Pride Before the Fall

by JoAnna Grace

  "So you are?"

  Vivian shook her head. "That's all you just heard? Melissa! Come on. Trace will kill him and make me watch."

  "But you won't let him, sis. You nearly killed Trace once, you can do it—"

  "No. I never want to be that monster again. He had you, Melissa. There's no one on this earth I love more. That's the only reason." Vivian closed her eyes. The memory of Melissa naked and strapped to a table, Trace slapping her and shredding her clothes so he could rape her, replayed in her mind. Vivian shook her head, wishing she could dislodge the memory. "I'll never be that helpless again. Not even to my mate. I don't care what it costs, I'll protect my family."

  Melissa stood paralyzed as Vivian shut herself in the bathroom. Their conversation was over, but she had one more person to talk to and she would need Ty to help her do it.

  * * * * *

  It had been twenty-four hours since his encounter with Vivian, and Kasey could barely sleep. When sheer exhaustion took him under, his dreams featured a satin kiss and long legs in a tight red dress.

  Kasey startled awake but didn't move his body. The wolf had caught a scent. He was not alone in his room. Using all his heightened senses, he pinpointed the exact location of two people by their heartbeats. One steady and slow, one like a rabbit. He smelled the gun oil and knew when he opened his eyes he would be within inches of the business end of a pistol. But he also smelled a mutated version of his mate.

  "Melissa, darling," Kasey kept his eyes closed. "Will you please tell your husband to put down the gun? I would hate to make my future sister-in-law a widow."

  "Last time I checked," replied a gravel bass voice, "I was the one with the gun to your head. Not the other way around."

  Kasey opened his eyes. Tyrone was as close to his animal as Kasey had ever seen a man. His eyes were night-glow yellow rimmed in black.

  "I see my security is slacking."

  "Slightly."

  Kasey frowned and moved to sit up. "I'll have to work on that." Instead of focusing on Tyrone, he looked at Melissa. She was standing in the corner with her arms wrapped around herself. Even with her mate in the room to protect her, she was scared. "Come, little one." He held out his hand. "I'm not the big bad wolf and only something important would have you sneaking in here. What's wrong?"

  Hesitantly and looking to Tyrone for reassurance, Melissa walked over to his bed and sat down on the furthest edge. She ignored his out-stretched hand, and Kasey remembered that Melissa didn't touch outsiders. Tyrone put the gun in his lap as he sat down in a chair within striking distance. If Kasey made a move he didn't like, this man, this shadow, wouldn't think twice about killing him.

  "I'm sorry for breaking in. But it's urgent and I didn't think you would care... I hope."

  "Is something wrong with Vivian?" Kasey's heart sped up at the thought of her old alpha catching up to her.

  "Not yet. But you know why I'm here. She told me that the last time we saw you at the club you kissed her. There's no way you missed the fact she would be in heat soon."

  "And she is?"

  Melissa nodded and blushed slightly. "It's coming. She was on edge tonight, having nightmares, snapping at me. My sister never snaps at me except when she's in heat."

  Kasey knew exactly why Melissa had made a dangerous trip to his home and snuck into his bedroom. "She won't let me near her. You know that."

  Melissa looked over at Ty. He nodded, giving her the go ahead to speak of nightmares. Pretty blue eyes looked right into Kasey's, but only for a second. The sadness those eyes held tore him to pieces.

  "Our old alpha, Trace, took Vivian from our family." She stared down at her hands in her lap. "He wanted me. Well, he'd wanted us both: me on his arm, Vivian in his bed. Our family was well known and respected in our Pride. Vivian and I were both highly sought out and our father often set us up with influential men in hopes we would find our mate among his peers. My sister wasn't going to have it. Ty and I were already promised to each other. We knew at a young age we were mates. Trace found out, threatened Ty." Melissa looked at Tyrone with a deeply rooted love that Kasey envied and needed like his next breath.

  "Trace told our parents that Vivian had been selected for a training program out of state with a larger Pride. We didn't know that he'd locked her away, put her in a cage just big enough for a human, but not for a tiger. He would beat her, rape her, and do things I can't even speak of. Her body was a reward for his men who pleased him." She took a deep breath, her next confession a painful one. "Conall is... Trace's first cousin."

