Sacred Bond: Secrets of Stone Ridge

by Harms, C. A.

  “You know I carried her and pushed her out and the moment you walked in it was all about you.” Of course I’m only teasing. I want her to have a wonderful relationship with her dad, like I had with mine. “You’re so good with her.”

  “She’s a good baby. I think we make a pretty damn good team.” He sits down and I rest my head on his shoulder, staring down at the little miracle that we created.

  The baby’s cries wake me, I groggily climb out of bed and walk over to her bassinet in our room. “Hi little angel. Mommy’s got you.” I pick her and sit on the side of the bed. As soon as I unsnap my nursing cami, and put the baby to my breast she latches on.

  I sing a made up song about rainbows and kittens that makes no sense, but it keeps me from falling asleep while my little piglet eats. When she’s done with one side, I burp her and then latch her onto the other breast. By the time Olivia’s done eating she’s asleep again.

  I carry her into her room to change her diaper. I look out the window, the sun is beginning to rise, the sky glowing dark purple. The bushes on the edge of our yard move. My heart starts to race and my stomach turns. A person cloaked in black stands in front of the bushes looking up at me.

  The hate I feel coming off of him curdles in my belly. He lifts a hand, pointing at my daughter, I know it. I move away until my back hits the wall. I hold my daughter more securely to my chest as I slide with my back against the wall moving until I reach Olivia’s closet. When I open the door I slip inside, closing the door behind me.

  I get down on the floor, hiding behind some boxes of diapers. Olivia sleeps peacefully in my arms, even as my body trembles. I wrap my free hand around the amethyst hanging around my neck. Fiona said it would connect me to the pack. Can they feel I need help? They’ll come, they will.

  I don’t know how long I’ve been in here when the door opens. I hold my breath and try to make myself as small as possible. “Taryn?” Merick calls out quietly. “Baby why are you hiding in the closet?”

  He reaches out and helps me stand. I see the sun is starting to shine through the window. “This morning. I-I was changing Olivia’s diaper and I-I looked out the window. There was someone outside. I swear they looked right at me, they pointed at Olivia. I was afraid to leave her room, so we hid in the closet.”

  The air around us goes electric. Anger comes off of Merick in waves. “What do you mean someone was here?”

  “There was someone outside. I swear.” I step toward him. His body is held so stiff right now I swear if I touched him he would feel like stone “You’re starting to scare me, honey. Tell me what you're thinking.” I take another step, but he holds up his hands.

  “Don’t come near me right now. It’s not safe.” He storms out of the room and before I can stop him, he’s flying down the steps and out of the house.

  Merick

  Screams echo over the tall trees and streams that are intertwined throughout them, cries of agony that fuel me. I stand with my back to the old abandoned cabin. One that has been in my family for years, though we’ve held no use for it, until now.

  The sounds of chains being stretched to the limits then hitting the floor with a thud. Another cry rings out and I smile, enjoying the pain that is being inflicted on one of the many that are a danger to my family.

  He made it too easy, walked right into our trap. But he wouldn’t break, and the answers we needed, they weren’t coming.

  The who sent him here, the when the rest were coming, and we all already understood the why he was here or what he was here to do. They want what we have, the land, the sacred power it holds. They want our world, safe passage, and instead of joining us many years ago, they chose to fight us and threaten it all. Now, they also want my daughter.

  “Tell us,” Ryder’s voice, though more of a growl rips from his lungs. Another thud, followed by an anguished cry from our prisoner. The sound repeats, but we are continuously left with the same unanswered questions. He won’t break, he refuses to give us what we need. But he has no idea what is in store for him, we will destroy him, little by little, painfully.

  “They’ll come,” my father states, stepping up to my side. “When he doesn’t report, when he doesn’t check in, they’ll send someone to check on him.”

  “They won’t like what they find.”

  The hunters are being hunted. We will find and destroy each one, little by little I will eliminate the threat to my family.

  “What is the plan?”

  I ponder over my father's question. I’m having a hard time looking beyond finding Taryn hidden in the closet of our daughter’s room. Her body curled around Olivia’s in a protective ball, both of them looking so innocent and sweet. The rage inside of me wants nothing more than to go inside the cabin and painfully drag out the intruder's death. Make him scream and beg for his life, only I continue to kill him slowly. Only I know ending his life will not get me the answers I need.

  “We’re gonna make him wish for his death,” I reply. Mess with my family and I’ll show no mercy. “And when he finally gives in, because he will give in, I’ll prove a point.”

  “What point is that?”

  Turning to face my father I find the same stoic face staring back at me. The face that I’d seen staring back at me in the mirror since I first witnessed the threat of all I’ve built. A face I’d seen before, over the years, one that when I was young scared me. I had become my father, I truly understand why he was so coldhearted at times. “I will stop at nothing to kill every last threat to my people. I will show no sympathy for their pain. It’s time to send the message that we are ready.”

