AN: I own nothing, no vampires are mine, no wolves, either. They either belong to SM or to Ninadoll, most especially the incredible Scar, a creation of Nina! However, Abby, Ava, Ashley, and Liam belong to me!
Thank you, Thank you to Miss Nina for being an awesome author, friend, and beta! Please check out her stories The Rest of Forever and Love You For Always and Ninadoll's How Wonderful Life Is, Now You're in the World. She is extraordinarily talented and I'm honored to be a part of her universe! Her stories are brilliant and the idea of the antidote is all hers. She truly is amazing!
To see pictures of Ava and her sisters' lives, please check out my blog at liljenrocks{dot}blogspot{dot}com or my homepage atliljenrocks{dot}web{dot}com. Including pictures of Ava and Scar and other things from this chapter.
Thank you to everyone who has been sticking with me over the months! I greatly appreciate every single one of you and it literally makes my day to see each review! This chapter is a stepping stone to bigger events to come. Please keep reading.
CHAPTER 6: THE MOST STRESSFUL DAY OF MY LIFE
AVA'S POV
This was it. The day that we'd all been preparing for, dreading I guess is more like it. The night before, Scar had gone home to sleep, but ended up at our house before three in the morning. I worried. A lot. I worried about my sister and what would happen if things didn't go the way they were supposed to. I worried about my nephew and the prospect of watching him grow up without Seth if it all went south. And, as selfish as it sounds, I worried about me. Scar wasn't going off to fight, he was staying here, protecting us. But if the bad vampires managed to head this way, I would lose him.
Scar wasn't just my best friend, I was sure, whether the universe approved or not, that he was the love of my life. I wouldn't love anyone like I loved him, I knew that. "Please be careful," I whispered. The older wolves were loading the cars while the younger wolves were getting ready to phase. Scar heard me, and pulled me into a tight hug and I didn't want to let go.
"Ava," Seth called me over and I walked with Scar holding my hand. "I gave Scar an envelope with all the important stuff you guys might need, just in case something happens." He swallowed hard and looked me in the eyes. "There's letters in there, too. One for Abby, one for Ashley, a few for Liam, and one for you." My eyes watered. "Don't read them unless something happens, but I wanted to tell you thank you."
"What for?" I choked, trying not to lose it.
Seth grinned that goofy grin that I knew Abby loved. "For getting in trouble," he chuckled.
"What?" I asked, confused.
"If you hadn't gotten in trouble, you guys would've never moved here. I wouldn't have imprinted and we wouldn't be a family," he kept smiling and I lost it, the tears came rolling down my cheeks, causing Seth to take me from Scar. "Hey, hey, now. I would expect this from Abby or Ashley but I usually count on you to be the badass, Ave."
I nodded as he hugged me. "I am. I just… when it was three of us, me and Abby and Ash, it just didn't feel like a family. We felt like we were drifting, like ships with nothing to anchor to. But then Abby met you and I knew that…somehow I knew that we'd be okay. You're our anchor, Seth, and if we lose you…" I trailed off and prayed to God Abby didn't hear me or see me. She'd be a blubbering mess and I knew she didn't need any added stress. "You and the pack gave us a family again."
"And that won't ever change, Ava. No matter what, we'll always be a family," Seth gave me tight squeeze and kissed my forehead while we heard a little voice clear their throat behind us.
"Have fun at your meeting, Seth," Ashley said. She didn't know what was going on. At least, we all thought she didn't but the thing about Ashley is that she's much more observant and perceptive than we realize sometimes. "I made you this," she pulled a folded up piece of paper from her pocket and handed it to Seth.
"What do we have here?" he grinned while opening it up.
"I drew a picture of Sandy for you to take with you," Ashley smiled widely as I looked at the drawing of the sandy-brown Seth-wolf on the paper. "He'll bring you good luck and protect your from bad guys."
Seth swallowed hard again as I looked at Scar who was starting to bite his bottom lip. Two of the strongest men I knew were near tears over an eight-year old's drawing of a wolf. I knew it was more than that though. It was what she said. The wolf would bring them luck and protect them. Because, after all, the wolves were protectors. She didn't know that the wolf she drew was Seth, she just knew that that wolf would keep us all safe and I think subconsciously it was encouraging to them.
"Thanks, Ash," Seth leaned down and scooped Ashley up in his arms to kiss her cheeks.
