Phoenix's Fate (RARE Series, #2) (15 page)

Suddenly, Jade realized they were no longer alone.  She felt the anger of another wolf slowly seep into her body, and knew they were all in trouble.  Jade had no idea who the wolf was, but he was there for one purpose only, to kill.  She had to protect the kids.  Grabbing the swing, she pulled it to a stop and slipped Lily off.  “Go to your mama now,” she ordered pushing her towards Jenna.

“Jenna!” she screamed.  “Get the kids out of here now!”  Whirling around, Jade quickly changed into her wolf.  Hackles raised, she growled loudly at the wolf stalking towards her.  He would not get near those children.  Jade was vaguely aware of Jenna and the kids were running down the hill toward the center of the compound.  As the wolf tried to lunge past Jade, she bared her teeth and lunged at his shoulder.  Jade had never been in a fight before, and she knew she did not have a chance in hell of winning.  But she was going to do some damage and keep the wolf distracted until help go there.

Jade fought him with everything she had, but it was not enough.  A few minutes later, she lay gasping on the ground.  She was covered in blood from the gashes left from his teeth and claws.  She also had several broken bones.  The wolf had his jaws locked around her neck and all it would take was one quick jerk to end her life.  She tried to send him calming vibes, but it wasn’t working.  He had gone wild. 
Trace,
she whispered in her mind. 
I am so sorry, Trace. 

Suddenly the wolf let go of her throat with a low growl, and backed away shaking its head in confusion.  Growling, he dug at his ears with his paw.  Jade was too weak to even raise her head, but out of the corner of her eye, she saw enforcers running up the hill towards them.  The wild wolf took off, with several of the enforcers chasing him. 

One of the enforcers knelt beside Jade, slowly gathering her up in his arms.  She panted through the pain as tears leaked out of her eyes.  “It’s ok, sweet wolf,” he told her.  “I’m taking you to Doc Josie right now.  She will fix you right up.”

Jade slowly closed her eyes and let herself lose consciousness, trusting he would take care of her. 

T
he vehicles tore through the compound gates and screeched to a halt outside the hospital.  Slade had been in contact with Chase and filled him in on what had happened with Jade and the other wolf.  The minute the SUV stopped, Angel was out, up the hospital stairs and through the doors.  Following Jade’s scent, she went straight to the room where Doc Josie was examining her.  Jade was still in wolf form.  She was the most beautiful white wolf Angel had ever seen.

Hesitantly, Angel stroked Jade’s head.  She was afraid to touch her.  Jade was covered in blood and it made it hard to see where she had been hurt.  She slowly opened her eyes and whined softly.  Then she closed her eyes, losing consciousness. 

“Doc Josie, talk to me,” Angel whispered.  “Is my daughter going to be ok?

“She is in a lot of pain.” The pack doctor told her gently.  “That wolf roughed her up good.  There are lacerations and broken bones all over her body, and she is so weak.  He almost killed her, Angel.  I honestly don’t know what is holding her to us.”

As tears fell down Angel’s face, she felt an arm go around her waist.  Leaning into her mate’s chest she cried.  “I just got her back, Chase.  I can’t lose her again.”

“You are not going to lose her,” Serenity promised as she walked into the room.  “I’m going to save her.”  Moving over next to Jade’s bed, Serenity gently stroked the fur around her ears.

“Thank you,” Angel said on a sob.  “I saw what it did to you when you healed Phoenix.  You were out for days.  I know how much it hurts you, but I’m not going to ask you to stop.  Please, save my baby.”

“I will,” Serenity vowed.  “I brought this hell to your door.  It is because of me that Jade is lying there in so much pain.  I will fix this.”

Phoenix slipped his arms around Serenity, adding his strength to hers.  “My mate is strong, Angel.  She’s proved that.  I believe in her.  She can do this.” Serenity looked gratefully up at him, love shining in her eyes.  “Let’s do this Beauty.”

Turning back to Jade, Serenity gently placed her hands on Jade, and, taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes.  Jade’s body suddenly jerked up and off the bed.  Her eyes snapped open and she howled loudly.  Frantically, she tried to move away from Serenity’s hands, but Serenity was not letting go.  It was because of her that this sweet, innocent woman was in pain in the first place.  It was because of her that she lay there near death.  Serenity was fixing this.

