Beautiful Creatures Series

Everyone stayed at the house with Mackenzie. Partly to protect her but mostly to wait and see if Gordon survived. Word had spread, and by midnight, the entire pack knew their Alpha was on Death’s door. They came in groups to see for themselves the mighty fallen Alpha. Tents started popping up on the lawn. No one wanted to leave Gordon’s side. They had erected a wall of muscle circling the house in defence of their Alpha. To protect him from further harm and from Melissa should she return to finish the job. Mackenzie found it touching to see the way the pack rallied around Gordon.

Around three in the morning, Mackenzie fell asleep stretched out across the four dining chairs lined up so she could stretch out across them. Aster suggested she go sleep in the bed or on the couch in the other rooms where she would be more comfortable, but Mackenzie had refused. She wanted to stay in the dining room next to Gordon.

For two days, this was the norm. She would sleep next to the table, and during the day, she would hold his hands and sit with him. Each day he did not wake was torture. She blamed herself. Had she not left his sight and stayed with him in the shop like he had wanted, none of this would have happened.

Lewis assured her Gordon was doing well. He would have her help him clean the bandages and show her how he was healing. He told her that as long as Gordon continued to heal, he would wake up at some point. Given the extent of the damage, it would just take longer than usual.

***

Pain pulsed through Gordon’s body, disturbing his sleep. Slowly his eyes opened, fluttered shut, then opened once more. It took a moment for his eyes to focus. He lifted his head and saw all his cubs littered around the house, all asleep. It was dark outside the windows, but there was a light coming from the kitchen. Quietly Gordon sat himself up, his legs dangling over the edge of the table he had been laying on. The blanket draped over his waist. He looked around, trying to find Mackenzie. He looked down at the bandages on his chest, and he recalled being shot. He had no idea how long he had been unconscious. Gordon pulled the bandages off to inspect the room. The wounds were closed, but the wound sites were still sore.

He looked up at the IV bag of clear fluids hanging above his head. He reached up and turned off the flow of the fluid. Then he pulled the IV from his hand. He tossed back the blanket and hopped down off the table. Taking the sheet under the blanket, he wrapped it around himself and went toward the light in the kitchen. He smiled when he saw Mackenzie raiding the fridge.

When she turned to see who had come in, she gasped with excitement to see him on his feet. She tossed the food onto the counter and was at his side instantly. She took Gordon by the arm and walked him over to the kitchen table. “You’re awake,” Mackenzie eased him into a chair as she fussed over him. “How do you feel?”

“Like I’ve been hit by a semi-truck.”

“I was so afraid you were not going to wake up.”

“And leave you here alone,” he grinned. “What kind of man would I be. How long have I been out?”

“Three days.”

“Have the others been here the whole time?”

“You should see outside. There is a tent city around the house. The whole pack has been guarding you while you recover. You must really mean something to them,” it was nice to know that despite all he had done as of late, the pack still rallied behind him.

“Did anyone catch up to Melissa?” He asked, hopefully.

“They say she got away,” Mackenzie told him.

“Damn it. Ok. It’s ok. We can probably track her.”

“No, Gordon, she’s gone. Just let her be gone.”

“She would have hurt you.”

“And if you go after her, she might succeed in killing you. Our child needs a father more than you need vengeance,” she knelt down in front of him and held his hands. “Please, Gordon, just let it go.”

“Fine. But if she shows her face around here again, I’m going to kill her. Nothing you can say will stop me.”

A sound from the entranceway drew their attention, and Gordon smiled when he saw his daughter. She was practically in tears when she rushed over and hugged him hard. “Easy, I’m still healing,” he said, hugging her back.

Aster looked up into his loving eyes with tears of joy. “I thought I would lose you.”

He stroked her hair and smiled. “I’m tougher than that.”

Mackenzie backed away. “I’ll go get you some pants. Let you two talk,” she said, leaving the room.

Aster smiled weakly at her father. “You got yourself a good woman this time. Mackenzie never left your side. She’s a better mate than Mom ever was.”

“Is that the sound of approval?”

“I approve.”

the

going after

I promised Mackenzie I would let it go. It ends here. Melissa is smart enough to know that after this, she

deserves

make an announcement tomorrow morning.”

***

Gordon’s recovery spread. Everyone would cheer that the Alpha survived. They all wanted to welcome Gordon back to the living and to hear his plans for going after Melissa. Around noon Gordon had the pack gathered out front of the house. He stepped out

unhappy burden to inform you all that one of our on has betrayed the pack. She turned on us. Her actions cannot be tolerated. I am saddened to say for the first time in the history of this pack Melissa Wilder is… exiled,”

their way of indicating their understanding of his orders. As of

Aster. “I’m sorry, Aster, she has left me no

her father in the eyes. “I understand. Should I see

Aster loved her mother, but she was loyal to the pack, and she understood Melissa’s actions had sealed her own fate. Even Gordon did not have the power to forgive Melissa’s crimes. He might have been the Alpha, but even he had to obey the laws of the pack; rule number one was you never turn your back on the pack. The pack always came first. That unity was the only reason they had

all. No one liked exiling. Gordon certainly did not like it, it was the

headed back to their homes and jobs. As the last of their guests had left, Gordon sat in the living room with a beer in one hand, staring vacantly at the TV. He did not even know what he

Baby?

of endearment brought a startling thought to mind. One he should have thought when

I’m fine,” she promised. “The baby is fine. Remember, this child is half lycanthrope. I would think it would certainly be able to

she was confused; after all, he had told her not to go to the hospital. Gordon worried because the baby was half-human, and the car she had been in had hit that mountain rather hard. “You’re not in any

“No.”

“No bleeding?”

“No.”

praying he did not sound as worried as he was. It was moments like this when Gordon hated the fact that

***

by the house to check on Gordon. Lewis was young, but he understood medicine. He was the pack’s medic. Since they could not go to a human doctor if severely injured, Lewis was the one people went to. He had been the one to

had closed up and left no scar. Lewis removed the stitches for him, which was not painful but felt strange all the same. The whole time Lewis was removing the stitches,

a lot of cramping and pain,

have a way to monitor whether or not there is

head. “No. Babies and childbirth are not my forte. You need a

has been exiled,”

a problem then? What about one of the mothers. They went through

sighed. “I’m worried the crash might have

Mackenzie bleeding?” Lewis

“No.”

of abdominal

“No.”

feel

“Yes.”

he instructed, moving his finger side to side and un and down slowly while Gordon followed it. Lewis held out two fingers on both hands. Squeeze my fingers as hard as you can,” Gordon did as he was asked. Lewis placed

what’s to prognosis?” Gordon

passed the neurological exam, so I’d say you

stood up and walked Lewis to the door.

ask around and see if anyone

the door. He turned to see Mackenzie sitting on the stairs. He knew she had heard everything. “What are you doing on the stairs?”

to me,”

“I did not.”

concerned about the baby. But you are. Should

take her hand in his. “I just want to make sure. I hope for the

you think there

“I’m sorry, Mackenzie. I don’t mean to worry

He was going to give her the wedding she dreamed of no matter what the cost. He had