Chapter 37

Last Chapter

Enjoy! Don't forget to tell me what you think at the end.

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In the blink of an eye, the board disappeared. It took my mind a few seconds to realize I was now free falling and the bridge was already out of my reach.

In that split second before I hit the water below, I could only think of one thing. How I wish I hadn't run from Caden when I was ten.

Closing my eyes, I tried to find peace within myself. I was going to die and I had to deal with that. Drowning was not the way I wanted to go, but it was going to happen that way. Unless a miracle took place in the next few seconds there was no way I would survive the fall and the rapids below.

For a split second I felt as if I was flying high, above the clouds. The wind blowing through my hair and the fast speed sent my heart into a frenzy. I didn't want it to stop, but I knew all too soon it would. My body sored through the air in slow motion. The broken bridge continued to distance itself from my flaying limbs.

All too soon my body plunged deep into the numbing water.  Every ounce of air in my lungs forcefully vanished, making my eyes pop open. At the cold temperature seeped into my very bones, my body locked up, unable to moves as it began its descent through the water.

Thrusting my body upwards, my face breaks the water's surface. Taking in deep lung full of air, I search for a big enough boulder to latch onto.

If I couldn't find one before the heavy rapids begin, I would be a goner for sure. Rocks littered the bottom floor, breaking through the top of the water. Dead trees could be seen sticking out as well. How big they were underneath the water is anyone's guess.

Gasping, I feel a sharp stab in my left leg as it hits a shallow rock. With my ribs aching and numb hand, it would be hard to hold onto the upcoming boulder for a long period of time. Surely Caden felt my pain at impact. I have to pray he is on his way to fix my stupid mistake.

Taking a deep breath, I wince as my body slams into the gigantic piece of earth. Coughing up blood, I feel as if one of my ribs punctured my lung. Crying out, I force the tears to keep at bay. I didn't need my eyes blurry in a time like this.

Pulling myself up with my right hand, I try to keep a steady grip with my feet, but the slimy rock forces my bare feet to slip and slide. 

With half my body out of the water, I'm allowed to take in short gulps of air. My limbs taking a quick break as I knew I wouldn't be able to hold myself up for long.

"Annabelle?" I ask.

"I've tried contacting Marcus. Not even a bark to inform me he can hear us. It's troubling Claudia. Our bond through his mark hasn't dissipated in the slightest, but there is no connection in the slightest."

"What do you mean no connection?" Closing my eyes, I continue taking in shallow breaths until my heartbeat has returned to normal.

"Without a connection, we won't know if he is alive or dead. For all we know, rogues attacked him on his way to find us."

Letting a tear leak out, I pound my numb fist on the water crusted rock. "If he was murdered, we would have felt the loss Annabelle. No matter if the connection has vanished. He is our other half. Losing that, would break us."

"If we do not get out of this alive, it will kill him."

"Taylor and Theo were right you know."

"You mean it only took you a nice beating to shove the truth down your throat?"

"Really at a time like this you're going to joke around?"

"Well it's not as if we have another option, dearie. I give your right hand five more minutes before it loses its grip and we are submerged into the darkest once more. Now inform me on how our brothers were right for the first time in their lives."

Smiling at her choice of words, I reposition my right hand to get a better grip. "I'm immature and scared to move forward with Caden. He has proved being a worthy mate."

"Why all the running away then?"

"I acted with my mind instead of my heart. If I had listened to you and my family, I wouldn't be holding on to this slimy rock. Instead I could be wrapped up in Caden's warm embrace. Deep down, I knew I was acting recklessly for fearing our future relationship. But that didn't stop me from my actions and the following consequences."

"You're young Claudia. It's bound to happen. Knowledge comes from mistakes. How are you to learn anything if you are always right?"

"But Annabelle, I've made way too many mistakes since the age of ten. First of them running from Caden."

"Yes you were an idiot for doing that and I will make sure to remind you every day for the rest of your life if we make it out of here."

"Do you believe he will forgive me for all that I've done?"

"You mean, running from him at the age of ten and staying hidden for eight years. Being found in Nik's bed, butt naked? Or are you talking about disappearing in the castle for hours? Or maybe you're talking about sneaking to see Nik in his jail cell? No that couldn't be what you're talking about. Oh wait, I forgot to mention you running away when a female servant flirted with Caden in front of you? That's it isn't it? You bolted instead of standing up for yourself and staking claim on our man," she barked out with anger.

