Web of Lies

by Sara Dailey

  I took a moment to look around the room and examine my condition. My leg was elevated and wrapped with heavy bandages. Everything else seemed to be cuts and bruises, maybe a broken rib or two, but all were well on their way to being healed. My leg was the obvious culprit of the severity of my condition. It was then that I remembered the branch that had lodged itself deep into my thigh when I was trying to get away from Drew.

  Drew! Where is Drew? Does Luke know how I ended up bleeding out in the woods? What had happened while I was gone?

  My heart rate increased as fear enveloped my entire being. I couldn’t explain it other than my flight response kicked in. Ignoring the resistance from my battered body, I shot up in the bed but couldn’t hold in the pained gasp that escaped my lips when everything shifted. Luke jumped up from his chair, taking my arm in one hand and placing his other behind my back to steady me. “What are you doing, Scarlett? Are you okay? You should lie back down.”

  My eyes searched Luke’s face for any evidence that he knew what had really happened. “Where is he? Where is…Drew?”

  His eyes softened as he spoke. “Just lie back down. Please just try to relax. But we do need to talk.” I let him guide my body back down to the mattress. He adjusted my pillow under my head and then carefully repositioned my hurt leg. Once he was satisfied that I was comfortable, he sat back down in the chair and placed his head in his hands as he took a few deep breaths.

  This wasn’t going to be good. I could feel it in my bones, and I tried my best to mentally prepare myself for what he had to say. No matter what it was, I knew it was going to hurt like hell, way worse that anything I’d suffered thus far.

  Luke didn’t look up before he began. Though his hands no longer covered his face, his focus remained on the floor below as he spoke. “I know that it was Drew who attacked you and left you for dead in the woods. We have him.”

  He finally looked up, and his eyes locked with mine. “I met your brother. He came for you, and…he brought my father with him.” Immediately my eyes filled with tears as I shook my head in disbelief. It wasn’t that I doubted that what Luke was saying was true; I just couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I wanted to reach out for him, but I didn’t. I wasn’t sure if he wanted me to, and I couldn’t handle it if he didn’t let me.

  I laid my head back on my pillow and closed my eyes trying to keep my tears at bay, but that didn’t stop them from rolling down my cheeks. His father was back. After everything that had happened, that was what was most important. His father was alive.

  But how did Gavin end up with Phillip?

  My eyes flew open and my body tensed. Any ounce of relief I’d momentarily felt was zapped away in an instant. Gavin was in danger. Our alpha would kill him if he found him. “How? Why was Gavin with Phillip? Are they safe? Are they okay? Where are they? Where’s Drew? My father? You have to make sure they are safe. Hidden! If my father finds out—”

  Luke jumped out of his chair and grabbed my hands. “Shhh. Calm down. Everything is fine. My father and Gavin are safe. I told you we have Drew. Please, Scarlett, calm down.” Luke left one of his hands wrapped around mine, but with the other, he began running his fingers through my hair. He tucked a few strands behind my ear, and then with his thumb, wiped away my tears. “When you didn’t return his calls, your brother thought that we had found out what was going on and that you were in danger. He took my dad and planned on trading him for you. What he didn’t realize was that it wasn’t our pack that put you in danger. We have Drew in a cell at the lodge, but we are still looking for your father. As far as we know, he doesn’t know that Gavin or my father is here.”

  Luke leaned down and kissed my forehead. His lips lingered there as he inhaled deeply. “God, Scarlett. I thought I’d lost you.” Without a second thought, I threw my arms around his neck and pulled him toward me. I needed to be close to him, at least for this moment. After that, I’d be forced to face whatever followed. Relief washed over me again as Luke’s arms wrapped around me too. Holding me tightly, he whispered, “I should have never left you alone.”

  I pulled away but only so I could look into Luke’s eyes. “I’m so sorry, Luke. I know you will probably never forgive me, but you have to know how sorry I am. There are no excuses for what I did. I was stupid and naïve and I just needed my dad to…No, it doesn’t matter. I should have never come here. I should have never agreed to any of this. Everything just got so screwed up, and I didn’t know what to do. I fell for you, and Drew knew it. I wanted out. I wanted to tell you the truth, but he said he’d kill your father. I thought I was keeping you safe, keeping your father safe. I just didn’t know what to do, didn’t know how to make it right. I screwed everything up, Luke, and I’m so sorry.”

