can hear people talking around me. I even think someone might be crying, but I can’t decipher one sound from the next.

My vision is blurred and hazy, but I can see a massive pair of paws on the ground in front of me. When I try to follow the path of the creature’s muscular legs upwards, I find only a velvety grey expanse of a wolf’s torso.

He’s standing over me. I know without question that it’s Chase, though I don’t understand how. My nose is clogged with blood, so I can’t smell a thing. Still, some other sense of knowing tells me my mate is guarding me from the women who tried to hurt my friend, and even though pain is wracking every inch of my body, I feel completely safe.

As the moments drag past, pain turns to agony and a feeble moan escapes me. A cold nose nudges my cheek, and suddenly I realize I must have closed my eyes. I see only darkness as a large, warm tongue laps at my forehead, and even when I hear my mate whine with so much concern my heart aches, I can’t find the strength to stay awake.

Sleep pulls me under in a blissful wave of relief, and I drift off thinking only of Chase.

————————-

Caspian

Chase is anxiously guarding Kiera, carefully licking her wounds and trying to coax her back to consciousness. Meanwhile Viviane continues to cry, and a rush of savage anger floods through my veins.

Setting my sights on Madison and Courtney, both whimpering and trying to find their feet, I stalk across the sidewalk to tower over their cowering forms. I don’t bother shifting, I grab Courtney’s scruff in one powerful hand, and Madison’s in the other, lifting the she-wolves into the air like a pair of rag dolls.

Giving them both a vicious shake and ignoring their winces of pain, I snarl, “shift!”

They instantly obey, both transforming until I have two naked women hanging on either side of me, rather than a pair of puffed up bullies who are so certain of their own superiority, yet only brave enough to take on helpless mermaids and felines a fraction of their size. “Explain.” I growl, giving them another shake.

“They started it!” Courtney immediately cries. “We were only defending ourselves.”

“They started it?” I repeat in disbelief. “A pint-sized cat and my mate - who is too gentle to hurt a fly let alone a pair of fully shifted wolves?”

“It’s true!” Madison insists, trying to dig herself out of trouble. “The lynx called Courtney a dumb bitch.”

Because she is one. I think privately, while a threatening rumble sounds in the vicinity of my beta.

Looking around at the crowd I call, “who saw what happened?”

The restaurant owner steps forward, nodding towards Madison and Courtney. “They approached your mate, Alpha.” He announces, “they started insulting them, and they attacked when the lynx stood up to them.” Nods and murmurs of agreement pass through the surrounding audience, but Courtney doesn’t know when to give up.

“Like anyone is going to tell you the truth!” She exclaims, “No one is brave enough to side against your Luna. We’re the only ones who actually have enough courage to tell you what she’s really like.”

Blood boiling, I lift the she-wolf until she’s dangling only inches from my face, “are you suggesting you know my mate better than I do?” I hiss. “Do you really believe I could be so easily fooled? Do you truly dare to lie to your Alpha this way?”

“You’re not Alpha yet.” Courtney argues, her humiliation getting the better of her.

Before Viviane came along my temper would have probably cost Courtney dearly. Three months ago

I’m sure I would have lashed out brutally, now however I’m able to respond with a much clearer head.

Sending out a wave of power so strong it forces everyone in the surrounding crowd to their knees. Only Chase and Viviane manage to stay on their feet. The assembled mob gaze at my mate in awe.

They have no idea she’s able to withstand the force of my power because she’s not a shifter. To them it must look like she’s incredibly strong. I almost feel grateful Courtney showed the insolence to force my anger and counter the poor impression the onlookers formed when Viviane shrunk away from the fight.

I can already see the headlines now: Luna Viviane, Strong Enough to Equal Alpha’s Will, Wise Enough to Choose Words Over Violence. Or Queen of Calm; The Balance Caspian Has Been Waiting For.

“One more word from you, and I’ll never be your Alpha.” I threaten, “Because I will throw you from this territory and ban you from ever returning. Is that what you want?”

Courtney shakes her head frantically, and I throw both women to the ground with absolute relish. “Get out of my sight. If I ever see you near my mate again, I will not be accountable for my actions - whether you’re threatening her or not.”

The she-wolves scramble out of the road as one, shifting again and running away with their tails between their legs. Around me, the rest of the crowd remains bowed, and I return to Viviane’s side where I belong.

