Chapter 17: Only Time

"We are stationing multiple evacuation centers throughout the boarding cities. All citizens of Moonshire are to report to one of these. This is the last evacuation notice." A man's bellowing voice echoed through the empty streets.

Chris and John stared at each other.

"This is probably the stupidest thing we have ever done." Chris muttered.

John nodded slowly; as he was deep in thought. After a minute of silence he grunted.

"Yup, I can't think of anything that tops this."

"Alright, everyone is gone. All the houses have been cleared." Cassie walked into the living room with her hand in Logan's. Alec trailed in behind them.

"So what do we do now?" He asked hesitantly.

"We wait." Asher joined them in the room suddenly; his voice caused them all to jump.

"For what exactly?" John's tone turned vicious.

"For the Elders to join us. From what Jaden tells me they're on their way already." Asher bit back.

They all were quiet for a minute.

Alec cleared his throat nervously causing them all to look.

"I suppose it's too late to ask if you have anything to eat?"

"How long until their arrival?" Ellsa asked Jaden as she looked out the kitchen window.

"They should be here within 24 hours. I have word that the Alpha's are not far behind them." She replied slowly.

Ellsa sucked in a breath and turned to face Jaden completely.

"No matter what happens out there, I want you to know that you are my best friend. I will always love you like a sister."

Jaden met her eyes; her own filled with remorse.

"You should take the others and leave while you can. Live your lives."

Ellsa shook her head sternly and grabbed Jaden's shoulders.

"We are all here because we want to be. Till the day we die we will stand beside you. Nothing you can say will change that."

Cassie watched the thick black clouds of smoke rise from the woods. They drifted in to the sky and cloaked the town in a haze.

Suddenly she felt a firm hand on the small of her back. She knew right away who it was.

"How are you?" Logan asked as he kissed her temple and sat down next to her on the bed.

"I'm alive aren't I?" She whispered; still keeping her eyes on the window.

Logan sighed and snuggled her deeper into his side.

"Cassie I have something to tell you."

This caught her attention.

"From the first moment I met you something about you captured me completely. And…I…I don't know how to say this. Cassie I'm in love with you."

Logan let out a deep breath and looked down at his shaking hands.

"I know that we haven't known each other long, but it doesn't matter. I belong to you Cassie Fethrone."

Cassie was grinning now.

"Well I'll be damned." She murmured as her lips met his in a deep passionate kiss.

"I love you too." Cassie said against him while she pulled his shirt off and threw it to the floor. Logan moaned as her hands traveled along his bare skin causing him to shiver. He kissed her greedily and began to pry off her own clothing. Finally when there was nothing left between them Logan lowered her onto the bed, both of them were breathing heavily.

"I'm going to make love to you now Cassie Fethrone." His voice was husky and his eyes heavy with desire.

"I wouldn't have it any other way."

Jaden walked into her room and found Asher leaning up against her closet door.

"What do you want?" She asked defeated.

Asher pulled his hands from his jean pockets and approached her.

"I want you to admit that you still love me." His voice was almost begging.

Jaden shut her eyes for a moment and took a breath.

"I'm not doing this right now." She began to walk away but Asher grabbed her arm and pulled her into him.

"I know you do. You feel the same way I do. We are meant to be together Jaden and you know it."

"No I don't know it! But I do know that you never believed me during any of this! You could have chosen me, but instead you chose the Alpha's! Do you know how that made me feel?!" She screamed and jolted away from him.

"I know I betrayed you, but I'm here now! Letting you go was the biggest mistake of my life Jaden! God damn it can't you see how much I love you! I gave up everything to help you! To fight beside you and possibly even die that way!" He yelled back.

Jaden stared at him with wide eyes.

Simultaneously they both collided into each other, kissing with such force that Jaden was sure there would be bruises to show of it. Asher growled and wrapped his arms around her creating a vice.

"I will never let you go. I will never let you leave me again." He whispered into her ear before kissing it.

Lauren and Chris sat down on the couch and watched the news channel. The fire was making headlines everywhere.

"Where are Logan and Cassie?" Chris asked suddenly.

"They're upstairs." Lauren replied nonchalantly.

"They've been up there a while….you don't think? Would they be…?"

Lauren thought for a moment before meeting Chris's wide eyes.

"Let's talk about something else."

"Yeah I think that's a good idea." Chris shook his head and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"So you have a boyfriend yet?"

Lauren laughed once.

"I'm gay Chris."

Chris studied her for a moment and started to chuckle.

"No seriously you seeing anyone?"

Lauren muttered something under her breath and looked at him strictly.

"Chris, I'm gay."

"Huh…I did not pick up on that. Not at all."

"Don't worry about it; I haven't really set my sights on anyone here yet. There was no way you would have known." Lauren smirked.

"I mean I usually pick up on stuff like this right away, I must really be off my game." Chris sighed, obviously troubled.

Lauren laughed at him again, her smile grew wider.

"Hey! We just had a bro moment." Chris exclaimed; interrupting his own sulking thoughts.

"A what?" Lauren questioned him with a raised brow.

"A bro moment. It means we're bonding."

"We're not bonding." Lauren argued.

"We're so bonding." Chris responded cockily.

"Hey what are you two doing?" Alec asked as he walked into the room and sat in between them on the couch.

Chris beamed.

"We're bonding."