Evangeline A True Warrior

Atlas’s realization

Hearing what Evangeline had kept from her friend, the decision she thought was right. I knew about hard decisions, all alphas knew what it took to decide for a whole pack. When she walked out of the bathroom I had to remind myself that she could tell what I was feeling, looking up into her eyes, the sadness was immense. I couldn’t see her soul but I could see that she needed me. Her walking away from me earlier instead of letting me comfort her could have killed me. She tried to walk away again but I snagged her wrist and pulled her on top of my lap. She looked at me in shock and tried to push away but I just pulled her closer pressing my nose to her neck. I’d barely had her, she was ripped away from me and I hadn’t even gotten to know her. 

“I can’t tell you how glad I am that you’re alive Evangeline.” Pulling back to look at her eyes I watched as tears trickled down her cheeks. It can be so lonely sometimes, being the one who has to be strong. The one everyone depends on. “You will never be alone with me as your mate. I’ll always want you. I’ll want what’s best for you, whatever you decide. I just want to be apart of your life.” She openly sobbed now wrapping me in a bear hug. I held her for couple minutes while she gathered herself. 

“Oh Atlas, I don’t deserve someone as affectionate as you.” She stood, sitting back down so she straddles my thighs. “So attentive, handsome.” Every compliment she placed a kiss on my face, my cheek, my chin. “Considerate and kind” another kiss to my cheek and finally on my mouth. I couldn’t stop  the low groan from slipping free. With her warmth practically surrounding me I wasn’t sure i could stop. I pulled her tighter against me bringing my arms around her waist, getting as close to her as I could without being inside of her. Inside of her, that thought made me impossibly hard. Her hands ran through my hair while she continued to kiss me, desperately needing me like I did her. We had to stop. I wouldn’t be able to keep my cool around her for much longer. I slowly pulled away from her but couldn’t stop kneading her flesh. “Baby, you are the stronger one. You’ll need to stop me.” Her soft giggling was the best cure for my battered heart. I don’t think I’ll ever stop needing to be someone she leans on. She was smiling again, the most stunning woman I’ll ever know. Happiness filled her eyes. 

“Thank you Atlas, for being so wonderful to me, even when I’m not good enough for you.” The doubt in herself was unsettling. I believed in her so much, I’d learned that belief. She had it in herself when we met. 

“Evangeline. No one deserves as much love as you do. I don’t like hearing you speak about yourself like this.” Lifting her up I turned around placing her flat on the bed underneath me. Bringing her hands above her head I held them there with one of mine. Tracing my other hand down her cheek, her neck, cupping her breasts. I was growling again, my beast wanting to be with its mate. 

“Atlas..” feeling the whisper of breath on my mouth i kissed her agin, harder. Slipping my hand to her stomach then the top of these impossibly sexy pants. I waited with my fingers barely in the waist band. I wanted her so much. Wanted to feel her pulse around me, writhing underneath me. Unfortunately that would need to wait. She had people she loved to take care of. Pulling away from her i just stared into her eyes. 

“Evangeline” 

“Yes Atlas?” She was breathless and vibrating with her need for me. Lifting her hips to mine, rubbing me through my jeans. 

“Alora needs you. We’ve already been gone awhile.” It took all of my self control to stop her. I wanted her to be mine for hours, I wanted her underneath me for days if she’ll let me keep her there. Not just minutes. She laughed at me. Sounding vibrant and happy. I already loved her. 

“You are right. Thank you for keeping your head on, next time I’ll be sure to make it more difficult for you. I want all your attention on me.” Her arms still curled around my neck I lifted her again hugging her as hard as I could. Spinning around with her just wanting her to laugh a little longer and she did. When I stopped she was red in the face and her eyes seemed to glow back at me. 

“You always have my full attention. I’m always thinking of you, wanting you. It’s just not the right time. You’d be worried for your friend. Feel guilty for being distracted.” She knew I was right and nodded her agreement. I set her down in front of me and followed her to the bedroom across the hall. Alora was still laying on the bed with Florence next to her on the bed and Hadlee was across the bottom with her head in her hand. They just stayed with her. KC and Keegan sat on the dresser discussing something on their phone. When we walked in they all looked up. I wondered what they all thought of Evangeline. How hard would she need to fight for their trust back? How long would they question her as an alpha. I wanted to take her away from them but I also wanted to have faith in the relationship each girl had with Eve. KC stood and spoke first.

“We’ve arranged transportation to pack lands in two hours. Will that be long enough Eve?” Looking to Evangeline I saw her nod in agreement but she wasn’t looking at KC, she kept her gaze on Alora. “I’ll go tell Sam and Haley to be ready by then. Sebastian will help them finish getting ready.” She slipped by us out of the room. Hadlee stood and sat next to her twin and Florence whispered to Alora before standing by the bed. Evangeline inhaled a deep breath and walked to the side of the bed Alora was on, sitting next to her. 

“I’ll only take the memories of him from tonight. Getting rid of every time I mentioned him or you thought of him before tonight is to much. If it hurts or you feel like I’m taking to much just let me know, you’ll be awake so pay attention to how you feel. It should only last a couple of minutes.” Alora nodded and started at Eve, waiting for her to start. Evangeline reached out and placed her hand just below Alora’s throat. Then she started to chant 

“Από την ψυχή ένας δεσμός. Η γνώση ενός συντρόφου.” Over and over she said these words. KC came back to stand next to me in the doorframe.

