Swallowing hard, Emery shook her head, “I lied to them.”
Aurora placed her hands on her hips, her green eyes snapping, “You did it to survive, Emery Ericksen. Don’t you ever forget that. You are a fighter.”
“Emery, we all love you no matter what,” Miracle said quietly. “Nothing you tell us now is going to change that.”
“She’s right,” Knox growled. “Just tell us what is going on, so we can figure out how to protect you from whatever is coming our way.”
Emery looked at her family, because that was what they were, and a tremulous smile crossed her lips. “I am so grateful for each and every one of you. Especially you, Aurora. I probably wouldn’t even be alive if it weren’t for you.”
“What the fuck is she talking about?” Noah demanded, and Emery’s eyes widened when she saw the tips of his fangs peeking out from his mouth. In all the time she’d known him, he’d never lost control.
“My real name isn’t Emery,” Emery said softly, crossing her arms over her chest, and holding herself tightly. “It’s Princess Lena Remmington.”
“Princess?” Briar gasped.
Chuckling, Emery shook her head, “No, I’m not exactly royalty. Princess is the name my father gave me when I was born, because I was his only daughter. I was his princess.” Shaking her head, Emery swiped at a lone tear that ran down her cheek. “My dad was also the alpha of our herd, so I was considered the princess to all of my people. Unfortunately, that didn’t mean much when he died, and my brother took over.”
“What happened after your brother became alpha?” Brayden asked quietly.
“At first, nothing. Samson was too busy with his new duties to even look my way. My mother had always been jealous of my relationship with my father. She just continued to ignore me like she had most of my life. My other two brothers did the same. Then, things changed.”
“Why?” Miracle asked, when Emery paused to collect her thoughts.
“Because Samson decided it was time I took a mate, and he basically sold me off to the highest bidder.”
“What the fuck?” Knox snarled, slamming a fist onto the table.
“I think it all started because I was looking into my father’s death more closely,” Emery admitted. “The whole thing never made sense to me. We were told it was a hunting accident, but nothing else. I wasn’t allowed to see my father’s body,” she whispered, another tear slipping free. “Nobody was, until the night of the ceremony to send his spirit on to the afterworld. Even then, we weren’t allowed close. My brothers carried him to a pyre they’d built just outside our village, and laid him on it. Then, a couple of people said some words, they lit it, and he was gone.”
“There’s more,” Aurora said, cocking an eyebrow.
Emery nodded, “Yes.” Her gaze going slowly around the room, she told them, “I snuck into the small shack where they were keeping his body just hours before the ritual. I had to see him one last time.” Wiping at tears, she rasped, “There were bite marks and dark bruises all over his body. It was horrible! There was no way it was a hunting accident. It looked as if he was mauled to death. And, the stench of coyote was all over him.”
“So, he was attacked by coyotes?” Nolan asked in confusion. “Why wouldn’t your brothers just tell everyone that?”
“Because,” Emery whispered, trembling as she told them, “I know this is a huge accusation, but I seriously think they had him killed.”
“Jesus,” Brayden breathed, leaning forward in his seat. “What kind of person kills his own family?”
“Just two weeks after my father’s death, I was told I was to mate with Alpha Ramsey,” Emery told them. “He has a herd not too far from ours. I found out not long ago from Aurora, that he has an alliance with a coyote pack.”
“Son of a bitch,” Knox snarled.
“I refused to bond with him. I told Samson there was no way he could make me, but my brother wouldn’t take no for an answer. The next thing I knew, I was stuck in a room in the basement that was more like a prison cell than a room. It had cement walls on all sides, and the door had a window with bars. There was a small bathroom in the corner, a cot, and not much else. Samson and my other brothers would come down daily, and take turns at me with their fists. It was mostly Samson, but Frederick and Hamilton were in on it, too. I was given very small rations of food, if any at all. I was so hungry.”
“They were trying to break you,” Brayden muttered, his voice deep with anger, something she’d never heard from the man before.
“Yes,” Emery agreed, bowing her head for a moment as the memories swamped her. “They thought I would give in and agree to mate with Alpha Ramsey. One time, my mother came to see me. I was so sure she was there to set me free. I don’t know why I thought after all of these years that she gave a damn about me. Instead, she told me that I was to mate with Ramsey. I didn’t have a choice. He would be there in two days, and if I didn’t follow through with it, I would be killed.”
“Oh, Emery,” Miracle whispered, with tears in her eyes and despair in her voice. “I can’t imagine everything you went through.”
“How did you escape?” Noah asked, his eyes solely on her now.
“After Alpha Ramsey arrived, they brought him down to meet me.” Emery glanced over at Aurora, before saying, “His daughter, Meadow, was with him. I was told that we were to have the mating ceremony the next night after a dinner celebration. When I told him what I thought of that, he hit me hard enough that I blacked out. Later that night, I heard Meadow’s voice outside the door. She told me that she was going to get me out of there, and to be ready the next night for more instructions. When she came back the next time, she had somehow gotten a hold of one of the keys to my cell. Before I knew what was happening, I was free, and she was telling me to run as fast as I could to the falls without looking back. That someone would be waiting for me at the bottom of them.”
