Chapter 93
1608words
"When we're done here, I think I want a big bowl of ice cream," I said in a small voice and Jean chuckled lightly,
"I think I could make that happen."
"And I think…" I said and turned so that I was looking up at his eyes, "I think I want to look at the stars tonight." I wasn't sure what I was asking for, but my heart thudded when his eyes met mine, and my wolf leaped with anticipation
"I'm quite addicted to my stars, but I find I don’t really miss them when I'm looking into your eyes."
"I didn't know you were poetic," I said smiling, but I was bursting with nerves. Jean's closeness was much too intoxicating.
"it comes when I'm with the right person." he took my chin in his hand, and my wolf anticipated his next move as he brought his lips closer to mine. But we came to a halt when we heard the sound of a car, and I had to fight the groan that threatened to escape from within.
He said something in French that I couldn't understand and finally let go of my chin.
"that doesn't look like my beta's car though," Jean said as we watched the oncoming car park and I sucked in a breath,
"No, that's not your beta's car." I said, not believing my eyes, "That car belongs to the man I'm trying to avoid."
We watched as Paris stepped out of the car, and scanned the area, and when his eyes rested on us, I wished to be anywhere else but there right then,
"Oh, brother," I mumbled,
"what does he think he is doing here?" I turned to look at Jean who looked visibly annoyed and shook my head,
"How did he find out I was here in the first place?"
"he'll answer to me," Jean said and got up, strode toward Paris like a man on a mission, and I prayed against a showdown. My strength had not fully returned to me, but I struggled to my feet and followed slowly behind Jean.
"What did you let happen to Ember?" I heard Paris say, as he tried to get to me, but Jean blocked his path,
"I don't know what you might be cracked on, but you should know better than to think I would sit here and let any kind of harm come to Ember. She was attacked." Jean replied, tete-a-tete with Paris who scowled at him,
"you think because you got here first you're the man of the hour? Get the hell out of my way!" Peter barked,
"I don't think so. I believe you've done more than enough damage to Ember. You don't have to keep doing more. Leave her alone for God's sake. What did you think you would stand to achieve by coming here today anyway?"
"you're not going to be the one who tells me whether or not I get to speak to Ember."
"no? I believe you've called her for hours on end, before this moment. Would you like to tell me how many of those calls she has actually responded to?"
"you'd rather mind your own business, would you not?" Paris said, and I could tell he was beginning to lose his temper.
It would have been much better if he simply took his uneven temper and went home because he really was the last person I wanted or needed to see. My heart was absolutely divided at the sight of him and I simply longed to be free of feeling this way time and time again because of Paris.
"I will not. She might have rejected me as her mate, but she is still important to me, and I protect what is important to me." Jean said, and despite the heat of the moment, I was absolutely touched by his words.
"you're stepping on the wrong wolf, Jean," Paris said in a cold low tone. I recognized that tone, and if it were anyone else he used it on, I might have been worried about them. But I didn't have to be worried about Jean, I just worried where all of this argument would take the both of them.
"both of you, please stop!" I called out, but they were so busy trying to be in each other's faces that they didn't even pay me any mind.
"Maybe it's about time someone actually stepped on your tail, Alpha. Maybe then you'd learn to give value to whom value is due."
"ember? Of course, I value her, and if you'd just get the hell out of my way, I'd be more than happy to prove it to you."
"you aren't proving shit to me. You had years to prove to her that she mattered to you. And even after all you put her through, you had weeks as well. You did all that you liked, never considering how she felt, or what you were doing to her. Don't speak to me about valuing her, I know what is true and what is not."
The more their banter went on, the more I felt my strength ebb away. I roe my hand to my eye level, and gasp escaped my lips when I saw my hand trembling,
"my God. Jean?" I called, but he didn't hear me, however, Paris looked at me and I saw a flash of concern when he looked at me, so he paused in whatever he was saying and tried to stride toward me, but Jean grabbed the hem of his shirt.
"Have you gone mad?" Paris barked and I pressed my hand to my temple, unable to conceive or bear what I was seeing
"stop this, both of you!" I shouted, but Jean had provoked Paris, and Paris never backed down from a fight.
I watched him, through my dimming vision as he pushed, and although Jean lost his footing for a couple of seconds, he bounced back and held Paris by his collar,
"I'm going to make you regret that." I heard him say. I tried to rush toward them, but my legs refused to carry me. I tried to stay conscious, but my body wasn't doing what I begged it to do, and the last thing I remembered as I closed my eyes was Paris calling out my name, and then everything went completely black.
PARIS's POV
"Have you gone mad???" I said sharply to this bloke who held my collar in his hands.
It was one thing for him to be protective of Ember because of whatever bond he felt he had with her. But he was really crossing the line.
I heard Ember shouting at us to stop whatever we were doing, but it simply wasn't registering. If there was anything I detested, it was anyone someone attacking me. I pushed Jean with as much force as I could and was satisfied with his momentary loss of composure. That would have been a good chance to punch him in the nose because he was simply asking for it, but I could see Ember from where I stood. I could see the way the sight of us agitated her, and I didn't want to put her off any further.
Unfortunately, Jean did not share my thoughts.
He looked at me with eyes gone red with vengeance and slowly walked toward me, "I'm going to make you regret that." he said coolly, and I wondered how a weaker man ever regained composure after encountering him like this.
I would have taken him though, but one more glance at Ember told me she was simply not okay. She had lost her pallor and I watched her sway where she stood.
Completely ignoring Jean and his threats, I called out to Ember, before rushing to her side, catching her before she fell.
"damn it." I swore, " EM, don't do this. Don't scare me this way." she was clammy to touch and I couldn't understand what was happening.
"what is this? Did those men hit her? I don’t see any bruises!" I barked as Jean approached us and he shook his head,
"They didn't lay a finger on her, but I suspect she's like this because of that pendant," Jean said, looking suddenly worse for wear. Did the bond affect him so that he suffered too, or was the suffering I saw a product of love? I didn't know, and I didn't want to give myself a chance to think about it.
"This moonstone?" I said, fingering her pendant, "How can-" and then it hit me, "It must be pouring into her a lot more than she's able to handle at a time." I said and ran a hand down her cheek, "Ah, Ember." I said softly.
"you've done enough. Hand her over." Jean said gruffly and I looked up at him angrily, "hand her over? She's not a doll!"
"and you're not the man in her life."
"And you are?" I retorted,
"No. But I'm also not the last man she would want to wake up to right now. You've done enough, I need to take her home." I wanted to tell him to go straight to hell and run away with Ember. But I couldn't because he had a point.
I carefully placed Ember in his arms, and felt like a man who had lost everything,
"Please take care of her," I said quietly and he nodded once, before turning away with her.
And right then, I didn't just feel like a man who had lost everything, I was suddenly a man who had nothing.
