by Janie Marie
She watched Janie hug Logan as he continued speaking to his brother. Yes, it had to be his brother.
Damon sighed, slamming the door before getting in the front passenger seat. “Let’s go.”
Maura glanced out the window, touching it as they drove past Ryder.
“Stop staring at him like that,” Kylie grumbled, her eyes burning as Logan’s brother pulled Janie from Logan so he could hug her.
None of the people, not even Logan, looked at their vehicle as they rolled past them. They’d already forgotten about her.
Maura lowered her hand. “He saved me.”
Kylie frowned, darting her eyes to Ryder as he put on a pair of sunglasses. “Only because you remind him of her. We both remind them of her. That’s all. We’re nothing to them now.”
You’re sinking, Kylie.
She bit her trembling lip as Logan and his brother walked to motorcycles parked behind Ryder’s car. They put on their helmets then took off, following Ryder.
They have their journey to make together. This, with Maura, is yours.
Maura shook her head. “I believe them.”
“Believe what?” she spat, trying so hard not to cry anymore. She couldn’t bear the thought of crying in front of these men or Maura. Not again.
“Ryder told me a story about the Little Moon—the day she died because she gave up against her monster,” Maura murmured. “He said this life was a gift from her—because it was me she failed. Mr. Grimm told me the same story last night. He said it was the day his soul was destroyed. He said he knew me and Mama.”
Kylie’s shattered heart was only being stomped on. “Their stories are a bunch of lies. They didn’t exist in a different world, and you didn’t either. None of them care about us. Not Ryder, not Mr. Grimm, and not Logan. We’re nothing.”
“You’re just sad,” Maura whispered. “It’s okay.”
“Don’t you dare tell me it’s okay,” she shouted. “You’re not enough! No one loves you. Ryder thinking you looked like Janie means nothing. He doesn’t care about you. He doesn’t love you. He loves her,” she cried, shaking because she meant Logan and her. “He loves her.”
Maura whimpered, curling against the far door as she repeated, “You’re just sad. It’s okay.”
“You’re delusional,” Kylie shouted, covering her eyes. “I don’t want to go to the crazy house. Let me out!”
Damon sighed, turning in his seat. “You need to calm yourself. You’re heartbroken and sick.”
“I’m not sick!” She tried to open the door. It was locked. “I’m not crazy. Let me out.”
“You are trying to open a door when we are driving sixty miles-per-hour. That is crazy.” He reached over, patting Maura’s leg. “It’s all right, little one.”
“She’s not a little one.” Kylie could barely breathe.
“She is. Her soul was an innocent before coming here.” He shifted his gaze to Kylie. “Yours was not. You are a dark one.”
Kylie’s crying ceased, and she stared at him in shock.
“Grieve, if you must,” he said, turning forward in his seat. “But don’t tear her down with you.”
Kylie kept trying to open the door, smacking the window when it didn’t open.
“The doors will only open from the outside,” Damon said. “The windows are bulletproof. I suggest you calm yourself, because the center will take measures to restrain you should you arrive hysterical.”
“I’m not hysterical,” she shouted, kicking his seat as she feared being tied to a bed. The white door kept emerging in her mind, opening slowly to reveal her father.
Damon sighed loudly, speaking in an unfamiliar language to the driver.
“Shut up,” Kylie shrieked, then glared at Maura when she covered her ears. “Stop acting like you’re innocent. You’re bad, just like me. I hate you!”
“Enough!” Damon turned, his eyes glowing red. “I will not be as nice as the others have been to you. I am not bound by their rules.”
She stayed quiet because the atmosphere suddenly felt too heavy to breathe in. Still, she kept trying to open the door or window—getting nowhere.
Nearly an hour had passed when they took a turn. There were trees all around them, hiding the road completely. Kylie panicked when they rolled past a gate with armed men. They were going to kill them.
She was about to find something to smash the window with when she noticed a sign and a clearing coming up: Mortaime-Godson Treatment Center.
“What’s this?” Full-blown panic seized her as they pulled up at the entrance of a huge white building.