"Shut up!" I scream at her. "Yes dammit. If I have to beg for forgiveness once this whole ordeal is over I will."

"I want to know what he has done to you, since he has found us. How has he hurt you? You keep it all bottled up inside. Spew your heart out. Who knows, they could hear us. If this is your last chance to tell him how you feel. Take it. Leave no regrets behind Claudia."

Sighing, I rub my frozen cheek against the ridged stone. "He's done nothing Annabelle. Nothing to warrant my bad behavior. Well at least nothing other than locking me in our bedroom for fear of losing me."

"Can you blame him? The only reason he found you is because you turned eighteen and went into heat."

"What ever happened to that? I woke up and it was gone. Did Marcus tell you if he could sense it?"

"The subject never came up. Marcus was too ecstatic we had survived the rogue attack to think about anything other than holding us to make sure we were actually real."

"Annabelle, if we make it out of this, promise me you will help me keep my head on straight. Taylor was right, I need to give Caden the mate he so deserves."

"And how might you do that?"

"For starters, I won't run. If I do, it will be into his arms, where we belong. I'm tired of doubting our relationship. Of the fear that clogged my heart. It's time to turn a new leaf and start anew."

"Next time you go against me, I'm sicking Taylor and Theo on you. I might have to have Jason chain Caden to a wall with silver chains, but it will be worth it once you get sense knocked back into that silly head of yours."

"Always have to add in a funny don't you Annabelle?" Facing death and she still has the ability to make me chuckle.

"It's who I am sweetheart. I feel your hand slipping. We might have less than a few minutes before our body greets the dark frozen deps once more."

"I'm deeply sorry Annabelle for keeping you away from Marcus all these years. I know it's been hell on you."

"I forgive you," she whispers softly.

The rushing of the water slapping the boulder deafens my ears. A slight ringing continues on as if the ache in my body isn't enough.

"Do you hear that?" She yaps happily.

"All I hear is the noise from the water. Why what do you hear?" Probably her mind going insane. We've clearly lost it. The cold water affecting our minds. I knew she would be the one to go insane first.

"Turn your head towards the cliffs. I could have sworn I heard your name being called."

Doing as she says, I blink a few times to clear the water droplets out of my eyes. Squinting I come to see she is right as always. The rogues were directly across from me. "What are they doing?"

"It looks as if they are trying to rescue you. But why would they do that? Wouldn't letting the rapids kill us serve the same purpose?" She questions as I watch on with a frown as a rogue climbs down the rocky wall. A rope circling his waist, is clearly protecting him from being swept down with the flow of water.

"Princess hold on, I'm coming for you. You have to hold on. Without you the Kingdom would fall," the rogue hollers over the loud noise. As he gets closer, I realize he was none other than the leader.

"I do not understand why he wishes me to stay alive Annabelle. He wanted to rape, mate and murder me. Am I missing some gigantic detail?"

"I am at a loss as well."

Feeling my fingers slip, I throw my upper body towards the top of the boulder in hopes of achieving a better grip. Being unsuccessful, I glance one last time at the rogue. He had let the water guide him over to me. If I could hold on a few more minutes he would reach the boulder and I could be dragged to dry land.

"Princess, watch out!" His notice came too late as I feel a hard object slam into the back of my legs. Pulling me under as my fingers finally lose their battle.

Swimming to the top to quickly drag in air, I realize a large tree branch had been the nearly deadly culprit. Reaching out for it before, it's too late, I tosh my upper body over it. Keeping my shoulder and head above water.

The branch is stuck between two boulders, protecting me from flowing down the river.

Slanting my head sideways, my eyes open wide in surprise as I see the rogues running the distance of the cliff. The rope clearly clutched tightly in their hands as the rogue leader continues towards me.  

"Princess, you need to try and swim towards me. The rope will only allow me to swim this far." He sounded worried.

Letting go of the tree branch was a no go. I wouldn't last a second swimming with my broken ribs, numb hand and now busted legs. I'm pretty sure one is broken, but the cold of the water has quickly numbed the feeling.

