Enslaved in Shadows

by Tigris Eden

  “Let me check this out. Then bring her in.”

  Draven nodded and turned to the back seat to stare at her. She had her hands in her pockets and looked out the window trying to catch a glimpse of Royce.

  “Hey,” he patted her knee and she looked up and smiled at him, it wasn’t a fake smile but it wasn’t warm and inviting either. It was hesitant. She didn’t know what to say and neither did he. It’s not over between us. She wouldn’t want to hear that at the moment. Didn’t want her to think she was next choice beef on the list, that wasn’t the case at all. She was everything and so much more. She was the air that allowed him to breath. She was a fire in his blood. A bold strong flavor you’d never want to be without. Words were hard to come by, but that would have to suffice for now. It wasn’t like he was Shakespeare and shit.

  “We need to talk after this trip is over.”

  She nodded her head in agreement as well, she didn’t fight she didn’t argue. A loud crash in the dark and Royce was cursing. They both rushed from the car at the same time to see a tall statuesque woman with violet eyes stand over a fallen Royce.

  Draven held his stomach in and laughed, served him right.

  “Who the fuck are you?” It was Bells.

  “Damn, did you have to hit me in the face, it’s my best feature!” Royce stood and wiped the blood from his mouth. Blue blood, Draven still couldn’t get over that. No one else seemed to notice, Royce was quick enough to catch it with his tongue.

  Jesminda and the woman locked eyes and ran to embrace each other. It was her friend he’d briefly saw five years ago. They’d never been formally introduced.

  “How’s Faith?”

  “Fine, she’s asleep in the bedroom. I heard the noise and came out to see el stupid coming through the front door.” She glanced over at Royce. “Boy, you are all kinds of stupid.”

  Royce grunted as they entered her home.

  “Bells, I would like you to meet, Agent Draven. He’s the gentleman I was with five years ago in Belize. And Agent Royce. They are the men who escorted me from The Shadow Unit. Sorry we frightened you.”

  “Shit, I wasn’t scared girl, you know me.” She graced them with a no nonsense grin. “I got this on lock. I’m going to make us all some tea. Make yourselves comfortable, not at home, but comfortable. Act like you have home training.” Bells glared at him and Royce. Royce leaned forward and whispered in Draven’s ear.

  “Dude, I’m so getting her back for that punch. Enjoy the show.” His grin was telling and Draven could only guess at what he had planned.

  Jesminda excused herself to the bathroom and went to wash up. When she left the restroom, she had on a black tank top and dark blue jeans with sneakers. Bells came out from the kitchen with a tray of tea and some toasted bread. She eyed him briefly and sniffed in his friend’s direction. Royce flashed her, his best grin and she snorted, not even giving Royce the time of day. This of course stabbed his friend in the stomach on a molecular level. Royce stood and attempted to help her with the tray. He was such an arrogant bastard. He was the ultimate ladies man as Draven and the others liked to call him. His ego was inflated on a galactic level. It would wrap around the entire galaxy at least a million times, and still there’d be some left over.

  “I got this fool.”

  Royce bowed low. “My apologies,” he tilted his head to the side and Draven could see the mischievous intent in his eye. Jes had returned in time to see Royce at his best, or at his worse, as it would be. Bells was not interested in him in the slightest. Draven watched as she sat on the couch across from them. He didn’t want the distance. He wanted her in his skin, right next to him. Let her breathe.

  Royce cleared his throat. “Okay Bells, I just need to say something to you. If you don’t like it you can just give it back but I am going to just lay it on you.”

  Draven covered his face with his hands and groaned. Was his friend really going to do it? Draven sat forward waiting for Bells to say something. This was going to be good. Really good.

  “Well, get on with it.” Bells sighed.

  “I am not as stupid as I look dear lady. I’ll have you know I have an extensive library with mahogany wood and leather bound books that will have your head spinning in delight. Furthermore and pay attention, as this is most important. I know you want me. I can feel it in my bones.” He bowed his head, looked up with a sincere expression. “I wanna be on you.”

