by V L Moon
Jorn, a heartbroken father, turned to the pack in search of some solace. Khad's mother took the disappearance of her son badly. She retreated into herself, seldom leaving the house. Lost and confused in a house of silent adults, Tobias had howled and cried for his brother. Sage’s breath hitched.
Tobias! She knew he was somewhere behind her. Jorn would have sent him. Tears crested in her eyes as the past disappeared. It was the present and Khad was alive. He was in front of her. Reaching out a trembling hand, she tentatively touched the beautiful blonde waves of Khad's hair. It was just as soft and unruly as it had been when he was a child, except, the child had grown.
There was no mistaking the look in his eyes as he stared up from the deck. They held the same fear as her own. “I can't believe it's really you. After all of this time. Oh God, it’s you, Khadlyn.” Sage slipped out of Copi’s lap and pulled Khad against her. Shaking, she buried her face against the curve of his neck. Khad remained stiff at first, but then relented and closed his arms around her.
The tears came when she looked again into his crystal blue eyes. She cried, and then laughed, and then cried again. She knew the others thought she’d lost her mind, but she couldn’t let go of him. She hugged Khad in disbelief and did her damnedest to swallow back her own fear. Alexa's words echoed loudly in Sage’s mind. “You don't need to run anymore.”
Could it really be possible that she was safe? Could she hide there with the same people Khad called family?
Alexa knelt down beside them and rested a hand on Khad’s back. Sage almost growled when Khad lifted his head away from her shoulder. He had been gone for so long, but her need was selfish. The female in front of her knew Khad, had comforted him when he was alone and scared. Reluctantly, she loosened her hold. Alexa gave her a brief smile and then stroked the backs of her fingers down Khad’s cheek. It was obvious the redhead cared for Khad and considered him one of her own.
“I don't understand what's going on between you two, and I won’t pry. You know your pack will support you no matter what. But, we have to get them to the club. You know how Trenton reacts to strays.” The redhead looked up when Copi growled. “I mean no disrespect to either of you, but I know Trenton. We can't leave you out here running around on your own, not here, and definitely not on that island.”
“Trenton is savage. He destroys anything that challenges his authority. If he gets a whiff of what you are, we'll have a fight on our hands that we're not prepared for and will not win. I suggest we get you both back to the club, clean you up and let you rest in a warm dry bed.”
Alexa’s words were tinged with worry and comfort. Maybe the female could help them. As Alexa hugged Khad hard and stood up, Sage wondered if the redhead knew of anywhere remotely safe where she could start over again. She stood up on the gently rocking deck and eyed the hand Alexa offered. She cut a quick glance at Copi who nodded slightly.
With a sigh, she slid her fingers over Alexa’s open palm. A jolt of power sparked between their clasped hands nearly knocking Sage off of her feet. Khad's strong arms caught her and steadied her gently as she took the tentative step from the deck to the jetty.
As if sensing her reluctance, Alexa moved in closer. “It's alright, Sage, none of us will hurt you. I promise. Khad, Damian, Shaver and I, we all stay at the club. We have rooms in the back. We can keep you and Copi hidden and safe until we figure out what you want to do.”
Trembling, but only slightly, Sage looked at Copi. She needed to make good on her vow to help him. Without him, she’d most likely have died, drowned in the river or fallen back into Khurn’s hands. She desperately needed to call home and get Tobias and Jorn to Thunder Bay. They could assist with getting Copi to Rome, but more importantly, they needed to know Khadlyn was alive.
The buxom female tucked Sage against her side and walked slowly along the wooden dock. Her touch was surprisingly comforting despite the tingles of electricity. Sage eased into the female so that the curve of Alexa's slim waist molded to her own. It was second nature to allow the other female to lead.
Stepping from the jetty onto the thin strip of sand that lined the shore, Sage stumbled when a rush of bubbling anger washed over her skin. She whimpered. Alexa’s arm tightened around her. “Someone’s seriously pissed."
Khad came up on her other side and gave her a shy sidelong look. “Damian's safe, he’s just pissed at Alexa for going all alpha on his ass back on the island. He thinks she needs protecting.”
