“What can I do to help you, Jade?” Lara pleaded, her arms embracing the Lycan. “Tell me. Whatever you want, I’ll do it.”
“Take me away from here, Lara,” she begged. “Please.”
“But, Jade, Sebastian will need you when he wakes up. To explain everything to him.”
“No, he doesn’t,” Jade said, fresh tears flowing down her cheeks.
“What do you mean?”
“Lara…you didn’t see him…see his face when he saw my she-wolf!” Jade insisted. “He…he thinks I’m a monster!”
“No, Jade!”
“Yes, he does. It was the same look my classmates had on their faces when they saw me shift! When I started attacking them and hurting them! And now I’ve ruined more lives!” Including Sebastian’s. His world had changed forever. The knowledge of the Lycans would change him. Another life destroyed by her she-wolf.
No. Mine. Ours.
With a snarl, she forced the animal down deep in her. She would lock it away again, force it down so deep so it was like she’d never existed.
“Please, Jade, think about it.”
“No,” she said, “I’ve made up my mind. Please, Lara, as my friend, do this one thing for me.”
Lara’s eyes filled with tears. “F—fine. I’ll talk to Liam.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
It was another nightmare. Yes, that’s what it was. Another nightmare. But it was different. Jade, sweet Jade, had turned into a giant wolf.
“Mr. Creed, wake up.”
Sebastian’s eyes flew open, but he quickly shut them when the lights overhead blinded him. Something was wrong with him; he didn’t feel right. It was like he was swimming through thick molasses. His shoulder hurt, too, and he knew that feeling. He’d been shot.
“How are you feeling, Mr. Creed?”
“Like I’ve been hit by a fucking truck.” Sebastian opened his eyes again, but his vision was still blurry. Taking a couple of deep breaths, he cleared his mind. Jade. He shook his head to try to clear his vision. “Where is she? I want to see her! Goddammit, she better be safe!” He tried to move, but he realized he was strapped down and restrained. “What the fuck? Get me out of here!”
“Mr. Creed, calm down, please,” the voice soothed. “Dr. Cross is fine. She’s safe.”
He relaxed, the words soothing him. “Who are you? Why am I tied down to this bed?”
“I’m Dr. Faulkner. We’ve met before.”
Sebastian’s eyes finally focused, and his vision became clearer. An older man stood over him. It was the same doctor from the night of Jade’s rescue. “I don’t understand…I…”
“Just get some rest, Mr. Creed. Grant will explain everything once he gets here.”
A sharp needle poked into his neck and he struggled against the bonds. But it was too late and the sedative was too strong. Soon, his vision turned to black.
***
When Sebastian woke up again, he was in a different place. He was in a small room with no windows and one door. No escape. Everything was white, from the walls to the sheets on the twin bed where he was lying down. Someone had dressed him in some type of loose gray pajamas and his hands were bound with cuffs. Thank fuck his shoulder wasn’t hurting anymore. In fact, it was more like an itch at this point.
Fuck. Did that woman capture him? No. Dr. Faulkner was Fenrir’s doctor. His mind was muddled, but he was pretty sure he remembered one detail correctly: Jade had transformed into a giant wolf. And there other wolves too. Fuck. Werewolves were real? The world had gone crazy. But then, considering what happened to him, was he really surprised? He was shocked, and yes, terrified. But, as soon The Beast realized what Jade was, he roared.
Mine. Ours. Mate.
The fucking thing was happy that Jade was an animal, just like him. Fucking ecstatic. All this time…and she never told him. Did she even know? She must have. Because he was sure as shit that he didn’t imagine those other wolves that burst through his garage door.
God, what a fucking mess.
The door slid open with a soft swish and Sebastian got to his feet, getting into a defensive position. Grant walked in. Behind him, Nick followed and a brunette who looked familiar.
“Sebastian,” Grant greeted.
“What the fuck is going on? Who are you? What are you?” he asked.
