Zelena.
"Gunner" I snapped angrily. This overprotective asshole I thought.
"You're naked" he growled at me over his shoulder. I had forgotten that I was still wearing just my wet bath towel. Oops.
"Oh yeh, hold on" I grabbed whatever clothes were on the top of the basket by the bathroom door and ducked into the bathroom to change. I took a pair of my denim shorts and one of Gunner's t-shirts, no underwear, stupid me. I walked back out into the room and wrapped my arms around Nat's shoulder from behind and pulled her down to my level.
"By the way, I missed you too sis" I whispered as I kissed her cheek. She grabbed my arms and pressed her cheek to mine. I walked to Smith who was still standing by the door behind Gunner. I did a little turn and waved my hands over my body to show him that I was now dressed. He rolled his eyes and stepped to the side. Smith had a huge smile on his face and quickly stepped forward to wrap his arms around my body. He picked me up off the ground and spun me around.
"Hey Luna, we fucking missed you around here" He cooed as I spun through the air. He placed me back on my feet and rested his hands on the top of my shoulders.
"Hiya Smith" I smiled brightly at him.
"I know that you're a bad ass Goddess and all that, but do you think you could not scare us all like that again?" he huffed with a smirk.
"I'll do my best" I said with a soft punch to his chest. I looked at Gunner and he was watching us closely, keeping his eyes fixed on Smith's hands. I remember what happed the first time I hugged Smith, Gunner nearly tore his head off. He has gotten a little better with the whole 'no touching' thing, but not exactly comfortable with it yet. I took a step back out of Smiths hands and stopped when I reached Gunner's chest. He wrapped his arms around my waist and pressed his nose into my hair. A soft growl vibrated through his chest as he pressed his lips to my neck.
"I told Dad not to tell anyone that we were back yet, how did you know we were here?" Gunner asked Nat lifting his head from my neck.
"Oh please" she huffed with a laugh,
"I sniffed her out the second I stepped through the front door. Did you really think that I wouldn't smell her?" Nat laughed again, slapping her brother on the back.
"Of course you did, you're more like a bloodhound than a werewolf" Gunner snickered. Smith roared with laughter, throwing his head back.
"You should see her face when I fart" he snorted. We all started laughing and a blushing Nat punched Smith's shoulder.
"Stop, I just have a better nose than you lot" she whined, crossing her arms and stomping her foot. Her bottom lip dropped into a pout and her eyebrows pulled together, making her look much younger than she is. This just made Gunner and Smith laugh more.
"Ugh, whatever you heathens. Come on girlfriend, let's get some food" she said pulling me from Gunners arms and dragging me down to the kitchen. The sound of Gunner and Smith joking and laughing followed behind us.
I was sitting at the counter with Gunner next to me while Nat and Smith were pulling containers of food out of the fridge, rattling off what they contained as they went. I sat watching them with my head rested on Gunner's shoulder and my arms wrapped around his bicep. They really go well together. Nat and Smith. They are complete opposites and yet perfectly balanced. Smith, sarcastic and cocky, always ready with a joke or a witty comment. Nat, fierce and somewhat neurotic at times, always open with her emotions and generous with her kindness. Smith's hand always found a way to touch Nat as they moved about the kitchen, either on her arm or her waist or backside. And Nat, she was head over heels, you could see it every time she looked at him. It made my heart swell, seeing these two important people in my life, finding such love and happiness together.
I was pulled from my wonderment by the kitchen door flying open. Filling the doorway was the monumentally enormous body of my guardian, Tobias. His soft chocolate skin glistened with sweat, and his dark eyes were fixed on me. He stepped through the door and in a blink, he was spinning me around off the stool to stand facing him and had dropped to his knees in front of me. His movements were too fast for Gunner to recognize as he stumbled off his stool and looked down at Tobias with a growl. Tobias had both my hands in his and his forehead pressed against the back of my fingers. The heat from his body was swirling all around the room, but his scent was a mess, relief, sadness, guilt, fear, joy. All of these emotions hit my nose in one quick sweep.
"My Goddess, I beg your forgiveness" Tobias's silky voice was deep and urgent.
"I failed you, I failed the Moon Goddess. I could not protect you and you nearly died because of my incompetence".
What in the world was he talking about? How did he fail me and what was with the begging? It really doesn't suit a man of his stature and power.
"I beg you, my Goddess, I am so sorry. Please forgive me" Tobias pleaded. I quickly glanced at Gunner who was almost smirking at Tobias. I dropped to my knees and grabbed his face, lifting his chin to look at me.
