Chapter 5

Buck and I moved slightly after a few seconds of cuddling. Then he reached down and grabbed the patch and retied it over his eye. He turned back to me. "It's better this way…better that I keep it on. I don' think anyone wants ta see that." I shrugged. "I couldn't care how you look. I still love you for who you are…"

Buck's father growled. "I will not have Muddy Blood in my family!" He shouted. "Seize them!" Everyone reacted. Buck pulled me closer as everyone in his family launched themselves at us. I clung to Buck. His expression was unreadable and he seemed to be oblivious to what was going on. But as the family got closer, at the very last second, he took me and jumped higher than I had ever seen above all of his family.

We landed and Buck began to run, keeping me close. Buck's father was the closest to us and he was fast. He was quick as darted in front of us and grabbed a hold of me! I screamed as he pulled me against him with his sword at my throat.

Buck gasped. "Dad! No! Don't do this! Let her go!" He pleaded. His father didn't listen. He tightened his grip on me and pressed the sword further to my throat. Buck's eyes filled with tears. "She's one of the only ones who has really made me truly happy! If you care at all about what I feel, you'll let her go!"

His father's grip around my arm tightened so hard that his nails dug through the sleeve of my dress and pierced my skin that I cringed and gave a little cry of pain. "Shut it!" His father ordered. I shut my mouth and waiting for the pain to cease as Buck's father turned back.

Jonathan turned back to his son. "I'll give you a choice…you can mate with Angela and we'll pretend that this never happened and this Muddy Blood will go free. If you try to fight even a little, I'll slit her throat. I think you'll feel better if she's alive, but that's yer choice!"

Buck was shaking violently. He closed his eye and hung his head in defeat. But I realized then that it was up to me to save myself and to get back to Buck. I needed to free myself somehow. I had battled dangerous animals before, so why couldn't I take Buck's father?

But I was too late! As I tried to figure out a plan, I felt Jonathan's sword his against the back of my head. The blow was so hard that I fell into unconsciousness. I didn't know what happened after that as the only thing I saw was Buck's stunned face before I closed my eyes and fell.

.~.~.~.~.

I opened my eyes to find a familiar place that I had been to only once before. I had been to this place when I was attacked before and Buck had come to my rescue. It was where I had seen my deceased mother, a ferret. She was the one who told me that Buck and I were destiny. But now I wondered if it was true.

'Jade…' I turned and smiled with tears at my father. His angelic form of a weasel, similar to my mother's was so amazing to me. 'You've done well, sweetheart. And I'm sorry we couldn't explain the future to you. It was against us.' I nodded, looking away.

'But don't give up hope," My mother chimed in as she appeared next to my father. 'It's not over yet. I'm sure that this change in Buck's family will be fine in the end. You just need to prove that you are a worthy mate, which you are, Jade!' I smiled slightly. 'You really think so…they seem to hate me real bad! I don't know what to do!'

My parents smiled knowingly. 'I know you'll find a way. You're an amazing girl. Buck is, at the moment, fighting still with his father. The moment his father knocked you out, Buck began to fight again. In fact, Buck was so angry that he nearly killed his own father. But Buck has a heart and could never do so. And that's what makes him worthy. He could never kill the one or ones who have hurt him the most. And that is what makes him so great for you. Because I know you would do the same…'

I smiled as a happy tear rolled down my cheek. My father walked over, and his touch felt weird yet wonderful. It was something I couldn't comprehend. I looked into my father's face. He was smirking. I looked blankly at him. 'What?' He chuckled. 'They wouldn't be able to separate you anyway. The baby is what keeps you together. Only if they k…' He stopped. 'Never mind.'

I couldn't help but smile. 'I don't think they could kill me with Buck around. He's practically invincible!' My mother laughed. 'Maybe…but you love him…and he loves you…' I nodded happily, bringing my furry hands up to my heart. My parents smiled at each other and then at me. 'Then you'll have nothing to worry about,' my father said. 'And you will always be together,' my mother added.

My parents looked at each other. 'We might as well give you some information you'll need for the future…Buck's family isn't fully a pure-weasel family. There is one descendant still alive who has some DNA of a ferret. That is what will end it. You must uncover who it is!'

I nodded without a question, understanding I wouldn't get any other information about that out of them. And now finally, they said together before they disappeared, 'And one day, while you're still living, you will come here to meet us together…in your dreams…and you won't be alone that time…' I smiled at that thought as I closed my eyes and whispered to the spot where my parents once were, 'Thank you…I love you both…'

.~.~.~.~.

I woke up to the sound of heavy breathing. It seemed that this creature had just recovered from a tantrum and was still slightly hyperventilating. As I started to feel the rest of my body through the numbness, I felt the light touch of a hand on my stomach, right where the baby would be. I took a breath and heard the creature gasp and speak in the voice I knew too well.

"Jade?" I slowly opened my eyes and smiled. Buck's eyes were red from his tears and he looked as if he hadn't eaten either. I looked up into his watery eyes. "What?" He said nothing, but scooped me up in his arms and held me close, bringing his head to my shoulder. "I won' let them do that again!" He whispered, his voice cracking. "I can't lose you! I love you, Jade! Yer the mos' importan' one to me now! I won' let them 'arm you! Ever!"

I smiled and wrapped my arms around him. I shushed him as he cried against me. He kept muttering things I couldn't hear, but I had a sense that it was the same thing over and over again. He did care…and he wouldn't let anything happen…ever…

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