Lissa reached up and kissed his lips. “I’m going to have to teach you how to be tactful when dealing with others.” She teased.
“What? I think I did fine.” He glanced at the other women who were holding back their smirk as they nodded. “I will have you know, I have plenty of experience with the ladies. I’m no fledgling.”
With her hands on her hips, Lissa glared at him. “First lesson, never talk about other women you have been with if you want any sex that day. Now go!”
“You were the one who accused me of not knowing how to talk to a woman and now you are angry at me? Something is seriously wrong with this picture, and you will not threaten me.” Nikola leaned down inches from her face. “Remember who your master is.”
He had dropped his voice, her nipples hardened, and the scent of her arousal drifted to him. “Tonight ten lashes.”
Chapter Ten
Jaycee watched from the deck as Remi and Clayton split wood talking. Clayton had just stepped down, giving Remi total control of the packs here on this new realm. Of course Clayton and his father would help with the snake people, Clayton’s father already making contact with them. Even Bo had bowed down to Remi. Now the only person who was any threat to his power was their own, Dane.
Large arms engulfed her from behind and she rested her head on Mark’s chest. “I’m worried, Mark. Dane has pulled away from us. Remi hasn’t said a word, but I can feel his confusion.”
Mark nuzzled her neck. “Dane has always led, his wolf wants to confront Remi, and Dane is trying to hold it back. Shit.” Mark released her and jumped off the balcony.
Dane stood in the clearing half man/half beast. His growl rent the air and sent a chill up her spine. Clayton turned slowly and backed away as Remi threw his axe to the ground.
“No!” Jaycee cried and followed Mark off the porch, shifting half way before Mark caught her and held onto her.
“This has to be done Jaycee, we can’t keep going on like we have been. Dane and Remi have kept the peace trying to keep you safe and from worrying. There is no more waiting.” Mark moved back, scooping her up in his arms.
Clayton joined him as Remi and Dane circled each other. Remi had at least six inches on Dane and was built like a tank, where Dane was lean and muscular. Growls filled the air as others slowly circled their leaders, waiting and watching.
Marsha ran over to Jaycee and grabbed her hand, but Mark refused to release her. Everyone held their breath and waited to see who would move first. They didn’t have long to wait. Dane charged Remi, swiping his claws across his stomach.
“God Mark, you have to stop this! They’ll kill each other. How are we supposed to live after this?” She screamed and tried to break away again, but he held fast, shaking her.
“Enough Jaycee! It has to be done and once it is, you’ll see things will be better.” Mark jumped up on the porch. “Go inside till this over, Jaycee. They wouldn’t want you to see it anyway.”
Jaycee spun on him. “No, I won’t stay here Mark. Lissa!”
Lissa appeared in the living room and frowned at her, then at Mark. “What’s wrong?”
“Can my children and I come over? I need to leave now.” Jaycee glared at Mark.
Mark nodded. “Maybe it’s best, because whoever the winner is, they’re going to come searching for you, and the way your attitude is, it could mean trouble.
She ignored Mark and gathered Marcia and handed her to Lissa, reaching for her sons, when she heard the roar outside. “Damn!” She turned to see Remi in the door, blood dripped from his wounds, his face swollen.
He glanced at Lissa. “Watch the kids for us will you?” With that Remi didn’t give her a second before he was on her. He put her over his shoulder and ran from the room taking her outside into the middle of the circle. People cheered as he set her down and backed up.
“Psuchegyne look at me,” Dane said behind her. He had used his special name for her. Jaycee hadn’t heard him call her that in months. With tears in her eyes she turned, her hands shook so badly that she stuffed them into her jeans, to stare into a very swollen and bleeding face.
“It’s over Psuchegyne.” He stepped forward and kissed her lips softly. “Remi is now leader here in this new world. I’m going back to Earth, Jaycee. I need time away and I can help the others rid the area of enemies so they can start a new life.” He wiped her tears away.
She could have sworn her heart was in her throat. “You’re only going to be gone for a day right? You’ll be back tomorrow or the next day?” Her nails dug into his arms as she grabbed him, Nikola appeared behind him and waited.
