Given the circumstances Elizabeth was allowed to leave for her holiday break early. Her professors all gave her work to do while she was gone and promised she could make everything up when she got back. Her boss was equally as understanding and told her that she could still have a job when she returned.
Logan and Anne were taken aback by the quiet and timid girl that came home and seemed afraid of her own shadow. Jason never left her side from the moment he found her in the shower and all through her trip home he stayed with her.
Elizabeth experienced very bad nightmares for the first few days she was home and the only way she could sleep was if Jason was with her. When Logan learned what happened he was beyond furious. Jason told him everything Ric said, leaving out the part about the blonde. He already knew who was responsible, and didn’t need the clan involved; he would handle everything personally.
Time at home seemed to do Elizabeth a world of good, but the thing that helped the most was the call she received from Detective Capelli telling her the man who attacked her had been beaten to death in an alley not to far from where she had been attacked. He told her it appeared to be a robbery and that they found her DNA on his body.
Elizabeth seemed to return to her old self after that, spending time with Emily, and Nicolas, eating more and the color came back into her cheeks. She smiled again, and she and Jason seemed more solid than they had ever been. The day before she was to leave she asked to speak with Jason alone.
They went out by the lake, snow had fallen the night before blanketing the area in white, and making the air smell fresh. They walked hand in hand not saying anything until Elizabeth turned to Jason with a deep of sadness in her eyes.
Elizabeth "Do you still love me Jason?"
Jason "Of course I love you Mia, how could you ever think I don’t?"
Elizabeth "You don’t think I am dirty?"
Seeing tears threaten to spill from her eyes Jason pulled her into a tight embrace holding her as she began to cry.
Jason "No. Elizabeth you are not dirty what happened to you was. I love you so much Mia nothing will ever happen to change that"
Elizabeth "I love you too Jason"
Elizabeth burrowed into Jason, snuggling into his chest.
Jason "You know if you aren't ready to go back you don’t have to"
Elizabeth "I know Jason, but if I stay here I might never go back, besides I know he can't hurt me anymore"
Jason "No he cant, but will you promise me something?"
Elizabeth "Anything"
Jason "That if you get scared, and need me you will call. I can be in Chicago in a couple hours"
Elizabeth "You are always there for me when I need you, I promise if I get scared I will call"
Jason "I am going to miss you"
Elizabeth "I know I am gonna miss you too"
Jason "What would you think about me moving to Chicago?"
Elizabeth "I would love to have you close Jason, but your father needs you here, you can't just leave him"
Jason "I know it was just a thought"
Elizabeth "I suppose we should get back, I know Nana, and Papa are throwing a little party for me"
Jason "And how do you know that?"
Elizabeth "You talk in your sleep"
Jason "I do not"
Elizabeth "Uh…yes you do"
Jason "So what else have I said in my sleep?"
Elizabeth "Mostly it is about me"
Jason "Really?"
Elizabeth "Yeah you say that you love me, and that you will always protect me. There was the one night you were talking about blonde hair but I didn’t really understand it"
Jason "Blonde hair? Hmmm I don’t know what that means"
Elizabeth "Maybe you were secretly dreaming about Courtney"
Jason "Not a chance, there is only one woman I dream about and she is in my arms right now"
Elizabeth "That’s nice to know"
Elizabeth shivered in Jason's arms and he decided it was time to head back. They arrived at the house to find Emily, Nicolas, Sonny, AJ, Courtney, Logan, and Anne were all waiting for them. When Jason saw Courtney he immediately tensed up, and Elizabeth could sense something was wrong. Turning to him she looked at him questioningly only to see fire blazing back in his eyes.
Elizabeth "Jason?"
Hearing her voice Jason shook himself out of the murderous thoughts that ran through his mind at the sight of Courtney. Smiling down at Elizabeth he nodded his head, and walked her further into the room. Emily pulled her into a big hug, and whispered in her ear.
Emily "We couldn’t stop her from coming, Nicolas has already tried to get her to leave"
Elizabeth "It's ok"
Pulling away from Emily Elizabeth walked over to where Courtney was standing with AJ.
Elizabeth "Courtney, AJ how are you?"
AJ "Good Elizabeth, you?"
Elizabeth "I'm…"
Courtney "So I hear you were dumb enough to get yourself attacked?"
AJ "Courtney…."
Elizabeth "No AJ its ok, yes Courtney I was attacked, but if we are talking dumb I think we both know who would win the prize for that don’t we?"
Courtney "You little…"
Courtney raised her hand to strike Elizabeth when Jason clasped her around the wrist, pulling her close.
