Destiny's Choice (23 page)

Halfway there, Roan felt as if his skin was going to crawl of
f
his body and his insides were going to burst. The need to be with Rivera was strong, like an ache in his heart. Roan needed to say something to Mikeal
w
hile he was still able
though
.

“Mikeal,” he grunted.

“We’ll talk later, Roan
,
a
lright?”

In spite of
the agony he was feeling, Roan could hear the pain in Mikeal’s voice.
Whether or not Roan needed to say something, Mikeal wasn’t ready to hear it yet. Roan could wait and give his friend the time he needed. It was the least he could do.

“Yes.”

The journey back to the house seemed longer than it really was. But soon enough, they made it to the back door and inside the kitchen. Roan was trying to keep his groans of pain quiet with each step they took. He tried. Quite a few came loose.

“Flynn!”
Steven
called out.

Pounding footsteps sounded as they continued their way through the dining room and into the hallway. Flynn and Joel met them at the foot of the stairs.

“Just had to push it, didn’t you jackass?” Flynn shook his head with a frown as he and Joel took over for
Steven
and Mikeal.

Roan wisely kept his mouth shut. Not that he could speak at that point anyhow. It was an effort to just
breathe
and not scream with agony.

“Alright fellas, we’ve got it from here. Why don’t you go on back to the clearing and help them finish up?”

“Thanks, Flynn,”
Steven
said.

“No problem.”

Catching Mikeal’s eye before her could leave, Roan gave him a wan smile, getting one in return before he left with
Steven
. It was a good sign, but he knew Boone’s betrayal would affect Mikeal and his family for a while.

“Stubborn, foolish, asshat,” Flynn muttered as he and Joel manhandled Roan up the stairs and into his room.

They placed him gently on the bed beside his True
Mate
where Flynn pulled Rivera’s arm out from under the covers. He then took Roan’s and Rivera’s hands and put them together. The moment their skin touched, the pain and skin crawling started to
diminish
.

“You’ll feel better in a few minutes,” Flynn told him.

“And I believe you owe me fifty bucks, Flynn.” Joel’s deep baritone sounded highly amused.

“Fifty bucks?”
With the symptoms finally fading to nothing, Roan was able to talk as he looked from the gentle giant to his brother.

“Yeah.” Joel laughed. “I bet your brother here that
Steven
and Mikeal would have to carry you back because your hard headed ass would stay regardless of how bad you felt.”

Roan grunted, not about to dignify that with a reply. Joel and Flynn snickered as he turned to his True
Mate
. She reminded him of Sleeping Beauty. Unfortunately, a kiss wouldn’t be enough to wake her.

“How is she?”

“No change,” Flynn answered. “But we did get the blood samples. We’ll have the results in a couple
more
hours.”

He nodded, reaching out to tenderly touch her cheek. She was very warm, her breathing deep and even. The True
Mate
bond was still there, but quiet. He didn’
t like that
. Even when she was asleep, he could feel something from the bond. Not now.
He didn’t like that at all.

“How long, do you think?”

Flynn
sighed.
“Even after we check her bloodwork, there’s no way to gauge when she’ll wake up.”

Or if she’ll wake up was left hanging in the air, unsaid, but no doubt thought by all. Roan didn’t want to think it period. But the reality was, they were dealing with the unknown. More so now than when Sasha was attacked. At least then, there w
as
some basis for comparison. There were none where Rivera was concerned. The very rare
times when a child was conceived from a human and Lupus union, the child either died during the birth or shortly after. If it even came to term at all. Yet, through some combination of biology and sheer luck, Rivera survived not only her birth and childhood, but grew into a highly intelligent and ethereally beautiful woman. She was a walking miracle. Roan needed desperately for that miracle to continue.

“I can’t lose her now, Flynn. Not when I’ve finally found her and made the Pack a better place.” He squeezed his eyes shut, refusing to let his emotions overwhelm him. “I need her. So much.”

He laid his forehead down on their clasped hands, trying to get himself under control. Christ, he had to pull it together. But just the thought of losing her made such black rage and despair seep into his heart that he wanted to scream and tear things apart with his bare hands. Not good. Especially for someone who could literally set fire to the world or level entire cities using wind alone.

The touch of a warm hand on his shoulder made Roan look up to see who it was.

“I swear I will do everything in my power to help your True
Mate
, brother,” Flynn vowed to him.

He sat up, putting his free hand over Flynn’s. “I know you will, little brother,” he replied hoarsely.

Flynn squeezed his shoulder then stepped back. “I sent Joel to the clearing to help out. Why don’t you take a little nap,” he suggested. “It’s still a couple
of
hours before dinner and you could use the rest.”

Taking a deep breath, he nodded. “Yeah, I could at that.” He felt a little calmer, but he knew nothing would be right until Rivera awoke.

“Good. I’ll come up and wake you when the foods ready.” He went towards the door.
“The Omega’s have requested Sasha’s
fried chicken again.”

Roan grinned. “She’s spoiled them.”

“They
needed to be
.”

“Hmph,” he grunted. “Try to bring me an update.”