  This was news to Kasey and he wondered if that's how Trace knew where the Pride was. That thought was quickly banished.

  "Trace knew that Conall was smitten with V. We were all friends. We played music together. It's what bonded us. Trace saw Conall hanging out with Amilynn and me. He also knew that Amilynn was Ty's twin sister. He put the pieces together and thought that if he used Vivian as a prize, Conall might give up where Ty had disappeared to. Then he could use Ty as leverage to get me. Thankfully, he highly underestimated the friendship we had and the character of Conall. As soon as Conall saw Vivian, he knew he had to get her out. But he couldn't do it alone.

  "The problem with sick, twisted people is that they don't care who they hurt, not even their own blood. Trace knew Conall would never rape Vivian. He cared too much. So Trace forced his hand. If there is one thing Trace is good at, it's leverage. Moving one pawn to manipulate another. Conall had to take Vivian to save her life."

  Kasey scrubbed his hand over his face. He had no idea what a sick fuck Trace was until that moment. All Kasey had ever heard of the Nevada alpha was that he was powerful and a strong leader. He had the façade perfectly in place. No one ever heard these stories and no doubt Trace would do anything to keep word from getting out. Including tracking and killing five people.

  "Conall vowed to get her out, and eventually he did. It took time, planning and in the end, we barely made it out with the clothes on our backs and a few stolen guns."

  "He has to be stopped." Kasey looked at Tyrone. "You can bet Vivian and Melissa weren't his first or last victims."

  "I have people on the inside," Ty said. "They keep me informed. Trace is alive. It's taken him a long time to get back up to health. He hasn't taken in any more girls that I know of. But yeah, he needs to die."

  Kasey nodded, then turned to Melissa. "I want to help her. But I can't make her do anything. That's where I screwed up at the club. I thought she would react better to being dominated."

  "I don't envy you," Tyrone snorted. "Vivian walks a thin line between wanting a male's power and needing her own. You can't ask for submission, but you can't submit either."

  Kasey raked his brain trying to figure out how to make this work. "If she doesn't come to me, or ask me to come to her, this will never work. I can't push, not after everything you've told me. I'll never give a reason to associate me with that sadistic sonofabitch."

  "Thank you. That means a lot, really. There is one thing you can do."

  "Anything, sweetheart." Kasey gave her his best smile.

  "She needs a place to stay while she waits it out."

  Kasey leaned over to his bedside table and pulled a key ring out of the drawer. He took a key out of the bunch and gave it to Melissa. "This is to a cottage our unmated females use. There is food, medication, and supplies that will help ease her pain." He gave Tyrone directions. "Make sure she takes her cell phone. I'll come the second she calls. But only then."

  Melissa reached out and took his hand. It surprised and pleased him. "Kasey, being away from your mate in heat is going to be difficult on you too. I'm sorry."

  He patted her hand and reassured her that he didn't become alpha by being weak. Then he brought her hand to his lips. "Thank you for coming to me, Melissa. Though," he said, casting a glance at her husband, "I think you should call first next time. I'll gladly let you in."

  Melissa smiled sweetly. He knew it had taken a lot of courage for her to come to h
im. This was a woman who would risk her life for her family and he respected that tremendously. Melissa was much stronger than she let on.

  "I do have to ask how you got into my room." Kasey tilted his head in a wolfish manner.

  The blue eyed, black and red haired beauty smiled like the Cheshire cat. "My mate has many talents that he's shared with me over the years. But to you, they shall remain a mystery."

  Tyrone stood up and held out his hand. "Come on, angel. We need to get back before V realizes we're gone."

  Kasey leaned over to his bedside table again to grab his keys, only taking his eyes off them for a second. When he looked back, they were gone. In the blink of an eye, they had disappeared into thin air. A chill rolled up his spine. "Holy shit. That guy is scary good."

