by A. M Martin
"Yes." Loral snarls at Dean.
Dean’s eyes glow his lips curving into a nasty smirk, "Tisk, none of that."
I smile softly. I can't believe he has the nerve to do that. It makes me want to bust out laughing. To sneer in Loral’s face letting him know we don’t fear him or this place, but honestly, that would be a lie. The only one not having any fear in this situation is Dean. I’m sure he's used to things like this, hell he was the Prince of Wolves once upon a time before he let the rage take him over.
The door opens again.
My eyes shut momentarily. Fear dries my mouth and I feel my heart beat hard and fast in my chest. My eyes snap open when I hear the first click of dress shoes walking into the room.
A large burly man in a white dress shirt prowls to the head of the table. His eyes a pale blue. So close to my own color. That it has my hands shaking.
Loral stands, bowing his head to the newcomer. "May I present Alpha Bane. One of the Council."
He's a huge man. His muscles stretching the seams and buttons of his shirt as he pulls out the black chair. The legs scrape across the marble floor. The sound of it like nails on a chalkboard.
He takes his seat and turns those blue eyes on me. His head cocks to the side looking at my hair, my face, my neck.
His gaze pauses there. His eyes glowing with a yellow hue.
"Loral." He drawls out in a southern accent.
"Yes, Alpha."
Bane's eyes pulse still looking at my neck. A heat blazes my cheeks and I fidget in my chair.
"If I remember correctly you informed us that she was an Empath. Why do I see mating tags on her lovely slim neck?"
I shift in my seat, Dean's hand laying upon my thigh, gripping it softly as Kayden’s hand finds my own underneath the table.
Loral's voice wobbles, "I'm not sure?" His head bows leaning to the side. His beady eyes locked onto the floor.
The Alpha pulls his steely gaze from me. My breathing comes easier and my shoulders relax.
"Do you know, that empath's do not mate with wolves. Don't you Loral? And they definitely do not mate with two." Bane snarls.
Every little hair on my body stands up on end at the deadly sound.
Loral hunkers down in his seat, "She is an empath Sire."
Bane looks back to me, "Are you pet? Are you an empath or is he lying to me?"
I gulp and wet my lips, "I am."
His wide hands come up in front of his face. A finger tapping at his lips in thought.
"You have two mates. Which I assume are the males on each side of you."
I nod. A cold sweat breaking out on the back of my neck. Dean’s and Kayden’s hands tighten their grip on me.
"Have you formed an Em-bond with them also?" Bane’s head tilts to the side looking at the three of us.
"Now why should that matter?" Dean purrs.
"And who are you?" Bane asks his eyes flashing with something I can’t put my finger on.
I want to dive deep into my well and pull my sight up just to see what emotions he’s feeling. Bane is locked down like Fort Knox and my fear keeps me from diving into my sight.
"Her mate," Dean smirks.
They hold each other's eyes. Their power filling up the room. The little hairs on my arms stand up on end as their power slowly flexes growing stronger.
"It matters because every empath is bound by law to form the em-bonds. I just so happen to be looking for a new empath." He looks at me again. His eyes filling with greed.
He stands up slowly, "This is something of a concern. I can feel how powerful she is." He purrs walking the length of the table. His eyes never leaving me.
"Loral." He barks out leaving the room. Loral moving swiftly after him.
There's a spell of tension. Then Cam blurts, "We can leave now, right? They left. We should leave."
I’m paralyzed in my seat. I don’t know what happened. I don’t understand any of it.
The others go to stand. Kayden pulls me up locking his arm around my waist leading me out of the room.
Doom unfurls in my gut. He's looking for an empath of his own. His own. My heart drops. Is this why I was invited here to be one of the Councils empath. To be his? Can he force this on me?
The elevator doors shut gently. My breath stops in my throat. Can they, will they try to take me away? Take me from Kayden and Dean? I know nothing of their laws. I'm a mate. Surely there has to be something that prevents them from taking me right. Right?
