by Sayde Grace
Doc grunted but explained. “It’s the date of death. The files will contain it on the first page because it’ll be the most recent page of the chart. After that, we need to determine if there are DOB’s listed for each female. That will tell us if that female has had a child, when, if it lived, and hopefully where it is.”
“We know there were at least four births. Sidda and three others.” Jasper’s voice filled with remorse. “When we were at the warehouse, we found a small nursery with five adult skeletons and three child skeletons. All had their necks snapped. They’d been murdered.”
A collection of gasps from the women and one harsh curse from Doc said all that was needed to be said.
“There were five cages at the warehouse. Where does he have them now? And why the hell didn’t he destroy the rest of the evidence?” Cole leaned back, glancing over his file to look at Jasper.
“Why would he? There hasn’t been anyone to challenge him, and with the money and power he has, the police aren’t going to do anything to him. But I believe he’d have told his second to take care of this. At the time Stephan would have been just a teenager, cocky and uncaring. He probably didn’t care, until today that is.”
“I imagine he’s got some of the missing females at his compound. Of course I doubt he kept all ten of them.” A lemon smell seeped from both Ms. Joy and Ms. Angela. They were scared. And they had every right in the world to be scared.
“You’re right. BM3 died in 1995.” Ms. Joy sighed.
“BM4 also died in 1995.” Ms. Angela bit her bottom lip.
Ms. Angela and Ms. Joy set their files down, shaking slightly.
“A year after Velham took them. Does it say how they died?” Jasper sat his file down to study the files.
A tear slid down Ms. Joy’s face. “BM3 in childbirth, fetus died also.”
“BM4 miscarried and bled out.” Ms. Angela rubbed her eyes.
“Shit, man, this is depressing.” Cole tossed his file down and ran a hand across his face. “BM5 died in 1996 along with her two fetuses.”
“So many innocent women and babies.” Ms. Joy wiped a tear from her cheek.
“Well, that means we’ve got seven other females who could have survived or had babies who lived. We’ve also got those three babies to account for so push past this. Get another file and search. These women didn’t die to be forgotten. Once we figure out their names, we’ll make sure they’re atoned for and remembered.”
Sulfur flared in his nostrils as the bond between him and Sidda burned so hot he thought she’d burn him alive from the anger coursing through her.
“I’d say it’s movie time. Better get a move on it.” He rose from the couch, hating to leave the information behind but knowing he had to deal with his mate.
“You no good piece of cheating mutt. You’ve gone way too far this time.” Sidda’s shrill voice raged.
“Good luck. Did you chain her down?” Cole cocked his head to the side. With a nod, Jasper lumbered down the hall toward Sidda.
He pushed the door opened then slowly entered. She lay on the bed, spread eagle and flailing around, trying desperately to snap either the chains on her ankles and wrists or the bed itself.
“You jackass. When I get up from here, you are in deep shit. How could you?”
Jasper craved to soothe her, but Sidda had never been one for soothing. No, if he wanted her to listen, he’d have to command her to, and even then, it’d be hell. But a hell so worth it.
“Shut up.” He marched to her side, glaring down at her while pushing his blocks up mentally so she wouldn’t see past the façade. “I am your Alpha and mate, and you are mine to command. Now shut your wicked mouth while I explain things that I shouldn’t have to. As your Alpha, mate, and lover, you should trust me without question. Instead you show no respect.”
“You asshole! You marked another wolf, and you think I don’t have a reason to be mad?” Her tone rose higher than ever before.
“No, I think you should listen to me instead of trying to knock me out. But your damned temper got out of hand, and you wouldn’t listen…”
“So you made me pass out again? Asshole!”
He growled. She had called him asshole one too many times today. “I told you before, you are mine, and I will do whatever it takes to keep you, including tying your sweet tail to our bed forever.”
“I can’t be tied up forever.”
“Oh, but you can. Unless you agree to hear me out and stay. I will let you go if you agree to listen. If not, I’ll keep you here tied up and at my mercy.” Her eyes flashed with anger, and he knew he’d pay in some way for what he was doing, but he had to prove to her he was her Alpha.
