Return to Wisteria (Book Three of the Wisteria Chronicles)

CHAPTER 29~Ropes~

Autumn

     I paced around the small secluded clearing that Archer and I had made our meeting spot. Archer still wasn’t here; his absence was making my anxiety skyrocket. I bit my lip. I could smell his scent but it wasn’t fresh. He was normally the first one here and it was unusual for him to not answer his phone. I redialed his number, groaning in frustration as the busy tone sounded off.

    I’ve sent him several texts and called him multiple times. I was starting to worry that something bad had happened. I looked at my watch, I was going to have to head back to the pack house. We were supposed to show the Elders around the territory today and I didn’t want to be late. I called Archer’s phone one more time, frowning when no answer came. 

    My sigh was loud and disappointed. I wonder where he’s at. Maybe we should ask Aiden, Duchess suggested. My frown deepened, As if he’d tell us anything. We’ll just try to contact him again after the Elders leave. Duchess huffed, mumbling that she didn’t want to talk to Aiden anyway. I dragged my feet back to the lake and got in the small boat. 

   I slowly rowed the boat back to the other side of the lake, the sound of the oars rising out of the water were calming. I was devastated; Archer has never missed one of our meetings before. I felt desperate with need to see him. If only he’d join the pack. If he lived here, I could wake up next to him every morning. I could see him whenever I wanted. Make love to him whenever or wherever. We could finally have a home.

    Every time he saw me, he would ask if I was pregnant yet. He wanted to be a parent just as much as I did, praying that we would be blessed several. I smiled to myself thinking of his words. “Being the father to your children would be the greatest honor. I want nothing more than to love you every day, watching your belly grow plump with my pup. I think you’d look cute waddling everywhere.” 

    Another sigh escaped my lips. My mind reeled at how quickly he had become such an important person in my life. I was conflicted when Summer had said to be with him. I didn’t know if I could trust him. The fear of him rejecting me later on the road was a constant worry in the back of my mind. I was scared to reach out to him. But when I called for him, he was there willing to accept me with my distrust.

     Archer made me feel loved and welcomed. His every kiss and touch set my body on fire, reminding me that I could never love anyone as much as I loved him. I hated that I missed him so much. I rowed my small boat up to the dock and got out. I’ll call him one more time, I thought as I redialed his number. The user you are trying to contact is unavailable at this time, if you would like to leave a mess-  I hung up, my disappointment was crippling.

    I made the quiet walk back to the pack house. I let my mind wander about the future. I envisioned Archer and I living in one of the cozy cottages. Every morning I would make us coffee and we would drink it on the porch. We would spend our days lazing about, making sure every room was properly broken in. 

    We would have small picnics by the lake and swim on the hottest days. In the evenings we would sit on the porch and watch the sunset. And at bedtime, we would whisper sweet nothings to each other while falling asleep in each other's arms. If we were blessed with the gift of pups, our home would be filled with their laughter and love. 

     That sounds lovely, Duchess purred. It does, doesn’t it, I replied dreamily. I felt a sudden pain in my heart. What if Archer was ignoring me on purpose? Did I do something wrong? Is it because I keep pushing him to join the pack? Is my fear of him rejecting me coming true? I clenched my chest, trying to control my erratic breathing. Was Archer leaving me?   

    A scream erupted into the early morning air, the shrillness scaring away the birds. It was coming from the front of the pack house. What the hell is happening? I picked up my pace, curious about the commotion. A small crowd was forming at the steps of the entrance, their murmurs loud and confused. The stench of blood assaulted my nose. My heart skipped a beat, my body alert. 

    I tried to look over the crowd to see what was going on. I couldn’t see very well, but they seemed to be surrounding something. “EVERYONE, GET BACK!” Summer shouted in her Alpha voice. I shivered and resisted the urge to take a step backwards. This was the first time I’ve heard her use it to her Alpha tone. The fact that she was only using it at ten percent was scary as hell. “Goddess, someone get the doctor. Grace, go find Autumn.” I heard her order.

   I took a hesitant step forward, “I’m here, Summer.” The crowd parted, letting me through to the center. My heart stopped beating as I looked down at the mangled body heaped on the floor. Summer was kneeling over it, checking for a pulse. “He’s alive, barely.” It felt like I was choking. Summer picked up an amethyst necklace, the sudden smell of citrus and blood made me want to vomit.

    Summer leaned back and looked up at me, giving me a full view of the man on the ground. I fell to my knees, my screams deaf to my ears. I choked on my tears, blindly reaching out to Archer. Duchess and I howled in pain as Summer pushed his naked distorted body into my hands. 

  I brushed his dark bloodied curls out of his face, another cry of agony leaving my mouth. His face was bruised with extreme swelling, his jaw obviously broken. He was wearing an anti-magic collar made of silver. The collar left disgusting welts around his neckline that blistered and bled. 

    Both of Archer’s arms were broken in different places and his shoulders dislocated. His beautiful hands were bound with magic silver ropes that burned into his wrists. His abdomen was covered in wide gashes, his ribs bruised and definitely broken. Not only were both of Archer’s legs broken in two places on each leg, but so were his ankles. They were twisted and turned in opposite directions, bounded by the same silver rope.

   I gently laid him down on the ground, my tears falling on his face. My shaky hands hovered over him, not knowing where to start. I tried to take off his collar, letting out a blood curdling shriek as the silver burned my hands. The collar wouldn’t budge so I moved to the rope on his hands. I choked on a sob, realizing that his fingers were crooked and bent out of shape. 