Beside her, Alexa’s laughter bubbled out. “He’s had his hands full since we were pups. I don’t take orders very well. But, Khad's right. Damian won't hurt you. He just worries too much. He'll calm down once he can see we’re safe. But first things first, let’s get you some hot food, a bath and some rest. Then, I'll handle my wolf.”
Sage blushed. She felt the rush of blood turning her paper white face a very warm shade of pink. She couldn't begin to imagine what she must smell and look like. “Copi’s probably hungry, but if it's ok with you, I'd rather skip the food. A bath sounds divine if you’re sure the others won’t mind me using your space?"
As they approached the parking lot, she saw the other two wolves had beaten them back to shore. Passing Damian, Sage shivered as his ominous fury trickled down her spine. She didn't look up as they passed and headed to where the other male waited in the Jeep. Damian's anger beat against her skin, blistering heat in the frosty night. Sage didn't care what Alexa or Khad promised; she wanted as far away from the brooding wolf as she possibly get.
“Don’t you worry about him, little wolf,” Copi whispered behind her. “I got your back. And, if they won’t object, I will. You need to eat even if it’s just a small amount.” Copi’s concern was as warm and as welcome as the weight of his hand pressed against her back.
~*~*~*~
Jesus H. Christ.
Damian's thoughts screamed inside of his head. He hated standing by and saying nothing as she offered the two strangers safety in their den. He didn’t doubt Alexa could hold her own and deal with the crisis concerning the she wolf. But fucking hell, the male was a hybrid, a complete unknown.
Damian's wolf snarled, desperate to protect his family. Damian knew he needed to curb his reaction. The hybrid, Copi, seemed focused on Sage and her safety. He barely acknowledged Alexa or the rest of them. His lack of interest was strange considering the strength of the wolf inside of him. Alexa was a dominant female, lush and ripe; however, Copi rarely spared her a glance.
Damian fought back his jealousy. The seriousness of the situation called for him and his wolf to remain vigilant. He lifted his nose to the wind, his keen sense of smell ramped up, but nothing dangerous lurked in the radius around them.
An Omega. A fucked up situation was made worse with that bit of news. Damian wondered if Alexa realized what sort of shit she was stirring by taking the female into their home. It was a risk, a huge fucking H-bomb that had fallen into their laps. But, they couldn’t turn her away, not with the knowledge of Trenton’s depravity. Trenton would want her locked away, if not destroyed on sight.
Omegas were almost unheard of in wolf society. Damian had thought them a myth, the stuff of legends. When one was born, they were prized jewels held in the highest esteem for any pack lucky enough to rear one. They were the quiet calming balm to the alpha wolf's raging dominant reign. They were supposed to balance out the power of the pack in a way no single alpha could. Which was why Trenton would hate her on sight.
Alexa was right; hiding her from Trenton was an absolute must. Damian just wasn’t happy having her so close to the female he wanted. He hadn’t missed Alexa’s reaction to the smaller female. It wasn’t just her desire to protect Sage that had driven her to expose herself so dangerously to unknowns.
He also noticed the way the petite, white haired female clasped Alexa's hand and buried herself against the lush curves Damian dreamed about and craved. She fit against Alexa so easily. The image propelled his already dark mood into a battle of wills between him and his wo
lf.
His beast snarled, wanting to bury its muzzle deep into all of that flowing red hair. But, Damian warred against the bastard’s need to claim. A complex compendium of emotions rolled off of Alexa to combine with the hurt and fear of the dainty she wolf. Even Khad’s unusual response captivated Damian. The visitors were having quite the impact on their little pack. Thankfully, the hybrid seemed to remain calm, almost detached except for the way he watched Sage.
The male’s stoic glare scanned every inch of the dock and the surrounding area before he moved to bring up the rear of the little group. Whatever had happened on the short trip from the island must have been bad. Usually, nothing fazed Alexa; yet, the look on her face told Damian some serious shit had gone down aboard that boat.
