Madison turned around at the end of the road. There were no other homes between Alex’s house and the distance to the wood line of dense trees. There were no street lights and she couldn’t see the house anymore, but knew it was only about a ten-minute walk back.
The sun had already set and dusk had taken over, along with cooler temperatures. She’d just started the trek back when something flew by her at a fast rate of speed. It was the same blur that she and Jacob had seen at the park. She tried not to panic and figure out what she was going to do, but that wasn’t working too well as she felt her heart rate pick up immensely.
The blur went past her again and this time she felt a touch on her face. Madison put her hand up to her cheek and when she pulled it away and looked at it, there was blood on her fingers that was dripping to the ground. She did the only thing she could think of doing at that time, she ran for her life.
Jacob was almost near Alex’s house, with Zach and Danny in tow. He didn’t know how he was going to explain this all to everyone, but that wasn’t his main focus right now. He felt the panic in Madison escalating and getting to her before anything happened was the only thing that mattered at this moment. He bolted out of the woods and saw her running down the street. A shape flew past him and he automatically knew what it was by its smell—a vampire. It was heading directly toward his mate.
With one large growl that probably shook the windows of Alex’s house, Jacob leaped forward, trying to get to his mate before the vampire did.
The creature coming toward her was outrunning her mate, but not by much. Madison saw Jacob, in wolf form, catching up quickly to the vampire heading her way. There was nowhere for her to go in that short of time and knew it was going to do something to her. She only hoped that Jacob would catch up to it in time.
Jacob saw Madison fall to the ground as a loud scream echoed through the night, seconds before he got to her. He smelled the blood even before he got to her. It was either take care of his mate or track and kill the creature that did this to her. Jacob opted to stand beside his mate. He heard Zach and Danny running alongside the woods and knew they would be coming out at any second.
As Jacob crept slowly up to the body lying on the dirt road, Madison lifting her head off the ground was the best sight he’d ever seen. She had a large cut along her cheek and a deep gash on her neck that was profusely dripping blood. She looked up at him and smiled. Footsteps running down the street grabbed his attention. He looked behind him and saw Emily and Alex running toward Madison, and over to the side of the road, he saw Danny and Zach still in wolf form.
Jacob didn’t know what to do. He didn’t want the other two freaking out because of the three wolves that were standing around and possibly blaming them for Madison’s injuries, but he didn’t want to leave her either. He turned his attention back to Madison. She mouthed the words ‘Go’ to him. He contemplated the decision for a split second, then took off running past Zach and Danny, hoping they would get the hint to follow.
“What happened?” Alex was breathing heavily from running when she finally got down to Madison. She had seen the wolves and knew exactly who they were, but she wasn’t going to be the first to call out the situation. She wanted to see what Madison had to say and if Emily knew anything about the pack.
“I must have fallen. I was running fast, trying to get back to the house, when I got myself all in a panic over being out here all alone in the dark. You know how your mind plays tricks on you in the dark.” She was trying to play off the whole event that just happened.
“It looks like you have scratch marks on your face and neck.” Emily pointed to the long, thin lines that had blood oozing out of them.
“There was a big bug or maybe it was a bat, that was flying close to me. I think I swatted at it when it dive-bombed me and cut myself with my nails.” Madison swayed a bit as she stood up. The adrenaline rush from the past five minutes had worn her out. If it weren’t for Jacob, she could be lying here on this dark deserted road dead. She didn’t know if the girls would believe her story since it was too cold for any bug or bat to be out, but that was the only excuse she could think of on such short notice.
Emily got on one side and Alex got on the other. They each gripped Madison by the upper arms.
Alex looked at the marks that lined Madison’s face and neck. She had an idea of what may have done that, but it wasn’t the story her friend had told. Sooner or later, all these lies had to stop before they tore the group apart. “We better get you back to the house and clean those wounds before they get infected.” She and Emily carefully led their friend back to the house, with each girl being on high alert for something that was targeting them.
Jacob had made it back to the house, shifted, and put his clothes back on before his brother and Danny arrived. He went back into the living room and picked up where he’d left before. He grabbed another soda, his half-eaten bag of Cheetos, and kicked back in the chair to finish watching the game.
Although he thought this was a good cover-up, he knew Zach would be storming through at any moment, demanding to know what just went on. His thoughts were on Madison and the constant worry he felt about leaving her, but he felt that she was becoming calmer and not in such a state of panic. He liked how they had this connection, but it was going to be his death at a young age if he couldn’t destroy the vampires, who now had their sights set on the ‘weres’ mates. A door slam and heavy footsteps thundering down the hall brought Jacob out of his thoughts.
“What the hell was that all about?” Zach stood in the line of vision between Jacob and the TV. He wanted answers and he wanted them now. He knew his brother had lied when he said nothing had happened between him and Madison. His running off when something was happening with her and the tattoo said otherwise.
“What?” Jacob repositioned himself on the chair so he could see around Zach and watch the game.
Zach picked up the remote and shut the TV off. “You know what I’m talking about.” He spoke in a tone that indicated a level of hierarchy.
Jacob rolled his eyes. “Madison was in trouble. I had to help. My wolf wouldn’t let me comfortably watch the game until I answered to his mate’s whining.” He picked up the other remote lying on the chair and switched the football game back on. “Now, if you could move,” he motioned with his hand for Zach to move out of the way, “I could finish the game without any more distractions.”
With another press of the button, Zach shut off the TV once again. “Bullshit, Jacob, we don’t get those types of powers until a complete bond has formed. I saw the marking on your shoulder.”
