by D. M. Shane
Fuck! What have I done? Had I unwittingly caused this? I racked my brain, trying to understand what had happened, but I didn’t have an explanation. Nor had I ever heard of something similar happening. Usually, mental blocks had to be broken, but somehow, Aislin’s dream had been strong enough to project itself into my mind. Or suck me into hers. I wasn’t sure which, and I was confused as hell.
I backed out of the bed as slowly as I could without disturbing her and went to clean myself up. There was nothing I could do for her in that state except wait it out. I returned with a bowl of cold water and a damp cloth, which I set on the nightstand, and then I sat by the fire and waited, feeling guilt ridden and utterly helpless.
Mostly, Aislin’s nights had been uneventful, but an occasional nightmare or terror would crop up. Tonight’s was worse than usual, like the one she’d had her first night here. I watched for nearly an hour as Aislin writhed in the sheets. When she finally stopped, I placed the cool, damp cloth on her forehead, breathing a sigh of relief when she didn’t stir. I wanted to disturb what sleep she got as little as possible.
By now, it was nearly five in the morning. After what I’d just witnessed, I didn’t think I’d be going back to sleep any time soon. I rinsed and cooled the cloth several more times, replacing it every time it warmed up. Half an hour later, she still hadn’t moved, so I set the cloth aside and let her be while I took a shower.
I rested my head against the tile, letting the hot water run over me. The images from Aislin’s nightmare bombarded me, and before I could stop it, my stomach heaved. I dropped to my knees and retched repeatedly. The bile from my empty stomach left my mouth feeling fuzzy and acidic.
I could still hear the terrified screams in my ears. I could still feel the piercing pain of the knife slicing across my skin as if I’d actually been there. I could still hear the maniacal laughter of Ryker Slade as he tortured Aislin’s tiny body. I could still picture the pulsing, bleeding heart where Rhett Vane had dropped it on the floor.
My inner beast was awake and enraged. Uncontrollable wrath bubbled up and threatened to boil over. I shut the water off, the urge to kill feeding that wrath even more. I didn’t even bother to dry off before I took off down the stairs at a dead run, jumped off the porch, and shifted in mid-air.
I raced up one of the trails leading into the surrounding mountains. The cold morning air ruffled my black fur, but instead of finding it soothing, it rankled. I circled around the Eagle Ridge territory three times before the compulsion to rip Ryker Slade’s head off cooled enough to let me think rationally. The Vamphyre leader’s second was dead, but that didn’t stop me from wanting to murder him all over again for what he’d done. He was lucky he wasn’t alive or I would hunt him to the ends of the earth. I guess I had Rhett Vane to thank for that. If I ever met the man, I’d shake his hand.
I approached the lake just as the sun peeked over the horizon, and I lapped at the water’s edge, letting the cool water slake my thirst. I took a few peaceful moments to watch the sunrise before racing back home. It wouldn’t be long before Aislin would awaken, and I didn’t want my mate to wake up alone. Not after a dream like that.
She was still asleep when I entered the master bedroom, so I hopped in the shower once again to wash the sweat off my body. It occurred to me that her dream had given me exactly what I needed to know. Gideon and I both assumed we’d need to break the block. Maybe we wouldn’t need to, but I sure as hell needed a better understanding of what had happened. And knowing what I know now, it changed my whole perspective. Did I really want to subject my mate to memories that horrific?
When I emerged from the closet fully dressed, Aislin was sitting up in bed. Her skin was pale and one hand covered her eyes as she cradled her head.
“You okay, love?” I asked, padding over to sit beside her. I felt her forehead with the back of my hand. She was a little warm, but nothing like earlier, the dream fever having receded. Black circles had formed under her eyes, denoting her lack of proper rest. I worried I had caused her this discomfort when I’d inadvertently gotten sucked into her dream.
“My head is killing me.”