Releasing a low rumbling growl that trickled through clenched teeth, Damian fell into step behind Alexa and Khad. Copi gave him a curt nod recognizing Damian was protecting his own the same way Copi protected Sage. With Sage’s attention focused on Alexa and Khad, he studied her much smaller frame, the white hair, matted and dirty but still a startling contrast against the fiery mane of Alexa's flame red waist length locks.
At five feet nine inches, Alexa towered over the other female. Damian could easily make out her ribs on a body much more slender than Alexa's curvaceous form and couldn't help but wonder when she’d last eaten a hot meal or even fed her wolf form the sustenance it needed to help her heal.
Black fur rubbed against Damian's flesh as his wolf bristled beneath the surface. Damian smelled the sweet, bitter odor of injuries inflicted on the female, some of which refused to heal. He didn't need to see the marks to know she'd withstood a tremendous amount of physical abuse. It angered the looming form of Damian's black beast. It wanted release, freedom to tear and feed from the menace of her nightmares.
The wolf's reaction startled Damian; she was, after all, a stranger in their midst. His wolf refused his logic. She is Omega. She is to be prized. She’s a worthy ally to behold, and an equal to any alpha. Her power is one of pack, magic, and blood; yet, they abused her, our most sacred of wolves.
Listening to the furious thoughts of his beast, Damian kept a close guard as they made their way toward Shaver. With the emotional cocktail pouring out of Khad, Damian expected the male to take his usual place beside Shaver. Neither he nor Alexa could soothe Khad the way Shaver did. When Khad and Alexa flanked the young female in the back seat, Damian bit back a groan.
Shaver immediately keyed into the connection between Khad and Sage. He stared at the clasped hands and lifted his nose to sniff the air. Damian bit back a curse when Khad failed to even acknowledge Shaver. Hurt and fear bloomed in Shay’s glassy blue eyes. Damian didn’t give Copi a choice, he slid into the shotgun seat and tried to shoot Shaver a reassuring glance, but the younger wolf was lost in his own head.
Frustrated and angry, Damian tried to find some simulation of calm, but the wolf inside was far from being soothed. His family was being threatened by a dainty little bitch and her companion. Catching the glow of his wolf's green eyes in the side view mirror of the Jeep gave Damian pause. He needed to get his shit together. He could feel the female's fear along with Khad’s and Shaver's anxiety.
If they'd been human, Damian's wolf would have thrived on that fear and relished the idea of hunting live prey. But, they were his own kind, and they needed him to rein in the darkness of his mood before his wolf came out.
Damian closed his eyes, and as he'd always done, took pleasure in the feel of his beast. He soothed its feral nature with words only they could hear.
~*~*~*~
Sage didn't want him in the jeep. What's more, she didn't want Damian anywhere near her. The menace of his wolf scraped against nerves already raw. The shaking began as soon as she sat down in the backseat. Her skin broke out in a fine film of drenching sweat. She couldn't breathe, even when Alexa sat right beside her and Khad took the other side. Copi sat behind them hanging onto the jeep’s frame. Damian and the younger male were in front of her. The nightmare scenario of being cornered by unfamiliar males threatened to throw her into a shift.
Khad's hand slipped gently into Sage's hand. His thumb stroked over her straining knuckles. Immediately, the calming balm of an age old tie eased her fears. Alexa took her other hand in her sure grip. Lowering her head, Sage used the curtain of her hair to obscure her face from the males in the front seat. She focused on the hands that held hers; Khad's so pale yet strong while Alexa's was powerful and confident. The redhead’s touch sent waves of pulsating energy through Sage's palm.
The journey to the bar was short. Thankfully.
“The bedroom’s in here, and this is the bathroom.” Alexa swung open the two doors and waited for Sage to enter. The biggest bed she'd ever seen dominated the first room. She glanced up at Alexa who offered her a smile full of pride and confidence. There was no doubt Sage was looking at their pack bed, the place where they all slept together in a pile of fur or limbs. In that bed, they found the comfort and solace that only pack could offer. And, they were giving it up for her.
