Smoke and Wishes (Best Wishes #1)(74)

Squeezing my eyes shut, I turned my head and curled into myself as much as I was able, unwilling to watch whatever was going to happen next. Instead of feeling the sinking of his teeth into my neck, a strangled yelp sounded. I felt the rip of his claws out of my chest, the weight of him lifting. My eyes opened to a large creature pinning Justin under cat-like paws. As my eyes focused further, I realized it was a griffin. It’s impressive beak was clamped onto the neck of the wolf, lion paws pinning him to the grass. Mottled brown and black wings were stretched out wide, like an avenging angel.

“Dante?” I rasped out, my voice hoarse from the screaming I had done. The pounding of footsteps sounded from somewhere down the sidewalk. I scrambled back, still feeling the effects of the attack until I realized it was my guys followed by Alex, Assistant Dean Mastersen, and several security guards that included Troy and Bill. Landon and Logan made it to me first, dropping to the ground beside me.

“Oh fuck, Lucie,” Landon’s voice was anguished as he looked at me, I could feel the blood from the punctures on my chest running down my stomach pooling in my lap. Thank god for a red dress, knowing full well they would probably kill Justin if they could fully see the damage he caused. If Dante hadn’t already. I saw them all hesitant to reach out, no doubt worrying if they’d hurt me.

“Hey, guys,” I croaked. “Can we go somewhere warm, please? I’m freezing.” Now that the adrenaline was fading from my system I was shaking, teeth chattering painfully. Cam and Nik helped me up from the ground. The security guards had sedated Justin who was now limp in the grass in his human form. Dante had shifted back. Apparently, clothes aren’t salvaged during a shift, so he and Justin were both naked. Even in my dazed state I couldn’t help but stare at his warm, caramel skin. Muscled arms, defined abs, and broad chest caught my attention, making me drool. He tied a towel that Alex had handed him around his waist before my perusal could travel further south. Not the time.

“Let’s go to the infirmary, Lucie. Take him to the holding cells,” Alex’s voice was sharp with anger. “Are you alright to walk?” He asked me once I was steady on my feet. Hudson came over from next to Alex, he was the only one who hadn’t surrounded me when the rest of the guys had. He took off his jacket and wrapped it around my shoulders. I nodded at Alex, looking towards Hudson, his dark circles didn’t look as stark as they had in the recent weeks and he didn’t hold any anger in his face. All I saw was despair. Maybe the guys had gotten through to him.

“Thank you, Hudson,” I whispered at him, pulling the jacket closed around me inhaling the earthy scent of it.

“Of course, Lucie,” his baritone voice was warm for the first time in weeks. I smiled at him as much as my swollen cheek would allow. He sighed in relief, the look of despair melted into hope. “Let’s get you warm, princess,” my heart soared at my nickname on his lips.

October 27th

Early Saturday Morning

Lucienne





I was laying on a hospital bed feeling exhausted at the day’s events. The clock on the wall showed it was two in the morning. It had taken over two hours to relay what had happened to Alex, the assistant dean, and the head of security as well as get my injuries tended to and documented for the case against Justin. My guys had refused to leave my side until the doctor on duty, Dr. Ingress, had forced them to so she could clean and patch up my chest.

The puncture wounds only had slight tearing when Justin had been ripped off my chest, but no major organs had been punctured. My chest was covered in gauze and tape, making me stiff and uncomfortable. Sadie had grabbed one of my favorite sweaters, one that showed a mug and the phrase “life begins after coffee,” which helped comfort me after the shock had finally worn off.

Everywhere hurt. My abs hurt anytime I moved from the punch, my right cheek was bruised from my eye to my mouth, and my right eye was swollen slightly, but no broken blood vessels in my eye thankfully. I felt like I had been run over by a truck. Alex and Assistant Dean Mastersen had left the room with the guys to give me some privacy with Sadie to get dressed a few minutes ago. I sent Sadie off to go get some sleep because she needed to head to a local art show with her parents that were flying in a few hours from now. It took a bit of convincing, but she finally listened, stating the only reason she would leave is that I needed to talk with my guys without her around. The door opened as I was looking out the window watching the rain trickle down.

“Lucie?” Nurse Beth poked her head around the door, she was young with kind eyes and blond hair that was pulled back into a low bun. “Is it alright if I let the guys back in? They’re getting restless,” I chuckled. Sounds about right. I nodded at her. She opened the door the rest of the way and stepped back right before they came barreling through the door. They filed around the bed sitting in the various chairs they had dragged in earlier.

“How are you feeling?” Dante’s melodic voice was quiet in the small room.

“Sore, tired,” I smiled at him. “I’m alright though, that’s what matters.” Despite that, they all looked angry and upset. “Thank you, Dante, for stopping him, and thank you, guys for being there for me.” I looked from one of my guys to the next, ending on Hudson. “I’ve missed you.” My voice was thick with emotion as my eyes filled, it had been a rough three weeks without all of them. Claire’s threat echoed through my mind, but I couldn’t let that stop me from living. If he found me, I had them and Alex, I had powers, and he didn’t. He will never control me again.