  He swallowed hard before he leaned down to rest his forehead against mine. Instinctively, my eyes closed, and I breathed him in, wanting to hold on to this moment forever. It may have been the last time he held me, and I didn’t want it to end.

  I felt Luke take a breath before he spoke. “I know, baby. And I forgive you…for everything. I love you, and I never want to live without you, so please say you still love me too.”

  Completely shocked, my eyes sprang open, and I said the only thing I could think to say. “What?”

  Luke laughed as he cupped my face in his hands and smiled. “Say you still love me, Scarlett.”

  My heart pounded in my chest, and I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. This couldn’t be real. He loved me. He forgave me. He didn’t want to live without me. I needed to answer him, but all I could seem to do was stare at him in disbelief.

  “Say something, will you?” Luke urged, and it was enough to snap me out of me my stupor. I nodded my head and finally answered him. “Of course, I love you, Luke. More than anything in this world. I love you, and I never want to live without you either.”

  Without warning, Luke’s lips crashed into mine as he kissed me hard. Needing him closer, I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him toward me until his chest laid against mine. I parted my lips and welcomed his tongue as he deepened the kiss. I lost myself in the taste of the guy I never thought I would taste again. His fingers ran down my sides, back up, and then entangled themselves in my hair as he kissed his way down my jaw line, my neck, my shoulders, and then back up to my lips. He gently sucked on my bottom lip before he pulled away, leaving us both breathless.

  He looked into my eyes and said, “You don’t know how glad I am to hear you say that. Say you’re mine, Scarlett.”

  My heart swelled as I vowed, “I’m yours. No matter what. I’m yours, for as long as you’ll have me.”

  He smiled like he knew something I didn’t before he kissed me again. Then he pulled away and said, “Don’t freak out, but I hope you’re sure about that because you’re my true mate, Scarlett Reed. And that means you’re mine forever.”

  CHAPTER 57

  Luke

  Scarlett’s eyes widened and a smile that completely melted my heart appeared on her beautiful face. I couldn’t resist pressing my lips to that smile. I knew things were still not right on the estate, and Scarlett and I had a long way to go before we could get back to the place we were. So yeah, there were plenty of problems yet to be solved, but it all seemed doable at that moment. Sitting with Scarlett, my hands touching her face, my lips caressing hers, all felt right in my world again.

  I reluctantly pulled back when I heard footsteps stop in front of Scarlett’s door. “Come on in,” I said.

  Cade and Dr. Walters walked into the room. I probably should have moved out of the way so the doc could check on Scarlett without having to work around me, but I couldn’t. She was mine, and even though I knew the doc had to touch her, I didn’t like it. The doc unwrapped Scarlett’s bandages and she winced. A growl escaped my body before I could stop it. Scarlett reached for me and pulled me against her whispering, “Don’t worry…I’m okay.”

  The doctor apologized and rewrapped her leg. He explained that it was healing nicely and
that if I wanted to take Scarlett home, she should be fine. Scarlett nodded, and I told him that I would take her to my place. I also asked him to stop by my house and check on my dad. Cade pulled the doctor aside and told him that he had to keep Phillip’s return a secret for now. The doctor agreed and went to get his things.

  “Aiden and Gage are over at the lodge guarding Drew. He’s healing pretty fast and should be much better by tomorrow,” Cade said after the doctor left the room.

  Another one of those unexpected growls rose out of my chest. I didn’t give a shit about Drew’s condition. “Two more minutes alone with him and he could be out of the picture for good.” Scarlett gave me an apprehensive look, and I shrugged. It was just a matter of time anyway. I would get my hands on him again.

  Cade placed his hand on my shoulder. “I understand, Luke, but we still might need him. I’m calling a pack meeting. My house. First light. I want my dad there, and he can’t be moved. I stopped by the house, but it was quiet. Dad was sleeping in his room and Mom was asleep in the guest room upstairs. There’s been no sign of Brian, so we can’t afford to wait any longer.”

