Elizabeth woke early in the morning and after she finished packing, decided to take a long walk. Breathing in the crisp winter air she made her way to the lake and sat on the small bench near the water, trying to soak up the calm and quiet before she returned to Chicago.
She saw movement out of the corner of her eye, and when she looked up saw three wolves running through the woods. She had never seen a wolf in this area apart from her black one, and soon more wolves followed. Elizabeth felt surrounded by the animals and although most people would feel afraid Elizabeth wasn’t. She felt more at peace surrounded by wolves than she had in a long time.
She heard a howling in the distance and when she looked toward the hill she saw a large black wolf that looked almost like hers but his eyes were a darker shade and there were gray patches of fur covering his ears and muzzle. He then raised his head to the sky and let out a howl that would wake the dead.
Soon all the wolves surrounding her were howling creating a beautiful song. She closed her eyes and let it wash over her completely calm. The noise stopped and when Elizabeth opened her eyes the wolves that had been there just moments before had all disappeared.
Elizabeth made her way back to the house to find a very shaken Jason waiting for her. On first sight Jason grabbed her and pulled her into a tight embrace.
Jason "I was worried you had already left"
Elizabeth could feel Jason trembling and when she tried to pull away to look in his eyes he just held her tighter burying his face in her neck.
Elizabeth "Jason?"
Jason "I love you Elizabeth, I want you to always remember that no matter what. I love you with everything I am"
Elizabeth "I love you too Jason…you are starting to scare me, what is wrong?"
Not answering Jason pulled Elizabeth closer, and held her so tight she was afraid she might stop breathing. After a few minutes Jason let her go and stepped back looking at her with tears streaming down his face.
Jason "I am going to miss you so much"
Elizabeth brought both of her hands to Jason's face wiping away his tears.
Elizabeth "Something is wrong Jason, something big what is it?"
Jason "Elizabeth I…"
Logan "Elizabeth there you are it is almost time to leave, why don’t you say your good-byes to Jason, and we'll go"
Elizabeth "You aren't coming?"
Jason "I want to but I cant I have some place I need to be"
Elizabeth "Papa would you leave us alone for a minute, I have everything packed in my room, so once I say goodbye to Jason we will leave"
Logan knowing what Jason was facing and that he may not see Elizabeth again decided to give them some time alone.
Logan "Sure Elizabeth, I will be in the car when you are ready to go"
Elizabeth "Thank you Papa"
Logan left and Elizabeth turned her attention back to Jason who still looked very nervous.
Elizabeth "Jason?"
Jason " It's nothing Mia really, I am just going to miss you"
Elizabeth "I am going to miss you too Jason, I cant tell you how much you being here has meant to me"
Pulling Elizabeth close once again Jason lowered his head and fused his lips with hers pouring into that kiss everything he ever felt for her. When they pulled apart Elizabeth felt as if she would cry. For some reason she wasn’t able to understand Elizabeth felt everything Jason was feeling his love, and his need for her as well as his worry and fear.
Knowing he wouldn’t answer her anyway Elizabeth decided to hold him for a few minutes trying to convey without words just how much he meant to her, and how much she needed and loved him too.
Elizabeth "I have to go"
Jason "I know Mia, if you need me you know I will come to you all you have to do is ask"
Elizabeth "The same goes for me. I know there is something going on and you don’t want to tell me what it is but…you know I will always support you no matter what."
Jason "I know Mia I…"
Logan "ELIZABETH!"
Elizabeth "I'm sorry I guess that means it is time to go. I love you Jason, and I will talk to you soon ok?"
Jason gave Elizabeth another kiss in reply and watched as she walked away, knowing it could be the last time that he would ever see her again. Taking a deep breath he steeled himself for what lay ahead and headed into the woods, to the council chamber ready to face his fate.
