Apprehended Ch 27

Apprehended: Twenty-Seven

I sat in the sitting room amongst Jared, Lily and a few clan members who were on standby should something go wrong when Ethan met the coven. Some were playing foosball or pool. Others were fighting over what to look at on the T.V. The bar was in full-swing and shifters milled around with the intent to spend their time waiting-though waiting actually meant drinking and listening to blasted rap music.

I paced like a lunatic, nearly sparking a fire on the plush rug due to the sheer amount of times I walked over the same spot. I glanced at the clock, feeling edgy. They left over two hours ago, which gave ample time for anything to happen.

Talking, negotiating...possible

murder

.

It was enough to incite anxiety.

"Will you

please

stop pacing," Jared grumbled from the couch. "I've already seen your feet spark three times."

I scowled. "How can you sit there and

not

be a nervous wreck?"

He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, exposing golden skin, bulging muscles and fierce tattoos. "I'm a wolf," he said sarcastically. "Anxiety is a useless attribute. But you," he said, pointing a finger at me, "have more than enough to spare. Which isn't okay considering your current condition." He patted the couch beside him. "Sit down, my Luna."

I folded my arms across my chest, glaring. He found it rather amusing, the bastard-with his bare chest and low-riding pajama pants. Like Ethan, he was the embodiment of male perfection. Chiseled abs, long legs and a wide set of shoulders. His hair was sticking up in different directions due to his incessant finger-combing.

He was also glistening a little.

"Are you sweating?" I asked, leaning in a bit for a better look.

He ran a hand over his face in exasperation. "Yes, Luna. I'm sweating. Do you know why?"

"Because you're just as nervous as I am?" I countered.

He tried to bite back a smile but failed. "Funny, but no. I'm hot because you keep pacing like a crazed female. A very

pregnant

crazed female. Need I remind you that your very overprotective Alpha mate has ordered that I guard you with my life. Considering you're on the verge of pacing a hole into the carpet, I'd say that your added stress-level is through the roof and I don't want Alpha chopping off my nuts for not taking care of you."

"I don't think he'll chop off your nuts," I said dryly.

"Of all the things I said...you focus on

that

?" He shook his head and stared at Lily who was reading a book in the corner. "Tell her something, female."

Lily's head whipped up. "I'm sorry-what?"

"Talk to her. She's your bestie."

Lily lifted her hands in mock surrender. "

I

didn't get charged with guard duty. That's all on you. At least you didn't have to watch over

me

."

Jared snorted. "Are you kidding? Gavin threatened to rip me into shreds if I didn't look after you."

Her brows shot up. "Seriously?"

Jared mumbled a curse and buried his face in his hands. "You females have no idea the kind of males you're involved with."

I smirked and lightly kicked his shin. "Don't pretend you're not the same."

"Of course, I'm not," he said, leaning back to reveal his glorious chest. "At least

I

don't threaten my brothers with bodily harm."

I gave him a look. "Not

yet

. If you had a female of your own, you'd-"

"I'd confine her to my room and lock the door on the way out. There's no way she's allowed to leave if I'm not with her," he interjected.

Was he serious?

He smiled at my stunned expression. "I'm kidding, my darling."

"Are you?"

He thought about that before caving. "Alright fine-I'm not, but still. At least no one will lose their nut sack."

I couldn't help it. I snorted in laughter and plopped down beside him. "Weirdo. I feel bad for your future mate."

"I wouldn't," he said, patting his thigh in invitation. "She will be well-cared for."

I placed my feet on his lap and he began massaging them in his warm hands, kneading the soles with the pad of his thumbs. I inhaled sharply.

He looked at me. "Your feet hurt?"

I rested my head against my arm. "A little."

He nodded...then added, "keep pacing like that and you'll have no toes left."

I smacked him upside the head. "You're a pain in the ass."

He chuckled. "But you love me."

I waited a beat. "I guess..."

He released my feet at once. "Well, if you're unsure."

I reached out, grabbing his hands and forcing them back to my feet. "No, no. I take it back. I love you so much...now can you please continue?"

He smiled. "You're only saying that because you want a free massage."

I shook my head innocently. "Of course not. You just have really amazing fingers."

He wiggled his brows mischievously. "They're extra long too-prefect for pentrati-"

"Alright, that's enough, James Bond," Lily interrupted. She grabbed a tissue from a nearby stand and crumpled it up to toss at him. It hit him square in the face. "If our males heard you saying that, they'd have your head."

