CHAPTER 9

ELI'S POV

I groaned heavily as I started healing. He actually had gotten me really good and it took a while because this was a fatal blow on my chest area and I could hear as muscles and sinews intertwined alongside cut arteries. Was this guy seriously trying to kill me in front of Miriam?

Wait, Miriam. I had heard her scream earlier but I had an inkling she was safe. No way he would harm his own wife. Perhaps, he had just threatened her and made his way away from her and she might have fainted. But as the last part of my opened chest healed, I caught on with the scent of blood. That was not wolf's blood, it was human. Quickly I rose up and turned to find her lying on the stairs in the pool of her blood. No way in the world would I let her die on me. I rushed over and held her in my arms. She was bloodied as her side was bleeding badly obviously where he had gotten her and so was the back of her head that she had landed on the ground.

"Miriam.... Miriam!!! Don't do this to me. Miriam!!!" I yelled as I tapped her cheeks. She was not responsive and tears welled up in my eyes. This was all my fault. I should have waited for him to step out and not bring the fight to his home.

My selfishness had gotten the best of me yet again and I just might be on my way to pay the ultimate price again. In the past, I had been selfish because I wanted to spend time alone with her and eventually left her in the woods to go play the hero which cost me everything. Now again, I had just made the same mistake. How could I not learn from my mistakes? My heart was in turmoil as I gathered her up in my arms. Embracing her as I cried for her not to leave me.

"Eli?" She muttered and quickly I held her out to look at her. She could not even open her eyes.

"Miriam!!! You're fine. You'll be fine. Please stay with me." I said hastily.

"Eli..." She called weakly in a barely audible voice and I realized that she wanted to speak to me. I reclined closely to her and listened to her.

"I'm with you." I said.

"My kids. He went after them. Get... my... kids." She muttered weakly.

Oh, it was true. But I did not really want to leave her but knowing how persistent she could be, it was best I obliged her. Careful not to leave her with a thud, I raised and carried her down the stairs and raised her into an upright position so she was reclining against the side wall. I reached for the towel and placed it against her side, putting her hand over it.

"You hold onto this and I will check them. Do not go anywhere. I would be back soon" I said to her as I quickly started up the stairs.

"I hope you will keep your promise this time." She muttered under breath. I heard that and I knew just why she said it. This time however, I would not leave her side.

I had just gotten upstairs only to discover the burning flame that was emitting from the room which from the design out the door, I knew was that children's room. There were no screams but I had to assume that the kids were too scared and probably huddled together at a side. I tried to open the door with the knob but was burned really badly that I jerked up. If you must know, we werewolves and fire were not the best of friends. It was like our nemesis and we could not resist the pain it brought us.

I decided that I would not back out now and stepped back as I put all my strength into kicking the door open. I would have charged inside but I realized that the flame was everywhere and really bad as it roared. There was no spot to pass into the room from and then I looked to the end of the corridor where I stood. The window there showed that outside, the house was being engulfed by fire. The crazy bastard had done it again. I know at the moment that there was no hope for the kids. They were probably long gone and I had better get us both out of this place.

I rushed downstairs as I found that the entire house was indeed circled with fire and Miriam had successfully passed out. She was not even pressing her wound and had her hands to her side limply as her head bowed over. I raised her up into my arms as I made for the exit. The door from whence I had come inside (entrance) was a no go area as the porch was on fire and its knob was red from hotness. I also knew there would be people out there to witness the scene and I could not reveal myself to them.

A back door. There had to be one and telling from the design of this house, it would be in the kitchen. The fire had gotten into the living room and things were beginning to cave in. In the searing heat, I dashed into the kitchen area and found that place was beginning to burn as well. The whole house was on fire but we needed to go away. There was only one way the kitchen door would open and it was inwards. I was scared of touching the knob but as the flames and a burning wood fell causing sparks to splash against me on my naked body if you remember, I found the motivation I needed.

Suddenly, I grabbed hold on the knob with my free hand as the other held Miriam firmly over my shoulders and pulled with all my might as I let off a really loud scream accompanied with a growl of pain. The knob broke off instead and the door did not open. The kitchen was now on fire when I kicked the door hard, shattering it as we ran through. Someone had set the house on fire all round.

I got out the back and fell as the pain was intense. Miriam fell off and for a brief moment, I laid there trying to catch my breath when I heard the sirens. Not good, this was not the place to heal and I quickly got up and managed to carry her up as I made a run for the woods behind us. It was really painful but I had to keep running.