There were a few people waiting by the curb. Oh, God. They were orderlies, waiting to lock them up.
“This is the Mortaime-Godson Center for Abused Women,” Damon said. “Ryder and Luc founded it shortly after Janie’s rape and dedicated it to her. Her therapist is the director. They take in women who have survived or are escaping various types of abuse while they provide them medical and mental health treatment. They also ensure every patient has any protection and legal services they might require.”
The driver opened Maura’s door as a staff member opened her door.
“You are here because it is the safest place for you to be,” he said.
Kylie breathed faster. “I’ve changed my mind. I don’t want to do this.”
“You’re panicking. They’ll not harm you. Ryder and Luc are very strict with the behavior of the staff. They will, however, stop you from harming yourself or others.”
“I’m not crazy,” Kylie shouted as Maura got out and they shut her door.
“Needing and seeking professional help does not make you crazy. Even if you were crazy, it’s not the end of the world.” Damon gestured for her to exit the car. “You are here under orders of the judge. You can, however, choose to go to the State Hospital—but the Godsons felt this was the kindest and most beneficial offer. It’s also the safest option for you. I suggest you stop this violent reaction and take all they are presenting you. Take responsibility for your actions and your own wellbeing.”
“Welcome to the Mortaime-Godson Treatment Center, Miss Hood,” the staff member said.
Damon watched Kylie as she clutched her chest, panicking as her wide eyes darted around the car, searching for escape.
He stayed calm, but that suffocating atmosphere returned as he said, “Choose your path.”
Twelve
THE LITTLE MOON
Logan cut the bike’s engine, but he kept his head low as he felt the weight of many eyes upon him. He sat there, staring at his phone. He hoped Damon would text to let him know everything had gone smoothly, but there was nothing yet.
The tightness in his chest was becoming unbearable. What had he done? Breaking up with Kylie and then sending her to a treatment center? He was a complete asshole, and a moron.
So badly he wanted to remember her pretty face, how she was innocent but so sexy with confidence she shouldn’t have. But hatred and rage destroyed her beauty when she reveled in the death of his child. He couldn’t stop seeing it, and he couldn’t pretend to love her when that’s all he could see.
He also couldn’t believe Kylie kept the wounds fresh and made them more severe. Maura hadn’t hurt her in years, and even before then, it was fear that drove her to protecting herself from Kylie’s wrath.
He couldn’t believe it. He had no idea how Lorelei allowed this to go on, to watch Kylie hit herself, even so much as to break her own ribs.
It shouldn’t have even been possible, but Lorelei had recordings. He hadn’t seen them, but Than had, and he was shocked into silence. The only control Lorelei had was to let the delusion she and Maura were hurting her continue, because that kept her safe from Kevin and hidden from other predators. The woman needed help, they all did.
It was just hard to wrap his mind around Kylie’s actions. It was messed up, but he understood where Lorelei’s thought process was coming from. Maybe it was just that she was admitting her faults, and that Kylie had
n’t. Maybe that was why he couldn’t let go of her hatred and words.
He balled his fist. The only regret he had was that Kylie’s dad was already dead. How could someone be so monstrous? Well, he knew how—his world was actually Hell, and Oliver Hood had wanted a daughter in his own dark image.
If Logan didn’t walk away right now, he feared she’d embrace that darkness. Too easily, she jumped at the chance to isolate him from the others.
He was making the right decision. He couldn’t be a boyfriend.
Lykos, his brother, rolled up next to him as Ryder’s Camaro drove past to park at the front of the mansion. Those stares pressed down on him again. Not only were Luc and the other Godson brothers waiting there, but also all twelve Knights—Arthur included—and Nick and his pack of Wolves.
“Come now, little brother.” Lykos chuckled as he pulled his helmet off. “Are you really going to cower before the Wolves? You should know weakness tastes delicious.”
Logan lifted his head as Ryder got out of the car. Nick opened Janie’s door, and she took his hand, letting him help her up.
Lykos dismounted his bike as Nick raised her hand to his lips. It was a little strange to see his former assistant principal practically groveling at Janie’s feet, but it was even more bizarre to realize Nick really was the leader of the Wolves.
