Chapter 8

Chrissy was up at the crack of dawn, she was a woman on a mission and god help anyone man or Were that either got in her way or stopped her from her appointed task. She sent Kasey a message mind to mind telling her if she wasn’t in her suite in fifteen minutes she was coming to get her. This might be Kasey’s wedding day but Chrissy had organised it and would make sure it went to plan.

She’d already ordered breakfast so they could relax and spend time together away from the men. Kasey didn’t want a fuss, but Braedon wanted this day to be memorable and Chrissy was going to make it that way even if she had to kill someone to do it.

Kasey arrived and they had breakfast chatting about old times. They had always been close and now that closeness was cemented in their blood. They truly were sisters now and that sat well with both of them.

They showered and Chrissy helped Kasey with her makeup and hair then they relaxed and had some herbal tea, more too calm Chrissy that Kasey. At intervals throughout the morning Chrissy would go talk to one of the men on duty. She was bossy and getting on everyone’s nerves but they knew she was trying to make the day special for Kasey.

When it came time for Kasey to put her dress on Chrissy shed a couple of tears at just how beautiful she looked, “Aww Kase you are so beautiful! I only hope I look half as good when I…” she turned away not wanting Kasey to see how she felt. “I’ll get the flowers so I can take a few photographs of you, so stay put!”

Kasey looked at her reflection in the mirror and for a moment it was as if she saw out of focus. When her sight cleared she didn’t see her own reflection, she saw Chrissy’s and yes she was beautiful. Kasey wondered if she should say something to her friend, let her know that she would indeed be beautiful on her wedding day but she held back. Today was about her and Chrissy had worked hard to organise it. Besides she really didn’t need anything else to think about at the moment.

Kasey posed for several shots and Chrissy even managed to get a few without her realising it, shots that showed the depth of how Kasey felt about being married to her mate. Chrissy wished she felt the same way about Nicolas but she didn’t. What she felt was fear and confusion so she doubled her focus on her friend until there was a knock on the door.

Chrissy opened it and grinned at Jax all dolled up in his wedding suit. She showed Jax into the bedroom and left them to spend a few minutes alone. When they came out Chrissy saw Jax wipe away a tear and Kasey hugged him close telling him she was glad he was there for her.

All too soon they were in the car and heading for the church and as Jax walked Kasey down the aisle he looked like the proudest father there ever was. Kasey got about a third of the way along when she stopped to look over her shoulder.

Chrissy followed suit seeing a group of men standing at the back of the church smiles on all their faces. She recognised Ewan but one man in particular stood out and Chrissy guessed that it was Kasey’s father. She nodded at Ewan then turned and continued up the aisle behind Kasey and Jax.

The service went without a hitch as did the reception which was at the hotel. She was relieved that everything had gone to plan and was thankful that none of Kasey’s family showed up. She had to laugh when she saw so many police uniforms dotted throughout the church and the reception. In one way or another they were all family to both her and Kasey.

Father Joseph was wonderful and at one point at the reception he touched Chrissy on the arm and nodded towards the mix of people, “God loves us all Chrissy and now there is a bond between two very powerful peoples.”

Chrissy didn’t know what to say so nodded her agreement. She had a strange feeling that Father Joseph knew more than he was saying, but she chose to ignore that for the time being and watched with the satisfaction that she’d done what she’d set out to do.

Everyone was having a good time and Chrissy finally had a moment to stop and catch her breath. She quietly slipped into the room that was usually set aside for the Bride to change. She needed a few minutes to herself and hoped no one would disturb her.

Chrissy sat on the couch and tried desperately to push all thoughts of her and Nicolas away. Today was about Kasey not her. She leaned back and closed her eyes for a moment then heard the door open. She opened her eyes and was thankful to see Kasey and not… well not Nicolas. Kasey approached and sat next to her, her face aglow with happiness.

“Chrissy I want to thank you for doing all this for me. This has to be one of the best days of my life,” she hugged her friend and both sat grinning at each other. When Kasey stood up she took a good look at Chrissy, “You know if you ever want to talk I’m here?”

“I’m fine Kase this is your day and I want you do nothing but enjoy it!”

“Chrissy we’re leaving tomorrow afternoon, I’d like you go come with us. I know you don’t want…”

“No!” she came to her feet shaking her head, “If I do he won’t let me leave I know he won’t!” Chrissy was pacing and stopped to look at her friend, “I’m sorry Kase but I can’t. I know he’s supposed to be my mate but I can’t… I can’t be what he wants. I can’t live like that, I won’t! There’s so much violence in them so much anger…” she stood there shaking her head not even noticing when Kasey came up and pulled her into her arms.

