Grace, Sayde - Untamable [Moonlight Cravings] (Siren Publishing Classic)

by Sayde Grace

  “What exactly do you mean by ‘move forward?’”

  “Simple. You break the bond with Gandillion, mate with Stephan, and we take over the other Luna nations.” His lips turned into a dark quirk of evilness.

  “Then what?” Sidda had a good guess of what would happen once he got control over that many Lunas,. He’d try to take over the humans. But Sidda knew the human race wouldn’t go down without a fight.

  “One step at a time. Now this afternoon, I’ll release Stephan, who will be put under a close watch. I don’t know if your presence here is helping or hurting, but it won’t matter after Saturday. I’ll have what I want.”

  Not if she and Jasper had anything to do with it.

  “Whatever you say,” she muttered. “Anyhow, look, I need to talk to Scarlett. Is there any way you’ll let me visit with her?” Sidda hated having to nearly beg to see the woman, but like her mother always said, you caught more flies with honey than vinegar.

  Dane cocked his head to the side. “What on earth would you want to see that weak bitch for? If it weren’t for the kid, I wouldn’t have kept her, but he trains better with his mother around.” He shook his head. “I sorely wish I’d kept you, then I wouldn’t have those two weaklings. Yet those weaklings will keep you in line because, believe me, the first time you screw me over, I’ll torture them both until you beg me to stop.” Dane waved a hand at her, dismissing her completely. “Brockton, show Siddalee to the female quarters.” He turned back to the papers on his desk.

  Sidda burned to scream at him to go to hell, but she knew without a doubt he’d torture her brothers.

  A rough hand gripped her arm, snatching her toward the hallway. “Come on,” a tall blond man with harsh brown eyes grumbled.

  Sidda snatched her arm away.

  He stopped and sneered at her. “I don’t give a damn what Velham says, or Stephan. You test me, and I’ll beat your fucking face in. Now move.” He shoved her, but Sidda reared back. “Touch me and I’ll make sure that little shit of a brother of yours ends up like the others.” A smile spread across his face when she gasped.

  Sidda instantly hated this dickhead . “Why don’t you take your threats a little higher and stop hiding behind children. Be a man, or are you just a coward?” Sidda waited for the punch, waited for retaliation, but instead, he laughed.

  “I’ve been wanting to kill that little bastard for years, and now I get to. Thank you.” Without further comment, he turned to walk away.

  Silently, Sidda screamed in anger. She’d hoped to provoke Brockton into bragging about what he’d done with the others, but he hadn’t. Instead, she’d put a mark on Zeke’s back and would have to watch Brockton to make sure he didn’t really follow through with the threat.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Brockton’s sulfur smell poured down the hallway to her. She hated having to follow behind him. Then the long hallway ended in front of two cherry doors. Brockton turned the brass doorknob, and two heads turned in his direction. Scarlett rose from her chair with her head bowed in submission. Anger roared within Sidda. Her damn mother was cowering to a fuckhead like Brockton? She stepped to his side just inside the room.

  “You see at least one bitch around here knows her place,” Brockton whispered in Sidda’s ear.

  She spun around, kneeing him in the balls before giving him the ghetto ass-kicking of the year. When he fell to the ground on his knees, she jerked his head forward with her hands and brought her knee up to his face. Warm, wet blood splattered on her pants leg just above her knee. Jasper had wanted her to go take self defense classes at some gym. “Bitch,” Brockton grunted.

  “You’re goddamn right. Now get the hell out of here before I do it again. Why don’t you run and tell my daddy? Maybe he can control me better.” Sidda smiled sweetly at him before he jerked out of the doorway, and she slammed the door in his surprised face.

  Sidda shook her head. She shouldn’t have let him goad her into the fight. She focused on Russ, praying he’d hear her mental call. A zap of power hit her. Damn, the kid really needed to focus on a sneak approach.

  “Sidda?”

  Sidda smiled and rolled her eyes. Who else would it be? “Watch Zeke. I let Brockton goad me into a fight with him, which I won, but he’ll no doubt try to come after Zeke now. Stick to his side while I’m talking to your mother. I’ll find y’all in a little bit, all right?”