"Tobias, you have nothing to apologize for" I told him firmly. His eyes were wide and full of worry as they stared into my own. He sucked in a sharp breath and pulled his head from my hands with a hiss.
"I am meant to be your guardian, I was meant to keep you safe, but I failed. You were shot and it's my fault" he refuted, exaggerating the words 'I'. He turned his eyes away and lowered his head to a bow.
"I will take whatever punishment you see fit" he said sternly. He really thought I was going to punish him, for getting shot, by someone else. What the fuck.
"Tobias, I more than anyone know when being punished is undeserved. In this instance, it was not your fault. It could have happened to anyone. I don't blame you and you already have my forgiveness, even though there is nothing to forgive" I said as I grabbed his hands again. I pulled him up as I stood. He slowly got to his feet and once again towered over me. My short stature lined me up to his mid to lower chest, I truly look like a small child standing next to him.
"Please don't punish yourself, you fought hard and I'm okay" I said encouragingly.
"But I…" he started,
"No buts." I interrupted,
"Really, I'm okay, I feel better than okay. It was no one's fault but the hunters, and we took care of them" I smiled triumphantly. He was quiet for a minute, his gaze sweeping over my face and body, searching for signs of insincerity. When I suppose he was finally satisfied with my reasoning he smiled brightly.
"Yeh, you did little one, you kicked major butt" he chuckled. The anguish I felt from him melted away and the tension in the room lifted. I laughed along with him and squeezed his giant hands.
"Can I have my Mate back now?" Gunner interjected, pulling my hand gently from Tobias's.
"You sure can" Tobias smiled at him and taking a small step back. Gunner wrapped his arms around my waist protectively and again pressed his nose into my hair. Okay, so clearly, he hasn't let go of the possessiveness completely. Especially not with Tobias. But they did seem a little different with each other, softer, almost friendly. I wonder what went on with them while I was in my coma. I'll ask him about it later.
"Great, now that all that is sorted, can we eat?" Nat called, breaking my train of thought.
"Definitely, I'm starved" Tobias chimed as he squatted on one of the stools at the counter.
Gunner pressed his lips to my ear and a few more times down my cheek before he let me go to sit down. We didn't bother with plates just picked at the open containers. We sat and ate and talked like it was the most natural thing in the world. Tobias had a mouth full of something and a chicken drumstick in one hand and sausage roll in the other. Smith and Nat were eating and smiling at each other. My friends all together, my family. Just missing one. I furrowed my eyebrows and looked at Gunner.
"Where's Cole?" I asked. There was no answer, just quiet. I looked at Smith who lowered his head, fiddling with the food in his hand to avoid me. Nat also looked down and away from me. The air suddenly felt toxic, thick and heavy with sadness. Oh no.
"Where's Cole?" I asked again with a little more urgency. Still no replay. I looked at Gunner, pleading with him with my eyes to tell me that it wasn't what I was thinking. I don't remember seeing him at the end of the battle and no one has said anything about him since I woke up. Surely Gunner would have told me if something happened to Cole. It's Cole for fucks sake.
"Gunner, what happened to Cole?" I snapped. He turned his face to look at me and huffed.
"He doesn't want to see you" he finally answered. I breathed a sigh of relief, he's okay. Thank the Goddess. But why wouldn't he want to see me, what have I done?
"Wha-why?" I questioned.
"Zee, it doesn't matter, he'll come around" Gunner stammered.
"Why Gunner?" I demanded. He paused for a minute, clearly struggling with his thoughts.
"He um, after the battle we thought everything was okay" he started explaining,
"Cole's dad"
"Spartan" I interrupted,
"Yeh, Spartan was with my father after he was injured, he took care of him until he got him to the hospital. It was Spartan that found Doctor Tenner."
"Uh huh" I mumbled,
"We didn't know that he was hurt, he didn't say anything, to anyone".
"What are you saying Gunner?"
"Spartan was shot in the stomach, he didn't tell anyone because he wanted them to take care of my dad first".
"Is he okay now?" I asked, shooting my gaze from Gunner to Smith to Nat and back to Gunner.
"No Zelena, he isn't okay, the bullet was laced, and it caused a lot of damage to his organs".
I felt my throat dry, and my chest tighten, my stomach heaved, like I was ready to throw up. Oh Goddess no. I gripped the edge of the counter readying myself for what I was about to hear.
"Spartan didn't make it".