Chapter 11: GONE

**LUCIEN**

This is worse than when I THOUGHT something could be happening to her.. No.. Something IS happening to her.. I can feel it.  

Earlier I thought someone was going to get to her before I could because of the threat. But that bastard made good on his threat.. I can feel it in every fiber of my being. From the first hit, I thought it was just a headache from not enough sleep or not drinking but then it kept coming. One after the other. And then my stomach started to quake. That’s when I knew it had to be her. Carrie rejected me and when I accepted her rejection it broke any bond we shared. So even if she was in trouble, I wouldn’t know. Not anymore. 

And the only person I feel anything for now, is Monica. I don’t even know her that well. I just know that she is where I want to be always. But if she isn’t my mate, how can I feel when something is happening to her? Why do I feel so strongly for her? 

 I get to her house and I can feel the chill creeping up my spine telling me something isn’t right.  There is an unfamiliar smell here. One that wasn’t here when I was here earlier… It’s all around her house, like someone circled it to make sure she was alone.. Wet dog, cheap cologne and it reeks of arrogance.. I see the back door is cracked and all I can smell is iron… I hear whimpering and muffled crying.. Why didn’t I offer to sleep on the couch? Why didn’t I have a female warrior sit inside or even nearby. I told her I would protect her and if something has really happened to her I’ll never forgive myself! 

“MONICA!!” I holler as I open the back door and take slow and calculating steps inside. I start searching the kitchen. Nothing. Nothing down here is out of place but that metallic smell is getting stronger. I smell her scent, vanilla and pineapple scent but the smell of her blood is causing my stomach to be in knots. 

I remember that the kids are upstairs and I know they probably heard something, I still don’t see their mom anywhere…

“Angelina! Lincoln!!” I screamed while running up the stairs. I see her blood smeared into the ground. Almost as if she was dragged.. Did he take her?? That metallic smell won’t leave my nose.. But I don’t see Monica. Where is Monica??

I jiggle the handle to the door of the bedroom but nothing.. 

“Angelina, Linc. It’s Lucien.. Open the door!” I hear small shuffles. Fu.ck, think Lucc, think…

Oh yeah!

“CAKE!” I holler and I hear little feet running to the door and it clicks open. Angelina runs into my arms with tears running down her face. Lincoln is still sleeping, well at least only one of them will be traumatized by this.

“Hey sweetie, it’s okay. Are you and Linc okay? Are you hurt?” I said holding her by her shoulder to get a good look at her. It’s dark out. It's the middle of the night, but there is some moon light shining through the window. “I-I I’m okay.. But I don’t know where my mama is.” She said, stuttering and sobbing at the same time. 

I wrapped her in a hug. “Listen honey, my big brother is going to come and take you and Linc to my house, okay? You guys can curl up in my bed and rest. I’m going to go find your momma, alright?” I finished just as Leon made it up the stairs. I know he stayed back for a moment getting warriors ready for a possible attack. She looked at me and then at him.

“I don’t know if I like him yet..” She whispered which made Leon scowl and me chuckle.

“He has that effect on people, but I need you both to hurry and not leave Leon’s side okay? I’ll bring your momma home..” I said softly, kissing the top of her head as she ran over to wake Lincoln up. She has the smallest ping of fear for her mom, but I can see the trust in her eyes.

“Leon, if anything happens to them…” I growled clenching my fist, but not tearing my eyes away from them getting ready. Ragnar and I both agree whether Monica is with us or not, these are basically our children now and we can be Uncle Lucien forever but no harm will come to them. 

“These pups will not leave my side, and I’ll die if I have to, baby brother. You have my word.” I watched as they walked out of the house. Her blood trail was strong in the house but it isn’t as strong out here. But her scent is faint. It has to be Talon. I don’t know of anyone else that would try to beat her and take her. 

Have I pissed anyone else off? Is there someone in my past that could be targeting her? No, it has to be him. 

Her scent is just barely strong enough for me to follow it into the woods.