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
My mind is in a dense fog walking out of the Castle and to the Car. Can they really take me? There has to be some rule against it right. They just can't swoop in and grab whoever they want. How would my life be if they could? Would I be little more than a slave? Be hidden away in a room like a dirty little secret or would I be the doll they put on a pedestal for all to look at?
"Avery?"
"Huh," I mumble seeing nothing, biting my lip.
Would they kill Kayden and Dean? The others? What would happen if they did? We share more than just a mate bond. Wouldn’t that kill me too? Or would they keep my mates as prisoners, using them to control me?
Through haze-laden eyes I see a strong hand come up to my face. A rough thumb slowly pulls my red swollen lip from my teeth and gently turns my head. Copper eyes find mine and hold my gaze.
"Avery, love," Dean whispers a soft smile on his face.
"Huh," I mumble for a whole different reason now.
"Cam, asked if you would like to go dancing."
My eyes flick up to Cam in the front passenger seat. A look of glee splashed across his boyish face.
"Dancing?" My eyebrows go up. “Are you sure that’s such a good idea after that mess?” I gesture behind me.
"Yeah, it'll be fun."
I nod as my mind takes me away. Dancing. Dancing with Kayden and Dean. In a sweaty club. Our bodies bumping in grinding together. I swallow hard.
"Do you know what type of dancing he's talking about?" I look at Dean.
His head tilts a little, "Dancing is dancing is it not?"
"Sure."
I look over Dean's head at Kayden. A smirk pulls at his lips. My eyes widen. Dean’s dancing and our dancing is a very different thing I believe.
I can’t help but let my mind wander as we drive to the club. Bane acted like it was a normal thing just to snatch up any empath as he sees fit, but that’s not how everyone explained it to me. That’s not how the Council is supposed to work. I know a male wolf needs an empath to ground them with the rage. But the bond has to be mutual. The Empath has this all-consuming need to help the wolf they are supposed to bond with and that wolf has to be strong enough to balance the Empath. I know the Council forces bonds but that always ended up in the death of the Empath and the wolf going in the rage so much more. It doesn't happen instantly but what I’ve been told a force bond is always death. What is the Council doing? I can’t wrap my head around it. Nothing makes sense.
I need to set down and make notes. Make lists of everything I know and try to figure this out. Something isn’t adding up right. We’re missing something here and I feel it’s the key to everything.
I growl at myself in frustration. What am I missing?
“Hey! No need for that we’re here.” Nick chuckles from behind me.
I look sheepish at the others and shrug my shoulders. “Where’s here?”
“Howling Moon.” Cam squeals, getting out of the car.
“Howling Moon?” I question holding my dress up as I follow.
“It’s the best.” Cam gushes walking towards the big black building.
Howling Moon is splashed across the side in silver paint. “It doesn’t look like much,” I mumble walking towards the silver door.
A hand on my arm stops me and I look at Kayden, “You need to be careful.”
“Okay?” I look uneasy at Dean who lifts an eyebrow in response.
“It's just. Maybe this wasn’t a good idea after all.” Kayden grumbles look
ing lost.
“Just tell her already so we can go,” Nick says impatiently.
“The club caters to all kinds.” I look at Aden as he speaks. “Not just wolves Avery. It’s the ones that are close to the rage, rogues, and empaths. Even a few vamps have been known to stop by from time to time.”
My eyes bug out of my head. What? How could I not know this? Am I so breakable they would keep things like this from me?
“We’re going to have to talk when we get home,” I mutter angrily at Kayden following Nick through the door.
I freeze at the blackness in the hallway. It’s so dark I can’t even see Nick, Aden or Cam, who can only be a few steps in front of me.
“Here love.” Dean takes my hand pulling me gently behind him.
“How can you see?”
“Wolf remember,” Kayden says laying his hands on my shoulders from behind.
Right, when am I going to start understanding that? They are different. That I am different.