I offered her pain meds and ushered her into the bathroom, thinking a shower might do her some good. I left her there to wash up. I was just setting the table for breakfast when she came down the stairs. She was wearing a pair of my sweats and one of my t-shirts again, and her hair was damp, hanging limply over her shoulders. Her face was still fairly pale.
“Feeling any better?” I asked, feeling her forehead again before taking her face in my hands and looking her over.
“Not really. I think maybe I just need a little something to eat. I’ll be fine.”
“Breakfast is on the table. Do you remember anything from last night?”
She nodded as she sat. “I had that stupid dream again. It’s always the same. Fire and the sound of a child screaming.”
I watched her fill her plate before sitting down across from her. I was still overcome with guilt, even though I’d had no control over what had happened.
“Do you remember anything else?” I wanted to know if she’d had any recollection of the vision I’d witnessed.
“No. Just fire and screams. It’s always the same. You’d think after so many years the dream would evolve, but that’s all I ever remember,” she explained, sounding exhausted. Her head was slumped to the side, propped up on her hand where she rested her elbow on the table. “Why do you ask?”
“Because something strange happened last night.”
Aislin froze, mouth open, fork in mid-air.
“It’s okay,” I assured her. “You were trembling in your sleep and drenched in sweat. I think your headache is because of me, and I’m sorry. I placed my hand on your forehead, thinking maybe you were sick, which is unusual because we don’t get sick. I don’t know what happened, but it’s like I was pulled straight into your dream. There was nothing I could do, and I was stuck there until it ended.”
“You were in my head? You should have asked!” Her breathing quickened, and she pushed away from the table but remained in her seat. The look of betrayal on her face made my heart sink. I’d violated her. Not intentionally, but it was still a violation. That it wasn’t intentional didn’t make the guilt I felt any better, though.
“I apologize. It just happened. It wasn’t intentional. I just got sucked in. I didn’t know something like that was even possible, Aislin. That’s not how it’s supposed to work, but I saw everything. Enough that I don’t think we need to break the memory block. Not unless you want me to.” I kept my voice low and soft, hoping to allay her fears. The last thing I wanted to do was send her into a downward spiral of angry panic, but things didn’t always play out the way we wanted.
“What did you see?” she asked, her back rigid and anger etched into her flushed face. She was right to be mad.
“Aislin.…” I stopped and looked away, unable to meet her eyes. What I’d seen had been distressing. Was she ready for it? I couldn’t swallow past the elephant-sized lump in my throat.
“Tell me,” she demanded. The ire burning within her stung as it filtered through our connection. I wanted to protect her from the things I saw, but doing so wouldn’t earn me any trust at this moment. Any trust I’d previously built back up between us was probably gone for good this time.
My stomach rolled as I thought about the dream. I turned back toward her and huffed. “Aislin, what I saw, it’s the stuff of nightmares. It makes me sick just thinking about it. Are you sure you want to know?”
“Please don’t make me ask again.” Her jaw ticked as she angrily ground out the words.
“Your dream, it pulled me in. It was like I was living it through you. I saw the fire, heard voices telling you to run. And then I saw the man who hurt you. I saw… I saw what he did to you. And then I saw your uncle Rhett kill him,” I explained. I couldn’t relay the gory details. As much as it sickened me, I couldn’t let it destroy my resolve. I was an Alpha, and I would ha
ndle this.
Aislin ran a hand through her hair as the other went to her side. “Who?”
The lone word hung in the air for a moment before I answered. She stared straight at the wall in front of her, refusing to look at me while she waited for an answer.
“Ryker Slade. He was your grandfather’s right hand. They called him the Blade because he liked to torture his victims by slicing up their skin before he killed them. Arden Vane sent him to kill your parents, and he must have found you there. Rhett, your uncle, found you and killed him before he could finish. The dream ended there. I won’t tell you the bloody details. I can’t bear it again,” I said. The bile rose in my throat again just thinking about it. Instead, I walked to the sink and rinsed my mouth while I tried not to retch.
“Why don’t I remember this? Why do I just see fire and hear screaming?”
