Chapter 37 - Rescue Me
Ariadne
"You are such a crazy bitch." Ari barked out as her stomach twisted. They might have broken her circle, but until the witch was dead, Ari's baby was still at risk. One of the wolves - a younger pack member - bit the witch's ankle, only to be kicked in the face. Ari closed her eyes against the sickening crack. Her fists clenched and opened again as she looked up at the witch, tears running down her face. "Please... don't hurt my baby." She would gladly die if she knew there was a way her baby would get out alive. "Hurry Alcide." She mumbled as she looked down, fighting back the tears. Her stomach was still tight and in pain, and she only hoped the baby was okay.
Eric
At Adda's words, Eric turned, still getting grazed by the silver knife. He hissed at the burning sensation in his arm, blood dripping from the wound. "Before I kill you, I'll make sure you know the meaning of pain." Eric threatened, his face neutral and his voice deep and dangerous. Then, they were back to fighting. They had drifted away from where Adda and Godric stood, and he was glad that Godric didn't follow. Eric had several deep cuts and burns from he silver, and the other man was missing half an arm.
They were closer to the clearing now, and Eric glanced towards the witch when he heard a yelp followed by a crack. His minor distraction was enough to give the unknown vampire an opening. Eric screamed out as the silver knife imbedded itself in his shoulder. The other vampire jumped back as Eric swung, leaving the knife there. Picking up a large branch, Eric cornered then impaled his opponent. He took a moment to watch the vampire practically explode before pulling the knife out, wincing as it burned his hand. He felt weak, but accomplished. With a hand over his shoulder, he made his way back to where Adda and Godric stood.
Alcide
Alcide had finished breaking the circle and headed into the fray, one of his pack mates had tried to attack the witch but had been repelled. He ran towards Ari and the witch, feeling the pressure of a spell trying to repel him back but with the witch lacking her circle of magic she was at a disadvantage. He howled into the night his voice echoing through the woods.
He leapt at the woman knocking her to the ground, his heavy form pinning her to the ground, his teeth inches from her throat. He growled down at her his eyes searching hers for any sanity, she was not even afraid of him as she stared up.
"You don't know what you're standing in the way of." She said up at him.
And she had tried to kill his soon to be wife and child, he thought before biting with no remorse into her soft throat, ripping it out in a spurt of crimson blood. She bled out until her eyes went dull and once he was sure to see the light go out of her eyes he shifted back into his human form whipping his mouth free of the blood. He jumped up to release Ari from her bindings pulling her down gently into his arms and crushing him to her body. "You're safe now, you're safe now Ari," he assured again and again as he kissed her forehead.
Addaleigh
Godric had finally gotten them out of the tree once the area was safe. Having Eric's blood newly in her she could feel the distress of pain and then the pride of victory as he staggered back. She was elated the other vampire had been taken care of but that was replaced with worry at how cut up and bloody he was.
"Oh God, Eric," she breathed out running to his side, the cuts weren't healing like normal since it had been dealt with a silver blade. "Here you need to drink something," she said pulling her hair from her neck and stepping up on tip toe so he could reach his neck, "Drink and heal up before any poison sets in."
Pam had circled back by this point and was by Godric, "They fighting is over and it looks like we won from what I can tell...Is Eric going to be alright?" she asked eyeing his wounds.
"He'll be fine, he's going to be fine." Adda confirmed, her hand on his cheek as she looked up at him.
Ariadne
"Alcide." She breathed his name as she wrapped her arms around him, her fingers digging into the soft skin of his back. She rested her cheek against his chest, finally feeling safe. "I thought she was going to hurt the baby." She sniffled, assuming Alcide had heard what the witch had said. She was happy to see that Alcide was okay, and only hoped the others were as well. She lifted her head to place her lips against his, just holding them there for a moment, reassuring herself that he was okay. "We need to find Adda, she'll be able to tell us if the pup is okay." She said wiping her eyes and pulling away. She wasn't worried about herself, just her unborn baby. Her minor wounds would heal, but she didn't know how she would deal with it if something happened to her unborn child.
Grabbing Alcide's hand she lead him into the surrounding woods, following the sound of Adda's voice. They passed a few pack members who took their turn hugging her and scenting her. Apparently pregnancy had changed her scent. Alcide must have been around her too much to notice the gradual change. When they reached the others Ari wrapped an arm around Adda, one of her hands still holding on to Alcide's. "Adda, are you okay?... Is - am I okay?" she asked with a frown as she placed a hand over her stomach.
Eric
Eric examined Adda's face before lowering his to her neck, placing a soft kiss on the delicate skin there. With careful ease, he sunk her fangs into Adda's neck, nearly groaning as the sweet liquid hit the back of his throat. He could feel it working its way through his body, rushing towards the damage the silver did. After a few gulps, Eric pulled away and licked his lips. He stepped back just in time to avoid getting run over by Ari, who enveloped his mate in a hug.
When Ariadne asked about the baby, Eric's eyes met Alcide's. He gave him a small, quick nod - the best sign of support and comfort anyone besides Adda had ever gotten from him. Godric excused himself to feed, claiming that all the spilled blood was agitating him. Pam quickly followed suit, leaving the two couples alone as the rest of the pack filed out. "We should probably get to a safe location. There's no telling how many followers the witch had."
Addaleigh
Adda was overwhelmed with relief to see her friend and Alcide safe, embracing her with all the force of her love. She could tell despite their victory she could tell the couple was still worried. When she heard the request she concentrated taking her friends hand for a brief moment; she saw Ari round and glowing, then she saw the nursery of her child... make that children, and releasing her hand smiled. "Your alright, safe." She noted, not wanting to ruin the surprise for the two.