"I can't feel my legs. I won't be able to swim to you," I holler back, scared. I didn't want to die. I'm not ready.

"Alright. If you can't swim to me, I'll come to you once the royal guards arrive with the extra rope. They are on their way. Hold on for Prince Caden's sake." His words surprise me. How does he know the royal guards are on their way if he is a rogue? He shouldn't be able to communicate with them.

"How do you know they are on their way?" I question with uncertainty. Nothing is adding up.

"I've been in contact with the King, Prince Caden and Commander Togen. The moment the bridge broke Commander Togen and his men left the castle and headed this way with climbing supplies."

"And Caden? Is he alive?" I feel hope blossom in my chest. If he is alive, then why hasn't he answered me back?

"Yes, he is alive and scared out of his bloody mind of losing you. I do not know why you are not able to communicate. Your parents along with the royal family and a few select members of the council have been trying to reach you, with little success."

"So he isn't searching for a new mate?" When my brothers spoke those words, I felt crushed. I hadn't believed them truly, but just the thought devastated me.

"Of course not my Princess. That man is deeply in love with you. If you could see and hear him now, you wouldn't doubt yourself so much."

"Thank you," I whisper. Resting my head, I close my eyes. By body felt drained. From the beating to the run and finally the fall and slamming into the boulder. I may be a werewolf, but my body isn't invincible.

Listening to the rushing of the water, I realize how peaceful it sounds. It would be soothing to the ears, if I wasn't in it.

Sighing I feel my legs swing out in front of my body, threatening to pull me under.

"Princess!" A new voice booms to my right. Without lifting my head, I recognized the voice.

Not having the strength to lift my head, I open my lazy eyes. "Hello, Commander Togen. How are you today?" I whisper. I knew he wouldn't hear me, but I felt the need to say it.

"Give me five more minutes and we will have you out of there and cocooned in blankets."

"Thank you." Closing my eyes, I press my lips tight as a wave crashes over my back, spraying my face with water.

"Caden asked me to tell you he is on his way. He wants you to know he loves you with all his heart, your faults and all. And once your safe and sound he is doing as you desire and kidnapping you for a getaway. Just the two of you. No distractions."

"He heard me?" Smiling, I close my eyes. No regrets as Annabelle once spoke of.

"Every word, Claudia," he shouts.  

Listening to his commands, takes my mind off my certain death. I only had to hold on until he arrived to play knight in shining wet fur.

"I'm here Claudia. Open your eyes." His voice seems closer than it was a mere moment ago. Doing as he asks, I come to realize he is literally four feet away from me. "You blacked out from the cold. I'm thankful your body stuck to the log." Reaching over he pulls me into his strong arms. "Your safe now Princess."

Laying my head on his shoulder, I take in shallow breaths as my aching lungs strain with the beating they've suffered.

"I'm going to wrap this harness around your waist. Hold onto my body alright?" Doing my best to grip his shirt, I feel as he wraps a band around my waist.

Shouting in the distance could be heard, but by now the cold had drained me of all my functions. All I wanted to do was sleep.

In one beat of my heart, I feel a tree branch connect with my foot, catching it in its sharp points. Before I have a chance to suck in a gulp of air, the branch pulls me under the log previously supporting my weight.

My eyes pop open as my body jerks to a standstill. The harness around my waist holding me feet under the water as the branch continues to yank me further down the river. I could slightly see the Commander feet in front of me. Holding his breath he tried to pull me towards him, but with the currant he was failing miserably.

Reaching for the harness around my waist I watch as he shakes his head viciously. I wouldn't allow the both of us to drown and that's exactly what would happen if I didn't let go.

Without a seconds thought I unlatch and feel my body jerk its way down the river. The branch forcing me to stay facing downwards. It gave me no give.

The sudden slamming into another boulder unlocks my foot, letting me shoot up to the surface to suck in a much needed lung full of air.

Raking my nails against the frozen stone I try to get a grip as my lungs burn from the lack of oxygen.

I couldn't breathe and my eyes were too heavy. They didn't want to stay open. My body started to go limp. I didn't have a fighting chance in the freezing temperature.

 My throat kept coughing up water, trying to get all it had swallowed on the sudden near drowning.

As my fingers restrict from the cold, my barely there death grip vanishes.

