Hi everyone!
This story is a work of fiction from my own mind and hand. I started this story and posted it, and I am going to finish it. There are dark times ahead but there is always
light at the end of the tunnel
. And no, it's not a train!
Lots of love to all my patient and supportive readers! I will continue this story and I will finish it because we all deserve a happy ending.
I love reading comments from people who are enjoying the series; it really makes my day and encourages me to write more.
If you don't like my story or the direction it's heading in, that's fine- but I don't want to hear your negativity. If you have useful suggestions or critiques then feel free to contact me (preferably with a reply email, to give me a chance to discuss).
As always; rate, comment, fawn, share, link, love
<3
Shadowsung
~~~ Chapter 11 ~~~
The room was almost silent except for the frequent tiny beeps of the machine closely guarding the stranger's life. The nurse sighed as she sponged him down, appreciating the toned planes of his body. The man was sweating profusely and muttering incoherently. He had been running a fever most of the morning at well over the average Were and seemed to be experiencing delirium in his unconscious state.
She watched his face contort into a snarl before morphing into horror. The man gave a strangled cry. Convulsing, he sat up straight screaming, 'NO!"
The nurse nearly leapt from her skin. Lance rushed past her, grabbing the strangers' shoulders and pushing him back to the bed. The man arched his back, convulsing and screaming pitiful screams as the nurse re-attached the restraints attached to the bed. She had removed them to get to his back for the sponge bath.
Suddenly the man stilled completely. Lance released some of the pressure and looked at the nurse questioningly and received a shrug in reply. They both looked at the man, carefully inspecting him for injury.
His eyes snapped open and he gasped for air before coughing roughly.
"Look at me," Lance commanded, "You are safe, stranger. You were in an accident; we brought you back here to take care of you."
"I know. I watched you," he replied. "In my unconscious state I was still able to witness everything that has been happening through black magic that was placed upon me. Thank you Dr. Lance, and to your alpha, Curt for his hospitality but my pack needs me very badly at this moment, for my alpha is about to make the biggest mistake of his life," he tried to move but found his hands bound to the bed.
"We cannot let you go until we are satisfied that you are not a threat to anyone and I have been given leave by my Alpha to release you. Since he is... not available presently, you will have to be patient," Lance explained gently. "Now, what is your name and from which pack do you hail from?"
Keith closed his eyes and tried to draw in breath to calm himself. His body was humming with the urge to shift and run to his Alpha, but he knew that attempting to do so would keep him restrained longer. "My name is Keith Coleman of the Coleman pack, 160 years old. I am beta and right-hand man to my Alpha, Zachariah Coleman; best friend since childhood. I am the son of William and Shania Coleman, both now in Luna's Embrace. I am unmated and childless. The Coleman Estate and my home lay to the South East of here on our pack lands.
"My Iydam was not found on me at the scene of the accident because it was removed by the man who incapacitated me with black magic. He now holds my form and advises my Alpha to commit unspeakable acts using my voice. I must be set free before it is too late. Please, Lance of the Braanan Pack, know that once I am free I shall desert your lands for my own as fast as my feet can carry me. Faster, if you will lend me a car."
Lance took a breath to take in all of the information. He had heard of Keith, but he had never met him. While the man did look very desperate, his wolf knew that he was telling the truth and to trust him. After a moment, he nodded and began to undo his bindings, wary for any attack.
Lance helped Keith off the bed and watched as the man fought to remain standing. The points on his temple were still there but fading, he noticed. The doctor helped him into some clothes and walked with him down to the garage. Out of his pocket he pulled a set of keys. "Take my car, and may Luna speed you to your Alpha, Keith of the Coleman Pack."
"And may she bless you and yours always, Lance. Thank you very much for your help." The men clasped wrists in a Were farewell before Keith jumped in the car and sped off down the driveway, praying he was not too late.
~~~
Ally had just poured herself another glass of champagne when Kate stopped talking and sniffed the air intently. She looked at her friend, an eyebrow raised at her odd behaviour.
"Did I leave the gas on or something? What's up, Kate?" she asked curiously.
"I think your boyfriend is here, I don't think he is very happy," she replied hesitatingly.
"What do you mean? Zac would never be-"
Her reply was cut off by a giant man crashing through her lounge room window and taking Kate down with a tackle. There was the sound of smashing glass all throughout her house mingled with their screams.
Ally was grabbed from behind and lifted into the air. She kicked out behind her; her foot meeting sensitive flesh. As soon as her feet were on the ground she leapt to her friend, who was still struggling under the man pinning her to the floor. "Run!" Kate managed to scream.
Ally turned to run and came face to face with Zac.
