“Where did this all come from?” There was an array of goodies in there including a rifle and some combat weapons.
“He wanted to make sure his investment was safe.” He looked at me and smiled. “My father.”
I know there wasn’t a good relationship between them, and I had hardly seen them talk let alone in the same room unless his grandmother ordered it.
“Oh.” I spoke softly and with surprise.
He opened one of the black duffle bags and pulled out some clothes for me. Literally everything including bra and underwear. I was so embarrassed that he had those things in his hands. He could see that I was blushing and then he looked away pushing the clothes closer to my body. “Put them on, we’ve got to get going.”
Tommy came up behind him and put his hands on Duncan’s shoulders. “Actually, we are pretty sure that your father is trying to protect you.” Duncan just nodded his head.
“Well, either way, this helps. I’m not really sure why the guns, but the SUV and clothes work.”
Matt walked up to me and put his arm around my neck. “Come on, we’ve got lots to figure out. Right?”
I looked him in the eye. He had always had these brown eyes that I loved. “You couldn’t be more right.”
I smiled and walked to the SUV door. He opened it. “I’ll hold the towel up so you can change.”
I smiled at him. “Thanks.” I pulled it from my body holding it up so he could take it from me.
Then he turned away to the rear of the SUV to Tommy and Duncan. “Are you guys done? We should get on the road.”
Duncan gave him a look that I had seen before, just like when he and Declan were arguing about who my mate was. Declan, I miss him more than anyone here. I was staring at Duncan until I realized that he knew I was staring. He smiled at me and I smiled back. Then he reached to grab the rear door and shut it. I put my clothes on quickly. “Okay. So what exactly is the master plan?” I looked back and forth at all the boys.
Matt looked at Duncan as if he knew something that I didn’t.
“What?”
Duncan looked away from me.
“Seriously, what’s going on? Duncan?”
He turned back around to me. “The plan is to keep you safe. That’s all I care about.”
I was in shock a little that he said it. “Well, I need to find out what this Aodhan O’Dorcha has to do with me.” As soon as I said the name, Tommy and Duncan looked at each other. I looked over at Duncan. “I also need to learn how to fight.”
Duncan looked at me. “I don’t think you need too much help in that department.”
I reached for his arm. “No, seriously. I can’t control anything right now and I need to be able to use whatever my abilities are to help.”
He nodded his head. “Fine, okay. We will start with the Garretts. They have an extensive collection of books, and they have a good combat training program.”
I nodded my head. “Okay. Let’s go.”
We all got into the SUV, it was quiet for a bit while Duncan drove. I just watched out the window. As I started to get sleepy, my eyes kept closing for a couple of miles, and eventually I let the sleep come. It was different now when I slept. I feel like I was walking around my body in a different world, and there was nothing I could do to just sleep. I leaned over to Matt and put my head on his shoulder. I could feel his warmth as I slept, and every so often I felt him move my hair out of my face and he touched my cheek and ear. It was familiar. I missed having that friendship. I hoped he was here for real and not just because he was ordered to come protect me.
But then I heard the sound of birds cawing at me—calling me. Somewhere in my unconscious mind, I sat up and looked out of the window of the SUV. They were circling over us calling for me. I didn’t know what they wanted, but I knew it couldn’t be good. I watched for a minute. The car swerved drastically. I woke up to my body being flung away from Matt.
“What was that?” I asked.
Matt looked at me then at Duncan, and said, “It was Duncan being Duncan.”
I remembered about my dream. I watched out the window for a minute, but there was nothing. I continued to look out the window as I asked, “Did you guys see anything unusual?”
Tommy turned around to me. “Like what?”
I continued to watch out the window. “Nothing. Never mind.” I watched for a little longer before I went back to sleep while Duncan drove further into the night. As I drifted back to sleep I felt like someone was watching me. I’m not sure what would happen next, but I put myself here so I guess I’m along for the ride.