“It’s gonna be alright Chrissy you wait and see. Nicolas…”

“No!” she pulled away and as she did she saw Nicolas in the doorway, “this is my home and I’m not leaving! I don’t care what you or Braedon or,” and she looked directly at Nicolas, “anyone says. I have a job and friends, for god’s sake Kasey I have a life here why the hell should I have to give everything up.”

She moved away from Kasey walking towards the window and she remained quiet for a full minute before she turned first to Nicolas then Kasey, “I told you once I don’t want anything to do with your world, if that means having to end our friendship then so be it. You might have adjusted to their world Kase and you may have become one of them… but I can’t.”

She blinked away tears, “I’d end up hating anyone I cared about and that would kill something deep inside of me. I can’t go with you; you’ll never let me leave will you Nicolas?”

Kasey suddenly realised Chrissy hadn’t been fully speaking to her and stepped aside so she wasn’t standing between them. No one spoke and finally Kasey moved towards the door where Nicolas let her leave before closing the door.

Chrissy turned back to the window trying to hide her tears and her nervousness. She heard Nicolas moving across the room and her hands began to shake. He didn’t touch her but she felt his presence. She felt the heat emanating from his body and she felt his strength, something that she both loved and feared.

She remained still not knowing what to say. When he placed his hands on her shoulders and turned her to him she wanted to pull away, to make him realise he had no power over her. But she didn’t, she didn’t want to be a coward. She had to face him, she needed to say goodbye.

She looked up at him expecting him to be angry but what she saw was sadness and pain. She gasped and tried to halt a sob before it escaped her but was unsuccessful. He pulled her into his arms and held her not knowing what else to do.

“Chrissy we need to talk. Please just hear me out because I don’t want you to get angry later and say I didn’t tell you.”

He waited and when she nodded he led her back to the couch she’d been sitting on earlier. They sat quietly for a moment, Nicolas holding her hands, “Please let me say what I need to. No interruptions then you can ask any questions you want?”

“Okay.”

He sighed, “You’re my mate Chrissy and you need to know what that means. No one bothered explaining before because… well as you have said we can be arrogant and everyone assumed you would want to be with me, just as Kasey wanted to be with Braedon.”

He took a moment as if trying to sort out how best to explain further, “There is a bond between mates Chrissy a bond that builds and grows the more time they are together, the more contact they have. That’s why we are now able to hear each other’s thoughts.”

He saw her bottom lip quiver and reached a hand up to cup her cheek; I know this is all a bit frightening my love but you need to know. The other night when we… that is to say,” he sighed not wanting to embarrass her but needing her to understand.

“Chrissy making love has greatly strengthened the bond between us. We can no longer be apart for any length of time. You may believe you can walk away or that I can leave you and not look back but as mates we can no longer live our lives without being close to each other.”

Chrissy sat on the couch dumbfounded! She literally couldn’t believe her ears, “You… you…” she sobbed, “You knew this would happen didn’t you, I mean before we… you knew?”

For the first time in his life Nicolas felt true shame. He lowered his face unable to look at her. He had known that being so intimate would strengthen the bond they shared, he wanted her to be his and now he may well have destroyed any chance of that ever happening.

“Chrissy you don’t need to leave Sydney. I know you don’t wish to be with me and in time I will hopefully be able to accept that but we will need to be in close proximity. I need to go home and organise things there then I will be returning to Sydney to stay. I will build a life here and watch over you at the same time,” he watched her hoping against hope that she would accept what he’d said.

Chrissy was shaking, God I can’t believe he’d do this to me, to us! How could he be so arrogant, so full of himself that he believed… grrrr what the hell am I thinking of course he could!”

Chrissy shook her head wanting to deny everything he’d said. She stood up taking a few steps away from him, “How could you do this to me Nicolas? Haven’t you taken enough from me already?”

Chrissy turned away from him and fled. She ran out of the room through the reception hall out into the foyer and to the elevator. She didn’t know if he was behind her and she didn’t care, she just wanted to get away from him.

When she got in the elevator she was so distressed she forgot to hit the button for her floor. It moved anyway and when the doors opened she found herself on the ground floor. She didn’t think she moved, walking as quickly as she could not knowing where she was going only that she needed to move and keep moving.