  The room was silent, and Bells’ face held no emotion or expression. For a minute, Draven thought she was going to melt right there in her chair. Most women did. She did the complete opposite. She and Jesminda were both so distracted by his Ron Burgundy speech, which of course Royce added his flare to, neither of them saw him nick his palm with his pinky and drip a drop of his orgasmic blood into her teacup. A few more seconds and they both looked between each other and died of laughter. Bells was laughing so hard, Draven thought she was going to die.

  “He’s got jokes.” She giggled to Jesminda and taking a deep breath.

  “Apparently, I had no idea you had quite the sense of humor, it’s cute.”

  “Laugh all you want ladies, but I got all the game, my moves are solid. Ladies love me. In fact, beg me for attention. Beside my moves are impeccable. All ladies cream in my presence”

  Bells huffed, rolled her eyes, and cracked a smile. There it went the smile that all ladies gave Royce. He almost felt bad for Bells. Almost. Draven watched as Bells poured the cups of tea in each cup and handed out napkins. Royce sat up straighter and held his cup mid sip while watching Bells over the rim. She took a sip and sighed into her cup. She looked at it a couple of times and sat it down. He thought maybe because it was diluted with the tea it would take a while to take effect. And so him and Royce watched and waited.

  * * * *

  Jes looked over at the two men who were staring seriously at Bells. It was like they were waiting for something. What were those two up to? She looked over at her friend who was drinking her tea and thought. What if they knew what she was? Royce looked her over sharply and bowed his head. He was trying to figure Bells out, but why? Her friend got up and walked over to the sink. She followed.

  “How’s Faith?”

  “I thought I told you she was fast asleep,” Bells looked her over worriedly. “You sure you okay honey? Did those two Neanderthals do something to you? I will fucking wipe there asses out. Swear to the heavens.”

  “No, I’m fine really.” Bells would definitely try if she had the slightest inkling Jes was lying. There were other pressing matters that needed her attention far more. Draven was about to meet his daughter.

  “Can’t believe you brought Faith’s father here. Does he even know?” Bells mouthed the words. The other men in the living room would be able to hear it clear as day if she hadn’t.

  She shook her head no. Royce had already read her mind, knew what Belinda was. Her friend needed to know big mouth could read minds. She popped her head around the corner of the kitchen wall and both men had their heads together speaking silently. They were too engrained in their own conversation to be worried about her and Bells.

  “Royce is a mind reader.”

  “I figured one of them would be. Don’t worry I got my game face on, Chica.” Bells mouthed back. When they’d made it back to the living room Royce stood abruptly and headed for the door. Before he reached for the handle, he looked over his shoulder in confusion and dread. Bells grinned and gave him a pinky wave. He always smiled, threw out snarky comebacks, something. Instead he said he was going to check the perimeter of the house and if anyone needed him to call. The door slammed shut behind him as he left and Bells looked between her and Draven and politely excused herself to the bathroom.

  “We need to talk Draven.” Jesminda hesitantly whispered.

  She watched as he adjusted his watch and patted the place beside him on the couch. She didn’t know if being next to him was a good thing or bad. He confused her on all levels. Emotionally, physically, and mentally. A
s she sat down there was a small squeak over in the corner and then a very sleepy very happy little girl was running and jumping into her lap almost stumbling. Perfect. The conversation she needed to have now sat sleepy and soft in her lap. Draven hadn’t said a thing. Wasn’t even looking at the little girl. His nostrils flared and his expression was blank. His hands knuckle white as he took another series of breaths and seemed to calm himself. She wasn’t prepared to have this conversation in front of her daughter but Faith had other plans.

  Her daughter did what she thought another wolf would perhaps do to an outsider encroaching on their territory. Her little girls breathing became erratic and she sniffed the air around her mother’s neck, then her face. She can smell him on me. This had a way of going south really fast. Her little girl was nice, but didn’t like to share what she claimed as hers. She belonged to Faith. Her daughter was very overprotective of her mother. Draven’s head shot up at the sound of her daughter taking careful inventory of the scents her mother now wore on her skin. Her face buried in her mother’s neck. Faith seemed to calm after a moment and sighed deeply. This was definitely new. She‘d never reacted this way before to a stranger’s scent. It’s his daughter; maybe she knows he’s a part of her? Could be. But she wasn’t the expert on werewolves and their offspring. She was learning as she went, taking one-step at a time. Even Bells wasn’t the leading expert. She only knew werewolves were born not made. That was the end of her lessons. Everyday there was something new to discover with Faith.