  A long pause met her before Russ’s power slithered through her. “All right, but be careful. Brockton won’t come after us, not now that you’ve shown him how powerful you are. He’ll go after you to prove he’s stronger.”

  That idea worked better for her. First, before she dealt with Brockton, she had to talk to her mother and Delilah to see just what her powers were without the added Alpha strength of Jasper.

  “Sidda?” Delilah’s strong feminine voice floated through the air.

  Sidda turned back to her and sighed. What had she just started with Brockton?

  “You may have angered him, but it’s damn good to see him put in his place.” Delilah smiled brightly.

  Sidda chewed on her bottom lip. “Well, I hope you’re right. He threatened to do the same to Zeke as he did to the others. I’m not sure which others he meant, but believe me, it doesn’t sound pleasant.”

  Scarlett flopped back down in the chair she’d been sitting in. “It won’t matter. By the time he has a chance, we’ll be gone. Maybe he’ll even be dead.” Her eyes filled with tears. “I hope so.”

  “Easy, Scar,” Delilah said softly. “Now, Sidda, come on over here and sit down. I have a strong feeling you need some answers plus a little advice.” She smiled warmly.

  Sidda nodded, then sat down on the cognac-colored leather sofa. “I do have questions. I’d like to sit down and ask a hundred questions about my birth, me being thrown out, what the hell has happened over the years, but to be honest, all of that has to wait. Well, at least my personal stuff has to wait. For now, I’ve got questions about my powers.”

  Scarlett wiped her eyes, pulling herself together as Delilah sat straighter. Scarlett cleared her throat. “What is it that you need to know?”

  Sidda glanced at Delilah, hoping she’d understand what she’d done to Jasper. A smile spread across Delilah’s face. “Oh, honey, if you only knew the things I did to Jasper’s father before we settled into a mated pair. Even after he’d marked me and we’d bonded.”

  Sidda shook her head. “It’s a little more complicated. Stephan showed up the other afternoon to tell me Jasper had marked another woman, my half sister I never knew existed. Well, to say I was pissed is an understatement so I kinda hit him.”

  “Kinda?” Scarlett smiled.

  “Well, maybe I knocked him on his ass, but he deserved it. He stopped calling me a few months back then shows up here to claim me as his mate. Then after I find out I’m a wolf, Stephan tells me Jasper had marked Vivian. Well, Jasper tied me to the bed.” Sidda’s face burned with embarrassment. “I agreed to listen to him so he’d let me go, but got so mad I kneed him in the head, knocking him out. That’s when Vivian showed up, and I knocked her out too. My temper stays calm most of the time. I mean, yeah, I back talk, but mostly I don’t get mad enough to fight.”

  Sidda shook her head. “But when I get mad, that’s it. I’m done, and someone is going to pay. Unfortunately, Jasper paid, and in my temper, I ran from him only to be forced here by Stephan. But I did find out I can use his Alpha energy against Jasper though. Somehow he can make me pass out. He’s done it twice, by the way, and kidnapped me afterward.” She quirked her eyebrows at Delilah. “Ms. Joy, the woman who raised him, tried her hardest, but it seems Jasper doesn’t understand women’s rights.”

  Both Scarlett and Delilah laughed out loud. The musical sounds filled the air, lifting some of the tension. “Well, I’m glad y’all think it’s funny, because let me tell you, when I returned the favor, he was plenty pissed with me.”

  “Of course, dear. He thinks he’s in charge of you. As y
our Alpha, he believes he can control you, which is absurd. No Alpha can truly control his mate. The only female strong enough to mate with an Alpha is an Alpha herself. And once bonded, the mated Alpha pair are nearly equals, and Jasper should remember that.”

  Sidda slumped down on the sofa. “Well, he’s plenty pissed at me about me using his power against him, but he’s kinda agreed to back off until Saturday night.”

  Scarlett cleared her throat. “What about Vivian? I caught a glimpse of her earlier.”

  Anger seeped into Sidda’s veins. She still wasn’t entirely sure how she felt about her half-sister being around Jasper for so long while she’d been left behind. “From what I can tell, she’s fine. I don’t know, as Jasper never mentioned her. He stopped calling me a while back saying it hurt too bad not to be with me yet still hear my voice. Bullshit.” Sidda grimaced. She hadn’t meant to throw out her and Jasper’s business, but maybe his mother could help.