“Fine, but I’m not staying here with you. I won’t.”
“You will. You are my mate, bonded to me for eternity, and I will not allow you to leave.”
“Allow me? Allow me? Why you—”
“Careful, babe, my patience is running thin right now. We have things to discuss, and I’m damned tired of being called an asshole.”
“Let me go, mutt.” Her icy tone made him cringe.
Seeing he was getting nowhere, he decided for a different approach. “Fine.” He released her wrist and then moved to her ankles.
He released one then turned to unlock the other. He ran a hand down her leg to the other ankle. Her skin was so smooth and soft it had his cock growing hard with need. He needed to possess her, and while he fumbled with the chain, her body squirmed under him. He gritted his teeth, wanting to slide over her and pound into her.
He smiled at the thought before pain exploded in his face and his world went black.
Chapter Sixteen
Sidda grabbed her shoes. Jasper wouldn’t be out for long, just enough time for her to get to the truck and hit the road. Of course she’d come back to get her mom, but for now, she had to get away from him. Her knee hurt like hell. Her hand massaged the spot where Jasper’s hard skull had met her knee. The man did have a hard head.
“Oh my god! What have you done?” a high-pitched voice screeched from the doorway. “You’ve killed my mate!”
Sidda spun around. Standing paled face and slack-jawed was the near mirror image of herself. But mirror image wasn’t her. The woman in front of her had long blonde hair and presented herself with a softer presence that screamed submissive. Something Jasper had proven he liked. Well, his no-good bastard ass could have her. No, strike that. Sidda straightened. No one could have him. He deserved to be alone.
“He is not your mate. If that lying bastard is anyone’s mate, he’s mine.” Sidda hissed.
The woman in the doorway took a small step forward, her eyes taking in Sidda from head to toe. “You are Siddalee Brighton?”
“That’s none of your business. Now leave.” Sidda jerked on her shoes.
“I cannot leave my Alpha injured, nor let the one responsible leave. You must pay for harming the Alpha.”
Sidda threw her head back and laughed until tears streamed down her face. Her heart pounded hard in her chest, and she tried to fight back the heart-wrenching pain coursing through her. This woman was the one he’d chosen so many years ago, the one he’d no doubt left her to go find.
“If you think you can stop me from leaving, then get your big girl panties on and try it.” Sidda strode across the room.
“I cannot stand aside and let you leave.” The blonde beauty stepped in front of Sidda and raised her hand to stop her.
That’s when Sidda’s world crashed. On the woman’s left palm, beaming back at Sidda, shone the scars of a Marking Bite. The wolf inside her shrank. It was Jasper’s bite. How Sidda instinctively knew she wasn’t sure, but she knew. He truly had marked someone else.
Without a second thought, Sidda reared back and punched her just as she’d punched Jasper earlier. The blonde slumped across the bed, her eyes closed.
Sidda glared at woman. “Do not even think about getting up. I swear to the good Lord above me I will rip your throat out if you try to st
op me this time.”
Sidda hoped she’d knocked her out as well. She itched to kick Jasper or hit him again but then figured it would be her luck he’d only wake up. Then she’d have to see him and the bitch beside him together. She couldn’t do it. She could not stand by and see Jasper with another woman. Not after she’d given herself to him.
Her feet echoed loud and heavy on the hardwood floor as she stomped down the hall. In the living room, she grabbed her phone from the table along with a set of car keys. She smiled even as bitterness burned within her. The keys in her hand brought little amusement to her, but the keys were payback.
“Alpha?” a deep voice rumbled from the archway leading to the kitchen.
Sidda glanced over. Six feet of muscled wolf stood staring at her throat. His eyes widened at her own Marking Bite. The man’s deep brown eyes met hers before a smile spread across his broad face.
“I’m not the Alpha. He’s sleeping.” Sort of. Sidda turned to the front door.
“You are the Alpha’s mate, which makes you my Alpha also. How shall I serve?” The man strode forward, keeping his head slightly bowed.
