Read Bound (The Onyx Wolves Book 1) Online
Authors: Raven K. Asher
Bound (The Onyx Wolves Book 1) (21 page)
“
C
ome on, Darling. We aren’t out of the woods yet.” London grunts behind me as he continues to hold me tightly.
Gun shots ring out behind us, but I don’t move.
What did I have left to fear?
Right now I almost welcomed death. At least then the hole that had been literally shot into my heart wouldn’t hurt any longer.
“Come on before you get us all killed, your pack still needs you to stay strong, Parker.” London grunts as he lifts me to my feet before throwing me over his shoulder.
“Grab his body.” He then orders Dillon.
Without another word he rushes us out of the fenced in yard and deep into the surrounding forest with the rest of my pack following close behind.
What was left of London’s men, follow us as well.
There were maybe a total of ten of us left.
Dillon’s sad eyes meet mine as we travel through the trees.
I’m sure my whole pack could feel my pain and the hole left from the loss of the only man I had truly come to love.
I would have died for him.
But now he was dead.
He had died for me, and for our pack.
He was gone and I would never again kiss his lips or feel the touch of his warm breath fanning over my skin.
He was just gone, snuffed out like a candle flame in the breeze.
My heart and soul was gone.
Stopping in a small clearing London places me down to the ground where I collapse down to my side before curling into a tight ball.
London curses softly as he pushes a few strands of my hair behind my ear. “I’m so sorry, Darling.”
He then looks up to the others as they stand around absently.
All of them were in different states of shock and sadness.
“We need to get back home where we will be safe.” London states gently.
No one other than his own men, nod in agreement.
“Alec, take Gage’s body from Dillon, please.” London suggests but as the man moves towards Dillon he growls fiercely as Damon, Rowan, and Harley stand between them.
“No one will touch him but his own pack.” Rowan snarls.
“Fine, but we’ve got to keep moving.” London gives up quickly.
Rowan nods before moving to my side.
Kneeling down he touches my cheek tenderly as he coaxes me to look up at him.
As his sad eyes look into my own all of my pain bursts out in a loud sob as I wrap my arms around his neck and bury my face into his chest.
“Shhhh, Babe, Shhhh.” Rowan whispers as his hands hold me close to his body.
Lifting me up, he wraps my legs around his waist before he wordlessly begins walking.
O
ur group walks for what feels like miles until we finally stop.
I had cried softly the whole way as my heart continued to break over and over again as that horrifying scene played through my mind.
Someone knocks on a door and I peek up just in time to see Titus open the door and then fall to his knees at the sight of his son’s body.
Moments pass by until Titus’s second takes control and picks his alpha up to his feet before leading us all inside.
Even London’s group was invited inside but only London came in.
It was out of respect that he ordered the rest of them to stay outside.
His group would stand guard while the rest of us mourned the loss of our family member.
“How did this happen?” Titus finally questions as Dillon places Gage’s lifeless body onto the bed that I had laid on just a few days earlier.
“We escaped the Island and we thought we had killed our enemies but one slipped through our fingers.” London answers for us.
“Did you kill the enemy who killed my son?” He asks.
“Yes, they are all dead. Rowan ended the life of the one who killed Gage.” London answers again.
“Good.” Titus nods as he watches Rowan place me down to my feet.
I hide my face as he moves closer.
“I’m sorry for your loss, Parker.” He whispers.
“They bonded.” London blurts. “She’s going through the pain of a broken bond.”
Titus curses softly. “That is a pain far worse than death when your mate dies and the bond is broken.”
Slipping out of Rowan’s arms I transform into my wolf form and crawl up on the bed to lie next to Gage.
This way I could pretend that we were just sleeping together.
I could pretend that he was still there with me.
Letting my wolf take over she whimpers and cries feeling the loss deep within her own heart.
Taking their wolf forms Dillon, Damon, Rowan, and Harley, all move to lie together on the floor next to the bed.