“It’s the memory block. They’re not perfect. They’re meant to block everything, but sometimes little bits sneak past.” I gave her a moment to process that bit of information. “Come on, you should eat something. It will make you feel better. I really am sorry.”
I watched as she pulled her chair back up to the table and slowly ate. Satisfied, I dug into my own meal, forcing myself to eat despite my lack of appetite. We ate most of the meal in silence again, and when we finished, she excused herself to go lie down. She’d at least gotten some color back, but she still looked exhausted.
I needed to meet with my security team for updates, so I went upstairs to let Aislin know I’d return in a few short hours. She was sound asleep in my bed, so I left a note on the nightstand telling her to help herself to lunch if I wasn’t back by then and left. I hated leaving her, but duty called.
27
Aislin
As soon as I heard the door shut downstairs, I listened for any other sounds. When I heard nothing, I peeked my head out of the bedroom door. The house was silent. I slipped down the stairs and poked around, but Arkkadian had left. My ruse had worked. I had at least a two-hour head start if I hurried.
Back upstairs, I quickly dressed, then shoved as much of my stuff into my backpack as I could. What didn’t fit, I stuffed into the paper bag I’d saved from Paige’s shopping trip.
I snagged a few snacks from the kitchen, and then frantically searched the house for car keys. I finally found a set in Arkkadian’s desk.
The sky had darkened drastically since breakfast. Rolling gray storm clouds blocked out the sun. It smelled like rain, and the heavy static in the air made the hair on the back of my neck and arms stand up. In the distance, dry lightning ripped across the horizon.
Thunder cracked and bellowed as the clouds roiled above. Not long and the storm would drench the compound. I needed to leave now if I wanted to make good time before the rain fell. An urgent sense of foreboding filled me, but I pushed it back down. If I listened to it, I’d never leave.
I unlocked the black SUV and climbed in, tossing my bags in the passenger seat. I hoped the tinted windows were dark enough to hide my identity as I drove away. I started the vehicle and waited, watching to see if anyone came running, but no one did. All was quiet, so I slowly pulled out onto the main road.
I wasn’t sure which way to go, so I picked the direction of the valley since it sat at the southern end of the compound. Arkkadian had said it was nearly a three-hour drive south to Whitewater, and the closest road out of here was in that direction. I prayed it would lead me to the way out. I drove slowly, so as not to draw attention to myself. I didn’t pass anyone on the road through the valley, but I unexpectedly came upon a guardhouse on the other side. A young man poked his head out with a friendly smile and signaled for me to stop. Fuck! I pretended not to see him and drove on past.
When I looked in the rearview mirror, the young man ran after me as he yelled into a handheld radio. Shit! I hit the gas and tore off down the dirt road as fast as I dared. Just up ahead, the road curved to the right around a hillside, and I came upon a fork. I picked the branch leading south and sped off again. I had no idea where I was, but heading that direction had seemed like the best plan overall.
Giant raindrops began pelting the windshield, and before long, visibility dwindled. I couldn’t see more than thirty feet ahead, but I didn’t dare let up on the gas. It was stupid in this weather, but I didn’t have a choice. I had to get away. I wasn’t safe here, and neither was anyone else until I left. I would never forgive myself if anything happened to Arkkadian’s Pack. I had to keep them safe. Mate or not, I wouldn’t endanger them any longer.
I kept my foot on the gas, speeding down the bumpy mountain road. Potholes made the vehicle jerk and swerve on the dirt. I didn’t dare let my white-knuckle grip on the wheel slip. Every time I came to a fork, I always took the path leading south. The scenery blurred as I sped by. Eventually, hail slapped down from above and cracked the windshield. Ignoring it, I continued to push on the gas.
An hour down the road, I came upon a curve much too fast. The SUV slid to the left on the muddy track. I slammed on the brakes and yanked the wheel, trying to avoid a boulder sitting just off the shoulder on the left side of the road. Just beyond it, a steep embankment gave way at the bottom to a swatch of trees. I hit a puddle and lost control as the vehicle hydroplaned across the murky water.