The morning came quick and the sun beamed into the window as Tommy drove. Sometime while I slept they had switched off. I kept my eyes on the window until I felt that I could speak a coherent sentence.
“Hey, look who’s up.” Tommy turned and saw me, then he looked back at the road. Duncan and Matt both looked at me and chuckled.
“Yeah, where are we? What time is it?” I asked, still groggy.
Matt and Duncan started speaking at the same time. “Eight fifteen.”
Then Duncan continued. “Just past Eau Clair.”
I sighed. “Can we stop soon?”
Matt looked over at me. “You have great bed head.” And he laughed.
“Nice. Real nice.” I paused and looked at Tommy trying to smooth down whatever was happening with my hair.
“Yeah, we’re almost to town. We can stop and get something to eat. Okay?” He smiled.
“Yeah.” I was starving, I felt like I hadn’t eaten anything in forever. We pulled into a restaurant just off the highway and all got out heading for the door.
The hostess greeted us and then picked up some menus and showed up to a booth by the window. I sat on the inside of the booth and Duncan sat down next to me, Tommy and Matt sat across from us. I tapped my fingers on the table while it was quiet and awkward and said, “Umm, if you’ll excuse me.”
Duncan looked over at me. “Yeah, of course.” He stood to let me get out of the booth and I walked back to the restrooms.
I went into the stall to use the restroom and then went to the sink to splash some water on my face. I took a deep breath and filled my hands with water, then splashed it on my burning skin. I looked into the mirror. There was steam coming off my face from the cold water. My eyes were dark brown, which had never happened before, and I looked sick. I didn’t want to go back out there. They would know that something was wrong and it was. I just didn’t know what was happening. I stood in the restroom for a while longer splashing cold water on my face over and over. My eyes finally started to change back to a greenish color and that made me feel better. I dried my hands and opened to door to go back to the booth.
Duncan stood as I got close.
“Hey, did you fall in?” Matt asked while he laughed.
I looked up at him. “Yeah, you know that’s what us girls do.” I laughed back at him just enough to make it less about me.
“I ordered a tea for you,” Duncan said as he pushed a menu toward me. “What do you want to eat?”
I opened the menu and looked quick as I saw the waitress coming back with drinks. She set the drinks down on the table. I started to feel hot again. I needed to get out of there. I couldn’t control it anymore, and I could never forgive myself if I hurt one of them.
“What can I get ya?” the waitress said so sweetly.
“I’m sorry. I’m actually not feeling well. You guys go ahead and order.” I scooted toward Duncan, grazing his arm as I continued to scoot. He felt my skin and looked at me as my eyes changed colors again. Then I walked back to the restroom again. I opened the door to a stall and just leaned up against the inside of the stall door and closed my eyes. I stood there wishing that I was never in this position. I heard a knock at the door. “Someone’s in here.”
I heard the door open. “Hey, Shay?”
I opened the stall. “Tommy?”
I heard a step. “Yeah, I’m coming in.” He walked in and quickly sh
ut the door behind him. “What’s going on?”
I came out of the stall and went to the sink. “I told you, I’m just not feeling well.”
He took a step closer to me. “You can’t lie to me.” I turned toward him and he took a step back. “What’s wrong with your eyes?”
I closed my eyes and shook my head. “I don’t know. My vision is blurred, and I feel really weird. I can’t explain it.” I could tell he was worried about me, but I knew whatever was happening was going to happen no matter how much I didn’t want it to. I turned to him from leaning forward onto the sink with my head still down. “I don’t know what is happening, but I need help.” Everything went black right after that.
➢17 He Found Me
I opened my eyes, and I was back in the SUV with everyone. And we were driving. I tried to make out the clock before I spoke. It said 4:47. “What happened?” I was able to sit up on my own.
Tommy was sitting with me in the back seat, and I had been lying on his leg while I was out.
As I looked out the window I couldn’t even focus on anything. “How fast are we going?” I said as I turned around and looked at the speedometer. It said ninety-five. Duncan was driving, and he was driving fast.