He shook his head and glanced up at Remi. “I don’t know how long Jaycee, but I’ll be back, that I’ll promise. Remi and Mark will be here for you, and if something is life-threating, they’ll know how to get ahold of me.”
Her legs gave out, and she would have fallen to the ground if Remi hadn’t wrapped his arms around her. “You can’t, Dane you promised me you would never leave me!” Jaycee reached for him, but he pulled back.
“I’m not leaving you Jaycee, I just need to pull myself together and to do that…” He glanced at Nikola. “I need to be alone. I love you, Jaycee.” And with that he was gone.
Nothing worked as the tears fell down her face. Men and woman walked away. Marsha had tears running down her face, as did Shelly, but said nothing. Remi picked her up and cradled her in his arms as he made his way up the stairs into their new home.
Sitting down on the recliner, Remi just held her and rocked. No one said anything, Mark sat nearby, while Lissa watched and fed the babies. Her body was numb, her heart was in shreds, and Jaycee didn’t know how to move past all of this. Part of her was gone.
“I feel as if I’ve been run over by a plow.” Jaycee looked up into Remi’s face. “I didn’t see this coming, Remi. I should have been able to help you two.” She slipped off of his lap and made her way up the stairs. “I failed all of you. How do I fix this?” Jaycee whispered, as she closed the master bathroom door, leaning against it.
Fresh tears fell, while she stripped out of her clothes and started the bath. Jaycee couldn’t even contact him.Their bond was still hampered by their enemies. She tried to look back and see what she missed, but she couldn’t see anything.
Wrapping her arms around her knees, she rested her head on her knees as the warm water filled the tub. The bathroom door opened and closed, but she didn’t look up, knowing at once Remi was there.
The drop of his boots and jeans onto the floor gave her the only clue before he stepped in behind her and sat down. “Jaycee, we made sure you wouldn’t see our problems. There is nothing you could have done.” He pulled her back and she rested her head on his wide chest.
“Maybe we were wrong in keeping it from you, but all three of us were worried about you and the babies. I knew it was coming to a head.” Remi leaned his head back against the wall. “I should have done something sooner, but I was hoping things would work out. Dane and I have always joked with each other, driving the other crazy at times, but when we both realized we were mated…well it got complicated.”
She slowly turned and glanced up at him. “Wait, I don’t understand? I know you’re mated with Mark, but you’re also mated with Dane? Since when?”
With his eyes still closed, he took a deep breath. “From the beginning Jaycee, but both of us ignored it, until today.”
Shock was beyond words. Jaycee sat there and said nothing, until Remi glanced down at her and smiled. “You know this is the first time I’ve seen you speechless.” He turned off the water and she slapped his chest.
“This is not funny Remi! I want my family back.”
* * * *
Dane turned and shook Nikola’s hand. “Thank you my friend. I’ll contact you soon, I promise,” he said, all the while he was surveying the damage to his old home.
“You do know what you’re doing, right? Jaycee was crushed. Do you think it’s wise to leave now?” Nikola asked, studying him. “Is it s
o hard to admit you love the man, Dane? Because I know for a fact he loves you.”
Straitening his shoulders for a minute, then lowering them, Dane ran his hand through his messed up hair. Every muscle in his body hurt. “No Nikola, it’s not hard to admit that I love him. I’ve loved and admired Remi for a long time, but I need this time. All my life I was raised to lead and now? I just don’t know, I feel lost.”
Nikola grabbed his shoulder. “You know Remi needs you. He’s not only leading just the wolves, but other shifters now. With this new world, all of us must come together if this is going to work.”
“Dane, Nikola it’s good to see you both,” Grant greeted them. He was almost as tall as Dane, but built more like Remi.
“It’s good to see you safe, my friend. I’m afraid Nikola won’t be staying. He has his people to move. It’s just me for a while.” Dane turned and walked over the charred remains of one of his family’s cabins, but before he did, he gazed back at Nikola.