I wasn’t quick enough to crank the wheel, and the front driver’s side hit the boulder square on. My window shattered and bits of glass sprayed all around me, nicking my skin as it flew every which way. The vehicle flipped sideways over the boulder and tumbled down the hillside. Over and over I flipped, my head bouncing between the window and the steering wheel. The skin on my face and arms stung as pieces of glass sliced into me.
The vehicle crashed into a tree at the bottom, its descent halting abruptly and leaving me suspended upside down. My hand came away from my face covered in blood. My head throbbed. Everything hurt. Before I could unlatch my seat belt, my vision swam and then the world went black.
28
Arkkadian
The radio crackled to life and Eric, the young shifter on guard duty, shouted through the speakers. He was one of the newest members of Pack security, barely twenty years old and still in training.
“Anyone know what’s going on? The Alpha just drove by the guardhouse without stopping. I tried to flag him down, but he just took off!”
“Fuck!” I shouted, and all eyes turned to me. Gideon was out of his seat before I could blink. “She’s running. We need to go. Now!”
Gideon grabbed a radio and told the gate guard we were on the way.
“Alpha, what’s going on?” James asked.
“My mate. We need to find her,” I yelled as I burst toward the door, my security team following close behind. Shit. I stopped in my tracks, my men nearly crashing into me from behind. This wasn’t how I expected them to find out, but they needed to know what they were up against.
“Wait. Before we leave, there’s something all of you need to know. This doesn’t leave this room under any circumstances. Do you understand?”
“Alpha, what’s go—”
“Let me finish,” I said, cutting James off. I closed my eyes and huffed. “My mate is the granddaughter of Arden Vane.”
One by one, my men looked me in the eye, stood tall, and nodded in understanding. They knew the story, and being my mate, they would protect Aislin with their lives.
“We’ll find her, Alpha. Tell us the rest later,” Corbin said, and we piled into the SUVs parked in front of the security building. Gideon and I climbed into the first, James and Madigan in the second, and Corbin in the last. They knew the plan. Each vehicle would take a different route, searching until they found her and brought her back.
Gideon hit the gas, and the vehicle roared down the road. Off in the distance, lightning blazed across the sky. Rain pelted our vehicles. It wouldn’t be long before the heavy rain made the winding mountain roads too treacherous to travel. We stopped at the guardhouse, only giving Eric an abbreviated version and telling him not to
speak to anyone about it. The others followed behind, and at the first fork, I told Gideon to take the southern route knowing she’d head straight back to Whitewater.
James followed behind us while Corbin took the other fork in the road, and we continued south. If I was Aislin, that’s what I’d do. I hoped she wouldn’t take a wrong turn and get lost. If that happened, it could take us hours or even days to find her.
At the second fork, James veered off while Gideon and I again continued south.
About an hour later, Gideon rounded a curve and slammed on the breaks. Skid marks in the mud disappeared down the embankment. A swipe of black paint marred the surface of a boulder on the side of the road, and my wolf scrambled to get free. Where was she? Where was my mate? Like salt in a wound, dread burned in my gut. Something was very wrong.
We couldn’t have been but fifteen minutes behind her. I jumped out and ran over to the shoulder. Tiny pellets of hail slammed into me, but I barely felt the sting in my rush to find my mate. The SUV lay upside down at the bottom of the embankment. The wreckage leaned at an awkward angle against a tree with its wheels in the air. All the windows were shattered, and the body dented to hell and back.
I stopped short at the sight before me, not believing what I was seeing, only running again when Gideon zipped past me down the hill. Fear coiled around me, strangling my heart like a python devouring its latest meal.
“Aislin!” I screamed. “Aislin!”
Please be alive!
I screamed her name repeatedly as I ran. There was no answer. At the bottom, we climbed around to the other side and found her suspended upside down, unconscious. Blood smeared her face, dripping down onto the ceiling of the SUV, where it pooled in the fabric beneath her.
