Ch. 122: Heart-Stopper

CHAPTER 122
Ally~
I realized when the guards came over that this guy had to have a rank. But it didn’t hit me until the gun came out that this was Nick’s dad. He wasn’t around much for one reason or another. But I guess he was around today.
“Why don’t we all take a breath,” I say, my hands up trying to calm everything.
The other guard pulls out a gun and aims it at me. “Stop!”
I freeze up.
There’s a crash somewhere far off and I can’t move my head to see when a roar breaks out. I flinch on instinct, but try to reign it in to not set off this guy with the gun.
I’m about to try something risky when their eyes glaze over. The guns drop down. Someone is linking them. I free my head and turn quickly to see a large fiery beast charging this way. A large black wolf accompanied him. My heart lifts at the sight of it.
When they reach us Nick stands beside me, and Jake stays in his fire-wolf form. He’s growling at Nick’s dad who has his head lowered and to the side, exposing his neck. The guards were in a similar form. I resisted the urge to pet Asher. But we did glance at each other.
After a long uncomfortable moment, Jake stepped back a bit. He did not leave Rachel’s personal bubble however.
Nick’s dad glanced at me before saying shakily, “Apologies for my mistake.”
He rushed off, followed by the two guards who deeply bowed their heads to Jake first.
Then it was like we all exhaled together. I smiled at Nick/Asher and pet him gently, scratching behind the ear like he was some big puppy. He pushed his nose into me before turning to go. Jake meanwhile had his head lowered purposefully to Rachel, and she had one hand on his forehead. The two came together and it looked like an epic movie poster. Small girl, hand on a big wolf, as they shared this moment of silent connection, while enveloped in flames. The sight struck me a bit. After a breath of two Jake backed up and met up with Nick where the two walked back to the packhouse.
“Well that feels right out of the next White Fang screen adaptation or something,” Kyle quipped.

After a few hours of more focused work, we decided to call for a real break. Something about what had happened seemed to make things click more for Rachel. I don’t know if it was her life at risk or that moment with Jake after he stopped it all, or maybe some combination of the two - but she was able to reach a few mindless moments. For day one it was really a good accomplishment.
Rachel headed inside the packhouse to look for Jake after he texted that she could find him in his office if she wanted a break. Kyle and I packed up the big blanket and headed the same way.
“So are we really not going to talk about how we just had guns pointed at us?” Kyle asked, his words long and sing-song.
“I don’t think I’m ready to dig through all that,” I tell him honestly.
“I mean I knew werewolves kept to themselves and don’t like outsiders, but man that dude was venomous,” he kept going like he hadn’t heard me.
“Kyle, really. Can we talk about it later?” I say shortly. “Maybe when we’re home.”
“Who was that guy anyway? Who does he think he is?” he asked, still going on.
“It was Nick’s dad,” I say with some slight irritation.
That seemed to finally get his attention. “Oh sh- Ally. I’m sorry.”
I just nodded as we moved forward. Rachel was nearly inside now when I stopped.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to snap. It’s just…” I take an exasperated breath. “I know what they think of me, especially what his parents think of me. Nick’s made that pretty clear. But… I don’t want to get pushed too far right now. I’m afraid that he’ll be in a position where they’ll make him choose, and I can’t- I wouldn’t let him do that. I’d be the one who’d-” my voice breaks.
Kyle just hugs me fiercely without a word.
The care he shows makes it almost harder to suck it up. Laying it out like that makes me want to break down. But I can’t here. This gathering of tears in my eyes is already pushing it. If they fall I know they’ll be easier for a werewolf to smell. And I can’t have Nick ask me why I’ve been crying. So they shimmer there in my eyes while I take big slow breaths, using my meditation techniques to calm down.
We break our hug right as the door swings open and Nick steps out. His eyes look between the two of us and he must not like what he sees because a little growl escapes. I laugh at it. Big jealous puppy, I swear.
Kyle takes a big step back with his hands up defensively.
“Down, pup. Down,” he says like a smart a*s.
Nick puts an arm around me and continues to glare at Kyle until he leaves us.
“You know you ask for that kind of teasing when you go all caveman - er, cave wolf,” I say, smile on.
I can’t help but find it endearing. I guess I was fated to a werewolf for a reason. I like the territorial stuff. It makes me feel valued, special.
“I can’t even begin to say I’m sorry enough for what happened with my dad. He’s been out of the loop recently, and why he didn’t put the stories others told him about our a*ses being saved by a powerful Witch and a gangly fae, together with what he was looking at…” Nick started. He rubbed a hand on his neck. “The bigotry is- and you, you are- but even if you weren’t, if we weren’t- you know that I wouldn’t abide by that same thinking. Right?”
“I know Nick,” I say gently.
“I don’t know how we can keep this going much longer, I mean. One more ridiculous insult from either of them and I’ll reject the pack. I will. I know we’ve got other things going on and I will always be here for my family, to help them, but they just can’t-” he pauses as I place a hand on his cheek.
“Nick, I couldn’t let you do that, you know that,” I say carefully.
“I would. I will,” he says confidently.
I drop my hand and don’t say another word. I don’t want to push anymore. Not while we are just arguing in hypotheticals.
He reaches for my hand and holds it reverently. The touch now and the thought of his territorial attitude when he first came out here washed over me and I felt so happy at this second…
“Do you think you could ever mark me?” I ask before I can stop my mouth.
Here it’s gone again, running before I can get the words through my brain first.
Nick freezes, totally surprised. But - elated. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that elated look on his face before. Well except perhaps when we first realized we were mates and I told him I was glad my mate was him. Maybe then.
“You would want my mark?” he asked, his eyes shining.
A shadow passed by slowly in his eyes - Asher.
“Of course I would. I just don’t know - I mean I’m not a werewolf. Is it even possible? I mean, what would happen?” I think through it all aloud.
Nick’s smile doesn’t drop.
His focused attention and heated gaze makes me blush and I try to turn away.
“Don’t you dare look away from me my gorgeous Witchling,” he insists, moving to once again be right in front of me.
“Nick-” I try to shoo him away.
“No way, a few more seconds!” he chuckles, grabbing hold of the hand trying to wave him off..
I suck my lower lip in as he continues this focus eye contact.
He groans. “Don’t do that- you’re killing me.”
But from the sh*t-eating grin on his face that refuses to die down, I somehow don’t think that I am.

