"What have you done," I growled.
The sultry look was instantly wiped from her face as fear replaced it.
"What do you mean?"
"I know you had something to do with these vampires taking my wife. Tell me what you did and I won't kill you."
"You said you wanted to sleep with me," she choked out.
"I never said that. I told you Elizabeth is the only woman I want. It will never be you, Claire. Now tell me how to find her," I demanded.
She cowered away from my authoritative tone but tried to ignore the command. She was weak and her wolf wouldn't allow such insubordination for much longer.
"Say it," I commanded.
"She was born to be with him!" She blurted, "She was created for the Master. He always had the intention of getting her when he wanted so I just told him where she was!"
"What do you mean created for him?" I asked.
"He is going to blend the lines with her. She will produce the first hybrid as it was foretold."
"A vampire, werewolf hybrid? He is going to rape my mate until she produces a child?!"
Everything started to click at that point. Realization of the situation hit me like a ton of bricks. He wasn't going to kill her. He was going to keep her. I couldn't decide which was worse but either way, I was getting her back immediately.
"Don't worry. After she produces a few, he will put her out of her misery," she said as if that would make it okay.
A snarl ripped through me but I was pulled away from her before I could hurt her. I felt Zac holding me back, trying to get me to calm down but I wasn't about to calm down.
"We might need her," he reminded.
Claire bolted for the stairs but I grabbed her by her neck and threw her back. She gasped in pain, a few tears fell down her face but she stood up.
"Stay where you are," I demanded.
She whimpered in response but made no move to run again.
*********
I sat on the bed in my holding cell. The room lacked windows and the only door was steel plated. I had already tried looking for a lock but it seemed like it was sealed tight from the outside. The walls sounded thick when I tapped on them, searching for a weak spot. Eventually, I gave up and sat on the bed which was the only thing in the room.
I still felt the affects of Andre taking too much blood from me and my jaw still hurt from the hit. I must have looked disgusting; pale, and bruised, shaking and half alive. I knew he wasn't going to kill me- not yet anyway. He had bigger plans for me and he needed me alive to complete them. I was racing against the clock though. It was only a matter of days before he started his attempts to produce a hybrid. But I wasn't banking on his word. He said I had a week to myself to adjust but I didn't believe a word he said. If he felt like he wanted sex from me, he would take it and there wouldn't be a damn thing I could do to stop it. The most I could do would be minimize the damage he would cause by submitting. I needed every ounce of strength I could muster for when I was going to escape and I couldn't waste it by struggling against the inevitable. I may be strong but I was physically weaker than Andre and I couldn't change that. I had to be tactical.
The steel groaned in protest as someone opened the door. Andre stepped inside the room with his long fingers laced together in front of him.
"Come along, ma chérie."
"Where are we going?"
"To our room," he said as if the answer was obvious.
Panic rushed through me, "You said I have a week."
"I changed my mind."
Shit. I wasn't ready for this. I had never been with anyone other than Titus and I never wanted to be with anyone other than Titus.
"But you said so," I said on a shaky voice.
"What did I say about bad behavior, Elizabeth? Now let's go."
"I can't get pregnant under pressure. My body will reject it," I said quickly. I had no idea if that was true or not but it was an old wives tale that I was hoping he believed in.
"Is that so?" He asked.
"Yes."
"Hm. Well, you are the doctor," he said as he locked us both in the small room, "But I'm willing to take my chances."
"Titus will kill you," I warned.
He laughed, "He has no idea where you are. Do you honestly think Claire will tell him? I wouldn't be surprised if they are already together."
"He doesn't want her," I said confidently.
"I wouldn't be so sure. Why do you think he couldn't ban her? Nothing in your laws states he can't so why wouldn't he protect you and Christian from her?"
I really couldn't respond to that. He had a point.
"Give it up, Elizabeth. Accept your destiny," he urged as he pushed me to lay on the bed.
He separated my legs with his knee and panic set in. I couldn't just roll over and let him have me. I was better than that!
I tried pushing him off but he was simply too strong. He pinned my wrists above my head with one hand. I felt every muscle in my body tense and contort but I tried to stop myself from shifting. That would be the worst thing I could do in this situation. I would kill him and still have to face an entire coven as well as wolves. I would never make it out alive but it was probably my only option.
"It's not my destiny!"
His free hand squeezed my neck to the point I thought he might rip my throat out. I wiggled, trying to get free, to breathe but he held me tightly to the bed.
"If you think I'm above killing that bastard child you love so much, think again. In fact," he trailed as he removed his hand from my neck to reach in his jacket pocket.
He pulled out a phone and pressed a number. Someone answered on the other end.
"Kill the boy and send me proof," he said.
"Yes, Master," the male voice said.
Something in me snapped at the mention of killing Christian. I only saw red and allowed my bones to break and reform. Light gray fur covered my shifted body as I kicked Andre, sending him through the steel door. I jumped to all fours and stalked towards him, snarling and growling. I could practically taste his fear and it only pushed me to kill him faster.
