The Secrets of the Panther

BLAKE

I jump with a start as I wake up from the chair I was sleeping in. I try to calm my breathing, so I place my hand on my chest. I wasn’t dreaming, but something made me wake up.

I could feel Axel in my head; he was pacing back and forth when I glanced back at him.

“What’s…” I ask him, but he turns his head to me. “MATE IS AWAKE,” he yells.

I stare back in disbelief.

“HEY STUPID,” Axel shouts.

“HEY,” I shout.

“WELL MOVE THEN,” he says with a smirk.

I do as he says and make my way to the door, not bothering to close it. I sprint to the hospital and towards Izzy’s room, not stopping.

I push the door open to see Kat with the kids surrounding someone, but her eyes land on mine. She pulls back slightly, and all I can hear is “MATE.”

Kat looks at me, but I never take my eyes off Izzy. I move slowly towards the bed, thinking it’s a dream.

As I get to the bed, Izzy moves her hand to my face as I lean toward her. Her scent hits me hard, and I wrap my arms around her.

“Izzy,” I say in a strangled voice. I can feel tears in my eyes that were threatening to escape.

I pull back, and her hand stays on my face. Her eyes searched mine; her eyes roamed every inch of my face, but I couldn’t help but slam my mouth down on her mouth. I kiss her hard, which causes the mate bond to ignite within me.

After a few moments, Izzy pulls back slightly, panting.

Someone clears their throat, and I see a tear-stained Kat. She smiled slightly as she looked at us as the kids covered their eyes.

Crap, I forgot that there were people here.

“I’m sorry,” I say, but she shakes her head. “You don’t need to apologize. I will take the kids to my room,” she says as a tear escapes her eye.

I feel so horrible right now.

Axel was howling with delight in my head.

Archer holds Kat’s hand while Allie stares at me. “Daddy, I got mummy back,” she says.

I glanced at Kat, who was staring at us.

“What do you mean, angel?” I ask her.

Allie looks over at Kat, but it’s not Allie who speaks. “Allie used her power to recharge Izzy’s body,” says Kat. I stare back at her; what the hell?

Kat must have noticed my confusion as she continued. “Allie brought Izzy back with her power; she has the light magic,” she said. “I will explain more, but Allie is special, just like Izzy.”

I look at her, but I turn to Allie.

I pull her to me, and she instantly wraps her arms around my neck. “I love you, angel,” I said, stroking her hair.

“I love you too, Daddy,” she whispers.

After holding Allie a few moments, she pulls back and smiles at me. “I told you to let me see mummy; I could have brought her back sooner,” she said.

I stared at her, then realized how I had acted before with her. I thought I was protecting her from everything, from how Izzy was looking in bed, and she kept telling me she could save her, but I honestly wasn’t thinking. All my mind wanted was Izzy, and protecting Allie was all my brain could function on.

I shook my head as I came out of my thoughts. “I’m sorry, Allie,” I said to her. “I should have listened to you. I thought I was protecting you; if something like this comes up again, tell me exactly what you mean,” I say to her.

Allie smiles and turns to her mum. “I will go with aunt Kat and Archer,” she says with a yawn.

I glanced back at Izzy, sitting there smiling, but she was looking at Allie. “Allie, thank you, sweetheart,” she says.

Allie leans in and kisses Izzy’s cheek.

Allie climbs from the bed, walks over to Archer, and holds his hand.

Kat looked down at the two of them but glanced at us. “I think you two should have a few minutes together before you announce she is awake, but I will phone my daughter,” she smiles.

After a few more goodbyes from the children, they left the room.

I looked at Izzy, staring at the door, but she looked at me. She moves up the bed and leans back, staring at me.

“You can lay with me, you know,” she says, patting the bed.

I can’t help but smile and move up the bed. I put my arm around her shoulders as I sit next to her. She places her hand in mine and closes it. Izzy leans into me, resting her head on my shoulder.

“Blake, what happened?” she asks after a few moments of silence.

I sigh, “What do you want to know?” I ask her.

