I knew there was no point in running to far Kianti would not allow me to leave, not to mention the mark now gave him the ability to track me wherever I went.
Looking up at the gate that lead out onto the forest I could smell the trees through the bars, they smelt so good. Closing my eyes I could almost see the mountains of my home.
"He only did it cause he loves you, you know."
Slowly opening my eyes I turned to face Cal Kianti's beta.
"He has a funny way of showing it."
"True. though did he have any other choice?"
"He had a choice he could have let me go."
I leaned against the bars as I slowly slid down them to sit on the ground. Cal squatted before me.
"Tell me if the roles were reversed would you have let him go knowing that he was walking towards his death?"
I looked towards the mansion not wanting to answer. I didn't want to admit that he was right if it was Kianti's life on the line I would have done anything to save him, however the difference was he was an alpha I was just a lone wolf with no real power. I said as much to Cal.
"Even I can tell that that is not true did I not just see you take down Ki after only one day of training?"
I laughed.
"I was lucky."
"You were smarter."
Standing he held out his hand to help me up.
"You have the makings of a great Luna Raven just the fact that you were willing to sacrifice yourself to prevent a war between our packs proved that and I'm not the only one who sees it."
I grabbed Cal's hand, he started to pull me up when a twig snapped behind me. Quick as lighting Cal wrapping his arms around me spinning me as something thudded against us.
Cals canines extended as he let out a warning howl that could be heard all through the estate.
Then he stumbled as I threw his arm over my shoulder I peeked at his back where a dagger protruded from his other shoulder.
"Raven run!"
"I'm not leaving you now come on!"
Another twig snapped, cal pushed me away as yet another dagger hit his back bringing him to his knees.
"Cal!"
I could see the pack racing to our position some as wolves some hadn't shifted yet. But the grounds were that big I knew they wouldn't make it in time. I tried to lift Cal up but he was too heavy.
Another twig I turned to face whoever it was prepared for yet another dagger this one I knew would find its mark. Suddenly it was like everything had turned into slow motion as the biggest wolf I had ever seen jumped if front of me grabbing the dagger in mid air with its teeth.
The wolf turned the second it hit the ground and burst open the locked gates as it went after what I could only assume was the bounty hunter.
Cal's voice sounded in my ear as he learnt heavily on my shoulder.
"I assume he was apart of the pack."
Cal shook his head.
"I've never seen him before and I doubt I'd forget a wolf that size."
Finally the rest of the pack had reached us Kianti started barking orders.
"You two take Cal inside find Thais. Five of you go after Loki find the bounty hunter kill him if you have no choice but I want him alive I'll join you soon."
They nodded as they darted off to carry out his orders shifting as they bounded into the forest.
Turning to the remaining two he ordered.
"Take Raven back to the house do not under any circumstances leave her side."
They started towards me but I shook my head.
"No, I'm not going back to the house if Loki's out there I want to help."
Kianti growled.
"You think I'm letting you go out there after this! Loki can look after himself plus I just sent five of my pack after him and I'll join them that's more then enough.!"
"The bounty hunters after you too if you go out there so do I."
He threw up his hands.
"Your wasting time Rave the more we talk the further away he gets now like it or not without the shift you'll never be able to catch up to him."
He turned to the two wolves.
"Take her back now and make sure she stays there even if you have to chain her up."
In one movement he shifted and ran after the others into the trees.
Hands grabbed my arms dragging me towards the house as I struggled against them.
"Let me go!"
Once in the mansion Trigon rushed out upon hearing my screams.
"Raven calm down you can not help them out there but you can help in here."
"Loki's out there!"
"Loki doesn't need your help, but Cal does."
The mention of Cal made me stop struggling.
"You have healing abilities right?"
How did he know that? Not even Kianati could have noticed when I stitched him up that i was merely hiding the fact that I was repairing his internal organs with the only active power I had at my disposal.