"Shift back, Elizabeth," he commanded but backed into the far wall.
I lunged forward as he side stepped my bite.
"Shift back or I'll kill Titus as well!" He threatened.
I knocked him to the ground but he kicked me in the stomach, sending me down the hall. I whimpered in pain, knowing I had broken ribs but I wasn't going to let that stop me. My wolf had taken full control and all I could think of was to protect my family.
I knew if I went after him again, he would have the advantage so I went on the defensive. I waited for him to come at me. I knew he would but I didn't know with what. He could still easily kill me, even though I had shifted. He was thousands of years old and I was born without a rank. I was smaller than most wolves but he had underestimated my rage. I had repressed so many things my entire life. I repressed my resentment towards my parents and brother. I repressed my hate for the Order. I controlled everything I ever did and I was tired of controlling myself. I wanted to act on impulse for once in my life.
"I will give you one last chance, ma chérie. Get on your back like you were intended," he spat out.
A feral snarl ripped through my chest but I stayed where I was. He was trying to get me to charge but I wasn't going to do it.
To my surprise, two other wolves, twice the size of me ran up behind me. I instantly knew it was Titus and Zac. The giant black wolves came up on either side of me and for the first time, I saw terror in Andre's eyes. Titus stepped in front of me, blocking me from the fight but I needed to kill Andre myself. I wanted to because of what he had put me through. He ruined my brother's family. If my parents had never been involved, my brother wouldn't hate me. He wouldn't blame me for their deaths. In fact, they wouldn't be dead if it wasn't for Andre.
Andre sped towards us nearly to fast for my eyes but I jumped over Titus and into Andre mid air. Before he could react, I sank my teeth int
o his neck. I severed everything my teeth could reach and kept digging until I couldn't.
"Elizabeth," Titus said softly from behind me, "Liz, he's dead. Come on, love, shift back," he encouraged.
I took one step back and looked down at what I had done. I had decapitated him. I was covered in his black blood and only then did I notice the taste of vampire blood in my mouth.
I let my bones and muscles shift back to human form. I stood, naked and trembling and covered in blood in front of Titus. He wrapped a blanket from the bed around us as he held me closer than he ever had. It was like he thought I would disappear on him.
"Are you okay? Did they hurt you?"
I shook my head, "I'm fine."
"Are you sure?" He asked as he examined my face.
"Where's Christian?"
"He's with my parents. He's safe."
I shook my head violently, "No we need to go get him now. Andre gave the order to kill him."
He wrapped me tightly in the blanket and started pulling me along. Zac tossed him a pair of shorts that he slipped on before swooping me into his arms. I wrapped my arms around his neck as he ran with me up the stairs and out the front door. I saw an army of our pack members outside with a few coven members as prisoners.
Titus put me in the car and Zac jumped in the back seat next to Rachel and we took off. Titus called his parents a few times but they didn't answer.
Finally, they called him back when we were about ten minutes away.
"Where's Christian," Titus asked quickly.
"He's right here," Aria said lightly.
"Take him to the pack house now and don't let anyone in. I'll be there in five minutes."
"What's going on," she asked.
"Just go. You don't have time to ask questions."
"Okay. We'll meet you there."
He hung up and set his phone back in the cup holder as usual.
"Are you okay?" Rachel asked.
I turned to look at her with a weak smile, "I'm fine. How are you feeling?"
She looked to Zac and partially smiled, "I'm okay. Zac has been taking care of me."
"Good."
Titus didn't say a word the entire time we drove. He didn't touch me or look at me. He seemed angry and I wasn't convinced his anger wasn't directed at me. Maybe he never thought he would see me kill someone and he wouldn't want to be with me anymore. Perhaps he thought I was too violent to be around Christian. I prayed that wasn't what caused his silence but I didn't know.
*********
We pulled up to the pack house; anticipation hung thick in the air. I don't think Titus and I could have ran any faster into the house looking for Christian. I had tried to get most of the blood off my face so Christian wouldn't be afraid but there was some caked on.
"Christian," Titus called as we entered the house. I knew he was afraid something horrible happened to Christian but he was holding himself together well as he always did.
Christian rounded the corner and ran to me instantly. Titus's relief was instant and apparent at our son's safety and I could finally breathe a sigh of relief as well. He wrapped his arms around me as best he could but to my surprise, he didn't cry. I thought he would be afraid of my appearance but he just seemed happy to see me.
"Are you okay," he asked though his voice was muffled by the sheet I was wrapped in.
"I'm fine. I'm just happy to be home with you."
"Are you going with that man again?"
"Never again," I promised.
"Good. He was mean."
"Did he hurt you?" I asked tightly.
"No," he admitted quietly, "But he hurt you."
Leave it to Christian to be compassionate. He was beyond his years in his emotional maturity. He understood things most ten year olds wouldn't. I was proud that he was so advanced because he wouldn't be fooled by anything.
"Let's go home," Titus suggested.