"Balls," he amended softly. "But you won't tell them."

"Why wouldn't I?"

"Because I'll tell Beta you went outside unsupervised."

Lily gasped, feigning shock. "You wouldn't?"

He smiled, revealing his fangs. "I'd do anything to save my nut sack, female."

Once more, I erupted into a fit of giggles. Lily was just as amused.

Jared laughed along, tickling my feet lightly. "That's better," he said, finding my eyes. "I don't like it when you're anxious. It isn't healthy for the twinsies."

"You sound like a teenage girl," muttered Lily. "Besties...twinsies. I think you're the odd one out."

"Of course I am," he said, matter-of-factly. "That's the main reason Alpha and Beta threaten my balls!"

I snorted, laughing so hard, big, fat tears slid down my cheeks. Jared was a goofball. Funny, loyal and-whether he denied it or not-overprotective. He was also great to joke around with. He could take as much as he gave without offense.

I slipped my finger into my mouth and soaked it in hot spit, shoving it into his open ear on a laugh.

"Ewwwww!" he snapped, rubbing his ear. "Annie! That's so gross!"

Lily was dying. I nearly keeled over in a fit.

"I'm telling Alpha that you vomited the whole night!" he warned, his eyes twinkling in amusement.

I glowered. "If you say that, I'll puke into your workout sneakers."

He paused. "The black one's?"

I nodded viciously. "Your favorite pair."

"Is that right?" he said, his voice dropping deeply. He released my feet to change tactics, shifting on the couch like a predator.

I laughed and held up my hands. "Don't you dare, Jared!"

"Don't what?" he teased, coming closer.

I glanced at Lily for help but she was red with laughter. "Help me!"

She shook her head. "Hell no! You're on your own. He's too big."

I zoomed off the couch and ran through the game room just as he pounced, howling like a wolf as he followed. The crowd parted, smiling as I made it to the dining room, where I froze.

"You have nowhere to go," said Jared behind me.

I twirled around, sliding along the lip of the table and moving chairs aside in the process. "Don't come any closer!"

He chuckled lowly and blurred with inhuman speed, sweeping me off my feet to run like a madman through the foyer, dining room and game room. He howled again and the clan followed, piercing the night with their inner wolf.

I laughed uncontrollably, wrapping my arms around his neck as he flew through the large space with my celestial in tow...

Until we were interrupted by Jared's phone ringing in his pocket.

He resettled me on the couch and looked at the screen briefly before putting it to his ear. "Beta." He frowned as he listened to Gavin speak, his face losing all trace of amusement and going staunch white. "When?" he barked.

Ice-cold fear had me standing up in a panic. "What's going on?"

Lily had abandoned her book and took a spot beside me, taking my hand in hers.

"Jared, w-"

He held up a finger to silence me. "How long?"

We waited.

"Got it." He hung up briskly and grabbed my hand to pull me along.

We were headed straight for the lower levels. "Jared, what is it?"

He spoke as he punched in the codes for access. "Emergency. There was an...issue," he said.

"What kind of issue?" asked Lily. We both ran to keep up with his long strides.

"I'm not too clear on the details," he said, punching through the med bay doors. He began going to work, washing his hands, setting up lights and machines and snapping on gloves.

We waited helplessly near the double doors. "Tell me," I said, taking a step forward.

He didn't look at me. He continued prepping for...something too frightening to consider. "I don't know what happened...but..."

Tears welled in my eyes and I felt the blood drain from my face in terror. "Is it Ethan?" I whispered.

He didn't answer.

I didn't get a chance to barrage him with anymore questions, however, because the bay erupted into chaos. The doors opened with a sharp crack as people flooded in.

All were covered in blood.

I gasped and put a trembling hand over my mouth, looking at each one until I found Gavin...carrying a limp Ethan in his arms.

I froze.

Never

did I expect to see my strong, fearless, capable male lifeless in the arms of his Beta. His very shaken and wounded Beta.

I rushed forward, losing all sense of self-preservation as I reached out for my mate's cold hand. His very

cold,

unmoving hand. "Ethan?" I whispered.

"Move, Luna!"

I wasn't sure who said it. Frankly, I didn't care. I was in pure shock. I had no idea what had happened in such a short span of time since they left. And I had no idea the extent of his injuries to render him so...lifeless.

Stagnant.

Frigid.

Gavin placed him on a gurney just as Baldridge entered the fray. One look at Ethan and the male went wide-eyed with obvious fear. It was enough to incite even more panic.