It was a rare ability since most abilities tended to be more strength based. My father thought it useless. In his opinion if you were hurt enough to need the help of my healing then you didn't deserve to survive.
"We need your help the daggers were poisoned Thais can't stop the spread."
The hands holding me let me go no longer afraid I would run off.
"Where is he?"
I followed Trigon into the dining room where they had stripped the table to lay Cal on top. A female with red hair looked up from where she was inspecting the daggers that were still protruding from his back. She was younger then I expected.
Instantly I sprang to action Thais stepped aside as I ripped off Cal's shirt taking care not to touch the daggers. The daggers were blocking any blood from spilling out of the wound, however what was more alarming was black veins were starting to spread across his skin.
Leaning in I sniffed at the wounds my nose burned.
"Aconitum lycoctonum."
"What?"
I looked to Thais.
"Wolfsbane a species found in Europe and asia. Very strong and very potent."
"How do you know that?"
I shrugged.
"I just do."
Cal groaned in pain as the veins pulsed in his skin. It was spreading fast, quickly I turned to Trigon.
"Do you have any Aconitum noveboracense?"
Trigon nodded.
"I'll go get it."
"Thais get something to help tie him down."
She hurried to grab table clothes to tie his hands and body down.
"You two hold him down even if he passes out. If the daggers cut an artery the poison will enter his blood stream and there'll be no saving him."
One stood at Cal's head while the other stood at his waist.
Bending down I looked into Cal's eyes.
"I'm not gonna lie this is gonna hurt like a bitch."
Cal forced a smile.
"Payback for my comment earlier."
I smiled nodding as Trigon returned with a jar full of the rare wolfbane.
"How is wolfbane gonna help won't it just poison him more."
I smiled at Thais as I opened the lid.
"Sometimes the best way to fight fire is with more fire."
I bent back down to Cal's eye level.
"You ready?"
He nodded winking.
"I life for a life."
"Then you better live."
As the two wolves held him down I gripped the first dagger. As fast as I could I pulled it out and in the same movement I pored some of the wolfsbane into the wound. Cal's scream was deafening as sparks travelled along the black veins burning the opposing wolfsbane.
Placing my hand on the wound I tapped into my power the wolfsbane burning my own hand but I ignored it. As the wound began to heal from the inside out til it was nothing but a scratch.
"Right now to the next one."
I did the same thing to his other wound by this time he had passed out the pain being to much. Once the wound was the same as the other I stepped back feeling light headed.
Everyone eyes were on me all with shocked faces.
"How did you do that? I've never seen anything like it."
I shrugged answering Thais's question.
"Must of its just instinct."
However what I didn't tell her was how much healing drained my energy. I was barely keeping myself upright.
"Take him to his bed he should sleep til tomorrow I had to use some of his own energy to help heal his wounds."
They hesitated.
It was only then that I took in their faces my eyes widening at what I saw. They were twins both had the some dark blue eyes and were only a few inches taller then me. Their faces all hard lines. They weren't much older then me.
They stood there not moving.
"What's wrong?"
The twin on the left spoke first.
"We were ordered to-"
The other twin finished.
"not let you out of our sights."
I groaned.
"Fine I'll come with you if that helps?"
They both smiled nodding.
I followed them as they carried Cal to his room leaving Trigon and Thais behind.
The trek up the stairs was exhausting by the time we reached Cal's room I could barely walk. Stumbling I put a hand to the wall to steady myself.
"Are you alright?"
Quickly I stood back up.
"I'm fine I'll wait here while yous put him in his bed."
They nodded as they opened the door and disappeared into the room. With them out of sight my fatigue hit me hard. My eyes closed as I began to fall.
"Rave!"
Strong arms caught me lifting me up my eyes struggled to see who held me.
A scared face with one white eye and one green stared down at me.
"Over doing it again I see."
"Loki!"
I whispered smiling.
"At your service."
