The Elders stood by the back door. Only three of them this time.
“I’m Gabby. There will be no Introduction order. I won’t have anyone left out, or leaving without a fair chance. So, instead of the stuffy cabin, let’s just do this out here.” The warmth of the jacket when not supplemented by Clay wasn’t adequate, and I started to shiver slightly. “I believe the Elders mentioned I was ill, so if I start to stammer, bear with me.”
The men began to line up. So many looking for a Mate, and this was just a fraction of what was really out there. Some were too far away to answer such a short notice call. I wondered how many of their kind I still hadn’t met.
I met the eyes of several as I walked slowly down the not yet fully formed, long line. As I’d anticipated, the shivers grew more noticeable. This time the tremors were due to the cold, not my fatigue, and I fought not to duck further into my jacket. They needed to smell me. I kept walking and listened to Clay keep pace with me, just a few steps behind. Several of those I passed glanced at Clay, but no one actually commented on his presence.
Walking helped warm me a little. While the shivering didn’t go away, it at least didn’t increase.
A few exceptionally young Weres stood mixed in the line. I smiled kindly at each of them. For the most part, I paced in front of the line as if I performed a quiet military inspection. The males scented me as discreetly as possible, so hopeful for some type of connection. Many walked away after I passed.
About halfway down the line, I noticed a man step back and retreat into the woods. No unMated male walked away from an Introduction before being Introduced. It just wasn’t done. The possibility of meeting a Mate was too important to them. Suspicious, I used my other sight despite the knowledge it would hurt. I pushed myself to look as far as I was able and gasped. A jolt of pain pierced my temple and forced me to close my other sight. My hand flew to my head, cradling it.
Clay moved so quickly, my hair lifted in his breeze. He stood close enough that I felt his heat at my back. I forced myself to straighten. The werewolf I faced looked confused. His eyes moved to the Elders standing several steps behind us.
“Gabby,” Sam began, but I held up a hand.
“A moment, please,” I managed to say.
Although it’d been a brief glimpse, I had seen a blue-grey spark moving away from our group. In the distance, three other blue-grey sparks waited. I couldn’t say anything to Clay since I held everyone’s attention, but I glanced at him. He studied the worry on my face for a moment then looked around. I felt safer because of it but still wished I could reach out to take his hand.
Instead, I turned to the men in front of me.
“I’m sorry. Like I said, I’m not feeling well. The pain in my head just took me by surprise.” I took a steadying breath and continued my slow progress. The werewolves I passed watched me with concern. I probably looked even worse than I had just a moment ago.
More than halfway down the line, I came across a face I knew. He studied me, his playful smile from our last meeting absent. I used him as an excuse to stop and rest for a minute. I’d started shaking again, not from the cold.
“A f-face I know. I’m here as p-promised.”
His eyes turned slightly remorseful at my words.
“I see that, little one. Although, it looks like you should be in bed instead.”
“I would b-be if people would j-just leave me alone.” I felt bad for saying it as soon as it left my mouth. How many times had these men stood in line hoping to meet some faceless girl? “B-but it’s not meant t-to be. So, you know my name, but I d-don’t know yours.” I made conversation to make up for my harsh comment.
“Luke Taylor, love.” He offered his hand, politely. A human custom, not a werewolf one. With my pull gone, could I safely touch him without causing some type of obsession? I hesitated and studied his face. He’d been desperate at the club, but now he looked resigned. He knew I wasn’t the one for him.
Feeling sorry for him, I accepted his hand. A mild shock went through me to him.
Time stopped as my vision tunneled. The world around me disappeared, swallowed by darkness until only a pinprick of light remained. Then the darkness exploded into a spark-filled view of the world in its entirety. The tiny lights dazzled me. The yellow-green of humanity almost consumed the world. However, diversity persisted, though small.
Slowly, the sparks of each human, werewolf, and the yet unexplained blue-grey winked out of existence until a single, faint spark tinted with a violet halo remained on the east coast. My focus changed, honing in on that light. Like reading a map, I saw its exact location. My eyes swam in the yellow-violet light for a moment. Then, with a snap like an elastic band breaking, I returned to myself.
My lungs sucked in a breath with a loud whoosh, and my heart hammered in my chest. I ached all over and felt like vomiting. Only Luke’s steady, warm hand, desperately clutched in my own, anchored me and kept me from falling apart.
Clay paced directly behind me. I vaguely imagined he wouldn’t like me holding another man’s hand for so long. I met Luke’s gaze and swallowed down my bile before attempting to speak. He eyed me warily.
“I need to talk to you. Don’t leave until I do.”
His brow rose in surprise at my heavily slurred words.
“Clay,” I whispered. My head lolled to the side as I tried to catch his eye. “Catch me.” I let go of Luke’s hand, and the world disappeared.
My pounding head woke me. I couldn’t tell if I lay in a dark room or just had my eyes closed. It didn’t really matter. My skull would certainly shatter if I had to deal with light, too. I tried to whisper for water but only managed a faint croak. When I attempted to clear my throat, the pain in my head brought tears to my eyes. I was dying. I had to be to feel this way.
An arm gently slid under my neck and lifted my head a bit. A cool glass pressed to my lips, and I slowly sipped the contents. I stopped when the darkness began to pull me down again.
I woke several more times, only drinking a bit of water before passing out again. Each time the pain in my head decreased a little until, finally, I woke with more clarity.
“Water,” I whispered into the darkness.
Again, an arm snaked under me and lifted me for a cool drink. I drained the cup. The arm lowered me, and I settled back onto the pillow. My ears rang in the silence.
“How long have I been sleeping?” I asked just to hear something.
Instead of an answer, I got a tight hug.
“I really hope you’re Clay,” I whispered breathlessly.
His gruff laugh wrapped around me, just as comforting as his hug.
“Can we turn on a light?”
He moved away from me, and I took the opportunity to sit up a bit and lean against the headboard. My legs still felt shaky.
The bedside lamp clicked on. I squinted against the light and regretted my request. My head ached slightly. I rubbed a hand over my face as my eyes watered. A tangle of my hair got in my way. I brushed it aside and felt the knots in it.
Blinking several times, I finally focused on Clay. He was dressed in the same clothes he’d worn outside. Maybe I hadn’t been out that long after all. He stood near the bed and watched me with a tender, relieved expression.
“Clay, I think I know what’s going on. Can you help me up? I really need a shower.” And a toothbrush.
He shook his head.
“Clay, now’s not the time to put your foot down. This is really important.” I tried to sit all the way up, but couldn’t. My head started to throb again. “Okay. Maybe you’re right,” I mumbled as I rubbed my forehead. “Can you get me something for my head, please? It feels like it going to explode all over the walls.”