Ashley grabbed Seth's face in her small hands. "I love you, Seth. I'll watch over Liam while you're gone, okay?"
"I know you will," he gave her one last kiss on the cheek. "And you'll do a great job." He sat her firmly on the ground and then took a deep breath. "Hey, gorgeous," Seth said over my head as Abby came up with Liam in her arms. Seth took Liam and unwrapped him from his blanket. "You be good for Mommy, son." He pulled Liam closer as Liam nuzzled him a little. Seth inhaled deeply holding Liam.
"He wants to remember his scent," Scar whispered next to me and I nodded.
Seth smiled. "Ava, can you hold Liam for a minute?"
"Sure," I nodded taking Liam from him while Seth took Abby's hand and walked towards the rental van. I couldn't hear what he said to her but I saw him pull her into the most passionate, nonsexual kiss ever. It was like watching them, I could feel how much they loved each other and I felt a hollow feeling inside knowing I probably wouldn't have anyone love me like Seth loved Abby and vice versa.
"I need to go phase, too," Scar said before pulling me tight to his chest, careful not to crush Liam. Just like Seth had with Liam, Scar leaned into my hair and took a deep breath. He wants to remember my scent…
"What do I smell like?" I asked, low enough that Ashley wouldn't hear.
"Rain and vanilla. It's the most comforting scent," he stroked my hair and started to say something before a loud yell interrupted him.
"No, please! NO!" I turned to see Claire with a vice grip on Quil, her legs around his waist, locked at their ankles as he held her tightly in his arms. "You promised me that you wouldn't ever leave me, Quil! You promised!" Her sobs floated through the air as Quil's eyes darted around before finding his imprint's face.
"I'll be back, Claire-bear. I need you to be strong, princess," he said, adjusting so she could see his eyes, but instead of saying anything, Claire pressed her lips to his. And the funny thing was, she wasn't just kissing him, he was kissing back.
"I love you, Quil," she said.
"I love you too, Claire," he grabbed her chin and moved her face so he was looking straight into her eyes.
"When you come back, can we…will you…I want to be with you," Claire was crying harder but it wasn't a temper tantrum cry.
Quil tucked a stray hair behind her ear and kissed her lips. "We'll talk about it when I get home, okay? Now go with Ava, sweetheart," he kissed her one more time and attempted to put her down but she locked her legs tighter around his waist.
"I'm not letting you leave me!" She sobbed into his chest. I had to look away while Leah and Scar both grabbed hold of Claire, Leah whispering something to her in Quileute and Claire relaxing almost all of her muscles and falling into Leah's arms.
"Please take care of her, Lee," Quil said and Leah nodded as she carried a still crying Claire into the house. Scar was beside me now and he pulled me into a final hug as I watched the other wolves get into various vans and trucks.
"I have to go phase," Scar said into my hair.
"I know," I closed my eyes so tight and hoped that somehow maybe I could say something like, "Beam me up, Scottie!" and end up in a new dimension with Scar, far away from bad vampires and life-threatening situations. It didn't happen though. "Promise me you'll stay safe."
"I'll try," he kissed my forehead and I wanted so badly to reach up and pull his beautiful pink lips to mine. "I love you, Ava. Stay safe."
"I love you, Scar," I whispered just as Luka grabbed him by his shoulders and the younger wolves ran behind the line of trees in front of us.
I listened to the conversations around me, but didn't hear them. I couldn't focus. The person that I loved so much was about to face the worst conflict in his life, which was saying a lot for Scar because he'd already been through so much shit. I could hear someone telling me I needed to go inside but I didn't want to listen. I didn't want to stop looking and see him disappear maybe for the last time.
"Come on, Ava dear," Sue wrapped her arm around my shoulders and helped me inside the house that seemed to be bursting at the seams with emotion. Women were crying, babies were crying, and in the midst of it all, I noticed Claire in a corner, curled slightly into a ball still sobbing.
"Claire?" I said as I walked up to her hoping that maybe I might be able to do something to comfort her.
"What?" my friend almost spat at me with a total look of disgust on her face.
I tiptoed my way to her. "Are you okay? Do you need—"
"Am I okay? Do you really think I'm okay?" Claire sat up and shoved off the blanket that was wrapped around her waist.