“That someone was you,” Noah said quietly, glancing at Aurora.
“Yes.”
“Meadow and Aurora rescued me. They saved my life. If it wasn’t for them, I would be dead right now, because there was no way in hell I was mating that bastard. He’s a cruel, heartless, son of a bitch. His daughter has to live in hell every day of her life.”
“I told you, it’s her choice, Emery,” Aurora said. “I’ve tried to help her. She refuses.”
“He’s going to find out someday that she is the one helping all of these people escape, Aurora,” Emery snapped, anger filling her at the thought of what would happen to the girl when he did. “She’s innocent, sweet, kind, and the night that she freed me, she was terrified. I could smell it on her. I can’t leave her there. I just can’t!”
“Brave,” Briar said.
“What?”
“You forgot brave. She might be scared, but she is very courageous putting all of those lives before her own.”
“And you help her?” Noah asked Aurora, grimacing slightly as he said it.
“Yes,” Aurora snapped, her eyes lit with fire, “I help her. Every damn time she calls, I help her. Because it is what I am on this earth to do. It is my calling. And, I am not going to stop any more than Meadow is.”
“Even though you are scared every time, too,” Emery whispered, suddenly understanding what it must cost her friend when she put her life on the line to save others the way she did.
“Yes,” Aurora admitted through gritted teeth. “If it weren’t for people like myself and Meadow, people willing to stand up against the violence and corruption in this world, we would lose a lot of very special individuals. I’m not willing to let that happen.”
“Right now,” Knox interrupted, leveling his gaze on Aurora, “I’m not worried about this Meadow person, or your little side gig saving people who find themselves in unfortunate situations.” His eyes moving to his siblings, and then Emery, he thundered, “Right now, I am worried about my mate! What can we expect from her family and this alpha? How close are they to finding her?”
“What are we up against?” Nolan asked, a guarded look entering his eyes.
“Let’s just say, I’ve called my coven home to help.”
“All of them?” Emery squeaked in surprise.
“Coven?” Several others questioned.
“You have got to be fucking kidding me,” Noah grunted, shaking his head in disgust, a look of contempt on his features.
“All of them,” Aurora said quietly. “We are going to need them.” Turning to Knox, she whispered, “And, that is why I stayed away up until now. Not because I knew my mate was here, but because I know he will never be able to accept me for who I am. A witch.”
Eighteen
Later that night, Knox lay in bed holding Emery tightly in his arms. He’d spent most of the day with his brothers, trying to formulate a plan to keep her safe. They needed to be alert and ready for anything, because there was no doubt in his mind that her brothers and Alpha Ramsey were coming for her. If Aurora said it was going to happen, then it would. He and his family had dealt with witches in the past, and from his own personal experience, the ones who had the gift of sight were never wrong.
“I’m so sorry I brought all of this trouble to your door, Knox.”
Putting a finger under her chin, he tilted her head up until her gaze met his. “I’m not. Baby, my life is complete now that you are in it. You are everything to me. You own me, heart and soul. Everything else will work itself out, one way or another.”
“I can’t believe you still want me,” she whispered, slipping her arms around his neck and burrowing closer to him.
“Why wouldn’t I?”
“Because, I’m bringing death to your door, Knox,” she cried, burying her face in his neck. “They will kill whoever gets in their way.”
Cupping the back of her head, he slid his fingers through the thick strands of her hair and tugged. When she finally looked at him, he grunted, “Emery, I’m a fucking bear. They are rabbits. How do you really think this scenario is going to work out?”
She paused, her mouth forming a perfect ‘O’, before a slow smile crossed her face. “Bears eat rabbits.”
“Damn right, they do,” he muttered, nuzzling her cheek with his own. “Now, do I need to remind you how this bear eats his bunny?”
A giggle escaped, and Emery moved the lower half of her body against his, making his cock stand to attention. “You know, I think I might have forgotten. Maybe you should show me again.”
Growling playfully, Knox turned her over on her back, covering her body with his. Brushing her hair back from her face, he whispered, “We are going to get through this, my beautiful mate. You are my world, and I promise, I will keep you safe.”
She stared at him in silence for a moment, and then whispered, “Knox?”
“Yeah, baby?” He rasped, breathing in her scent before lowering his head to run his tongue over her bare shoulder and up the side of her neck. She was blissfully naked underneath him, and he was ready to take advantage of that.
“Bite me.”
Knox froze, instantly going rock-hard as his fangs punched through his gums. “Emery, are you sure?”
“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life,” she whispered, right before she sank her sharp teeth into his shoulder.
With a loud shout, he reciprocated, his own fangs finding the soft skin where he’d imagined placing his mark for several weeks now. Fisting his cock, he found her wet heat and slid deep inside, pumping his hips fast and hard as he came quickly, roaring in pleasure against her shoulder. He felt her own orgasm hit, her pussy clamping down on his cock, milking everything he had from him.
Bracing himself on his forearms, he slowly removed his fangs and licked at his bite, sealing it with saliva, before raising his head to look at her. She was watching him through heavy lidded eyes, licking drops of his blood from her lips. She was the most beautiful sight he’d ever seen. “Mine,” he rasped thickly through his huge fangs. “Mine.”
