CHAPTER FIFTY NINE
VALENTINE IS DONE
LEAH LUCIER:
We sped along the country road, Etienne's skilful driving proving to be a must have advantage. I sat in the back of our rented Jeep with Rebecca, her face pale and worried. Luckily we had managed to hire a Jeep quickly. Money talked and we had plenty to say. I took Rebecca's hand in my icy one and gave it a gentle reassuring squeeze. Kat hadn't turned up at the riverside apartment. Rebecca tried to call her, the phone rang and rang with no reply. Then the vision hit me. Kat being abducted by Quinn, her fear, his madness, all off their emotions assaulted me at once. There was no need to confirm the accuracy of my visions. We immediately hired the Jeep, and following Rebecca's directions we sped off into the misty morning on our rescue mission. I would tear Quinn Taylor limb from limb if he harmed Embry or Kat! The trees became more dense and darker as we came close to the cabin. I knew without a doubt we were not far away because my mind was swamped with mental pictures. They were becoming fast and blurry as they whirled behind my closed eyes. I gasped out loud as I became overwhelmed by the things I was seeing. " Leah! Are you all right my darling?" Etienne asked worriedly as he manoeuvred the vehicle up the perilous track. I moaned softly as I shook my head in denial at this latest mind picture I was being shown. It was clear and imperative to me that Katherine Constantine must be saved.
At any cost and above all others I must help her.
EMBRY CALL:
I thought maybe just maybe I was heading in the right direction. It was easier as a wolf to navigate this unknown territory, but it was also more risky. I didn't want to be seen by anyone, not here, not now. I had to get back to Vancouver, I had to make sure Quinn didn't have Kat. I couldn't wait at the cabin any more, it was driving me crazy and I had promised myself to wait only a couple of hours. When Quinn didn't return I decided to make a move. I made the journey away from the cabin in human form, but I often phased into my wolf state so I could move more quickly and freely. I thought about Kat a lot. I ached to see her. I hoped she'd got my text. I tried to concentrate, tried to get a sense of where I was but her sparkling blue eyes kept invading my thoughts. Kat. Kat. How I loved her. I sent out a silent prayer to whomever may be listening to bring her back to me safe and sound. A humming of an engine in the silence of the woods broke me from my reverie. I ran towards the sound keeping low and close to the ground. I was human again. I saw a white van making it's way up the road towards me. I crouched in bushes out of sight. It was Quinn! Kat was in the passenger side. She looked sad. Quinn looked happy. The **CENSORED**! I pulled at the tree roots violently with my hands in sheer frustration as I phased. I tracked the van all the way back to the cabin. I must rescue Kat from Quinn's evil clutches. Why had he brought her here? I felt anger flood my body making my muscles tense and my fur stand on end. I growled low in my throat as I felt the strength of my bond with Katherine. I imprinted on her, that was the strongest connection anyone could have. No one was allowed to treat her badly or harm her. No one! I had promised her I would never let that happen, not as long as I had blood in my veins and air in my lungs.
I would kill for her. I would die for her.
KATHERINE CONSTANTINE:
I shivered as we arrived at the lonely little cabin nestled in the woods. Quinn opened the van door and held out his hand for me. I took it graciously with a small smile. Please forgive me Embry I silently prayed. I had thought of a plan. It was distasteful, it was awful but I could do it. I had to do something. I hoped Embry was watching. He would know it was a ruse. He had to. I didn't let Quinn's hand go, I gave him a gentle squeeze and smiled. "You are right Quinn. We belong together. I didn't see it before. I was so blind! Embry means nothing to me, not now I know we can have such a lovely future together" I gushed as I leaned up on tip toes to kiss him softly on the lips. His look of surprise and sheer joy let me know he believed me. How could he be so egotistical? I shuddered inwardly at his stupidity and naivety. Part of me wanted him to know I was lying. I wanted him to get mad and try to hurt me. If Embry was watching he would react badly. But I needed to distract Quinn. He had a gun. That wasn't good. "I think we should maybe stop here for awhile. I bet the cabin is nice and cosy" I smiled up at Quinn. His eyes clouded over with lust at my words. I could practically see his mind racing with impure thoughts of he and I together just as he always wanted. I had to make him believe it was all true. I led him by the hand towards the cabin, his mind now completely and wholly on me. The gun was in his other hand. I would soon make him forget that. I just had to think of Embry. That's all. I had to.I would do anything for my beloved Embry, anything at all.
REBECCA CALL:
Quinn's van was here. Were we too late? I shivered inwardly as I longed to phase. My brother was in trouble, how could I save him in this human form? Quinn Taylor must be stopped! If Quinn was here Katherine must be here. My sister had to be saved too. I loved her with every fibre of my being. Blood didn't matter. Genes didn't matter. Love was all that mattered. Etienne parked the Jeep a little way behind the van. We quickly got out of the vehicle and I instantly caught Embry's animal scent. I shuddered and phased in the blink of an eye as Embry appeared out of the trees. We both gave a howl as we bounded off towards the cabin. We must kill Quinn. Save Kat. This was our universal thought as we surrounded the wooden house pacing and growling. Quinn appeared at the door with Kat. He looked scared but also elated. He knew! "So it's true! You are freaks of nature! I must protect Kat from you! She is mine and always has been!" he shrieked in fury and hatred. Kat looked like she had been crying. I had seen pictures from Embry's mind. Kat had planned to seduce Quinn, make him weak and vulnerable. Make him give up his weapon. Oh no! He had a gun!
Now it was pointing straight at us.
ETIENNE LUCIER:
My beloved and I ran swiftly after the wolves. Leah was frantic because the visions were assaulting her every single second now and they slowed her down. We saw the wolves circling the cabin. We saw Quinn and Kat appear at the door. Leah was doubled over as the visions kept their hold on her. It took all her strength to stay with me. I picked her up and flew like the wind to the wolves side, just as Quinn pointed a gun at Rebecca and Embry. "Katherine tried to fool me! She pretended she wanted me to save you both! But I read all about this imprinting, I know she wouldn't be unfaithful to him, not ever! Die freaks!" he screamed. Time seemed to stand still as Katherine jumped out into the path of the bullet which was surely heading for Embry. I placed Leah down as gently as I could and dived into Kat's path. Everything was happening so fast but so slowly if that makes sense. I heard Leah scream. I felt a short sharp pain. I saw Katherine fall. The wolves jumped and I heard human skin tear and rip. Blood was everywhere. Kat lay on the ground. The bullet had hit me, but shattered on my cold hard marble skin. The splinters had flown around me. Unfortunately one had hit Kat, it was lodged in her head, right on her temporal lobe. All I could hear was Leah screaming and screaming.
"Save her! Save Kat! She's pregnant! Save her and save the baby!"