Thread: Bleed Me or Love Me, Either Way I Die (Raivh and Rogue)

Holding her cradled against him, Matthew didnt move an inch, though his jaw tensed when she spoke. He didnt breathe, didnt speak, just listened to her beg him to stay with her, listened to her state that she would do anything for him to not leave her. Not once had he broken this woman to the state she was in now. The collar hed placed around her neck when hed first turned her had done nothing to take away her dignity, her pride, that challenge that hed seen in her eyes so many times. But telling her that he was leaving that was enough to drive her to plead with him, submit to do anything he willed her to do. Feeling her nails digging gently in one arm, her body subtly quaking against him, Matthew swallowed. At one point, hed said he would change for her, be what she wanted him to be. This wasnt the Samantha that had threatened to riddle his body with silver, light him on fire, and watch him resort to ash. This Sam was a mess of unhinged nerves and desperation. His embrace tightened as she pressed back and turned her head. Her blonde hair brushed against his chin and jawline, and he took a deep breath. The salty fragrance of tears was in the air once more, and when he let his eyes fall to her face, he could see them running down her cheeks. Watching her swipe a hand over her face, feeling her clinging to him, disregarding her statement that she wouldnt touch him, Matthew relaxed his hold. Samantha. His voice rumbled as her name rolled off his tongue, a most natural sound to his ears. He wasnt going anywhere, not while Reifer was still around and the potential that he would kill Sam was still high. She was his mate, and Matthew had no intention of handing over rights to her to anyone. Swallowing, his arms slipped from around her, and he gathered both of her hands in his. Tell me, he murmured, so keyed in on her mind and soul that he could sense the words flowing through her system, begging to be released. Burying his face in the side of her neck, he kissed her skin, behind her ear, the corner of her jaw. One hand came up and caught the side of her cheek, caressing it as he brought his lips to hers. Deep and possessive, he kissed her as the one person he cherished most, more than any woman hed had in life more than hed cherished Alicia in death. Parting from her lips, he coiled his arms tightly about her waist and shifted, rising to his feet and bringing her up with him. He turned her around to face him, requiring the press of her body against his, and the feel of her mouth welded to his once more. In the dark, he held her close. .. Faltering as he rose to his feet, the pain shooting up and down his leg, Zeb turned his large black nose up to the canopy and sniffed. There was blood on the air, not his own. Someone elses. His body tensed, mind rushing back toward Lolas pack. A second later, he was hurtling in the direction of the scent, ignoring the sharp pangs that rocked through his body each time his foot slammed into the ground, causing his muscles to push the bullet deeper into the sinewy fibers. When he reached her pack, his eyes scanned each and every members respective face. His stare fell to Arkady, and something in Zeb began to unravel. Standing there, stock-still, he watched the male drag his fingers through her hair. Zebs chest heaved with each labored breath he took in, the amount of blood hed lost a decent amount, but the clouds in his eyes cleared away when a menacing growl ripped through the air. Momentarily forgetting about the smell of blood, and not yet registering the sweet scent of the alpha female in heat, Zeb lurched forward. His massive body slammed into Arkadys, sending the male tumbling a few feet before he righted himself. MINE! The single, possessive word was roared into Arkadys mind, Zebs voice full of alpha dominance. Hovering over Lola, hackles raised, teeth bared, Zeb snarled at his opposition. Arkady returned the favor, flashing a set of fangs as he shifted into his Lupine form and flung himself toward Zeb. Bracing himself for impact, Zeb intercepted the male when contact was made, and the two wrestled on the ground, a flurry of fur and teeth and blood. The pain in Zebs leg was immense, his instinct to fight for a female greater. In a matter of minutes, he had Arkady pinned, powerful jaws locked in his scruff, hackles raised. The male yelped as Zeb sank his teeth deeper, growling into the wound. SHES MINE! Arkady snarled, and Zeb released his hold, flipping him over and going for his jugular. Just the movement was enough to create quite a commotion amongst the rest of the pack, and Arkady froze, a terrified, belly-up pup. With a snort, Zeb snapped his maw shut, and stepped away, leaving the other four to help Arkady to his feet. Limping over to where Lola was, he nudged her cheek with his nose. Then he tensed, sucking in a deep breath of the pheromones pouring off her body. Shifting so his senses werent quite as acute, the aroma was still enticing, but lessened. Get her back to the house, Zeb stated in a gruff voice, shooting her pack a glance. His stare was domineering, challenging any of them to defy his order. Carrying her by himself with an injured leg was impossible. Donovon approached, ears laid flat against his head, and Zeb rose to his feet, still standing protectively, possessively in front of her. Memories of his deceased mate flooded his mind, and the last thing he wanted was to have this woman fade away because shed been shot with silver. Or at least what he assumed was silver. The bullet in his own wound was certainly the lethal metal. Stepping aside, eyes locked with Lolas, Zeb allowed Donovon by to pick Lola up. Then he turned, and strode over to where the dead man lay, still bleeding, but the warmth leaving his body. Searching the corpse for a knife, he found one, and cursed because the blade was silver as well. He needed something to dig out the bullet in his leg. I said take her to the house! he bellowed when no one moved. Several low whines sounded, and Zeb gnashed his teeth, turning and stalking toward them. He avoided Lolas eyes, instead looking into the face of each member of her pack. Arkady avoided Zebs stare, turning his head the other way. Black lips curled back, and he growled.