“Yours,” she agreed, rising up to kiss him gently, before falling back to the pillow. “I love you, my mate,” she whispered, before succumbing to her exhaustion.
Trailing soft kisses from her temple to her chin, he gathered her in his arms and rolled over onto his back, resting her against him. Tugging the covers over them, he closed his eyes, holding her tightly. “I love you, sweet bunny.”
Nineteen
Emery slowly made her way around the bar filling drinks, taking away dirty glasses, and cleaning tables. It was early evening, but she’d been there since they opened, and she couldn’t wait to be off her aching feet. Knox was outside with his brothers, waiting to take her home. They’d decided it was best if at least one of them was with her at all times, so Knox came to the bar with her for the first couple of hours she worked, then Nolan showed up, quickly followed by Brayden and Noah when they got off work. Right now, they had the building surrounded, making sure no one unusual entered who could be a threat to her. As much as she wanted to tell them they were smothering her, she couldn’t, because she knew they did what they did out of love. She finally had the older brothers she’d always wanted, and a mate who meant everything to her.
“You ever gonna get me another drink, girl?”
Emery froze when her wrist was encircled by a rough hand, and her gaze flew to the wolf in front of her. Cyrus. She’d stupidly forgotten about him while she was daydreaming, a mistake she shouldn’t have made. “As soon as you get your paws off of me,” she snapped, yanking hard as she tried to free herself from his tight grip.
“I’m not so sure I want to do that.”
Fear filled her, but she refused to give in to it. “I don’t really care what you want. Let go of me, now!”
“There’s a bounty on your head, Princess,” Cyrus said quietly, his eyes gleaming in the dim light. “I aim to collect it. They should be here soon for you.”
Son of a bitch. They’d found her. Not thinking twice, Emery dropped the tray she held, and glass shattered all over the floor. Bringing her knee up, she slammed it into Cyrus’s crotch, and then turned and fled. She heard Cale yelling behind her, but she kept going, down the hall and out the back door where she knew she would find Knox.
The minute she cleared the door, he was there, pulling her close. “Talk to me, baby. What happened?”
“Emery, are you okay?”
She heard Cale’s voice, but was shaking so bad she couldn’t answer.
“Emery? What the hell is going on? I think you just gave that weasel, Cyrus, a sex change. Not that I’m complaining, but damn, girl!”
“Emery?” Knox held her gently, waiting patiently for her to look at him before asking, “What happened?” His tone was cool, calm, but his eyes were a different story. He was ready to go find the wolf and tear him apart. The only thing keeping him there was her.
“They found me, Knox,” she whispered, shaking her head in denial. “He called me Princess. Said there is a bounty on my head, and he was going to collect the money. They will be here soon for me.”
“Does someone want to tell me what the hell is going on?” Nathan Wolfe demanded from the open doorway. “Do I need to get the sheriff over here so you can press charges against Cyrus, Emery? Did he hurt you?”
Karla laughed, a snort slipping free, “She deballed the bastard already, Spot. I think it’s taken care of.”
“Deballed?”
“Ya know, kneed him so hard in the cojones that he is going to be singing soprano for a week. Might never have kids again. Totally lost his man card, that’s for sure.”
“Jesus, woman!”
“My mate is being hunted by her family,” Knox said, interrupting them. “And also by the alpha they tried to sell her to.”
“What the hell?” Karla yelled, placing her hands on her hips. “You mean to tell me, they
tried to sell her off like a fucking object?”
“Karla…”
“No! No one messes with my friends, Nathan Wolfe. You should know that by now!” Her eyes glowing with anger, she snarled, “Now, you go get all your furry friends, and you help her, or I will!”
Shaking his head in exasperation, Nathan ignored his mate and looked at Knox. “What are we looking at?”
Emery leaned into her bear, soaking up his strength as he replied, “Well, let me put it to you this way. Right now, we have nine witches on their way here to help protect Emery.”
“Shit.”
“Yeah.”
“We need to get Emery home, Knox,” Nolan said, rounding the corner of the building. “We can’t keep her safe out here, and we can’t risk anyone in town getting hurt.”
“Take her back to your ranch, Knox. I will gather my pack, and we will be there soon.”
Emery looked over at him in surprise, clutching tightly to Knox’s shirt as she fought for the courage to face what was to come. “You are going to help me?”
“Emery,” Nathan said kindly, closing the distance between them to place a gentle hand on her shoulder, “you’ve worked here for how long now? At least three months. You’ve been in this town for even longer. Hell, my mother came to visit you at Knox’s place. She claimed you as one of her own. You are family now. Pack. Of course, we are going to help.”
“We need to move, Knox!” Noah called from the end of the alley. “Briar caught word that Emery’s brothers will be here soon. And they aren’t alone.”
“Caught word?” Emery asked in confusion. “How did she do that?”
“You’d be surprised what my sister can do with that computer of hers,” Knox told her, his voice hard, his face a cold mask. “Let’s go.”
Twenty
When they reached the ranch, Briar was waiting out front, and Emery’s eyes widened when she saw a gun strapped to her thigh and another at her waist.
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