‘You ready to get our girl, Ragnar?’ I asked as he was speeding along in his form. His eyes glowing, the fur on his back hackled. ‘Alpha or not, I’ll kill him.’ He let out a ground shaking roar.

I felt it in my chest, the adoration he has for her. Something about her draws us to her. Stronger than being mates, but I don’t know what it is. I’m pulled from my thoughts as we pick up a blood trail. Her wounds clotted before she left her yard, he must have stopped to hit her again.. 

I make Ragnar stop. The rustling of the leaves, a few twigs breaking here and there. One Alpha hunting another. So primal, but for good reason. 

I see a man. Not in his wolf form, he’s running in his human form. Dumb a.ss. I growl a warning which makes him stop in his tracks. Up until this very second he has been arrogant, taunting. Acting as if I would ever let him just take her away. 

“Put her down right now, Talon” I growled, taking calculating steps towards him. My snout snapping my huge canines together, paws digging into the cool wet earth for traction. He never even turns around. He just turns his head slightly to speak.

“She doesn’t even belong to you, Lucien. She’s just used, battered, and bruised GARBAGE!!” He growls back…

“I WILL NOT REPEAT MYSELF, TALON!! I am more than willing to rip your fu.cking thoat out of your neck if you so much as take another step with her in your arms.” I extended my canines for the kill I was hoping I would get to go in for. 

“Very well little Alpha, you win.” He sighs as he turns his whole body to the left. He lifts Monica’s bruised and beaten body over his head and slams her into a fallen tree, impaling her from her back to her front with an unconscious scream escaping her body and rattling the woods. Birds flying from their nests, deer running as fast and as far away as possible. 

I run to her and Talon runs away, shifting as he runs and leaving the forest. I don’t even care about chasing him down. 

She’s barely able to flutter her eyes open as blood is pouring from all of her wounds. I can’t stop the bleeding. Spitting and sputtering through coughs covering everything around in blood. She is gasping for air and it sounds like her lungs are filling with blood.

“Monica!! Please, please don’t leave me!!” 

With the little strength she has she lifts her hand and caresses my face. I hear her sharply intake a breath causing my heart to break and my stomach to turn.. 

“NO!!! PLEASE. PLEASE MONICA, PLEASE DON’T LEAVE ME!! “ I cried as I removed her from the tree and cradled her body to my chest. 

“Just take care of my babies, Lucc. You’ll be a great dad. They love you already. Never… Let them.. Forget.. Me..” She struggled to say as she coughed clots up.. 

Her whole face is completely black and blue. One eye is swollen shut and the other has been slit right above her eyebrow. Her cheek is shattered and I know if she could cry, she would. Her cheeks are rice krispies, which only happens when extreme force is applied and it shatters all the bones in your face. Her nose is broken, along with a few ribs, her arm and I think her pelvic bone. 

“I’ll never let them forget you, Sunshine.” I cried to her, moving her hair out of her face. Tears drenched my whole face, I have never cried this much in my life.  

“I wis-sh… We.. Had more… Time..” She whispered with her final breath before I could no longer hear her breathing. I can’t hear her heart pumping blood through her body. No more little twitches of her fingers or flutters of her eyes. Nothing. 

She is… GONE… 

I lay on the ground and slightly lay her small, frail and beaten body on top of mine.

“Goddess, I used to think you loved your wolves. You would do anything to help them or keep them happy.” I sobbed. “But now I am not so sure.”

“I let you take everything from me, and I’ve kept my faith in you.. But not her. So if she is gone, take me too. But if you can make a trade, then give her my life and I will take her place.” I cried pulling Monica tighter to my body. Even now I'm still worried I might hurt her. 

I didn’t get enough time with her. I didn’t even get to kiss her, hold her close, take care of her. 

And now… Now she is really gone.. 

I might as well lay right here and die next to here. 

“Leon, take care of the pups.” I whispered into the wind before closing my own eyes, welcoming the darkness that would take me to my light.

Monica..