"I'm sorry. I just really wanted to see if, I don't know, there was something I can do…to help," I said sheepishly, a quality I didn't endear and didn't demonstrate often.
She scoffed at me. "Unless you can get your boy toy Scar to trade places with Quil then no. I don't need you."
The words cut to my core. I wasn't sure which emotion was most prevalent, anger or sadness. How could she say that about Scar? And how could she say she didn't need me?
"That's enough, Claire," I turned around to see Emily standing there with her hands on her hips. "Ava, can you give us a minute?" her eyes were like fire and I thought she might be thinking of horrible ways to punish Claire, and for a minute, I thought about stepping between them. But she was pissed and I was not incurring that wrath.
"Sure," I answered, slipping away and heading to the kitchen. If I was going to be miserable, I was going to be miserable baking. I had so much to think about and so much to forget. I didn't want to think of the danger Scar and the other wolves were in. I didn't want to think about Claire's painful words. I just wanted to do what felt comfortable, what I knew would ease my pain. "Do you think Ness would mind if I made some stuff? Like cupcakes or cakes or pies or something? I know the boys will be hungry when they get home," I asked Sue who was sitting with Billy Black in the kitchen. I liked Sue, she was sweet to us and accepted us, something I knew most mothers wouldn't want for their sons, an automatic family.
"That'd be nice, Ava. Nessie wouldn't mine," Billy answered as Sue nodded.
She grabbed my hand and took me to the fully stocked refrigerator, then the pantry. I ran through the ingredients for Vanilla Buttercream cupcakes in my head and laying butter out to soften while I sifted flour. This was like therapy to me, I guess. Culinary Therapy. It was really amazing how I could channel my fear and frustration into a baked good, but I could.
I mixed and sifted and mixed and blended until the batter was completed and it was time to put the batter in the paper cups to bake. "Do you want help?" A voice said from behind me. People really needed to stop that unless they wanted to lose a body part or limb!
"You don't have to," I said to the voice that I recognized right away.
"I want to," she said, putting her head down. "I'm sorry, Ave. I…I'm just so scared."
I shoved the part of me that wanted to run to her and hug her and tell her it was okay way back into the corner of my mind. "Yeah, well, I'm pretty fucking scared too but you don't see me biting anyone's head off!" Yes, I know, I realized the irony of my statement almost the moment it came out. "Sorry."
Claire sat down a stool in the kitchen and motioned for me to join her. As angry as I was with her, I did as she asked. I took my place next to her, watching the timer for one of the batches of cupcakes I'd shoved in the oven. "I've loved Quil since I was 2-years old, Ava. I've known since then that he was the guy I would marry, the guy I'd have a family with. It's always only ever been him. And I'm so scared of losing him. He's out there, on the front line and I'm terrified."
"Like what Scar and Luka and the other's are doing isn't dangerous?" I asked and almost saw her back away me.
"It is, but it's not the same," Claire slouched.
"Whatever," I stood up from my stool. I wanted to be nice. I knew she was hurting but it wasn't like she was the most important person on the planet.
"Please don't be mad, Ava. I…" Claire's eyes were full of tears and I sighed.
"I get it, Claire. You're worried about losing your imprint. I get it," I took a deep breath as she nodded. "Well…just because you have an imprint…that doesn't mean you love him more than I love—"
Claire stopped me. "I know, I'm sorry," she dropped her head. I took another deep breath and walked up to her, wrapping my arms around her neck.
"I know, Claire, I'm sorry," and my eyes betrayed me, tears pouring down my cheeks. I don't know how long we stood there, crying and hugging. Our moment was ruined by the loud howl of the wolves.
"Shit!" Sam yelled, scaring me and causing Keegan to start to cry. What followed was sheer panic from almost everyone in the house as we ran to the front porch to see the wolves pacing. Abby was leading the way with Leah and Nessie beside her. I was doing pretty good at keeping my emotions in check until I saw that Scar had phased back. He was completely naked and as much drama as was going on, I couldn't help but look at him. He was…as always, amazing…and I knew Abby was crying and I knew I needed to help but I couldn't stop looking at him.
I could see Leah and Sam talking, and Abby about to lose it. "Abby," I said softly. She was about to fall to her knees and I rushed to grab Liam from her. The exchanges going on were tense and frantic. I held onto Liam tightly and kissed his forehead. I knew if I could concentrate on Liam than I wouldn't have to realize that Scar was in danger and that something obviously had to be wrong with Seth. Our anchor, we couldn't lose Seth.