  He wouldn't get any sleep that night. Between thinking about how to help Vivian and figuring out how Tyrone snuck Melissa into his bedroom, his brain wouldn't shut off. By the time the sun came up, he was no closer to either answer.

  CHAPTER TEN

  Vivian was sweating like a whore in church by the time their show was finished. It was midnight and she was ready to get the hell out of her own skin. On the way home, everyone was quiet, her oncoming heat causing emotions to intensify and hormones to bubble over. Ty and Melissa were about ready to rip each other's clothes off right there in the car. Conall was giving both unmated females a wide berth.

  When they entered the apartment, Ty handed Vivian a key and a note with directions. "Go."

  "What's this?" Vivian questioned.

  "It's where the females of Kasey's Pack go when they're in heat if they don't have a partner."

  Vivian scowled at Ty. "How did you get this? Tyrone?"

  "Just go." Without another word, he grabbed Melissa's hand and pulled her to their apartment across the hall. Melissa looked over her shoulder with pleading eyes and mouthed, "Please."

  "Don't think I'll forgive you for this," she called out to the retreating couple. Vivian looked at the two people left in the room. They feigned innocent expressions.

  Amilynn shrugged. "Get out of here, V. Go get your man and get laid."

  Between the fever and Vivian's anger at her sibling's interference with Kasey, Vivian was almost irrational. "I told you guys not to stick your nose where it doesn't belong," she growled.

  Ami, just as on edge and hearing a challenge, stepped up in her face. It didn't matter that Vivian had a good six inches on her, Amilynn was power in a small package. "Your business is our business, V. You mating a wolf affects us all."

  "It changes nothing!" Vivian screamed.

  "It changes everything and you damn well know it. Stop being so fucking stupid."

  Vivian cut Amilynn off with a swift slap across her face.

  Ami grabbed her face and looked at Vivian with wide, red-rimmed eyes. "You stubborn bitch!"

  Vivian was appalled at her actions. She reached for Ami, but she backed away. Conall stepped in between the girls and put his hand on Vivian's shoulder.

  "Ami, I'm sorry. Oh God, I'm so sorry." Vivian ran her hands through her hair, wishing she could just pull it all out. She sat down on the couch and closed her eyes, trying to regain control.

  "You're an idiot, Vivian," Amilynn said with a shaky voice. "All three of us look at Ty and Mel wishing we could have that. We pray for a mate who will cherish us the way they love each other and now you can have it." She steeled her resolve so no tears fell from her eyes. "You can have a man who will love you more than anything on this earth. He wants you, Vivian, even with all the crap that might come with you. How can you just throw that away?"

  "I'd throw away much more to protect my family," Vivian said, her own emotions making her voice quiver.

  Amilynn gave her a cold stare. "And who will protect us from you? Who's going to protect us from the bitterness that you'll harbor for the rest of your life?"

  "Ami," Conall warned. Amilynn was on the verge of crossing a line with her alpha.

  "No, I'm right and she knows it." Ami looked back at Vivian. "Don't blame your fears and unhappiness on us, not when you know how to get rid of both." She went into her room and slammed the door.

  Vivian and Conall stared at each other. So much history had passed between them, and somehow, he was always the last man standing when her rage came out to play. "Please leave me alone," she begged. "I don't want to hurt you too."

  Conall wrapped two arms the size of tree trunks around her and held her close. "After all I've done to you, you're due for some vengeance. Do your worst, alpha lady." He kissed the top of her head.

  "I don't deserve any of you."

  "I know. You deserve much better."

  Vivian stayed there for a long time taking in the strength of Conall's affection. He had given up everything the night he and Amilynn rescued her family. Conall could have had women, money, influence and everything he wanted by being Trace's pet. He was too good, too honest and honorable. It was a testament to his character that he stood by Vivian when she was at her worst.

  But he had an opinion to share.

  "Just say it," Vivian said, breaking the awkward silence.

  "You will go to this cabin. And when you get there, pick up the damn phone and call your mate."

  Vivian hissed at his direct order.

  "Hush," he whispered, tightening his arms around her. "You know as well as I do that you having a mate changes everything. Whether the woman concedes or not, he's your cat's choice. It's time to stop running, V."