Eric made a good point about getting to safety and she agreed, "Lets meet at Alcides?" she offered, not wanting to have Eric's home given up since he was a private person and she was sure she'd have to hear Pam complain for weeks about the smell of low tide and wet dog in the carpets if they visited.
Alcide held Ari close to him, his hand protectively on her stomach. "That's fine by me. It's not too far so me and Ari can run."
"And we... should get your car from the side of the road. I'm sorry I stole it." Adda said to Eric as the other two shifted to run on ahead to the cabin.
Ariadne
Running alongside Alcide was a welcome feeling, especially after everything that had happened. The two made it to Alcide's place in record time, practically shifting on the threshold. Only after Ari threw on one of Alcide's over-sized plaid shirts did it hit her... She was pregnant. She had been so worried about the baby that she never stopped to actually acknowledge the fact that she was having one. With a shaky breath, she looked to Alcide, teeth worrying her bottom lip.
"I'm pregnant Alcide." She said a bit dazed. "Are you-... Are you okay with this?" She asked almost holding her breath. She loved Alcide, but she knew he didn't want children. She already loved their unborn baby, and it would kill her if he didn't want him or her. She wrapped an arm around herself, fingers digging into the thin fabric. Surly if he didn't want the baby he would have said something... right? "I want the baby." She said firmly. "I know we're not mated, or even married, but I already love this child."
Eric
"It's just a car." He said as he cupped the back of her head and placed his lips against her forehead. "I'll get you your own tomorrow." He would get her a car to match her personality, perhaps a Jaguar. He smirked at the thought of her reaction, if she didn't see it beforehand. He realized that it would be hard to ever surprise Adda with anything. He didn't like being a step behind, but he would deal with it for her.
"I want you to move in with me." For once it sounded like a question. Ariadne would be moving in with Alcide, seeing as he was going to propose. He didn't like the idea of Adda alone in that house, especially after seeing how easy it was for someone to break in. "I-" He winced against his own emotional wall. He wanted to tell her how much she meant to him, but he wasn't ready for that - not yet. "I don't want to see you hurt." He said instead, hoping his gaze said what he couldn't.
Alcide
Alcide almost wanted to laugh at how ludicrous the question was. He had never wanted kids, especially unplanned, but the moment he heard he would be a fathers it all changed. All he could think about was being the best father for his kid he could be, and the best man for Ari. He went to her taking her hands and leading her to sit down on the couch.
He cupped her cheek his dark eyes staring into hers for a moment before he began, "Ariadne Moore, from the moment you came into my life I have felt some sort of connection with you that I haven't felt with any other woman in my life. You are easily and hands down my best friend. I didn't plan on you coming into my life, and at the time I would have said no I wasn't ready for any of this, for being Alpha, for being a mate, and for being a father. Now with you here I'm all those things and more, but its something I want, you Ari make me want to be a better man. You make me want to step up and stop running, to take advantage of what's been givin' to us which is a second chance. Ari, I love you and I not only want you to be the mother of my children, but also my mate, and my wife. I mean it, I have a ring and everything in the bedroom."
He concluded not really having planned to propose like this, but this moment felt right.
Addaleigh
Adda was glad he wasn't upset about the car, not that he could be since it was an emergency. She hadn't meant for him to offer her a car but she rolled her eyes rather than complaining, a man like Eric liked to provide and feel like the rescuer, she needed a car so he'd get one for her regardless if she fought him on it or not. "Just don't go overboard, and I'll promise not to peek."
The first thing was an easy enough to swallow pill, a car, but his next request was something that left her composure ruffled. Eric wanted her to move in with him, as in live together. She was confused about the so soon offer, not that she hadn't and didn't spend now a good deal of time at his home already, it was just very official. Luckily for her own sanity Eric logistically added that it was more for safety than anything. "It's true... Ari will be moving in with Alcide, which I had already planned on having seen her moving out already. I figured a small apartment, but your place.. makes sense. Easy access for work and.. such. I'll want a separate bedroom of course, for my things, and so I have room of my own. But, yes, I'd love to, I mean like to move in, it just makes a great deal of sense."
Ariadne
After the word 'ring' Ari's body seemed to go into autopilot. Without even meaning for it to happen, she practically launched herself at Alcide, landing in his lap with her lips against his. The kiss was intense, but not with lust or want. The kiss conveyed just how much she loved him; just how much she wanted to become all of those things. She had to fight the urge to take him into her right there and mark him. Wolves could only mark during mating, and seeing as a vampire and human were on their way over, it wouldn't be the most romantic time.
"Just to be clear-" Ari mumbled between kisses. "You did just ask me to marry you right?" She gave him a smile and held his face between her hands.
Eric
Eric chuckled and shook his head. That was his Addaleigh, always practical. "We should get going before it gets too late. We still need to get back to m- our place before sunrise." For a moment Eric frowned. Would being with him - living with him - condemn Adda to the night as well? Just because he couldn't go out during the day light hours didn't mean that she would be so willing to give them up. It would be hard for her to go out during the day if they lived together. Perhaps he was over thinking it. Adda had served on a king's court for quite some time, and her own brother was a vampire, surly she had switched to nights on her own.
"You know you'll be allowed to come and go as you wish during the day. There is no windows on the second floor, and the doors are lightproof. If you wanted to leave during the day it wouldn't be a problem." He said in a bored tone as they began walking. "I can't promise you your own bed, as I've become accustom to you in mine."