“Tell Remi I’ll be home soon.” Dane shifted and took off, running towards what used to be the pack house. Grant was now at his side. Destruction was everywhere, trees burned, stone walls crumbled in the ash that use to be wooden walls.
Shifting back, Dane stopped at the large pile of rubble, which had once been his home, and howled. Tears streamed down his face. “So much work and love gone.”
“No, Dane. Things can be replaced, but your memories and your loved ones are what are important. In all of this…” Grant waved his hand to the mess around them. “They can have it all if I can have back my sister and mom. Not one piece of wood or stone is more important to you than those you love. If anything, this war has taught us all this, we can morn what was, but live in the future, my friend. Now come, I have some people waiting to see you.” Grant smiled and shifted, nudging him with his nose.
He knew Grant was right, but the sight around him still brought a tear to his eyes and anger so fierce he vowed those who did this would pay. Bones popping, muscles contorting, and his vision changing, Dane took off next to Grant, letting him lead the way.
Running for what seemed forever, Grant finally dove underneath a burnt-out car. Inside Dane laughed as he followed the small maze of tunnels, which brought back the memories of making these with his father and brother. The enemy hadn’t found all of what they had done.
Turning the corner, Dane came to a stop as they entered the large underground cabin. Grant shifted and greeted his brother, Seth and Remi’s brother, Ralph. A long red scar ran up his neck to Ralph’s cheek.
He shifted back, and extended his hand to Ralph. “Ralph, god it’s good to see you. Remi has been worried and so have your folks.” Dane pulled the man into a hug.
“I know, but it’s almost impossible to get word to you guys now. I have half of my pack already moved over to the new lands, but for those that wanted to stay, I brought them here. I figured we should combine what was left of your two packs and mine. It will give them enough men to protect those that stayed behind.” Ralph stepped back as Seth held out his hand to him and shook it.
“It’s good to see you, Dane. How’s that lovely mate of yours, Jaycee?” He teased him and that’s when he remembered Seth had always had a thing for their mate.
Dane shook his head and laughed. “Oh my friend, you never stop, but I’m glad that even with this around us, I still see your humor. Jaycee and our children are doing great. Even though right now, I believe she’d like to skin me alive if I showed up.” They all laughed until Grant and Seth’s little brother, Wayne, who had to be about five, came up to him and pulled on his hand.
“Sir, are you going to stay here with us?” Dane kneeled down by the boy and ruffled his hair.
“No, I’m just here to help for a little while, then I have to go to my family.” The little boy frowned and turned to leave.
Dane glanced up at Grant puzzled, and he sighed, kneeling down next to him, pulling his little brother into his arms. “Wayne, all of this will end soon, but Dane needs to be with his family. His mate just had three babies. Don’t you think he needs to protect them, like we try and protect you?”
“But you need help Grant, you even said so. I’m afraid.” Tears fell down the boy’s face.
Ralph laughed. “Well I can’t believe it, I’ve been dissed by a little one.” He smiled and picked the boy out of Grant’s arms. “Wayne, I have brought over three hundred more men to help your brothers. You’ll be fine.” He let the boy down and they all watched him take off, running out of the room into another yelling.
“You’ll also have about fifty men and about ten women coming in from Adonis’s Clan. They have agreed that for now, it is best for shifters to stick together.” Dane stood and glanced around the large room. He could still remember building this with his father and brother.
Ralph nudged him. “Dane, you have to stop living in the past. How are you going to move on, if you keep looking over your shoulder?”
Seth handed him a dented can of coke. “Sorry, right now we’re low on supplies.” As soon as those words were out of his mouth, the room and hallway filled with food staples.
“Nikola and his men are always close if we need to get the little ones out of here. I believe this should hold you over for a while?” Dane smiled, and turned back towards the entrance. “I’m going to scout around.”
He shifted and glanced back before he took off to see that Ralph had shifted as well. “You don’t honestly think I’m going to let my big brother’s mate go alone, do you?”