  My father nods and for the first time I see something in his eyes that I’ve never seen before … Pride and acceptance. He fully accepts me as his alpha and trusts that I’ll make them all pay for what they’ve done.

  “Lead the way son.” He steps aside and says “show us and we will follow.”

  And he will stand by me every step of the way.

  As I approach the clearing I see movement up ahead. Not one but several of my clan stand tall and guarded. Ready to pounce, ready to fight, this brings comfort to me instantly. My brothers and sisters, risking their lives to protect those of my mate and our daughter.

  Once they realize it is me, I can see them relax.

  “Merick,” Luca is the first to approach me, followed closely by Cole and Xander. Each not much smaller than I. When they arrived in town, I admit I felt a small sense of peace. These were the best of the best, members of our pack that are known for their hunting abilities among other things. They trained daily, living their lives in wolf form more than humans. They trolled the world, seeking revenge for the enemies that once attacked. With their arrival came protection, and they are the ones I know would give my girls the security I need for them. They would top at nothing to destroy those saboteurs that threaten us all.

  “How are my girls?” Luca stands more than six feet tall, hair as black as coal and passed his shoulders. His blue eyes so light they are almost silver, and a stern look on his face. Never have I ever seen this male smile or laugh.

  “The women are inside with them, I am sure doting over the child and ensuring your mate feels a sense of peace.” We’ll have to work on his wording and the desire to fit in. Though some in town know of our powers, there are still those that haven’t a clue. Luca has lived limited time with those other than fellow shifters. “Lots of squealing and awes.”

  “Olivia and Taryn,” I correct him and all he does is nod. “Remember we need to appear as though we are nothing more than a close knit family to the townspeople”

  “I have no intentions of interacting with the people. I am here to protect.” Again, nothing more than a stiff nod and a stance that shows he is on guard and ready to defend always.

  “We’ll work on the cabins, make them suitable for you.” Another nod. My property is large enough that we can build smaller cabins and homes throughout. Many of those arriving have their own means of space, but these three hav
e lived off the land never settling on one place for long, for many years. It’s time I give them some stability and having them here, so close, that is just one more source of security.

  I want to build a force around Taryn, one that allows her and our daughter to live as normal as possible. However, I know that no matter how hard I try, I will never be able to give her the peace that she would have been given had I simply left her alone from the start.

  “We’re okay, no need to go out of your way.”

  “There is, you being here, that is something I will never be able to repay.”

  “We are here to protect our pack, it's a job we take very seriously. She may be your daughter, Merick, but she’s the bond that will hold us all together, the one to make us all stronger. Olivia is a gift to all of us, and together we will stand to protect her. We will give her the life she deserves and we will stop at nothing to ensure her safety. She’s a part of our world, and we are here because we want to be.” He and the other shifters disappear into the woods. They’ll stay close by, I’m sure.

  This is where we begin, where we are all united as one. A sacred bond formed that will be unbreakable. We are united.

  Epilogue

  Ryder

  I stare across the room as Lily takes Olivia from her mother, kissing the little baby’s forehead. She’s a natural with the child and it fills me with a sense of longing—something I haven’t felt in a long, long time, if ever, when I watch them.

  She looks up at me and then looks back down at the baby. I start walking toward them, but Merick steps in front of me. “I need you to go work on him some more. See if you can get him to talk. We don’t have much time before they send others to look for him. We need answers, whatever it takes, we have to make him talk.”

  Merick is my best friend, my brother, my alpha—no, I’m not technically part of his pack, but I’ll always follow his lead. When he told me he’d found his mate, the one that was prophesied, I’d felt relief. We’d tried to find her for years before he finally tracked her down. Taryn has always been the missing piece and now it's all falling into place. Our worlds are bonded, we are all as one.

  There is nothing that I won’t do for him, especially if it means keeping his precious baby safe. “I’ll go now.”

  He claps me on the shoulder. “Thanks brother. Don’t waste your whole night. I know you’ll need to feed.”

  As soon as he says “feed” my eyes immediately shift to Lily. I’d give anything to sink my fangs into her neck, but for now I only fantasize about it while I drink the blood of deer, bears, or any other animal I can find. It may not be as sweet as I know she’d be, but it keeps me satisfied.

  Although I’d prefer human blood, it’s such a pain in the ass because I then have to hypnotize them so they forget that a vampire just fed from them. “Do you want me to wake you when I get back, give you a report?”

  Merick shakes his head. “No, that’s okay, but if you could come before sunrise. Olivia and I spend our early mornings together so Taryn can get some rest.”

  I nod. “Right. I’ll be back.” I pause one last time getting another feel of Lily and her beauty before I leave reluctantly.

  Once I’m outside I walk toward the tree line, disappearing from sight. I’m unbelievably fast, but as I reach the cabin, I slow my pace. With each step my anger builds, knowing that that inside is someone that has threatened the lives of those I love.