“Take one of my tee shirts. There’s underwear in the top drawer. It will all probably swallow you, but it’s clean.”
Sage held the hot pink shirt up to her body. It reached down to her knees. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. There’s soap, body wash, shampoo; whatever you need, it’s in there. Take your time. No one is going to disturb you. We have to get ready for opening. The door and room are soundproofed, but you’ll probably feel the vibrations of the bass.”
“Thank you.” It seemed that was all she was able to say as Alexa nodded and backed out of the room. Sage flew across the room and locked herself inside the pristine bathroom. She filled the tub and soaked her aching muscles in water so hot it stung against her skin. When it cooled, she showered and washed her hair. Cleaner than she'd felt in over a week, Sage slowly slipped her tired and aching body down into the soft mattress. She buried her face in the downy pillows to hide the tears as she fought not to cry. She was finally safe.
~*~*~*~
Chapter Thirty-Seven
~*~*~*~
Croatia
The scent slammed into his nostrils and blew every nerve from nose to brain. Vischeral’s fangs lengthened and throbbed. He growled and shook his head, fighting against the blood frenzy. His body and his mind writhed with his need to feed. Muscles twitched and jumped beneath his skin fueled by instinct and the primal need to survive. Darklon saw none of the battle waging inside of him. Vischeral refused to give him that pleasure. Instead, he lifted his head and gave the Elder a bored stare. One eyebrow lifted at the offered vein. Darklon’s own wrist gaped open.
“I’ll starve first.”
“We’ll see if you feel the same when hunger twists your stomach into knots,” Darklon sneered at him.
“Didn’t you learn anything the first time we did this?”
He expected the blow; didn’t try to dodge it. Darklon’s fist knocked him off balance. The chains on his wrists and ankles caught him before he could hit the floor. “That all you got?” Vischeral ran his tongue over his teeth and spit blood at Darklon’s feet. “Caught a little human bitch in Anchorage who hit harder than that.”
The second punch split his lip. Blood leaked down his chin. Vischeral raised his head, eyes defiant and glared at his Sire.
“Why do you have to be so damned defiant?” Darklon screamed spewing spittle in Vischeral’s face. “It doesn’t have to be so violent between us. We could be so good together.” The anger drained out of Darklon’s face and what replaced it chilled Vischeral to the core. Lust gleamed in the crazed depths.
“Let me pleasure you. I’ve learned a few things from the demons. I can make it good for you.”
The pleading sickened Vischeral almost as much as the thought of Darklon’s hands on him. Vischeral recoiled from the outstretched hand. “You can take your demon tricks straight back to Hell. I’ll never submit to you or give in willingly to your touch. You mad
e me what I am. You cursed me to an eternity of soulless slavery.”
“And, you did the same to that wolf thing in Alaska. It’s how I found you.”
“I did not take Copi against his will,” Vischeral snarled. Guilt skated along his spine. Copi had been unconscious and near death. His reaction after waking up had been less than enthusiastic. He was alone out there with no guidance; thrown into a world he didn’t know.
“Copi, is it?”
Vischeral’s attention snapped back to the Elder. Darklon’s eyes were clear; clarity had returned. Terror grabbed Vischeral by the throat.
“Maybe, I should pay your new changeling a visit. Offer him my hospitality; teach him what it means to be a vampire.”
“Leave him alone.” He knew the three words betrayed more than he liked and Darklon’s smile confirmed it.
“You’re not in a position to make demands, Bourne. Besides, it’s my duty as your sire to take in your bastards.”
“Leave him alone and you can unchain me. I won’t try to escape as long as Copi is safe and free of your brutality.”
“You will sleep in my bed.” The demand shot back at him. Vischeral fought against the shudder that rippled through his body at Darklon’s hungry purview.
“I’ll agree to sleep in the bed, but I will not ever submit to you. I will fight every unwanted touch or advance.”
It took several seconds, but Darklon’s deepest desires overrode his sanity. “Done, and I will enjoy the fights to come.” He waved the still bleeding wrist under Vischeral’s nose. “You should drink while you can. You’ll need your strength.”
