AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Meredith kept the motor running as she helped them get Alator into the back of the vehicle. She sped over the bumpy terrain without slowing down.Bless her.
As a team, they carried Alator into the clinic where Dylan was waiting.
“Is he okay?” Tears filled the boy’s eyes, and Brandy squeezed her son to her side.
“We haven’t lost a wolf yet. Today is not the day we start.” She held Dylan at arm’s length. “Stand with Gram.”
Dylan nodded and stepped over to Meredith who took his hand and gathered him in an embrace from behind. “Let’s send your buddy all our positive vibes, okay?”
He grabbed onto Meredith’s forearms and closed his eyes, concentrating, but Brandy knew it was going to take more than positive vibes.
“Let’s do this,” Parker said.
Brandy readied a tranquilizer, but Alator was already unconscious.
“Give it to him anyway. We don’t want him to wake up while I’m poking around in there. He’s not going to like that and neither am I.” Parker went to the sink to wash up and prepare for surgery.
Brandy administered the tranquilizer then washed up to assist Parker. When she stood over Alator again, she traced her gloved finger along his ragged left ear and leaned down.
“Don’t you go anywhere, big boy,” she whispered. “I need you.”
****
I need you.
The words reached out to Reardon as his leg burned. The pain wasn’t as bad as it would be if he were a normal wolf or a normal human, but he was neither. It still hurt him enough to cause him to close his eyes and succumb to the tranquilizer Brandy had given him.
Through the haze, Flidae floated above him, her hair streaming out around her on some ethereal breeze and her leafy gown rustling a natural melody. There was a time when a visit from Flidae meant safety, refuge, protection.
Reardon knew this was not one of those times.
The human means too much to you, wolf. She distracts you from your goal here.
As far as Reardon understood, his goal was to do something worthy. He’d saved Brandy and Dylan from being crushed by that car. What more did he have to do?
You may have saved them, but that was my own test. To see proof of your feelings. You have yet to do anything real on your own, Reardon McAlator.
Fine. He’d do something on his own.
But then you’ll be mine again. I will return you to your Ireland, your time. What then of the woman and boy?
Reardon’s head hurt along with his leg now. What then indeed? If he met Flidae’s demands, he’d be ripped away from Brandy and Dylan. He didn’t want that. He was working toward becoming a larger part of their lives. If he didn’t want to leave, why should he strive to do something worthy?
Because these are my terms, wolf.Flidae’s form grew darker and larger, her eyes harsh glowing orbs, her mouth full of sharp, fang-like teeth.If you don’t continue to pay your penance and meet my challenge, your humans will die. Better to have them live without you than not live at all, no?
She shrank down to her original size, her natural beauty once again showing.
So he had to protect them even if he didn’t get to keep them?
You understand well.
With that, she faded from view, leaving Reardon in a blackness so complete he felt positively lost.
I need you.Brandy’s voice again. It grabbed hold of him and pulled him from the darkness. Flidae was right. It was better to have Brandy and Dylan alive and well without him. He’d do whatever it took to keep them safe, and if Flidae sent him back to his home, he’d spend his days loving what he couldn’t have.
Being a warrior meant sacrifice. This would be his ultimate one.
Reardon focused on breathing. In. Out. In. Out. Parker tended to his leg, but that pain was not much compared to the hurt in his heart now. He should leave the sanctuary to protect himself, but with Flidae’s threat still echoing between his ears, how could he? Brandy and Dylan were no match for a Celtic goddess, and if he wasn’t around to defend them… he couldn’t even think about what would happen.