     I frantically grabbed the rope, howling in pain as I tried to untie it. The silver was strong, its sting burning the skin off the palms and fingertips. “Autumn, stop! You’re hurting yourself!” Summer yelled. I shook my head, exhaling another scream as I tried to untie Archer’s feet. The smell of my burning flesh blended in with Archer’s blood and citrus scent. 

    Grace’s strong hands grabbed my shoulders, trying to pull me away. “NO! NO!” I shouted, fighting against her hold. Someone rushed to us, reaching out for Archer’s body. “DON’T f*****g TOUCH HIM!” my voice shrill. “I’m an Elder and a doctor. Please let me help.” his voice was stern. He didn’t wait for my reply, his hands reaching out for Archer again. I let out a thunderous growl, partially shifting.

    Summer yanked me out of Grace’s hold and slammed me down into the ground. I snapped and tried to buck her off, my shift still incomplete. “STAND DOWN, AUTUMN!” she shouted in her full Alpha voice, her grip impossibly strong. I whined, unable to resist her order. I let my body relax, shifting back to my human form.  

    I stared up at my sister, helpless. “Help him.” I pleaded. “I will.” Summer promised, pulling me into her arms. I let my grief consume me, my eyes an unending fountain of tears and pain. The doctor continued to gently examine Archer; his face serious. “Report, Doctor.” Summer demanded. 

     The doctor sat back on his haunches, “He has multiple breaks and internal bleeding. He can be better diagnosed at the pack hospital. However, we will need a magic user to untie his bonds. Without them, he will be unable to heal and will die of internal bleeding.” I sobbed louder, the only magic user we had here was Nova and she left this morning to plan for her ceremony.

     “I’ll call Nova, she can warp back.” Grace said, pulling out her phone. “She won’t be able to help. The silver bonded in these restraints are made of pure silver and were enhanced with magic, a very strong magic. The magic user has to be someone without a wolf so that their safety isn’t jeopardized as well.” the doctor advised.

    Two pack members jogged up to us, a stretcher in their hands. The doctor directed them to put Archer on it, his lead was easy to follow. “What are we going to do?! We don’t know any other magic users!” I wailed, my despair engulfing me. Summer held me tighter, “Stop, Autumn. I told you I was going to help and I meant it. Just give me a moment to think.” 

    I closed my eyes, how was I supposed to live without Archer? “Auntie Blair, can you come to Wisteria? We have an emergency. Bring your medical supplies, all of them.” Summer spoke. I opened my eyes to see Summer hanging up her phone. She pulled me up and forced me to stand. “Blair will be here soon. Doctor, please lead the way to the hospital.” she said. I leaned heavily into her as she helped me walk on my wobbly legs. 

    “Grace, double up patrol. Call in everyone to stay in the inner houses and to stay in the pack house until we know who did this.” Summer instructed. Grace nodded then turned to give out orders. We followed Archer’s stretcher to the hospital where a few nurses flitted around in a panic. We still weren’t full staffed and the nurses were still in training.

   The doctor directed the nurses and quickly got Archer set up. His heart monitor had such a faint pulse. Goddess he was barely hanging on. Summer pulled up a chair and made me sit down. I wanted to hold onto Archer’s hand but they were too mangled. I hovered over him and prayed for is survival. 

    “Hello, this is Alpha Frost of the Wisteria Forest pack. There’s been a medical emergency on my territory and I’m requesting for a medical crew to respond. Yes, yes.” Summer stepped out to finish her phone call. I rested my head against my clasped hands, unsure of what I could do to help. “I’m here.” Blair announced with her sudden appearance.

    “Auntie Blair! P-Please help him!” I cried, awkwardly running to her. Blair’s face fell as she looked at Archer’s prone form. This was the first time seeing him since the festival so many years ago. Her face was turbulent with emotions, her eyes glistening. “His restraints, Auntie Blair.” I guided her to the bed. Blair choked back a sob, her hand resting on Archer’s swollen face. 

     I stood back to give her space to work, her hands holding onto the anti-magic collar. She disintegrated it, the welts around his neck finally free of its torment. “These ropes are infused with refined mermaid scales.” Blair murmured, her hand cautiously touching the ropes. “They will take time to unravel.” she said. 

     “How long?” the doctor asked. “Ah, two hours maybe.” Blair replied, her voice hitched. “That is too long. He will bleed out before then and we cannot operate on him until they are removed.” the doctor countered. Blair nodded, “Ok. If I work quickly, I can do it, but I’ll be depleted of all of my magic. I’ll need someone to heal me before I die.” 

    “Nova is on her way. I also got a medical crew expedited to our location.” Summer announced from behind us. Hope flared in my chest. “Do you think you can keep him alive without the surgery until they get here?” Summer asked the doctor. He jerked his head, “Yes, but they will have to be here within the hour.” “Good, let's get started.” Blair said, her hands glowing over the rope.

     I jumped up and down, we had a chance. I wiped my tears, my hands covered in my mate’s blood. I frowned, holding up my hands to sniff. I could smell a different scent, one that I knew. “Summer.” I said, my voice low with menace. Summer walked over to me; her face confused. “Smell this.” I growled, holding my bloodied hand to her nose. She sniffed it cautiously, her nose twitching.

     Summer pulled back; her eyes wide. She walked over to Archer and bent her head to fully take in his scent. Her green eyes darkened, her aura expanding with rage. “Quincy Davis.” she growled.