Elizabeth got on the plane and took off for Chicago her mind constantly on Jason and what might be going on. She had overheard Logan and Sonny when they had come in the night before, and even if she couldn’t understand much of anything she knew Jason was in trouble. Getting out her notepad she began writing him a letter hoping that if she got her feelings down on paper it would make her feel better.
Jason entered the council chambers his heart beating fiercely in his chest as he saw that pretty much all the men in the clan had turned out to see what would happen. Courtney's father stood on one side of the chamber and gave Jason a look of utter contempt mixed in with a little fear.
Jason approached the council table and sat down looking around for his father who didn’t seem to be there. Jason swallowed hard as he looked at the lead councilman Tyler.
Tyler "Jason Morgan, you have been summoned here for crimes committed against the clan. How do you plead?"
Jason "Not guilty due to extenuating circumstances"
Tyler "And what are the circumstances?"
Jason "Courtney committed a crime against this clan, and my mate"
Tyler "Your mate? Are you referring to Luke's daughter? It is my understanding she knows nothing of her heritage how can she be your mate?"
Jason "I have not taken her fully as my mate sir, but she and I are connected and will be mated one day"
Tyler "In any case what has Kael's daughter done that would make you go after her, and kill her?"
Jason "Courtney hired a man to rape Elizabeth in Chicago, and she was hiding the fact that she was not a woman she was a man."
A collective gasp filled the room and all eyes were on Jason.
Tyler "Do you care to explain that?"
Jason "Courtney changed to get away from me sir. When I caught up with her I asked how she could change, and she told me that when she was born her parents dressed her as a girl hoping we would be promised to each other. When Elizabeth was born and she and I were promised to be together she set about trying to break the bond that had been created between us. That is why she had Elizabeth raped. The Matthews wanted Courtney and I to mate so that they could take control of the clan if anything should happen to me. And the plan was for me not to survive the wedding night."
Tyler "This is a pretty outrageous claim, what do you have to say about this Kael?"
Courtney's father approached the council looking a little rattled as he spoke.
Kael "This is an outright lie my little girl told me that Jason has had his eye on her for a long time and was jealous when she got involved with AJ"
Jason "THAT IS A LIE"
Tyler "Quiet please, Jason do you have any evidence that what you have told us here today is true?"
Sonny "No he doesn’t but I do"
Jason looked up to see he father standing in the door of the council room.
Tyler "Sonny you have evidence that what Jason told us is true?"
Sonny "Yes I do"
Moving back out into the hall Sonny lifted the heavy burden that he had set there off the floor and carried it into the council room. He set it down on the table and threw back the sheet that was covering its body. All the men averted their eyes once they caught a glimpse of the proof the council was seeking. Knowing that he was in a lot of trouble Kael tried to sneak out when Sonny grabbed him and brought him back to stand in front of them.
Tyler "Sonny please hold Mr. Matthews while the council deliberates"
Sonny "No problem"
The six member council retreated into the chambers and returned in a few minutes with their decision.
Tyler "Kael you have blatantly deceived this clan for years and must be punished severely. You and your mate have 4 hours to leave the safety of the clan and this town. A crime such as yours is grounds for death, we are letting you off easy to live the rest of your days in exile take it as a gift and go."
Kael ran out of the council chamber and Tyler returned his attention to Jason.
Tyler "Under the circumstances I believe your actions were justified Jason, you are free to go"
Jason "Thank you"
Tyler "Jason you will lead this clan one day I hope by then you realize there are better ways to deal with things than the way you chose"
Jason "I do understand that sir, I know that I should have notified the clan immediately but Courtney threatened not only me, but my mate as well. I couldn’t just let that go"
Tyler "While I understand your motivation Jason you need to respect the laws of the clan, should something like this happen in the future trust us and know we will be there when we are needed"
Jason "I'll remember that"
Tyler "Good, now Sonny would you please remove that abomination from this council room and dispose of it before you make the rest of us ill"
Sonny "Yes sir"
Jason helped Sonny carry Courtney's body out of the council room and deep into the woods where they set it on fire, and let it burn to ashes returning its body to the earth.