"What's wrong with him?" I asked, never releasing Ethan's hand.

I didn't see any wounds. He was capable of fast-healing. Yet-whatever this was-he wasn't doing much of anything.

"What have we got?" asked the Doc, snapping on his own gloves.

Gavin was panting and snatched an offered bottle of water from Michael-who was also worse for the wear. He took a long swig, draining the bottle in less than three seconds before tossing it. "We were attacked by rogues. He led them away as a wolf and they attacked him."

I gasped and Baldridge nodded, peeling off Ethan's tee shirt to reveal-

I winced.

Oh my god.

There were deep bite marks on his flesh. Tons of them. Some were jagged and so raw, his skin was torn apart, revealing muscle underneath. Thick, red blood fell freely to the linoleum floor and pooled into a large mass.

His skin was white. Too white. And that was too much blood loss.

I belched.

And turned my head just as Michael shoved a bucket in front of me so I could puke.

"Why the fuck is she still in here?!" barked Gavin. "I want them out! Both of them!"

The minute I finished barfing, I went for Ethan's hand again, only to be yanked away from the chaos. Baldridge was working quickly, trying to stop the bleeding. Jared helped, stripping off his remaining clothes.

"No!" I cried, pulling at the hands around my waist.

Lily was struggling beside me, her eyes wide with terror. I had no idea who was holding her just as I had no idea who held me. I was blind to everything except the pale man on the gurney. The man whose breathing was all wrong. The man whose skin should have been golden and beautiful, not ashen and rigid. The man whose flesh was so deeply marred, he came off as unrecognizable.

"Stop!" I snapped, scratching at the large palms around me. "Let me go, goddamn it! Let me go!"

"I'll let you go if you calm down!" a heavy voice ordered.

The doors grew further and further away until I was once more in the sitting room, breathing so harshly, I grew dizzy.

"Calm yourself."

I wiped tears from my face and blinked a few times to focus. Everything was spinning wildly, but I didn't give a fuck.

Ethan was possibly dying down there. And I wasn't willing to stand on the sidelines while he suffered alone. I bolted to the sub-level entrance, but was once more apprehended and forced to sit down.

Staggering neon-blue eyes entered my line of sight and I froze.

Michael.

"Be at ease, my Luna. Calm down."

I inhaled sharply, trying and failing to keep it together. "Why did you take me away?" I asked. More tears fell freely.

He took a deep breath and ran a hand over his face. His blond beard rasped against his fingers. "Do you think that's a safe place for you to be whilst pregnant?"

I shook my head. "I don't care. It's Ethan..." I nearly lost it all over again. "It's

my

Ethan down there."

"I know that. I also know that Ethan cares. Do you think he wants you to worry in your condition?"

I glared. "His condition is more important! I'm going to worry regardless!"

He shook his head. "No, my Luna. Ethan and the clan view that differently. It will always be your condition that matters to him and the rest of us. You carry the future and If he knew you were in that bay suffering, he would be livid."

I roughly wiped away more tears. "I want to be there with him," I stressed. "He's my mate. I want to be there."

"I get that, Annie. I totally do. And you can see him when the Doc finishes working on him, I promise." He smiled warmly and brushed away a few tears. "Our Alpha is a strong male. I've seen him in situations like this before.

I've

been in situations like this before. Now, I know this is new to you, but this is the life of a wolf."

I opened my mouth to reply but he cut me off.

"We are animals above all else," he interjected softly. "And you must have faith in his wolf to heal him and bring him back to you. His wolf loves you just as much as the man. Both will be fine, I vow it."

I nodded solemnly, still unwilling to sit down and wait. I got up.

"Wait-where are you going?" he asked, wrapping an arm around my wrist to stop me.

I pulled. "If I can't be in the room, I'm going to wait outside in the hall."

"I don't think that's such-"

"Let them go."

I turned, catching sight of Kindra-Kane's sister. She was beautiful in her own right. Dark, mahogany skin. Golden eyes that matched Ethan's-only hers were tinted a lighter yellow. Her brother shared the same physical traits, only much taller and bulkier than his sibling. They were loyal to their Alpha. Dependable. Strong.

Kindra released Lily and we hugged quietly, trying to gain strength from one another. There were still new and raw moments that we were unaccustomed to. Injury and violence were at the top of that list. I didn't think I would ever be able to acclimate to them, no matter how long Ethan and I were together. It seemed Lily felt the same way and it felt good not feel so isolated; that there was someone else just as worried, just as shaken as I was.