Titus sighs roughly as he wipes away a few tears that manage to escape his sad eyes. “Let’s leave them alone to mourn. This pack is going to take awhile to heal.”
Everyone leaves the room silently, except for London.
He watches me closely for a while before he comes over and sits down on the floor before leaning his head back against my side.
It was a small gesture, but it brought a strange comfort to me.
Maybe everything would get better.
And maybe the pain would fade, but not today.
Today was a day for tears.
Today was a day of silence for the soul that we had lost, and for the mourning of my shattered heart that I feared would never feel whole again.
I would never be whole again. I was like a broken window, open to the world that was cruel and unforgiving.
Time would heal my internal wounds though.
And only the love of my pack would give me the strength to hold on another day and to keep on breathing.
All I could do now was take this one day at a time.
Who knew what tomorrow would bring.
To be continued…
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“
M
om, Mom, please tell me that you and Dad are going to make it back home?” I cry into my cell phone as the signal fades in and out.
“I’m sorry, baby girl, there aren’t any flights coming in or going out. Things are crazy here, but your father’s trying to find us a car.” My mom, Gwen, answers, her voice clogged with tears and panic.
“I’m scared, Mom.” I whisper softly.
I was beyond scared at the moment considering the last two days things had gone from being great to the end of humanity as we knew it.
“I know you are, River, but you have to stay strong.” She replies, barely keeping her emotions together.
“Baby girl, your father wants to talk to you before we lose our phone signal, okay?”
“Alright, Mom, I love you.”
“Love you too, baby girl.” She begins crying as I hear her pass the phone off to my father, Andrew.
“Hey, Sweetheart, how are you holding up?” He asks.
“I’m scared, Dad, I just wish you were both home.” I answer softly.
“I know you are, Sweetheart, but your mom and I will be home soon.” He promises.
“What should I do if you don’t make it back?” I question seriously.
“It won’t happen, we will return, but if any military personal come by go with them. They will be able to keep you safe. If you have to give them my name and rank, and they should be able to help you find me if we can’t get there soon.” He instructs.
“Alright, Dad, just hurry back.” I nod even though he couldn’t see.
“I will, Sweetheart.” He promises taking in a shaky breath. “Just remember everything that I’ve taught you, okay?”
“Always follow my gut feelings.” I answer and practically hear him smiling proudly on the other end.
“Yes, but don’t forget all of the talks we’ve had. All the scenarios we planned for.” He insists.
“We never planned for this one, Dad.” I barely laugh out.
“I know, but you’re a smart girl, you can figure this one out.” He answers as the signal threatens to go out on us.
“I love you, River, don’t forget that.” He then quickly adds as the signal fades in and out once more.
Our conversation was going to end at any moment.
“I love you too, Daddy.” I reply just before the signal finally gives out and I’m left staring down at a useless phone.
Tears blur my vision as my mind wonders whether or not that that was going to be the last time I would ever have the chance to talk to my parents.
Had that been the last time I would tell them that I loved them, I certainly hopped not.
My heart felt as if it was being crushed.
More than anything in the world I wanted…no, needed, my parents here with me.
Not over five hundred miles away.
Fear washes over me as reality, my reality, settles in.
I was going to be on my own as far as taking care of myself.
Glancing, out the front window of our house I watch with growing fear as the neighbors run across the road with blood smeared on their hands and clothing.
Gasping I hold my hand to my mouth as I watch one of the infected run after them.
His face was pale, which was a dead giveaway that he was sick, but what really made him look savage was the blood seeping from the corners of his eyes and mouth.
There wasn’t any life left in his body, his soul was long gone.
It was just a shell being driven by a hunger that no one could understand.
It was my worst nightmares come true.
Another of my neighbors screams out in horror and I back away from the window not wanting to draw any attention to myself.
As long as I stayed inside I would be alright, and as long as I remembered everything that my father had taught me I would survive this.
I knew how to stay alive.