Jason "Don’t you EVER raise your hand to her"
Elizabeth felt the total fury coming from Jason, and knew that if she didn’t do something someone would end up getting hurt. Placing her hand on his face, she tilted his head so he was looking at her.
Elizabeth "Jason"
Looking at her Jason softened immediately and let Courtney go, just as Logan came over.
Logan "Courtney I think it would be best if you left. You are no longer welcome in this home."
Courtney "Logan that isn't fair I have…"
Logan "SILENCE, you just tried to strike my granddaughter which means you will not be welcome here now GET OUT."
Courtney left glaring at both Jason and Elizabeth on her way. As soon as she was out the door Jason excused himself from Elizabeth and took off after her. He caught up to her along the winding path leading away from the house, and called to her to stop.
Jason "Courtney"
Stopping in her tracks Courtney turned to look at Jason and was completely thrown off guard when he grabbed her around the neck and pinned her to a nearby tree.
Jason "What did you think you would accomplish by having her attacked?"
Courtney "I don’t know what you are talking about"
Jason "Oh I think you do, Ric told me everything before he died"
Courtney "I hired him so what? That little bitch has been in the way ever since she was born"
Jason was growling now and tightened his hold on her neck making it hard for her to breathe.
Jason "Elizabeth is MINE Courtney she has been ever since she was born and YOU tried to take her away from me"
Courtney "Your bond should have been broken the second her cherry was. YOU were supposed to me MINE"
Jason "NEVER"
Courtney "If Elizabeth hadn't been born you and I would have been promised to you"
Jason "Thankfully Elizabeth was born and I wont ever have to live in hell with you"
Courtney "Come on Jason you know we would have been good together"
Jason "No. I know that you need to pay for what you did"
Courtney "That’s what you think"
Twisting out of his grip she began running through the forest trying to escape. Jason couldn’t believe his eyes as she turned into a white wolf quickly he changed himself and caught up with her in a matter of only a few minutes. Catching her with his strong teeth around her neck he wrestled her to the ground, and when she was almost unconscious changed back into human form.
Jason was holding her down, his knee in her chest as he changed back and looked into her eyes.
Jason "What the hell are you? Women cant change"
Courtney " I am not a woman, but I am the rightful leader of the clan. You were never supposed to live long enough to lead"
Jason "And how were you planning on getting rid of me?"
Courtney "When I was born my parents hid my secret knowing we would be promised to one another, but then Luke went and had a daughter and she got you instead. I was supposed to kill you on our wedding night and take over"
In a sudden burst of strength Courtney pushed Jason away and began running once again, unable to change in "his" injured state he was no match for Jason who changed and caught up with Courtney quickly. Pouncing on him from behind.
Jason sunk his fangs into Courtney's throat tearing into his jugular and killing him instantly. Once Jason removed his teeth from Courtney's neck he raised his head to the sky and let out a loud howl which was heard instantly.
[b] Meanwhile at the house [/b]
Elizabeth could hear her wolf howling in the distance and immediately became concerned it was a howl she had never heard before.
Logan, and Sonny excused themselves from the party immediately changed and ran to Jason. When they arrived they saw him standing over a fallen Courtney with blood all over his face. Changing back into his human form Jason faced his father, and Logan.
Sonny "Jason what have you done"
Jason "That thing is responsible for the attack on Elizabeth"
Logan "Thing? Jason that is Courtney"
Jason "Yeah Courtney may have been his name"
Sonny "His?"
Jason "Yes he said when he was born there was a plan put in motion for him to marry me and then kill me. When Elizabeth was born and she was promised to be mine that all changed, so Courtney had to do something to break our bond. That is why he had Elizabeth raped"
Sonny needed to know what Jason was saying was true, walking over to the dead body on the ground. He unzipped the pants and reached inside, when he found the proof he was looking for. He fought the need to vomit as he turned to look at Logan.
Logan "Well?"
Sonny "He's telling the truth"
Logan "Jason you know this will need to be dealt with, but not until Elizabeth leaves. She has been through enough and the last thing she needs is to know that she was attacked deliberately for the simple fact that she was born."
Jason "I agree"
Sonny "I'll notify the clan we have lost one of our own, go back to Elizabeth, Jason once she leaves in the morning you will have to answer to the council"
Jason "I know father"
Jason left Logan, and Sonny to deal with Courtney's body. Knowing he couldn’t return covered in blood he went home to shower and change. When he got to Anne and Logan's he learned that everyone had gone, and Elizabeth was up in her room.
Climbing the stairs he entered the room he and Elizabeth had shared since she returned and found her fast asleep looking like a beautiful angel peeling off his shirt, and shoes he pulled Elizabeth close knowing that tomorrow not only would he have to watch her leave, he would also be facing the fight of his life.
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