The whole driveway was full of men armed to the teeth. He knew better than to believe they were just regular men. The masks they wore only heightened the mystery of what they were. Most were solid black, only leaving a flash from their eyes visible, but some masks had a wolf skull design, while others were classic camouflage. Wolves hid their identities from each other, for the most part. He figured they were taking precautions in case Kevin was watching. No sense letting him know who was hunting him.
As far as Logan knew, only Ryder, Luc, Nick, and Janie knew every Wolf by name and face. Rogues had been before Janie’s and Luc’s time, but Nick knew most rogues by appearance. But there were some elite only Luc’s predecessor and Logan’s own uncle—Trevor’s dad—had knowledge of. Since Luc killed his mentor, those identities died with him, and Logan’s uncle, The Wolf King as they called him, had been rogue for years.
Besides the Wolves waiting in the drive, the Knights stood at the top of the stairs leading into the mansion, and the Godsons stood at the foot of the steps. All their eyes were on Janie, taking in the damage Logan had allowed to befall her. He’d allowed Trevor to—
His eyes stung as he watched her smile. She was smiling for them, but she was hurting.
“Watch,” Lykos whispered. “This is what Father meant when he said everything would suddenly change. Welcome to Hell.”
“What?” Logan asked, confused.
Lykos grinned and pointed at Janie. “She stirs.”
“Boys.” She beamed up at Nick before scanning the men, her gaze halting on Luc for a few seconds.
Luc was just as expressionless as ever, but there was something between him and Janie as they held each other’s eyes before Luc bowed his head. “Welcome home, my queen.”
Her smile widened, and she lifted her head more as Ryder came around. She didn’t take Ryder’s hand. In fact, Ryder walked past her and joined his brothers, standing at the end of them, next to Tercero.
Janie didn’t seem bothered by him leaving her in the center of a pack of Wolves. She looked more relaxed than he’d seen her in a long time. She grinned more when four men in black suits bowed their heads. They each carried a weapon. One a bow, another had an axe strapped to his back, the two on each side had swords.
“My queen,” they said, keeping their heads down.
As gracefully as she could manage in her painful state, she bowed her head in return, which caused every Wolf to bow their heads too.
Nick righted himself after she did, and he caressed her bruised cheek. “You had something you wished to say, Little Moon?”
Logan held his breath. Never had he heard another call her this, but it was always there, just a secret, a story. Now he could see. It was true. She was the real reason this was all here.
She nodded, turning her head until she locked eyes with Logan. She smiled, holding out her hand for him.
Lykos took Logan’s helmet from him and nudged him forward.
Logan felt worthless as he walked toward her. Every pair of eyes burned him. They were aware she’d been in his care when Trevor attacked her. They probably knew what he’d done to her, maybe even what he’d been doing as she fought for their lives. They’d probably seen the pictures Kylie had put up, knowing that Janie was protecting them, only to be thrown to the most vicious wolves—humanity. He deserved their wrath.
Her delicate hand, red and swollen, closed around his. She cleared her throat, her voice scratchy but somehow sweet as rain as she told them what she’d done, what Trevor had done to her, and she took responsibility for not exposing Trevor sooner, for not confiding in the man she loves.
Logan lifted her hand to his lips. He wanted to cry at her feet. She was trying to protect him, and he loved her for bearing her horror to save him.
She caressed his cheek before turning to the men. “We have two rabid dogs to hunt. We will not honor them with the title they seek of The Big Bad Wolf. I’ve faced the Big Bad Wolves—in my dreams—in my life before this one.” She smiled in a way that lit up her face. “And with their blood on my hands, I roared over their corpses.”
The men howled cheers, raising their weapons.
Janie smiled brightly, winking at Logan before nodding to Nick. “Happy hunting, Wolf Prince.”
Nick smiled, leaning down and kissing her cheek. “Rest tonight. Tomorrow, worry about getting stronger”—he cupped her face—“then train. You are destined to roar in many battles. We will be by your side through them all.”
“Thank you, Nick,” she whispered.
