Rogue Eight

The Beta's Fate, Part II

Chapter Seven:  The Beta’s Fate, Part II

GAVIN

Lorelei.  No matter how often it would be repeated, it would be the most beautiful name I would ever hear. 

“Thank you for allowing me to assist.  It’s nice to feel like I have a purpose around here.”  There it was, the voice of an angel—my angel.  You have always had a purpose, my love, my internal thoughts conveyed, you are my purpose!  I’m just sorry about the circumstances that have brought us together!

“You have always had a purpose.”  I was overjoyed that Raven voiced my own words to Lorelei. “Even if it doesn’t always feel that way.  I know you feel the weight of M’s protectiveness of you, but while misguided, it is because she loves her little sister.”  A sister…I was glad that Lorelei had someone that loved and protected her fiercely until I could find her, and I would make sure her sister knew that the weight of Lorelei’s protection could now be shared just as the intense love for her was.

“No offense but cooking and taking care of the house doesn’t exactly feel like a purpose.  Although, I do love cooking.  Maybe that’s why I like helping you with your potions so much.”   As if I wasn’t infatuated with her enough, my heart swelled with even more love for Lorelei as her words proved that she had the kindest of hearts and thrived on helping others.  My wolf whined again in agreement.

“Maybe.  Regardless, I am happy to teach you as much as you want to learn.”  I was developing a deep admiration for Raven.  She obviously cared a great deal for my mate and appeared to have a good soul.  I had come across many witches and very few were as genuine and kind in their practice of the craft.  That was one of the reasons Nicholas was hesitant to utilize their skills unlike several of the other packs.  Jace was particularly mistrusting of witches, his deep seeded dislike of them due to his own personal experience with them.

As I thought of him in that moment, I realized that Nicholas probably had no idea where I was and was probably searching for me at this very moment.  We had been incredibly close all our lives, our mothers the closest of friends.  Just as my adopted mother loved my mother like her sister, Nicholas loved me like his brother.  And I loved them both more than words could ever say.  Hopefully my memories of what has put me on death’s door would return soon…or my eyes would finally allow me to see my heart’s desire and hear exactly what happened to me from the two women taking great care in my survival.

As her humored tone re-entered my conscience, I pushed aside my thoughts to allow its melody to envelope me in its beauty.  “Watch what you say. There’s a lot I want to learn and much of it, my protective older sister will not approve of.”   Sounds like I am going to have to add strong willed and stubborn to my Lorelei’s list of attributes.  My wolf felt a bit agitated at that thought.

Just then, I felt the warmth of the energy that had relieved my pain begin to dissipate sending jarring pain throughout my body.  No! I silently pleaded Not yet!  Panic set in as I mustered all the strength I could to force my eyes open.  Bolts of sharp pain seared through my torso emitting themselves out of my mouth in a low moan.  An action that immediately got a nervous reaction from Raven as I heard her ask, “How’s it going over there?”

My wolf howled in anger as we both knew Raven’s plan.  I have to at least see her, if only for a moment!  I understood Raven’s reason for rendering me unconscious again and now that I had my true purpose in life, there is nothing I wanted more than to be fully healed to spend the rest of my life making Lorelei’s life happy and complete.  But before I had to go into another period of darkness, I needed to see Lorelei’s face.  I had to carry the vision of her with me in hopes that my mind would allow to dream…dream of my mate and the life and family that we would build together.

“Almost done. Hold on for me, Gavin.”  My anxiety instantly disappeared when I heard Lorelei’s plea and most of all, heard my name in the heavenly melodic cadence of her voice as her scent, which had faded slightly in my anxiety, once again flowed heavily in my senses.  The peppermint and sage diffusing the apprehension and fury until I fell completely at ease.

“Well, it seems he is listening to you.”  Raven spoke the truest of truths.  I have been listening, my love, and if the fates will allow, I will forevermore listen to you.  Quickly, I summoned my wolf, I need your help, my friend, we don’t have much time!

My wolf had already read my mind and knew what we had to do.  Together, we pushed with all our might at the darkness, pushed against the agonizing pain, and with everything we had in us, pushed to finally see our mate. 

Finally, my eyes shot wide open and looked directly at Raven, but there was no sign of Lorelei.  Where is she?  I began to panic.  My wolf and I both felt anxious and distressed that she was not by our side.  My breath trapped itself heavily in my chest. 

“It’s alright,” Raven soothed, placing her hand gently on my arm, “You’re safe here, I promise.  I need you to relax.  Your body is still trying to heal.”

I couldn’t relax.  Not now.  I had to find a way to speak.  I had to call out her name.  I had to have her by my side.

“Done,” Lorelei nervously broke in.  I heard the fleeting sound of her feet quickly coming towards me.  Finally, I was going to see my love’s face!  Seconds seemed to turn into eternity as I awaited the moment in bated breath.

 “Although I’m worried that I did something wrong.  Is it supposed to smell like cinnamon and sandalwood?”  Lorelei questioned as I could feel her closeness.  Excitement ran rampant through my veins and my wolf howled in delight, the pain shoved aside for this moment—a moment I feel like I’ve spent my whole life waiting for.