“Shit.” Sidda’s heart crumbled. She was not Jasper’s mate. This fool didn’t understand. The tears wouldn’t stop, and her throat threatened to close. God she hated Jasper’s bastard ass for making her feel this loss.
“Please do not leave.” The man smelled of wolf, and for a split second Sidda acknowledged that everything said between her and Jasper had been heard by the wolf and any others in the house. “Let him explain whatever has happened. I’ve traveled with the Alpha for a year, he’s a good leader, a good man. Give him a chance.” The man’s soothing voice failed to calm her. Instead it pissed her off more, and with that anger, she stormed away.
With tears of anger streaming from her burning eyes, she marched down to the garage and to Jasper’s most prized possession. His most prized possession just happened to be a badass 1971 Chevrolet Chevelle Super Sport, the junk car he’d restored in high school. The cherry red muscle car shone bright and hot under the dim garage lights.
Sidda thought of keying it or kicking the sides in, but she couldn’t. The car hadn’t done anything to her. So instead she slid into the driver’s side seat. Her link to Jasper began to buzz. Damn, she didn’t have much time. He’d be awake in minutes and beyond pissed. Turning the key in the ignition, she gunned the gas to burn rubber down the driveway, trying desperately to leave her pain behind.
An hour later, Sidda’s eyes hurt from crying and her cell phone hadn’t stopped buzzing in forty-five minutes. She’d finally put it on silent and turned off her voice mail. A small, red cinderblock building called her name. Sidda turned off the road toward the old barn. She’d never been there, but they were bound to serve whiskey, and by God, she wanted it in large quantities. A large sign above the door informed all who entered that any species were welcome. So far only the wolves had come out, but it was good to know that people were accepting the term species, as in more.
The dim light shadowed the faces at the bar. They were faces she didn’t care to know or see. She hated the smell of stale beer and cigarettes, but tonight she’d ignore them both. Tonight she’d drown herself in whiskey then call Cole to come get her. At the end of the bar sat a lone, empty stool waiting just for her.
She ambled to it and slid onto the deep red vinyl. Sidda rested her head in her palms, hating that her heart still ached, and that the link between her and Jasper singed her with his anger. Soon, very soon, she’d be so numb he wouldn’t be able to send her that anger.
“Here you go, hon.”
Sidda glanced up. A small blue-haired old lady handed her a bottle of whiskey.
“Need a glass? Doesn’t seem like you do, but I could be wrong.” She smiled warmly at Sidda.
“No glass. Thanks.” Sidda attempted a smile, but by the sympathetic frown on the woman’s face, she knew she’d missed the mark.
“Forget him, hon. No man is worth that much pain.” The lady patted Sidda’s hand before turning and walking away.
There was no forgetting Jasper, ever. Shit. She wiped the tears from her eyes and, with trembling hands, unscrewed the cap on the new bottle of whiskey. Alone at the bar, she pressed the glass bottle to her lips. The harsh bite of alcohol stole her breath. Her eyes watered, and she fought to keep the burning liquid down. The fire of the whiskey burned away the cold that had seeped into her body when she’d left Jasper. Taking another sip, she sighed. Shit, she hated him for hurting her.
“The key is to not think so much about it.” A scratchy, familiar voice had her straightening and spinning around.
She turned just in time to see Stephan slide onto the bar stool beside her. His odd violet eyes shone in the dim light. How oddly beautiful they were.
“Fuck off. I’m in no mood.”
“And I’m supposed to give a shit what kind of mood you’re in?” He grabbed the bottle before she could stop him and turned it up, taking a long drink. His throat bobbed up and down with the deep swig. He was marred on one side of his neck from a bite. She idly wondered who and when a wolf had done that to him.
“Your father, sixteen years ago.” His smirk told her she’d let her face show her curiosity. “You need to learn to better control your emotions, they shine in your eyes telling all just what you’re thinking.” He sat the bottle down in front of her. “Drink.”
She fought the urge to gag at the thought of putting her lips somewhere his had been. But then Jasper called to her, his desperate plea for her to return home rang in her head, and she snatched the bottle from the table.
“I despise you. Why are you here?”