Jade howled in pain again and then passed out.  Everyone in the room watched in awe as the lacerations slowly started to close.  Inside Jade, her broken bones were knitting back together, causing even more pain. 

Once Serenity was sure she had fixed everything she could, she slowly removed her hands from Jade, and fell back against Phoenix.  “That was bad, Phoenix,” she moaned as the pain took over her body.  “She was so broken.  I need to rest.  Make sure they keep an eye out for Malcolm.  He will be back.  He never gives up.”  As Phoenix scooped her up in his arms, she whispered, “I love you, my Phoenix.”  With that Serenity passed out.

“Let’s get her in a room,” Doc Josie said.  “I will make her feel as comfortable as I can right now.”  Moving out of the room she snapped orders to the nurses for a regular hospital room to be set up for Serenity immediately and to bring pain medicine. 

As Phoenix carried Serenity past Angel, she told him, “You take care of your mate, Phoenix.  I owe her.  I will return the favor.  When she wakes up, tell her thank you.  Thank you so much.”  Phoenix nodded and left to take care of Serenity.

Angel looked at Jade, and as she watched, Jade slowly shifted back into her human form.  Angel flinched at all the bruised and marked up flesh that was slowly healing.  Walking over, she tucked a blanket up over her daughter’s battered body and leaned in, placing a soft kiss on her forehead.  Sitting on the side of the bed, Angel sang softly to Jade.  She was aware that Chase was still in the room, but she didn’t take her attention away from Jade.  She had not able to be there for her the past twenty years, she was going to be here now.

An hour later, Chase got up to leave.  “I have to get back to the girls.  Once Jade can leave the hospital, bring her to stay at my house until Malcolm is found.  She will be safe there.  I will double the amount of enforcers I normally have watching Hope and Faith.”

Angel turned to face him.  “You are a good man, Chase Montgomery.  Even though you hate me right now, you are still willing to protect my daughter.  I know I have screwed everything up.  My life is such a mess.”  Chase did not respond, just turned silently and walked out the door.  Tears filled Angel’s eyes as she watched him leave.  Taking a deep breath, she wiped them away and turned her attention back to Jade.

Gazing down at her beautiful daughter, she whispered, “I am so proud of you, Jade.  You saved Jenna and the children.  You may have the soul of an Omega, but you have the heart of a warrior.”

J
inx sat on the bed, his hands clenched tightly into fists, sweat rolling down his body.  He had known the minute his sister was in trouble, and had done everything he could to help her fight the rogue wolf.  Unfortunately, Jade was a smaller, weaker wolf and it had made it difficult.  Finally, when Jade had been bested and almost killed, Jinx had been able to connect with the rogue wolf and make him back down.  He could have done a lot more damage if the enforcers hadn’t shown up.  Jinx had stayed with his sister, holding her soul to earth and lending his strength to the woman who was healing her.  As soon as he was sure she was going to make it, he had moved from Jade’s mind to the mind of the rogue wolf.  The wolf had gotten away from the enforcers, but he would not get away from Jinx.  Jinx always caught his prey.  And now that he knew Jade was no longer the General’s prisoner, after he was done with the rogue wolf, he had bigger prey to take out.  Drained of energy, Jinx leaned back against the headboard to rest and regain his strength.  Then he was going hunting.     

S
erenity was struggling to climb out of the fog she was in when she felt Phoenix’s strong hand reach for her.  Normally, after healing someone, it was difficult to remember anything that had happened after she lost consciousness.  This time, the memories were slamming into her wicked fast.  Serenity had woken up a couple of times since she had used her gift to heal Jade, and each time Phoenix had been there telling her stories of his past.  Not once had she woken alone. 

“So, Nico came running out of the building like someone had lit a fire under his ass,” Phoenix said laughing as he continued.  “You would have thought it was a pit bull as fast as he was going!  Turns out a scruffy, yappy, little Chihuahua was chasing him!”

At Serenity’s soft laughter, his eyes snapped to hers and he was on his feet leaning over her in an instant.  “Big bad Nico was chased by an itty bitty Chihuahua, huh?” She teased hoarsely.  “I’ve heard those things can be vicious.”

Tears filling his eyes he whispered, “You’re back.”  Turning towards the door, but refusing to let go of Serenity’s hand, he yelled for the doctor.  As Doc Josie ran into the room, he motioned at Serenity with a smile.