As Lorelei reached my bedside, I felt her eyes on me and quickly moved my gaze to take in the Moon Goddess’ gift…and it was more than I could have ever hoped for.  In that very moment, my whole world made sense and Lorelei was the very center of that world.  Long brown wavy hair caressed over her shoulders with small wisps that fell on the sides of the face I had so longed to see.  The beauty that her thin heart shaped features contained was worth every second of the wait.  

From her flawless creamy ivory skin to her perfect little nose and full rosy lips to her eyes…Lorelei had the softest brown eyes that I have ever seen with the tiniest flakes of butterscotch woven in her irises.  I got completely lost in them and was elated to find that hers seemed to be lost in mine as well.  Even when I heard Lorelei gasp, her eyes never left mine and her intensity heightened sending waves of excitement through my entire being.  There was nowhere else I would rather be.  Lorelei was perfect and in that very moment both my wolf and I knew we had to let her know she was MINE!

My voice came out dry and hoarse, but my wolf and I didn’t care as long as Lorelei knew that our life was now completely bound to her.

“MATE!”

A wide smile crossed my face as my heart felt as if it were going to burst with happiness when I realized that Lorelei and I both staked our claim to one another at the exact same moment.  My own elation was met with the sweetest and most beautiful smile in return as my Lorelei reached out and placed her soft slender hand on my cheek—the most amazing feeling I have ever known. 

Suddenly, my exhilaration was interrupted by a scorching pain ripping across my torso.  An agonizing howl released under her touch.  Lorelei’s now petrified expression accentuated my agony as I felt the pain I was now causing her.

“Gavin!” Lorelei cried out as Raven picked up the dreaded cloth I knew had to be applied over my mouth. 

I was so enthralled with seeing Lorelei, I hadn’t noticed she had dropped it on my bedside.  “N-No,” I choked out, “P-Please!”

Raven looked at Lorelei and then back at me with sad sympathetic light brown eyes as she wholeheartedly apologized, “I’m sorry, but right now, it’s the only way to save you, Gavin.”

My heart broke as I watched a long flow of tears stream down my Lorelei’s face, her hand shaking against my cheek.  Before Raven could bring the cloth down to cover my mouth, I whispered brokenly through my pain, “I—need—you—to—smile.”

Thankfully, Lorelei instantly did as I wished, smiling through her tears as she whispered back, “I will be right here waiting for you to come back.  Come back to me, Gavin.”

Raven placed the cloth over my mouth, my eyes closing, sending me back to my silent dark sea of black.  But I was at peace with what had to be done.  I was carrying the vision of Lorelei’s face and the echo of her loving words with me to bring me back to my forever mate as I drifted off with her scent peacefully carrying me into the darkness.

LORELEI

I fulfilled Gavin’s request, forcing a wide smile through my tears as I whispered to him, “I will be right here waiting for you to come back.  Come back to me, Gavin.”

I couldn’t move.  I couldn’t breathe.  I couldn’t tear away from his gaze.  I couldn’t force my shaking hand to let go of his beautiful face.  I know men were supposed to be called handsome, but to me, Gavin was the most beautiful human being ever put on this earth.  My wolf felt like she was tearing my insides out in grief and anxiousness as she felt the exact same way. 

The moment my eyes connected with his, I realized that I never really knew what love was until now.  It was completely different from the love I felt for my family.  It didn’t lessen my love for them.  It only showed me that there was so much more.  The void that put a hole in my heart was gone, filled with love, hopes, and dreams of building a life full of happiness and joy for eternity with my mate.

As I felt the cloth graze over my fingertips, my eyes overflowed with my watery despair.  My wolf’s wailing howl loudly ringing in my ears.  Within seconds of Raven’s placement over his mouth, Gavin’s eyes closed, and he fell still.

Raven dropped the cloth back onto the bed and gently removed my hand from Gavin’s face, gripping it tightly before turning and letting go of it to wrap me in a tight embrace, whispering in my ear, “It is just for a little while, Lorelei.  He just needs a little time to heal so he can come back to you.”

Tears flowed heavily now as both my wolf and I crumbled from the strain, my broken sobs weeping out, “I-I love him m-more than anything, Raven.  H-How can I l-love him so much already?”

Raven pulled away, bringing her arms up to my shoulders, until her supportive smile and kind eyes were directly in front me, “That love you have for him, Lorelei, that love is more powerful than any potion I could ever conjure up.  It will bring him back to you.”  She lifted her hand to gently place it on my cheek, “I promise.”

“Thank you, Raven,” I whispered in appreciation. My wolf, who was quite a bit more assertive than me, however, was not satisfied. 

“Of course,” Raven sweetly replied, “Sit here and be with him. I will go update the others on his condition, okay?”

I nodded and sat down on the bed, taking Gavin’s hand and enveloping it in mine as I peered down on his beautiful face.  He looked so peaceful now.  There was no longer any pain in his chiseled features.  I reached up and ran my other hand through his dark brown hair before gliding it down his cheek, cupping it around his jaw and going still.  This seemed to calm my wolf sightly…but only slightly.

Raven placed her hand on my shoulder as she leaned down and whispered softly in my ear, “I’ll be back soon.”