Stephan’s voice was a mere whisper.“You don’t know me. Save your hatred until after you’ve gotten to know me.”
“I don’t want to know you at all.”
“Oh but you will. You are my mate. That piece of trash had no right to touch you, much less mark you as his.”
Anger surged forward. He was right, Jasper had no right to her, he’d already chosen someone else. She turned the bottle up again.
“What do you want?” She cocked her head to watch Stephan. He took the bottle from her hands and sipped the amber liquid again.
“You.” He stared into her eyes.
A strange heat flushed her skin. Shame spread through her. Shit, this wasn’t right. She couldn’t feel any type of heat when it came to him. In fact, she shouldn’t feel anything but hate towards him after everything she’d learned he’d done. Plus, no matter what Jasper had done, she loved him.
“Try again. You’ve killed, murdered wolves and people, you’re Velham’s second, and earlier you said you’d seen him whip my mother. You don’t get me.” Her mind fuzzed as thoughts of Jasper alone with that blonde settled into her head.
“I wondered how quick-tempered you’d be, but you didn’t take my bait earlier. I may be many things, but I would not stand by and let a female be whipped.” He grabbed the bottle from her again.
No, but he could let them be raped, and that was just what Dane had done. Sidda glared at the bottle in Stephan’s hand. “Stop doing that. I figure I need this entire bottle. Get your own and leave. I have no desire to be drinking and sharing details of my life with you. Go away.” Her head swam.
“I don’t want to leave, and you need someone to talk to.” He smiled, showing a full set of perfect white teeth.
If the man wasn’t a cold-blooded murderer, she’d have found him not bad looking. He wasn’t Jasper, but not bad. She groaned. Shit, she had to stop thinking about Jasper.
“You see, I need someone to talk to also. Today I was met with a rumor that the she-wolf I’d been promised as a child had not died as my Alpha told me. Instead, she’s very alive, and everything I’ve ever dreamt of. She’s the one who can calm my wolf, make me a better man, but she’s mated with another. Well, at least she thought she was.”
Sidda’s heart raced. He was talking about her. “Dane told you your mate had died?”
<
br /> He nodded slowly. “The elders of my pack said I’d have to be killed because my wolf would turn forest crazy before I reached twenty. That I’d destroy my pack and everyone else around. Dane took me in. For my promise of servitude, he promised me a female who would calm me, calm my wolf and give me life. But then that wolf was taken.”
“Taken?” Sidda blinked, her vision blurry.
“Yes, taken by the devil to keep me on my path to insanity. But now she’s back, and she can save me. Sidda, you are mine. You are my savior.” The sincerity in Stephan’s words startled Sidda.
She wasn’t his. She’d given herself to Jasper too many years ago to be anyone but his. “I’m not, I can’t be. I’ve already mated with Jasper.”
Stephan shook his head. “Not truly. He may have marked you, but the bond couldn’t be complete. Not when he’d marked your sister first. The first Marking is the bonded one. They are bonded, not you and him. You are mine, Sidda.”
“I can’t be yours. Now please go away. I just want to be alone.” Tears poured from her eyes. Stephan’s fingers brushed them away before his hand traced her jaw.
“You’re so strong. You can stop me, Sidda. I need you more than Gandillion ever will.” His broken whisper made her tears fall harder. Jasper didn’t need her, because he had her sister.
“I will give you everything.”
“I can’t. You’re a monster. I’ve seen and heard about the things you’ve done.” She stared into the abyss of his violet eyes. A storm of emotions raged in them.
“But you can stop me. Don’t you see that? Don’t you know you were made for me? Come to me and stop me, Sidda, before I destroy everything you love.” He grabbed the bottle, turned it up one more time, then left.
Sidda sat motionless on the bar stool. Her head swam, her eyes were blurry, and her heart was breaking. She slid from the seat and sat down some money on the bar before heading to the car.
What was she going to do? She slid into the car and rested her head on the steering wheel. What the hell was Stephan talking about? She couldn’t be his. She hadn’t been made for him, right? She slammed her fist down on the steering wheel beside her head.