It took Michael a little convincing, but eventually, he led us back to the bay, stopping and watching over us as we paced in front of the double doors.

Hours ticked by in what seemed like minutes.

I didn't even register the pain in my feet and legs from the incessant pacing. Not when Ethan's life hung in the balance. Not when I was so close to losing one of the most important males in my life.

"Do you want to sit down, Luna?"

I stopped moving and stared at Michael. His own skin was pallid and there were visible bite marks on his neck. "Do you want to visit the Doc?" I countered.

He rested his head against the cement wall, resting his arms on his propped knees on the hallway floor. He looked weary...spent.

Injured.

"What I want is for you to rest. You've been pacing for four hours."

I folded my arms across my chest, pacing once more. "Yeah, well until I know Ethan is fine, I can't sit still."

Everyone-including Lily after Gavin reassured her he was fine-had went upstairs to nurse their own wounds.

Only Jared, Gavin, Richen and Baldridge remained in the room, trying to help Ethan.

I buried my face in my hands and felt a tremor.

Dear god.

Please don't let him die. Please, please, please.

"My Luna?"

I jerked my head up, seeing the Doc peel off bloodied gloves as the double doors swung shut behind him. The male was sweating and showing signs of fatigue.

I shuffled over to him and pelted him with questions.

He held up a hand to silence me and Michael got up from the floor, taking a spot beside me. "How is he, Doc?"

Baldridge took off his glasses and rubbed his red eyes, looking grim. "He's stable now. He lost massive amounts of blood and suffered from the effects of the venom. Bu-"

"Venom?" I interrupted. "What venom?"

"Vampire venom. It is expelled during a feeding. Too much can kill the intended victim. The venom from one vampire cannot harm another in a single dose. However, Alpha sustained many bites and he needed blood from the severe blood loss."

"Blood?" I inquired.

"Yes. Gavin is a match due to their familial connection. He donated."

Just then, Gavin stumbled out of the room, sweating and sporting his own bite wounds.

I reached out and grabbed his arm. "Gav, are you okay?"

He turned and stared, blinking a few times as his heavy-lidded eyes focused on me. "Annie?" He shook himself and straightened a bit-as if realizing who he was speaking with for the first time. "Why are you out here?" He glared at Michael. "Didn't I tell you to get her out of here?" He glanced at his watch. "It's five in the morning, Mike. What the fuck?"

Michael sighed deeply. "Beta, he's her mate. She refused to leave."

Gavin looked me over, his eyes freezing on my feet. "Have you been walking around this whole time?"

I squeezed his arm. "Gavin." He glanced up, finding my worried eyes. "Are

you

all right?"

It took him a solid minute to process the inquiry. When it finally computed, he nodded tightly, abruptly wrapping me in his arms. "I'm fine, sweet female. I'm fine."

It was exactly what I needed. I buried my face into the crook of his arm and felt tears prickle the back of my eyes. "Is he okay?" I whispered into his shirt. He smelled of the forest, snow and dried blood.

"He's just fine," he murmured into my hair. He pressed a couple of kisses on my head. "Mike, go upstairs. Let Doc take a look at your wounds. You need to rest."

Michael nodded curtly and offered me a small smile before heading out with the Doc. Gav and I were left alone for a few minutes and he simply held me in his arms, pressing random kisses against my head until he pulled away. "He lost a lot of blood," he confessed quietly. "Because of that, he wasn't healing as quickly as he should have. That's why you saw him in that condition."

"Is he healing now?"

"Yes," he said, brushing away moisture with his thumbs. "But it's a slow process. He's weak. Injured." He cupped my chin lightly and nudged my head up. "Having you beside him would greatly improve his recovery. Okay?"

"Yes," I whispered, sniffling.

He smiled. "Good."

Just as he urged me into the room, Richen exited quietly, exchanging words with his Beta rapidly before tending his own wounds in the safety of his room.

"Go on." Gavin opened the bay's door and held it, allowing me to shuffle inside. He held me back to add, "if you need anything, call me on my cell, alright?"

"Yes."

He pressed another kiss on my head and disappeared, leaving me in the room with a silent Ethan, whose eyes were closed and breathing was now normal. His skin was still ashen and he was still unconscious, but for the first time since his arrival, I had hope.

Though he was still unmoving and the conditions were bleak, I

knew

I wouldn't lose him.