“Sit down, Creed,” Nick ordered. The blast of power that came from the other man was unmistakable. Vrost didn’t even bother to hide it, nor the fact that his icy blue eyes were glowing.
Sebastian staggered back, the back of his knees hitting the bed. He sat on the bed, but remained upright, his bound hands held up to his chest.
Grant let out a long sigh, grabbed one of the chairs in the corner, and placed it in front of Sebastian. “Where do I begin?” he said, sitting down. “What I’m about to tell you is a secret that’s hundreds of years old. Normally, I can’t reveal this secret to humans without consent from a higher authority, but since you’ve already seen us, I have no choice.
Sebastian sat there, listening intently to Grant as spoke. His eyes grew wide and a million different questions ran through him. Lycans? Werewolves? They were real? Shit, he should have known. Wait…
“Hold on,” Sebastian said, putting his hands up. “You said…there’s an animal inside you?”
Grant nodded. “Yes. Our wolves are a part of us, and we learn to control it. Call it when we need it. In most cases, it talks to us, too.”
Fuck. Was he a wolf? Is that what that man in the brown robes did to him? “Were you…made into wolves?”
The other man shook his head. “No. You can’t make more Lycans. You have to be born one.”
Shit. No, then. “And you know when another person is a Lycan?”
“Yes. We know through scent and we can sense the wolf inside another Lycan.”
“Jade—”
Grant nodded. “Yes, she’s one too. As you’ve seen.”
“Where is she? Is she safe?”
The man’s face faltered, and Sebastian felt the panic rising in him. “Is she safe?” he repeated, the warning in his voice evident.
“She’s fine, Mr. Creed,” the brunette spoke.
“I’ve seen you before” Sebastian narrowed his eyes at her.
“My sister, Alynna,” Grant explained. “And yes, Jade is fine.”
“When can I see her?” he asked.
“Sebastian,” Grant began, his face turning serious. “I can’t just let you go. You must understand. I have my clan to protect.”
“We should have hit him with the confusion potion as soon as we got there,” Nick said. “Grant, why did you stop us from administering it?”
“Because I have this gut feeling,” Grant replied. He turned back to Sebastian. “I know you can keep our secret. And you care for Jade, right? If the rest of the world were to find out about us, they will hunt us down. You wouldn’t want her to get hurt or get locked up? Turned into a circus show or science experiment?”
“Fuck, no!” He didn’t even think of that. Jade was his number one priority now. “I would rather die than see her get hurt. I’ll keep your secret.”
Grant’s face broke into a smile. “I know you would.”
“Now, let me out of here,” Sebastian said. “I need to see Jade.”
“We can’t trust him,” Nick argued. “He’s human.”
“Nick,” Alynna put a hand on the other man’s arm. “We need to give him a chance. Maybe he can earn our trust.”
“You can trust me,” Sebastian assured them.
“Prove it,” Nick challenged.
Sebastian got to his feet, which made Nick stand protectively in front of Grant. The two men stood face to face. “You want fucking proof? Something that will show you can trust me? I’ll give you some goddamn proof!” With a roar, he pulled his hands apart, ripping the restraints from his wrists like they were paper. He shocked himself, not realizing the unusual strength he could tap.
Slowly, he faced them, his eyes a burning gold. The po
wer emanating from him sent a shockwave through the small room, sending the three Lycans staggering back.
“Jesus Christ!” Alynna cussed. “What the hell are you?”
Sebastian sank back down on the bed. “I…I don’t know…” he said. “I’m not a Lycan, am I?”
Grant sniffed the air around him. “No, you don’t smell like a Lycan, but…fucking hell. What is that?” The other man looked visibly shocked. “Can you feel it?” he asked his companions.
Nick nodded. “It’s…”
“A Beast,” Sebastian finished. “At least that’s what I call it. The Beast.”
Grant rubbed his face with his hands. “You better start from the beginning.”
Sebastian took a deep breath. It was his turn to tell his secret. He told them everything, from the time he was captured up to his rescue and how he struggled to control The Beast afterwards.