  He was sifting through the scents trying to pick out the myriad smells of the house then the three of them. She did know were’s had advanced olfactory sensory, but at times of heighten stress or emotions it took them a bit longer. She had assumed of course as Faith was half-human, but it seemed Draven was either not acknowledging he had a child or was still trying to figure out the confusing situation.

  “I want the both of you. In my life.” He said on a short breath.

  “What?”

  “You and your daughter, I want us to be a family. My scent is strong on the both of you. I don’t understand how. I don't even know what it means. All I know is I can’t live another day without knowing it’s you I will come home to.”

  Her bottom dropped out. She wasn’t ready for another relationship. She’d just gotten out of one. Sure, there were feelings there, but who jumped ships this quickly? Marcus was bad for you. Draven will be good. That could be true, but was she really ready to chance that? He’d lied to her. Told her she couldn’t get pregnant. Left her just to go and have some other woman wrapped around his body like a silk wrap. All the hurt he’d caused was flooding her memory and putting her on the offensive. Faith rubbed her hair in a soothing motion. So many times the role of caretaker switched between mother and child. Her daughter was only five, shouldn’t have to deal with a mother who was an emotional wreck. Emotionally dead. Too much had happened and the love she had left didn’t have room for him. Her heart was too crowded.

  “I don’t understand what that means but, I have something that needs to be said. I need to say it first.” She rubbed her daughter’s back. She was going to be strong for Faith, strong for the both of them. Faith deserved to be a child not an emotional blanket for her tattered soul. Draven nodded and waited for her to speak.

  Jesminda never got the chance. Her little girl bulldozed right into the conversation. Sleepy green eyes pierced identical green. Draven’s face paled a white out during a snowstorm. He swallowed once, twice. Nostrils flared and his eyes sought her for confirmation. Yup, she’s ours.

  “You’re like me, but you’re a boy. Mama says boys are dirty and smelly and I should stay far away from them in the sand box. You,” she pointed at a sick Draven, “are not dirty at all.”

  He almost knocked her and her daughter over as he stood. It was fast enough the coffee table slid back a couple of inches for good measure.

  “Whose child is that?” He pointed a finger in the direction of Faith.

  “I’m trying to explain.” Jesminda protested. Faith tried to pry herself from her mother, while attempting to whisper but failing miserably as most children her age did.

  “Mama, he’s mine, right? I want to keep him, can I?” Draven looked between her and Faith and took another step back. He was scared, unsure. It wasn’t like she’d hid her child. She could have said something sooner. That would have been the adult thing to do. But, she’d kept quiet instead let the idea of the two of them meeting fester in her gut. Jesminda had fucked up.

  “Faith, he’s not a boy, and yes he’s like you. This is Mr. Stone.”

  Faith eyed him a moment longer and cracked one of her blinding smiles. And whispered.

  “You don’t look like a Stone.” Faith turned back to her mother confused and almost looked a little hurt. “If he’s a Stone then so am I. We’re alike.”

  Jesminda laughed and kissed the top of her daughter’s curls and nodded in agreement.

  “Mr. Stone, I’m a Stone you’re a Stone so let’s be friends.” There was that blinding smile again.

  Faith held out her arms to him, and for a second Jes’s heart cracked. What if he didn’t go to her? What if he backed further away? Their daughter was not one to take no for an answer or handle rejection all that well either. Draven cracked a cautious smile and walked slowly over to Faith. Her heart was expanded from his actions. Faith had that effect on people, didn’t matter the situation. Her daughter was a people person. She chose her words wisely for a little girl. She thought hard before she spoke words to anyone. But not her father, she knew on some level he was hers. Must be a werewolf thing. How else could Jes explain how her little girl knew?