  “I’ll be there. Are you going back to your house?” I asked.

  “No, I’m going to check on Aiden and Gage, and then I’m going to try to catch a few hours of sleep at Alli’s,” Cade said. He started to leave, but stopped in the doorway and turned around to say, “I’m glad you’re better, Scarlett. We were all worried about you.”

  *****

  As soon as I carried Scarlett into my house Gavin came rushing over. Ever since I’d found her in the woods, my protective instincts were in overdrive, so as her brother approached, it took a great deal of self-control not fling him out of the way. Somehow Scarlett must have recognized my possessive reaction to his nearness, so she assured Gavin that she was all right and asked him to give her a minute to get settled. Fortunately he stepped back and waited until I carried her upstairs and put her in my bed before he came up to see her.

  While I didn’t want to leave her side, I decided it would be best to give them some privacy for a moment, and I really needed to check on my father. After kissing Scarlett on the forehead, I walked over to the door. “I’m going to see how my dad’s doing. Can I get you something from the kitchen, baby?” I asked before I left.

  She smiled brightly and nodded her head. “That would be great. I’m starving.” I returned her smile before heading downstairs.

  When I stepped into my dad’s room, the doctor was just finishing his exam. “Your dad’s going to be just fine when the drugs wear off. Unfortunately, he was given a pretty heavy dose, so he’s been in and out of consciousness and will be extremely groggy when he wakes. It might take some time for him to get back to normal, but don’t worry. He’ll be back to his old self soon.”

  “Is there anything I can do for him?” I asked.

  “You’re already doing it. He’s comfortable. He’s resting. That’s it. I started an IV just to keep him hydrated. When he comes around, don’t let him yank it out.”

  As soon as the doc left, I sat down next to my father and grabbed his hand. Before I realized what I was doing, I was spilling my guts, telling him everything that had happened since he disappeared. I knew that he probably couldn’t hear me, but I didn’t care. I told him about the fight between Cade and Aiden, about seeing Michelle at the grocery store, and about Scarlett. For the first time in my life, I told him how much I loved him and how thankful I was to have him in my life, how I couldn’t imagine a world without him and how much it hurt to think for one second that I’d never see him again. I told him things I knew I would never say if he were awake, but it felt good to say it all out loud. Before I left, I squeezed his hand and promised we’d make the bastards who’d hurt him pay. Then I stood up, made sure he was comfortable, and left.

  I was warming up some soup in the kitchen when Gavin came in. “Thanks for letting me talk to Scar alone,” he said.

  “Thank you for bringing my dad home,” I replied as I prepared a tray of food for Scarlett. “I’m sorry about roughing you up back there.”

  Gavin just shrugged it off as if it was no big deal.

  “Can we start over?” I asked, holding my hand out to him.

  Gavin smiled and shook my hand. “I would like that.”

  “Listen, make yourself at home. Eat whatever, drink whatever; our house is your house. The guest bedroom is upstairs across from mine.”

  “Thanks, Luke,” he said. I nodded and carried the tray upstairs.

  I made a big fuss about feeding Scarlett. She kept insisting that she was more than capable of feeding herself, but I wanted to do it. Finally I set the spoon down and looked into her eyes. “I almost lost you. Let me take care of you tonight. Tomorrow you can do it all by yourself, but not tonight. I need to do this. Please?” She understood and indulged my need to be her caretaker.

  It was getting late and I needed to be up with the sun, but I didn’t want to fall asleep. I wanted to lay awake all night and watch her. When she yawned and tried to wiggle herself under the covers, I stood and lifted her up. I pulled the covers back and helped her change from the infirmary gown to one of my T-shirts.

  “You coming to bed?” she asked when I just stood there watching her. “Yeah,” I said. I slipped my jeans off and pulled my shirt over my head. She smiled up at me. “Don’t get any ideas, girl. You almost died tonight,” I told her as I climbed into the bed and wrapped my arms around her.