Chrissy had no idea what she was doing then she heard someone call her name. At first she ignored it but she heard it again louder this time. It was closer and suddenly she recognised who the voice belonged to. She turned and saw Warwick Drew standing several feet away from her and she backed away not even looking to check for traffic.

This was a busy street and she should have known better. She heard car horns blaring but kept backing away from him. He in turn moved forward, he had a smug look on his face and as he took another step forward Chrissy tried to turn and run. He reached for her grabbing her arm and she screamed.

She looked around suddenly realising they were in the middle of the street in the cross roads between the Sydney Town Hall, the Queen Victoria building and Woolworths. The situation felt so surreal, they were for all intense and purposes in a squared area surrounded by cars and angry drivers.

She pulled away from him and he swore before raising his arm and striking her across the face. He hit her so hard she fell to the ground hitting her head and shoulders. She felt dizzy disorientated and all she could think was, Nicolas is gonna kill him!

                                               ~~~~~~~~~~~~

Nicolas could feel Chrissy’s distress and at first he assumed it was because of what he’d said to her but Kasey had also felt Chrissy’s distress and linked her mind with her. Once she saw what was happening she opened the link to all the Were’s not just in the room but in the vicinity.

Braedon grabbed Jax and told him to gather as many police officers as were there and follow his men. “Chrissy is in danger Jax please just do as I say and I’ll explain later.” Jax thankfully did as Braedon asked and in moments half the room was heading down stairs and out the of building.

Nicolas was way ahead of them, anger no fury was surging through him that this man dared touch his mate. He struck her and he would pay for it! He ran moving as fast as he could and didn’t stop until he reached them both.

He saw Chrissy on the ground, a crowd of people standing all around and he saw red! No one had even attempted to assist her. He growled when Warwick moved closer to Chrissy and reach for her arm. The sound was eerily loud and Warwick stopped to see where the noise had come from.

When he saw Nicolas he froze! The colour drained from his face and for perhaps the first time in his life he knew real fear. Nicolas was so close to shifting, so close to losing it and ripping the man’s throat out and had Warwick made a move to get away from him he would have done so.

His eyes never left Warwick’s. He stood stock still, afraid if he moved he’d do the one thing that Chrissy truly feared. He would not kill this man, he wanted to with all his heart and soul he believed it was his right to do but he knew in Chrissy eyes it would not be justified.

Chrissy would see it as murder, as him losing control and letting his animal take over. To her it would be an act of violence, one that he’d never come back from in her eyes or her heart. So he remained where he was maintaining eye contact with Warwick and hoping Chrissy wasn’t hurt too badly.

Chrissy looked up waiting for Warwick to strike at her again but it never came. She followed his gaze and saw Nicolas, a look on his face that was so scary she wanted to crawl away and hide. She sat up and crawled away from Warwick before getting to her feet. She looked around and was shocked to see they were surrounded by both Were’s and police.

She took several deep breathes to calm herself then moved towards Nicolas. She touched his arm, “Nicolas, Jax and his men are here, they’ve got things under control. They won’t let him hurt me again.”

Chrissy waited for him to answer; to turn to her and when he didn’t it scared her more than she thought possible. She moved so she was standing in front of him, “Nicolas look at me, please Nicolas I need you,” she touched her hand to his face stroking it gently, “Nicky please, please I need you,” tears streamed down her face as she held her hand against his face, but he still didn’t move.

Chrissy could feel his anger, his rage and his fear of losing her. She moved closer to him leaning into him and wrapped her arms around him. He was so big, so strong and he was hurting so much because she’d run from him. She didn’t know what else to do, so she held on to him tighter talking softly telling him she was alright, that she needed him and that he’d stopped her from getting really hurt.

They stood this way for several minutes before Nicolas was able to move. He wrapped his arms around her and held her close. He ignored everything that was happening around them, closing his eyes and breathing in Chrissy’s scent. He kissed the top of her head then scooped her up carrying her back to the hotel and would have gone straight to her suite only Kasey intercepted them.

Chrissy held on to him tightly glad he was coming back to himself. He’d really frightened her and she knew instinctively that he had been close to shifting, close to killing. That he hadn’t surprised her and she decided for the moment to let him do what he needed to pull himself fully back to the here and now.

