~∆~ Mariah's POV ~∆~I stare at Luna, my mind spinning as I try to understand what she just said. Seven guardians? And what about me? Nothing makes sense. I'm drowning in information that sounds more fantasy than reality."What seven guardians are you talking about?" I finally ask, feeling completely lost. "And why do you say it has anything to do with me?""It's a long story," Luna answers, suddenly restless. She stands up from Rain's couch and starts moving around."Rain, do you know what the seven guardians are and what they have to do with me?" I ask, turning to look at him, hoping he can make sense of this madness.Rain nods slowly, his expression thoughtful. "I know the legends. But I don't know what it has to do with you. The seven guardians are mythic beings among us, supernaturals, who are chosen to watch over some portals to different realms. They're said to be incredibly powerful, even other supernatural beings can't defeat them because of their insane strength."He pauses
~∆~ Rain's POV ~∆~The drive back to my apartment is quiet, my mind filled with what just happened. I didn't need to be told who was responsible for everything that happened.My body is healing. I feel the silver pulling its way out of my system. My body was burning through the poison faster than any human doctor would believe, not that anyone would believe silver was poisonous, but to us werewolves, it was deadly.However, I don't tell that to Mariah, who keeps checking on me every few minutes, her hand finding mine or touching my shoulder just to assure herself and believe that I was indeed okay. I'm not complaining about the attention. I love it.Mariah's friend sits in the backseat beside me, unusually quiet for someone who's normally a chatterbox. I could hear their chats, not that I intentionally listened to them, my wolf is just too interested in our mate."Are you sure you're feeling alright?" Mariah asks for the fifth time, her fingers tracing patterns on my forearm. "You l
~∆~ Mariah's POV ~∆~I can't stop shaking.My hands are trembling so violently I can barely hold onto my phone as I try to call the hospital, try to figure out where they're taking Rain, try to do something other than stand here in this parking lot.The ambulance disappeared into traffic five minutes ago, and I feel like part of my soul went with it."Mariah."The voice brings me from my panic. Luna is standing beside me, her eyes filled with concern."Follow me," she says simply. "Now.""I need to get to the hospital," I stammer, wiping tears from my face with shaking hands. "I need to find out where they took him, I need to...""Mariah." Luna's voice is firmer this time. "Look at me."I do, and something in her expression calms the wild panic in my chest just enough for me to breathe."Rain is going to be alright," she says with absolute certainty. "You don't need to worry. But we need to move fast."Before I can ask what she means, another voice calls my name from across the parki
~∆~ Ethan's POV ~∆~ She would have easily been mine. If not for that bastard! I stand in the crowd, watching as Mariah desperately follows the paramedics wheeling Rain's unconscious body toward the ambulance. Her sobs pierce through the noise of the dispersing crowd. She looked so heartbroken for him, and that made me and my wolf restless and angry. She's crying for him. Actually crying, like her heart is being torn out of her chest. Her hands are pressed against the ambulance windows as they load his stretcher inside, and she's calling his name over and over like some pathetic hag which she was. "Rain! Please, let me come with you! Rain!" The paramedic says something to her, explaining to her that only family can ride in the ambulance. And she crumples against the side of the vehicle like her legs couldn't hold her up anymore. I wasn't completely sure before, but now I am. Those two are mates. That's why she's reacting this way, why that wasted excuse for an Alpha can't
~∆~ Rain's POV ~∆~The scoreboard glares down at us like a judgment of our failure: Chicago Blackhawks 2, Boston Red Wings 4.Two minutes left in the third period, and we're losing badly. The crowd is getting restless, their disappointed murmurs ringing through the United Center. "Come on, boys!" Jackson shouts from behind me as we set up for the face-off. "We've been in worse spots than this!"Have we though? I can feel the pain of every missed shot, every failed play, every moment where I should have been better, faster, stronger. The news outlets are going to have a field day with this. They'll blame everything on me, the new guy, the trade acquisition who was supposed to be their secret weapon."Cross!" Coach Tom's voice sounds through the arena noise from the bench. "Stop thinking and start playing!"Easier said than done when your mind is split between the game and everything else falling apart in your life."Focus, Rain," I mutter as I line up for the face-off.The ref drops
~∆~ Mariah's POV ~∆~I can hear them talking through the walls.Not the specific words, my hearing isn't supernatural like theirs, but I can hear the rise and fall of their voices, Rain sounds angry. Really angry. And Luna sounds... hurt.I pace my apartment, trying not to eavesdrop but unable to help myself. These people are planning to help me fight the two monsters who've been terrorizing me.But they're clearly dealing with their own family drama. Drama that somehow involves me, since Luna telling me about the mate bond seems to have set Rain off.Part of me wants to march over there and demand answers. The other part wants to lock my doors and pretend none of this is happening. That I'm still just a graphic designer with normal human problems.But I can't pretend anymore. Especially not after tonight. Not after seeing what Ethan can do, and what Natasha is willing to do to destroy me.I stop walking up and down. I look around my apartment. At the silver doorframes and the bottle