The door at the end of the hall opens. Neon lights pool in the darkness lighting up the black hall. The loud music is a shock as it floods into the space.
I look at Dean as the door closes behind us. His copper eyes are wide, lips slightly parted looking out at the dance floor. I look and try to see it from his point of view.
The reds, blues, and purples of the neon lights flash across withering bodies as they grind and twist and turn in a sweaty mess. It’s normal for a club anyways.
“What is this?” Dean asks dumbfounded.
“Dancing.” Kayden laughs pulling us both to the dance floor.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
I smile as Kayden pulls me to the dance floor. He spins me around and pulls my back against the front his body. His wide hands go to my hips slowly sliding down as he moves his hips.
I lean into him letting the feel of his hands sweep away all my concerns and worries. I’ll dive into them tomorrow. As of right now, I just want to have fun.
I bite my lip as I look at Dean and the fire in his copper eyes. His gaze follows the path of Kayden’s hands on my hips as they slowly slide up moving across my stomach and back down.
He walks slowly towards us. His eyes on my lips. I lean forward when He comes to a stop in front of me slowly pulling his lower lip into my mouth sucking on it. Dean groans surging forward. His body molds to the front of mine easily following into the rhythm Kayden has set.
I feel lips on my neck as Dean kisses me harder. One of his hands going to my hips as they move slowly from side to side.
I’m washed in sensations as we move as one on the dance floor. We dip and grind. Our hands are everywhere. As we move. My eyes close as I soak in the feel of their hands, lips, and teeth on my body. I’m lost to the music as we shift and dance as one.
It feels like only minutes have passed since Kayden pulled us onto the dance floor. I catch my breath as he leads us through the crowds and up a set of stairs.
My hair is drenched in sweat. I feel it sliding down my body as I climb the steps on shaky legs. Every nerve ending in my body overly sensitive.
We’ve been dancing for hours together lost in our own little bubble and I’m in a daze as we sit down at a roundtable.
“Have fun?”
“Huh?” I focus on the voice.
“I asked if you had fun?” Cam smirks pushing a blue drink in front of me.
“Yeah.” I smile, picking up the drink.
Hot air blows across my cheek and I turn my head. Dean’s lips land on mine and I feel someone take the cup from my hand.
I sigh as he breaks our kiss.
“Drink this.” Kayden murmurs from my other side handing me a bottle of water.
“Thanks.”
The cool water feels heavenly going down my parched throat. I glance around as I set the bottle down.
There are groups of people everywhere. Are they a wolf? An Empath? A vampire? I can’t tell. They all look so normal to me.
“Not what you thought?”
“What?” I look at Nick.
“I see the questions in your eyes.” He smiles, “This place isn't what you thought it’d be is it?”
“No. It’s all just so normal.” I mumble leaning back in my seat.
“Did you think we’d be running around as wolves howling?” Aden questions, tapping his knuckles on the silver table top.
“Maybe?” I shrug my shoulders taking another drink of water.
“It’s mostly wolves in here,” Dean says stretching out.
“Really?” I question looking at the closes group to us.
“Yep.” Nick chuckles, “The real fun doesn’t start till after midnight.”
“Which we’ll be gone by then,” Kayden says giving his brother a narrow-eyed look.
“Why? What happens at midnight?” I look at the guys.
“The Empaths come out,” Aden says watching the dance floor.
“What does that mean?” Dean asks leaning forward.
Aden sighs looking at us, “They play with our emotions. Depending on the theme for tonight.”
Dean cocks his head looking intently at Aden.
“That doesn’t sound good.” I shift in my seat.
“It’s not,” Cam mutters getting up. “I have to go piss.”
“You need to learn to keep your damn mouth shut.” Aden snarls at Nick.
“What I do this time?” Nick groans looking at us.
I shake my head. I don’t know.
“You know what you did.” Kayden snaps.
“It’s their choice. How is that upsetting?” Nick growls out.