The twins came out of the room growling as they faced Loki.
"Settle down pups I'm not the enemy now go help your alpha with the prisoner."
I snapped my head back to Loki.
"You caught him?"
"Of corse."
The broad smile on his face gave him a look I'd never seen before. His smell was excited and full of adrenaline.
"Who are you?"
He laughed.
"Questions later for now sleep looks like you need it."
"I'll take her."
I glanced behind Loki as Kianti approached.
Loki growled.
Darting my eyes back to Loki in surprise I realised what he was angry at as he stared at my neck.
He sniffed my mark growling louder as he turned on Kianti.
"You marked her!"
Kianti held his hands up in an attempt to calm Loki.
"Loki I can explain."
"What's to explain I can smell that it was not consensual!"
The twins rushed to stand in front of Kianti protecting their alpha.
"Leo, Luke go down stairs and guard the prisoner."
They didn't move refusing to leave him as Loki stared down Kianti.
"Now!"
Using his alpha voice they reluctantly left down the stairs as Kianti's eye stayed at Loki.
"Loki a lot has happened since we left Colorado her father wanted her dead."
"So you forced your mark on her do you even love her or was the thought of getting back at Tharon to tempting!"
Here Kianti's eyes glowed.
"I couldn't give two shits about getting back at Tharon for what he's done."
what the hell why would he want to get back at my father?
Kianti's eyes delved into mine as he continued.
"Yes Loki I love her she is my true mate I knew it the second I saw her."
I felt Loki's anger wash away as he saw the look in Kianti's eyes it was the first time he had said that he loved me. Part of me was thrilled at those words but the other part remembered his teeth sinking into my neck without my permission.
Loki sighed.
"I was afraid of that I tried to ignore it that night you banged on my door with her in your arms."
I looked to Loki accusingly.
"You knew he was my mate."
"I had a feeling I wasn't certain."
I forced myself out of his arms.
"Why didn't you say something?! Why did you let him take me?!"
I stumbled again.
Both of them moved to help me but I pushed both of them away leaning against the wall.
"Stay away from me! Because of both of you I can never go home. I'm not strong enough to be a Luna!"
"Yes Raven you are, even as a child your mother knew you had the power to be a great Luna."
I stared at him shocked and angry at his words. The look on Kianti's face was just as shocked as mine.
"What are you talking about my mother dead giving birth to me."
Loki tried to step closer but I moved out of his reach.
"No she didn't your mother dead saving your life when your were three."
I can't believe this my whole family had lied to me for my whole life my father made me believe I had killed my own mother. Worst of all Loki the man I looked up to like a father when mine had failed me had lied to me.
"I need to get out of here."
I tried to leave but Kianti grabbed my hand. I snarled at him as I used the last of my strength to push him away.
"I trusted both of you and both of you betrayed that trust."
I knew I didn't have the strength to leave after healing Cal slowly I walked to his door using the wall for balance.
"The only person I trust right now is inside this room."
I turned to Loki.
"Once I've regained my strength back I want the truth from you, all of it."
Without waiting for an answer I entered Cal's room and closed the door behind me.
I leaned against the door my head in my hands til I sensed Cal's eyes on me.
"How much did you hear?"
He rolled over with effort.
"Enough."
I sighed now mentally exhausted as well as physically.
"Come on."
He patted the bed beside him.
"Won't your alpha be mad?"
He shrugged.
"He'd be madder if I let you sleep on the floor and since I don't have the energy to move guess we have to share."
I chuckled as I dragged myself to the bed lying down next to him.
The second my head hit the pillow my eyes closed.
"Cal?"
"MMM?"
"Thanks for saving my life."
He snickered.
"Dido Rav."
His nick name reminded me of Zeld and I smiled sadly thinking of the friend I wished I had back and of the new friend I now shared a bed with.
I couldn't believe the strange turn my life had taken as I drifted off to sleep dreading tomorrow.