  "I can't."

  Conall reached down and cupped her cheek, bringing her eyes to his. "You can. And you will."

  "We can't stay here, Conall. He will find us. And when he does, he'll come with every assassin he's got."

  "Then you should solidify your mating with Kasey and make sure we're part of his Pack. We're going to need his soldiers."

  Vivian leaned back and scowled at him. "Are you telling me that you want to join Kasey's Pack? You want to bring Trace and all his troubles here?"

  Conall pushed a lock of hair out of her face. "I'm saying we don't have a choice. You can't be away from your mate, V. Both of you will suffer from separation. And God knows where you go, your family goes. Kasey understands every aspect, I assure you. He's smart. He's considered all the options."

  "And what if I don't want a canine as a mate?" Vivian sneered.

  "I think it's the only mate you'll take." He pulled her head back down on his chest so he didn't have to see her face when he spoke. "I've seen how vicious the cat can be. You've been downright hostile to every other feline alpha we've had contact with over the last few years. You don't trust males of your own kind—not even me, deep down—so your cat went for the next best thing. He's what you need."

  "Conall," Vivian whispered, wrapping an arm around his neck. In truth, if Vivian would let him, Conall would be with her in a heartbeat. Trace had known this when he presented Vivian as his prize. But that plan had been twisted when he realized Conall wasn't the monster Trace wanted him to be.

  There had been such a fight when Conall saw Vivian for the first time, strapped to a table, naked, bruised and bleeding. Despite the fact both Conall and Trace were lions, Conall couldn't win in a fight of claws and teeth. He was too conscientious of who he was hurting when they battled. That was the cousin he'd played with as a child. In the end, Conall had been nearly killed and he was forced to take Vivian.

  "Just get it over with," she'd whispered when he climbed up on the table. Her eyes were dead and cold, fogged over with the desire for death to take her out of this misery.

  "I'll be gentle, I promise."

  And he had been every time. Conall had whispered of escape and plotting Trace's murder while pretending to kiss her neck. Vivian never responded. She simply turned her head to the side and stared at the bastard who watched his cousin fuck her. Vivian was planning her own justice and she looked Trace right in the eyes every time he raped her or beat her. Never did she give him the satisfaction of tears or screaming. Viv
ian took everything he gave her with cold eyes promising revenge.

  Looking at him now, this man that had known her so many times, she knew the guilt and shame he carried in his heart. All he wanted was to right the wrongs he'd done against her. Perhaps if the cat weren't so damaged, Conall might have been her mate.

  Vivian took his head between her hands. "It's not your fault." She looked deep into sad blue eyes. "It's not because of you. If you had resisted, he would have done much worse to us both. He's manipulative and evil and he knew how much it hurt you to take me. But after what he and his men did, you were relief."

  "I'm right though. Your cat chose someone so different because of all that."

  "Maybe. But not because of you." Knowing it would take more than words to reassure him, she leaned closer and pressed her lips to his. Instantly her cat became agitated: this was not her mate. Vivian mentally calmed her and gave Conall a long, slow, affectionate kiss.

  When she released him, he arched a brow and smirked. "If your big, bad mate gets pissed off about that, I'm blaming it all on you."

  Vivian laughed and smacked another kiss on his cheek. "He can get over it. You and I have a history not even mating can undo."

  Conall smiled and pushed back her mass of hair from her shoulder. "You bet. Now go to that cabin before those hormones of yours get us both into a bad situation."

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Kasey sat at the conference table the next day surrounded by his advisory council. At the moment, they were all gawking at him as if he had three heads. Except for Nina. The petite black bear's jaw was on the floor.

  "What do you mean you found your mate?" Her guard had dropped just long enough for the council to smell her jealousy. It fumigated the room. Nina had been after him for years. "Who? What is she?" Kasey could all but hear the wheels turning in her head.

  "Nina, please let him speak." Sampson. He couldn't stand Nina's infatuation with his brother-in-law. How many times had Kasey made it clear that his wolf was not interested in the bear?