When Elizabeth got home the first thing she did was mail her letter to Jason, she wanted him to know that she was there for him no matter what. Jason breathed a huge sigh of relief knowing that he was in the clear for what happened with Courtney and when he received Elizabeth's letter a few days later he realized that Courtney deserved what happened to her. Anyone who hurt his Elizabeth deserved to be hurt, and hurt bad.
Jason,
I know that you have something going on with you, something that you are worried about and I wish that you could share it with me. You have been my strength through so much and I want you to know that you can count on me in the same way.
I love you Jason, and I want to be with you, but I need you to understand that you can tell me anything and I wont think any different of you. I also need you to know that you don’t always have to be so strong around me.
Everyone has worries and fears Jason you wouldn’t be human if you didn’t, and I want you to feel that when you do have them you can tell me. I love you I guess that is what I really wanted you to know. Whatever is going on with you please be careful and if you need anything I'll be here for you no matter what.
Yours always,
Elizabeth
Feeling bad for making her worry Jason picked up the phone and called her wanting her to know that she is the only person he would ever share his fears with.
Elizabeth "Hello?"
Jason "Mia"
Elizabeth "Jason, how are you?"
Jason "I'm fine Mia really, I got your letter and I'm sorry I worried you"
Elizabeth "Jason will you just promise to share things with me, I don’t like knowing something is wrong and feeling like you wont tell me"
Jason "I know Elizabeth I promise that from now on when something is wrong I will tell you"
Elizabeth "But you wont tell me what you were worried about will you?"
Jason "It is done Mia, I have no reason to tell you now, but if anything happens in the future you are the only one I would ever share it with"
Elizabeth "I just want you to know you can trust me with anything"
Jason "I do trust you Elizabeth more than anyone I just don’t like burdening you with things"
Elizabeth "Jason it doesn’t burden me, it takes some of the burden off you"
Jason "Ok Elizabeth I promise that I will try and share things with you"
Elizabeth "That’s all I ask"
Jason "Now how are things going for you?"
Elizabeth "Good it will be a lot of work to catch up but I don’t mind, I actually like it"
Jason "That’s good Elizabeth, is there anything you need?"
Elizabeth "Yeah I needed to hear your voice, and know that you are ok now that I do, I am just fine"
Jason "I love you Mia"
Elizabeth "I love you too Jason, I'll talk to you soon"
Jason "Yes you will Mia, take care and if you need anything just ask ok?"
Elizabeth "The same goes for you ok?"
Jason "Understood"
Elizabeth "Good"
Elizabeth's life returned to normal the only difference being that when she left work she took a cab or a bus home instead of walking. Her boss was the best and made sure she had a lot of time for her projects or to do whatever she needed, and she got back into a routine.
Years past very quickly and soon it was Elizabeth's final year of school, she and Jason had become closer than ever when he spent the entire semester in Chicago during her Junior year, and had planned on joining her once again for her Senior year, but an emergency with his fathers business called him home.
In spite of spending countless hours with Jason they still had not made love, and Elizabeth began to wonder if her rape had something to do with it. When she asked Jason why he would not make love to her, he told her it was because he needed the time to be right. Elizabeth respected his answer and let the subject drop, she knew she would be with Jason it was only a matter of time.
It was at the end of her last semester at school when Elizabeth got the news that would change her life forever. She was packing up her things in preparation to return home after graduation when her phone rang.
Elizabeth "Hello?"
Jason "Mia"
Elizabeth could tell by the tone of Jason's voice that something was wrong and immediately became concerned.
Elizabeth "What's wrong Jason?"
Jason "I have some very bad news Elizabeth, and I need you to sit down"
Elizabeth "What is it Jason you are starting to scare me"
Jason "Your grandparents Elizabeth they are…they were…they have been killed"
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