  When Merick told me that sweet Taryn had been hiding in the closet with their daughter clutched to her chest I knew I’d stop at nothing to protect them. I’ll get this fucker to talk.

  Finally entering the cabin, I find a couple of the younger wolves from Merick’s pack standing guard. “Give me a couple hours.”

  “Are you sure you want us to leave?” I believe it’s Cole that asks.

  I nod. “Yes. I’ll be fine.”

  The younger shifter changes into wolf form, taking off into the opposite direction of the cabin toward the open land that leads to the mountains.

  The moment I enter the room that he is held the smell hits me and my fangs elongate. Our prisoner is bound by ropes and chains. Blood seeps from wounds that cover most of his body. Amelia’s coven casted a spell that would keep our prisoner from crying for help or from healing himself.

  I wordlessly grab the tray of torture tools and set them on a little table next to the chair. My fangs pop out as I look at the blood covering the tools. I grab what looks like an ice pick. “Why were you outside Merick’s home?”

  As usual he says nothing, only staring straight ahead. I take the ice pick and jab it into his chest, piercing his lung, but avoiding his heart. He hisses, but stays silent. I give it a twist and pull it out. The prisoner’s body shudders, but he makes no sound.

  In front of him I squat down and his red eyes stare at me with pure hatred. “Did you really think we were going to let you get near that baby or her mother? You do know that you’ll be dead soon, so tell me what I want to know.”

  As always, he gives away nothing. I can’t glamour him to talk, although I’ve tried. I grab his hand, jerking it back until it snaps and then flops down at an unnatural angle. I stand to my full height and look over the tools when I hear a noise outside the door.

  I move fast, flinging the door open, grabbing the person on the other side. I pin them to the wall and that is when I realize it’s Lily. Her face is pale and she’s shaking. “What are you doing out here?” I whisper quietly. Doing my best to control the rage that only moments ago was racing through me.

  “I-I followed you.” Her gaze is focused on my fangs before looking over my shoulder toward the prisoner. “W-What did you do to him?”

  She moves toward him but I pull her back. “Do not get close to him.”

  “W-Why? Why are you hurting him? Why are you torturing this man, you monster?” Lily stares up at me with wide disbelieving eyes.

  “Call me what you want Lily. But you should know we found him outside of Merick’s, scaring Taryn enough to hide with Olivia in her closet. He and his people want nothing more than to kill your best friend and to take that sweet little baby away from all of us.” Her brown eyes glisten with unshed tears. “We’ll stop at nothing to prevent that, and this piece of shit is only the scout. Others will come when he doesn’t report in. They all intend to hurt Taryn, and even Olivia.”

  Lily doesn’t say anything she only looks between me and the prisoner. She scoots around me with speed I didn’t know she had. Before I can stop her, she grabs a serrated knife and presses it tightly to the neck of the prisoner. I watch as she presses it, and a slow twinkle of blood begins to pool from the new wound she’s inflicted. “What are you doing here?” The words echo through the cabin. “Talk asshole!” she screams in his face and before I can stop her, Lily stabs him in the chest.

  Our prisoner gives a little gurgle, smiles, and then disintegrates right before my eyes. Lily jumps back, drops the knife, and then turns to me, looking like she’s ready to pass out.

  “Lily, what did you do?” I ask right before her eyes roll back and she passes out. “Well shit.” How in the hell am I going to explain this to Merick?

  The end, for now...

  Author C.A. Harms

  An avid romance and mystery reader. She's always had a love for books, getting lost in writing and storytelling even as a young girl. She enjoys happy endings and HEA love stories.

  She lives in Illinois and enjoys spending time with her husband and two children. She holds an addiction for Starbucks White Chocolate Mocha's and KitKat when she should really be focusing on water and maybe a fruit or two to make herself feel less guilty, but that feeling quickly passes...thankfully.

  She is easy going, fun, and although she may seem like one of the quiet ones at first, you just wait until she gets to know you better...that quietness changes, fast

  Author Evan Grace

  A Midwesterner and a readaholic most of her life until one day an idea came into Evan’s head and a writing career
was born. She's a sucker for happily ever afters and loves creating fictional worlds that others can get lost in. She loves putting her characters through the ringer, but loves when they get to that satisfying, swoony ending.

  When the voices in her head give it a rest, which isn’t often, she can always be found with her e-reader in her hand. Some of her favorites include, Aurora Rose Reynolds, (the queen) Kristen Ashley, Kaylee Ryan, Natasha Madison, and Harper Sloan. Evan finds a lot of her inspiration in music, movies, TV shows and life.

  She's a wife to Jim and a mom to Ethan and (the real) Evan, a weightlifter, a home healthcare scheduler, and a full-time author. How does she do it? She'll never tell.