Ralph, the smaller gray wolf, ran in front of him. “Now I know why Remi grumbles about you.” Dane mumbled, but smiled inside as they made their way back outside, careful to make sure no one was around as they came out of the tunnel.
The air was filled with smoke and death hung in the air as if waiting for the next victim. They covered over three miles before they heard what would be considered a whine. Moving slowly Dane peaked over the butt of a hill and saw a woman lying on the ground grabbing her leg.
Crawling next to him, Ralph scanned the area. “It’s a trap. I can smell their slime.”
“Of course it’s a trap look at the woman, she was from my clan, but she is also a traitor.” Dane snarled. “Blair!”
The woman’s head snapped up as if she had heard her name called. The skin on her face clung to her bones as if there was no muscle under the skin, there were dark circles under her eyes, and a long scar ran from the bottom of her left eye to her chin. Time had not been good to her, but she had made her bed.
“I remember Remi talking about her, how she got away from the both of you in Montana.” Ralph snapped and inched forward. “She’s an addict. Look at the needle marks on her arms. Hell, she even has them on her legs.”
Dane scanned the area when his stomach tightened and his breath stuck in his throat. Grant’s little brother had followed them, and now moved slowly towards Blair. “Are you all right? My brother will help you, he helps everyone.” Wayne glanced around before moving towards her again, but before he could take a step, Jaycee was there in full beast form, stepping in front of him.
“Run, it’s a trap!” She growled out before Blair jumped and attacked her.
Chapter Eleven
Lissa shifted, knowing at once they had transported into a trap, but she had hated seeing her friend worry about Dane. “Nikola is so going to kill me.” She snapped and moved to protect Jaycee’s back as she and the strange woman fought.
“You die tonight, bitch!” Jaycee screamed and latched on to the woman’s neck, but not before the woman raked her claws down Jaycee’s arm. Three large males moved in, two of them in beast form, while the other hissed and she knew he was a snake shifter.
“I so hate snakes.” Lissa crouched. ready to take on any of the men when Adonis and Pierre appeared in front of her. On the side, she caught Dane’s form moving up fast.
Adonis attacked first, followed by Pierre, leaving the snake man to her, but once again Nikola was there, his sword raised.<
br />
Vender countered with his own sword which appeared out of thin air. “Hello, dear brother.” The man said, his appearance changing in front of her eyes.
Vender’s sword met Nikola’s. “I understand you now rule our homeland, so why are you here? Isn’t ruling one world enough for you?” his brother sneered, and countered Nikola who said nothing, but that didn’t stop Vender from running his mouth.
“She is beautiful, if you’re into a little chunk. Me, I prefer them on the skinny side, but she’ll do as my sex slave. Who knows, maybe I’ll share her with father.”
A cold chill went up Lissa’s spine as she wrapped her arms around herself and glanced behind her. The woman at her feet was dead. Jaycee lifted her head and stared at her, before she let a howl out filling the night air.
Dane and Ralph approached Jaycee slowly, but she snarled at Dane. “You left us!”
She reached out and Lissa took her hand. “You lied to me again, just because you were afraid to admit what has been there for months.” Jaycee shifted back to her human form, tears rolled down her face. “Let’s go home Lissa, I was wrong to come here.”
Lissa squeezed her hand, and took a quick glance at Nikola, who still battled his brother. “Go, I’ll be home soon and we’ll be talking about putting yourself in danger again.”
The air around them swirled, small pinpoint lights circled them until Lissa let out her breath as she opened her eyes to see them back at Jaycee’s home. Remi stood in the room, Lissa could have sworn she saw smoke come out of his nose, he was so furious.
Jaycee brushed past her, ignoring Remi as she headed into the master bedroom. “You’re hurt!” He stated plainly.
On that note, Lissa left them, and went home. She gazed around the large airy master bedroom. Lissa still hadn’t done anything to redesign Castor’s home, but now that she knew they would be living there, it was time. Plus she needed the distraction, because as soon as Nikola showed up, things were going to heat up.
Running in Fear: New Beginnings Jubilee Page 8