Grant’s face was inscrutable when he finished his story. “You really don’t know what that man put inside you? You haven’t transformed into any type of animal?”
Sebastian shook his head.
“He doesn’t smell like any animal I know,” Nick said. “Maybe you are some type of beast.”
“Maybe he didn’t complete the spell,” Alynna offered. “You said he was in the middle of the ritual and your buddies came in an offed him? That’s probably what happened. He didn’t finish, and that’s why you can’t shift. We need to find out what happened to you.”
Sebastian shrugged. “I don’t really care about that. I’ve been making peace with The Beast. Being around Jade has helped. It seems to like her…it settles when she’s around.”
“We should ask the witches,” Nick said. “They might have some answers.”
“Hold on, witches?” Sebastian asked.
“What, some magical shaman placed a creature inside you and you think witches don’t exist?” Alynna asked in an exasperated voice. “You’ve met the most badass witch I know, by the way. Lara Chatraine.”
“Jesus, this day is getting better and better,” Sebastian grumbled.
“We’re just getting started, I’m afraid,” Grant said wryly. “Sebastian, look, I want to trust you. Revealing your secret, that’s a step in the right direction. But there are protocols in place. Now, you have to put some trust in me, too. I’m going to do everything I can to get you out of here and keep you safe. But you have to stay put.”
“When will I see her?” God, he sounded like a broken record, but he didn’t care. He needed Jade. The Beast needed her.
Grant hesitated. “Soon. I promise. And, if all goes well, you’ll never have to worry about her.”
“Fine,” Sebastian relented. “Do what you need to do. But do it quick.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
“C’mon Jade, you can’t just mope around here doing nothing!” Lara exclaimed.
“Why not?” Jade asked. “If you don’t want me here, just say so.”
Lara sighed. “Look, it’s not that I don’t want you here, but you have a life too. You have you work, your research.”
“Do you think Grant will let me set up a lab here in San Francisco?” Jade asked.
“I don’t know.”
“Maybe I can work for Liam.”
True to her word, Lara whisked Jade away from New York and brought her to San Francisco the night of the attack. For the past two days, she’d been staying in one of the guest bedrooms at Gracie Manor, Liam’s home in the Pacific Heights District and the headquarters of the San Francisco Lycans.
Jade had holed herself up in her room, refusing to go out or see anyone except Lara. It seemed rude, considering Liam’s mother still lived there, but she didn’t care. The pain inside her wouldn’t go away. Every time she had a free moment or closed her eyes all she could see was Sebastian’s face.
“We should order more takeout!” Jade said, trying to change the subject. “I’m starving!”
“Jade, we have a full kitchen staff here, you don’t need any greasy Chinese takeout,” Lara said in an exasperated tone. “And we just had lunch two hours ago.”
Jade frowned. “Really? I thought it was longer than that.” She picked up her phone and dialed the Chinese place on Pacific Street. “Hello? Yes, I’d like an order of Beef in Oyster Sauce, Lemon Chicken, Sweet and Sour Shrimp, and—hey!” Jade exclaimed as Lara ripped the phone from her hands.
“Jade!” the witch gasped, her eyes going wide. “Jade, when was the last time you had your period?”
“What? Why are you asking me that?”
“You haven’t stopped eating since you got here.”
“I stress eat!” she said defensively, trying to retrieve her phone. Lara yanked her hand away, holding the phone high in the air.
“You know, Jade, for a genius, you’re kind of dumb,” the witch said wryly.
“What are you talking about?”
“You’re pregnant.”
“I’m not!” she denied.
“And Sebastian is your True Mate.”
“Shut up!” Jade put her hands over her ears.
“Did you use protection while you were with him?” Jade’s face going white as a sheet answered her question.
“You don’t know that he’s my True Mate!”
“Well, there’s one way to find out.” Lara took one of the drinking glasses, bashed it against the table and cut Jade’s arm with the jagged end. The sharp glass pierced her skin, and blood flowed down her arm
“Are you insane?” Jade shouted at Lara, reaching for a napkin to cover the wound.