Kasey guided them to the reception area and back to the room off it where they’d spoken earlier. Nicolas placed Chrissy on the couch and checked her over making sure she wasn’t badly injured. He ran his hands over her face and her arms then down the rest of her body. Chrissy remained still as Nicolas did this knowing instinctively that he needed too. When he finished Nicolas sat on the couch and pulled her onto his lap. Chrissy looked up at Kasey as if asking for help but Jax and Braedon entered the room and Kasey stepped aside.

“Chrissy are you alright? We got the bastard sweetie and we got the entire thing on tape!”

Chrissy looked at Jax a confused look on her face, “The surveillance tapes of the area, we got them all and they are being processed as evidence as we speak.”

Jax moved forward to give Chrissy a hug and Nicolas growled low and deep in his throat. Chrissy could feel herself begin to panic but turned and smiled at him, “Jax is just like a father to me Nicolas and he needs to see that I’m alright just like you did.”

She waited and when he loosened his hold on her she got of his lap and found herself in Jax’s arms. She couldn’t stop the tears and as Jax held her speaking soothing words to her she clung to him as tightly as she could.

“I want to go home,” she pleaded, “Jax please, please take me home.”

“I’ll take her up to her suite,” Nicolas stated, then growled softly as he felt Chrissy stiffen at what he’d said, “You are probably in shock Chrissy and need to rest. Your suite is upstairs, a lot closer than your little apartment.”

“He’s right kiddo and I’ll need to take a statement as soon as you’re up too it,” he looked over at Nicolas, “I’ll take her up and get her settled, Kasey will come with me,” then he turned and led Chrissy out of the room.

Nicolas wanted to take Chrissy from Jax, she was his mate and no man had the right to hold her. Braedon came forward then and took hold of his brother’s arm, “I think that’s a wise decision Jax. Chrissy needs family around her right now. Eli and Nate will follow and make sure you are not disturbed.”

Nicolas glared at Braedon as he held onto his arm tighter. Nicolas was strong but as Alpha, Braedon was stronger both in the physical as well as in will. Nicolas had no choice but to remain where he was and watch as Jax and Kasey took his mate away from him.

When the door closed behind them Nicolas pulled away from his brother and would have yelled at him but, “You will not go after them Nicolas. You will leave Chrissy be for the night. She’s had a huge scare and the last thing she needs right now is you making her feel like she has no power over what happens to her.”

He paused, waiting for his brother to take in his words, “I know how you’re feeling Nick but right now Chrissy needs family and you aren’t that… not yet.”

The look on Braedon’s face made Nicolas wonder, “You went through the same thing with Kasey?”

“Not exactly the same but yes and believe me when I tell you, you don’t want to step in between Chrissy and those she loves as family. You just might lose her completely.”

Nicolas sighed and ran a hand through his hair, “She doesn’t want me Brae, she’s so afraid of my animal side and…”

Nicolas turned away from his brother not wanting him to see the doubt and hurt he knew was written across his face, “I was close to shifting and if she hadn’t have been there I would have killed him. She saw that in me… she felt it and it confirmed what she’s believes of us all.”

                                                        ~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jax and Kasey got Chrissy settled and she managed to give him a written statement and sign off on it. He said it would be enough for the time being but she might need to come to the station and make a more formal statement at a later time.

Jax left soon after and Kasey sat with her in case she wanted to talk but she didn’t. Chrissy closed herself off and not even a soft mental push could get her to open up to her. In the end she ushered her to her room and helped her get settled in bed, “No matter what’s happened Chrissy I’m still ‘me’, I’m still your friend and I’ll be here when you need me.”

“You should go be with your husband… your mate. This is your wedding day Kasey I don’t want to spoil it for you. I know you’re only trying to help but for now at least I want to be alone.”

Kasey nodded and gave her friend a hug before leaving the room. Things hadn’t played out as she had thought they would and now she felt great sadness because she may well have lost her best friend. Braedon had felt her sadness and met her at Chrissy’s door; he pulled her into his arms and led her back to their own suite.

Kasey looked up at Braedon not needing to speak, “He’s in his room kitten; he’s hurting almost as much as Chrissy is,” he sighed, “this may well undo him.”

Both Nate and Eli heard their Alpha’s words but remained silent. They both knew what could happen if Chrissy were to reject him, especially now. He might well become the thing Chrissy most feared. And they along with others that knew and respected him just might have to hunt him down and terminate him. The two Enforcers looked at each other for a moment acknowledging their thoughts, then went about the business of guarding Chrissy.