Love in the Shadows

chapter 3: dancing with wolves

Persephone pov.

I followed Ella down far to many windy hallways for me to count. She paused outside a set of double doors before opening them she brushed the small wrinkles away that had appeared while walk, then nodded swiftly. The room was filled with laughter as we entered my eyes flashed around looking for Lucian. Before I could find him he stood clearing the space between us with four long strides.

With a hand around my waist he guided me to a seat beside him at the head of the table. Taking as deep of a breath as the dress I was wearing allowed I mustered up my best polite smile I could.

"It's a pleasure to meet all of you!"

Under the table Lucian squeezed my hand softly.

"Relax my dear, we are family now." An older woman said with a bright smile. "You can call me MA!"

I smiled slightly relaxing at her cheery attitude and friendly face.

"Ma, let her breath for a minute." Lucian said in a teasing tone.

"I guess we should get this over with." he whispered in my ear.

"That over there is Jasper the Beta,"

Jasper was slimmer then Lucian but still built, his hair was pulled back showing off his shaved sides. His eyes were darker then Lucian's like deep dark chocolate with gold flecks scattered through.

"Pleasure." He said bowing his head his voice was raspy and slightly more harsh.

"That is Briar."

From over the top of her book she glanced her bright emerald eyes and strawberry blonde hair complemented her milky freckled complexion.

"I'm sure we are going to be great friends!" She sat her look down revealing a breath taking smile.

I felt very out of place. They all were so perfect and here I was so fair on the other side of the spectrum. Suddenly feeling far to revealed in the dress I was squeezed into I tried to discreetly cover myself more.

"You look beautiful by the way, mi amor." he said softly as if he could read my thoughts.

"I can scarily breath!"

"After breakfast I will release you from your tortuous confinements."

He smiled as my face turned red, I looked down letting my hair fall around my face to hide. He chuckled causing his family to look over slightly surprised.

"Briar, do you happen to have something more comfortable for Persephone to wear?"

Her eyes lit up with joy, "Do I ever!" She jumped from the table and ran from the room. Even though Briar was clearly the same age as me she was much more child like. I couldn't help but notice

Jasper kept staring at me, his eyes trailing down to my far to exposed chest and back up. I tried to act as though I didn't notice. He rose from the table bowing slightly.

"I have business to deal with, but it was a pleasure to meet you Persephone." he said with one last glance at my body.

I could feel the heat in my face deceive me making a smile tug at the corn of his lips. I squeezed Lucian's hand hard he leaned forward.

"Whats wrong my Crimson Rose?" His eyes went from calm to protective in a single breath.

Before I could answer he pulled me to my feet and outside.

"I can't protect you if you don't tell me what's wrong." he said rubbing my cheek.

"I'm probably overthinking!"

"Persephone!" He said raising his voice slightly.

"Your brother was...was looking at my..." I glanced down at my chest then back at him.

His eyes where dark, stem rose from his body, he fell to the ground his back bent making a sicken snap. I kneeled down infront of him placing a hand on his shoulder, before I could react his hand flew through the air. I could feel the heat as blood ran down my arm dripping from the tip of my fingers.

I hissed falling to the ground, another s***h cut through the front of my dress revealing the corset underneath.

"Lucian!" I screamed.

From the dinning hall Briar ran out throwing him me. Pulling me to my feet we ran back inside slamming the door.

"MA! MA! Help!"

She sat me at the table wrapping a cloth around my upper arm trying to slow the bleeding. The doors flew open as Jasper ran into the room.

"What happen?!"

"Lucian! He hurt her mid transformation! Something is really wrong! Where is Ma!"

"She was called away by the elders. We need to stop this bleeding before Lucian's Luna DIES!" Jasper picked me up cradling me like an infant.

"This...is...my fault." I breathed, it was becoming increasingly difficult to keep my eyes open.

"What do you mean?" He asked as he busted through the front door where the carriage waited.

"You have to stay awake!" he said siting me in the carriage climbing in next to me.

"I...I...Told him how you was looking at me..."

"f**k!" He said banging on the roof of the carriage. "FASTER!"

I could hear the horses yell loudly as the driver yelled, for them to go!

Jasper's POV.

The path was rough, I clung to Persephone's unconscious body keeping pressure on her wounds. Her blood stained my hands dripping on to my clothes.

This was my fault not hers, if o had not let my cravings get the better of me she wouldn't be bleeding out in my arms.

"Can this carriage not go any faster!" I howled.

Persephone whimpered softly, her head falling around on my shoulder. The whole front of her dress was tore open, her chest spilled over the top of her corset rising and falling very slow.

I swallowed hard turning my head away from her.

I could be banished from the Pack if Lucian knew what thoughts I was having about HIS Luna. I shook my head as the carriage came to a holt.

I carried her into the physician,

"We need help!"

Nurses ran over ushering us into a room I laid her on the bed before they shoved me out of the room. As I waited Lucian burst in, his eyes full of fire.

"I'll deal with you later! Where is my Luna!" Lucian said pining me against the wall.

"She's in there, the Phycians are helping her!"

He threw me to the ground.

"Look Lucian I'm-"

"I said I'd deal with you later!" he held up his hand. "If she dies, you're out of the Pack."

He entered the room only to be pushed out by one of the nurses.

"Sir we are doing everything we can to help her! But you must let us work!"

"How bad is she?" he asked threw his teeth.

"Her wounds were deeper then we first thought, some areas hit major blood vessels we are doing what we can to help." She said before turning to go back in.

Lucians pov

I could feel myself shaking the anger threatened to take over again. Every part of me wanted to rip Jasper apart, but right now all I wanted was to see Persephone. My insides were on fire!

"Why Jasper why her!"

"You know we can't control it!" He said.

"Control it! I ALMOST KILLED HER, SHE COULD STILL DIE!" I spat in his face. "And you want to tell me you couldn't control yourself, that's bullshit! What happen to me is was uncontrollably! YOU! YOURE JUST A HORNY BASTERED!"

He didn't say a word for a long while.

"Look I'm not going to act on it she is your Mate, I understand that and you're my Alfa. You have every right to banish me but I'm asking as your brother for mercy."

His word made me sick, "As my brother! As my brother this whole situation is worse!" I yelled!

The doors opened behind me and the physician walked out of Persephone's room.