“Of course, Sweet Jane.” He grinned at her, then nodded at Logan. “You’ll take watch inside the residence. Tomorrow, you’ll shadow Lykos. I’ve not given your father permission to renounce you, and none here wish to see that happen.”
As Janie opened her mouth to speak, Lykos came to her other side. He pulled her away from Logan and led her into the mansion.
“This is something she has no say in,” Nick continued. “I will give you the opportunity to witness the meaning of being a Grimm, of your place in the story. Then you may decide whether you’d like to embrace your destiny or run from it.”
“You realize you’re a sitting duck out here, don’t you?” Luc slowly descended the stairs, waving Nick away. “Though I have not seen him fight in this life, Kevin would be an excellent marksman.”
“Did you persuade her to do that?” Logan met Luc’s stare, but he froze at the sight of the box Luc held.
“Very few times does she obey me, even as a mere mortal girl.” Luc had an amused gleam in his eyes. “Nick informed her the Wolves held you accountable for her attack. So, she exposed the ugly truth of what happened that night.”
He didn’t look away from the box: My Forever.
Luc held it out to him. “Your father entrusted this to me after Trevor tried to take it.”
Logan hesitated, then carefully took it from Luc. “Did you look through it?”
“Yes.” Luc tilted his head. “Only because I withdrew something Janie requested. I also added an item—something that has been in my possession for quite some time. Only after I recently returned home did I realize what it was. When you are ready, look inside. I suggest waiting until you can look upon my queen without mentally stripping her naked.”
Logan chuckled, nodding. Getting the image of Janie naked out of his mind wasn’t easy. “I’m trying.”
“It is difficult.” Luc smirked, turning away. “Now come inside and get settled.”
He didn’t move to follow Luc. This wasn’t the same man he’d known over the past few years. “My father thinks you’ve awakened.”
Luc stopped, sighing. “If you are concerned I am going to ha
rm you, I will only do so if you provoke me. If you are worried about Janie, remember this is my kingdom, and she is my queen. What happens between us is our concern alone. Even my brother has no say.”
He swallowed, his breathing difficult as the atmosphere seemed to grow heavier. It reminded him of when he told Ryder about Trevor. Something magical had happened in that hospital room, and just as Luc was now, Ryder had been more than his rival. It all led to a painful truth, one he was afraid to see come true. “She’s just a girl.”
“She’s never been just a girl.” Luc turned his head, taking him in quietly. “You have changed since the last time I truly saw you. Funny, she must’ve admired you far more than she’d ever admit when you parted ways. She was always a sucker for a man with tattoos.” Luc smirked, tugging his sleeve in place. “She almost got it right—so close to Father’s creation. Your hair is different, though.”
Logan flinched, the proof too great to ignore—they really were God’s sons.
Luc took a deep breath. “Stop worrying about her. Your life with her before was tragic, but beautiful at the end—exactly how she hoped to always have you love her. You did as you said you would. It’s time for you to follow through. I’ll give you a hint to help you continue—to make sense of things—there are always two.”
“That’s what Dad says.” He wondered what Luc’s interpretation of it was.
“Your father is quite the old soul—one of my greatest monsters, if you didn’t already know.” He smiled, his eyes drifting toward the front door. “The secret to what all this means, is what happened between them. She never recovered, so when she dreamed, she had nightmares.”
“Dad and Janie?”
“Between my wolf and my queen, yes. And one other. As I said, always two. They all caused the blood of the innocent to fall.” Luc gestured for him to follow. “Come.”
✦✦✦
Kylie’s frantic breaths came to a halt as a nurse walked in with Damon King. The big man said nothing—just watched her.
“Maura, you’re all checked in,” the nurse was saying. “Your stay is involuntary, and we will not permit you to discharge yourself, but we think it’s wonderful you’ve chosen to come on your own.” The nurse, a woman in her late thirties, patted Maura’s hand. “How are your wrists feeling? I ask because there will be a lockdown period in which you cannot leave your room until the doctor has seen you. However, we can take you to the clinic before your lockdown if you think they need to be addressed.”