“From the soul a bond. The knowledge of a mate.” KC said when she heard Evangeline. Looking back to the women on the bed Evangeline spread her fingers wide, bringing them together, pulling a unhealthy looking green colored line from Alora’s chest. Almost translucent but also like a piece of yarn I could reach out and feel. Still chanting Eve continued to pull it out. So much was coming out, it seemed to fall on the blanket next to them. Disappearing slowly. Would my cord on Eve’s soul look like this? Would I feel it if she extracted it from herself? 

“KC, will he feel her doing this?” KC was confused by my question “Proteus. Will he feel this?” Her eyebrows drew down and she looked back to the room, then stepped back to look in the hallway. She expected him to appear, but so far he wasn’t here. I could see her getting more confused while we thought about it. Evangeline still chanting, I thought about how he knew everything. He saw the past and the future. Even if he couldn’t necessarily feel what they were doing he had to know. If someone tried to take my mate from me like this I would be enraged, no, I would be out for blood. Evangeline had to have known this, it wouldn’t have been something that just slipped her mind. Then I realized. Alora begged her to do this. Evangeline talked about the cost but not the one to herself. All i could see was red, how dare she put her life on the line like this! I turned to her, still chanting still pulling the bond from Alora when suddenly her head snapped to the side to look at me. Feeling my wrath. “Have you lost your f*****g mind Evangeline.” The girls around us all stood at attention. Alora was breathing quickly her eyes jumping from me to Eve and back. A tear slipped down Evangeline’s face.

“I couldn’t tell her no Atlas. I don’t think he’ll kill me and he certainly won’t hurt her. I swear it will all work out just let me finish.” As she spoke she pulled more from Alora’s chest. Without the chanting it seemed to hurt her as she winced. Eve flinched along side her and apologized. 

“What’s going on Eve. What is he so mad about?” Alora hadn’t figured it out.

“Proteus will kill her for taking his bond from you. I have no doubt because if someone did this to Evangeline I’d rip the head off of every person they ever spoke to.” Alora seemed frightened of me then. That was for the better, if anyone, her pack included, put her in danger I would kill every single one of them. Evangeline could hate me all she wants, at least she’s be safe. “Stop now Evangeline” Alora reached up and grabbed Eve’s wrist.

“I didn’t think about you when I asked for this. Please, let go Evangeline. We’ll find another way.” I was so relieved Alora wasn’t going to let this continue but Evangeline’s next words made my blood run cold. 

“If we stop now it’ll all renter. Like a snake it will wrap around your soul, clinging to it so you can’t rid yourself of it again. The pain Alora.. If I stop now it’s going to hurt. A lot. Physically and emotionally, you won’t stop thinking of him, needing him near you. The way you felt before we started will be a million times worse. If I stop now, you’ll need to be with your mate or you’ll die. The bond will be to strong. It has to be completed once it reaches a certain point.” Tears fell onto the bed as Evangeline explained what would happen. Alora smiled slightly up at her and wiped the tears from her face.

“You’ll stay with me than? Until the pain stops?” Eve nodded her head but didn’t release the bond. “Let go Eve. We’ll figure it out once I feel better.” Evangeline let go. Quickly the cord slithered back into her chest. Alora clawed at it as she whimpered in pain. Screaming as she fought the pain invading her body. Eve fell to the floor next to her sobbing as she begged for forgiveness. Alora bowed off the bed thrashing back and forth. Her face had turned purple from lack of oxygen. 

“Breath Alora!” Florence shrieked at her, flexing her hands again and again. Alora inhaled quickly her blood shot eyes looking to us for help. She grabbed onto the sheets and roared. Suddenly passing out and her body convulsing on the bed. Her muscles relaxed as she laid there quietly. Evangeline clutched the bedding as she cried. She would be angry with me but my fear for her wouldn’t allow me to care. 

“Take care of her KC. I need a moment.” I left before KC agreed. I walked to the front door. My lion needed out. How could she do this? Knowing Proteus would be irate. Even so, the man himself had yet to show. Flinging open the front door i had to stop, I expected snow to be all over. It was a normal fall night though. Inhaling deeply I smelled the crisp air around the house. I stepped off the porch ready to let the shift take hold. 

“Mind if I join you?” I growled startled and turned to the speaker. Proteus stood there watching me closely. He sighed and put his head down. “I’ve never had to work so hard at no stopping something  from happening. Convincing myself to let her be was almost impossible. I wouldn’t have stopped Evangeline from taking the bond. She could have forgotten me as her mate, fine, but the pain she went through. I would have stopped that. I unfortunately have seen the future that this path leads to and it’s a better one. Sometimes, pain can be a good part of a much bigger plan.” He looked more normal now, dressed in jeans and a blue polo shirt. Looking up at the sky he rested his hands on his hips. “Sometimes, I need the smell of the ocean to calm my very old soul. When I can’t have that, I come to be near Alora. I’ve known for awhile now she was meant to be mine. She won’t want me though, I’ve seen that to. So many different time lines where she renounces me as her mate.” Scuffing his shoes he looked at me again. “There have been times when my hatred of Evangeline gets the best of me. When I hurt her and I don’t mean to. She has Alora’s love. I find myself extremely dangerous and jealous over her.” I didn’t know what to say to him. I wanted to know so bad why he hurt my mate. I understood the training, but why to the extent he had? I had expected to hate this man, his answer left me feeling sorry for him. I couldn’t imagine Evangeline not wanting me or experiencing it more than once. 

“I wouldn’t mind company on my run and I think you should tell Evangeline what you told me. She deserves to understand what you’ve put her through.” He nodded his head and shifted along side me. He chose a lion like mine, I was massive by my own right but he was the size of a car. That didn’t matter to my beast and we ran