“Yeah, yeah.” He waved Roan
,
off as he reached for the door handle.

“Flynn?”

He turned, that mirror image showing a questioning expression.

“Thank you, little brother.”

“I know what you’re going through.” He then opened the door and left.

Letting out a harsh breath, Roan lay back down, turning to his True
Mate
and putting his arm over her.

“Stay with me, sweetheart,” he begged, hoping that somehow, she could hear him. Even though their bond was still intact and strong, it was the silence from it that scared him the most. “You can’t leave me, Rivera.” He buried his face in her neck, taking in as much of her scent as his lungs could hold. “I need you, baby. I need you so damn much.”

Ch
apter Nine

Heat. Fire. It was all consuming.
M
olten lava had replaced the blood flowing in her veins.

Pain. Agony. It was sharp and brutal. From the top of scalp to the soles of her feet, it was never ending.

Fear. Terror.
It was a
ll encompassing
. S
he was afraid that whatever nightmare she was stuck in, she would never wake from.

Roan. Her True
Mate
. The man who was bound to her. The man that she had come to like and respect and, with time, knew she could love. He was everything she could want in a man. In a partner. In a lover. Roan. How she missed him. How she needed him.

“I need you, baby. I need you so damn much.”

Roan? Was that his voice? He sounded so sad. He should never be sad. He should always be happy. Such a beautiful smile. She could make him smile.

“Stay with me, Rivera. Please.”

Stay? Where was she going? She didn’t want to leave. She wanted to be with Roan. Fate put them together. Destiny chose her as his True
Mate
. She was meant to be with him. To be by his side. He was hers. She was his.

A flash of pain
hit
, searing in it’s intensity. Flames lick at her insides. She was tired. So very tired.

“
Do not give up, my child.
”

There was a
voice. A deep, soothing voice in the darkness. A respite from the agony. And yet, it was still there. Lurking, waiting.
So
weary
.

“
Roan is waiting for you. He’s been so lonely without you, my child.
”

Lonely? Yes. Lonely without Roan. But where is Roan? Can’t find him. Can’t find her True
Mate
. Is he lost? Lost.

“
Listen for him. He’s calling for you.
”

“You can’t leave me, sweetheart.”

Oh, yes. There. Sexy voice. So sexy. But…dark. Can’t see. Hurt. Burn. Roan!

“
You can see. Find your bond. Follow it. Your True
Mate
is waiting for you, my child.
”

Bond. Yes. But where? There. Oh, bright. Thick. Thick and filled with light. Strong. Unbreakable.

“Please come back to me, Rivera. Please.”

Roan. Yes. Follow the light, the bond. Will lead to Roan. Lead to…Pain. Hurt. Flames swe
pt
through her. Must…not…stop. Roan. Need Roan.

“
You are my son’s perfect match, Rivera. The Fates chose well.
”

Son? Roan’s father? Wait. Agony. Burning. Moving. Blinding light. Glowing like a sun. But…

“
Tell my son’
s
and daughter
I am proud of them.
I am glad they’ve finally found happiness. And though Dillon is too young to know, despite his abilities, he too will find his perfect match.
”

The pull toward the light was steady, picking up speed the farther along she moved.
T
he pain too continued to increase. 
A
part of her wanted to stay in the dark
;
t
o keep talking to the voice. The voice that was Roan’s father.

Roan. She needed him so much. The closer she came to the light, the stronger she felt him. She could even smell him. Pine trees and a cool mountain breeze. She could feel his warmth, his solid strength. The bond even felt stronger. He was scared. Frightened even. For her.

No. This would not do. She was right here. She was fine. She was…Oh God she hurt.

“Please, sweetheart.”

With the last ounce of her will, she reached for the light.

“
Name your first born after me
.
”

Rivera regained consciousness with a scream. She felt as if her insides were being melted down and her bones were being crushed by a mallet.

“Roan,” she croaked.

“Rivera?”

She cracked open her eyes to see his beloved face, grim with
concern, and
haloed by a beautiful sunset
. “Roan.”

“Oh, thank God.” He laid his head by hers, his shoulders shaking. “Thank God.”

“Where…”

Another flash of flame filled pain raced through her, making her scream again. Not only was it getting more intense, but it seemed to be picking up. The intervals between were getting smaller, like a pregnant woman’s contractions. She didn’t have much time. For what though, she had no clue.

“Easy, sweetheart.” There were tear tracks on his cheeks as he wiped her sweaty brow with a cool, wet cloth.

“Where am I? What’s happening?” She so wanted to wipe away his tears. He should never be sad enough to cry. Not her Roan.

“You’re going through the First Transformation. We have you in the clearing.” His smile was relieved yet concerned. “We feared you wouldn’t wake up. That…”

The next wave hit her, stronger than the last.

“Not long now, Roan.”

The voice sounded familiar, but she couldn’t quite place it. Almost like the other one. The one she heard in the darkness. The one who helped her.

Another wave pounded into
her
and another until she thought she would die. Then, a flash of green and gold light surrounded her, blinding her. It took the pain and burning away.

“Rivera? Sweetheart, can you hear me?”