Kanin

Now, I’ve had to endure a lot of awkward situations in my almost eighteen years of life. I mean, my whole high school existence was awkward. Nothing compared to sitting in a living room surrounded by three angry werewolves. It wasn’t just any werewolves though. One was Bevin, the ruthless she-wolf. The two others were victims of her crimes.

I had my hands fisted in my lap and my eyes were staring down at them. Cade and Jax were seated on either side of me, adding to the awkward situation around us. Bevin was sitting before us, her red eyes bearing daggers into the three of us. I could feel her heated glare. I could feel the tension in the air. I could feel the hate and disgust.

I finally dared to look up, but not at the girl. I looked over at Jax on my right. He was still showing his claws and blood red eyes. With anyone else, that might be intimidating. Bevin just looked bored.

“Put the claws away, kitty.” Bevin said in a flat tone. She looked away from Jax and down at her expertly manicured nails. “I didn’t come here for a fight.”

Jax growled, “Yeah, I heard you the first time.”

“Can you blame us that we don’t believe anything that comes out of your mouth, Bevin?” Cade spat, her name sounded weak coming from his lips. There was no doubt in my mind that Cade was in pain having her this close. He still loved her, after all.

“Oh, Cade, still hanging onto the grudge, are we?” She smiled, a wicked thing that made me want to punch her. It was all a game to her. A game that she planned on winning. The prize? The alpha seething next to me. She’d only used Cade to get to Jax. When that hadn’t worked, she’d used Jax’s older brother. That hadn’t exactly worked either.

“Shut up, Bevin.” Jax growled.

She laughed instead. Case and point. She was insane.

“You said you came to warn us?” I spoke, trying to draw the subject back to more important things.

"Kanin Abbott.” I hated the way she spoke my name. Her eyes slowly made their way over me and then a look of disgust crossed her delicate features. I couldn’t help but feel a little hurt over the action. “So, this is the half-breed pet that stirred up so much commotion. I must applaud you, little girl. I didn’t know the mighty Jaxon had a heart.”

Another growl passed Jax’s lips. I felt his muscles tighten even more, like he was trying to hold himself back.

“Seriously, Bevin, knock it off.” Cade warned.

She rolled her eyes, but continued. “I came to warn you about Keera.”

“We already know about her.” I crossed my arms over my chest. “If I’m not mistaken you were there when she said she was going to kill me.”

“Yeah, but this is different.” Bevin sounded scared for a minute. “Listen, I’ve never seen her like this before.”

“Like what?” I asked her.

“Blood thirsty.”

“What are you really here for, Bev?” Jax snapped. “Because we both know that your alpha has a fair share of blood on her hands.”

“I’m serious, Jax!” Bevin yelled. That’s the first time I’ve heard her call the alpha that. Apart of me wanted to believe her.

I looked between the two werewolves on either side of me, trying to read them. Cade gulped and slightly nodded his head at Jax and me. He really believed her. I wondered if they’d read her heart beat for a lie. Maybe I could do the same.

“Say it again.” I demanded of her. “What are you really here for?”

She leaned forward and kept a straight face, “I’m here to warn you about Keera.”

As she said the words, I focused on listening to her heart beat. I closed my eyes and focused on her breathing first. Once I did, placing her heart beat was easy. It was steady and remained even the whole time. She wasn’t lying.

“Why would you do that?” Cade asked.

“Believe it or not, I do care about both of you.” Both Jax and Cade scoffed at her words, she only rolled her eyes. “I don’t want to see you dead. And that’s exactly what will happen to you if you don’t do what Keera wants. I’ve never seen her so determined before.”

“That’s not even an option for me, Bevin, and you know it.” Jax warned. “You know what she wants, what she’ll do if she gets it.”

She wants me dead, that’s what she wants.

There was a beat of silence around us for a moment. Bevin’s eyes landed on me and she sized me up once more. “The-half breed, yes. Such a small price to pay, I guess.”

In one quick second, Bevin was out of her seat. Jax must have seen her coming, because suddenly, I’m pushed out of the way. I land, hard, on my side on the ground. Cade is above me in a protective stance. I hear the alpha and the she-wolf both growl.

“So, that’s what you really came for, then?” Jax had his claws to Bevin’s throat now. “To do Keera’s dirty work?”

“I really did come to warn you.” Bevin breathed in his face. “It was just a bonus to kill the half-breed pet.”

“That’s not going to happen.” Jax warned.

Bevin laughed. She reached up and grabbed the hand that was at her throat. Her eyes glowed red and she bared her fangs at the alpha holding her captive. In one fluid motion, she flipped Jax over her shoulder. I’d never seen anyone use such a move and it surprised me to see her use it on Jax of all people. I’ve ever seen anyone get the better of the alpha.