As if a prayer had been answered, my body stays afloat as the currant takes me further down the river.

Laying on my back the only thing that came to my mind was Caden as I stared up at the beautiful bright sky. During my whole ordeal the sun had risen to a magnificent orange and yellow.

All I wanted was to lay in Caden's arms one more time. To feel his lips against mine. To know what it would feel like to be completely mated with him. I won't have the chance to grow round with our children or sit on the castle's back porch and watch them run around. Tripping every now and then, but brushing it off as they continue to chase the other little tots around.  

I will never get to see my daughter walk down the aisle in her perfect wedding gown to her smiling mate or my son walk through the hospital door with his first born child and a crazy grin on his face. I will never know any of those feelings. My heart broke at that thought.

A searing pain shot through my back as I was rammed into another boulder. It shot my body out of the water. I had enough time to open my mouth and suck in a much needed breath of fresh air before my body was forced down under the surface.

Trying to calm my heart rate down I feel rock after rock assault my legs. Slicing here and there.  

            My body was rammed into a small rock or big boulder one after another. Never giving my body a reprieve to surface and retrieve the desperate air my lungs craved.

I was finally hitting the rocky part of the river. This was where I would surly die. If not from the rocks, then from the internal damage further down the river. A body could only take so much damage before it gave up, even if it was a werewolf.  No one could live from this ride in the end. 

The only good thing about the boulders is that it pushed me back up above the water. Gasping for air, I force my eyes open this time. I blink a couple of times, but they are to blood shot at first to see anything. The water feels like its freezing them shut.  

            Trying to keep my head above the water was now my pain purpose right now. I told Annabelle I wanted to live to kiss Caden once more and dammit I will. Even if I die at the end of this, at least I will know I went out fighting.

"That's my girl. Don't give up." I felt her stir in my head. She had stayed quite in hopes of helping me preserve my energy.

"It's the least I can do to help you out. Now get to kicking those legs of yours. They may be numb, but that doesn't mean they can't move. If you're willing to fight this, then so am I. You never know what might meet us at the end."

She sounded as if she believed herself. If she did, then maybe we had a fighting chance to win this river over.

"Think that way and we can accomplish anything."

"Even if no one else has?" I whisper. The fight slowly building.

"Have you forgotten already?" She snaps with attitude. Always the little drama queen.

"What?" I felt my heart flutter. What have I forgotten?

"We are a royal. The next in line to be Queen. We are stronger than normal wolves. If anyone has a fighting chance it's us." She said with pride. Could she be right? Could we possibly cheat death and beat the system?

Trying to move my hands around in the water to keep us afloat wasn't working as well as I thought it would.My right hand was numb, but I could at least push with it. I don't have to be able to use my fingers to swim. My left arm was now useless. I couldn't even move it from the amount of pain I was receiving. The blood flow from the small puncture wound had long since stopped.

            My voice felt raw from all the screaming and water rushing in side my mouth. It hurt to breathe with my broken ribs and punctured lung. I was a sinking time bomb. The thing was I wasn't ready to die yet. My ribs and lung would mend themselves if I could get out of this river. I would be fine within a day or two. My healing time depended on if I could sleep for those two days. If not it would take longer. Two days of reason would make me right as rain.

             My eyes finally cleared to the point I could see further away from me now that my head wasn't under water.

Out of the corner of my eyes, I realized the rogues, Commander Togen and his men hadn't given up yet. They were watching as another man climbed down the rocky cliff further down the river.

How did they get that far down? Had I blacked out once more?

Right then a wave hit me and took me under. Kicking my legs and both my arms as fast as I could, I climb to the top. Wave after wave hits me, but I push my body further up above them. Each little jump takes more and more energy out of my body. As is, I'm probably only running on ten percent right now.

Looking back to the cliff when I got my head above water I couldn't help but wondering how many wolves have entered this devil of a river and sunk to the bottom.

The last dip under the water pushed me completely out of the reach of the man clinging on by the harness. A good ten feet at least. I knew he was my last chance.

I wish they would stop following me and let me either die in peace as I knew even if he could reach out to me, I wouldn't be able to hold on to him. My fingers frozen stiff along with the rest of my body. Teeth shattering, surely a few have broken by now.