Evan~
I’d been avoiding the cells all day, but I couldn’t ignore a direct order. My father has ordered me to question the prisoner again and he’s now ranting about my weaknesses as future Beta. Apparently because I haven’t resorted to torture I am weak. But I can’t let anyone else question her, question Amber, or they could hurt her.
Apparently, this is something I can’t let happen.
The scent hits me the moment I reach the bottom of the cellar. Either it’s gotten stronger, or I’ve gotten more skilled at identifying it. In reality, which I was ignoring, it was the second one as the former was pretty impossible.
When I reach her cell she’s laying on the floor along the right side, with her eyes closed. She looks relaxed, and her breathing is so steady. Her heart rate is so calm. I watch her eyes move and know she’s asleep. I should wake her up or leave. But I can’t seem to do either. So I stand there watching her sleep intently. Like a stalker.
She turned a little and I watched as she furrowed her eyebrows. She muttered something unintelligible and gasped. Sweat starts to bead up, her hands twitched, and her heart rate shot up. Like she’s afraid. It continues for another few seconds and I can’t stand just watching.
‘Help mate,’ Xavier barks at me.
I spring into action and leap to the side, stretching to reach her. I’m too far. She whimpers again and starts turning her head back and forth. I’m up on my feet and scrambling for the key but it’s not hung here.
I reach in again and stretch as far as I can. She’s rolling around. And somehow in this rolling I make contact with her ankle. I hold it.
The tingles that rush through me settle Xavier, and after a second we watch as Amber relaxes. First her rolling stops, then her brow relaxes, and at last her mouth stops saying things I can’t understand. Her breathing returns to normal, and right as I am about to let go, she opens her eyes.
“Mate, is that you?” she says in a raw voice, barely audible.
She turns further as I release the touch and she looks over to me.
“It’s Evan. My name is Evan,” I tell her, the look in her eyes stopping my heart.