  Delilah smiled. “As a child, Jasper was the most like his father. His father did things like that, thinking he was protecting me, then, when I’d stand up for myself, he’d completely panic, thinking I wasn’t strong enough or that he had to protect me. After he died and I was brought here, I’ve wondered many times if any of my boys survived and what they were like as men. Now I know, Jasper is his father’s son.”

  Scarlett’s eyes filled with tears. “Jasper is looking out for you, but I saw how strong you are, how strong your powers are. I think it won’t take long before he sees it too.”

  Sidda blew out a breath. She certainly hoped so. Knocking Jasper out had been fun at first, but she knew the more times she did it the madder he would get. Jasper wouldn’t forgive and forget about it so easily.

  “I need to know if it’s just his power that I harness or if I can do that with any wolf.”

  Scarlett cleared her throat. “My power is more along the lines of empathy like Zeke. From what you’re describing, it sounds like it’s you. I felt your calming when you were in the hall. I’d say you can use that as well as harness power from any wolf around to boost your power. Especially an Alpha.”

  Sidda nodded absently. Dane was arrogant, that was going to be his downfall. He believed being Alpha made everyone bow to him, even Sidda. But she wouldn’t, not really. Instead she’d play the part of cowering wolf, while gaining as much information as she could. “Can an Alpha stop me? Jasper hasn’t tried yet. Both times I’ve done it to him he’s been taken by surprise. Now Velham knows I can do it. Do you ladies think it’s possible that I could use it against his wolf or even him?”

  Delilah shook her head. “No, I don’t think it’ll work on a wolf with blocks as strong as Dane, Brockton, or Stephan.”

  “Jasper and I can take care of Dane.”

  Delilah squirmed in her chair. “What about my sons? Has Jasper found his brothers?” Her tone was thick with nervous energy.

  Sidda bit her bottom lip, thinking over what Delilah had just said. She had always assumed that Jasper’s brothers had been taken along with Delilah.

  “When I was ten, my best friend Cole and I found Jasper as a pup in wolf form. He was hurt, but we took care of him until he finally shifted back. It scared the crap out of us at the time, but Jasper told us what happened. After that, he moved in with Cole and his mother. He assumed his brothers were taken. We searched the woods for anything, but as kids, we really didn’t know what to look for. I’m sorry.”

  Delilah’s eyes filled with tears, and Sidda instinctively knew she had to do more for this woman, Jasper’s mother, her pack member. “Dane has a safe in his office. When Jasper and I found the warehouse that y’all were taken to, we found some files. Your files weren’t in there. I believe Dane has them in the safe. They should contain everything about you two, including children. With any luck, we can find Jasper’s brothers as well as the others who were taken.”

  “And the babies left at the warehouse?” Scarlett’s eyes begged Sidda to say they were safe or missing, but Sidda couldn’t.

  “I’m sorry, but we found the bodies of three babies at the warehouse.” Tears rolled down Scarlett and Delilah’s faces. “I’m so sorry. But we will avenge them and make the persons responsible pay for what they did. I promise.” Sidda mentally shook off the images of those poor children.

  She didn’t want to think about them, not yet. She had to keep her strength. But the heartache she’d been fighting off began to rush in. Jasper had been there when she’d seen those children. He’d helped her through that horrible place, but now he couldn’t.

  “Sidda?” Scarlett grasped her hand. “One of those babies was your other full brother. Dane kept them there while he moved us here.”

  Sidda sucked in a breath. Damn it, she’d known that they were all her siblings, but to hear it, broke her heart. She glanced away from the two women sitting near her. What could she say? They’d suffered so much over the years, all at the hands of her father, a man who only cared about power.

  “I don’t know how you two can even talk with me. Dane Velham is a monster, and I’m his offspring.” Sidda’s voice cracked. She’d prayed when this conversation came up she’d be strong enough not to cry.