Tommy put his hands on my shoulders. “You’re fine. We’re trying to get you somewhere safe so we can have Nate take a look at you.”
Duncan looked in the rearview mirror at me.
“What’s wrong?” I asked him.
He looked back and forth between me in the mirror and the road. “Your eyes are red.”
I moved so that I could see myself in the mirror. I couldn’t even see myself that my vision was red. I could only see in black and white. “What the hell is happening to me?” There was vibrancy to my vision. I hated seeing the world in this way; it was harsh and depressing, and I wouldn’t be able to stand not being able to see life in colors that surround everyone and everything.
Matt turned around. “Take a deep breath. We just need to make sure you’re okay.”
I kept looking at Duncan. He kept looking at me in the mirror then away at the road. I started to hurt. What the hell was going on? My heart started to beat harder. My skin was almost on fire; it was burning from the inside out, and my breathing became deeper and shallower. I sat restless in pain until I couldn’t anymore.
“Stop!” I shouted as loud as I could, I felt like I was dying.
Duncan slammed on the brakes so hard everyone went forward. Was it Duncan that was making me feel like this?
“I have to get out.” I opened up the door and before I could run I was in my mac tire form, and I started to run for my life. I could feel them all following behind me as I ran through the trees. I ran faster than before, I just wanted my head cleared and running was one of the easiest ways to do it. I felt like I had tunnel vision and at the end of the tunnel everything would be clear. I felt that whatever I was running toward was exactly what I needed to be running toward. I heard footsteps behind me and then distant barking as I ran faster and faster. I started to feel the snow that was falling on my skin. It was penetrating my fur coat. I knew it was snowing heavier and the boys were still following me, trying to catch up. I saw something move off in the distance and I was trying to see what it was before I stopped but I couldn’t tell. As I got closer it got closer and my heart started to beat harder. It was a familiar beat that drew me forward. Then, off in the distance, I saw what I was looking for. I went running in that direction faster and faster, I felt this supernatural speed come from somewhere inside of me.
Suddenly, after I was nearly exhausted, I was nose to nose with my blue and silver furred mac tire. Both of us were breathing so heavily that you could see our breath mingle. Our eyes connected and didn’t ever change direction. Both of us were panting and didn’t know what to think of the other being there.
As we stood there, Tommy, Matt, and then Duncan finally caught up and stood there silently looking at Declan and me in this face off. Duncan started to move toward us slowly step by step not to set Declan off. Declan bared his teeth at Duncan and growled deeply. I couldn’t look away from Declan. His eyes were so ice blue, and his fur was almost standing on end.
I still didn’t know what to think about him being here. He was so far out from the territory or was he? I wasn’t sure where we were at this point and I had a feeling that with Duncan driving we were closer to home than I had even thought. My worry and fear for him showed as I lowered my head and closed my eyes. I heard a movement and then Declan had swayed his head into mine rubbing his head up and around my neck lifting my head back up. We stood like this for only a moment. He pulled away from me and looked me into the eyes then toward Duncan. I had nothing to do with the fact that Duncan was here with me; however, I knew that Declan took it as a sign.
Matt spoke sarcastically. “Well, I guess we now know what was happening to her.” He folded his arms across his chest and chuckled.
Duncan turned back to him with a scowl.
Declan turned to me, tilting his head in question.
“Declan,” said Tommy. “Shay had an uncontrolled transition happen while on our way to the Northern Territory. We didn’t want to take any chances so we were headed back to your estate.”
Declan looked back to me with worry and put his nose onto mine then backing up a step to look me in the eyes.
Then, there it was. A deafening gunshot, far off in the distance. We broke eye contact, and everyone turned when the realization hit that we were all in danger. Declan pushed his body into mine to come with him and we ran, Duncan following behind us and then Tommy and Matt. I knew we had to run, we were not prepared to fight nor were we prepared for defending ourselves in an unfamiliar area. I heard more shots off in the distance, and they were getting farther and farther away. I really thought we would be able to get away.