Liam opened his eyes and formed his mouth into a tiny yawning "O." His eyes were like Seth's and Leah's, a dark brown with long eyelashes. His skin was like toffee and his head was full of downy black hair and he stared at me. "It's gonna be okay, Liam," I told him, just as he started to struggle in my arms. Looking at my nephew caused my heart to tug towards Scar.
He was all business, standing as a human, talking to Sam and Leah and all I could do was imagine him as a father. The fact that he was naked, something that had riveted me minutes ago, didn't matter now. I could see him with little girls and little boys around him, children that wouldn't be mine.
Maybe if I couldn't have him, maybe it would be enough just to have him in my life. If we weren't together, together, I could be there for him, right? Even if I wasn't his soul mate, I could still be his best friend. No, I would be. Because I couldn't live in a world where I didn't see him everyday, where I didn't know he was okay, where I didn't get to tell him how much I loved him. I would do that, for him, I would do anything.
SCAR'S POV
This sucks. They'll get to come back with all these awesome stories about fighting and we'll get to tell our grandkids we sat here and did nothing, Sebastian whined. I loved all my brothers, but this kid was too much at the moment.
Sebastian, please, Luka said to him. Luka, Scott, and I were the oldest of the younger wolves that had to stay behind. While we would have gladly gone off to battle with our brothers, it was a bit of a relief to stay behind. And an honor to be given the task of protecting the pack's most valuable resources, our mates and children.
Well, since Ava's not technically your mate, would you mind—Sebastian started.
Cool it. We have to be alert, Luka said and I seconded him. There wasn't much we could do but patrol all around the border of the reservation. I had been given the closest position to the house. We could see the fight in our heads through the mindlink and I had to admit that Sebastian did have a point. They could've used our help and it would've been nice to be actively involved but this is where the Jake said to be, and that meant we'd do whatever we were called to do.
It had been quite. We knew they were fighting but it seemed to be going our way. It wasn't until I felt an excruciating burn course through my body. Oh, shit! Sebastian yelped.
Mother of God that fucking hurts! Luka howled. I couldn't deny it, it was the worst pain I'd ever felt in my life and I tried to breathe through it so I could see where it was coming from.
Who is it? Who's hurt? I yelped and whined, realizing we were causing quite a bit of commotion as the other young wolves all rallied to my location. The moment the pain started to ease a little, I figured out who it was that had been bitten. Images of Abby and Liam floated through our heads and Leah and Sue, and then Ashley and Ava and then disappear. Fuck! I grunted witching the needle plunge into Seth's chest through Curtis's eyes. Seth. I had promised him I'd take care of his family but I didn't even want to think for a minute that there was a possibility that I might actually have to follow through with it.
Stay calm, Quil said through the mindlink and we all tried to calm the emotions rushing through us. It didn't get any better when I looked up to see that we'd managed to attract the household full of people.
Someone's gotta go talk to them. Got it! Scott whimpered, while Luka looked at me.
I groaned. Wait until we make sure he's stable. I don't want to have to face Abby if things don't go well, not yet, I said, watching Carlisle help Seth up. Son of a bitch, Seth. Don't do that to us.
Seth let out a soft chuckle. Sorry, wasn't exactly planned.
I growled as he returned to the fight. Alright, everyone back to your posts. And be alert, keep what's going on here separate from what's going on there. Got it? A low rumble ran through the pack that was here, as everyone turned on their heels and ran back to their posts. I had forgotten that we had an audience though. Luka, watch my back. I'm phasing back.
Sure, sure, he answered just before I phased back.
"Sam, can I talk to you?" I asked. Sam motioned for Leah to come with him.
Both were approaching me, both with worry and concern in their eyes. "What the hell happened, Scar?" Sam growled.
I looked at the crowd behind Sam and Leah and swallowed hard. "Seth was bitten," I said, rubbing my face.
"What?!" Leah panicked and her eyes flew open wide.
"Calm down, he's okay. You're gonna freak Abby and your mom out," I felt bad scolding her like a child. But I seriously didn't want to have to be the one to tell Abby things hadn't gone well.
"What do expect, Scar? He's my brother," she growled and sent a shiver down my spine with her intensity.