  She sighed and then buried her face in my chest. “I love you, Scarlett,” I whispered into her hair. She lifted her eyes to mine and said, “I love you too, Luke.”

  CHAPTER 58

  Scarlett

  My eyes fluttered open the next morning when I felt Luke stir. I was still snuggled up to his chest and his arm was still wrapped around my body holding me close. We must not have moved all night. Stretching my arms up over my head, I yawned and immediately noticed that I felt considerably better today. The numbness had subsided, and I no longer felt drained. In fact, my energy level seemed back to normal, and although my leg still ached a bit, I knew with the help of the crutches the doctor left, I could get around just fine.

  I propped myself up on my elbow to find Luke staring down at me with desire shining in his deep brown eyes. A grin spread across his lips, and I wanted nothing more than to wrap myself around him and beg him to make love to me. But I knew better. As much as he may have wanted to, Luke wouldn’t do more that kiss me until I was completely healed.

  He learned over and kissed me chastely before he pulled away to ask, “How are you feeling?”

  “I’m great, actually. Completely rejuvenated, and my leg barely hurts.” I reached up, placing my hand on Luke’s cheek. “I want to go with you to the meeting this morning. I need to be there.”

  Before he even answered, Luke was shaking his head. “No way. You need to rest. I don’t want you involved in any of this. We still haven’t located your father, and I need you safe.”

  I sat up and faced him, pleading with my eyes for a moment before I spoke. “No, what I need is to be there. I need to face your pack. Explain my actions. Explain my part in all of this, why I did what I did. If I’m going to stay here, if I’m going to be your mate, I need them to hear me out. They have every right to hate me, but I have to try to make this right. I need to be honest with them all, Luke. I don’t want to hide.”

  My eyes fill with tears, so I looked away, not wanting him to see me cry. Luke swept my hair over my shoulder and gently touched his lips to my neck before he inhaled deeply. His lip grazed my shoulder as he pleaded, “I just need you safe, baby. I can’t risk losing you again. Please. I couldn’t handle it if anything happened to you.”

  I reached over to cup his face in my hand and guide his lips to mine. Melting into his embrace, I parted my lips and slipped my tongue out in search of his. If I could have crawled on top of him, I would have. Instead, I had to work within my limits, so I rolled onto my good hip and ran my fingers down hi
s bare chest and across his rippled abs. When his body shuttered against my touch, every part of me filled with need and I wanted him so badly that it hurt. My body begged to make him physically claim me as his own, and I cursed my damn leg from preventing it from happening.

  His fingers threaded themselves through my hair as his lips, his mouth, his tongue ravished my own. I pressed my chest against his, needing to be even closer. Luke pulled away but only slightly and looked into my eyes. “Baby, I want you so bad. It’s literally going to kill me if we don’t stop.” The hunger in his eyes only intensified the desire coursing through me. I didn’t want him to stop. I never wanted him to stop. His lips were only a breath away, so I moved in for at least one more soft kiss; but as soon as our lips touched he entangled his fingers in my hair once more, pulled me against him and devoured me all over again.

  A knock on the door broke our frenzied need, and we pulled away from each other, both breathing heavily. We straightened our clothes, and I ran my fingers through my tangled hair before I called out, “Come in.”

  Gavin cracked the door open and joked, “Are you two decent?” He peeked inside and chuckled as if he knew exactly what had been going on just before he interrupted. “Sorry guys, but Luke, we need to get going if you want to be early.”

  Just as Luke started to get up, I placed my hand on his arm to stop him. “I meant what I said. I want to go. I can explain better than any of you what my pack is up to.” This was my last-ditch effort to convince Luke to let me go, so I played the last card I had. “Plus, if you really want me safe, then you’ll want me with you. I’ll be safest by your side. I know you won’t let anything happen to me.”

  Luke didn’t respond, but it was clear the wheels were turning in his head. I turned my attention to Gavin, and with my eyes, I tried to relay a help-me-out-here message. Without the luxury of words, I wasn’t sure he’d understand, but just as I’d hoped, he had heard me loud and clear. He nodded his head once and said, “You know, man, she’s right. She’ll be safer with the rest of us than here alone. I think she should come.”