Opening my eyes, all I saw was white. I blinked back the brightness to find myself in the infirmary room. It hurt my head to keep them open for more than a few seconds, so I returned to the darkness. Three pin points of pain throbbed, but otherwise I was fine.

“She’s set a record for the most near death experience in one week. Isn’t this number three?” Vic’s voice asked from the corner of the room.

“I think it was three. Within the past two weeks it has to be about three.” Jack sighed from next to Vic. All I could see from the inside of my eyelids was the vision of a russet brown wolf leaping on the Guardian and ripping him apart.

It was Austin. Oh man, it was Austin.

“Austin.” I murmured out loud on the thought. Footsteps rushed to my side and someone’s hand grabbed mine.

“I’m here, darling.” Austin murmured.

“I knew she wasn’t dead! I won the bet, I won the bet!” Vic cheered from the side lines. When the headache finally died down, I opened my eyes to see Jack, Vic, Austin, Alan, Alex, and the Shifter girl all in the room. The injured girl was sitting up on the table, Jack checking up over her. Alex stuck right next to his friend’s side.

“You took bets? Where’s my share, since I received all the wounds!” I scowled, but fell into laughter alongside them.

“Speaking of wounds, we discovered what was so weird with the bullets.” Vic came to my side. Austin squeezed my hand tightly.

“The bullets were a new, special type that attacked your nerves, essentially paralyzing you temporarily. It only takes two to completely paralyze a Shifter. It’s fast acting, so they’re extremely dangerous. Two shots and you’re dead meat.” Alex explained from the side.

The girl from the sides looked up. She had a bandage wrapped around her hand, but otherwise looked unharmed. She had dyed purple hair with bright golden eyes.

“They shot me with one, so that’s why I could move fast.” She explained from the sides. I smiled and nodded. It was nice to have a new face in the Sanctuary.

“What’s your name?” I asked her.

“Kally. Yours?”

“Wynter.” I would’ve shaken hands, but it was impossible when I could barely move.

“Jack and Alex explained the Sanctuary. I hope you don’t mind if I stay a few days.” She asked. I shook my head.

“It’s no problem! Stay as long as you need!” I told her. Jack led her out of the room, showing the new Shifter around. Alex trailed behind him like a shadow.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were as Shifter?” I asked Austin, a gleam in my eyes. He stuttered his response.

“I didn’t know!” He held up his hand in defeat. I laughed and pulled him closer to me.

“I’m getting up to watch a movie. I ain’t sittin’ here!” I told them.

“Look out guys, Wyn’s got sass!” Alan teased. I stood up from the little table I was laying on, and promptly fell over. Apparently my legs weren’t working. Austin caught me and hauled me back up.

“Okay, legs….power on!” I commanded. Vic laughed. I took a shaky step and nearly face planted.

“You know, I like this floor. It speaks to me. It’s my lover.” I stroked the floor and lay spread out on it. It occurred to me that my legs might still be paralyzed.

“I thought I was your lover!” Vic complained. Austin pouted.

“What about me?” He whined.

“HA, SUCKERS! I’M STILL THE PRETTY ONE!” Mike yelled from the kitchen. I laughed at his comment.

“Too bad, I’m pulling you up.” Austin picked me up and threw me over his shoulders. I pretended to struggle until he set me down on the couch. The girl, Kally, was talking to Mike in the kitchen.

“Let go of me, wolf boy!” I struggled in Austin’s strong grip. He gave me a sideways grin and fell backward onto the couch, pulling me on top of him.

“Wolf boy? I like the sound of that!” He chuckled, his lips curling back in a smile. He was already starting to act wolfish! My heart fluttered under his gaze.

“But I wanna pick a movie!” I pouted. He kissed me on the nose. Vic raced up and claimed dibs on picking the film, claiming it was his turn. He pulled out the disc and we began to watch the beginning of Transformers 4.

Besides the couch, Kally got first pick on her seat. She chose one of the bean bags and Mike sat next to her. I could always count on the younger brother to make newcomers feel welcome. Alan curled up on the floor in front of the couch with Vic on the recliner. Jack sat on the other bean bag, pulling Alex down with him. Within ten minutes of the beginning, I saw Jack wrap an arm around Alex’s shoulders, pulling the two closer together. I tucked myself even further in Austin’s strong hold.

By the time we got two hours into it, Mike, Vic, Jack, and Alex had fallen asleep. Alex had curled up into Jack’s arms, snoring softly. I was tempted to throw the remote at them, seeing if I could stop the noise.

“Alan, you awake?” Austin asked. Alan grunted to affirm it and continued to stare at the action on the screen. Turning my attention to the TV, I attempted to be focused on the film.

From the corner of my eye, some movement caught my attention. Between Alan’s soft snores after he fell asleep, I could see Jack and Alex moving. Jack had woken up, but had his attention focused on his friend.

Sempiternal Continuum, at its best.

I watched from my peripheral vision. Alex moved, tucking his head into Alex’s arm. Jack reached up and caressed a few stray strands of Alex’s hair. Austin took my view and saw what I was witnessing.

Alex yawned and put draped an arm around Jack’s chest. Jack smiled out of happiness, not the fact that some evil bots were being demolished on full volume on the screen. They seemed to fit together like two pieces of the puzzle, one completing the other.

“They’re so cute together.” Austin murmured, rubbing my back slowly. I nodded.

“I’m so happy for Jack, now that’s he’s found someone else for him.” I agreed with Aus. Flashing of pixel guns threw light over the sleeping couple.

“Jack and Alex. A Guardian and a Shifter. Would would’ve thought?” Austin chuckled.

“Jack and Alex. Jalex.” I combined the names. Yes, even that sounded like it was meant to be.

“I like it. Jalex it is.”

“I don’t care if Jack is gay or not. He’s so adorable with Alex.” I sighed. Austin nodded and refocused on the ending scene. I rested my head on Aus’s chest as the movie finally ended. Grabbing the remote, I clicked off the TV and started to drift off to sleep.

Notes

Some Jalex and some Wynstin for you :) Enjoy the chapter!