Bevin didn’t even hesitate. She moved quickly towards Cade, who shifted nervously. He didn’t want to hurt her, that was clear. Bevin suddenly gripped the back of Cade’s neck and pulled him close. “I’m sorry.” She whispered before bringing her knee up to crash against his forehead. Cade dropped limp to the ground and didn’t move.

She then knelt before me, cocking her head to the side to examine me. “I’m not sure I see what all the fuss is about.” She laughed. “You can’t even shift half way.” Suddenly, her claws are at my throat and I’m pushed with my back against the ground. I take a deep breath and her claws prick my skin. I feel my warm blood start to trickle down my skin. “You stupid, stupid, little girl.” Her blonde hair hangs down around her face as she growls into my face. “You think you belong in this world just because your mommy was a werewolf? You’ll never belong here.” She looked back over her shoulder for a moment, “He’ll never love someone like you.”

Her last remark stung worse than the others. Anger shot through my stomach. I brought my feet up quickly and pushed them into her stomach. She stumbled away from me, in the process her claws scraped across my neck. I ignored the blood seeping into the collar of my shirt.

Bevin yelled, a sound that fueled me even more. I rose from the ground to face her. “And he’ll never love someone like you either!”

She ran at me with an inhuman growl, her eyes like a red pit of blood. At the last second, I punched her hard in the jaw. She was too angry to have seen it coming. Her head was knocked to the side. I heard the whip of it and wondered if I’d broken something on her pretty face.

“So, I can’t shift!” I yelled. Taking her moment of confusion and kicking at her chest once more. She was sent flying backwards. She landed hard on the ground, stunned. I walked to her, placing my foot against her throat and applying pressure. Her eyes bulged and her claws dug into my ankle, but I ignored the pain. “Doesn’t seem like I need to.”

Suddenly, there was a hand at my shoulder. Without thinking and fueled with adrenaline, I spun around and punched out blindly. My fist didn’t make contact. Jax caught my hand midair before I could hit him.

He nodded at me and then softly pushed me away from the wolf I had pinned to the ground. I lifted my foot from her wind pipe and she drew in a ragged breath. She didn’t move. Her eyes were back to their cold blue and her claws had vanished.

Jax pulled her to her feet and pushed her towards the door. She stumbled along with him, but didn’t protest. “Get out of here, Bevin. Tell your alpha I haven’t changed my mind.” Jax threw her out the front door before slamming it closed and clicking the lock into place. I watched him collapse back against the wood with a heavy breath and his eyes landed on me.

I stood there a moment longer, staring back at him, before remembering Cade. I hurried to him. His eyes were still closed tightly and he was in a heap on his side. I listened to his heart beat: steady.

“Is he okay?” Jax asked from his slumped position at the door.

I nodded, “Yeah, just out cold.” I stumbled back into a seated position next to Cade and breathed a heavy sigh. I didn’t feel any pain right now, but I knew it would come soon.

I heard Jax push up from his spot and move towards us. He knelt and placed a hand on his friend’s shoulder before moving towards me. He pulled his dark t-shirt over his head. I was too tired to pay attention. I heard him tearing fabric and then a piece of it was pressed against my bleeding neck. Next, he instructed for me to stretch out my ankle. I did so and watched him wrap a slither of the torn shirt around my also bleeding ankle.

“I’ll have to patch you up better when the bleeding stops.” Jax informed me.

I only nodded, my eyes still staring at the unconscious Cade. “Can you help me move him to the couch?”

Before I even stood up, Jax had his friend thrown over his shoulder. I heard Cade groan, but otherwise he didn’t move. Jax laid the wolf carefully on the couch, propping his head on a pillow. He checked Cade over one last time before sitting on the ground with his back against the couch.

“I don’t think Keera sent Bevin.” Jax said to me.

“She came on her own?” I wondered.

Jax nodded, “I think. Keera may be blood thirsty and ruthless, but she has honor. She wouldn’t just have Bevin try and trick us. Besides, I’m sure Keera wants to kill you herself. Even if she did send someone to do it, I doubt she’d send Bevin.”

“Why not?” I questioned.

“Bevin might be cruel, but she’s also careless. I mean, you even got the better of her tonight.”

"Thanks.” I said sarcastically.

He closed his eyes and shook his head, “I didn’t mean it like that.”

“I know how you meant it.” I pulled the cloth from my neck and probed the skin. The bleeding had stopped. “A human got the best of a werewolf.”

“You aren’t human.” He defended.

I stood to my unsteady feet, “I’m close enough.”

He stood as well, putting his hands to my upper arms and forcing me to look at him. “I didn’t mean it like that, Kanin. You did awesome tonight. You not only saved yourself, you also saved Cade and me.”