“I want to know what happened after the war?” she says.

I told her about the meeting with the elders and Tilly and what I planned for the future with them. I have to say, my involvement with everything impressed Izzy.

“What about Drake and Anya?” she asks.

“Well, Drake and Anya will leave soon for The Red Moon pack with Alpha Dawson and Anita,” I say. “They will help them sort out the mess that Elder Johnson left behind.”

Izzy stays quiet, but she moves away from me. She moves into a sitting position. Her hair falls over her back, but she moves it to the side and looks at me.

“Have we buried anyone yet?” she asks.

I stare at her for a moment.

“Some members started to bury loved ones tonight, but Todd and Graham haven’t had theirs yet,” I say to her as I touch her lower back, drawing circles.

Izzy looks at me. “Can we do their burials in two days?” she asks.

I stare at her. “What’s the rush?” I ask her, “We must ensure you are right first.”

Izzy frowns at me. “I know, but I’m fine, Blake,” she says, “But Alice and Kat need it, and so do I, and I guess Dale and Kacey do too.”

I know my friends have been suffering from Graham’s passing, as they have been walking around like zombies for the last few days. I know their mates have been helping them, but they must know Izzy is awake.

I open a mind link to them both. “You both get your butts to the hospital,” I say. “Your sister’s awake. Also, send for Alice and Paul, too.”

I can hear Dale curse down the pack line, but Kacey shuts it down without saying a word.

I look back at Izzy, who has an amused look. “I guess you told someone I’m awake,” she says.

I nodded with a smile. “I told Kacey and Dale. So they will be here with their mates and asked them to send for Paul and Alice.”

Izzy nods and stares at the door. I can’t help but stare at her. “What’s wrong?” I ask her.

“I used so much power to save people. It scared me I wouldn’t get back to you all,” she says, but she turns to me. “I meant what I said to you before I attacked that witch.”

I looked at her, but Axel said. “I love you,” she whispered.

I remember now; she told me she loved me.

“Say it again,” I ask her. Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ FindNʘᴠᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Izzy looks at me. “I love you, Blake,” she says, leaning back and kissing my lips. She kisses me softly. Axel howls in my head. “I can feel and hear Puna. She’s happy,” he says.

Izzy pulls back and smirks. “Let me guess, Axel can feel Puna,” she says. I nod, looking slightly confused.

Izzy laughs. “Puna can hear him but has other ideas about what to do,” she says.

I can’t help but smirk. “Oh yeah, like what?” I ask her as I pull her to me once again.

I kiss her, sliding my tongue into her parted lips. I move my tongue around her mouth as she places her hand on my chest. I pull back only to hear someone clear their throat; we see Dale and Kacey with their mates standing in the doorway with smirks.

Izzy blushes, but she looks happy to see them.

They all come in and hug her.

I watched as both best friends held onto her; tears were shed. They hugged her together but pulled back to be part of a family. I can’t help but feel happy for them all, even though the one person who should see this isn’t with them anymore.

Alice and Paul run into the room, slightly out of breath.

Alice and Izzy hug and cry together for Todd. I know I have to send a pack notification that Izzy’s awake.

I lean back and open a pack link for all members. “To all pack members, your soon-to-be Luna Izzy, the savior who saved us all in the war, is awake. She is okay and needs rest, but there will be an announcement soon.”

Once I close the pack line down, I see Dale and Kacey smiling at me. Paul nods, and Alice has a smirk on her face.

Charley leans into Kacey, who tells her what was said.

“I know you have loads of questions about what happened to me,” blurts Izzy, making everyone look at her. “I will talk to you, maybe tomorrow, but I want something tonight. I want to spend it with all of you here.” She smiles, and she looks at me.

Many people love Izzy, so we had a big sleepover in her hospital room. But after this, it will just be Izzy, Allie and me. I would have preferred to have Izzy all to myself, but that would have been selfish.

Dale leaves the room to look for the pack doctor for some beds and check on Izzy. Alice goes in search of some food and drinks. I was feeling excited and hadn’t had a sleepover since I was a kid.