Fighting Spirit Series Chapter 104: Not Horrible, Just Overwhelmed

**Jack:**

Loud click of the door closing pulled me from my dreamless slumber, feeling my back muscles ache from sleeping in my office chair. Eli walked over handing me a glass of whiskey.

“How long have I been asleep?” I asked groggily, rubbing my face as Eli smiled.

“About two hours.” He replied as he slipped into the chair across from my desk, crossing his leg casually.

“The twins?” I asked taking a swig of whiskey, watching as the amber liquid glazed the etched glass.

“Fine. Ben and Elias just switched with Roger and Chris so they could go for runs and grab something to eat.” Eli leaned his head back, staring at the ceiling as he tapped his finger against the rim of his glass.

“Have you talked to Mei yet?” He asked turning his head slightly to look at me sideways.

“No. I must have passed out after you guys left earlier. I’m a horrible husband.” I laughed coldly leaning back in my chair, watching as Eli smiled sheepishly.

“Not horrible, just overwhelmed.” He replied as he took a hard swig of whiskey, hissing in as he rolled his lip over his teeth.

“Overwhelmed is an understatement.” I laughed halfassed rubbing my face exhaling the breath that felt like it had been stuck for years.

“Jack?” Amelia linked concern laced in her tone.

“Yeah.” I replied as I looked at Eli scrolling through his phone looking at baby stuff, silently laughing.

“Is Mei with you?” Amelia asked sounding muffled.

“No. Eli just woke me from my office nap.” I laughed softly as Eli showed me strollers with all-terrain suspension and wheels.

“Elias said he saw her about two hours ago, after we talked. No one has seen her since then.” Amelia sounded more frantic.

“Deep breath Amelia. How was she emotionally when you left to speak with me?” I asked sitting forward, tapping my finger nervously against the desktop.

Eli catching the shift in mood as he studied me closely.

“She seemed quiet but she was the same way with the news of the twins.” Amelia replied sounding like a door was closing in the background.

“Okay. Check the normal places; maybe she just needed some space.” I replied as I stood up walking around the desk, hastily walking towards the nursery, catching Chris and Roger laughing, throwing elbows at each other as the boys laughed softly from their baby swings.

“Rocko?” I linked as I turned abruptly, bumping into Eli, who was my shadow staring at me with a questioning expression.

“What’s wrong?” Eli asked as I checked our room seeing if she had been in the shower or something.

“No one has seen Mei since earlier.” I stated as a rush of panic took over my body.

“Rocko?” I linked again not getting a response from earlier.

“Sorry Alpha. Amelia just linked me. I haven’t seen her.” He replied adding to the panic turning into a strong feeling of dread mixed with nausea.

“SHIT!” I shouted as I jumped flights of stairs followed closely by Eli.

“Jack!” Eli shouted as I stopped swiftly turning to him.

Brutus and Goki stirring nervously as Eli grabbed my shoulders.

“What?” I hissed as I felt my body boiling, fighting the urge to not rage out.

“Dude! Don’t hiss at me. Take a deep fucking breath and focus on her, your feelings, besides the urge to tear shit to pieces.” Eli commanded as he caught my gaze with his bright green eyes.

Besides the panicky dread with a slash of rage and nausea, I felt calm. Closing my eyes focusing on Mei. Darkness, but the smell of cedar and crisp bayou air touched my senses as I snapped my eyes open.

“The cabin.” Brutus and Goki stirred quietly as I took off out the door, shifting mid-air slamming my large paws into the moist ground.

The cool night air filling my lungs with a stinging as I pushed harder against the darkened ground. The cool crisp lake air rushing through my wet snout as I approached the lake clearing. Scanning quickly for Mei, not seeing her in the water or on the shoreline. The cabin looking cozy, tucked back into the tree line as a strong scent of foulness filled my senses.

A low guttural growl echoed through the dark canvased trees as reddish yellow eyes pierced through the veil of darkness.

“Fucking Rogue.” Brutus howled deeply as Goki shifted into protective mode stalking slowly towards the cabin.

The large brownish rogue slowly appeared under the eerie moonlight as it snapped its frothing mouth in the air. Not waiting any longer, lunging at the rogue sinking my fangs into its hind left leg as it slashed across my side, breaking free from my grip. Turning quickly, feeling the rage boiling as we both lunged into the air, slamming our wolf bodies into one another as we crashed hard against the cool damp ground, grappling for control.

Managing to kick his body away from mine as his body smashed into a large swamp tree, shaking off his daze as he lunged at my neck, missing with its large grotesque fangs.

“This Asshole doesn’t know when to stop.” Brutus howled as we snarled, snapping our jaw at the rogue as he lunged again this time allowing for an opening to sink my fangs into its right shoulder, feeling as it shifted under our murderous hold.

“You’re both dead, it’s just a matter of time.” He wheezed as I snapped his neck in one severing crack of my jaw.

Shifting quickly as I examined his bloody torn body, finding no markings, just scars. A lot of scars.

“Eli?” I linked as I ran towards the moonlit cabin, scanning through the room until her strong scent of Cherry Blossom and vanilla caught my attention from the bedroom.

“Did you find her?” Eli linked sounding rushed.

“Yeah. But I also found a rogue. Call Derek and tell him we had a rogue at the cabin.” I replied as I slowly opened the door, finding Mei curled in a massive heap of blankets and pillows.

“Nesting.” Brutus laughed as Goki howled in the shadows.

Dropping down beside her soft sleeping face as I rubbed my finger across her cheek, watching as her golden eyes slowly came to life. Snapping upright as she rubbed her face, looking around the room realizing she was in the cabin.

“You’re bleeding.” She pointed to the claw marks across my side as she slid quickly out of the bed, checking my wounds, seeing if the rest of my body was injured.

“Baby! you just took off.” I whispered yelled as she caught my stare with large bright eyes as she dropped her gaze quickly, before capturing my eye again.

“I needed to gather my thoughts. It’s just so much and I feel like I am losing my mind.” She replied as she ran her hands through her tangled hair looking like she failed to dry it before passing out.

“Did you go for a swim?” I asked laughing softly as she shot up looking around the room, before darting towards the front door.

Opening the front door quickly, stepping outside scanning the wooded landscape before turning around with a perplexed expression. Rubbing her face with both hands as she exhaled deeply, running her hands down her beautiful swollen chest, then softly across her stomach as she looked into my eyes.

“Soulful.” Goki hummed as Brutus howled lowly feeling the fiery ball of heat ignite in my core.