Anger and hatred twisted his once handsome features; his eyes were black as coal and cold as snow. His eyes alone stopped her dead in her tracks. Her heart faltered at him giving her such a look.
A black bag was thrown over her head sealing her into darkness with nothing but her last glimpse of Zac's burning face to occupy her mind.
~~~
The bag was removed and Ally found herself in a dungeon cell. Kate was on makeshift pallet opposite her, unconscious. She rushed to her friend and let out a sigh of relief as she stirred. They didn't get the chance to talk because the sound of the door being opened alerted them to their company.
He stormed in, determined not to let his howling wolf get the better of him. He had been fighting with his other side that she was not who they thought she was and they had been deceived.
"Zac!" Ally said and rushed to the bars, "What is going on?"
"How could you do this to me?" Zac asked her, feeling his eyes burning with unshed tears. His wolf was howling at seeing their mate behind bars at their hand. Mentally he pushed away his meddlesome spirit into the confines of his conscious.
"Do what to you mean??? I am the one in a cage, Zac!" She shrieked in reply, her arms wide to include her small confines, " I have done nothing to you! I loved you! I let you into my heart and into my life even though clearly there were higher powers against us! I have been stalked, attacked, hurt and now kidnapped by you and your henchmen, and you dare to ask me what I have done to you?!" Ally paced the cage angrily.
"Just tell me, witch," he spat, his chest aching at the glares she was throwing at him, "Tell me how I break this spell. You are not my mate, I know its witchcraft, so just... tell me how to break it."
"What the hell are you on about? I'm not a witch, I
was
your girlfriend. You've gone crazy," she said in dismissal, hoping that she was just having a bizarre dream. She sat down on the pallet and closed her eyes, willing herself to wake up.
Kate sidled over to the bars, "Alpha Coleman, listen to me," she whispered desperately, "I have known Ally for years; we went to school together as little girls, she is not who you have been led to believe. She is human; not witch, Were or any other Supernatural being. You're making a big mistake! She does not know the Secret or anything about our world. If you feel the attraction, then it is true- she could not fabricate it."
"Zac," Keith whispered from behind him, "she is the daughter of the man you are now at war with and your prisoner; of course she would say these things. She is trying to buy time and waver your resolve in this course of action. You heard them; they were laughing at you. They are not laughing now, are they?"
Zac looked to see Ally watching him with cautiously, her eyes betraying the hurt she was feeling. She gave up on the dream idea and approached the bars again.
"Zac," she whispered quietly, "I'm scared. I haven't done anything to you. I
loved
you. Why are you doing this?"
He growled in frustration, his anger and rage built inside him until he could barely see. With a shout he slipped his form as his wolf broke free and came to the surface with a roar.
It was so violent and fast, Zac felt a burning and ripping sensation through his body; it was not designed to shift so quickly and was given no time to adjust. His form literally exploded, leaving skin fragments on the surfaces like shrapnel from a bomb.
His wolf shook himself down and snarled at his human's folly.
Ally watched as her ex-lover exploded into a giant wolf, the same one she had seen in the alleyway that fateful night, except it was almost three times the size. It stared into the cage, snarling viscously and baring enormous fangs. A bloodcurdling scream tore itself from her before she collapsed in a dead faint.
Kate roared in anger and crouched over her friend; cradling her prone form. "You were right," she yelled angrily at the snarling wolf, "There is no way Ally could be your mate. You would never have done this to her if you were!"
Zac growled and paced the bars. The war within himself was exhausting and confusing him greatly. He howled loudly and raced from the room.
"You don't deserve her!" Kate screamed at his retreating form, her words echoing off the walls.
~~~
Ally dreamt horrible dreams, muttering and tossing in her sleep.
She was running through a dark forest and something was after her. Dead, gnarled trees caught at her clothes and flesh, taking tribute for her passage. Cuts and rips grew across her arms, legs and face as she pushed her way through the boned arms threatening to grab her in the darkness. Something inside urged her to keep moving; to get away from him. She didn't know what or who or why, but in her gut she knew. Disembodied voices whispered and cried out around her, telling her to run and get away.
She burst through the sadistic trees and into a dark clearing with a stump in the middle of the space. The field was covered in a sea of the blackened corpses of flowers; their stems twisted and turned into shapes that screamed the agony they had felt. Sitting on the stump was a man, his bare back to her. It was Zac. She didn't know how she knew; but she just knew it was him. Her heart warmed; she was safe. A smile cracked her lips as she stalked up to him.
"Zac!" she cried out happily. The man on the stump shivered, a shadow coming over him. Ally stepped forward.