Jacob shrugged. “So? I fucked her like I do everyone else in school, no big deal. It’s what my wolf wanted, now it’s over.”
“Another lie. You know it takes more than that for the bond to be solidified between mates.” Zach knew this not only from listening to the elders and watching Adam and Rose but also because he and Emily had begun to read into each other’s emotions and thoughts. If this process had just started for them and it had been well developed between Jacob and Madison since he could sense her fear over that distance, then their bond had to have been formed long before his and Emily’s.
“She’s my mate, you know that. So, I did what my wolf wanted me to do, I screwed her once and that was it.” Jacob stood up and moved past his brother. Danny was standing in the doorway leading out to the hall. It was like they were trapping him until they got the answers they wanted. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Is there more than just the fuck part of the whole mating thing?”
Zach shook his head. “I saw your tattoo and it was around a faded bite mark. It was the same kind that Adam had when he and Rose did the whole exchanging of blood. That’s what makes us stronger. That’s what makes us lifelong mates. And that’s what makes us have the ability to always feel what our mate is feeling or thinking.” Zach walked toward Danny like he was leaving the room. “I bet if I go to see Madison right now, she’ll have the same marking as you.” Zach’s chest hit the wall as his brother pushed him hard from behind. He turned and faced down a very angry Jacob, who was about to shift and attack.
“Stay the fuck away from her.” Jacob was losing his patience with his brother. He had no more secrets since it seemed Zach knew them all, so why not attack and give the pack another reason to kick him out. “What are you going to do now? Tell Adam, tell another elder, or damn, why don’t you call our father, the freakin’ alpha of the entire pack, and tell him that his youngest son has broken a major rule in the world of shifter laws?” Jacob backed away from Zach but never broke the stare-down that they were having.
Zach knew something like this would probably get Jacob thrown out of the pack or severely disciplined. But if he were to do that, then karma may turn on him since he and Emily were in the same predicament. “I’m not telling anyone.” He looked over at Danny, who shook his head and said that he wasn’t saying anything either. “I just wanted you to admit it.”
“You’re a dick.” Jacob looked over at Danny, who had moved away from the doorway, allowing Jacob to leave. “Both of you are.” Jacob stormed past both Zach and Danny. He needed to go see Madison to find out exactly what had happened. “Stay the fuck out of my business,” he yelled to Danny and Zach, who were watching him leave from the hallway.
Jacob slammed the front door on the way out for good measure, just to let them know he was pissed about the whole bunch of bullshit they put him through.
“Maybe you should stay here for a little while longer. I can call your mom, maybe she can come to pick you up.” Emily was trying to get Madison to stay at Alex’s. That was a major fall, so Madison had said that was how she got the deep gashes, and Emily wasn’t so sure if driving alone would be a good idea, especially in the dark.
“I’ll be fine.” Madison picked up her carry-along pouch and gave Emily a quick hug. “I was clumsy, that’s all.” She walked over to Alex, who was standing by the door, and hugged her. “I’ll call you when I get home, okay?”
Alex nodded okay, but after touching Madison, she knew that her friend was still panicked about what happened. She was getting glimpses of a dark figure coming toward her. The image that Alex was getting was blurred, but she could make out that this creature had pointed teeth and razor-sharp nails. The image flashed to a huge black wolf that was chasing this, whatever it was, and then it stopped in front of Madison. It looked at her like it knew who she was. Then the images disappeared.
“See you guys later.” Madison pulled her arm away from the vice grip that Alex had on her. Alex looked a little pale and her eyes were glazed over like she was getting sick or something. “Are you all right?” Madison snapped her fingers in front of Alex’s face.
Alex shook her head. “Yeah, I’m all right.” She backed away from Madison. “Just be careful, okay?” Madison nodded and walked out with a little wave goodbye.
"Are you sure you’re not sick or maybe low on sugar or something? You’re looking a little pale.” Emily came and stood beside Alex, hoping she wasn’t going to pass out.
“No, I’m good.” Alex sat down on the bed and tried to gather her thoughts. She had no clue what was happening or why she was seeing these images. Maybe she was going crazy. She knew it had to do with who she was or, well, at least who her biological parents are or were. They may be dead for all she knew.
After her bonding with Danny, when he’d finally told her and showed her who he was, that was when all the weird stuff started happening to her. It was like having sex with him and going through the whole secret bonding ritual had sparked some kind of supernatural power in her.
Alex felt something bump against her shoulder. Glancing to her side, she saw Emily standing there with a puzzled expression.
“I called your name five times and you wouldn’t answer. Are you sure you’re okay?” Emily sat down on the bed, but not too close to Alex. Something was going on with her and she didn’t want to get it if she was sick. Maybe it had to do with whatever she was in the whole paranormal scheme of things in this new world she was introduced to.
Alex shrugged as if she wasn’t sure what was wrong. “I think maybe I’m just tired. You know, like an adrenaline rush when all that was happening with Madison, and now I’m just worn out from it.”
“Maybe I’ll head home or over to Zach’s. Are you sure you’re going to be okay?” Emily gathered her handbag. “Maybe you should lie down.” Alex nodded in agreement but didn’t attempt to move from her spot on the bed. “I’ll call you later to check on you, okay?” Emily gave Alex a small hug. All Alex saw with that connection was total darkness; no images or emotions were coming off of her.
“Okay. I’m just gonna rest.” She gave a small wave as Emily walked out of the room.
What are you, Emily? Alex thought to herself.
Why can’t I get any feelings from you? All I feel is darkness.
Alex picked up her cell and called Danny. Maybe he would be able to help her with these new visions she’d had. After all, he was her mate.