  Draven reached a testing hand to their daughter and Faith took his hand and used it to get out of her mother’s grasp. They both looked at each other and for long seconds neither of them said a thing. It was like they were getting to know each other. Silently communicating their thoughts. Her daughter walked closer and sniffed him on the hand. Draven didn’t move her he stood there and let her feel him out. After she walked a complete circle around him, she faced him head on and reached her hands up so he could pick her up. He was hesitant at first, he looked over to Jesminda as if to ask permission, and once he got her approval, he scooped her into his arms.

  * * * *

  The small child Draven held looked exactly like her mother, but also looked like him. The likeness squeezed his chest hard. He’d been handled by a five year old. There was a striking resemblance to his mother Mara. She’d stood with trusting knowledge and challenged him. Did a complete three sixty around his entire body. And he let her. Anyone else walking into his space in direct challenge would be down, throat up in submission. His wolf knew her to be his and the animal side of him was proud to have created such a miracle. Five years. Five fucking years he’d missed out on watching her grow. His mother would be shamed. He’d gone outside of their families wishes and bonded with a human. Once Mara got over the initial shock, she would be more than proud to call this bundle of heaven her granddaughter. Faith would be accepted.

  Faith was beautiful, a special blend of him and her mother in a way that would have all wanting the love of this amazing little girl. Her beautiful curls cascaded in long chunky spirals to the middle of her back. Amazing eyes green like his and her mother’s, with flecks of gold outlined the outer rim. Beautiful golden hued skin was soft and warm in his arms. She belonged to him and even if she didn’t Jesminda was still his mate. His wolf howled with satisfaction of the realness of it all. He couldn’t sire a child with a human unless she was destined to be his.

  Irrefutable evidence no one could deny. His daughter was a wolf. She would get the respect she’d deserved as would her mother by his side.

  “Hi.” Faith whispered.

  “Hey angel,” he said with a smile. He brought her close breathing her in. How could something so small have such a gratifying effect on his heart? She was so caring and trusting. The way most young were with their parents. What the
hell had he been thinking when he’d said he didn’t want to have any pups? To feel the joy and warmth he was feeling now would be a blessing any man would want. She is ours. He looked down at Jesminda who’d started to cry. Her shoulders shook silently, and he didn’t know if they were tears of joy or pain. He should have been there for her, for them. From the beginning, not five years later. Why hadn’t he picked up on the changes in her body? Your wolf did. He didn’t have time to over analyze the past, but somehow he should have known. The only thing out of the ordinary that evening had been his animal side’s attempt at bonding. Was that the missing link? If he’d linger a bit longer, would he have realized the change? He couldn’t deny there had been a connection. He’d reacted to her instantly. It should have tipped him off. He’d given her no second look or care due to her gene pool status. Don’t make the mistake a second time.

  He walked with Faith wrapped around him like a monkey over to the couch, sat next to Jesminda, and brought her into his other shoulder trying to soothe her. He would always want this, his daughter and mate tightly embraced in his security. He’d been in the shadows for too long. It would always embrace him. The moon would have it no other way. But he wouldn’t be alone in it, but enslaved by it fully embracing its nature with his mate. Jesminda was in a different kind of dark, and he needed her to be in the light. Standing with him as equals, she was strong and capable. She only needed to be pulled in the right direction. His mother always said behind a strong alpha was a very capable and stronger Luna.

  “Momma, don’t cry Mr. Stone is not going to hurt you promise.” Faith said as she reached over and patted her mom on the shoulders. Her small delicate fingers rubbed soothing strokes along her mom’s skin. Her senses were well developed. Faith was attuned to her mother as a cub should be. The difference was this bond should have been reciprocated between mother and child. Humans were different in their rearing of their offspring. Cubs needed constant touching and reaffirmations of their parents’ security and love. He had no doubt Jesminda loved Faith with every part in her body, but there was more his daughter required as a wolf. Female cubs naturally tended to display stronger emotions than male cubs but the coddling and caring was no less. Jes didn’t realize in her actions and constant uprooted emotions had negative effects on Faith. His daughter handled it better than most cubs would, and he was sure a lot of it had to do with her being bring up around humans. It would take time for all parties to adjust.