“Look at it,” the witch ordered.
She sighed and removed the napkin. The gash quickly sealed and within seconds, the skin healed and looked like it had never been touched at all. Just like all the pregnant True Mates, she was indestructible now.
“Still don’t think you guys are True Mates?”
Jade groaned. “Oh, mother fudger truck a duck.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
For two days, Sebastian stayed in the cell. Sure, it was a nice cell, but it was boring. Alynna Westbrooke was kind enough to bring him books and a set of playing cards. Dr. Faulkner also came by to examine him. The old doctor was quite shocked when, after peeling of the bandage from his gunshot wound, saw that it was almost completely healed. He’d never healed so fast before he met Jade. Whatever The Beast was, it had also given him the healing and metabolism of a shifter. He asked Dr. Faulkner how he could heal so fast when he didn’t before, and the older man was as surprised as he was. Perhaps, the doctor explained, being around other shifters had brought some latent capabilities. Dr. Faulkner asked him for a sample of his blood, which he was happy to give if it would help them find out more about what The Beast was.
Grant insisted that he stay in the cell until he could get clearance from this High Council. Grant (who, as he learned, was head honcho of the New York Lycans) also got him up to speed with their enemies, including the mages and their leader, Stefan. The woman who tried to kidnap Jade was Stefan’s most trusted confidant, Victoria, who was, again, another redheaded woman who reminded him of Lara, like Cady. Alynna had explained they were all related, and it made his head hurt trying to remember who was who. Also, there was something Victoria said that he was trying to remember, but couldn’t. It was something important and it kept niggling at the back of his mind.
“You’re free to go,” Grant announced as he strode into the cell, Alynna right behind him.
“Thank fuck!” Sebastian got to his feet. “I need to get some of my own clothes. These are just not me.”
“Wait, we have to go over a couple of things.” Grant motioned for him to sit.
“Fine, but make it quick.” He’d been waiting for this day, aching to get out and see Jade. Touch her, smell her, make love to her.
“First, you keep our secret and we keep yours. The Lycan High Council has been informed of your existence, though this knowledge will not be released to anyone else. And they agreed not to give you the confusion potion
or send you to Siberia to our detention center.”
“Lucky me,” he said sarcastically.
“Next, they want to keep you closely monitored. You’ll be registered with High Council, just like us, and we have to keep them informed of anything that happens to you. Now, if Alynna’s theory is correct, you might never shift into whatever animal is inside you. But we’re not taking any chances. If they determine that you pose a risk to us or the humans, then you’ll have to face the consequences.”
“Fuck, no!” Sebastian protested. “I’m not gonna be under the thumb of people I haven’t even met!” He wasn’t in the Marines anymore, and he didn’t take orders from anyone.
“Sebastian,” Alynna said. “This must be confusing for you. Believe me, I know. But this is for the best. The Lycan High Council won’t meddle in your personal affairs, but they need to know what’s going on with you to keep us all safe.”
“Besides,” Grant interjected. “As a Lycan, Jade has to follow all the rules the High Council has set. We all do. If you were human and you wanted to be with Jade, you would have had to pledge to follow all the same laws we do.”
“Fine,” Sebastian grumbled. “Now can I go?”
“Yes,” Grant said. “Go home and get some rest.”
Sebastian followed them out of the cell. Physically leaving the room made him feel much lighter. Frankly, he wasn’t sure how long he could have held it together. The Beast was growing restless, roaring to get out. First thing he was going to do once he got his hands on his phone was call Jade. Or, knowing her, she was probably already waiting for him as soon as he got out. He couldn’t wait to touch her again.
“You dickhole!”
Sebastian turned his head. A blinding fast blur came at him, hands going to his neck and pinning him on the wall. He was so surprised at the speed of his attacker; he didn’t have time to defend himself.
“Meredith! Stand down!” Grant ordered. When the young woman didn’t budge, the Alpha pulled her off Sebastian himself.
“What’s the matter with you?” Alynna admonished.
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