“I was lucky.” I shook my head.

“I don’t believe in luck.” He smiled lightly. “You beat her because you’re the better fighter. She didn’t stand a chance.”

I smiled back at him weakly. Suddenly, my knees buckled. Jax caught me quickly, scooping me up into his arms. My body was pressed against his warm chest and I could feel his heat beating. I swung my arm around his neck.

“Let’s get you patched up.” Jax told me, carrying me towards the stairs.

“What about Cade?” I questioned.

“I’ll check on him in a bit, he’s okay.” He informed me and easily carried me up the stairs. We stopped in front of his door and he opened it with one hand, kicking it closed behind us. We stepped into his bedroom and he deposited me on top of the sink.

I watched him dig in the cabinet under his sink. He came back with the first aid kit I used to patch up his side and the half-drunk bottle of alcohol. He handed me the alcohol first. “I’m underage.” I protested.

“I won’t tell if you won’t.” He winked.

I took it hesitantly, but still didn’t bring it to my lips.

“Just take a swig. It’ll help with the pain.” He told me, digging around in the first aid kit.

“I don’t feel any pain right now.” I told him.

“Oh, but you will.” He put his finger to the bottom of the bottle, tipping it back to get me to drink.

I put the bottle to my lips and started drinking. It instantly burned the back of my drink, but I kept chugging. Jax stopped me after a moment, taking the bottle from my fingers and setting it aside.

“I don’t feel anything.” I whispered.

He smiled, a genuine smile that I was sure he only used for me. “You will.” He started unwrapping gauze and some bandages then. “You ready?”

I nodded, not taking my eyes off his face. I watched him dab some rubbing alcohol onto a square piece of gauze. He leaned forward, his face close to mine. His eyes met mine and for a moment he hesitated. I stared into his stormy eyes and suddenly found my favorite color.

He reached forward and dabbed the gauze against the wounds on my neck. I bit back a yell at the searing pain. Instinctively, I reached out and gripped Jax’s shoulder tightly. He quickly reached for the medical tape and taped a new piece of gauze to the side of my neck. The pain started to die down a little and my head was swimming.

“I feel dizzy.” I groaned, gripping his shoulder tighter to steady myself. I tried to focus on his face, but for a moment it swam before me.

“That’s just the alcohol.” He whispered, moving on to take care of my ankle. He undid the cloth from the wounds and inspected the claw marks. He didn’t hesitate to start cleaning it with the alcohol to disinfect it. I groaned and dug my fingers into his shoulder. My head swam. I reached over with shaking fingers and brought the bottle of alcohol to my lips once more. I took a big swig and set it aside again. Jax laughed lightly and finished wrapping my ankle. “There, all done.”

“Thanks.” I said, but my voice sounded weak and quiet.

Jax gripped the counter on either side of my legs, pressing his hard stomach against my knees. My skin prickled. His stormy eyes searched my face, stopping on the white gauze at my neck. “You’re so brave, Kanin.”

I scoffed, “Trust me, I’m really not.”

His eyes snapped up to mine, “You took on Bevin by yourself and won. Of course, you’re brave.”

“I’m stupid is what I am.”

He said nothing for a moment, his eyes darting around my face. “Why did you do it?”

“Attack Bevin?” I asked and he nodded. “Because she attacked you and Cade.”

“Then that doesn’t make you stupid, it makes you brave.” He leaned closer to me and suddenly placed his lips to mine. I reached up and cupped the back of his neck. His hands found the small of my back and his burning fingers pressed into my skin. He pulled away quickly. “You need to rest.”

I nodded, the movement making the whole room spin. I felt like I was going to fall off the sink if it wasn’t for Jax’s hands steadying me. I closed my eyes and leaned my head back against the mirror.

“Come on.” Jax instructed and pulled me into his arms again. He carried me out of his bathroom and into his bedroom. He placed me into his bed, pulling his covers around my body. I snuggled into the warmth, feeling like I was floating. “I’m going to check on Cade.”

I reached back and grabbed onto him quickly before he pulled away, “Will you be back?”

He smiled and placed a knee on the mattress. He leaned down over me, his fingers tracing the side of my face. He kissed my forehead, “Always.”

I placed my hand against his chest and then watched him leave. Once he did, I snuggled back into his bed. As soon as I closed my eyes, my mind started to drift. It was only a few minutes before I heard Jax slip in beside me in the bed. “He’s fine.” Jax said lightly and shifted closer to me. I was too tired to respond, but I rolled over and pushed my back against his chest. He draped his arm over my body and held my hand tightly. I felt him kiss my neck.

I was asleep in seconds.