I nodded and let Titus pick up Christian and we all went out to the car. Zac and Rachel had already left without even letting me thank them. I would have to show my gratitude somehow but I needed a shower, sleep, and food before anything. Also, a very long discussion with Titus. I wanted to know how he found me within a day. I had expected it to take him awhile but I was home within twenty-four hours.
We drove in total silence to our house and again, he didn't touch me, talk to me, or look at me. I wasn't sure why he was avoiding me but I wasn't going to bring it up with Christian in the car.
I noticed pack warriors surrounding every corner of the house which was expected after something like this. Titus was going to be overprotective after his world was turned upside down. Serious harm could have come to both Christian and myself but thankfully, it was only me.
Once inside, Christian wouldn't release my hand. He held on tight as we made our way upstairs to his room. He seemed a little afraid of the room but I knew he would be fine.
"Are you going to be okay alone?" I asked just to make sure.
He nodded in agreement so I put him in bed and kissed his forehead. Titus stayed at the door and made no move to enter the room. He was acting really strange which put me on edge. I couldn't figure out the reason behind his silence but I couldn't help but wonder where Claire was.
I didn't put too much thought into it. I simply walked past Titus and into our room, heading straight for the bathroom. My mind flashed to the last time we were together and I wanted to return to that blissful state but that clearly wasn't happening.
I stepped inside the giant shower and watched as the black blood washed away to reveal my usual soft, light skin. I felt like the water couldn't be hot enough. I couldn't feel clean enough even though I had spent a good half hour in the shower, soaping, shampoo, everything but I could still feel his blood, taste it in my mouth. Eventually, I had to get out. I doubted I would ever feel totally rid of the crime I committed but it needed to happen. I killed him in a fit of rage but if I had tried to do it when I was calm, I would have been killed. I just prayed the Order ended with him but I doubted it. Andre was just the beginning.
I wrapped a towel around my body and blow dried my hair. I examined myself in the mirror, looking for something physically different about myself but there was nothing. I was the same Elizabeth but something inside of me had changed. I wasn't as secure as I once was. I was hardened slightly, somehow more and less emotional.
I went into the bedroom to see Titus sitting at the edge of the bed, already expecting me. I stopped dead in my tracks as he looked over at me. His expression may have been stoic but I could feel his regret almost like it was my own. I felt my stomach drop. It wasn't just regret; he felt guilt beyond anything I had ever seen from him. What could have possibly caused such a deep emotional response?
"Did he touch you?" He asked though his voice lacked any emotion.
"No," I responded quietly.
"Then why are there bite marks on your neck?"
"He drank from me but that was it."
"He didn't lay a hand on you," he asked but I had a feeling he already knew the answer to that.
"He hit me," I said as I touched my lightly bruised jaw.
"Elizabeth, I need to tell you something."
Oh God. My heart stopped and raced within a second. Had he cheated on me?
"Okay," I said carefully.
How would I react if he told me he was with Claire? Would I flip out? Would I leave him? Could I leave him? I couldn't leave Christian but what if he forced me to?
I cautiously sat next to him at the edge of the bed. He gripped my hand tightly and kissed my knuckles before taking a breath.
"I know just about everything."
I was caught off guard, "What?"
"About the way you grew up, why you were even born, your brother...I know it all. I am so sorry I never tried to learn more about you. And I'm sorry for not listening to you about Claire. I should have banned her from the start but I honestly did not think she had this in her."
I looked at the ground. I
had planned on telling him about everything but I hadn't planned on when. I knew it was wrong of me to keep my past so hidden but it was shameful. I had never been wanted by anyone except a vampire that only wanted to use me for breeding. I needed to tell him everything. He thought he knew everything but he didn't. There were things only my parents, Andre, and I knew.
"That's not everything," I whispered, "The reason he was so adamant about me was because I was genetically engineered to be the most likely carrier of a hybrid."
"What do you mean," he asked.
"My parents conceived me naturally to obtain my wolf but while I was in the womb, I was injected with vampire blood. That's why I'm pale and smaller than most wolves. I hardly age and the older I get, the slower it becomes. I'm not even sure I'll ever die naturally. I don't even know if I can have children," I said as I started to cry. I was convinced he would leave me now, knowing that I did have a little bit of vampire DNA.
He wrapped his arm around me and pulled me close.
"I should have told you this before we were married. I understand if you want a divorce," I said regaining some control.
"I don't care about what you are, Liz. I love you and nothing can ever change that."
"Are you sure? There is a chance I can't have children."
"That chance exists with all couples. If you can't get pregnant that's fine. We have Christian."
I couldn't believe I ever doubted him. I felt ridiculous for ever thinking he wouldn't want me because of my DNA.
"So you're a hybrid?"
"Not exactly but I'm the closest thing to it. I don't have any vampire tendencies except my intelligence and in extreme situations, I have strength I didn't know I possessed. It's the only reason I was able to kill Andre."
He nodded, "I'm sorry. This never would have happened if I came home right after work."
"Where were you anyway?"
He smiled lightly, "Planning a surprise for you."
"What kind of surprise?"
"A trip. Just the two of us since we haven't gone anywhere since our honeymoon."
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