Jasmine stirred, waking to the soft creak of the window as the breeze swept in.
Her body ached, her ribs sore and her wrists tender. But the pain in her chest, an invisible bruise of fear and confusion, was worse.
As she slept, she had flashes of the horse and how it had neighed and how she had co crashing on the floor.
And she looked down at her legs and saw blood.
Her eyes were imdiately opened and then she was set free from the terrible dream.
Nanny Nia was seated by the hearth, quietly knitting sothing in her lap.
"How long have I been asleep?" Jasmine whispered.
Nanny Nia looked up. "Just a few hours, sweetheart. You needed the rest."
Jasmine’s hand went to her belly. "My baby?"
"Still strong," Nanny Nia said softly, setting her knitting aside and coming to her side. "Your heart might’ve skipped, but your little wolf didn’t miss a beat."
Jasmine closed her eyes in relief. "I thought I was..." She didn’t finish the sentence. She didn’t have to.
She didn’t want to
Nanny Nia sat beside her on the bed, brushing her curls gently from her forehead.
"You had a scare, that’s all. A rough fall. But you’re lucky, and the gods are still watching over you."
Jasmine opened her eyes again, searching Nanny Nia’s face. "What happened? I rember riding, and then... nothing."
"There was a slip," Nanny Nia said calmly. "The saddle might’ve been a bit loose. That happens sotis, especially when the weather shifts and leather stretches."
Jasmine frowned faintly. "But Kire was there. I rember him rushing to ..."
"He was the first to reach you," Nanny Nia said, offering a smile. "He stayed by your side the whole ti. This wolf would throw himself into fire for you."
The mont Kire heard his na and instinctively knew they were talking about him, he looked up at them and wagged his tail.
A small, shaky smile tugged at Jasmine’s lips. "He’s the only one who doesn’t scold for needing help."
Nanny Nia chuckled, then reached for the bowl of tea she’d set aside. "Here, sip this. It’ll help with the pain."
Jasmine obeyed, cradling the cup in her hands. "Where’s Erik? Loren? Ned?"
"He’s handling things," Nanny Nia replied carefully. "Everyone was shaken when you fainted. But Loren says with rest and ti, you’ll be just fine. Marie would be here soon too. I sent for her."
Jasmine took another sip of the warm tea, the liquid settling in her chest.
She glanced toward the window, where the clouds had returned to their slow dance. "Everything’s been strange lately," she murmured. "It’s like I’m waiting for sothing, and I don’t know what it is."
Nanny Nia didn’t answer imdiately.
She reached out, smoothing the blanket over Jasmine’s stomach. "Then let the waiting be gentle. For now, you heal. You rest."
Jasmine hesitated. "Do you think Xaden’s alright?"
Nanny Nia gave a warm, steady smile. "I believe he’s fighting to co ho to you with every breath. And when he does, he’ll see just how brave the mother of his soon to be child has been."
A silence settled between them, comfortable and safe.
Jasmine leaned back into the pillows, the ache in her limbs still present but dulled by Nanny Nia’s calm and finally slept
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Erik strode across the yard, the barn looming in the distance.
The evening air clung low to the ground, muffling the usual sounds of the pack’s territory.
He hadn’t slept. His thoughts were knotted, Jasmine’s fall still weighing heavy in his chest.
He needed answers, and Rudy, the ranch boy who’d brought the horse to Ned, was the only lead he had.
If Xaden was around.....
Gods! Where the FUCK was he?!
He didn’t want to admit the fact that he was also worried about Xaden.
He shook the thought away from him and continued his journey.
His boots crunched against the gravel path as he turned the corner, nearly colliding with soone.
"Fiona," he breathed.
She froze, her brunette braid swinging over her shoulder.
Her eyes widened at the sight of him, but then her face shuttered, lips pressed into a tight line as she tried to walk past.
"Wait," he said, stepping in front of her.
"I don’t have ti, Erik," she said flatly, gaze fixed beyond him.
"Fiona, please."
She paused, but didn’t look at him. "I heard about Jasmine. Is she alright?"
He nodded. "She will be. A few bruises, but the baby’s strong. She’s resting now."
Fiona’s shoulders relaxed, only a little, but her arms remained crossed tightly across her chest.
"Good," she said, voice barely above a whisper. "She doesn’t deserve what’s happening."
"No, she doesn’t." Erik studied her face, morizing the curve of her jaw.
He hadn’t seen her in days. Not really. Not since....
"Fiona, I never wanted Anna," he said quietly.
Her body tensed, but she didn’t move.
"She claid in front of everyone. I didn’t ask her to. I didn’t accept her."
"You didn’t deny her either," she snapped, finally eting his eyes. "You just stood there, Erik. You let her say it. You let them believe it."
"I was in shock. And I....i couldn’t humiliate her like that. Not in front of the pack."
Fiona gave a bitter laugh. "So you protected her pride. What about mine?"
"I love you," he said simply. "That hasn’t changed."
She blinked, eyes shining now, though she tried to turn away again. "Love isn’t always enough."
"It could be," he murmured. "If you’d let it."
But Fiona shook her head. "You made your choice."
Before he could answer, a low sound caught their attention—a groaning creak, like wood under strain. They both turned toward the barn. Erik’s heart clenched.
"Rudy," he said under his breath, already moving.
Fiona followed, close behind. As they neared the barn doors, Erik felt it, an unnatural stillness.
The scent of hay and horse sweat should have been familiar, grounding. But sothing was wrong. The air was too still. Too quiet.
He pushed open the door.
Rudy hung from the rafters, a coarse rope tight around his neck, his feet dangling inches above the floor.
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