At that moment, my head smashed into a boulder jarring my neck. Coughing up blood, I had to turn my face to the side. I didn't want it all over my face and in my eyes. I had to keep my head facing the sky; it was the easiest way to keep water out of my mouth. 

What I saw when I moved my head, scared the living day lights out of me. Forty feet in front of me sharp rocks stuck out of the water and at the end of those rocks was one of the many waterfalls near the castle. This one was the tallest. It was over a hundred foot drop. A normal wolf might have a ten percent chance of surviving that size of a drop, but not an injured one...I would probably break my neck or at least every bone in my body that isn't already broken.

Looking around I try and find something to grab onto. Maybe a tree branch or a boulder, but nothing big enough was in sight. It wouldn't matter anyways. I would lose my strength and have to let go in the end. None of the boulders were high enough out of the water to support my full body. I would slip into the water or the water would constantly hit me and end up sweeping me down under.

The only way to get out of this river was to drop to the bottom of the water fall. There I would be able to swim over towards the shoreline.

            Shifting my body, I try and stay up right. The waves keep trying to pull me under, but for some reason, I'm able to keep my head above the water right now.

I no longer could feel my legs and arms. They were completely numb now from the ice cold water. The rest of my body following suit. It was only taking longer than I thought it would. Maybe became I'm a wolf it takes longer for me to die in the water.

            Taking in a deep breath of air, the water brings me to the sharp rocks before the waterfall. I can't move out of the way. My body leaps from one rock to another. I fell as if I was a football being tossed back and forth. I couldn't tell if any of the rocks cut into me, but did it really matter? Once I fell, that would be it for me if I couldn't get out of the river. If I did survive the fall, I would need to find something to wrap around my wounds. Not that I would be able to grip anything.

            Something stabbed at my lower half and I can only assume it was another rock. Blood was now soaking the water around me. Whatever the rock did to my lower half, it had to have been horrible. There was too much blood, which wasn't a good sign. I wish I could feel the pain only to know what was wrong with me. Not knowing was scaring me.

            Bringing my eyes up from the water, I spot the beautiful morning sky. The magnificent sunrise coming up over the hill takes my breath away. In that moment, I feel the water underneath me disappear and my body sinks like a rock. I don't take my eyes away from the sky. If this was it, I didn't want to look at anything else. Seeing something as beautiful as this sunrise was the best way to go. 

            I truly felt like I was flying this time. My body stood straight as a pencil. If I survived this fall I knew half the bones in my body would be broken.

            A smile breaks out on my face as a picture of Caden's face forms in my mind. Knowing he could hear me, I knew I had one last thing to do before I was taken from this world. I only had seconds before I hit the water.

            "I love you Caden, with all my heart and soul. You are my true mate. Please forgive me."

            The next second, I felt the worst pain in my entire life. Not even having my chest smashed in by the rogue felt this bad. I felt the bones in my feet crush as they hit the water. My legs gave way next, each bone splintering inside me. Slivers of bones slicing the inside of my skin. My rib cage crushed me instantly to the point I no longer could breathe.

            Right before my head was swallowed whole, music sounded in my head.

            "Claudia, I'm sorry. I love you with all my heart, my little kitten. Please don't leave me. I was under orders." The desperation and love in his voice warmed my soul. He still loved me after all I had done. How I had been misguided these past few months.

            I had no chance to respond back to him. I knew there was no way I could survive this. Every hope I had a being strong enough died within the water and blood. I felt my body float to the top and slowly flow down the river.

            This was the calm part, but it was the end for me. Every inch of my body ached in places I never knew existed. I felt as if I was shamed in between to trucks.

            In the end all that mattered was that Caden loved me. I could now die with a smile on my face.

            Closing my eyes for the final time I let myself drift down the river.

            My heart beat slowed to two beats, and then one and nothing felt better then to finally go to sleep.

THE END

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REMEMBER THERE IS A BOOK 2!!!! AND I BELIEVE IN HAPPY ENDINGS. ;)

So do you honestly hate me for this ending? 

I wanted to take the time thank every single one of you readers. I seriously doubt i would have continued on with this book for three years if it hadn't been for you guys. 

I hope this book was a plesaure for you to read as it was to write. 

If there are any mistakes in this chapter let me know plesae. 

Thank you guys again. I love you all.