  Both women shot up to sit on either side of Sidda. “Oh, honey.” Scarlett squeezed Sidda’s hand. “That man is not who you are.” She sighed. “I look at Zeke sometimes and pray that he will never turn out anything like his father. But when I met you this morning, I knew how wrong I was to pray that. Dane has a strength and determination that the two of you need. I see it in you, but your determination and strength is for good, which is one of many things that separates you from Dane.”

  Delilah hugged Sidda. An odd feeling of warmth seeped into her, calming her. “Not to mention that you’re made of two of the most powerful bloodlines which made you make you an Alpha female, and everything you have done so far is for the pack. You’re willing to give up the man you love to save pack members you’ve never met.”

  Sidda shook her head. She wasn’t willingly giving Jasper up. She’d run from him because she’d lost her temper, then been forced to come to Dane’s. She wanted to take it back and stay with Jasper. But now that she was in the middle of it all, she had to help get the innocent away from evil.

  “I’ve got to go break the bond. Jasper is going to be so pissed, and I don’t know what to do. If we make it through this weekend, I’m pretty sure things between us will never be the same.” Sidda wiped away the tears threatening to fall. This was not the time to cry.

  She had to get information. “Zeke mentioned the others being taken from here. I need to know what happened. Why Dane sent them away and kept you four. What happened to the mothers of the other children from the warehouse?”

  Scarlett straightened. “The other pups were about Zeke’s age, two girls and three boys. Two mothers were from the Orange Moon Pack. One was from our pack.”

  Delilah’s hand slid from Sidda’s as she began to wring her hands. “Dane never said anything about them, other than they weren’t what he needed. He had Zeke and Russ. He didn’t want or need what he called ‘weak’ wolves, so he told Brockton to take them away.”

  Sidda nodded. It was what Zeke had said, but there was more. “Zeke said he heard Dane tell Brockton to get rid of them, but he doesn’t believe Brockton killed them. He mentioned getting a rush of pure excitement and greed from Brockton. I think he sold them.”

  Both women stared at Sidda. “I believe they’re still alive, but Brockton has some serious blocks. Neither Russ nor Zeke can really get past them, and to be honest, I think Russ would knock him out with his power. The kid’s got a zap.” Sidda smiled.

  Delilah’s face lit up. “We can help. The boys are home-schooled of course, and we teach them. Dane will no doubt want their schooling ended soon so he can use them now. But while he’s busy with his plans for Saturday’s party he’ll want the boys out of the way. I’ll offer to give the boys extra lessons during that time.”

  “That’s good. If I can get Bro
ckton relaxed and calm, maybe the boys can read him and find out what he did with the others. I doubt Dane’s records will contain anything that Brockton did, as I’m fairly certain Brockton never told Dane what he did with them.”

  Scarlett shook her head. “No, even Brockton wouldn’t be stupid enough to tell anyone if he sold them behind Dane’s back, especially knowing that Dane would have wanted all the others terminated. But I still don’t understand why the bodies in the warehouse were left like that. Shouldn’t they have been taken better care of?”

  Sidda had thought the same thing but now had a stronger feeling. “Stephan said Dane told him they were sent to an orphanage while he was away, so he didn’t know anything about it. This is just me, but I am starting to believe that Brockton did that too, hoping to one day enrage Stephan enough to convince Dane that Stephan really is crazy. Brockton doesn’t seem real happy with Stephan for being given me or any more power.”

  Scarlett smiled, a huge smile lighting her face and taking years off of it. “You are very smart. I am looking forward to meeting the woman who taught you to use your mind so well. She’s done a terrific job.”

  Before, the thought of Sidda introducing her mother to this woman beside her had terrified Sidda. Not now. No, they would get along, and together, they would all be a family. That is if her sister backed the hell away from Jasper. If not, she’d spend the rest of her life unconscious or with an ass-kicking.

  The door swung open with a soft swoosh. Stephan’s violet eyes met Sidda’s, and they darkened to nearly black. He crossed the room in a few strides, eyebrows drawn together in a harsh frown, taking in the tears on her face. “What happened? Did he hurt you? Dane told me no one would touch you.” He grasped Sidda’s hand to jerk her from her seat to stand in front of him.

  She slapped at his hands. “No one hurt me. It’s a little emotional meeting my mother for the first time.” She crossed her arms over her chest, stepping slightly away from him. Well, as far as he’d let her.