Life After the Storm novel Chapter 68

Landon really hasn't spoken since we escaped. We have been running ourselves ragged. I'm so tired, I'm uncertain how much more I can handle. We haven't had over 2 hours of rest at a time. I do not know where he is taking us. I'm not even sure if he knows where we are going.

Star hasn't communicated with me since we left Ivan. She is worried about our mate, and she begged me to stay, but I just couldn't. Even though he is my mate, Landon and Jayden mean more to me than he ever could. Ivan is just a bond. I know that it may be for life, but it doesn't mean I will ever love him.

I watch as Jayden is starting to wake up. I watch him peek back at me and smile. His smile does something to me. It gives me hope that everything will be okay. I feel relaxed and not so worried. Well, at least not at this moment, anyway. Knowing that this bond I have with Jayden is stronger than any mate bond will ever be. 

Suddenly, I feel a pain that shoots through my body and makes me stop instantly. My wolf falls to the ground. I then shift back to my human form. Being too malnutritioned from running for days without a proper meal. I'm too weak to stay in my wolf form. Tears flood my eyes, I then notice that my ankle is stuck in what looks like to be a bear trap.

I struggle trying to get it open to get my ankle out, but there is no use. I mind link Landon” I'm in a trap, please come back and help me.”

As I'm waiting for what seems to be forever. I don't see Landon in sight. Where the hell is he and why didn't he say anything back. No, he wouldn't just leave me here. I hear footsteps coming towards me. I try harder to get this fucking trap off me, but I can't. When the footsteps sound like they're right next to me, I look and that's when I see Jayden.

Wondering where Landon is, I ask Jayden, “where is your daddy?”

“Lilly, they attacked my daddy, and he told me to run, so I followed your scent.”

“No, they found us. We need to hurry. I need to get this off of me. Can you help me pull it open long enough to get my ankle out.”?

“Yes, I can do it, Lilly.”

We struggle together to hold the trap open, but once we get it open far enough, I pull my ankle out as fast as I can. Looking around for a place to hide, not really sure where the hell we even are, doesn't help. I make it to my feet, not being able to put pressure on my one leg, I stumble. Then Jayden comes over to help me.

As we are walking, I'm not clear what has happened to Landon. Wondering if they are still out here and if they are watching Jayden. And I am just waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike. I'm scared I can't protect us. I'm so weak. If they come to fight, I will not stand a chance.

I should have stood up to Landon and made him let us rest. Instead, now we are weak and an easy target to take down. God, he had to be filled with so much fear. He just wanted to get as far away as possible, but why is the question I need answered. What is causing Landon to be so reckless?

I watch as I see Jayden prek up. “Stop, Lilly, this is where my daddy and I were before we got attacked." 

I look around. I see nothing. Not a trace of anyone being here. I want to be honest with Jayden, but he is a child and I need to protect him from all pain. Maybe he is mistaken that this isn't the place. Hoping I'm right, and he just simply became confused, I ask him “Jayden, are you sure that this is where you got attacked.”

I watch as confusion overcomes him, his little hands running through his hair and him moving in circles. I can tell that he is unsure, but he wants to remember. Wanting to save his daddy from whatever is after him. That, in fact, is after all of us. I know it's because of our abilities, that is what is common among all of us.

Jayden falls to his knees in disappear. “Lilly, I can't remember. It looks like the place, but I'm not sure these woods look all the same.”

I run up to him, ignoring the pain I am in, and I fall to my knees and wrap him into my arms. As he cries, I try comforting him. “It's okay, Jayden, we will find him, I promise.”

Mad at myself for making a promise that I'm not sure if I can keep, but just trying to make him feel better. I just want him not to feel grief but knowing Landon would never just leave us behind that he had to be taken definitely not by his own will, he would never leave Jayden behind?

I hear footsteps coming, knowing there is no way I can protect us. As I look down at my ankle, it's not healing, knowing it has never taken this long for me to heal. I'm stuck knowing we can't run, and I can't fight, wondering is this the end. I grab a hold of Jayden, so I can look into his eyes. “you need to go. Someone is coming, and I can't protect us.”

“No Lilly I'm not leaving what is a life if I'm all alone, I don't mind going to see my mother in my death. I'm not leaving you ever again. If you die, we die together.”

I look at him with tearful eyes. He is so young but so smart. Wondering How he can be so brave at 5 years old knowing how wonderful of a man an Alpha he would become. Wishing that this can't be it. Wanting to fight but not having any energy to even move, so we just wait as our fate is approaching us.