"Alright, alright, that's enough," Sam put his arms between the two of us and then turned to me. "He's fine?"
"Yeah, Carlisle used the antidote and he's fighting again," I said, switching my gaze between Sam and Leah. "Should we tell Abby?"
We all three turned to look at Abby. Ava was holding Liam off to the side, but Abby was losing it, I could see it in her face. She knew without anyone telling her specifics that something wasn't right. I wondered if that was part of the imprint or if they just loved each other so much that they were just that connected. I wondered if the same thing could happen to Ava and I even if we weren't imprinted.
Sam shook his head. "I say, if he's fine, if he's still fighting, we wait and let him tell her."
"So what am I supposed to tell her now?" Leah asked giving Sam a 'go-to-Hell' look.
"I don't know. Tell her that they're still fighting, it was just a little hiccup," he answered Leah with a firm tone.
"Fine. I'll go and clean up this mess," Leah huffed and turned around to go back to the crowd. Abby was still upset and I watched Ava stare at me. God, I wanted to run to her and tell her it was okay. She looked like she was seriously thinking about something.
"I need to go phase back," I said and Sam nodded. When his back was turned, I looked Ava straight in the eyes as she cuddled Liam to her chest. I turned around and headed to the tree line and phasing immediately and feeling another painful burn.
Goddammit! Who was that? I asked, knowing someone else had been bitten. If we could feel this burn by proxy, I could only imagine what it actually felt like.
Uncle Quil?! Luka yelped, not as loud as we all had before. Uncle Quil? Are you okay? Get up!
Let Carlisle take care of him, Luka, Tokala said. It was easy to say but we could feel the worry in Luka too. Pain and worry…it was too much. I could feel all the emotions of my brothers and I didn't want to give in and breakdown.
Tell him to get his ass up! He promised Claire he was coming home and she's gonna be pissed beyond belief if he dies! I'm not telling her! Luka was yelling in his head and if the situation wasn't so dire, it would've been comical. He was right though, as much as I hated to think about telling Abby that something had happened to Seth, I certainly didn't want to be the one to tell Claire that her Studmuffin had gotten even so much as a scratch. The only thing that brought me out of my thoughts was the sight of Edward stabbing the syringe into Quil's heart.
Da-yum! Sebastian growled as Quil breathed in and out.
Thanks for the concern there, Luka. Nice to know you were so worried about your dear old uncle, Quil coughed while Edward grabbed his hand and pulled him up from the ground. Don't you dare mention this to Claire-bear…I mean, Claire.
Wouldn't dream of it, I chuckled, turning a circle and trotting around the house, keeping my nose to the ground. It was quite again as the fight went on, Jake and Embry taking down the Hoodie and one more brother being bitten.
I think we're finished, Brady said, almost like a declaration. But I waited until the word came from Jake before I even so much as thought about the fight being finished. One by one my brothers disappeared from the mindlink and I knew it was over. We had done it, we'd actually won.
We'll be headed home as soon as possible. We're calling the girls now but I want you all to stay wolf until we get there, Jake said.
Kay, I responded. I heard a symphony of ringtones from the house, followed by giggles and squeals. I smiled when I caught a familiar scent in the air.
"Scar?!" Ava yelled. "Where are you?!" I ran from the back of the house to see her standing on the porch, her arms crossed across her chest, her OU sweatpants hugging her hips while her matching tank top caressed her body in a way I hadn't noticed before. I approached her cautiously and I noticed her shivering. I had to control my thoughts from wandering and my pack finding out how very much in love I was with Ava O'Brien. "Is it…" I nodded my large head. She climbed over the railing separating us and hopped down. She took my head into her hands and scratched behind my ears, eliciting a purr from me. "Thank you, thank you so much." Ava leaned down and placed a soft kiss on my muzzle. "Can you phase back yet?" I shook my head no and noticed a small frown on her lips. "I should go in. I made cupcakes, vanilla with coconut on top. Your favorite." She patted my head and stood up, momentarily giving me a flash of her cleavage and I swallowed hard to keep from expressing my feelings in my head. "Love you," she said before skipping back up the porch.
I love you too, I thought, so much more than I could ever let her know and I would hate the man that would be lucky enough to win her heart and steal her away from me. I may not have imprinted on her, but I was sure that my heart would only belong to her. My Ava.