As we ran I started to feel better, I was with both Declan and Duncan, and I took a deep breath as we all ran side by side. A cooling sensation came over me, and we ran together as much as possible.
Then I heard a twig snap under a footstep to the right of us. The hunters were leading us to an ambush. A true panic kicked in and then the worst thing happened that I could imagine. A click of a rifle came from a far distance and then without a pause an echoing shot was made. This bullet travelled with purpose through the trees in the woods.
The bullet that came from this skillful hunter flew in front of me; as I turned my head it passed me and impacted Tommy’s chest. His body fell to the ground. I stopped immediately and ran to him; as Declan knew what had happened, he followed me, Matt and Duncan protecting us as I kneeled in human form over my brother. He was breathing so deeply fighting hard to take every breath that he was taking.
He was fighting harder than he needed to. His mac tire form gently transitioned back into the brother I grew up with. I knew this was his end. When I looked into his eyes, which had tears falling slowly to the ground, I saw that he knew it too. He was trying to tell me something with his last breath but never got out the words. I could tell that he was afraid, but I didn’t want him to feel alone. “It’s okay, I love you,” I leaned in and whispered into his ear, grabbing his hand in mine and placing my forehead on his. As I returned to my position to see his face he exhaled for the last time. Watching his blood-covered chest go down and his eyes close, my heart sank as my brother’s life ended. I had nothing left inside of me but overwhelming agony.
Declan turned around, grabbing to lift me up and away into his protection. I turned away to put my head on Tommy. I couldn’t breathe, I was gasping for air. I tried to stand but it was too hard to even breathe in air and I couldn’t. I fell to the ground and transitioned back to my mac tire form continuing to gasp in little amounts of air.
Duncan and Matt were fighting the hunters that had started the attack on us. I wanted the hunter that swooped in and murdered my brother. The fighting pulled me back and I took my first full breath without my brother alive to fight.
When that
breath happened, I felt strength from Tommy. It was a good feeling that gave me strength and a guiding light to stand and fight. This anger charged me, and an electrifying energy came into my body and I took my first step away from Tommy to destroy these hunters. Declan was being attacked so that he could protect me while I was with my brother’s body.
Duncan was standing on his hind legs to become taller than the hunter, and he ripped at his throat. He pulled skin, veins, and muscle away from the man, leaving him for dead just like they had to Tommy.
I went running toward the man with the rifle that had murdered Tommy with a passion for vengeance and a need for his blood. As he charged at me with rifle in hand, I dodged around a bullet that had been shot. Then the next one slid past my neck, tearing a small gash in the side. This only outraged me more. With a quick jump, I took him to the ground and the more the struggle the more aggressive I became. I tore into him pulling him apart as he screamed out in pain. The last few hunters retreated as they heard this man scream.
As I pulled the rest of this murderer apart Matt walked up behind me and put his arms around my shoulders pulling me back. I felt his fingers dig into my skin through my fur as he pulled with more force. “Shay, stop! He’s dead.”
But I couldn’t stop. I became the wild animal that humans think about when they hear stories of wolves or monsters. I knew this and yet still was unable to control my fury. In that moment my fur ignited into a blistering white fire. I leaned into the pool of unrecognizable human and lit the remains on fire.
I took a step back and watched for a moment as the tissue and blood that hung from my jaw dropped in front of me, then looked at Matt, who was standing next to the two wolves that loved me.
They all stood there quiet. “Shay?” I looked at Matt as he spoke. “It’s done. We need to get Tommy. Your parents have a right to a proper mac tire burial.”
I transitioned as he said that and I realized that we would have to go home to my parents to tell them that their son was killed. Declan pointed at Matt then snapped his fingers. “Pearson, jacket.” Matt removed his black wool coat and walked over to us. He held it out but I couldn’t take it from him. I just watched the hunter’s bloody remains burn.
Crimson Secrets Page 19