——————-

Chase

Kiera still hasn’t stirred by the time we get back to the Pack House, and I immediately send for the doctor. Viviane tried to convince me to go get dressed, but I couldn’t bring myself to leave my mate’s side. Instead Caspian brought me a pair of sweatpants that I slipped on right there at Kiera’s bedside.

Of course when the doctor arrived, my inner wolf went half berserk when he tried to approach Kiera, and only my Alpha’s firm hand convinced me to let the other man touch her. The doctor gave her some sort of shot that forced her to shift into human form so he could treat her wounds, but she slept through all of it.

That was more than an hour ago. Caspian is keeping me company, but I’m sure I look like an ogre- sitting here glaring at the bed as if I can will Kiera to wake with nothing more than my mind.

“I think I was too hard on you.” I tell Caspian.

“What do you mean?” He responds, eyeing the door in a way that makes me feel sure he’s thinking of Viviane.

Chuckling, I explain, “I didn’t understand what it was like - the bond. I can barely recognize myself and she hasn’t even accepted me.”

He nods in understanding, “don’t feel too bad. You can’t know until you experience it for yourself. Besides, you were always supportive of me.”

“Out loud maybe,” I scoff.

“Fair enough.” Caspian laughs.

Shaking my head, I continue, “You know the worst part?”

“Hmm?” He responds.

“All I want to do is comfort her, and I know she’s not going to let me.”

Caspian snorts, “it’s not her choice.” He reminds me, “if she needs comforting, you’ll give it to her whether she pouts and fights or crawls into your arms.”

“That’s true - I was going to do it either way.” I admit.

“But you want her to ask for it?” He questions.

“Don’t get me wrong,” I clarify, “I love her fire, and I’m enjoying the chase more than I can say. But it felt different when she was healthy and whole. It’s harder to fight with her when she’s… like this.” Honestly if Caspian wasn’t here, I probably would have climbed right into bed with her already.

“She might surprise you,” he posits, “you know how cats are, they love nothing more than proving you wrong.”

“That’s true.” I agree, watching my friend’s increasingly frequent glances towards the door. “Go on, brother, you don’t need to stay here and hold my hand.”

“Are you sure?” He asks.

“Go,” I encourage warmly, “this was a hard night for Viviane too.”

He doesn’t need any more convincing, giving my shoulder a firm squeeze, he leaves me alone with my mate, and sets off to find his own.

———————--

Viviane

I’m already in bed when Caspian comes in, but I haven’t been able to sleep. His hawkish gaze hones in on my exhausted features, “it’s past your bedtime, kitten.”

I can’t help but smile, “How can you expect me to sleep without you?”

A rumbling purr sounds in his chest, warming me from the inside out, “I’m sorry, baby.” He replies, “have I been neglecting you?”

I want to keep flirting, but my mind drifts to Kiera. “Is she awake yet?” I ask worriedly, guilt tying my stomach into knots.

“No, but she’ll wake up soon.” Caspian promises. “How are you feeling?”

“Like it’s all my fault.” I admit in a small voice, “and like a coward. She stepped in to protect me, and I couldn’t even return the favor.”

Dark clouds shift over my mate’s handsome features, “and that was exactly the right thing to do, Viviane.” He declares sternly. “I am eternally grateful you have a friend like Kiera, one who’s willing to go to the mat for you, but she’s able to do that because you’re built very differently.” Caspian continues, crossing the room and settling on the edge of the bed. “Kiera is a shifter. She’s a lot stronger and sturdier than you are.”

“So what, I’m supposed to let everyone else fight my battles for me for the rest of my life?” I demand.

Caspian strokes my hair, “there are lots of different ways of fighting.” He reasons, “Kiera was able to help you this time. Next time she might be the one in trouble, and she might need someone with smarts like yours to get out of it.”

My lips twitch upward, “would you like to tell Chase you think his mate is a dunce, or shall I?”

Caspian throws his head back and laughs, then his hands are reaching towards my middle, his fingers fluttering over my waist and tickling all my sensitive nerves. I collapse in a puddle against him, giggling and squirming as he playfully wrestles me onto my back.

“You see?” He teases, “you can already fight better than you think.”

“In case you hadn’t noticed, I’m not exactly winning right now.” I argue.

“Don’t worry.” He flashes me a wolfish grin, “you'll be winning soon enough.”

With that his mouth takes mine in a passionate kiss, and I disappear into my mate’s possessive embrace. To my surprise I’m able to forget everything that went wrong today. For the time being there is only Caspian and I, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.