“Can you really be that damn stupid. Do you honestly think the Council gives them a damn choice in the matter?” Aden snarls leaning forward.
“Some of them,” Nick says, his eyes flashing.
“And you think that’s alright?” Kayden asks, placing his hand on my thigh.
“Of course not,” Nick growls leaning back in his seat.
I could cut the tension with a knife as it builds around Kayden, Nick, and Aden. I bite the inside of my cheek and stand, “I’m going to go check on Cam.”
“Hey, let me come with you,” Kayden says getting up from his seat.
“No, it’s okay. I’ll be right back.”
I dart through the crowd, hurrying to the stairs. Kayden’s not going to explain the Empath thing and from the looks of it neither is Aden or Nick. But Cam will. Maybe this is the missing piece to figuring out what is going on with the Council.
I slowly make my way through the crowd to the back. Restrooms are light up in green lights above the doorway. I walk towards it watching the people around me. Is anyone in here just a plain human? Do they know what they stumbled into?
“Cam?” I question when I get to the entrance seeing a long hallway and Cam pushed up against the wall.
He doesn’t look right. His skin is a grey color and his eyes look dazed.
“Hey get off him!” I shout moving further into the hallway.
“Avery, no he has Aconite,” Cam whispers sliding down the wall as the man lets go of him.
Aconite? What the hell is that?
When he turns to me, the first thing I notice is a huge scar across his neck and the menace in his eyes. I stumble back. My heart starts pounding when I realize I’m in trouble.
“Thanks for making this easy.” His voice is rough.
I take another step back from him. My eyes briefly going to Cam on the floor and back to the man.
“What do you want?” My voice shakes, and I squeeze my teeth together.
“You.” A voice whispers in my ear. I scream, jerking as the man grabs both of my arms from behind me.
“Let go of me!”
Where’s Kayden and Dean? Tears splash down my cheeks.
“Nighty night.”
I grunt as something sharp pierces my neck. My mouth opens in a silent scream when it hits me. It feels like acid melting the inside of my body. I feel tears fall from my eyes. Something from my no
se drops down on my lips. I want to move. I want to run, but I’m frozen in pain like I’ve never felt before. The hands fall from my arms and I drop to the ground like a bag of rocks. Little black dots slowly take my vision as I fall into a pit of blackness and pain.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
I groan as a headache forces me awake. It feels like something is driving a pickaxe in my brain. I didn’t drink that much last night, did I? I roll my neck and rub my temples attempting to open my eyes. I blink several times before I can see straight, and my heart starts to beat painfully in my chest.
What? There’s a steal wall directly in front of me. I feel queasy. What happened?
“I thought they killed ya.”
I jerk my head to the right, wincing as the movement pulled the sore muscles in my neck and shoulder.
Bars. Big wide steel bars. I gasp, crawling forward, my hands going around the bars. I’m in a cell. What in the hell happened? I don’t remember a damn thing.
“Help.” I croak out, my voice failing me.
“That won’t do a bit of good girlie.”
I squint my eyes across the hallway to the cell in front of me. Leaning up against the bars is a girl. Maybe older than I am with dirty matted brown hair, dressed in what looks like a burlap bag ending at her knees. Purple, green and black spots dot her shins and calves.
“What happened?” I whisper out, my voice box still not working right.
“You got caught. That’s what bloody happened.” The girl snaps, her eyes closed. Her forehead pressing on the cold bars.
Caught. I don’t understand. I bite my lip looking around. I can see more cells down the dark hallway in both directions. The hall seems to stretch on forever with no end in sight.
“I don’t remember anything,” I mumble leaning up against the cold wall.
“That’s the Aconite.”
“Aconite?”
I watch the girl, wrapping my arms around my legs.
Her eyes pop open. My mouth opens like a fish. Her eyes are blood red. I can see the veins where the blood vessels have busted. What happened to her?
“Have you been living under a rock?” She looks at me like I’m stupid and I am. How in the hell am I supposed to know what Aconite is?