“Glad to see you are awake, Serenity,” Doc Josie said with a grin.  “How are you feeling?  You weren’t out as long this time.  I’m not sure why because Jade’s injuries were much worse than Phoenix’s, but I think it might have something to do with the mating.” 

Raising the hospital bed so Serenity was sitting up, the doctor gave her some ice water.  “Becca, the scientist who was rescued from the same facility you were being held in, would like to study your ability and run some tests to see why you recovered so quickly this time.  Do you mind?”

Serenity stiffened at the idea of being a lab rat again.  Hearing Phoenix growling as he felt her anxiety, she linked her fingers tightly with his and smiled.  “It’s ok, Phoenix.  If it wasn’t for Becca, I don’t know what any of us women would have done.  It is because of her that we survived.  Becca hid things from the General, like my shifting.  I knew I needed to let my wolf out, but I refused to in front of the General and his guards.  Becca would somehow make it so the cameras would go out in my room a couple of times a month and I would shift.  She also hid things for some of the other women that I am not at liberty to discuss.  She was there for us, and I trust her.  If she wants to study me, that’s fine.  As long as you are with me, Phoenix, I will be okay.”

“Don’t think of her as a scientist so much as a doctor.  She cares,” Doc Josie said.  “Becca wants to find ways to help all of the women with their abilities.”

“I know she does.  Becca is a good person.  I’m glad she was rescued with everyone else.  The guards were assholes to her.  They used to yell at her and beat her.  Probably because she tried to protect us.”  Taking a sip of her water, Serenity asked, “How’s Jade?”

“Jade’s good, thanks to you,” Doc Josie responded as she was taking Serenity’s vitals.  “She left yesterday with Angel.  I think they are staying at Chase’s until Malcolm is caught.”  Patting Serenity on the arm, Doc Josie told her, “And you, my dear, I would like to keep for another night.  But since I know you hate hospitals, I am going to let you go home with your mate as long as you promise to take it easy the rest of the day.  I still have no idea how you recovered so quickly this time, but for now I’m going to let it go and just be happy that you did.”

Saying her goodbyes, the doctor left while Serenity sat in confusion trying to remember something that kept slipping her mind.  She knew that there was a reason she had recovered at the rate that she had, but she could not figure it out.  She also did not feel as tired as she normally did after a healing.  And the pain was almost gone.  “How long was I out this time, Phoenix?”   

“Only two days.  And you seemed like you were in more of a peaceful, healing sleep.  Last time I could tell how much pain you were in.  But this time, even though it was obvious that your energy was gone, you didn’t seem to be in that much pain.” 

Serenity ran her hands down her sides, stomach and legs.  “I should have been out for several days.  Jade had deep cuts, bruises, and broken bones.  She was almost dead, Phoenix.  Shaking her head, Serenity got up out of bed, swaying on her feet a little, then walked to the bathroom.  When she came back to the room, Phoenix was unpacking clothes from a duffel bag sitting on the bed.

“Can we just go home, Phoenix?”  Serenity asked.  “I will shower and change there.  I just want to go home.”  Pausing, he looked up at her and grinned.  “You bet, Beauty.  Let’s go.”  Shoving the clothes back into the bag, Phoenix retrieved Serenity’s shoes and helped her put them on.  Then, throwing the bag over his shoulder, he leaned down and scooped her up in his arms.  “I can walk!” she squealed, laughing. 

“Nope,” he informed her.  “No walking for you.  The doc said rest.”

“I don’t think she meant that I couldn’t walk, Phoenix,” Serenity told him dryly.  With a cocky grin, he headed out the door.  “Well, then it’s a good thing I make up my own rules, isn’t it?”   

A
ngel had converted the old barn on her property into a workout facility for RARE.  It had weights and various cardio equipment, but her favorite piece was the punching bag.  It was the best way to let go of pent up aggression.  As she beat the hell out of the bag, she was trying to get up the nerve to do what she knew she needed to.  Angel may be RARE’s badass, normally fearless leader, but sometimes things happened that scared the hell out of her.  And she was not ashamed to admit that Malcolm was one of those things.  Angel had seen the inside of his twisted, jacked up mind and even though she knew she had to enter it again, she did not want to.  But it was important that they know where he was, and if at all possible, Angel was going to track him down and personally take him out for the pain he had caused her daughter.  There was also Serenity to consider.  If it was not for Serenity, Jade would be dead.